Academic Information

• The academic schedule is found on the Registrar’s website. 
• Course descriptions are available in the online bulletin. 
• A full time course load for a first-year student is 12-18 credit hours.
• Each credit hour of classes a student takes will require two to three hours of study per week. 
• Twelve credit hours is equal to 36 hours total class and study per week.
• Especially during the first year it is not wise to have outside employment. You should investigate work-study options if you qualify for the program.

Transitioning from High School to College

Homesickness. It will happen to almost all of our students. Homesickness is actually harder on the parents and families than on the students because parents feel so helpless that they cannot take those feelings away or to soothe whatever is bothersome. We encourage you to fight the urge to go home and to keep yourself busy by meeting people or getting involved in campus and/or community opportunities. It is also helpful to your academic and social success if you don't go home every weekend.

Parents, food is often a huge factor in homesickness. If you feel your student may need a dose of home, send one of their favorites in a care package and just watch the result! More often than naught, roommates enjoy those care packages too.

Stress. Being on campus away from everyone that loves you can be an overwhelming and somewhat scary experience. We have learned that students benefit from identifying their classes before the term begins (and this goes for our upperclassmen as well) and finding someone to eat with, meet up with socially, or someone in class to form a study group is a great way to make Capital their home.

Roommates. You should enter into your living situation knowing that this may not be a perfect match. For a lot of our students, this is the first time in their lives that they have shared a space and everyone must be sensitive to this transition. Getting along takes effort and maturity.

If a conflict arises in your living situation, you should speak with the resident assistant assigned to your floor. These student leaders are trained to help students work through their roommate agreements and to find a way to live together so that everyone can be academically successful. If a roommate change is truly needed, you can work with your RA and the Office of Residential and Commuter Life to make a switch.

Social Life. There are usually two types of students - one who accepts every invitation and one who only comes out of their room or their car to attend classes and hit the cafeteria. Either situation is disastrous. Finding the balance of getting connected is what will ultimately assist in your overall development and success; a vibrant campus and campus community offers so many opportunities to enhance or explore various interests. Balancing a life outside the classroom is a learned process. If a student is more social than others, it is important for them to get their academic work completed before the socializing begins.

If you had trouble waking up in the morning in high school, you are going to have the same trouble in college. If you were disorganized, you will likely continue down that path. If you procrastinate, you can bet that you will struggle and have a great deal of stress and anxiety regarding projects and exams. It is important for you to establish expectations for yourself and to work with support staff on campus to find ways to choose to become responsible with time management, etc.


Important Resources for Students and Parents