Ten things for first-year students to know

For incoming freshmen at UCF, the first semester can be a bit overwhelming.

Whether you're living with your parents, commuting from off-campus housing or strolling out of one of UCF's on-campus housing facilities, it helps to know what you've gotten yourself into and what to keep in mind during your first year of college.

The decisions you make and the things you do during the first year can have a significant impact on the rest of your college career.

The following list contains key items to help you make the most of this exciting time.

1. Don't hit the snooze button.

Whether you're a morning person or someone who would prefer to take a baseball bat to the blaring alarm clock, resist the urge to hit the snooze button.

Being late to your first class is no way to start off your first semester at college.

"You're paying good money to go to this school," senior philosophy major Jacob Gibbs said.

Gibbs said that though it's important to have fun during your college experience, it's equally important to be responsible and put studies first.

"We don't go to school to party," Gibbs said. "We go to school to learn and better ourselves and our community and our world in some way."

2. Use the Student Academic Resource Center.

As a new student, you're bound to have a question or two on anything from study tips to classroom etiquette.

SARC offers a variety of free workshops, which are listed on the website. Tutoring services are also available.

Assistant Director of First Year Experience Daniel Meuninck said students who use the SARC tend to do better in their classes. Meuninck also said that first-year students should connect with their academic advisers before withdrawal dates, especially if they haven't declared a major.

3. Where to study

No matter what type of class schedule you have, you'll probably find yourself studying throughout each week.

If you can't focus at home, there are plenty of spots on campus to cram for exams. Junior interpersonal/organizational communications major David Hogg recommended the Student

Union, designated study areas, computer labs or the reading room in the Burnett Honors College building.

"Take advantage of places that are good for that sort of thing," Hogg said.

4. What can I do with a __________ degree?

You've declared a major, now what? Meuninck recommends visiting Career Services located in Ferrell Commons.

Career Services offers career counseling, résumé critiquing, job fairs, major exploration and more. Students can find out what careers they might be interested in that relate to their major, Meuninck said.

5. Cheerleaders and concerts and comedy, oh my!

Pegasus Palooza, UCF's official welcome week, runs now through Aug. 28.

"There are concerts, comedy shows [and] pep rally-type events," Meuninck said of the event sponsored by Knights of the Round Table.

This year, there is a new event that the class of 2014 will be the first to experience.

From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, UCF will host "The Gauntlet," which offers students a chance to meet their favorite student athletes and challenge them in carnival games around the East Knight Plaza and Memory Mall, according to the Pegasus Palooza website.

Chantel Carter, the associate director of the Office of Student Involvement, said the weeklong event will showcase multiple UCF organizations.

6. Did someone say ‘free food?'

As part of Pegasus Palooza, the Multicultural Student Center will host Taste of UCF from 6 p.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday at Memory Mall. Students get in free with a valid student ID. There will be free food from a variety of cultures.

"For one thing, there's free food," Gibbs said. "For another thing, you're going to probably meet other people like you."

There will also be musical performances by Patrice Roberts, Josh Thompson, Ricardo Drue and Carimi.

7. Keeping with tradition

In addition to the various events that Pegasus Palooza will have to offer, students have plenty to look forward to year round.

Meuninck said students should try to attend football games, Homecoming events and Spirit Splash.

"Particularly, they should attend the homecoming football game and the game during Family Weekend, which is the weekend of Sept. 12," he said.

Homecoming is movie-themed this year.

"We have a great lineup planned with a lot of emphasis on the movies," Carter said.

8. LINK up

When trying to make a decision on which UCF events to attend, freshmen might want to consider which events offer LINK loot points.

"Learning and Interacting with New Knights"-associated events offer varying amounts of points that students accumulate by signing in at an event.

At the end of each semester, students can use their points at the LINK Loot auction, which happens at the end of each fall semester, or the LINK lottery, where points can be traded for raffle tickets that can be put toward various prizes.

LINK-associated events are specifically for freshmen to help them get involved.

For more information about LINK, visit www.link.ucf.edu.

9. Get obsessed (or at least organized).

One of the major differences between high school and college is that high school teachers tend to give a lot of reminders about assignments and due dates.

College professors will often prepare the syllabus with due dates for the entire semester and expect you to remember your assignments.

According to www.survivingcollegelife.com, a Fox College Funding LLC blog, new college students should prioritize, eliminate distractions and set a schedule.