Make the Most of Your First Two Weeks at Widener

Whether you are a first-year student or a transfer student, making the transition to a new college can feel overwhelming. The campus layout you learned on the tour may have blurred with several others, and all the new people you met at summer orientation are now mixed in with a bunch of unfamiliar faces. It’s a lot to get used to, but with a few small, intentional steps, you can be ready to tackle your first two weeks at Widener and make the rest of your first semester much easier.

💵 Understand Your Finances 

Even in the weeks and months before you start the semester, college finances can feel overwhelming. Understanding your financial situation will help you feel more in control of your finances and future.

To get started, you can take the following steps to help you get a full picture of your billing and financial aid status. The sooner you dig in, the more time you'll have to clear up any questions you may have! 

• View your most up-to-date financial aid offer in your Admissions Portal.
• Access your current eBill and make payment arrangements (including setting up a payment plan) at pay.widener.edu. 
• Want to chat? Our Student Financial Services team is here to help you, not judge. No question is too basic. No situation is too complicated. They’ll be a resource you can count on throughout your time at Widener. You can reach them at 610-499-4161.

You can also explore this guide for more on how to get started with personal finance in college.

🧭 Explore the Campus

During your first two weeks at Widener, you’ll want to take some time to explore and familiarize yourself with the campus. Finding your classrooms is a great place to start. You can find that information on Student Planning or your professors’ Canvas pages. Sometime before the first day of class begins, make sure you can at least find the buildings your classrooms are in to save time making it there in the morning.  

In addition to your classrooms, you could also look for your professors’ offices. Professors typically put their office locations on their Canvas page, or you can find them on the Faculty Directory. Finding them will be beneficial if you ever want to attend Office Hours. Other important places to know are the University Center, the Pride Recreation Center, and the library. 

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Make Connections

From the moment you arrive on campus, you'll have plenty of opportunities to meet new people. After you move in, you’ll meet your orientation group. Introduce yourself to your peers and look for any common interests or classes. If you find someone that shares a class with you, they can become a study partner later on. It may also be helpful to share any contact information or social media profiles you have to stay in touch with each other.

Attending events and joining a student organization are more easy ways to meet other students. Check out the Upcoming Events and Organizations tabs on Engage to find some opportunities you may be interested in. There are 300+ on-campus events each year and 90+ organizations, so try to find at least one that sounds fun by the end of your first two weeks!

Once classes start, don’t forget to connect with your professors, too. Introduce yourself to them and learn their preferred contact method. You may also see them at campus events, and if you do, have a conversation with them. All of this will help you to feel more comfortable going to your professors for help if you need it later in the semester.

💻 Review Your Syllabi

All professors will provide you with a syllabus that outlines their schedule for the semester. Take some time within the first two weeks to review those schedules and make note of any important dates, such as project deadlines, tests or quizzes, and field trips. Mark those dates in a calendar, either online or a paper planner, to keep track of them, and refer back to this schedule often to help you stay on top of your work.

⌚ Build Your Weekly Routine

Establishing a routine early in the semester is key to being successful in the weeks to come. Set aside time to study and complete your homework. If you’ve found any study partners, schedule a time to meet up with them each week. Make sure to also note meeting times or event dates for any student organizations you join.

While staying busy at college can be fun, make sure you also prioritize self-care in your routine. Leave yourself plenty of time to eat meals and get enough sleep. If you feel like you need to unwind a little, find some time to read, or watch an episode of your favorite show, or exercise. Self-care is important to avoid burn-out as you get deeper into the semester, so include it in your routine from the beginning.

📁 Stay Organized & Prepared

As the semester continues past the first two weeks and you have more assignments to keep track of, it will become especially important to stay organized. Create folders in your OneDrive for each class to keep assignments organized online and keep at least one paper folder in case your professor gives handouts or requires you to print something. You can also find other organization tools to use on the Academic Tools & Resources page on mySuccess.

It's also important to stay prepared in case any changes happen, such as a class being canceled by the professor or due to the weather. One of the best and easiest ways to be prepared for those changes is to have notifications turned on for your Widener email, or a consistent schedule to check it. Some professors may even send emails about events and opportunities, so be sure to take advantage of those, as well.

😊 You've Got This!

The first two weeks at a new college can undoubtedly feel overwhelming, but taking each of these small steps will make it feel more manageable in no time. Understanding your billing and financial aid status will help you feel more in control of your college finances. The sooner you get familiar with the campus and make connections with your peers and professors, the sooner you will feel like you have people in your corner to talk to or ask for help. Reviewing your syllabi, building your routine, and getting organized will all allow you to settle in nicely, too. Remember, you’ve got this, so enjoy your first year!

Laura Polaski is an English Secondary Education major. She works as an undergraduate student employee for the Office of University Relations and serves as Editor-in-Chief for The Blue Route literary journal. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, music, and theatre. She has loved her time at Widener and hopes to encourage new students to find their community and enjoy their time at college.