Your Six Week ROAD Map at Suffolk University

The first six weeks of your college career are extremely important.  To help you adjust to college life here is a ROAD Map for your first six weeks as a college student.  One of our goals is to help you connect to faculty, resources, opportunities, and services to help you make the transition into college life a bit easier.

"A good plan is like a ROAD map:  it shows the final destination and usually the best way to get there." ~ H. Stanley Judd

Week One

Welcome to Suffolk University!  One important key to success in college is organization.  You should start by purchasing a planner or calendar.  You should begin by:

• Enter all class times and extracurricular activities into your planner.  If you work you should also put that schedule into your planner.
• Enter the due dates for all assignments, papers, projects, and tests/quizzes from your course syllabi (Faculty members usually hand that out on the first day of class).
• Carry your planner with you so that you can enter in events and programs that are happening around campus that you would like to attend.  (Share those events with your friends or classmates!)

Week Two

Hi, my name is....  One of the best things about college is meeting people who are different from you and making life-long friends!  You are a part of the Suffolk Community.  We want you to continue to build friendships and form relationships across campus throughout the year!

Here are some guidelines to get you started in meeting as many people as you can:

• Introduce yourself to your professors.  The best times to do this are after class or during their scheduled office hours.
• Introduce yourself to other students in your class. 
• Make sure that you are keeping connected with family.  Call, write, email and stay in touch!  This will help you with your transition and your family will really appreciate it!
• Make sure you stay connected to your Suffolk email.  Many faculty members, and offices across campus will provide you with information about upcoming events and programs through email.  If you don't check your email - you won't be in the 'know'.

Week Three

Grades Count!  By now you are realizing the differences between high school and college in all areas of your life.  Some of your classes may seem more intense as the coursework increases.  In other cases, you may not feel like you have as much work because you don't have nightly assignments.  Be careful, you are accountable for assignments, reading and class discussions.  For those classes which assign more reading, why not focus on your note-taking?  Stop by the Ballotti Learning Center (www.suffolk.edu/offices/1096.html),  on the second floor of the Donahue Building, and pick up some handouts, meet some of the peer tutors and get yourself acquainted with their services and how they can help you! 

Don't forget to:

• Sit in the front of the class so that you can pay closer attention and so that the professor can see you.
• Make sure you attend all classes!  It will be factored into your grade!
• Have a desire to succeed! 
• Utilize the many resources available (Ballotti Learning Center, Disability Services, Math Support, Writing Center).
• Talk with your classmates and form study groups to help each other prepare for exams.

Week Four

Just get involved!  You are an important part of Suffolk University!  If you are not already involved in a club or organization, we strongly recommend you to do so.  Getting involved makes you an even more valued member of our community.  It is a great way to gain skills and begin networking to help you in your future career.  Best of all, it is a great way to meet new friends and find out where you belong here at Suffolk.

Check out the Student Activities website (www.suffolk.edu/campuslife/143.html) where you can find out about services, activities, clubs and organizations that you can become a part of or even create!  How can you get involved?

• Go to a club meeting that sounds interesting
• Attend a program being offered by one of the clubs that you would normally not attend - you just might be interested!
• If you could create a club on campus that does not exist, what would it be? 
• Get more involved in the Suffolk community and look into community service opportunities.

Week Five

How can you manage stress and stay healthy?  By now you have faced, and possibly experienced, many of the challenges and pressures associated with college (academics, meeting new friends, managing time, finding your support system, and/or pressures to use alcohol and drugs).  Always know that you have many offices/services available to help you and support you (Retention Services, Health & Wellness, Counseling Center, Residence Life, Off-Campus Housing Office, and the Dean of Students' Office).

Keep in mind that if you are feeling overwhelmed; feel free to set up a meeting with any of the offices mentioned above and rest assured that we are all here to help you and empower you.  Here are some helpful tips:

• Eat healthy by balancing your diet with fruits and vegetables.
• Do an activity outdoors or take the stairs instead of the elevator.
• If you are thinking about indulging in alcohol or drug use, know the risks and consequences!
• Try to get 7-8 hours of sleep a night.
• Find out what resources and services are available at the Office of Health and Wellness (www.suffolk.edu/offices/932.html) and the University Counseling Center (www.suffolk.edu/offices/989.html).

Week Six

Celebrate!  You have made it to the mid-point and have accomplished so much!  Just think of all of the changes you have adjusted to.  Some were easily navigated while others were probably more challenging!  The important thing is that you made it this far!  Now that you have successfully completed your first six weeks, this is a good time to begin thinking about the following:

• Evaluate the goals that you set for yourself at the beginning of the year.
• Check out your grades for each class.
• Set goals for the remainder of the semester.
• Think of changes you will make for the remainder of the semester to meet your goals.

Just know that the Office of Retention Services will get you on the right ROAD to connect you to all of the amazing offices, resources, services, and programs available to you!