“Make sure to budget time for yourself! It is just as important to have time to eat, sleep, and be alone as it is to make friends and explore campus. Don't overwhelm yourself with too many courses or extracurriculars. Focus on taking care of yourself during this adjustment and being the healthiest you that you can be.” - Nandana ‘25, orientation leader
“One tip on building your first college schedule is to organize your weekly schedule by using a digital/physical planner. Personally, I like to use Google Calendar and a small notebook that I always keep with me. Once you have that, simply add all of your daily class schedule and make sure to leave for office hours as well as SI sessions because they can be easy to forget! Try not to overload your weekly schedule too much because you don't want it to look too overwhelming. Besides classes and office hours, be sure to also plan activities outside of classes! Visit the Cleveland Museum of Art, Botanical Garden, and explore more of downtown Cleveland!” - Denzel ‘25, orientation leader
“No matter what you think you're capable of, don't push yourself too far just yet. Don't take more credits than what's recommended! Your first semester is meant to get you accustomed to the academic rigor of college. Taking it easy won't hurt you, but doing too much might.” - Toni ‘26, orientation leader
“If you don't have a strict schedule of required classes, take classes in a variety of departments. I took classes that I needed for my major but also a fun class (I did Introduction to Stagecraft, which I highly recommend) and it was a great way for me to continue my interest in technical theater. Fun classes are worth it for the break in your day!” - Emma ‘25, orientation leader
“It is difficult to go from high school where your day is mostly planned out for you to college where you have to plan your own day. Be kind to yourself and leave space in your schedule every day or every two days to just catch up on things or to relax. Burnout is very real and it is difficult to get back on track once you fall behind, so be careful not to overextend yourself.” - Anoushka ‘25, orientation leader