How To Use Your College Syllabus
Is your college syllabus your friend or foe? The first day of class your teacher will either hand out or project a class syllabus. To most high school graduates the word “syllabus” is an unfamiliar term. Most (if not all) college classes use a syllabus. Why? The short answer is college professors want to lay out a clear plan for the semester. They try to eliminate time-consuming questions so they can focus on lecturing over course content.
Yes, college syllabi (plural of syllabus) are overwhelming. So if you feel a lump forming in your throat and are having difficulty breathing, take a deep breath and read this short “how to” guide. Here are 3 tips to take the stress out of your college syllabus.
3 Tips for Using Your College Syllabus
1. Read the syllabus.
Most professors require you to read the syllabus. Some might even have a quiz over the content. Don’t panic. The purpose of this assignment and/or quiz is not to trick you but to check your knowledge of what is expected of you.
Unlike most high school teachers, your college professor has planned out the entire semester and usually taught the course many times. This syllabus is supposed to guide you, helping you be successful. So yes, the college syllabus is your friend.
2. Notice important information.
Don't just skim the content. Focus on what is really important. Pay special attention to the headlines, bolded or italicized words, and highlighted information. Your professors aren't overly eager junior high students who highlight every other sentence. They purposely marked certain information. This information may include due dates, projects, contact information or other helpful insights.
Next to guidelines to help you succeed, two other details are very important: contact information and office hours. Your professors want you to be successful, but they won’t do the work for you. You have to take initiative. So if you’re struggling with a concept or bombing tests, they most likely will not email you or talk to you after class. You will have to contact them. Be sure you know how they like being contacted and when they are available to meet. They most likely will not work around your schedule. You will have to work around theirs.
3. Organize your syllabi.
Having multiple pieces of paper or links is a pain, not to mention frustrating. If you lose a paper syllabus, you seem doomed. If you forget to bookmark that link, your dream of an A seems like a distant memory. A very simple solution is available: a planner.
Don’t worry you don’t have to use a bulky planner if you don’t want to. For some of you, using a written, physical copy is your go-to. You wouldn’t want it any other way. For others of you, you hate carrying around a notebook with dates written inside. You would much rather use your phone. Good. That works too. The point is to use whatever you works for you and helps you get and stay organized.
The first weekend of classes put your class assignments on your phone or copy them onto your planner. Yes, this is a time-consuming task, but you will be so thankful later. Being able to take a glance at all your assignments for the next week is extremely helpful!
See? Syllabi are really not that bad. Yes, they can be overwhelming at first. But just know you’re not alone. Most students feel stressed out by even the mention of a syllabus. Remember that these assignments take months to complete. You don’t need to finish them all by next week. Take it one class period at a time. Before you know it, you’ll be looking back on all the assignments you completed.
