First-Year Student Success Guide

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Starting college is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming fast. The good news is most first-year struggles are normal, and Southern Miss has resources built specifically to help you succeed. This page is your quick guide to staying on track, getting support early, and building habits that make college easier.

First-Year Checklist

If you do nothing else, make sure you handle these:

❏  Check Canvas daily (assignments, announcements, grades)

❏  Check your USM email daily (important updates come here)

❏  Know your deadlines (add/drop, withdrawal, financial aid)

❏  Learn your weekly schedule and block out study time

❏  Ask for help early (waiting makes everything harder)

The Top 5 Habits of Successful First-Year Students

	Treat school like a job Plan to spend 2–3 hours studying per hour of class. You don’t have to study nonstop, but you do need structure.
	Stay ahead of deadlines Many students don’t fail because of content—they fail because they miss assignments.
	Go to class even when you don’t feel like it Attendance is one of the strongest predictors of success. Professors notice absences more than you might think!
	Use office hours early Office hours are designated times when professors are available to meet with students. Use them early to stay ahead, not just when you’re struggling.
	Don’t isolate College gets harder when you try to do everything alone.

Student Success Support (CSS)

The Center for Student Success (CSS) helps students build habits and strategies that lead to success.

Success Coaching

Success Coaching is a 1-on-1 meeting with a coach who can help you with:

• time management
• staying motivated
• study strategies
• organization and planning
• stress management and accountability
• adjusting to college life

If you feel behind, unmotivated, overwhelmed, or unsure what to do next—this is a great starting point.

Success Coaching (CSS)

CSS Skills

Explore tools and handouts on:

• note-taking
• test preparation
• avoiding procrastination
• goal-setting
• academic confidence

Student Success Resources

Academic Tools You Should Use Weekly

Canvas is where you’ll find:

• assignments and due dates
• course announcements
• grades
• discussion boards

Canvas

SOAR is where you handle:

• registration
• holds
• schedules
• billing/financial tasks

SOAR

This includes major deadlines like:

• add/drop
• withdrawal dates
• semester start/end

Academic Calendar

Tutoring & Academic Help

Even strong students use tutoring. It’s not about being “bad at a subject,” it’s about learning efficiently.

If you’re struggling in a class, do not wait until the week of the exam.

USM Tutoring and Learning Resources

Writing Help

College writing is a major adjustment, especially in your first year. If you struggle with:

• research papers
• APA formatting
• grammar
• clarity
• thesis statements

Writing support can save you hours and boost your grades.

USM Writing Center

Mental Health & Stress Support

College can create stress, anxiety, and burnout, especially during your first semester.

If you feel overwhelmed, depressed, anxious, or emotionally stuck, support is available and confidential.

Student Counseling Services

Financial Aid and Money Basics

A lot of students struggle in their first year simply because they don’t understand financial deadlines.

If you have questions about:

• FAFSA
• aid packages
• scholarships
• tuition and billing

Business Services

Office of Scholarships and Financial Wellness

Office of Financial Aid

Tech Help (If You Can’t Log In)

If you’re locked out of Canvas, email, or SOAR, don’t panic. USM has tech support for this.

ITech Help Desk

How to Avoid the “First-Year Spiral”

A lot of first-year students fall into the same cycle:

1 missed assignment → falling behind → anxiety → avoidance → worse grades

Here’s the fix:

• turn in something even if it’s imperfect
• email your professor early
• go to tutoring
• schedule a success coaching appointment

You can recover from almost anything in college if you respond early.

Quick Time Management Strategy

Try this weekly plan:

Sunday Planning (15 minutes)

• open Canvas
• write down everything due this week
• schedule study blocks

Daily Routine

• 30 minutes of “admin time” (Canvas, email, reminders)
• 1–2 hours of focused study using short, intense study sessions (study cycle) short breaks (don’t multitask)

A little planning saves you hours of stress.

Getting Involved

Students who feel connected to campus are more likely to:

• stay enrolled
• feel motivated
• succeed academically

Find at least one organization, club, or campus activity.

When Should You Get Help?

If any of these are true, it’s time to reach out:

• you missed 2+ assignments
• you feel constantly behind
• you don’t understand the course expectations
• you don’t know how to study effectively
• you feel unmotivated or burned out
• you’re considering withdrawing

You are not alone—and getting help early is what successful students do.

Academic Support

• Center for Student Success
• Cook Library
• Math Center/Zone
• Speaking Center
• University Writing Center
• Departmental Tutoring

Engage

• Career Services / Center for Pathways
• Housing & Residence Life
• Moffitt Health Services
• Student Accessibility Services
• Student Counseling Services

Thrive

• Campus Recreation
• Center for Community Engagement
• Student Life
• Dean of Students Office
• Leadership & Student Involvement
• Title IX
• Undergraduate Research
• USM Athletics
• Center for Military Veterans, Service Members and Families