{"id":713,"date":"2026-09-22T11:06:43","date_gmt":"2026-09-22T18:06:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coenewscenter.sites.unlv.edu\/?p=713"},"modified":"2026-09-22T11:06:43","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T18:06:43","slug":"from-the-expert-top-five-tips-for-undergraduate-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coenewscenter.sites.unlv.edu\/?p=713","title":{"rendered":"From the Expert: Top Five Tips for Undergraduate Success"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Originally posted: Jul. 28, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By: Sakinah Musa<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New to UNLV? Worried about managing classes? Work? Family? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good news is that you\u2019re not alone. The even better news is that we have some good advice from a seasoned expert \u2013 meet Monica.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monica Moreno<\/a>, the College of Education\u2019s associate director of advising, has helped thousands of students survive and thrive at UNLV. Drawing from nearly two decades of advising students and her own journey as a first-generation college student, she shared five practical tips to help you get a good start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Enjoy Your Time <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou are here to explore and discover new things about yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t have to be who you\u2019ve always been. Discover new interests and build lifelong relationships by getting involved<\/a> in campus organizations and attending events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Ask for Help<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019re surrounded by programs and resources<\/a>, like the Writing Center<\/a> and The Intersection<\/a>, that were created to help you succeed. Build relationships with faculty members. Stop by during their office hours to get clarity on assignment instructions or follow up on a question you had about the readings. Connecting regularly with advisors<\/a>, especially after you declare your major, to make sure you\u2019re taking the right classes and getting assistance where you need it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Master Time Management<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t think that you have a lot of free time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most new students experienced a very structured high school schedule. College is completely different. It\u2019s on you to manage your time wisely. That means you need to: Keep a running list of the things you need to do, like readings and assignments<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Build a schedule with your class time, study time, work time, and social time to keep you on track and balanced. When you know you\u2019ve set aside time to do something, you\u2019re less stressed about getting it done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Volunteer and Serve<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seek volunteer opportunities and community service experiences that align with your interests. There are lots of options<\/a>, including helping the unhoused, supporting environmental causes, and working with kids. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you give back, you\u2019ll develop leadership skills, gain real-world experience, and explore potential career paths. You also get to build a strong r\u00e9sum\u00e9 while you discover your passions and values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Follow Your Passion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

College is about exploration and discovery \u2013 about yourself and the world around you. You may have started as an elementary education major and realized that a career in school psychology matches your love for 1:1 connections with young learners. Keep your options open. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While you may feel pressured to choose a career based on salary, popularity, or family expectations, investigate paths that align with your interests and strengths. All jobs are stressful, but doing what you love makes the challenging days worthwhile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Together<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monica’s tips are a reminder that college is not just about earning a degree. You\u2019re here to become the person and professional you aspire to become, and you can have fun at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Originally posted: Jul. 28, 2026 By: Sakinah Musa New to UNLV? Worried about managing classes? Work? Family?  The good news is that you\u2019re not alone. The even better news is that we have some good advice from a seasoned expert \u2013 meet Monica. Monica Moreno, the College of Education\u2019s associate director of advising, has helped […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[25],"class_list":["post-713","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general-college","tag-sakinah-musa"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coenewscenter.sites.unlv.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/713","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coenewscenter.sites.unlv.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coenewscenter.sites.unlv.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coenewscenter.sites.unlv.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coenewscenter.sites.unlv.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=713"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/coenewscenter.sites.unlv.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/713\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":715,"href":"https:\/\/coenewscenter.sites.unlv.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/713\/revisions\/715"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coenewscenter.sites.unlv.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=713"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coenewscenter.sites.unlv.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=713"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coenewscenter.sites.unlv.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=713"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}