New to UNH

Welcome to UNH first-year students and transfers.  We are glad you're here!  Below are some hot tips on how to navigate your new academic culture!

Picture of academic mentors at UNH admitted students resource fair

Mentors share key takeaways

  •  CFAR peer academic mentors share what they wish they had known once arriving on campus!
  • Remember, you don't need to figure it all out by yourself.

Why work with CFAR?

  • CFAR knows the best ways to study for classes at the university level and we want to see you succeed in all facets of being a Wildcat!

What I wish I knew: actionable videos from Quinnipiac University

Transitioning Academically

Transitioning Socially

Your first year is more than grade 13

This information is borrowed from the University of Delaware's Office of Academic Enrichment. CFAR can assist with your transition to UNH and make sure it's as smooth as possible!  Expand the sections below to learn more about the differences between high school and college:

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In High School… In College…
  • Will update you on what to expect throughout the course.
  • Will provide a syllabus at the beginning of the semester with all course information, policies and due dates for you to regularly reference. 
  • Will check your completed homework.
  • Will assume you have mastered your homework for exams. 
  • Will remind you of incomplete work. 
  • Will not remind you of incomplete work. 
  • Will approach you if they think you need help.
  • Will ask you to initiate contact if you need help.
  • Will be available before, during and after class for questions.
  • Will request that you come to office hours or set up an appointment if you have questions. 
  • Will provide you with information you miss when absent.
  • Will expect that you to get notes from others when you’ve missed class.
  • Will present material to help you understand the textbook.
  • Will not follow the text, but require you to read and relate it to in-class material. 
  • Will write information on the board to be copied as your notes. 
  • Will trust you to decide what needs to be written down. 
  • Will supply facts and help you process and make connections to material.
  • Will expect you to think about/synthesize seemingly unrelated topics

In High School… In College…
  • Can be accomplished in a few hours per week.
  • Can take 2-3 hours per credit every week, or approximately 30-45 hours per week for a 15-credit semester.
  • Can be completed in one sitting because material is less detailed. 
  • Can involve regular review of information on an ongoing basis because material is more detailed.
  • Can require short assignments that are discussed and often re-taught in class. 
  • Can require substantial reading and writing that may not be revisited in class. 

In High School… In College…
  • Are frequent and cover small amounts of material.
  • Are usually only given 2-3 times and may be cumulative or cover large amounts of material. 
  • Are accompanied by study guides. 
  • Are not accompanied by study guides. Instead, professors expect you to organize the material and prepare yourself.
  • Are often able to be made-up if you missed the original date. 
  • Are rarely able to be made-up.
  • Are frequently rearranged to avoid conflict with school events.
  • Are usually scheduled without regard to demands of other courses or activities.
  • Are successfully completed if you can remember facts and information as it was provided to you.
  • Are successfully completed if you can apply what you’ve learned to real situations or to solving new kinds of problems.

In High School… In College…
  • Are given to most assigned work.
  • Are limited to major projects and exams.
  • Are supplemented by extra credit projects to help raise your grade. 
  • Are not supplemented by extra credit. 
  • Are based on the guiding principle that effort counts.
  • Are based on the guiding principle that results count.

In High School… In College…
  • Is facilitated by anyone who sees you need it, whether or not you want it. 
  • Is available when you ask your professors or other on-campus offices.  

In High School… In College…
  • School is mandatory and free.
  • School is voluntary and expensive.
  • Time is planned by others. 
  • Time is managed by you. 
  • Responsibilities and priorities are set and managed with the help of family and teachers.
  • Responsibilities and priorities are set and managed by you. 
  • Behavior is corrected by family and teachers, minimizing the consequences of bad decisions. 
  • Behavior is not corrected by others, meaning that you must take responsibility for your actions or inactions and face the consequences. 

Advice for new UNH Wildcats

  • Get yourself out there
  • Be open to change
  • Lean on others
  • Be willing to say "yes!"
  • Get involved with clubs and orgs!
  • Connect with your professors
  • Don't procrastinate 
  • Remain open-minded!

Student Accessibility Services

If you are a student with a documented disability: medical, physical, learning, or mood disorder, check out the services available through Student Accessibility Services (SAS). Learn more about the accommodation process here!  For students (and their families) impacted by learning disabilities and/or executive functioning diagnoses, check out Landmark College's "Guide to Assessing College Readiness."  This great resource acts as a skills inventory in five foundational areas: academic skills, self-understanding (metacognition), self-advocacy, executive function, and motivation and confidence!