Get your JumpStart with TRIO SSS!

JumpStart! What You Need to Know About College

Get insider tips from current UMaine students on how to navigate campus, manage college life, and thrive once you’re here.

Coming to college can be a culture shock. There are many new experiences and things to learn both in and out of the classroom. TRIO Student Support Services wants to prepare you for the transition. We asked our Student Outreach Ambassadors:
“What do you wish you had known before you came to UMaine, and what would’ve been helpful to know in your first week?”

From this, they created 4 JumpStart sessions to help you gain college know-how and be best prepared for joining the UMaine campus community. Read more about the sessions below!

Join us for these student-led conversations and hear their first-hand experiences as well as participate in an optional after-session Q&A. Each JumpStart workshop is jam-packed with tips and hacks to get the most out of your first semester at UMaine and make your Black Bear experience the best it can be!

Welcome to UMaine, your new community. You’re in a whole new world; how will you navigate it? In this session, gain college survival skills as you learn what to expect on move-in day, how your meal plan works, where to park, where to buy groceries and clothes, how you’ll do laundry, where to get a prescription filled, how and where you can receive packages, and much more. Feel at home even before you arrive!

It’s the first day of class. Where do you sit? What will the class be like? Is there a dress code? Can you use your laptop or your phone? Is it okay to bring food to class? What if you need to go to the bathroom? What if you’re sick and can’t attend? We will talk about all of these questions and more as we give you the inside scoop on how college classes run and how to get the most out of them. We will also give you tips on how to communicate with professors and other staff to put your best foot forward.

College classes are structured differently compared to high school. You have more freedom and opportunities, and also a lot more independent work and responsibility. The way you manage your time is critical to your success as a college student. Learn the real secrets to college achievement in this session. Our students and staff have some great insight into managing your schedule, keeping track of assignments, balancing class work with other commitments, finding tutoring and other academic support, and making your time as productive as possible, all while maintaining your wellness and making your college journey both successful and joyful.

There’s no time like the present. Before you arrive on campus, there are lots of things you can do to make your transition to college as successful and comfortable as possible. In this session, get to know the apps you should install so you are ready for the semester. We’ll also show you how to access and navigate Brightspace, UMaine’s learning management website, where you’ll find your assignments, course information, textbooks, grades, and more. Want some pointers on what to bring to your residence hall? Wondering about getting a job? Interested in finding groups on campus to get involved with? These are all things you can do right now, and we’ll tell you how.

Online, 7:00-8:00 pm
Mondays and Thursdays 
August 11, 14, 18, & 21

Check your email to RSVP!

Email um.sss@maine.edu if you have questions!