This is Different From My CC

In your CC, your classes likely felt more personal. You probably had relatively small class sizes and were able to interact closely with and get to know your professors and other students.

If you are like most students, walking into your first lecture hall with hundreds of other students will blow your mind! In a large lecture hall the professor can seem like they are a million miles away. It can feel intimidating to raise your hand and ask a question in front of so many other students. Professors will not be personally checking up on you to see if you come to class or turn in your work. You are now accountable for staying engaged and on top of your academic load.

But just because you are in a large class doesn’t mean that your experience has to be impersonal. Here are some tips to shrink that ocean-sized class into a small pond experience:

  • Get to know people who are sitting around you.  Introduce yourself, ask about them, talk about why you are taking this class, comment on the crazy big size of the class. Chances are you are not the only one who is taken aback by this experience.
@UCSBMentalHealthPeers Transfer Experience:
​Walking into my first lecture like  #WhereDoISit #SoManyPeople #INeedMySpace #ThisIsDifferentFromMyCC #TransferExperience #UCSB
  • Go to the professor’s office hours. Remember, the professor is there to teach you about the topic. They have expertise in the field and can help you to better understand concepts that are difficult. They also love to talk about their area of work, so in talking to them you will likely learn a lot more than they can even cover in lecture.

  • Form study groups. Oftentimes large classes will also have small sections led by a TA which will give you an opportunity to meet other students, ask questions, and get more guidance about the work you are doing. Forming a study group with your peers can extend this discussion and give you opportunity to practice teaching each other the concepts you are studying (being able to clearly explain and answer questions about concepts to others is one of the best ways to prepare yourself to apply your knowledge more flexibly on a test!).