Applying to Law School

The Department of History

Fall 2009

Career Development Series Presents:

Applying to Law School 

Thursday, October 1, 1:00 P.M.

Diane Curtis, pre-law advisor, will talk to students about if Law School is for you, how to apply, and how to finance your degree...

** All Events Are In Herter 601, Refreshments Provided **

Open to ALL Students!!

For more information contact: internships@history.umass.edu

Free On-Campus Tutoring...

The Learning Resource Center is Now Open!

The Learning Resource Center (LRC) offers University of Massachusetts Amherst students a peer-supported environment to meet academic challenges. Tutors and Supplemental Instruction Leaders are model students trained to assist their peers in achieving academic success. Follow the above link to view the list of courses the LRC is offering tutoring assistance for this Fall. Also, don't forget to check with individual departments as well, e.g. Economics and Math, because they too offer tutoring resources for students.  


OPEN:       Sundays                5:00 - 10:00 P.M.
   Monday - Thursday               1:00 - 10:00 P.M.


     10th floor – W. E. B. Du Bois Library


Students helping students achieve academic success. 
www.umass.edu/lrc
 (413) 545-5334

What’s Happening, Week of 9/27-10/2

As we approach the start of October, we’re approximately one quarter of the way through the fall semester! As you start to hit due dates for assignments, papers and tests, make sure you know about the resources available to you. Check out these services:

• 9/27 The Learning Resource Center will open for business. Check out the website, or even better, stop by the 10^th floor of the W.E.B. DuBois Library. LRC offers both tutoring and supplemental instruction in specific courses.
• Also, the Writing Center opened for the semester on September 15^th. Located in the northwest corner of the Learning Commons in the W.E.B. DuBois Library, you can register with them and set up an appointment to work with one of their tutors.
• 10/1, 9:30-10:45 RefWorks Workshop. Did you miss the RefWorks Workshop last week? Here’s another chance to find out how you can make your research life MUCH better!

So you'd like to be a Psychology major update...

As of October 1, 2009, students who would like to declare the Psychology major must either be currently registered in a course that fulfills the R1 gen ed requirement or have completed their R1 gen ed BEFORE they can declare the major. The R1 can be fulfilled by taking an appropriate course(s) or passing the R1 exemption test. For more information regarding the Psychology department and psych major requirements please visit the Psychology department, located in 501 Tobin Hall, to meet with an advisor during the following hours:

Mondays 11:30-3:30

   Tuesdays 2:00-5:00 

 Thursdays 2:00-5:00

You should bring a copy of your unofficial transcript (printed from Spire ) with you.  If you need help printing your transcript, click here.

Public Health & Health Sciences Career & Internship Fair

When:  Thursday, September 24, 2009 • 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Where:  Campus Center Auditorium


For undergraduate and graduate students. Learn about careers and internships in public health and network with public health professionals. Over 25 health organizations from Western Massachusetts will be attending!

For Further details please visit the School of Public Health and Health Sciences here.

How to Declare a Major

All UMass majors are either restricted or open. Restricted majors have certain requirements you must fulfill before you can declare. These requirements may be pre-requisite courses, minimum GPAs, personal essays, or attending an information session. In some cases you may need all of these things compiled into an application that will be reviewed by that department to determine if you meet their qualifications. It is important to keep in mind that if you are considering a restricted major, you should also have an alternate or two in mind!

Open majors do not have specific requirements that need to be completed before you can declare, although some departments may only allow you to declare during certain times of the year. Undeclared students who are ready to declare an open major should:

• Obtain a Change of Major form from the Registrar's Office (213 Whitmore) or from Undergraduate Advising
  
• Have the form signed by someone from the department/major you are declaring
• Bring the signed form to Undergraduate Advising to be signed out of Undeclared
  

Sound confusing? The best way to determine whether a major is restricted, open, or open with certain declaration periods is to check the department website, meet with an advisor, and stay tuned to this blog!

**ADD/DROP ENDS TONIGHT!!!**

ADD/DROP ENDS TODAY AT 10PM!!

IF YOU STILL NEED TO SWAP/DROP/ADD COURSES, YOU MUST DO SO BEFORE THEN!!
AND REMEMBER--ACADEMIC DEPARTMENTS GENERALLY CLOSE AT 5PM. IF YOU NEED DEPARTMENT CONSENT TO ADD A CLASS, YOUR DEADLINE IS EVEN CLOSER!

IF YOU DON'T DROP A CLASS BEFORE ADD/DROP ENDS, YOU'LL HAVE TO DROP WITH A 'W.'

RefWorks Citation Management Workshop

This workshop covers basic skills such as how to access RefWorks, search catalogs, import references from library databases, retrieve and manage citations, and create bibliographies according to various citation styles (e.g., MLA or APA).

Du Bois Library - Calipari Room, ground floor
Mon. 9/21 2:30-3:45

Click here for more info and other Fall workshop dates!

Sneak Preview – the Week of 9/21-25

The Undergraduate Advising Blog is the place to find need-to-know information about your academic program at UMass! For quick reference, here’s what you may want to think about for the coming week:

September 21, 10 pm – Add/Drop deadline . Last date to add or drop courses without them appearing on your transcript. You must have 12 credits to be fulltime. Remember: most offices at UMass close at 5pm, so if you need a signature or advice, plan ahead!

September 21 2:30-3:45 pm. RefWorks Workshop, Calipari Room, W.E.B.DuBois Library – learn to manage your research at UMass.

September 21, 12:15-1:15 or September 22, from 5-6pm. Information Session about the Resource Economics major at UMass. Stockbridge Hall Room 122. For further information, email advising@resecon.umass.edu .

September 23 , 5:00-6:00. Seminar for Biology/Life Sciences majors (or people interested in being Bio or related majors). Morrill 2 room 131, The focus of this session will primarily be on majors in the life sciences, with a quick run through of university resources.

Add/Drop ends Monday, September 21st at 10PM

This is a reminder that add/drop ends on Monday 9/21 at 10PM. You can make changes to your schedule via SPIRE until then. Some professors/instructors are requiring that you seek department consent prior to adding a course--that means you must visit them either during the actual class or during their office hours. If this is the case, you must do so prior to the end of add/drop in order to make the changes to your schedule. Don't wait until the last minute!

And remember, not attending a class doesn't mean you've dropped it! If you intend on dropping a course, be sure to drop it before the deadline via SPIRE--you can fail the class if you don't attend.

If you want to discuss matters regarding add/drop, call 545-2191 and make an appointment to see an advisor by Monday .

Bio Seminar Series

- How to be a biology major!
as well as 
- PreMed/PreDent will be discussed.



When: Wed. Sept. 16th from 5 pm - 6 pm


Where: Morrill Science Center 131

SOM Info Sessions--Things To Know Before You Go

There will be two upcoming information sessions on September 16th and 17th for current students who are interested in applying to the Isenberg School of Management. Both info sessions are in ISOM 206 at 5:30 PM.

Here are some tips to keep in mind if you plan on attending:

1) Get there early! To avoid fighting for a seat or worse, interrupting the session, be sure to get there approximately TEN MINUTES PRIOR to the start time. Treat it like a job interview and be professional--you don't have to wear your Sunday best, but you do want to make a good impression!

2) Know which session to attend!  Upon arriving, they will direct you to different rooms based on your interests, i.e., BBA, Sports Management, or HTM. Make sure you're in the right place! If you have multiple interests in SOM (both BBA and Sports Management, for example), you should attend an info session for BOTH programs. 
 Remember! Sports Management requires attendance at one of their info sessions before you can take a Sports Management course!

3) Be informed! Read their website and be familiar with the program you are interested in--as well as procedures for applying. You can find information on applying here. **Note that the current application for Spring admission has not yet been posted**

4) Have an Alternate Major in mind!  Remember that you will be required to apply in order to gain admission--and that applications, by nature, can be rejected. So it's always a good idea to have an alternate major in mind just in case. For more information on suitable alternates, you can call 545-2191 and make an appointment to see an advisor in our office.

Good luck! Should you be unable to attend the upcoming info sessions, there will be two more offered in November.

Volunteer while earning credit!

The Boltwood Project is a community service learning program that gives you the opportunity to give back to the community and help people with special needs while earning academic credit.  Interested students MUST attend a Recruitment Night meeting.   

Meetings are being held:

 TODAY

Tuesday, September 15th 

Wednesday, September 16th

All recruitment meetings are from 6-8 PM in Room 101 of the Campus Center.  

 Don't miss out on this rewarding opportunity!

Basic Math Skills (R1) Exemption Test Today!

Start time is at 6:30 pm in Marcus 131 Students should bring a #2 pencil, calculator and student I.D.


For further details check out the math department's website here.

Fall 09 Library Hours

Need a quiet place to study? Doing some research? The library is probably awake and functioning more hours than you are! Check out their hours here.

Plan Ahead . . . Week of September 14th

Mark your calendars, if you plan to attend any of these events coming up during the next week:

Monday, 9/14, 1:00 pm or Thursday, 9/17 at 11:30am, or Friday, 9/18 at 3:00pm, Goodell 608. BDIC information session on creating your own major through interdisciplinary studies. Click here for more information.

Monday, 9/14, 6:30pm in Marcus 131: Math R1 Exemption Test. Passing the R1 exam (at least 12 out of 20 correct) will satisfy the R1 requirement for graduation but will not result in the awarding of any credits. Click here for more information.

Wednesday, 9/16, and Thursday, 9/ 17, 5:30 p.m. in ISOM 206. Isenberg School of Management, On-Campus Info Sessions for current UMass students interested in applying to the BBA, Hospitality and Tourism Management, or Sport Management majors. **If you want to apply to SOM, you MUST attend! Click here for more information.

Get Connected at the Academic Advising Link

The Academic Advising Link is a service desk in the library's  Learning Commons designed to help both declared and undeclared students with quick advising questions.  So, if you're still looking for scheduling help or Spire navigation assistance as we near the end of the first week of classes, stop by the Link for assistance.
The Link is staffed SUNDAY-THURSDAY from 4-8pm.  While other offices are closed, we're here to keep you connected!

Curious about Computer Science?

Come to the annual First Friday event...

When: Friday September 11, 2009 from 3 pm-5 pm

Where: Room 151 of the Computer Science Research Bldg.









If you are not a student in Computer Science, but you would like hear what it is all about, please join us! We'll be welcoming new students to our program, welcoming back existing students and we can answer your questions too.

Find out more about the Computer Science academic program click here.

Getting Into Full Classes . . .

Are there classes that you REALLY want to get into, but they're full? Feeling frustrated about your schedule?

What can you do?

First, be proactive about it. Don't give up. People are adding and dropping courses all the time, so seats are always opening up.

+Check SPIRE as often as you can, especially if the course has not met yet. Note, however, that after the first few days of the semester, many faculty take the courses off-line and you need to talk with them to secure a place in the class.

+Attend the first meeting of any class you want but are unable to add on SPIRE. Make a point of going up to the instructor after class, introducing yourself, and telling them exactly WHY it's important to you to get into the class. There's no guarantee you'll get in, but at least there's a chance!

+If you're on a waiting list, the waitlist will expire on the first day of classes. If you're not in the class, follow the instructions in the previous bullet.

+Be creative about what course(s) you can take. Don't limit yourself to departments you are familiar with. Explore upper level classes (some don't have prerequisites!). Try something new that you've always been interested in but have never pursued. If you have questions or want help, see your academic advisor!

Welcome Back!

1st day of classes begin tomorrow, Tuesday Sept. 8th




In Other News!

What: Foreign Language Placement Exam for (French, German, Latin, Spanish)

When: 1:15 pm and again at 2:30 pm

Where: room 163 in the Campus Center

NSO Follow-Up / Important Test Info.

Any student who needs to take a foreign language placement test in either: Spanish, French, Latin or German can do so tomorrow Sept. 4th at 1:15 pm in Thompson 104.

Also, Any student who has not previously taken the Writing Placement Exam MUST do so before he/she can enroll in English Writing 112 (Freshman College Writing). The test will be administered twice on  Sept. 4th  at 11 am and again at 3 pm in Thompson 104. Questions regarding the details of the Writing Exam should be directed to the Writing Program at the following number: (413) 545-0610  

Registration for all  placement tests is Not needed.