Syllabus Pro Tips
In my opinion, your class syllabus is the biggest resource your professor can give you. This document typically includes important dates for the semester, such as when homework is due or when you will have big exams or quizzes. It should also include the academic and attendance policies for the class, information on office hours, and any other information your professor finds important. When used effectively, your syllabus can be a roadmap for your semester.
Time Management
A good syllabus will include all the important dates for your classes. Use this to your advantage! Find a time management tool that works best for you. This can be a planner, a wall calendar, Google Calendar, a calendar app, etc. Take all the dates included in your syllabus and put them in your tool of your choice. This can help you see a breakdown of all your dates throughout the semester. For example, if you have assignments dues every Tuesday, you’ll need to plan time before then to work on them. If you have weeks when you have big tests, you know that the days leading up to the test should be used to study or go to tutoring sessions.
Attendance
This is the big one I think people forget about. Some professors do not care if you come to class. When I was in college, I had some professors who would let you miss the entire semester, and if you got an A on your tests, you got in A in the class. I had other professors who would only let you miss a certain number of classes throughout the semester. For example, I had one who would automatically fail you if you missed more than 5 classes and another professor who would drop your final grade by a whole letter grade for every class you missed after 5 classes (meaning you could go from an A to a B just for missing 6 classes).
Make sure you’re aware of how many absences you’re allowed throughout the semester and keep track of how many classes you’ve missed, if it is something you’ll get penalized for.
Academic Policies
The academic policies for each class can often make or break your grade. Each professor can calculate grades differently. Some professors may only factor in major exams, while others may use a combination of homework, quizzes, tests, projects, attendance, and participation to calculate your grade. This is important when you get to the end of the semester and you’re trying to figure out what grade you need to make on your final in order to make x grade in the class.
This is usually where they’ll also mention whether they accept extra credit or plan on dropping any grades in the class. Some professors are more flexible than others and will allow you a second chance to make up your grade. If you realize early on that you’re not going to do well, but don’t want to drop the class, refer back to this section. They may allow you to submit extra work, make corrections to a completed assignment, or drop a low test score.
Office Hours & Tutoring
By mid-semester, you should know whether you’re at risk of failing your class. At this point, if you’re not doing well or want more support, you should reach out to your professor or seek out tutoring services. This portion of the syllabus should have details on when your professor is available and where you can visit them during office hours. It may also include where on campus you can go for tutoring and if they offer any supplemental instruction times.
Even if you’re not struggling with class, talking to your professor is still a good idea. If you need a reference for a job, graduate school, or a scholarship application later on, your professors can be some of the best people to ask. However, they will likely decline if they don’t know anything about you. Make an effort to visit your professor at least once during the semester to introduce yourself and ask any questions you may have about the class.
The syllabus is a great tool that you can use to navigate your academic journey . Be sure to read through each of them at the start of the semester and take advantage of the information and resources available to you on campus.
