Aurora University
First-Year Program
First-Year Frequently Asked Questions
Questions often asked by first-year students….with answers.
Preparing for College:
Your First-Year at AU:
Once You Arrive on Campus:
Preparing for College
What kind of computer should I get?
“You should definitely get
one you can afford. But, if you want the most practical set-up, and you
are willing to spend a little bit more money, a laptop is definitely
that way to go since you can carry your work with you wherever you go.”
~ Chris, junior
“A laptop would be best so you could take it to study wherever
on campus. However, you do not need one. I am a sophomore and as of right
now, still do not have one. The computer labs are always available to
use and it costs nothing to print and I take full advantage of that.”
~ Mary, sophomore
“If you have the funds for a new computer, your best bet would
be to invest in a laptop. Laptops are convenient because you can take
them with you if you want to work outside of your dorm room. The library
has wireless Internet access, and The Spot [restaurant on campus] has
Ethernet ports to connect to the Internet. If you’re looking for
something a little less expensive, invest in a desktop. Even though you
cannot bring your desktop around with you, you can save your work to
a CD or a flash drive, and pull up your work on a computer in the labs
or library. If you do not have the funds for a laptop or desktop, there
are computers in the library and in the labs in Dunham, however those
areas do get a little crowded around midterms and finals.”
~ Suzee, senior
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How do I select classes?
“You will have a faculty advisor who is there to help you make your
class schedule. I would recommend that prior to your advising appointment
you look at the undergraduate course catalog and see what classes most
interest you. Also know what classes your degree requires you to take so
you can plan on when you will be taking some of those. Being prepared prior
to your advising appointment will be more beneficial for you because you
will be interested in the classes you are signing up for and know that
you are fulfilling your graduation requirements as well.”
~Katie, sophomore
“Choose classes which are of interest to you but also fulfill
general education requirements so that if you switch majors those first-year
classes will still count towards the major or minor.”
~Mary, sophomore
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What are some of the essential things to bring or get for college life?
“I would invest in an accordion type folder if not two. One could
be for classes. I'm talking about putting your syllabi, handouts, and/or
assignments…that way you will not have 8 different folders to keep
track of. You have one folder and one spiral for each class. If you do
buy a second one, use it for more of the financial papers…maybe
your W-2's, financial aid papers, scholarship forms, etc. Get a clip on
lamp for your bed…that way you know you'll have enough light to
read your books by at about 3 a.m. Paper clips and thumbtacks are essential!
If you're looking for more dorm tips, get a rug or two, a mirror, an iron
and ironing board, a foot locker. It's more common sense, so just make
a list of things you need.”
~Hazel, sophomore
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Your First-Year at AU
What do the residence hall rooms look like?
“Compared to many other
college and universities, the size of the dorm is actually quite large.
Another aspect is that the furniture is movable and can be situated to
you and your roommate’s preferences.”
~ Marissa, sophomore
“In my opinion, the rooms at AU are definitely come of the nicer
ones that I have seen, and I have been in the residence halls at many
schools. Each person gets a bed, desk, dresser, chair, and closet to
keep all your stuff in, and every building has a vending area where you
can buy snacks if you get hungry at 3 a.m. The best way to know what
the rooms look like is come see them for yourself by scheduling a tour.
(Just give that Admissions Representative of yours a call and ask them
about it.)”
~Chris, junior
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Should I commute or live in the residence halls?
“My hometown is 7 minutes away in Oswego. I dorm. You meet more people,
are closer to resources on campus, and can participate in clubs and events
thrown by APB [Activities Programming Board] more often. I wouldn’t
commute even if I could change it all over again.”
~Adam, sophomore
“Being someone who only lives 30 minutes from home I had that
option and I chose to live on campus for several reasons. One, I wanted
the opportunity to become more independent. Two, I found it was more
convenient for not only getting to classes but for athletic practices
and group projects. I never have to rush to class because everything
is accessible right on campus, including the fitness center, weight room,
library, and all faculty offices. Overall, living on campus simplifies
my lifestyle. If these things aren’t important to you, then living
off campus might be a better option for you.”
~ Stephanie, sophomore
“It is a really good experience to live in the dorms. But, you
have to keep in mind what kind of person you are. You are most likely
going to be sharing a room with someone and learning to deal with everyone
else on the floor. Being on campus is a way to make friends, because
there are lots of people right there. You can also meet lots of people
if you are commuting. But, it just might take more effort on your part
if you are commuting, to get involved in activities.”
~ Sara, sophomore
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What is general education?
“General education is a set of classes that everybody is required
to take in order to round out your education. These classes teach you skills
like writing, critical thinking, and communicating your ideas more effectively.
Think of them as a supplement to your major. They teach you the skills
that you will need in order to succeed in completing your major.”
~Chris, junior
“General education is the education that is required for all Aurora
University students to graduate.”
~ Katie, sophomore
“Courses necessary to graduate outside your major.”
~Adam, sophomore
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There are a bunch of courses called “IDS.” What
does IDS stand for?
“Interdisciplinary studies. Or, in short, [two are] Culture, Diversity
and Expression and Wellness and Social Responsibility. These classes are writing-intensive
courses.”
~Adam, sophomore
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How should I pick a major?
“Pick something you like. If you already have one in mind, great!
If not, then just take a lot of General Education classes in a wide variety
of subjects and see if any of them appeal to you. It is ok to be undecided
because chances are good that you will eventually figure it out.”
~Chris, junior
“Don’t worry about whether or not you know what you want
to do 5, 10, 15 yrs down the road. Even those people who say they know,
come to find out they really don’t. I think that sometimes it is
best to go into college with an open mind and begin by studying a few
things you are interested in and then go with what you like the best
and can do well in. Same goes for those who think they know what they
want to do – keep an open mind. There is nothing wrong with changing
your mind and going in a different direction. It will be better for you
in the long run.”
~Elisha, junior
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Once You Arrive on Campus
I came to AU as a student-athlete. What else should
I consider?
“What you should realize is the sport you're playing
is not the most important thing right now although it may seem that way.
College is about many different things with education being the most
important. Do well in classes and get involved in some other student
activities.”
~ Dani, first-year student
“Even if you are involved in a sport at AU, you will still have
down time either in your off season or during the season. I would suggest
looking into getting a job on campus or getting involved in the different
events that go on like ice cream socials, trips to the malls, outings
to Chicago, etc.”
~ Jen, junior
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How do I get my ID? What do I do if I lost it?
“Ask Campus Safety if anyone turned it in by chance, but otherwise
you have to go to student accounts immediately to replace it for $25. Any
ID that is lost, stolen, or damaged must be reported and replaced immediately.”
~ Adam, sophomore
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Where do I go with questions?
“There's many people you can go to with questions. The First Year Academic Advisor, your academic advisor or peer advisor, and if you live in the dorms – your
resident assistant (RA).”
~ Sara, sophomore
“Any questions you have concerning living arrangements, loans,
jobs, or activities can be answered by several different people. My first
suggestion would be to see the First Year Academic Advisor …she
will usually be able to answer any questions or will surely be able to
point you in the right direction to find the answer. Another good person
would be your Advisor…Peer Advisor, or an RA [resident assistant].”
~Jen, junior
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There’s so much drama in my life. I never expected all
this stress. What should I do?
“There is going to be stress. Everyone goes through a period where
they question if this [college] is the thing for them to be doing. But,
no matter what happens at home with family, girlfriends/boyfriends, classes,
homework, and sports, it will get better even if it does not seem like
it will. Don’t keep all your feelings bottled up – talk to
a friend, a teacher, the counselor. There are so many people here that
are more than willing to help you out. And, they want you to succeed as
much as you want to.”
~Todd, first-year student
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“Adjusting to college can be a stressful thing. The best thing
to do is to talk to somebody about it. Again, try your Peer Advisor,
or your Resident Assistant. Both of these people are well equipped to
help you deal with the stresses of college life.”
~ Chris, junior
“Talk to someone! There are plenty of people that are willing
to listen and try to help you in any way they can.”
~ Marissa, sophomore
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I’m struggling in my math (or history or English) class.
What can I do?
“If you are struggling in any class, the first thing you should do
is talk to your professor, because believe it or not, your professors do
care. Either chatting with them after class or scheduling an appointment
with them outside of class, they will give you guidance. They may help
you themselves or advise you to make an appointment in the Center for Teaching and Learning
(a free tutoring program). Along with these options, you could also find
a friend in the class or form a study group. The last thing you should
do is just drop a course or skip classes you don’t understand. Remember,
someone is always willing to help as long as you ask. Don’t be afraid
to ask.”
~Stephanie, sophomore
“Talk to the professor! If you express that you really want help
they will help. If not, it looks more like laziness. Also, go to the
Center for Teaching and Learning."
~ Dani, first-year student
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I’m not sleeping like I used to. What should I do?
“It’s very hard to get the right amount of sleep, but you have
to try to get onto a schedule and stick to it – easier said than
done. Now you don’t have someone telling you that you can’t
do things. Instead, you have friends all around you that you can hang out
with until 5 in the morning if you like, which I do not recommend, you
can do what you want when you want. You have more freedom now than you
ever had, and if you want a slurpee at 3 in the morning you can go get
one. But realize that losing sleep will catch up with you, and make things
very difficult.”
~ Todd, first-year student
“A good planned schedule is often necessary to succeed in college.
With classes as sporadically as they have ever been in your life, it
can be tough to budget classes, homework, work, meals, and social times
all in the same day. The best thing to do is go about your first week
as best as you can. After you know what your week will look like, plan
out times for naps, meals, friends, and work for the rest of the semester.
Also, an on campus job works around your schedule and not you around
theirs. That is usually a big payoff.”
~ Adam, sophomore
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Let’s face it. I’m a bad test-taker. So, now what?
“I have always had trouble when it comes to tests because I get severe
anxiety and bad stomach aches. My solution to the problem is to work really
hard on the homework and attend class so that you know at least you will
get full credit on those two areas to fall back on if your tests aren't
doing so well. To do better on the tests, I make appointments at the Center for Teaching & Learning to go over the material so I feel confident with it. Then, I re-read
the chapters and go over the notes. I have others quiz me, and I give myself
at least a good week to study for the test so I don't go into extra-panic
mode when the test rolls around.”
~Kara, sophomore
“It’s okay to be a bad test taker. Now you just need to
work on becoming a better test taker, it is a skill that can be learned
with practice. Set up tutoring sessions in the Center for Teaching & Learning, or study
with a group of classmates. You could also talk to your professor and
ask them how you can better prepare for their tests.”
~ Chris, junior
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