Making Use of T.A's, Office Hours, & Advising

As you all already know, UCSD is a huge school. As other OLs have already mentioned, we encourage you to get involved with all the organizations and activities our school has to offer in order to make the most of your experience and to feel truly immersed in campus life.

On the other hand, it's also important to do everything you can in order to make the most out of your education! Adjusting to the large class size of lower division lectures can be quite a feat, and it's easy to just become another face in the crowd. Here are some tips on how to stand out and make sure that you're doing everything you can to be a successful student:

1. Be proactive! Go to office hours - If you're in a class of ~ 400 students, I can almost guarantee that your professor is not going to know who you are. By going to office hours and introducing yourself, you can get a more personal class experience. This is also a good place to ask questions you may have had in class or to clarify concepts or ideas that were not discussed in class but may come up on an exam.

2. Make use of TA's - TA's are a GREAT resource and I can't stress that enough. TA's were in your shoes not too long ago and know what you want out of a class. From my experience, a lot of times, TA's will give you some inside information on upcoming tests and exams that the professors will not give you if you just take the time to talk to them. They can also help tell you what you need to study for and what you can skip since a lot of times TA's help to write exams.

3. See your college or major specific advisors! They don't bite! Promise :D - If you're getting overwhelmed or are questioning your classes and your major, talk to an advisor! They are very helpful and can lead you in the right direction and help you figure out your options.

4. Make friends in discussions - Don't be shy! Making friends with your neighbor in discussion can be a huge advantage to you. When you're studying for an exam and start freaking out because you don't have notes on a certain topic or discussion, a friendly face from your discussion can be a lifesaver! Be sure to have the number or email of at least 1 or 2 people in your discussion sections or lectures. Not only will it be helpful/allow you to make study groups, you'll have lots of new friends :)

5. Thinking about grad school? Go to Career Services every so often - If you're thinking about medical school, law school, etc. going to career services will be a great step for you. Making an appointment every so often to check on your progress in terms of classes and grades you've taken and received is very helpful in ensuring that you're on the right track to be where you need to be for applying to grad school. Early is never too early!

Hope these have been helpful tips! Can't wait to see all of you in the fall! Enjoy the rest of your summer :)

XOXO,
Natasha Chan
Freshman OL
Group #27