Steps for Success: Between Semesters
1. Reflect on Your Experience
You’ve just completed your first semester as a Gator and learned so much! Not only in your classes but also about yourself. Taking a look at what you've learned and how you've grown so far can help you reshape your journey forward. How have your academic or career goals changed now that you know more about what UF and the world have to offer? How have YOU changed, and in what areas would you want to make changes soon? What more are you seeking to learn, and what resources can support you? Academic advising and career coaching are available throughout your time at UF (generally including breaks!) to help you each time you’d like to refine your vision for your future self.
What personal development "wins" can you celebrate, looking back on this semester? Identify two choices, actions, or habits that were beneficial and contributed to your success and celebrate them! In what ways did you surprise yourself? Thinking about academics and wellness, did you find a great location or environment in which to study productively? What time of day did you feel most creative, focused, or energized? Was there content in a class that you really enjoyed?
Take a breath and appreciate the present. Plan one full day of reflection for yourself and take the time to look back on the entire semester before looking ahead at what's next.
- Sierra McVeigh, Transition Advisor, Student Success
When reflecting, also think about what physical item (umbrella, water bottle, planner, etc.) you would have benefitted from at least once. Then, acquire it for next semester.
- Shannon Kelly, Transition Advisor, Student Success
2. Check Your Final Grades
“Final grades,” meaning the grades that will be posted on your UF transcript, generally get posted on ONE.UF about a week after final exams. For specific dates, check the Catalog’s Dates and Deadlines page. UF is open most days – even if classes aren’t in session. So, monitor your ONE.UF account and your GatorMail to ensure you don’t miss any communications from UF while you’re on break.
Check your final grades as soon as they are available, and meet with your academic advisor around that time to check in! Together, we can celebrate how you’ve been crushing it, or we can develop a plan for any areas of improvement. Advisors will be extremely busy once the next semester starts, so the end of the semester is an ideal time to meet with your advisor and map out your academic journey.
- Allicia Bolen, Academic Advisor, College of Journalism & Communications
3. Finalize Next Semester's Schedule
Now that you’ve reflected on your first semester and checked your final grades, you may want to adjust your schedule for next semester. Maybe there’s a time that works better for you for a certain class, or maybe you want to change your major. It’s also possible that, if you did not successfully complete a course, you may need to adjust your schedule due to prerequisites (drop the next course in the sequence) or critical tracking (e.g., take the course again).
In any of those cases, you can adjust your schedule on ONE.UF and/or meet with your academic advisor to discuss possible changes, ask what to do if a course you need is full, or simply update them with any new or clarified goals.
If you’re concerned about your grades or their impact on your academic standing, now’s the time to take action! Advisors are usually available even when classes aren’t in session. Many students think they have to wait until classes start up again, but virtual advising is an option, and getting guidance early can help you plan your next steps before drop/add or registration deadlines hit. If you want academic advisement, reach out now—acting early gives you more options and less stress later!
- Lucy Searcy, Academic Advisor, Innovation Academy
