Roar and Soar: First Year

Your first year at RIT will be one of amazing growth and opportunity. Take it week by week or plan way ahead. Here you'll find a summary of key things to know and do as you progress. 

Week by Week Tips for Success

Orientation Week: Prepare for the start of classes

  • Check your RIT email for important updates and notifications. 
  • Get your textbooks. Virtual bookstore
  • Find where your classrooms are before the first day. RIT Campus Map

Week 1: Plan, Prep, Commit

  • Read each course syllabus so you’ll know about assignments, due dates, grading policies, and more. Go to MyCourses to access your course syllabi
  • Get in the calendar habit. Take the due dates from your syllabi and put them in your calendar now. Plus, get more time management tips with the RIT Time and Study Management Toolkit
  • Commit to perfect class attendance. Don’t risk missing important course content or engaging and helpful class discussions. Save yourself the stress of falling behind by showing up for every class. 

Week 2: Get Involved

Week 3: Manage Your Time 

Week 4: Take Care of Yourself

  • Feeling homesick? It’s totally natural to feel this way. Take time to call an old friend or connect with a family member. 
  • Get a good night’s sleep. Doing so affects how you feel and how you function in class. 
  • Be a good friend to other new RIT students. Noticing someone who’s looking lonely? Worried about a friend? Small gestures like smiling or saying hi can go a long way in making other Tigers feel welcome. Learn more ways you can support your classmates on campus with Tigers Care. 

Week 5: It’s Always Okay to Ask for Help

  • Go to office hours for help from a professor. All faculty list office hours on the syllabus.
  • Invite a friend to study together. Studying with a friend can increase your motivation and help you stay accountable to get your work done. 
  • Schedule a meeting with an Academic Coach. Academic Coaching provides you with one-on-one guidance tailored to your unique needs. You’ll work with an experienced Peer Mentor or professional staff member.  Learn more about Academic Coaching

Week 6: Think About Your Career Goals

Week 7: Research Study Abroad and Study Away Options

Week 8: Stay Healthy

  • The RIT Wellness Portal is a secure hub for your personal health needs. You can send messages to providers and schedule appointments. Use your RIT username and password to log in explore what’s there. Wellness Portal
  • RIT’s Counseling and Psychological Services offers a variety of services for emotional health including individual counseling, group support, urgent care, education and preventative programs, and more. Counseling Services Overview

Week 9: Take Advantage of RIT Options for Academic Help

Week 10: Prepare for the Next Semester

  • Meet with your academic advisor. If you haven't already met with your academic advisor this semester, make an appointment now. This is required before you can register for next semester. Your advisor can also help you identify courses that keep you on track to graduation, come up with back-up ideas in case you're waitlisted, and answer other questions. Make an appointment via Starfish >
  • Build your shopping cart in SIS. When your "shopping cart" opens, you can go into SIS and start loading the next semester’s courses you want into your cart. Get this ready ahead of time and validate that you can enroll in those classes so that when your enrollment appointment begins, you simply have to hit submit. Check out the 6 Steps to Successful Enrollment > 
  • Check your Academic Advising Report (AAR). Make sure you are on track for your major's requirements by checking your Academic Advising Report in SIS. Your advisor can help you figure out the courses you need to stay on track to graduation. Learn how to read your Academic Advising Report (AAR) >

Week 11: Stay on Track

  • Revisit your study schedule. Check in with your readings and assignments. Are you sticking to your schedule? Stay on track with a steady routine. Study skills tips
  • Manage your Dining Dollars budget. Now is a great time to check your Dining Dollars balance to make sure you won't run out before the end of the semester. Check out the Meal Plan Budget Tracker

Week 12: Stay Cozy, Rest, and Recuperate for Finals

  • During break times, use the down time to rest up and recuperate for the final stretch of the semester. 

Week 13: Cold Weather Realities

Week 14: Finish Strong

  • Take study breaks. For every 2 hours of studying, take a 30 minute break. Going for a walk or grabbing dinner with friends will help your brain get back on track for studying. 
  • Double check your assignments and due dates. 
  • For exams, plan to show up early and prepared with all the things you’ll need—extra pens/pencils, calculator, etc. 



 

Download Weekly Tips

First-year students are emailed weekly or bi-weekly Roar and Soar messages with advice for making the most of their RIT experience. They can also download the posters below for a round-up of advice and action item reminders.

Faculty and staff are also invited to download these posters, display them in their departments, and share them with new students. 

Fall Semester 2025

Printable 11 x 17 posters:

Digital Display 16:9 Posters:

Spring Semester 2025

Printable 11 x 17 posters: 

Digital Display 16:9 Posters: 

Useful Links

For College of Liberal Arts Students: 

For All RIT Students: 

Study and Academic Success Tools 

Help? We're Here for You.

Any question, big or small, we're here for you at the RIT College of Liberal Arts Office of Student Services. Visit during open hours or call or message us to connect. 

  • Office of Student Services, Liberal Arts Hall, Second Floor.
  • Email: libarts@rit.edu

RIT College of Liberal Arts | Roar and Soar Resources | Resources for First-Year Students