We're coming at you every day this week with a tip for getting through this insane first week! If you're nervous, just know you're not alone. Starting college (or starting at a new college, or starting a new academic year) can be really overwhelming and most students experience some degree of anxiety, even if it's the good kind!

Today, we're reminding you to check Blackboard!!! Your professors have probably made their pages live by now, so today is a great day to read through the syllabi, make sure you understand course policies, and see if there's any pre-class work you need to do before the first day. Map out all of your classes and make sure you know the routes you'll take! Be careful to consider campus construction, because some of that is still going on (we're looking at you, Sherman stairs...)

And, related: start checking your UMBC email account every day. Maybe check it two or three times a day. You know what, while you're at it, just leave that tab open in your internet browser. Download the Gmail app (UMBC is a Google campus!) on your phone and/or tablet and turn on notifications. You don't want to miss anything, and this is primarily how your professors, advisors, and clubs will communicate with you!