Five tips for thriving academically in your first year

Hello, incoming Blue Jays! My name is Joseph Rainbolt, and I am a rising senior majoring in Public Health on the pre-med track here at Hopkins. On behalf of the Hopkins community, I would like to welcome you to campus. I think that you will find, like I have, that Hopkins brings together an amazing group of kind and driven people. But I know how stressful those first few weeks can be, especially since you are, in all likelihood, pushing yourself to do amazing yet difficult things, particularly when it comes to academics. That’s where I come in. In an attempt to help each and every one of you, this is going to be my rigorous, straightforward, no-BS guide to success in your classes at Hopkins.

Tip #1: Don’t be arrogant early on

Many of you are going to be tempted to take as many credits and STEM courses as possible during your freshman year. I would highly advise against that.

You are much better off spacing out your difficult classes while using your other course requirements to fill your credits. I have tried throughout my time here to only take two difficult STEM courses per semester. The only semester when I took three, I ended up having a subpar grade in one of them. If you finish your freshman year having done well, you will have a better idea of the course load you can handle and then be ready to take more classes.

Tip #2: Research your classes

I cannot stress how important researching your classes is. Classes that fulfill the same requirements can be widely different in terms of difficulty. I recommend using the Hopkins course evaluations for every course you are thinking about taking and seeing how previous students have viewed the course. These evaluations can tell you so much about the style of the course, the professor, the TAs and how interesting previous students found the course. 

Tip #3: Be social

The importance of getting to know your professors, TAs and peers in your classes can’t be overstated. It can make a world of difference. If a professor in a large class knows your name because you are asking questions and being attentive, you are on the right track to learning more and succeeding within the course. You’ll also really value these relationships as you become an upperclassman, because you will likely need letters of recommendation for whatever career or future schooling you choose to pursue. 

Finally, having peers, especially ones you can study with, can make hard classes much more enjoyable. You are going to run into classes and stretches where you simply don’t want to study, and having a group to push you makes it so much easier to learn. 

Tip #4: Use your drop dates

Hopkins has extraordinarily generous drop dates for your classes every semester. You can 100% use this to your advantage. If you are unsure between two classes, simply take both and see which one fits you better after seeing the professors' teaching styles and the course materials. 

Also, if you are struggling in a course, the drop date is almost always after at least one midterm has been graded. So, be pragmatic. If a course where you underperformed on the first midterm is one that you need for your major, and you think a bad grade would reflect badly on you, talk to an advisor or the professor about whether dropping the class is the best course of action. 

Tip #5: Consistency and sacrifices

This is the most difficult tip I have for you, but it will probably make the biggest difference. If your goal is to have great grades, you will probably have to make sacrifices. You should not be locked in your room studying. If that’s the case, you’re doing something wrong, but there are going to be times when you have to work harder than you want to.

However, the frequency of these times can be avoided if you have consistent habits. This includes things like going to class, studying several days before a test and reaching out for help when you feel yourself falling behind. They may seem small, but by being consistent, you will drastically decrease the number of panic study sessions and essay all-nighters you need.

Well, new Blue Jays, that is all I have for you. I wish you the very best of luck, and although I know it is scary, I want you to know that people here are on your side. Professors, students, administrators and everyone in between are rooting for you. So, do not be afraid to ask questions, seek help and take risks. Congratulations on being accepted to such a fine institution — now go out there and be amazing!

Joseph Rainbolt is a senior majoring in Public Health from Atlanta, Ga. He is a Sports Editor for The News-Letter.