Advising

Class Deans’ Tips for Finals Studying

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Greetings Wesleyan Seniors! In preparation for a healthy and successful end to the 2016-2017 academic year, the Class Deans’ Office Roving Reporters are pleased to share some tips and strategies that students use to prepare for final exams and other academic assessments.

Overall Strategies:
thumbnailCA7IZ161• It gets to the point where I know I have to act like I am in a tunnel. (Joey ‘18)
• I’m trying to figure that out. My strategy is to pay attention in class and try to understand what’s happening when learning it and then remembering it is a lot easier. (Avi ‘20)
• Whenever you get the chance, put any effort you can into studying. Don’t let it build up. Don’t wait for midterms. Be on the lookout at least a week ahead of time. (Ryan ‘18)
• I look over all my notes and my syllabus to make sure I’m not missing any part of the class and to make sure that I at least know something about each portion of the syllabus. Then I just sort of spend time thinking about it and hope that I do well…and sleep. (Nathaniel ‘19)

Study Places:
• I like to be in a quiet place where I don’t feel distracted. I also like eating a good meal before studying so you’re not distracted by hunger the whole time. (Sarafina ‘20)
• Vary your study locations. Just get up and move every couple hours so you don’t get tired. (Campbell ‘19)

Time Management:
• Plan your time wisely. Make a daily schedule and a weekly schedule of all the things that you should be doing so you are using your time most efficiently. Also like not forgetting to get a meal and enough sleep. And to take care of yourself. (Steven ‘18)

Study Techniques:
• Always carry a highlighter everywhere you go…put it in your back pocket. (Mackenzie ‘19)
• I like to listen to really good music, like lots of rap…it has a steady beat, a set tempo for studying. (Parichat ‘20)
• I use index cards, rewrite my notes, and review a lot ahead of time and as you go along. (Valerie ‘20)thumbnailCAVE7PW2
• I study in separate chunks with breaks rather than cramming. You should test yourself; don’t just look at the notes. Anticipate questions that will be on the exam; don’t just look at your study guide and say Ah! I know this, and then formulate it into a question. (Kelly ‘17)
• Because I am a sociology major, I read a lot of social theory. I have different color codes for each color of highlighter that indicate special things in the text and make it easy to hold onto, like words like therefore, hence, thus, or for questions or definitions. I use colors that contrast two things. (Grace ’17)

General Advice:
• Don’t study with your friends. (Willa ‘19)
• Laugh a lot with your friends, take breaks with Netflix, and workout. (CiCi ‘18)

The Roving Class Deans:
These are terrific insights. To learn more about the ways that the Class Deans Office can help you, please stop in during drop-in hours or schedule an individual meeting to see us. http://www.wesleyan.edu/studentaffairs/about/classdeans.html.

To meet with an Academic Peer Advisor for studying or test-taking tips or time management strategies, go to http://www.wesleyan.edu/studentaffairs/resources/peeradvisors/index.html .

Remember:
Last Day to Withdraw from Full Semester & 4th Quarter Classes – May 3
Classes End – May 10
Reading Period – May 11 – 15
Final Exams – May 16 – 19
University Housing Closes – May 20

Why Foreign Language Study is a Good Idea for Every Student

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If you are a senior who has engaged with foreign-language study while at Wesleyan, the rationale below will help you explain to prospective employers the skills you have gained through such a course of study.

Why Foreign-Language Study is a Good Idea for Every Student  

We assume if you have reasons to learn a particular language (to study, work, travel, or live abroad or for resources not fully available in English translation), you already know why it is important. Here are reasons to study any language besides English or whatever you regard as your native language:

  1. Many employers, professional schools, and graduate schools see serious study of a second language (potentially, a double-major) as evidence that you can (a) put yourself more easily in others’ (colleagues’, clients’) shoes and (b) communicate more effectively even in English.
  2. You will never know your own language and culture more deeply than by studying another–by looking at it from the outside. Learning to thrive with the unfamiliar is often linked to creativity in many intellectual and professional contexts.
  3. Language learning teaches you to think more clearly and sharpens your brain’s ability to make sense of the world.
  4. Deep study of another culture through its language brings home how much of value will never be made available in English.
  5. Puzzling out another language and culture will help you understand (and empathize with) the difficulties of non-anglophone immigrants, colleagues, clients, and travelers in the U.S., even if you never leave American shores.
  6. Learning another language well makes it easier to learn any language in the future. Even if you never need this, the experience–especially if you study abroad–will make you far more confident in your ability to face any intellectual or professional challenge.  
  7. Foreign-language courses fit easily into study plans: offered on highly varied schedules, they provide a stimulating (and fun!) break from problem-set driven, heavy-reading or arts courses.

Wesleyan offers:

Arabic language and culture: http://www.wesleyan.edu/academics/faculty/aaissa/profile.html

American Sign Language: http://www.wesleyan.edu/lctls/courses.html

Classics (Greek and Latin): http://wesleyan.edu/classics/

East Asian Studies (Chinese, Japanese, Korean): http://wesleyan.edu/ceas/

German studies: http://wesleyan.edu/german/

Hebrew language and culture: http://www.wesleyan.edu/academics/faculty/dkatz01/profile.html

Romance Languages & Literatures (French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish): http://wesleyan.edu/romance/

Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies program: http://wesleyan.edu/russian/

Any other language: http://www.wesleyan.edu/lctls/silp.html

Do not hesitate to contact any faculty teaching these above language(s).

 

New Course! Intro to Linguistics

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NEW COURSE: CGST210

Q:  What is linguistics?

A: It’s the study of language, its structures, and the way it works.

We’re pleased to be re-introducing into the Wesleyan curriculum an introductory course on Linguistics, to be taught by Prof. Louise Neary in Spring 2017.  This course will introduce students to some of the principal areas like phonology  (the study of the sounds of language), morphology (the structure of words), syntax (the structure of sentences) and semantics (the meaning of language).

This course has no prerequisites and will be interesting for anyone curious about how and why humans make the sounds we make.

Check out Wesmaps for more info. Offered M & W—2:50-4:10 p.m.

Biological & Biomedical Sciences Graduate School Preparation and Career Options Advising Session–10/1

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Harvard University: “Biological and Biomedical Sciences Graduate School Preparation and Career Options Advising Session”

WHEN: Saturday, 1 October 2016

WHERE:  Boger Hall, Rm 112

TIME: 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM

PRESENTED BY:David Van Vactor, PhD, Professor of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Director, Curriculum Fellows Program;  Jason Heustis, PhD, Lecturer, Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Graduate Curriculum, Professional Development and Evaluation Specialist 

Members of the Harvard Medical School community will be visiting to connect with students interested in discussing graduate school applications, graduate training and professional development, and the expanding range of career options for PhDs.

For decades, science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education has followed very traditional models of training and career preparation.  These models are now undergoing change to better prepare graduates for a rapidly evolving career landscape.

We will examine this landscape and open a dialogue with the audience to explore how students can effectively navigate portfolio development, graduate school applications and training.

Please come and join the conversation!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mildred Rodriguez, PhD, Health Professions Advisor, mrodriguez01@wesleyan.edu

 

 

 

 

Academic Peer Advisor and NSO Peer Advisor Apps due March 28!

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Academic Peer Advisors

The Deans’ Office is looking for talented and motivated students to become Academic Peer Advisors for the 2016-2017 academic year. Academic Peer Advisors are juniors and seniors who work during New Student Orientation (NSO) and throughout the academic year to support Wesleyan’s faculty advising program and enhance student access to academic resources. Academic Peer Advisors will receive training, give individualized peer advice and facilitate workshops for groups of students regarding metacognitive learning strategies, time management, public speaking, study and exam preparation strategies. The Academic Peer Advisor position description and application can be found at: http://www.wesleyan.edu/studentaffairs/resources/peeradvisors/peeradvjobdesc.html

 NSO Peer Advisors

The Deans’ Office is looking for talented and motivated students to become NSO Peer Advisors for the 2016-2017 academic year. NSO Peer Advisors are sophomores, juniors and seniors who work during New Student Orientation to support Wesleyan’s faculty advising program and enhance student access to academic resources. The comprehensive position description and application can be found at: http://www.wesleyan.edu/studentaffairs/resources/peeradvisors/NSO%20Peer%20Advisor%20job%20description.html

 

Posted in Academic Resources, orientation, Peer Advisors

Thinking About Doing An Honors Thesis?

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Thinking about doing an Honors Thesis?

And Then What?

 Come to a panel Q&A with

 Professors

Marguerite Nguyen (H&A–ENGL)

Suzanne O’Connell (NSM–E&ES), and

Sarah Wiliarty (SBS—GOVT)

and with Kevin Winnie ’16, peer advisor and thesis writer

 Wed., Feb. 3  — 4 p.m. — Usdan 110

Note:  There will be another meeting in April about the logistics of doing an honors thesis.

The Essential Meeting: Med/Dent/Vet School 2017 — 11/30

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The Essential Meeting: Med/Dent/Vet School 2017
Monday, 11/30, 6:30 PM, Career Center Commons

If you are considering an application for 2017 entrance to medical, dental, or veterinary school, plan to attend the annual Essential Meeting on Monday, November 30. Applying to these three types of health professions graduate schools requires serious advance planning, a clear sense of the required timeline, knowledge of how the process works, and what it will cost.

This information session will provide you with: (1) an overview of the application process, (2) information you need to file a request for an institutional letter of sponsorship from the Wesleyan Health Professions Panel, and (3) suggestions for how to assess the strength of your candidacy.

Unless you have a class, you should make every effort to attend this meeting. If you have a 7 PM class, you should attend for the first half-hour. We will start promptly at 6:30 PM.

Unless you have a class, you should make every effort to attend this meeting. If you have a 7 PM class, you should attend for the first half-hour.

We will start promptly at 6:30 PM.

Peggy Carey Best
Health Professions Advising Consultant/Visiting Assistant Professor, Sociology
Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT 06459
Phone: 860/685-3726
Career Center http://www.wesleyan.edu/careercenter

Apply to be a Peer Advisor — April 6 Deadline

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The Deans’ Office is looking for talented and motivated students to become Academic Peer Advisors and New Student Orientation Peer Advisors. Academic Peer Advisors are juniors, seniors and exceptional sophomores who work over the summer and throughout New Student Orientation to support Wesleyan’s faculty advising program and enhance student access to academic resources. NSO Peer Advisors are rising Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors who meet with new students during NSO as they prepare to meet with faculty advisors. Check out the position descriptions and applications.

Applications and supporting documentation are due by Monday, April 6th at 5 p.m. 

Questions should be directed to the Associate Dean for Student Academic Resources, Laura Patey (x5581, lpatey@wesleyan.edu).

 

History Matters…Careers: Lunch and Talk with Pam Tatge ’84 — Thurs., Feb. 19

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History Matters…Careers:

 

Pamela Tatge ’84 P’16

“From History Major to

Art Center Director”

 Pam Tatge

 

Come to hear Pamela Tatge, Wesleyan’s Director of the Center for the Arts, reflect on the role her history major and her Wesleyan education played in her personal and professional path. 

 

Thursday, February 19, 12-NOON

PAC 002. Lunch will be available.