Things that Every Freshman needs to know or do

(First year students are Freshman 0-30 semester/credit hours)

• Know your student ID# by heart
• If you want your parents to be actively involved and to have access to your records, you need to provide them with a power of attorney
• Know your catalog year
• Make sure all of your transcripts (high school through Dual or IB enrollment) and/or AP scores have been submitted to the USFSP admissions office as soon as possible
• If you feel proficient in a particular area of academics, ask your advisor about the College-Level-Examination Program (CLEP) Exams for college credit
• How to get the USF homepage and access Oasis on the internet
  • Financial Aid information
  • Grades (Final and Mid-Term)
  • Registering for classes on-line
  • Accessing your course schedule (may want to double check locations of classes the week before classes start.room changes are common)

• USFSP Contact Directory
• What are General Education Requirements?           
  • What are the different categories?
  • Are you taking English and Mathematics in your first semester?
  • How do you fulfill them?
  • When should you have them completed?

• What is the Gordon Rule?
• How to use FACTS?
  • Accessing and reading SASS audits (tool used to track progress of degree programs and graduation requirements)
  • Information on major requirements

• Important Dates and Deadlines
  • When does Drop/Add week begin and end?
  • When is the last day you can withdraw from a class without Academic Penalty?
  • When are the financial aid forms due?
  • When are final exams?
• Student tips to academic success

• Sign up for an e-mail account (many professors use the internet to contact students)
• Location and hours of tutorial services (Writing and Math Labs)
• How to use the library and its resources
• How to access Blackboard

.  On-line services that are available

.  Getting into and using Blackboard

• See an academic advisor at least once a semester
• Know that 1 hour in class = 3-4 average hours studying, reading, preparing for your next class meeting