March 7: Final day for W-drop and Pass/Fail

This is just a reminder that March 7th is the mid-semester date: the final day to drop a class with a "W" or switch to pass/fail!

Refer back to Monday's post for more information!

W's and Pass/Fail: March 7 is the mid-semester date!

The Mid-Semester date is March 7th. This is the deadline to drop a class with a "W" or elect to take a course Pass/Fail. Before you decide to do either, here are some things you need to know:

Dropping with a W isn't a bad thing. It will not count against you should you decide to apply for/declare a major (as long as you have completed all the pre-requisites, predictor courses, and any other requirements). Dropping a course at this point means a "W" will always remain on your transcript, but you will not receive a grade for that class, so the class will not affect your GPA. The W just indicates that you dropped a course after the Add/Drop deadline. You should consider withdrawing from a course with a "W" if you know that you are not doing well in it and there is little chance you can remedy that, especially if your intended major expects a strong cumulative GPA or specific grade in that class. Be careful though that you are not going below 12 credits (full-time) in doing so, as doing so could have an effect on your financial aid, insurance, etc.

There is actual paperwork required to withdraw from a course (you can't do it on SPIRE) and you will need your instructor's signature. So, don't wait until the day of the deadline to make your decision!

The mid-semester date is also your last chance to change a class to Pass/Fail grading. Rather than dropping a course from your schedule you can elect to remain in the class, but instead of getting a letter grade, your transcript will just indicate a P (if you pass) or an F (if you fail). A P will not affect your GPA, but an F will. If you're considering the P/F grading option, be careful! There are many things to consider before making this choice, including the fact that courses taken P/F may not count toward Gen Eds, major reqs, or predictor courses. Just like dropping with a W, electing to take a class P/F requires paperwork (but not an instructor's signature).

You should see your advisor soon if you're considering either taking a W or changing a course to P/F. You can pick up the necessary paperwork in Undergraduate Advising (if you're Undeclared) or the Registrar's Office in 213 Whitmore.

Look at My Final Exam Schedule? Now???

The Final Exam schedule has posted to SPIRE.  Even though we haven't yet made it to the mid-semester date (Thursday, March 7) take a moment now to save yourself panic and stress later.

Look at your final exam schedule!  Log on to SPIRE and see what's going on.  Where do you need to be and when do you need to be there?
 
Do you have two exams scheduled at the same time or three exams scheduled on the same day?  If yes, you MUST go to the Registrar's Office in Whitmore 213 at least TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FINAL EXAM so they can reschedule for you.  For more information, visit their final exam page. 

No matter how hard you try, you can't be in two places at once.

Do not wait.  Knowing your exam schedule will help you prepare.  Why add more stress to your busy life?

Weekly Preview: March 4 - March 8

The next U @ UMass panel will be held on Tuesday, March 5 from 4:00pm - 5:00pm in the Honors College Lounge, 504 Goodell.  Hear upperclass students describe how they have chosen to enhance their major/minor/certificate programs by participating in Study Abroad, Domestic Exchange, Five-College Interchange, Community Service Learning, Internships/Co-ops, research, and/or Registered Student Organizations.  To learn more, reread our earlier post!

The Hospitality and Tourism Management Department is pleased to announce the Thirty-ninth Annual Career Day and Senior Reception on Wednesday, March 6 from 11:00 AM-4:00 PM in the Campus Center Auditorium.  Students dressed in business professional attire are cordially invited to attend.  You should be prepared with 20 copies of your resume to enter the Fair.  For more information, including the list of registered companies, visit their website at http://www.isenberg.umass.edu/htm/career_day/

Want to be sure your resume is ready?  Career Services is ready to help! Their offices are located at 511 Goodell Building. To reach an advisor or staff member, call Career Services at 413-545-2224 or email careerservices@umass.edu. 

Upcoming Information and Dates

The next R1 Exemption Test will be on Monday, March 11 at 6:30pm in Marcus 131.

The deadline to declare Sociology in order to take majors only classes in Fall 2013 is Friday, March 15.  If you miss this deadline you will not be able to declare until after Add/Drop ends in the Fall.

There will be a Writing Placement Test on Thursday, March 28 in Bartlett 203.




 

Paul's Tip of the Week: Exploring the Surrounding Communities

Did you know Amherst College has a Natural History Museum?

UMass Amherst is a huge university. Some students rarely even make it off campus due to all the exciting activities constantly going on at our very own school. However, there is so much more going on. Few universities located in less urban environments have as many exciting options as students at UMass have. Here are some tips to help explore your surrounding communities and get outside of your UMass Amherst bubble.

1.) Explore the town of Amherst

Right down the street from our University is the beautiful town of Amherst. Full of great restaurants, bookstores, and more, Amherst is the perfect place to hang out on a Saturday Afternoon. As I'm sure most students know, Antonio's Pizza is a popular fan favorite. Some of my personal favorite restaurants include Panda East, the Loose Goose Cafe, and Paradise of India. Save a swipe at Berk one night and go out to eat with your friends! 

2.) Northampton

Just a bus ride away is the lovely town of Northampton, commonly referred to as Noho. Here, there are even more delicious restaurants and tons of quirky vintage shops. The community is vibrant and busy. At night time there are several music venues where local bands and more famous musicians frequently locate.

Aaron Carter is coming to the Iron Horse Music Hall in Noho March 7th at 5. Talk about a blast from the past. Who is ready for Aaron's party?...

3.) The Four Other Colleges

UMass Amherst is part of a 5 college consortium. The 4 other members of this consortium include Mt. Holyoke College, Smith College, Amherst College, and Hampshire College. There are more ways to learn what's going on at the 5 colleges besides just taking a class there. Each college has their own unique personality and several events, guest speakers, dances, and more. I've had amazing times exploring Hampshire College and attending several concerts and events there. Smith and Amherst are two other schools I have loved visiting. I haven't even made it to Mt. Holyoke yet in my time at UMass but plan to get that taken off my bucket list before I graduate.

Here's a schedule of various events going on within the Five College Consortium: http://calendar.fivecolleges.edu/FiveCol/calendrome.cgi

So pick up a bus schedule, do a little research, get a couple of friends together, and start exploring!

Deadlines, Deadlines . . .

We're approaching a series of deadlines that could potentially have impact on your ability to be successful and make progress toward an on-time graduation.  Listen up!

• March 1 Deadline to submit applications for the Public Health Sciences major, for priority enrollment in PHS courses for Fall 2013.
• March 1 Deadline to submit applications for the Computer Science Major and CS Minor.  Click here for more information about applying to the major or minor.
• March 7 Deadline for "W Drop" (withdrawing from a course; "W" will appear on your transcript) and for changing a grading option to "Pass/Fail."  Note: Be careful in choosing these options!  Watch for Blog posts with more information, and check with an advisor before you take action.

Other majors (some restricted, some not) have later application deadlines, and some will have Information Sessions prior to their deadline.  In these (and other) majors, your course access in these departments - for Fall 2013 - could be seriously restricted if you have not declared the major!  For instance:

• March 1 Resource Economics On-Campus Transfer Info Session, 11:15 am Stockbridge 303.  Note: In order to register for Fall 2013 courses as a Resource Economics major, students must complete an on-line Statement of Interest by APRIL 24 at Noon.
• March 15 Deadline to declare the Sociology major during the spring 2013 semester.  Note: your Sociology course access will be limited, if you have not declared by the deadline.

Internships--Some Basic Information

Internships are key to enhancing your education. Through them, you will gain practical and applied experience that you can list on a resume and will help you along in your job search after graduation.

So where to begin? Go to the Career Services page on Internships. They have lots of information there on how to get started, finding internships and co-ops, applying to them, and much more.

You should also attend an info session there on how to find internships. The Career Services Calendar page lists when those info sessions happen, along with many other events that you may find useful.

Good luck!

Public Health Applications DUE MARCH 1ST

The deadline to submit your application to be a Public Health major is March 1st! If you submit your application and are admitted to the major, you will be able to declare the major and therefore be able to enroll in courses that are restricted to Public Health majors. But you must submit your application by March 1st!

Not sure where to find the application? Here you go!

Not sure what the differences between the Social Science and Science tracks are? This should help!

Unclear about what a Collateral Field Option is and how it's fulfilled? Try here!

Would you like to talk to a peer advisor about Public Health, the requirements, the major, applying, and so on? Public Health prefers that you to do that anyway!

Are you undeclared and want to discuss the Public Health major in general? Call Undergraduate Advising at 413-545-2191 and set up an appointment to talk to an advisor!

Weekly Preview: February 26 - March 1

The Mid-Semeter W Drop and Pass/Fail deadline is Thursday, March 7!  We'll be posting much more information about this next week.

 

There will be an information session for students interested in declaring Resource Economics on Friday, March 1 at 11:15am in Stockbridge 303.  Students must attend an information session and complete the Online Statement of Interest BEFORE being invited to schedule an advising appointment to complete the change of major process. This process assists students in examining whether ResEc is a good fit for them and designing a plan for academic success.  Your Statement of Interest is due by Wednesday April 24 in order to register for Fall 2013 courses as a ResEc major. 

Friday, March 1: Deadline Day for Computer Science and Public Health!

If you are planning on applying to Computer Science, you must have your application in before 5:00pm on Friday.  Visit their website for more information.  Click here for the application and stop by the CS Undergrad Advising Center (ACE) in the USpace, 144 CS Bldg for more help.

Applications for Public Health are due by 5:00pm on Friday in the Peer Advising Office, located in Arnold House 330.  Click here to learn more about the major and to download the application.

The Spring 2013 Final Exam Schedule is now available on SPIRE.  You can also check the Registrar’s website at http://www-ureg.admin.umass.edu.  We'll have information later about what to do if you have a conflict.

Speaking of Finals, how are you feeling about your grades right now?  Free tutoring, workshops and supplemental instruction are available through the Learning Resource Center located on the 10th floor of  the W.E. B. DuBois Library.  Call 413-545-5334 or, better yet, go there in person to explore the range of services offered.  To check out their tutoring and/or supplemental instruction schedules for Spring 2013, go on-line to www.umass.edu/lrc/.  If you are having trouble understanding some of your course material, you should first arrange to meet with your professor or T.A. By asking for help early on and coming prepared with questions/concerns, you can maximize the chances that they really will be able to assist you before you fall too far behind.

The Writing Center is also ready to serve your needs!  Make an appointment and get help during any part of the writing process.

And, as always, you can meet with Peer Advisors in the Academic Advising Link or make an appointment to meet with an Undergraduate Advisor to talk about majors, academic issues, and where to go to access the information you need to succeed.

Restricted major? Open Major? HUH?

Over the next few weeks you'll be noticing lots of posts about majors holding information sessions and reminders about declaration deadlines.  Some majors at UMass are restricted, which means they may require an application, specific courses, and/or minimum grade point averages before you can be accepted to them.  For example, the BBA programs and Public Health are both departments that require an application and minimum GPA.  Another example is Economics, which requires minimum grades in specific courses before students can sign in.  Admissions into restricted majors is not guaranteed if you do not meet the specified requirements.

Some majors, while not restricted in terms of who can declare, are restricted in terms of when students can declare   In other words, they only allow you to to sign into the major during certain times--this could mean certain date ranges in the semester or certain days/times each week.  So, for example, if you want to major in Sociology, you must declare by March 15th, otherwise you'll have to wait until next semester.

Other majors are completely open, meaning you can declare at any point in the semester or your academic career, without having to complete specific courses, applications.

Why does this matter?  Well, in many cases, departments restrict several upper-level classes to majors only, so even though the major might not be restricted, many of the classes will be.  It's important to know this before you begin registering for fall classes so you can plan accordingly and, if possible, declare or apply to a major you want to explore further prior to your Enrollment Appointment.  Also, if you are looking at a restricted major, it is important to work on a back-up plan now, in case you are not accepted.  Pursuing a back-up plan early will ensure you can still graduate on time.  If you get accepted to your first-choice restricted major, you can always make your back-up plan a minor (or even secondary major) instead.

The bottom line is not every major can be declared in the same way,  Make sure you know the process for declaring any major you have on your radar.  If you're not sure, now is a great time to come see an advisor before the registration rush gets underway!