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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Academics are your priority!
You have the opportunity
to learn from and study
with some of the greatest
minds in the world. The
academic opportunities at
IEC are amazing!! Make
sure you take advantage of
these opportunities. Talk
with your academic
advisors, professors, and of
course – other students -
about what you can do to
become involved in
research and other
academic opportunities at
IEC.

5. Academics are your priority!
 Turn up to classes
 Unlike high school, no one will follow
you up if you don't go to class.
However, it is easy to fall behind
quickly if you're not attending
lectures, and your grades may be
affected. Some courses have
compulsory attendance
requirements, or a participation
component to the final grade. Even if
you are not feeling great, just being in
a lecture and listening is a good idea.
 Keep up
 Lecturers pack a lot of information
into a semester-long course. It's easy
to get behind quickly. Keeping up
with weekly readings, problem sheets
or computer labs will help keep your
study load manageable. BUT even if
you haven't completed all of the
readings for a lecture or a tutorial, go
along anyway. You'll pick up more
information than if you stay away.

6. Academics are your priority!
 Be positive
◦ Many students feel shy, anxious or
awkward when attending new
classes. If you have come from a
small school, you may have been a
big fish in a little pond and now you
may feel like a very small fish! Be
positive about yourself and your
abilities. Remember that you have
demonstrated the abilities and
qualities needed to get you in to
university and you will feel more
confident with time.
 Don’t Hesitate and ask
questions
◦ Questions are good; they show
that you are an active listener. Feel
free to ask questions if you do
not understand the idea or if you
have missed something.

7. Learn to manage your time
carefully
P-sets, labs and class
work will stretch your
ability to balance school
and free time. While you
may have been able to
procrastinate in high
school and do fine, that
might not work at IEC!
But be sure you get
involved in activities that
give you some
BALANCE!! blow off
some stress and help
you meet people!

8. 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.

9. Establish the healthy
relationship
Now that you have become a
college student, you should
establish some new types of
relationship with people. A lot
of new people will enter your
life: your dorm roommates,
neighbors, college counselors,
resident assistants, and,
certainly, college faculty. The
latter are people whom your
subsequent life will depend
on during your college years.
This is why it is important to
establish healthy relationship
with your professors
according to the basic
principles of mutual respect.

10. 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!

11. Make friends
 Starting to establish
connections on IEC can help
you feel more settled and that
you belong. The perception of
many first years is that
everyone else already has
friends on campus and that
they are the ONLY person
who doesn't know anyone.
Get to know people in your
course. This can help you feel
more socially connected and
enable you to chat with other
students about assignments
or set up study groups. There
are lots of different clubs and
societies that you can join to
get to know other students
with similar interests to
yours.

12. 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).

13. 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.