With the school year underway and our Meet Your Match Mentorship Program about to begin, this is the perfect time to share our Class Presidents’ wise advise for younger students. Read on to learn five helpful tips for a successful school year.
President Name: Aiza
Campus: Downtown Las Vegas
Tip for new renegades: “Choose your professors wisely. Make sure to choose them wisely, and use their office hours”
Did you know that you can read professor reviews online before signing up for a given class? Websites such as ratemyprofessors.com are very helpful when building your schedule for the semester. Online reviews can give students insights on a professor’s teaching style, grading policies, and more. Peer recommendations are also very helpful! Ask older students who their favorite professors were to ensure you sign up for classes with the best of the best!
Once you have the best professors locked in, don’t be afraid to get to know them outside of the classroom. Introduce yourself by utilizing professor office hours. Professors and teaching assistants schedule ‘office hours’ outside of class to meet with students. During these scheduled times, you can discuss the material being presented in class or anything else you have on your mind. Building positive relationships with your professors can benefit you with mentorship, references, recommendation letters, academics, and more.
President Name: Daniel
Campus: Summerlin
Tip for new renegades: “One tip that I recommend to all students at NSHS is to check your class ‘to-do’ list every day. This allows you to keep track of what you need to get done and not fall behind.”
Everything you need to know for your courses is on your syllabi! Be sure to print your syllabus for each class and read the due dates for all deliverables. Review these due dates often so they stay fresh in your mind.
First-year students at Nevada State High School learn about their course syllabi during the first week of Study Skills. Educational Advising Coordinators review where to locate these important documents and how to navigate the information they include. It is recommended that students keep all their syllabi for reference, as these documents can be useful when transferring college credits from one institution to another.
President Name: Alena
Campus: Sunrise
Tip for new renegades: “I would definitely say that organizing your schedule and keeping some sort of planner helps a lot! I log all my events and assignments into a calendar, my notion app, and in my notes as well. Especially when marking specific times. I know everyone says to keep a planner and all, but visually seeing it really helps you maintain a social life and give yourself time so you don’t burn out.”
Using a planner allows you to schedule each event, appointment, errand, and task, so that you can manage your time. Set specific due dates and deadlines for everything to help you stay on track. Remember: planners aren’t only for coursework and academic assignments. They can also hold you accountable to set aside time for socializing and self-care! Students with strong time-management skills are guaranteed to have a better quality of life because they are able to achieve a work-school-life balance without burnout or stress.
President Name: Marcos
Campus: Henderson Flagship
Tip for new renegades: “My recommendation is to take your exams seriously and try to skip the classes that you don’t need (for example, unnecessary history /social science classes or classes you don’t need for your major).”
In college courses, exams and papers are often worth a large percentage of a student’s final grade. It is important to prepare for these hefty assignments ahead of time and make sure they are completed by the deadline. To take examinations seriously, do not wait until the last minute to study. Embed study time into your daily or weekly routine to be successful.
When selecting your classes, always refer to your college degree plan to ensure you are enrolling in the correct courses. Taking classes that are not aligned to your major or degree pathway will cost you time and money. If you have questions about your class schedule or degree plan, staff is available to assist you! You can schedule a meeting with a college academic advisor or NSHS Educational Advising Coordinator to ensure you are on the right track.
President Name: Krystal
Campus: Henderson Downtown
Tip for new renegades: “Utilize the CSN tutoring center and their resources. Talk to other students during study skills.”
As real college students, NSHS Renegades have access to all of the resources our partner colleges have to offer! This includes free tutoring, essay workshopping, mental health check-ins, private study rooms, and more! Take advantage of these free resources at CSN, GBC, TMCC, and WNC.
It is also important to get to know the students at your NSHS Campus. These relationships can blossom into friendships that will last a lifetime! During Study Skills, be sure to collaborate with others and participate in social events throughout the semester. Building strong social skills and emotional intelligence is key when transitioning from high school to college.
There you have it! Take these five pieces of wisdom from our Class Presidents and you will be sure to have a successful school year! Hear more from our students by following Nevada State High School on social media @nevadastatehs.