Tackling syllabus week — How to make syllabus week successful and stress free

Syllabus week is arguably one of the most stressful, yet painless weeks of a college student’s semester.

Much like dead week, “silly week” as it has been coined, is quite the conundrum. Some students shuffle from class to class, find a comfortable seat for the semester and then move onto the next syllabus. Other students meticulously plan out the week, nd classrooms beforehand and color coordinate each folder to each syllabus. And then there are the students that fall somewhere in between.

Truthfully, everyone handles syllabus week differently. But, each student holds the common thread of knowing that no matter how many syllabus weeks they have been through, everything and everyone is just a little bit new. That is where the stress comes in.

No matter how quick class meetings end, or how few assignments are assigned or how many parties there are to partake in at the end of the day, most everyone, for the most part, is in the same boat.

So, while silly week trudges on, here are a few things to look forward to in each class to make for a successful week and a stress-free semester.

Read the syllabus

This might sound simple, but thoroughly reading the syllabus before the first class of the semester is the best way to gauge how the class and teacher will proceed for the year.

Syllabus week is like a trial run. The first week of class is a great way to gain a surface level understanding of the professor and class content. Both are helpful indicators in deciding whether or not to drop or continue with the class. Those crucial first five days may be simple, but they provide more information than students often recognize.

Meet the professor

Whether a student is a “sit in the back” sort of personality or an “attends every allocated office hour” sort of personality, it never hurts to meet the professor before or after the first class.

Many professors use the first class of syllabus week as a time to meet each student via the class roster. However, engaging with the professor personally will only help during last minute meetings and pleas for study help down the line.

Find a study partner

While much of syllabus week is spent listening to each professor list o do’s, dont’s and dates, a large portion of that first class is spent staring around the room. Well, don’t stare, rather quietly look around for friendly faces.

This class, although ultimately pretty boring and often quick, is a perfect time to pick out that semester’s “study buddy.”

Evaluate the course

Reading the syllabus before each class helps to gain a better understanding of the course dates and its general setup. But, evaluating the several class meetings that occur during syllabus week is undoubtedly a very important step.

A key aspect in deciding what courses will require the most time, brainpower and stress begins during syllabus week.

As the professor explains what topics the course will cover and what week tests or essays are due, students should essentially evaluate how much of their life the course will consume.

Some courses require multiple hours per week, while others require a light read of the assigned textbook here and there. Syllabus week is when these questions are most often answered.

Enjoy the experience

The most stressful aspect and the most enjoyable aspect of syllabus week is the newness that every student finds.

Syllabus week is called silly week for its outwardly laid-back appearance, which means that there is time to enjoy the new semester and each new class.

While the campus is filled with energy, regarding both interesting courses and the larger number of fun activities to choose from, students should take a moment to acknowledge the importance and feel the ex- citement for the year ahead.

Hailey Stewart can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @Hailey_ann97

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