Dear ’27,
This is the time of year when first-year students often start receiving disappointing grades. Just keep in mind that you belong here and you can do this. You are not an imposter. Admissions did not make a mistake. This is not about intelligence or ability, as you clearly have both, but about strategies and using resources. College often requires far more active learning/engagement, analytical thinking and applied knowledge than high school, so it can be a challenging transition.
Here are five important notes on campus resources:
- Check out all of the academic resources in the attached information and make use of them.
- Make sure that you’re going to your instructors’ office hours, as they are invaluable resources.
- If you’re struggling with the content of a course, please request a peer tutor.
- If you’d like help with time management, taking strong notes, studying for a test, test-taking strategies, etc., please seek out one of our peer advisors for ‘27, who are Adam Cyzner, Greta Alexandra-Parker, Sarah Bernstein and Zuha Anjum. They can help with any study skill that you might want to learn more about and they’re available to connect one-on-one. I’ve hyperlinked their emails above and their bios are available here.
- Come see me. We can talk through the best options and resources for you in this moment.
Also, consider whether withdrawing from a course makes sense for you. A “W” on your record is a neutral mark and has no impact on your grade point average. In this instance, letting something go could have a tremendous impact on your morale and schedule so that you can have a more successful term, whether academically or personally. The form to withdraw from a course is available here. I would be glad to meet and talk this through.
Please also keep in mind the dates and deadlines below:
-October 13: Last day to withdraw from first-quarter courses. This does not apply to full-credit courses; these include PHED courses, for example, that are only offered for the first quarter of the term. These courses end on 10/20.
-October 23-24: Fall Break! This is a short break, but it is perfect for taking a moment to decompress and/or catch up on any missed work!
-October 24: 2nd-quarter classes begin. *2nd-quarter classes may be added or dropped during the five working days following the first class meeting.
The add form for these courses is available here.
Homecoming weekend is 10/27-29, followed by the start of pre-reg for the spring on Halloween (there’s a joke here, but I’ll let it go).
Also, a quick note regarding the end of the term. You should plan your travel once you have a sense of your final exam dates and also keep in mind that housing closes on 12/17.
Please know that I’m available to talk; both my calendar and Zoom link are below.
Best,
Dean Wood