Do You Have What It Takes To Be A Highway Patrol Officer?

Many of our students at Shelton State Community College are enrolled in Criminal Justice courses in hopes of working with the Department of Public Safety. Career Services is focusing on the careers of Alabama State Troopers this week. As you know, this is an honorable career that can be risky but necessary in order for the great state of Alabama to continue to be a safe place to live.

The following information was found on the Alabama Department of Public Safety’s website. Go to http://dps.alabama.gov/Home/Default.aspx for more information.



• State Trooper – Not just a job…a great career choice.

• Job as a Trooper

• Is a Trooper’s Job Right for Me?

• Physical Fitness Entry Level Standards for Trooper Applicants

• What is State Trooper Training Like?

• State Trooper Pay Scale (As of September 2008)

• Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission



We also found the following article under the Newsletters section using the DISCOVER program. Many of you have an ID to this program and are able to explore other articles and access the many resources DISCOVER offers. If you would like more information regarding the career assessment program, DISCOVER, please call the Career Services Center (205.391.5874) for more information.

Highway Patrol Officer

________________________________________

Jim Smith has been a state patrol officer for five years. Men and women who do this work are sometimes called state troopers. Jim's particular job differs from that of a policeman in the city because he is expected to be familiar with and patrol an assigned area of the county. Working mostly alone, he provides a variety of services to the motorists who use the highways. Jim enjoys the challenges and responsibilities of his work, and has become well-known and a dependable friend to many people. As part of this occupation, he wears a uniform, carries firearms, drives a special car, and is trained to respond to many types of emergencies. In order to become a member of the state police force, Jim had to get his bachelor's degree and then be accepted into and successfully graduate from the Highway Patrol Academy.

State police officers are best known for issuing traffic citations to motorists who break the law. Jim knows this part of his job is very important because it encourages motorists to follow the rules. Reminding motorists of the laws and pointing out their mistakes prevents accidents. Jim is often called to accidents, where he may direct traffic, give first aid, and call for emergency equipment. He might take photographs to determine the cause of the accident, gather evidence in criminal cases, and write reports. He also appears in court as a witness when necessary.

Jim starts his day early. He is in the car and on the road by 6:00 a.m. Although his hours are part of a regular schedule, he is expected to be "on duty" 24 hours a day. Whenever he sees someone in trouble, he gives them help. His training has equipped him to work with minimal direct supervision, and his main responsibility is to ensure public safety on the state highways.

Today is a national holiday, and that means more cars than usual will be on the roads, and a greater probability exists that there will be drunk drivers and accidents. Jim will be on the lookout for those who are speeding, going to the scene of any accidents in his area, and possibly giving first aid to crash victims. By mid-morning, he has covered one crash involving bodily injury, called medical rescue technicians to take that person to the hospital, and answered a call from someone whose neighbor was threatening him with a gun. Later in the day, he will help with traffic direction at a large outdoor concert. Thousands of people will be arriving, and patrol officers will direct traffic flow towards the parking lots.

By the end of the holiday, Jim will have, perhaps, prevented loss of life and property destruction. His quick decision-making and good communication skills will have found help for people at accident scenes and stopped an argument from ending in a shooting. These are the results of his good training and dedication to his work.

There are other duties that highway patrol officers perform. They investigate crime scenes, pursue and arrest criminals, and inspect motor vehicles for compliance with weight and hazardous materials regulations. Officers are members of the community and often give presentations at schools and civic group meetings where they teach public safety. They also help with the training of new highway patrol recruits. Jim Smith is proud of his job as a highway patrol officer. He is in a special group of people who help protect the public from crime and keep the roads safe for travel.

Making Contact with Employers

With classes starting back and students getting back into the swing of the start of a semester, many students are searching for part-time and full-time jobs. Career Services offers job searching assistance on Shelton State’s website. Students will find job search websites and information on the current labor market. Visit https://www.sheltonstate.edu/current_students/career_services_center.aspx for more information.

The following article was found through DISCOVER's website:

Making Contact with Employers

When you are hunting for a job, getting your foot in the door is difficult. How do you get the attention of the employer? How can you find out about job openings? How do you find out more about an organization than is provided on their web site?

Know What They Need and What You Can Offer

Rule #1: Identify the kind of job you want. Know how your skills, education, and/or experience "fit" the job for which you are applying. If you have particular strengths or weaknesses, be sure you think about how you will explain them to employers. Use the occupational description in DISCOVER to decide which skills will be useful and how you will use them in this kind of work. Then use the Internet to find job descriptions in your field. Look at other people's resumes to see how you can strengthen your resume. Visit the websites of companies that employ people in your field, or use a search engine to identify employers in your field.

Find-a-Friend

Rule #2: Find people who either do the kind of work you want to do, or know people who do the kind of work you want to do. Ask for their help. Good places to find such people are professional organizations in your field, such as the American Marketing Association or Teacher's Federation, or general professional associations like the Chamber of Commerce or Lion's Club. Attend meetings or subscribe to listservs to strike up conversations with "pros."

Other ways to network with people who can help you are college alumni associations, mentoring programs, and jobshadowing partners. Use directories, such as professional association guides, telephone books, and on-line directories to make contact with employers. Your local library can also provide helpful ideas.

Getting in the Door

Rule #3: The phone is your friend. We may live on the Information Superhighway, but business is still mostly done by phone. Use the phone to find out:

• Who you should bring or send your resume to

• What the current issues are within the company

• Who the people are who do the kind of work you'd like

• If there are job openings now or whether there may be openings soon

A good way to prepare for the phone call is to write a script. That way you'll have the right words in front of you when need them. When you contact a person by phone:

• Introduce yourself and briefly tell her or him where you went to school, when you graduated (if you have, of course), and why you are calling.

• Highlight your qualifications in a few sentences. Ask if you might stop by for a short visit. If not, offer to drop off your resume.

• Whether you get a chance to follow-up or not, be sure you ask the person if you can check back in a month or so.

• Be sure you are upbeat and thank the person when you hang up.

With these tips, you should be working in no time. Good luck!

Many students are seeking fall employment

The Career Services Center has been hopping this week with students preparing for fall employment and seeking career guidance. One service the center offers is help with resume writing. If you would like for the CSC staff to take a look at your resume, give us a call at 205.391.5874 or 205.391.2204.

Also, you can get started writing your resume by using your DISCOVER account. This is an excellent tool in building a basic resume for you to elaborate on as you add skills to your repertoire. Career Services visits all orientation classes each semester to administer the DISCOVER assessment. If you do not have a log-in name and are interested in learning more about it, call the CSC to set up an appointment.

To help you get started, we have included a description of the 3 most common styles of resumes. The following article was found at www.careerperfect.com:



THE MOST EFFECTIVE RESUME FORMATS

Each individual possesses a unique set of talents, skills, abilities, experience, and training; as a result, one must consider all factors in order to determine the best strategy.

Although there are dozens of different formats, a resume will fit one of three basic categories: Chronological, Functional, and Combination.

1. 1. Chronological

A chronological format emphasizes professional experience; however, it is best if a chronological resume utilizes a focused summary of qualifications that quickly conveys essential skills to an employer. This provides an opportunity to immediately capture attention through vital keywords and employer-centric language, thereby ensuring you make a strong first impression during the critical 15-second initial human screening.

Without a summary of qualifications, the chronological format can be risky as it will simply stress the past rather than target your goals and the employer's needs. With potentially hundreds of resumes to review, the employer cannot be burdened with interpreting a candidate's work history during the few seconds of an initial screen. Rather, the summary of qualifications does the work, ensuring you get the attention you deserve...and that relevant skills won't be missed.

Generally, the chronological format works well if one's past employment meets certain criteria, including:

 The work history directly relates to the targeted position; ideally the history will show progressive responsibility in a specific career direction.

 The years of experience fall within a marketable range and include present (or very recent) employment.

When work history is not directly related to one's current employment objective, a Combination format is likely the best approach.

2. Functional

This largely obsolete format seeks to present qualifications that relate to the targeted position by focusing on skills and qualifications only; this is achieved by using functional headings that are strategically developed around one's transferable skills without developing details about the work history. If work history is presented, it is generally only as a simple list at the end of the resume.

The traditional functional format was historically used to hide unfavorable elements in a candidate's employment history, so it is often viewed with extreme caution by human resource and management professionals. In particular, they may wonder what the candidate is trying to hide, especially when the work history is omitted entirely (which we do not recommend).

While the functional format was once considered effective if a job seeker's current employment objectives were completely unrelated to his or her work history, recent advances in resume parsing (screening) technology make it impossible for a functional resume to survive in most online job boards or employer applicant tracking systems. Virtually the only time a functional resume may be effective is when the resume will be delivered directly to the hiring manager and there is no chance that a resume parsing system will be applied. Even then, it is best to avoid combining non-complementary skills (e.g., truck driving and office management) as doing so simply conveys a lack of focus.

In most cases where one is considering a Functional approach, a Combination/Hybrid format will prove to be more effective.

3. Combination/Hybrid

The combination format incorporates the functional treatment's strengths without posing the same risk; it, too, will demonstrate, at the beginning of the resume, a candidate’s key strengths, skills, and core competencies that are strategically developed around one's career goals and transferable skills (if applicable), thereby placing greater emphasis on one's overall skill set. Unlike the functional style, the combination resume includes details of the work history, including responsibilities, dates, contributions, and achievements. This makes the combination format superior, except in extremely rare circumstances, to the traditional functional format.

While in most instances the combination format is the best choice for the majority of job seekers—it quickly illustrates one’s core skills in the 15-second human scan—it also works best in resume parsing systems where recent work history lacks a direct correlation to current employment objectives (such as with new graduates or those changing careers). By demonstrating, through functional headings, relevant skills, education, training, and accomplishments, the connection between your transferable skills and the targeted position will be clear.


Reference: http://www.careerperfect.com/content/resume-writing-help-effective-resume-format/

7 Common On-The-Job Mistakes

Most Shelton State students share their time between school and work. The Career Services staff is aware of the struggles students endure to balance education and professional career goals.  Whether students are working full or part time, they need to put every effort into becoming the most successful and productive employees for their employers.  By adopting the attitude of being proactive in both the classroom and the work place, students will establish standards for themselves which will stay with them their entire career.

The following article was found at Yahoo! News and offers 7 helpful tips every employee should try to follow:

How to Avoid 7 Common On-the-Job Mistakes
Everyone makes mistakes--but some of those mistakes are more avoidable than others. When it comes to your job, even just one mistake could result in major consequences for your career.


Impress your employer by avoiding the following mistakes:

Mistake #1: Being unavailable

It's inevitable that, at some point, your supervisor or co-workers will approach you and ask for your help on an outside project or assignment. Although it might be tempting ignore those emails or say no to additional work, don't. You might think that no one will notice if you don't help with extra work, but they will. And, although it's not technically in your job description, more companies today must do more with less--meaning each employee needs to be flexible and multi-skilled. Make yourself indispensible by pitching in on other assignments when possible. (Of course, don't overextend yourself to the point where you can't get your normal work done.)


Mistake #2: Failing to dress to impress

Some of the best job advice I've heard is to to always dress at least one step above your current position. It helps others picture you working above your current position and makes you look extremely professional. You're not just an intern/entry-level professional, you have the potential to be so much more--so act like it.


Mistake #3: Trying to complete every task to perfection

No one is perfect. And while doing projects to the best of your ability is something you should strive to do, it doesn't mean you'll never make a mistake or do something incorrectly. If you make a mistake, own up to it and correct it. Remember to not lose sight of the overall goal by focusing too much on the little details. You could potentially miss deadlines and quality of your work--not to mention drive your co-workers (and boss) crazy.

Mistake #4: Waiting for feedback

Many workplaces still don't give employees feedback more than a few times per year. If you wait around for feedback for several months, you're doing yourself (and your organization) a disservice. Instead of waiting for your supervisor to come to you, ask to set up a quick meeting to discuss your progress thus far and any improvements you could make. Bring up specific projects you've completed and ask for feedback on things you were unsure about. This way, you know where you stand in your position and at the company--before a formal performance review comes across your desk.


Mistake #5: Hiding out at your desk

Even if you're doing spectacular work, you could be overlooked if you sit at your desk each day and avoid interactions with co-workers and upper management. When you need a break, head over to the break room or cafeteria and interact with other workers in your office. Not only will this help reduce stress on the job, but you'll have the potential to make some great professional relationships, too.

Mistake #6: Not asking questions

Some people think asking questions is a sign of weakness. But when you're unsure how to complete a task, it can be hard to do it the right way the first time without clarification. When assigned a new project, ask any questions that might come up right then and there. You might also want to inquire about how your success will be measured and how often you should update your boss on the progress. Your supervisor would much rather that you ask questions now in order to avoid potential problems later.


Mistake #7: Ignoring the corporate culture

When you first start on a new job, it's important to take note of cultural differences from previous workplaces. What does everyone wear on a daily basis? How much socialization goes on during the workday? Do employees tend to come in early or stay late? What is the typical mode of communication for the office? Assimilating to the culture is a great way to fit in quickly at the organization and get along with other employees.

What other mistakes have you made on the job? How did you avoid those mistakes in the future?

Heather R. Huhman is a career expert, experienced hiring manager, and founder & president of Come Recommended, a content marketing consultancy for organizations with products that target job seekers and employers. She is also the author of Lies, Damned Lies & Internships (2011) and #ENTRYLEVELtweet: Taking Your Career from Classroom to Cubicle (2010) and writes career and recruiting advice for numerous outlets.

Reference:   http://old.news.yahoo.com/s/usnews/20110617/ts_usnews/howtoavoid7commononthejobmistakes

Dining Place Settings - Week 1: Basic Table Setting

Basic Table Setting

According to Emily Post:

For a basic table setting, here are two great tips to help you -- or your kids -- remember the order of plates and utensils:

Picture the word "FORKS." The order, left to right, is: F for Fork, O for the Plate (the shape!), K for Knives and S for Spoons. (Okay -- you have to forget the R, but you get the idea!)

Holding your hands in front of you, touch the tips of your thumbs to the tips of your forefingers to make a lowercase 'b' with your left hand and a lowercase 'd' with your right hand. This reminds you that "bread and butter" go to the left of the place setting and "drinks" go on the right. Emily Post could have used that trick -- she was often confused about which bread and butter belonged to her -- and sometimes she used her neighbor's! In which case, when it was called to her attention, she would say to the dismayed lady or gentleman, "Oh, I am always mixing them up. Here, please take mine!"

Some other things to know:

Knife blades always face the plate

The napkin goes to the left of the fork, or on the plate

The bread and butter knife are optional

References: 

Photo: http://flatwarecutleryknife.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/informal-table.gif

Emily Post:  http://www.emilypost.com/component/content/article/370

Etiquette in the Career Services Center

This month the Career Services Center (CSC) is hosting its Business Etiquette Dining Workshop. The orientation was held last night, and the participating students are eagerly awaiting the workshop, which will be held in the West Alabama Center for Workforce Development. As advertised, registration closed for the workshop on March 25th.

The word ETIQUETTE originated in France with Louis XIV’s reign. His gardener noticed that visitors to Versailles were walking through the gardens and destroying the beautiful landscaping at the palace. The gardener took it upon himself to make ‘etiquets’, or signs, to ward the aristocrats off the grass. The signs evolved into tickets issued to the visiting guests with more instructions on expectations from the King of Versailles. Some of these instructions included where each guest was expected to stand and what was to be done while visiting the palace.

Etiquette still holds the original meaning of “keep off the grass”. However, it has evolved into being the umbrella for protocol of proper manners.

Today there are hundreds of books and articles full of DOs and DON’Ts at the table and in public settings. It can become very confusing to one researching the rules, and oftentimes the information contradicts itself. The CSC has found it is much simpler if a student will research 2 or 3 top information guides and stick with only those few groups. Emily Post is the primary source of information used in the CSC. Ms. Post and her family’s empire have maintained the standards of etiquette since 1946 and is an excellent social barometer for all areas of etiquette.

The Business Etiquette orientation and workshop offer instruction regarding a business meal in the following areas:

• Preparation

• Communication

• Table manners

• Follow up

The students will attend 2 sessions. The first will discuss material leading up to the meal. They will learn about proper dress, researching the company, and arriving at the restaurant. The second portion of the workshop will provide instruction with informal place settings and formal place settings. The students will learn how to conduct themselves at the dinner table and how to use the proper etiquette involving each tool placed before them. Each student will have the opportunity to earn CEU’s by attending the workshop.

Business Etiquette Dining Workshop 2011

The Career Services Center will host its annual Business Etiquette Dining Workshop in April.

The workshop will be in the Workforce Development Center Conference Room. A meal will be served and instruction will be given on business dining etiquette at no cost to 15 currently enrolled Shelton State students.

Topics of discussion include the following:

• Dress
• At the table
• Placing orders
• Before the first course arrives
• Appetizers and soup
• The salad course
• The main course
• Dessert
• Coffee and tea
• General table manners
• The meal is over
• Tipping
• Thank you note

Students who wish to participate should contact the CSC by March 25th.

Email: bpatrick@sheltonstate.edu

Phone: 205.391.5874.

The workshop will be filled on a first come basis.



Tips To Consider AFTER the Career Fair

• Send a thank you note to recruiters that spent time with you
• Keep a log of recruiters you met
• Keep a file of brochures received for later use
• Plan for improvement before next year’s career fair

The Career Services Centere would like send a special thank you to all who participated in this year's Fair!  Thanks to you, it was a success!
The following is a list of participating vendors at the Career Fair, 2011:



AL Dept. of Rehab. Services

Alabama Credit Union

Bama Dining

Big Brothers Big Sisters of West Alabama

Birmingham Electrical NJATC

Buffalo Rock Company

Campus Way Apartments

Car Max

Charter Communications

Cintas Corporation

City of Northport

City of Tuscaloosa

City of Tuscaloosa Fire & Rescue Service Department

Comcast

David A. Scott, DMD

DCH Health System

Fountainbleau Management Services

Glen Haven Health & Rehabilitation, LLC

H&R Block

Hunt Refining Company

Indian Rivers Mental Health Center

Key Staff Source, Inc.

Maurices

McAbee Construction

Nancy Taylor Skin Therapy & Day Spa

PanAmerican Consultants, Inc

Parker Towing

Peco Foods, Incorporated

Plumbers and Pipe Fitters Local 372

PRIMERICA Financial Services

Quality Mazda

Ready To Work - Shelton State Community College

Regions Center

Robertson Banking Company

Sealy Management Co., Inc.

Seed The Clouds

Shelton State Community College Technical Services

Southland International Trucks

Tera Lane

The University of Alabama - Human Resources

The University of Alabama-College of Continuing Studies

The Westervelt Company

Thompson Tractor Co., Inc.

Transportation Security Administration/ Department of Homeland Security

Tuscaloosa Area Career Center

Tuscaloosa Med Center North/South

Tuscaloosa Police Department

U.S. Army

Wells Fargo

Career Fair - March 9, 2011!!

Shelton State Community College's annual Career Fair will be March 9, 2011.  It will be held in the Martin Campus Atrium from 9 AM - 12 NOON.

Students should come prepared to speak to representatives from over 45 companies within the Tuscaloosa and surrounding areas.  It is good practice for each student to bring several copies of his or her resume to hand to select companies.

We are excited to announce the Tuscaloosa Area Career Center will be on campus with its "Mobile Career Center".  Students will have the opportunity to speak with representatives from the local office and to register with the JobLink website.  JobLink is the state database for clients looking for employment and is used for jobseekers to post their resumes and apply for jobs.  JobLink is also for employers to post jobs around Alabama and to review jobseekers' resumes.
A complete online list of companies planning to attend is as follows:

AL Dept. of Rehab. Services

Alabama Credit Union

Bama Dining

Big Brothers Big Sisters of West Alabama

Birmingham Electrical NJATC

Buffalo Rock Company

Campus Way Apartments

Charter Communications

Cintas Corporation

City of Northport

City of Tuscaloosa

City of Tuscaloosa Fire & Rescue Service Department

Comcast

David A. Scott, DMD

DCH Health System

Glen Haven Health & Rehabilitation, LLC

H & R Block

Home Builders Association

Hunt Refining Company

Indian Rivers Mental Health Center

Key Staff Source, Inc.

Maurices

McAbee Construction

Nancy Taylor Skin Therapy & Day Spa

PanAmerican Consultants, Inc

Parker Towing

Peco Foods, Incorporated

Plumbers and Pipe Fitters Local 372

PRIMERICA Financial Services

Ready To Work - Shelton State Community College

Regions Center

Robertson Banking Company

Salon Studios, Inc

Sealy Management Co., Inc.

Seed The Clouds

Shelton State Community College Technical Services

Southland International Trucks

The University of Alabama - Human Resources

The University of Alabama-College of Continuing Studies

The Westervelt Company

Thompson Tractor Co., Inc.

Transportation Security Administration/ Department of Homeland Security

Tuscaloosa Area Career Center

Tuscaloosa Med Center North/South

Tuscaloosa Police Department

U.S. Army

Quality Mazda and Volkswagon

Wells Fargo

Quick Tips For Career Fair Success

Tips to consider BEFORE the Career Fair

• Research the companies that will be attending

• Check the SSCC web page to see a current list of registered companies

• Identify your purpose for attending

• Identify your career interests

• Identify your career focus

• Prepare a resume

• Practice mock interviews

• Check your dress

• Create a personal sound bite and commercial/elevator speech

(Click HERE to create your own commercial/elevator speech)

Tips To Consider AT The Career Fair

CAREER FAIR, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2011!

Tips to consider AT the Fair

• Arrive as early as possible
• Dress appropriately
• Smile
• Use a firm handshake
• Maintain eye contact
• Be organized
• Keep resumes in a folder
• Keep a notebook to job information obtained
• Keep business cards in a folder
• Deliver your sound bite or commercial before asking questions of the company
• Ask questions that have been thought out beforehand
• Do not ask questions about salary
• Gather free information and business cards after speaking with the recruiter
• Feel free to pick up free items but do not act like you are at a “blue light” special 
• Ask the best way to follow up if you are interested in doing so

Shelton State Career Fair 2011 - March 9, 2011

What is the purpose of the SSCC Career Fair?

• Learn about local community businesses' services and products
• Learn about local job/career opportunities
• Make an on sight connection between training and employment
• Learn about co-ops and internships offered between SSCC and local businesses
• Make contacts for employment
• Begin to put into practice job search skills

What Are You Planning To Do To Create Your Own Sputnik Moment?

Riding on the heels of President Obama’s speech to our country last night, the Career Services Center wants to encourage YOU to aim high and set a competitive tone for your career goals. Regardless if any of us approve or disapprove with the President’s words, we all should not settle for mediocrity; instead, we should set personal goals for ourselves that will not only improve our own lives, but also improve the livelihood of those around us.


Our country was not founded on the belief the world would come to us if we just sat and waited. Instead, our founding fathers and millions of people after them have strived to set out to create their own destiny. They have worked endlessly at accomplishing their goals through the basic values of hard work and determination.

If you are one of the few who start college with a predetermined career goal, it is up to you to research the field of study you are in, track trends within the field, and explore your options. If you do not know what career you wish to choose, it is your responsibility to do the research of the ever-growing list of careers available.

The Career Services Center is established to help you locate the resources needed to allow you to plan, explore, prepare, and succeed. Click HERE to visit our website with helpful tips on the four topics. Stop by the Center for any questions or career needs.

We hope you will make this semester a successful one and look forward to seeing great things from all of you in the future.

Students! Start Your Engines!

The Shelton State Career Services Center hopes you had a restful and happy holiday! We also hope you are ready to begin your classes this semester with a rested mind and fresh outlook on your studies.

We would like to encourage you to view our "Planning Your Career Path"  in order to make sure you are going in the right direction. 
Click HERE to view the "Planning Your Career Path" form.


The following article was found at About.com and offers three helpful tips to make sure you start the semester right.

How To Start The Semester Right
By Tara Kuther, Ph.D., About.com Guide

The most effective way to ensure success in classes -- learning and getting good grades -- is to prepare early and often. Most students recognize the value of preparation in ensuring excellent class performance. Prepare for each class, each test, each assignment. Preparation, however, begins before the first reading assignment and first class. Prepare for the semester and you'll be off to a great start. So, how do you start the semester right? Get into the proper mindset by following these three tips.

Plan to work.

Colleges - and faculty - expect you to put in a significant amount of time over the course of the semester. At the undergraduate level, a 3 credit course generally meets for 45 hours during the semester. In most cases you are expected to put in 1 to 3 hours for every hour of class time. So, for a class that meets 2.5 hours a week, that means you should plan to spend 2.5 to 7.5 hours outside of class preparing for class and studying the material each week. You likely won't spend the maximum time on every class every week - it's a big time commitment! But recognize that some classes will require relatively little prep and others may require additional hours of work. In addition, the amount of time you spend on each class will vary over the semester.

Get a head start.

This one is simple: Begin early. Read ahead. Try to stay one reading assignment ahead of class. First, this permits you to see the big picture. Readings tend to build on each other and sometimes you may not realize that you don't understand a particular concept until you encounter a more advanced concept. Second, reading ahead gives you wiggle room. Life sometimes gets in the way and we fall behind in reading. Reading ahead permits you to miss a day and still be prepared for class. Likewise, start papers early. Papers nearly always take longer to write than we anticipate, whether it's because we can't find sources, have a hard time understanding them, or suffer from writer's block. Start early so that you won't feel pressed for time.

Mentally Prepare.

Get your head in the right place. The first day and week of classes can be overwhelming with new lists of reading assignments, papers, exams, and presentations. Take the time to map out your semester. Write down all classes, due dates, exam dates. Think about how you will organize your time to prepare and get it all done. Plan time off and time for fun. Think about how you will maintain motivation over the semester - how will you reward your successes? By mentally preparing for the semester ahead you put yourself in the position to excel.





References:  http://gradschool.about.com/od/survivinggraduateschool/a/startsemester.htm