As you are well aware, the Lord has brought you to Biola from your country of residence so that you may successfully complete your degree. While we are available to assist you as much as possible, you will achieve the greatest success by learning to become academically self-sufficient.

Helpful Tips

• Study your catalog, schedule of classes and all other literature published by your specific department or major. Everything that you need to know to succeed in your academic goals has been laid out in an organized fashion. It is your responsibility to put the procedures into practice!
• Utilize the library, counseling center, health center, student services, ministers and ministry opportunities, local churches, public transport system, and handy southern California maps to take advantage of everything that Biola and Southern California have to offer.
• Most importantly, talk to the other students! They have all experienced the tension and challenges of being a first year student at Biola.

General Hints for Writing Papers

• The ability to WRITE is a critical life skill.
  No matter what major you are pursuing, you need to be able to communicate effectively. Writing helps you to think through issues more deeply, build careful arguments, organize your thoughts, see errors in logic, and express your ideas so that they can be contemplated or evaluated by others.
• DON'T procrastinate!
  You can begin your papers near the start of the semester, and if information is later learned, this can be added into the rough draft. If you wait until the end of the semester, you will be competing with the rest of the class for the library books on the subject.
• Longer does not mean better.
  If your professor says you must write a 10 page paper, you may vary the length a bit, but you should keep as close to the designated length as possible.
• Do not use slang from any language unless the professor indicates that this is acceptable.
• Be willing to be vulnerable when appropriate.
  When a professor asks for a response or interaction paper, he or she wants to know how the reading assignment, class lecture (or whatever the subject of the response is) has affected you. It would be appropriate to include how this might affect your life.
• Always keep in mind exactly what the assignment is and make sure that you provide what the professor has asked for. Even a well-written paper can receive a poor grade if it does not meet the requirements.
• Feel free to ask for help well before the paper is due.
• Allow enough time to do a complete rough draft.
  Do not try to sit down to a computer and write the paper from beginning to end as both the first and final product. Professors or the class teaching assistants are usually willing to review your rough drafts with you and advise you on helpful improvements before you type the final product. Use the writing center in Sutherland to review grammar.
• Watch for words like "criticize," "evaluate," and "justify."
  When you see these words in an assignment, you know the professor expects a response that goes well beyond simply restating the information in the textbook or other source. At the graduate level, professors are generally not as interested in the memorization of details as they are in your analysis and understanding of theories and concepts.
• Papers do not need to be written from beginning to end.
  It can be helpful to plunge into the middle of the topic wherever you are inspired to write. You can write sections separately, put them in order, then edit them to give a smooth flow of logic. Sometimes the introduction and conclusion are not done until the end, and serve to unify the whole paper. When writing a paper this way, it is important to have a clear outline in mind and know the direction in which the paper is going. The final product should be well organized and meet all the requirements for the assignment.

About the Classroom

• How will I be graded?
  You will receive one mark or grade per class for each semester or quarter. This grade will usually be based on assignments, quizzes, and tests given throughout the semester as well as a final exam. Very rarely will the entire grade be based on one final exam.
• Can I speak up in class?
  Yes, in most American classrooms discussion is encouraged. If you have a question or even wish to challenge something the instructor has said, don't be afraid to speak up. Sometimes your grade will be based partly on class discussion. However, most teachers will understand if you feel uncomfortable with the language or the American classroom style.
• Should I give gifts to my teachers?
  It is not customary to give gifts to teachers, nor will giving gifts have any effect on your grade. Grades are based solely on achievement, not on the kind of relationship you have with the teacher. After the class is finished, however, and you have received your grade, you may give a small token of appreciation if you wish.
• Is it necessary to type my paper?
  Most instructors prefer papers typed and many require it. If you can't type, you may have to pay someone to type your papers for you.
• How much will I have to study?
  Depending on the number of classes you are taking or your major, you may have to study more than you are used to, especially if English is not your first language. However, be sensible. If you study all night for a test, your mind won't function as well. And if you leave no time for social life and relaxation, you will become frustrated and lonely.

Interacting with Classmates in English

• Go to class 5 to 10 minutes early and start talking with one of your classmates.
• Sit in a different place in the classroom every few class meetings so that you can get to know new people.
• During breaks interact in English with a variety of people.
• Consider that people may be reluctant to begin a conversation with you if they have only seen you speaking a language that is foreign to them.