That stands for “first day of class” for the uninitiated.

The freshman first day of class (FDOC) is an experience you’ll remember forever. For me, it took place on Zoom from my bedroom, and I dropped every class I was enrolled in immediately after. For you, it will be in person! Woohoo! 

What remains the same—whether it’s your FFDOC (first first day of class) or ZFDOC (Zoom first day of class) or FIPFDOC (first in-person first day of class) or, like me, your STLFDOC (second-to-last first day of class)—is that it’s a weird mix of exciting and terrifying. The worst Sunday scaries imaginable. It’s okay to be scared, and you might even puke a little. But here are some tips I’ve thought of to try to make it easier. And if you do puke, dry yourself off before class.

Do: Dress nice.

It’s not only FDOC, it’s your FFDOC! They say you only get one chance to make a first impression, and this is especially true of your first first impression! You’ve waited your whole life for this moment! Look cute! But most importantly: dress how you will feel confident!

(And take a little picture for your parents! They will hang it on their fridge and embarrass you forever with it.)

Don’t: Expect to try this hard the rest of the year.

Dear reader, we’re all slobs. It’s fine. Some days you’re going to be rushing around last-minute to not be late. No one will notice if you don’t look perfect every day.

Do: Bring a little drink. And maybe a snack.

Whatever you’re going to need, be it water or coffee or whatever, make sure you bring it to class! Nothing worse than being thirsty with nothing to drink during a two-hour seminar.

Don’t: Bring a whole lunch.

If you can avoid it, don’t bring an entire lunch into class. Try your best to eat before or after. I know it’s not always possible, and it’s more important than anything to get your three square meals a day, but having your whole meal in the middle of Lit Hum is going to be a distraction, for you and your classmates. Plan your meal times in advance!

Do: Sit where you’re comfortable.

Too intimidated to sit in the front row? Not a problem. It’s best to sit where you’re going to be comfortable. As long as you can see (and hear) the professor, the board, and have space to take notes, you’re okay! We aren’t all that student who desperately needs to make constant eye contact with the Big Fancy Professor.

Don’t: Sit in the last row.

A big exception to my previous advice: Don’t sit in the last row! Dear reader, you know as well as I do that sitting in the last row is a bad habit. You won’t pay attention. You’re gonna be online shopping. Or scrolling through social media. Or writing Bwog articles. You’re not going to be listening, and aren’t we here to learn?

Do: Experiment with different note-taking techniques.

Confession: I don’t really take many notes. Many classes I take none. However, some stuff needs to be written down (grumble), and it is going to take you some time to figure out what note-taking system works best for you. Don’t be intimidated when you walk into class and see your peers with their fancy iPad Pros and other doodads. If that’s your speed, go for it! But pencil and paper are also effective enough most of the time. 

Don’t: Write everything down! (But write a lot if you’re able)

I touched on this in the previous paragraph, but I’m a firm believer that—if you’re writing everything down—you aren’t hearing everything. It’s ok to just listen! Close that laptop and try just listening to your professor and peers. You might be surprised by the connections you’re able to make when you aren’t focused on scrambling to transcribe every word spoken in class. I have had professors who strongly discouraged note-taking (one even banned notes entirely!) in their classrooms! If you’re doing it right, the style of note-taking should vary greatly from class to class based on the format and modes of evaluation (exams, essays, etc.).

In short: write down what will be useful to reference later. Skip the rest.

Write in order to think! Don’t write in order to regurgitate!

P.S. It is also important to write down the awesome points made by your classmates! Your professor isn’t the only smarty in the room!

Do: Come prepared!

Have what you need for class, especially on the first day! Whatever you need to take notes, your printed readings, a PEN or PENCIL… make sure you’re ready.

Don’t: Have your computer out unless you need it!

Another reason why I prefer pen-and-paper notes: my computer is a distraction. If I take notes on my computer—even when I tell myself at the start of class that I’m going to pay attention this time—my attention always meanders. If you are able to get through class without opening your electronics, this is for the best! Once you get used to iMessaging and crossword-puzzling your way through class, it will take time to break the habit. Dear reader, let’s establish good habits from day one! Put that computer away when you can!

Do: Print your readings!

You get a huge budget of printing dollars each semester, so use them! I print all my readings and bring them to class with a pen so I can easily annotate and refer back to my margin notes during the lecture. Then you can also annotate the key passages your professor brings up (in another color if you’re fancier than me) all on the same document! This is very valuable as a reference if (when) you have an essay later in the semester.

Don’t: Think you’re going to do every reading!

You won’t!

Do: Connect with your classmates!

College! It’s exciting! You will be surrounded by more cool and interesting and smart people than ever before. Get to know them! Ask to grab lunch after class or something, I don’t know… be social!

Don’t: Expect to meet your best friends in class!

I don’t know if this is a universal experience or just mine, but none of my close friends were found in class. You have plenty of opportunities to meet people, so don’t be too bummed if your classmates remain just classmates.

Do: Participate!

We are here to learn! So Learn! Try out your shitty idea. If it’s shitty, you will find out! But it might also be great. Speaking out loud in class took me a couple of years to get used to; it’s really hard! But now I am not scared to float my half-baked ideas or questions out loud and have them refined and corrected by my teachers and classmates! This is what you’re here for!

Don’t: Make it all about you!

Dear reader, you are not the main character. Do not be provocative just for the sake of being provocative. Do not trash your classmates’ opinions. Do not ramble on and on and on. Do not answer every question. No one will think you’re impressive, but everyone will think you’re annoying. Participate a lot to get the most out of the class experience, but don’t participate so much that it lessens your peers’ experiences. You are (mostly) insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Learn it now.

Do: Try to stick it out!

You might be overwhelmed the first day. Don’t immediately abandon ship and think you aren’t capable of taking the course! Try to step up to the challenge! It will be rewarding.

Don’t: Be afraid to drop the class!

We have a two-week shopping period, don’t be afraid to use it. If something better comes along or catches your eye, go for it! You are not at all locked in to the schedule you start with. Just try your best to actually engage with the class before giving up on it.

Do: Present yourself honestly!

All smaller classes will have the dreaded introduction circle. Be prepared to tell everyone a little bit about yourself!

Don’t: Try to be impressive!
You are a freshman in college; you are not impressive. Don’t try to be someone you’re not. Don’t say you’re a double major on the pre-law track (You don’t declare a major until sophomore year, jackass). Be fucking normal. Please.

Classroom via Bwog Archives