Welcome Back

The corridors of Hinds Hall are once again teeming with students and we are glad to have you back and to welcome all our new students. Summer went by very quickly and now it is time to get back in the swing of classes, studying, catching up with old friends, and making new friends.

As always, if you have any questions, concerns, need candy or information, your first stop should be in Student Services, 114 Hinds Hall. We look forward to seeing you.

 

 

Early Registration November 11 to 20

Be sure to take advantage of Early Registration to get the classes you need (and want!) If you have an advising hold, you are required to meet with an advisor before you can register. Upper-classmen should come in for their junior/senior checks. Your advisor can help you pick classes that fulfill your requirements, as well as plan ahead to add a minor or study abroad. Come in early so you will be ready when your registration appointment date rolls around.

Click here for:

Schedule of Classes: http://registrar.syr.edu/tsc/index.html
ISchool courses and waitlist: http://ischool.syr.edu/academics/advisingandcourses/advising/schedules.aspx

Learn to Manage Your Time

For many students, starting college is the first time you have to manage time on your own. In high school, you probably did not have much choice in scheduling classes, and Mom and Dad were around to make sure you were getting  things done. Teachers may have reminded you a number of times about an assignment due date or an upcoming test. In college, you are responsible for keeping track of all of that yourself. In order to juggle everything you need and want to do, you must be well organized, and effective time management is a key to your success. Here are some tips that will help you plan your time.

• Use a daily planner. Whether you use the free student planners available in Student Services or a $200 Blackberry, you must use a planner to help you keep track of your schedule and commitments. Enter all your classes and your work schedule, and make a note of all test and assignment due dates. Then get in the habit of checking your planner daily.

• Plan ahead. You will likely have several tests and papers due on the same day or within a day or two of each other. Look ahead to midterm and finals week. Break assignments in smaller steps. A ten-page paper may seem overwhelming but is more manageable when broken down into steps: research, outline, opening paragraph, etc.

• Make a “To Do” list everyday. Before you go to sleep, make a list of everything you need to do the following day. Be sure to include everything: academics, errands, work, and leisure activities. Within that list, figure out your priorities and a realistic time frame for each task. It is important to be specific. Don’t put “study” on your list. Instead put “Read chapter 3 for biology,” etc.
  
  
• Schedule in study time. Set aside scheduled time for reading and doing assignments. It is a generally accepted rule of thumb that you will spend two to three hours studying for every hour spent in the classroom. So for every three credit-hour class, you should spend six to nine hours a week studying.
  
  
• Be balanced and realistic. Don’t schedule marathon study sessions when previous experience has taught you that you just get overwhelmed and give up (or fall asleep!) Schedule shorter sessions more often to keep things doable. Be sure to schedule in fun time as well: a coffee break, meeting friends for dinner, or late night at the gym salsa dancing will revive your energy and spirit.

Ask and Advisor

I tried to drop a class but MySlice won’t let me! I haven’t gone to the class for two weeks and I’m kind of freaking out. You can stop freaking out now. After the schedule adjustment period—which is to say after the add deadline—you can no longer drop in MySlice but you can fill out a paper drop form. They are available in Student Services. Fill it out, have an advisor sign and stamp it, then take it to the Registrar’s.

After my first year in the IM program I got a job offer I just couldn’t pass up, so I stopped taking classes and went to work. Now my company has offered to help pay for classes so I can finish my degree but  I can’t register in MySlice even though it’s the registration period. What’s up with that? What’s up with that is that whenever grad students take time off, they must register for GRD 998 (zero hour registration) in order not to be deactivated. Since you didn’t do that, see your advisor to start the reinstatement process.

Grad students must register for GRD 998 to keep their student status and access resources like the library and computer labs.

Words of Wisdom from Upper-Classmen

Drop a class if you know you are failing. Save your GPA. You suffer a little later but it’s better. - Anthony Ortiz, Senior

Dump the lanyard—it’s a Freshman target. Don’t wear your “Home to the Dome” t-shirt until you’re a Sophomore. - Rich Tehan, Sophomore

Go to sleep before three! Make friends with people a year or two above you—learn from them. Don’t only hang out with other Freshmen. -James Powell, Graduate Student

Don’t buy all your textbooks before class starts—wait until you really need them or know that you want to keep them. - Sam Clarvit, Senior

I wish I would have gotten a little more guidance or have been put in the right direction for which classes to take with which professors. - Kim Clarke, Senior

Get a Job! and Free Pizza.

In today’s economic climate, you need every advantage you can get, and it’s never too early to plan ahead.
The Career Center, located in Shine Student Center, can help you create an outstanding resume and hone your interpersonal skills through mock interviews.

Summer internships can help you learn to apply what you’ve learned in class to a practical work setting and you can build valuable contacts at the same time. You can also earn credit for your internship; See Kathy Benjamin, our Employer Relations Coordinator, for the necessary paperwork.

Numerous employers have information sessions at the iSchool, another great way to find out about  employment opportunities and network.

Finally, be sure to come to the Fall 2009 Career Series every Friday. Get free pizza and valuable information for your job search.

Tips on Constructing an Effective Resume: What Are Employers Looking For?
Presenter: Rosanne Ecker, Ph.D.,  Associate Director, Career Services
Friday, September  4, 11:30 - 1:30, Hinds Hall, Room 111

How to Succeed at Career Fair; How Can You Prepare to Meet Employers?
Presenter:Debi Walker, Assistant Director for Recruiting, Career Services
Friday, September 18,  11:30- 1:30, Hinds Hall, Room 111

How Can You Best Showcase Your Soft Skills In An Interview?
Presenter: David C. DiMaggio, Program Manager, CASE Center Industry Co-op Program and Rosanne Ecker, Ph.D.
Friday, September 25,  11:30 - 1:30, Hinds Hall, Room  111

Online Tools for Researching Your Potential Employers
Presenter: Chuck Reutlinger, Associate Director, Information Resources and Services, Career Services
Friday, October 2, 11:30 - 1:30, Hinds Hall, Room 111

Using the  Mentor@SU  Program to Network
Presenter: Kelly Lux, Alumni Programs Coordinator, Career Services
Friday, Oct. 9, 11:30 -1:30, Hinds Hall , Room 111