Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Ways to Prepare for Your First Semester at Iowa State

We want you to be prepared for—and make the most of—your first year in college. Here's some advice from an advisor and current students.

Before and At Orientation

Take Placement Exams

Advisor: If you don't have college credit for Calculus II, take the math placement exam before arriving for June orientation. You need this to know which courses to take your first semester.

Student: Study for the placement exams. You must take two of the three algebra and trigonometry tests, and if you have a calculus background, you can take th third placement exam. Algebra and trigonometry are very important in engineering, and if you don’t pass the placement assessments, you have to take thse course before moving to the calculus series.

Create a Professional E-mail Address

Advisor: When setting up your Iowa State e-mail address, set a “professional sounding” e-mail. Use the following examples as guides: James E. Stowe, jstowe@iastate.edu, or Mary Ann Smith, masmith@iastate.edu.

Student: Possible employers and Iowa State faculty always will be looking at your e-mail address and your WebCT account names. Make them appropriate. Also, use a combination of letters and numbers in your password, and use one that most people won’t think of when they think of you.

Before School Starts

Set Goals

Advisor: Set at least two goals in each area of your life: academic, social, and personal.

Student: Goals are a part of your life every day and will be in the workplace as well. Write them down and put them in a place where you'll see them. As you achieve them, cross them off.

Make Decisions

Advisor: Practice making decisions on your own, if you haven’t already. This is a bigger issue than you may think.

Student: Being on your own may be tough at first. You will have to start managing your money and realizing how much things can cost when mom and dad aren’t always there to hand you money.

Learn the Ropes

Advisor: Learn to read the ISU Catalog, fine print everywhere, and especially the Iowa State admission materials you have already received to answer many questions before arriving.

Student: Learn the ISU Web site and ECpE Web site. You will use them for everything, and they can answer many questions you might have.

After School Starts

Meet People

Advisor: Get excited to meet lots of new people and accept others who are different from you—that’s one of the best parts of college life.

Student: During the first week of classes, keep your room door open when you are there. This is the time when everyone meets each other. Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to people in classes you sit next to. They could be your new best friends!

Study Hard

Advisor: Be prepared to work harder if you don’t have exceptional math skills. Be prepared to work hard even if you do have exceptional math skills.

Remember that you're not in high school anymore. Your courses, instructors, advisor, and others will set high expectations to push you to achieve more than you thought possible. Plan to develop new habits, skills, and attitudes. Challenge yourself and set your own high expectations.

Student: Start the semester out right by studying more than you studied in high school. They recommend for every credit hour of class, study two hours per week. College is harder than high school. The engineering curriculum is tough at times, but once you get through the first year, things start to get fun as you start getting into specific major courses.

Get Involved

Advisor: Get to know the campus, find activities that fit you, and get involved. Join a student organization with an eye on a leadership role in a semester or two. Consider studying abroad your sophomore or junior year to experience a new culture, master a second language, and/or develop new perspectives on what makes up a global world.

Student: Student organizations are a great way to get to know new people and are tons of fun, with many opportunities for growth. Plan on doing an internship during the summer and/or a semester. Internships build confidence, contacts, and show you how your classes relate to the “real world.”

Apply for Scholarships and Financial Aid

Advisor: Apply for scholarships, work study jobs, and/or financial aid to manage the financial load. And don’t be shy about applying for internships or cooperative education opportunities. These all prepare you for the workplace and pay well.

Student: Take an afternoon and look up all the financial aid possible that applies to you. A lot of scholarships have only a few applicants and some even have none. The donors like to see their money get put to good use. Take the time to fill out applications!

Have the Time of Your Life

Advisor: HAVE FUN!

Student: College is a blast! Make new friends. Try new things. But also remember to study hard so you can get a good job.