dash.What should you set up before classes start?
- Your student ID card and student accounts: school email, the learning system and the registration portal.
- Your class schedule, with room numbers. Walk the route once so the first day isn't a scramble.
- Textbooks and materials, but check the syllabus first, since some aren't actually needed.
- Notifications from your school email and learning system turned on or checked daily.
What should you do in the first week of classes?
- Get every syllabus and copy all due dates, exams and weights into one calendar or list.
- Note each professor's office hours and how they want to be contacted.
- Check the add and drop deadlines on your school's academic calendar and confirm your schedule is final.
- Meet at least one person in each class you can ask about missed notes.
- Start the first readings and assignments early, before the term speeds up.
Where can you get help on campus?
- Academic advising, for your course plan and program requirements.
- The registrar, for registration, transcripts and enrolment documents.
- Financial aid, for questions about loans, grants and scholarships.
- The library, for research help and bookable study rooms.
- Writing and tutoring centres, for help with assignments.
- Accessibility services, if you need accommodations.
- Health and counselling services, for physical and mental health.
Can Dash help with your first week?
Yes. Text Dash your syllabi or connect your learning system and it saves every deadline and texts you before each one. It can answer questions about your campus with official sources, and book a library room or advising appointment once you say yes.
Questions students ask
What if I don't like one of my classes?
Look up the add and drop deadlines now. The first week or two is usually the easiest time to switch, but the exact dates vary by school.
Do I need to buy all my textbooks before the first class?
Not always. Read the syllabus and wait for the professor's guidance; some books are optional or available through the library.
How do I make friends in the first week?
Talk to the people next to you in class, go to a few campus events, and join a club or two. Small repeated contact is what turns into friendships.
Dash at your school
Key dates, learning systems and offices for hundreds of campuses, from each school's own site.