Students studying outside on the CU Boulder campusThe transition from high school to college can bring a number of changes, including different coursework, class sizes and academic expectations. It may take some time for your student to adapt to these changes. Share these tips and encourage your student to take advantage of free, on-campus resources to help them through their transition.

Preparing for the semester

At the beginning of the semester, your student will get a syllabus in every class. Each of these documents outlines expectations, required readings, project deadlines, exam dates, policies and more.

Encourage your student to read each of their syllabi, and make note of important dates and deadlines. If they have any questions, they should ask their instructor for clarification as soon as possible.

Developing study habits

Learning to manage time and stay organized can be key in your student’s academic success. A calendar or planner can be a useful tool for your student. They can:

  • Map out important dates like exams, labs, assignment deadlines, presentations and more.
  • Break down large papers and projects into smaller tasks to work on throughout the semester.
  • Schedule consistent blocks of time to study or review class material each week.

Studying regularly can help your student balance academics with social time and other responsibilities. It can also help your student avoid procrastinating until the last minute. Your student can explore these study spots around campus to find one that works best for them.

For more tips on time management and study skills, encourage your student to check out some of the free workshops from Disability Services. They’ll cover a variety of topics, including the differences between high school and college, note-taking strategies, time management, exam preparation and more!

Finding help

Students have access to free academic resources as soon as they arrive on campus. As the semester progresses, encourage your student to find help early if they find themselves struggling. They don’t need to wait until they do poorly on their first test or paper. There are academic resources for students to use at any point in the semester, including:

  • Tutoring services. CU Boulder offers a wide variety of tutoring services. Some are specific to classes, departments or groups of students, while others are available campus-wide. Many of these services are free to use. If your student isn’t sure where to begin, encourage them to check their syllabus, or ask their professor or course assistant for help and referrals.

  • Writing consultations. The Writing Center is an academic support service that offers writers from all academic disciplines and skill levels the opportunity to work one-on-one with professionally trained writing consultants. Services are available free of charge to current CU Boulder undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, staff, alumni and university affiliates.

  • Research assistance. University Libraries offer a vast collection of academic resources and learning experiences. Students can request personal research consultations with a librarian. They can help refine and focus research topics, develop successful search strategies and identify appropriate sources for research projects. 

Your student can also ask their advisor about academic resources specific to their college or school, like help labs or academic coaching.

Meeting with faculty

Faculty members and teaching assistants all have scheduled time during the week where they are able to meet with students outside of the classroom. This is known as ‘office hours’. Office hours allow students to meet one-on-one with their instructors to ask questions, express concerns or get additional support. 

Encourage your student to go to their instructors’ office hours early in the semester to introduce themselves. This can make it easier to ask for help or guidance later on. Regularly attending office hours and establishing a rapport with faculty can open up additional opportunities, like research projects, internships or letters of recommendation.

Buff Family Advice

“I wish I had pushed her to make use of the free tutoring sooner. I knew it was there but I didn't realize how easy it would have been to start up with a tutor right away.” – CU Buff Parent

“Encourage your student to go to every professor’s office hours! It has been the best thing my student has done to support her academic life.” – CU Buff Parent