Laurus College Blog Post - New Student Survival Guide

New Student Survival Guide

by Rachel Villanueva, Professional Business Systems Instructor

Welcome to Laurus College! The first day of class is coming up, the beginning of a new term and the first day of the rest of your life. Maybe you’re not sure whether you should be excited or nervous, even a combination of both. Starting at a new college can be intimidating, especially if it’s your first time in a virtual classroom. This guide will give you a jumpstart on the ins and outs of the seasoned users so that you won’t look like the newbie on the first day.

Also, be sure to check out the New Student Welcome Guide for a detailed guide on getting started.

1. Be there or be square.
The best piece of advice for any new student would be to attend class punctually. Also, if you happen to arrive a couple of minutes before class begins, you have the opportunity to familiarize yourself with the classroom setup and also get to know your instructor and fellow students as well.

2. Be alert.
It’s important to pay close attention while logged into Adobe Connect. You’ll want to make sure that your microphone is muted when you are not speaking. This helps the speaker to be able to concentrate and you’ll avoid sounding like Darth Vader while you’re at it.

3. Mac users beware!
If you’re an Apple user you may find yourself lost in a sea of Windows. Windows is still the most popular operating system in the world. If you are making the transition from Apple to Windows, just know that some of the controls are the opposite, and most importantly, right-click is your friend. Right click has the same functions as the Control + click feature on a Mac, so you’ll be able to use similar features as “right click.”

4. Get involved.
There are clubs available on campus and online that are dedicated to every program (Professional Business Systems, Information Technologies & Network Systems, Digital Arts & Computer Animation, Medical Billing & Coding, and Web Design). Take advantage of these student clubs as there is great information on relevant topics for your program. From software refreshers to animation reels you’re bound to find a topic that will spark your interest.

5. Get techie with it.
You’re attending an interactive online school now, and it’s perfectly fine to explore new ways of learning. This is your opportunity to explore methods that will help you study for success. Here at Laurus, you will be exposed to online books, research through our virtual ProQuest Library, and who knows? Maybe you’ll be on the virtual flashcard bandwagon in no time!

6. Last tip for New Students:
Be Yourself. Just because you’re taking classes through a virtual classroom doesn’t mean that you have to take on a new persona. It takes some practice to fully master expressing yourself through a microphone, webcam or even a chat room, but you should always be yourself as that is the version of “you” that matters the most.

7. Important links to bookmark:

New Student Welcome Guide
School Catalog
Student Portal (Classroom)
Student Email
Student Links

We understand that this journey may be hard at times, but remember everyone here at Laurus College is here to help and get you to where you want to be!

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