Stepping onto a college campus for the first time can be stressful and uncomfortable. However, this does not have to be the case. NSU does its best to help new students feel welcome and secure.
“There is a Pre-Orientation Canvas course that assists with delivering important information, such as Title IX, student counseling and safety. In addition to orientation, NSU has a whole first-year experience course called UNIV,” said Ashley McCafferty, director of Orientation and Commuter Engagement at NSU. “The whole semester is dedicated to providing support to incoming freshmen and their transition into academics and campus life at a college.”
Below are some things incoming students can do for a seamless transition into college life.
Participate in events
NSU holds many events to help students become accustomed to college life. One event is orientation, which is on Aug. 16 for new students.
“Orientation is a one-day event that assists students in building their community and celebrating the beginning of their college career,” McCafferty said.
Another important event that NSU hosts before orientation is the VIP Experience. This event is hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, the Office of Campus Life and Student Engagement, and the Division of Business Services.
At this event, students can participate in giveaways, enjoy food, tour the campus and so much more. This can help students to learn the campus layout, make friends and meet faculty and staff.
Cianni Mosco, freshman biology pre-nursing major, attended the VIP Experience.
“It taught me so much, especially some of the must-haves as a first-year student,” Mosco said. “It also helped me understand what college life was about and gave me a better understanding of Nova’s campus.”
Attend sports games
Students and faculty can attend home games for free with their NSU ID cards. By attending these games, students can get involved with their community and watch teams play, including the women’s softball, men’s basketball and women’s tennis teams. Students can find the schedule for upcoming sports games on the NSU athletics website.
Get to know the campus
NSU’s campus is large and can be confusing at times. It is useful for new students to learn the campus layout before starting classes. One way to discover the campus is to sign up for a campus tour, in person or virtually.
“I did my tour on campus and it wasn’t that bad,” Nephtalie Delva, sophomore communication and pre-law major, said. “They showed us the main buildings and discussed stuff about our major and how to sign up.”
Students can sign up for a campus tour through NSU’s website. If a student tours the campus and still feels unsure about where things are, large labeled maps are placed around the campus. These maps are easy to read and can help students find their way to class and their dorms.
If they are still unsure about how to find their classes, they can ask a fellow student.
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Meet new people
Making friends or acquaintances during orientation, convocation, or even the first day of class can help students feel like they belong.
“Everyone is experiencing some of the same emotions and feelings, especially my roommates and me,” Mosco said. Delva agreed.
“Having friends at NSU has positively influenced my college experience because I know that I am not the only one experiencing college life alone,” Delva said. “I went to a private school before I came here, so when I made friends here it was different. People at my old school all knew each other by the first week. At Nova, I met different people every term.”
Purchase textbooks
Students are encouraged to purchase their textbooks when starting classes at NSU for a more successful college experience.
“Having the required textbooks for classes has been helpful to me because it gives me the exact details of what exactly I need for that particular class,” Mosco said.
On NSU’s bookstore’s website, students are easily able to order their textbooks by simply entering their course information. This process should not take long and even gives students the choice between purchasing virtual and hard-copy textbooks. The hard-copy textbooks, once ordered, are available for pickup at NSU’s bookstore, at the Davie campus.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
McCafferty advised students to ask for help if they ever feel overwhelmed.
“An amazing resource is the Center for Student Counseling and Well-being,” she said.
The office is located on the third floor of the Student Affairs Building. Students can also call a 24/7 Hotline at 954-424-6911.
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