Welcome to Colby! And welcome to “Stalled,” a poster series that provides suggestions to help you maximize your academic success. Why is it called “Stalled?” We hope to give you advice before your schoolwork stalls. Also, you’ll find these posters in the bathrooms stalls of academic buildings several times each semester! 

PLAN YOUR SEMESTER

SCHEDULE IT IN. You will have received your fall ’24 class schedule over the summer. This allows you to block off all class times in your calendar. We suggest that you familiarize yourself with Google Calendar, since Colby uses Google’s suite of software. If you need help, see the Stalled poster from February 2024 on Google Calendar by using the QR code or link to the Stalled archive at the bottom of this poster.

BE READY TO STUDY. To know how much time to devote to each class, you need to know that every 1 hour of class time requires 2-3 hours of study/work time. So, if you have a 3-hour class, expect to spend about 9 hours a week studying, doing homework, and completing assignments for that one class. It’s a good idea to schedule that work/study time on your calendar so that you know that you’re giving each class its due attention. 

DON’T OVERDO IT. It would be easy to overpack your schedule with lots of club meetings, sports meets, performances, and other activities. Such events are great ways to meet people and develop your knowledge, so do take advantage of them! But pay attention to your energy levels and available time, and don’t do so many things that your schoolwork or self-care suffers.

UPDATE! Once you know when your major tests happen and assignments are due (which you’ll find out when Fall ’24 starts), add them to your Google calendar. Then, be sure to schedule work and study time for them — and change your calendar right away if any changes to those dates are announced in any of your classes.

MAKE THE MOST OF ORIENTATION

TAKE NOTES. Orientation is exciting and jam-packed, and you will receive a LOT of information in a short amount of time. So be sure to take notes. Come to each session with paper and something to write with (when feasible, you might also bring a digital means of notetaking). Keep those notes in one spot, such as one dedicated orientation notebook. That way, you can refer back later to the information you received when there is anything that you have forgetten.

ASK QUESTIONS. Orientation exists because you don’t yet know what it’s like to be a Colby student, so no one expects you to know everything on arrival. To make the most of it, be ready and willing to ask whatever questions you have. Know that if you have a question, it’s likely that other incoming students will benefit from hearing the answer, too — which means that asking questions is a way to help more than just yourself.

GET TO KNOW THE CAMPUS. During orientation, explore spots on campus like the Harold Alfond Athletics and Recreation Center and Miller Library. Make sure also to find the classrooms for each of your courses, once they’ve been assigned later this summer. Need help finding a room or building? Ask your orientation leader or another new student!

MEET PEOPLE. Orientation is a great time to get to know your fellow first-year students! But you’ll also have opportunities to meet other students, staff members, and faculty. Ask fellow new students about what classes they’ll be taking, and ask folks who’ve been around Colby longer about Colby traditions, their favorite spots on campus, or things that new Colby students should know.

FURTHER RESOURCES 

Every issue of Stalled contains resources and/or related references, as well as a link to the Stalled archive.

Cherry, K. “How to Start a Conversation.” VeryWellMind, 2023. 

Colby College. Campus Interactive Map.

Colby College. Office of Campus Life. 

Google. Get Started with Google Calendar.

Pot, J. “Why Writing by Hand Is Better for Remembering Things.” Popular Science, 2024.

Stalled archive, listed by subject.

University of Pittsburgh. Time Management Calculator.