The typical college classroom depicted in every college movie scene seems to portray the professor behind a lectern, lecturing in front of a sea of students. Entering the first week of college, these movie theater-like auditoriums packed with students usually rank high on the list of fears.

But even though the University is a large place where many classes have the potential of having over 100 students, there are many ways to make the learning environment of a large lecture feel smaller and more individualized.

Just by following a few tips, you will easily be able to conquer large lecture classes and also achieve your highest academic potential in these settings.

Sit up front

Nothing will help you conquer the big classroom better than choosing a seat up front.

Sitting in the front of the classroom will make you completely forget about the hundreds of students behind you. It easily makes a large environment feel a lot more individualized.

Another benefit of sitting up front is that you are forced to pay attention, being in close proximity to the professor. You will be less tempted to peruse the latest updates on your Facebook or Twitter feed, with the fear of being caught mid-lecture.

Get to know your professor

Because large classes don’t provide you with a lot of time to talk with your professors on an individualized basis, it’s important to take advantage of their office hours so they can get to know you. Introducing yourself to your professor shows them that you care and are serious about their class, which in the end could benefit you when final grades come around.

Get to know your classmates

Other important people you should get to know are those sitting around you. If you’re sick or absent one day, it’s reassuring to have the names and contacts of people from whom you can obtain notes, and of course, it’s a great way to make friends. You can also rely on each other for study groups before big exams or work on projects together.

Remember discussion sections

Luckily, at the University, there are classes known as discussion sections that accompany many big lecture sections that usually occur once a week. These discussion sections tend to be smaller (20-30 students) and allow you to really break down and comprehend the material presented in lectures. This is also a great time to ask questions in a smaller setting.

Most importantly, go to class!

Going to large lectures is very important, and it is also one of the easiest ways to remain on top of your class work. Because professors rarely take attendance in large lectures, you will notice that many people skip on a regular basis. But going to the big lectures will allow you to become more familiar with the material, helping you succeed in the class, no matter how many students there are.

Claire is a sophomore in Media. She can be reached at [email protected].