Author: Kira

As finals wind down and you take a much needed and deserved rest over Winter break, don’t forget to apply for CoF Scholarships for the 2013-14 academic year.  Just remember how quickly Fall term went by and how busy you were and then use some of the free time you have coming up over the break to complete and submit your application.  You’ll thank yourself for it later!

Here’s the link to the scholarship page:  http://studentservices.forestry.oregonstate.edu/scholarships

After you read through the instructions, you’ll see the link to the application near the bottom of the page.  Please, please read the instructions first!

The application deadline is February 1, 2013 (no exceptions what-so-ever).  Please use some of your time over the upcoming holidays to complete your application.  It really is pretty simple and straightforward.

Here’s an insider tip!  Take some time to think about your short essays/statements.  You only have 300 words to express yourself so do so wisely and with care.  And another hint.  Yes, tuition is ever-increasing and that can feel really overwhelming and a scholarship would help you concentrate less on expenses and more on school so don’t use your 300 words relay that information.  Think about about what makes you or your situation unique, your experiences and contributions to forestry and natural resources truly valuable, and your education so important.

Have a great Winter break!

As you prepare for finals next week, consider brushing up on your study skills too!  The Academic Success Center offers a variety of resources to help you.  Stop by Waldo 102 to visit with them.  Also check out their website which is full of helpful study tips!

http://success.oregonstate.edu/study-tips

Your first term at Oregon State is almost complete. Went by quickly, didn’t it?

End-of-term papers and projects will be due soon. Still have questions about those assignments? Contact your professors during office hours or ask after class. Need some help? That’s what the Academic Success Center, Writing Center and Collaborative Learning Center (CLC) are here for.

If you’ve developed a regular study schedule over the term, great! Keep at it, and consider adding some extra time during the week before finals (aka Dead Week). If not, these time management strategies can help you get back on track. Also, team up with friends from your classes for study sessions; you can learn from each other.

Finally, take care of yourself. Get enough sleep. Pulling an all-nighter can leave you so tired you don’t remember what you spent all night studying. Take a break when you need to. Go work out at Dixon. Eat well. And if you’re feeling stressed, go visit the Mind Spa in Snell Hall.

Be ready for the finals countdown, and have a good week!

Registration for winter term has begun! If you’ve already met with your adviser, you should have some ideas about what classes you want and/or need to take next. But if you still need some direction, talk to your professors during office hours or make an appointment with your adviser. 

At Oregon State, when you can register is determined by your student status and credits earned. Priority registration is also divided into two phases. During Phase I, you can enroll in a maximum of 16 credit hours. In Phase II, you can register for up to 19 credit hours.

Also, during Phase II, waitlisting is available for some courses. If the course you want to take is closed, but waitlisted, you can still add it to your schedule. If a space becomes available, you’ll receive an email to your ONID account, and you’ll then have 24 hours to enroll in the class. This video explains more about the waitlisting process.

Once you’ve registered for all of your classes, don’t forget to keep a copy of your schedule! At the bottom of the Course Schedule screen, you can choose Student Detail Schedule and print a copy or save it as a .pdf file. You can also download your schedule in a vCalendar/iCalendar file for your ONID webmail calendar, Microsoft Outlook or Apple iCal.

You can find exactly when you’re eligible to register for winter term by logging into MyOSU. Under Registration Tools, choose View Priority Registration Status. It’s a good idea to register as soon as you’re eligible to get the classes you want, so put that date on your calendar now, and have a good week!

You’ve likely completed some midterms by now, and with those grades, you should have an idea how well you’re doing in your classes. If you’re not sure, go see your professors during office hours.

If you’re happy with your grades, great! Keep doing what you’re doing. If not, there’s still time to do something about it.

For starters, ask your professors about what you can do to improve your grades. Ask for specifics. “Study harder” is good in principle, but you need to know what you should focus on studying harder.

Get help from the Academic Success Center, Writing Center and Collaborative Learning Center (CLC). If you’re living on campus, take advantage of the weekly tutoring sessions in your residence hall.

What if you’re giving a class your best effort, but are still worried about your grade and how it might affect your GPA? You have options, and your adviser can help you choose the right one:

• Consider changing your grading basisfrom A-F to Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) if it’s a bacc core class or not required for your major, minor or option. A grade of S — the equivalent of a C- or above — counts as credit toward graduation, but neither an S nor U grade affect your GPA. Changing to an S/U requires an adviser’s signature.
• Consider withdrawing from the class. This should be a last resort if you, your professor and/or adviser believe you’re not likely to pass. Keep in mind, however, that to retain your financial aid, you must remain a full-time student (12 credits or more) in most cases. A grade of W will appear on your transcript.

The deadline for switching to an S/U or W is Friday, Nov. 9, so act now, and have a good week!

You’re almost halfway through your first term, and if you haven’t already met with your academic adviser, make an appointment this week.

Why now? Priority registration for winter term begins Nov. 11, and your adviser can help you decide which classes to take. Some advisers’ schedules get very full, very fast. So make your appointment this week and beat the rush!

As with visiting your professors during office hours, come prepared. Have a list of potential classes for the next term, along with any questions. Write them down so you don’t forget a question during your appointment only to facepalm later when you remember it was something important.

One more point. Maybe the most essential one. Your adviser is here for you. His or her job is to support your progress from this first term all the way through to graduation. Get to know your adviser and let your adviser get to know you. Regular meetings will help your adviser understand your academic history, interests and goals, so he or she can help you make the best decisions for your time at Oregon State and life beyond college.

Make that advising appointment, and have a great week!

On Wednesday, October 24^th  OSU and Career Services will be hosting the University Wide Career Fair and on Thursday, October 25^th will be hosting the Engineering Fair for Oregon State students and alumni. 

Both events run from from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and are located in the CH2M Hill Alumni Center.

The purpose of our career fairs, which will feature over 185 recruiters from companies located around the nation, is to connect students with future opportunities and potential employers.  This event promises to be a rewarding networking and career development experience. 

http://oregonstate.edu/career/node/97

 

 

 

If you haven’t already noticed, college classes move at a fast pace. And mid-terms will be coming soon. So now’s the time to get ready:

• Check your course syllabi. They should list the dates for your mid-terms and may also include information about what will be covered.
• Check your class notes. Is anything missing? Do you still have questions about any of the material? Ask! Talk to your professors either after class or during office hours.
• Give yourself ample time to study. Consult these study tips, especially the section on test preparation.
• Get support! The Academic Success Center, Writing Center and Collaborative Learning Center (CLC) are ready to help you.
• Living on campus? There are free weekly tutoring sessions and educational programs in every residence hall. Check with your Resident Director or Resident Assistant for a schedule.

You’re in charge of your education, but you don’t have to do it all on your own. Take advantage of the resources available!

Remember last week’s message about possibly adding or dropping a class? If you’re still thinking about it, this is your last week to do it.

But before you do anything, talk to your adviser. Tell him or her why you’re thinking about making a change.

If you and your adviser decide you should add a class, you’ll need to get department approval. If you decide to drop a class, you can still do that online; the deadline is Friday, Oct. 5.

After Friday and through Nov. 9, you can still withdraw from a class online. What’s the difference? A dropped course does not appear on your academic transcript. A withdrawn course will appear on your transcript with a grade of W. However, the W grade does not affect your GPA.

What about the rest of your schedule? Is it manageable? Are you being realistic about the time you’ll need for studying and completing assignments? Are you giving yourself enough downtime to recharge? You may need to adjust your schedule from time to time, and that’s OK. Just be sure that your coursework takes priority.

Visit the first-year student website for more tips and ideas. Have a good rest of your week!

As classes move ahead this week, it’s good to know about all the academic support services available at Oregon State. Not only can they help your grades, they can help you get more out of your classes. When it comes to learning, more is better!

For starters, connect with your professors and instructors. Ask questions and participate in class. And be sure to visit them during office hours, which should be posted on Blackboard, as well as listed on your course syllabus.

Come prepared with some questions. Naturally, you can ask about a specific item or grade issue, but use this time to focus on learning more about the subject. Be polite and respectful, and most of all, be curious! Look at it this way: professors are lifelong learners. Their job is to gain knowledge, then share what they know. So talk to them. Most professors encourage one-on-one interaction with interested students.

Here’s a list of the primary academic support resources at Oregon State. Use them! In addition to the services they offer, they can refer you to other campus resources.

• The Academic Success Center in Waldo Hall offers academic coaching, supplemental instruction, study tablesand referrals.
• The Writing Center can help with all aspects of the writing process — from brainstorming and organization to questions about grammar and usage. The Writing Center has two locations — Waldo Hall and the new Student Success Center across from Gill Coliseum and Reser Stadium — plus an Online Writing Lab.
• The Collaborative Learning Center (CLC) in the Valley Libraryoffers multiple services from peer tutors and graduate teaching assistants from the College of Science and the Academic Success Center. The Writing Desk is available by appointment Sunday through Thursday.
• The Educational Opportunities Program (EOP) provides academic support specifically to help non-traditional students navigate the opportunities, requirements and challenges they face. EOP offers for-credit classes in math, reading and writing skills. Other services require an application to the program.

The time to know about these resources is before you need them. So check them out this week and learn how they can help you. It’s your education; take charge of it!
Have a good week!