Tufts Admissions
SMFA at Tufts
En EspaƱol
  • Quicklinks
    • Plan Your Visit
    • Explore Majors & Minors
    • Calculate Cost
    • Check Application Status
    • Our Blogs
Discover Tufts
Academics
Life at Tufts
Tufts Blogs
Jumbo Magazine
Tufts Traditions
History of Tufts University
Tuition & Aid
Tuition and Aid
Types of Aid
Applying for Aid
Contact Financial Aid
Connect With Us
Open Houses
Join the Mailing List
Contact
Read Our Blogs
Admissions Instagram
Privacy
Visit
Plan Your Visit
Virtual Tour
Audio Tour
Tufts For You
Open Houses
Parking & Directions
Dining on Campus
Places to Stay
Apply
First-Year Students
Transfer Students
International Students
First-Generation Students
Undocumented Students
Counselors & Teachers
Advice & Getting Started
Profile of the Class of 2028
Essay Questions
Interview
Search
Navigation

Tufts Blogs

Jumbo Talk

Inside Admissions

Tufts Admissions Team

Starting the Semester Off Strong

Feb 06
Dan Patterson Jumbo Talk

 

As a freshman, I was exposed to a lot of different resources that helped me adjust to college level academics. From STAAR center workshops to events hosted by clubs like Black Students in Computer Science (BSCS), I got a lot of advice to try and see what worked for me. As a sophomore, I’m grateful for all the tips I’ve gotten that have really helped me. I thought I’d pass on some helpful advice that I’ve used to start my semesters strong.


Ask Upperclassmen

Upperclassmen have so much knowledge about majors, classes, professors, research, and everything else there is to know about college life so don’t be afraid to reach out to upperclassmen in your classes and clubs. Everyone at Tufts is super friendly and welcoming so I’ve never been afraid to ask upperclassmen for advice. As a Computer Science major, I’ve asked the many different TA’s I’ve encountered for tips on how to do well in the class and what classes would be best to take next. I’ve also gotten a lot of advice from the upperclassmen in BSCS during the “CS Survival Nights” they host once a semester where they break down all the core Computer Science classes and electives. In addition to my major advisor and the Computer Science advising staff, upperclassmen have been incredibly helpful for picking classes that align with my interests.


See an Academic Coach

The STAAR Center offers many resources to help students succeed including workshops, subject specific tutoring, and academic coaching. Academic coaching involves meeting one-on-one with a STAAR Center coach to work on specific issues. At the beginning of the semester, I always get a one hour appointment with an academic coach who specializes in time management to help me block out time for classes, homework, extracurriculars, and hobbies. Throughout the semester whenever I get overwhelmed looking at all the tasks in my schedule, I get an appointment and my academic coaches have been super helpful in breaking down my tasks and showing me that I really do have enough time to complete all of them!


Form a Study Group

In many of my classes, working on homework and projects with other students is encouraged and really helps all of us better understand what we’re learning about in class. Having an effective study group to review challenging concepts has really helped me in Computer Science classes that were more theory based like CS 61: Discrete Mathematics and CS 160: Algorithms. Tufts allows us to book rooms so we always make sure to get study rooms that have whiteboards so we can all collaborate on problems on the board. Finding a study group is pretty easy since some classes set them up for students and others have discussion boards where students can invite others to study.


Have Hobbies

The start of the semester can be really stressful so having hobbies or activities that you can use to de-stress is very important! In my free time, I love to roller skate or walk along the Charles River to clear my mind. Making sure you take care of your mental health from the start can make for a really great semester!

 

 

 

About the Author

Dan Patterson

Aspiring Bachelor Nation Reporter

View Bio & Articles
Related Topics
Academics Campus Life
Related Articles

Who Do You Want To Be? A Crash Course on Growth, Development, and a Confusing GPS

 

Do you smell something?

It smells like the fresh scent of new beginnings.

As we head into the summer and think ahead, it is time to create goals and…


Jun 09
Alvalyn Dixon-Gardner Jumbo Talk
Tufts University

Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Bendetson Hall
2 The Green
Medford, MA 02155

617-627-3170

Visit tufts.edu Contact Tufts Admissions Non-Discrimination Statement Privacy Statement
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Discover Tufts
Tuition & Aid
Connect With Us