Overview

Being new to campus can be overwhelming. But let us

assure you that this place will feel like home before you

know it! Yes, IEC students study and work hard, but they

also get involved in campus activities, find time to have

fun and make friends that will last for a lifetime!

We hope these tips will be helpful for you! It is up to

you to assess your choices and make decisions that are

right for you. IEC offers tons of opportunities for you to

become involved on campus, both in and out off the

classroom, which are exciting and designed to enhance

your time at IEC.

Give yourself time to settle in

Give yourself time to

settle in and find

your feet. Don't feel

like you have to hit

the ground running

and be able to

manage everything

perfectly right from

the very first

moment.

Academics are your priority!

You have the opportunityto learn from and studywith some of the greatestminds in the world. Theacademic opportunities atIEC are amazing!! Makesure you take advantage ofthese opportunities. Talkwith your academicadvisors, professors, and ofcourse – other students -about what you can do tobecome involved inresearch and otheracademic opportunities atIEC.

Academics are your priority!

Turn up to classes Unlike high school, no one will followyou up if you don't go to class.However, it is easy to fall behindquickly if you're not attendinglectures, and your grades may beaffected. Some courses havecompulsory attendancerequirements, or a participationcomponent to the final grade. Even ifyou are not feeling great, just being ina lecture and listening is a good idea.

Keep up Lecturers pack a lot of informationinto a semester-long course. It's easyto get behind quickly. Keeping upwith weekly readings, problem sheetsor computer labs will help keep yourstudy load manageable. BUT even ifyou haven't completed all of thereadings for a lecture or a tutorial, goalong anyway. You'll pick up moreinformation than if you stay away.

Academics are your priority!

Be positive◦ Many students feel shy, anxious orawkward when attending newclasses. If you have come from asmall school, you may have been abig fish in a little pond and now youmay feel like a very small fish! Bepositive about yourself and yourabilities. Remember that you havedemonstrated the abilities andqualities needed to get you in touniversity and you will feel moreconfident with time.

Don’t Hesitate and ask questions◦ Questions are good; they showthat you are an active listener. Feelfree to ask questions if you donot understand the idea or if youhave missed something.

Learn to manage your time

carefully

P-sets, labs and classwork will stretch yourability to balance schooland free time. While youmay have been able toprocrastinate in highschool and do fine, thatmight not work at IEC!But be sure you getinvolved in activities thatgive you someBALANCE!! blow offsome stress and helpyou meet people!

Learn to work in groups

You may be used to

working alone on

academics. What you

may find at IEC is that

many of the students

here are of your ability

and helpful to work with

on Problem Sets (P-Sets)

and other academic

projects.

Establish the healthy

relationship

Now that you have become acollege student, you shouldestablish some new types ofrelationship with people. A lotof new people will enter yourlife: your dorm roommates,neighbors, college counselors,resident assistants, and,certainly, college faculty. Thelatter are people whom yoursubsequent life will dependon during your college years.This is why it is important toestablish healthy relationshipwith your professorsaccording to the basicprinciples of mutual respect.

Ask for the Help

Ask for help when you start

to need it, not when you’re

already buried! People who

get to IEC have been at the

top all of their lives, and

asking for help for the first

time is hard. It’s an important

thing to be able to do. One of

the lessons is to walk down

the hall of your dorm and find

an upper-class students. They

have all been freshman too

and are glad to be there to

give you a hand!

Make friends Starting to establishconnections on IEC can helpyou feel more settled and thatyou belong. The perception ofmany first years is thateveryone else already hasfriends on campus and thatthey are the ONLY personwho doesn't know anyone.Get to know people in yourcourse. This can help you feelmore socially connected andenable you to chat with otherstudents about assignmentsor set up study groups. Thereare lots of different clubs andsocieties that you can join toget to know other studentswith similar interests toyours.

Use the services that are there

to help you

When you enroll at IEC,

you become eligible to

access a wide range of

services. The staff will be

able to answer questions

and provide support. If

you are having difficulties,

ask for help sooner

rather than later (smaller

problems are much

easier to deal with).

Final Words

You'll learn more in IEC than you expect -- and sometimes the

learning will not be reflected in the grade you receive. As long as

you follow the study skills advice in this article, you should be well

on your way toward academic success. Finally, let us leave you with

one the philosophy "Work hard to play hard." And that's what

college is all about -- learning new subjects and preparing for a

career and lifelong learning, but also having fun as you transition

into adulthood and discover who you really are and what you want

from life.