Checklist for New Engineering Students

Guided Pathways First-Year Experience for Maricopa Community Colleges Engineering Students

Students are more likely to succeed when they know exactly what they need to do to complete a certificate or degree – and when they have the right support systems in place. With a guided pathways approach, we are rethinking our academic programs and advising services to help ensure our students’ success. Read more about The Maricopa Colleges Guided Pathways here!

First Steps Before Your First Semester in College

• Begin preparing while in high school. Take as much Math and Physics as possible as well as Chemistry or other sciences related to your program. Do your best to absorb information and get good grades.
• Get a head start by participating in a summer program. Many of our community colleges and universities offer them free of charge or at low cost.
• Apply early to college and finalize your Admissions
• Explore career options and engineering majors
• Verify your Assessment and Course Placement options
• Research paying for college with financial aid and scholarships
  • Find out if you are eligible for the President’s Honors Scholarship
• Meet with your advisor
  • Discuss career and educational goals
  • Establish an educational plan
  • Talk about your outside commitments (work and family)
  • Choose courses and register for classes
  • Schedule when to return to see your advisor
• Check the To Do List in your Student Center
• Finalize your payment, payment plan or secure funding with financial aid prior to the deadline.
• Buy or rent textbooks
• Get a Student ID Card from your campus Admissions & Records Office
• Attend Orientation
• Make sure you arrive early to campus and attend the first day of class!
• Meet up on social: Connect with your campus on social media sites listed on their home page.

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During Your First Semester

• Check Out Club Fairs and Join an Engineering or STEM Club.
• Know where to find tutoring and support services
• Monitor your academic progress. Are you learning, on track, and getting good grades? If not, make an appointment with your academic advisor to talk things over.
• Visit Career Services if you are looking for a job on or off campus
• Seek Help if you are having any personal or academic difficulties. We have free counseling services, most campuses have food pantries, and there are many community resource referrals to help students. Don’t be too proud or shy about asking for help when needed. It’s important for your personal and academic success.
• Celebrate your success! College isn’t easy but it’s important for your future. Be proud of being a college student and doing your best.

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Second Semester in College

• Continue to Explore career options and engineering majors
• Take advantage of Career Services Workshops to build your resume and learn interviewing skills
• Meet with your advisor
  • Discuss career and educational goals. Do you feel that you are headed in the right direction?
  • Update your Educational Plan and adjust, if needed
  • Talk about your outside commitments (work and family)
  • Choose courses and register for classes
  • Schedule when to return to see your advisor
• Check the To Do List in your Student Center
• Finalize your payment, payment plan or secure funding with financial aid prior to the deadline.
• Monitor your academic progress. Are you learning, on track, and getting good grades? If not, make an appointment with your academic advisor to talk things over.
• Attend “Engineering Your Future” or any other campus event that looks interesting
• Seek Help if you are having any personal or academic difficulties. We have free counseling services, most campuses have food pantries, and there are many community resource referrals to help students. Don’t be too proud or shy about asking for help when needed. It’s important for your personal and academic success.
• Start researching internships through your campus Career Services to build important job skills and professional networks.
• Celebrate your success! College isn’t easy but it’s important for your future. Be proud of being a college student and doing your best.

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Students and faculty consistently report that advising is the most important student service that colleges offer. Recent data from the Center for Community College Student Engagement suggest that students who receive more advising—more time with advisors and more in-depth discussions in their sessions—are more engaged.*

*Center for Community College Student Engagement. (2018). Show me the way: The power of advising in community colleges. Austin, TX: The University of Texas at Austin, College of Education, Department of Educational Leadership and Policy, Program in Higher Education Leadership.