R1 Exemption Test: RESCHEDULED

The Math R1 Exemption Test has been rescheduled for next Monday, November 5 at 6:30 pm in Morrill I N375.  Please note the room change. 

If you've never been to Morrill, get there early to locate the room. 

Bring a #2 pencil, ID, and calculator.

Attention Potential SOCIOLOGY Majors

The deadline to declare Sociology is THIS Friday (November 2nd)!  If you are planning to major in Sociology, or want to explore upper-level classes in the department, you should declare by going to 712 or 722 Thompson Hall to speak with an advisor. Remember, these offices will close at 3:30pm on Friday, so plan accordingly!

We Need Your Feedback

TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH ACADEMIC ADVISING AT UMASS!

Come to one of the Fall 2012 Town Hall-Style Meetings:

THIS TUESDAY! Oct 30 5:30-6:30 PM

Marcus Hall Engineering Student Center

Tues., Nov 6 6:30-7:30 PM

Room168C Campus Center

Wed., Nov 7 5:30-6:30 PM

Student Union Cape Cod Lounge

Advisors want to hear ideas about how we could work with you to make improvements!

All undergraduate students in all majors are welcome and encouraged to attend one of the meetings.

PIZZA WILL BE SERVED!

Sponsored by the Vice Provost’s Committee on Advising Standards & Guidelines and the Office of Undergraduate Advising & Learning Communities

Weekly Preview: October 29 - November 2

The next R1 (Tier 1) Basic Math Skills Exemption Test will be given on Monday, October 29 at 6:30pm in Marcus 131.  The R1 requirement cannot be satisfied through the Math Placement Exam. 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.  A student ID and a #2 pencil are required. A calculator is recommended.  Visit their webpage for more information.  The Exemption Test will be offered again in December. 

The UMass History Club's annual Haunted Tours will be held this year on Monday, October 29 from 7:00pm - 9:00pm in Herter Hall.  Sponsored by the UMass History Department, History Club members will give students and staff an opportunity to learn more about the UMass campus and its spooky past.  Everyone is welcome - students, staff, family and friends!

Tell us about your experiences with academic advising at UMass!  Advisors want to hear ideas about how we could work with you to make improvements! All undergraduate students in all majors are welcome and encouraged to attend one of the meetings. PIZZA WILL BE SERVED! Come to one of the Fall 2012 Town Hall-Style Meetings:
Tues., Oct 30 5:30-6:30 PM in Marcus Hall Engineering Student Center
Tues., Nov 6 6:30-7:30 PM Room168C Campus Center
Wed., Nov 7 5:30-6:30 PM Student Union Cape Cod Lounge

Are you interested in teaching? Do you want to get real-world experience after graduation, while also earning your teaching certification? Do you want to make a difference in the lives of children?  Attend an information session for Teach For America to find out more about post-graduate opportunities!  Tuesday, October 30, 5:30 pm-7:00 pm in the Campus Center Room 168C.

Career Services' Annual Five College Graduate Professional Schools Information Day will be on Wednesday, October 31 from 11:00am -3:00pm in the Student Union Ballroom.  Meet with representatives from schools seeking to meet students who are interested in pursuing higher education.  Click here to see the organizations who have registered to attend.

Do you know how to handle yourself in a professional dining setting? You will after you join the UMass Amherst Alumni Association for the UMass Etiquette Dinner!  Interact with others in attendance during a multi-course meal and take away essential skills and information.  This dinner will lead you through the potential pitfalls of a business dinner with various "challenging" foods. Learn proper meal etiquette and how to navigate a formal dinner place setting, as our etiquette professional answers all your questions.  There is a $10 fee to attend and you must register ahead of time.  Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.

Planning on declaring Sociology?  Friday, November 2 is the last day you can declare during the Fall semester.  If you are planning on taking majors-only classes in the Spring, you must declare by Friday.  Stop by 712 or 722 Thompson to speak with an advisor.  These offices will close at 3:30pm on Friday, November 2, so plan accordingly.

Did you know that Career Services offers 15 minute Walk-In appointments?  From 12:00pm - 4:00pm Monday through Friday you can stop by for quick help with your resume and cover letters.  You can also make an appointment for one hour career advising.  They hold internship info sessions Mondays at 12:30pm and Wednesdays at 4:00pm.  Stop by 508 Goodell and take advantage of all they have to offer!

Enrollment appointments have posted to SPIRE.  Spring 2013 classes are scheduled to post by Monday, November 5.  Check for holds now so you can register for your classes!  Holds cannot always be lifted immediately, so be proactive.

Have you checked your Fall exam schedule?  Read our earlier post about schedule conflicts.  Don't wait until the day of the exam to fix any problems!

Enrollment Appointment Now Visible on Spire

Your Enrollment Appointment is the date & time that SPIRE will allow you to begin adding classes for your spring semester schedule--it is not a scheduled appointment with an advisor. You can (and should) add classes to your Shopping Cart prior to this date--that way you can monitor your choices and keep track of space available as your Enrollment Appointment nears. To see when your enrollment appointment begins, look your SPIRE homepage: from the menu on the left select "Enrollment" then "Enrollment Appointment."

Check Your Spire Account and Clear Up Any Holds

You will be enrolling for your spring courses shortly. Your Spire page has a lot of information that you should know--and maybe some things you need to need to do--prior to enrollment. Be sure to look out for:

HOLDS

A hold on your account means you need to address something before enrolling in classes. They will be listed in the "Holds" box on the right hand side of your Student Center page (just below the Message Center box):

SOME HOLDS MAY KEEP YOU FROM ENROLLING IN CLASSES ENTIRELY. How will you know? It will say "Prevents Enrollment" as it does above. You want to click on the link that says "details" to see what the hold actually is:

You want to be sure to take care of the "Prevents Enrollment" holds AS SOON AS POSSIBLE so that you can add your classes without interruption. In order to see who you contact, click on the link that says "Prevents Enrollment" (or whatever it says on the left under "Hold Items") and more information will appear:

Some 'common' holds are:

• Bursar bill not paid
• Incomplete Immunization Records
• Academic Advising Needed

Be sure to contact the office that placed the hold on your account and follow through with what they want you to do! DON'T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO CLEAR IT UP!

Don't let a hold keep you from getting into classes you need!



Paul & Gabby's Tip of the Week: Joining An RSO

Between adjusting to college, all your school work, and hanging out with friends, it's easy to feel like you're spending too much time in your dorm room, or not really taking advantage of everything UMass has to offer. It's time to branch out a little! Join an RSO and get involved in something you are passionate about. With over 200 clubs at UMass, there really is something for everybody. Ranging from groups like the Hula Hooping Collective to Anime Club to political groups like the UMass Democrats, the options are unreal. If there isn’t something for you, get a couple of friends together and create your own club! The process is super simple and will be an enjoyable change throughout your daily schedule. 

Campus Center Tabling

There always clubs tabling in the Campus Center interested in recruiting new members and promoting upcoming events of theirs, so go check them out. You might  find something really interesting to you, or something that you haven't even heard of. In addition to RSOs, there are clubs that aren’t registered student organizations, student businesses and co-ops, and co-curricular organizations to get involved in like the Stonewall Center, the WMUA Radio Station, People’s Market and tons more.

Getting involved in RSOs, clubs, and organizations on campus has really helped me (Paul) meet new people and others with similar interests as myself. You get to be a part of an all-new community outside of just your group friends in your dorms. It also looks great on a resume. Having a leadership position in these clubs is even better and allows you to gain hands on experience organizing and managing something along with following something you are passionate about. Some clubs organize trips to conferences such as the Anthropology Club, while others work for a semester on a performance such as Alive With Dance and Emerging Choreographers. Either way, by the end of the semester you'll be able to have something to show for the work you've done for your club. 

UMass Outing Club

I am part of an organization on campus called C.E.P.A. (Center for Education Policy Advocacy) which is a student advocacy group fighting for student’s rights. I have made friends and met so many people with similar views as me, which has been a great experience. With this upcoming election, we’ve been one of those annoying groups asking people to register every waking minute of the day. Our group alone was able to get 2,553 people registered, an accomplishment that would leave anyone feeling proud! 

Joining a club or two, and getting involved can be as big or as small of a commitment as you want it to be. It won’t hurt you and can only help you enjoy your time here at UMass. 

For more Information on RSO’s go check out these websites:

http://www.umass.edu/csd/rso/
http://umassamherst.collegiatelink.net/organizations

Don't Forget: the Majors Fair is tomorrow!

Don't miss your once a year opportunity to meet with representatives from nearly every academic and academic-related department on campus all in one convenient location.

The Majors Fair

Campus Center Auditorium

5:30-7:30 p.m.

Final Exams: Check For Problems!

Finals don't start until December 10, but there's something you need to do right now:

Log on to SPIRE and look at your final exam schedule!

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 TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FINAL EXAM so they can reschedule them for you. To do so, print your final exam schedule from SPIRE and take it to the Registrar's Office. For more information, visit their final exam page.

Do not wait!  Knowing your schedule now will help you prepare later. Why add more stress to your life?

Weekly Preview: October 22 - 26

The Homecoming Fall Festival continues this week!  Visit their website for the schedule of events and activities.

The SophoMORE conference runs from Monday, October 22 through Wednesday, October 24.  SophoMORE is a comprehensive, campus-wide initiative that includes school and college specific programs open to all UMass Amherst sophomores, whether you are in your second year of college or classified a sophomore according to your credits.  Plan your time by visiting the SophoMORE website and learning how this conference has been designed to help you get the most out of your Sophomore year.

Stronger Together: A Celebration of Co-operatives and Agriculture will be held on Tuesday, October 23 from 4:30pm - 6:30pm in the Student Union Cape Cod Lounge.  Not sure how co-operatives and agriculture go together? Are you interested in learning more about how to create change in your community? Join us for an educational event in celebration of working together in the Pioneer Valley and beyond.  Visit their Facebook page to learn more and stop by for free food and information.

Interested in international development, sustainability, innovation, social entrepreneurship, and making a difference? Meet with Allie Treske, Chief Operating Officer at Nourish International. Nourish International works to engage students and empower communities to make a lasting impact on extreme poverty. You can learn how to be part of that mission by attending this information session.  Tuesday, October 23 from 5:30pm - 6:30pm in Goodell 508.

Are you sophomore interested in veterinarian studies?  The Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine will be on campus on Tuesday, October 23 from 6:00pm - 8:00pm in Lederle 1634 to discuss opportunities for enrollment.  This program has strict prerequisites, so read their information to be sure you qualify and are prepared.

The annual Majors Fair will be held on Wednesday, October 24 from 5:30pm - 7:30pm in the lower level of the Campus Center.  Read our earlier post to learn why you should attend and how to prepare.  This event is open to all students in all majors and is an excellent opportunity for you to network with departments to learn more about their majors minors and certificates as well as an array of career opportunities connected to the various majors.  Click here to see the map of the 2012 Majors Fair to see where various majors and programs will be located.  Don't miss out on this fantastic event!

No matter your graduation year, expertise, industry, or degree of success, the same resume and interviewing mistakes are being made across the board. If you want to save time and land a job quickly, crafting a strong resume and performing well in the interview is key.  Join alumni career programs for Resumes & Interviewing: How Well Are You Selling Yourself?  This event is FREE and open to all UMass Amherst students, but register to let them know you will be there!  Wednesday, October 24 at 5:30pm in Memorial Hall.

The Wikipedia Loves Libraries: Edit-athon and Workshop will be held on Thursday, October 25 from 9:00am - 5:00pm in the W.E.B. Du Bois Library, 26th Floor.  This Edit-athon event is aimed at sharing the expertise of real-world cultural institutions in Wikipedia, using the expertise of all who attend this event. We’ll be able to access the resources of the UMass Amherst and Five Colleges library system, guided by the expertise of its librarians, with the joint aim of increasing the presence of minority and underrepresented authors, artists, and historical figures in one the world’s largest open access sources of information.  For more information, click here. 

On Friday, October 26 from 12:00pm - 4:00pm, stop by Career Services in Goodell 511 for Tip or Treating!  Grab some Halloween candy and a career related tip. 

First Annual SophoMORE Conference

The First Annual SophoMORE Conference happens next week from Oct 22nd-Oct 24th. There will be many panels, speakers, and events going on during the Conference, which you can read about here. One item we at Undergraduate Advising would like to feature is How to Get the Most Out of the Majors Fair, which is happening on Tuesday, October 23rd. There will be two sessions led by our own Tamatha Gaumnitz, at 4:00pm – 4:50pm & 5:10 – 6:00pm in Campus Center Rm. 101.

Now, while this is a conference aimed at sophomores, if you are interested in one of the events, including How To Get The Most Out of the Majors Fair, but aren't a sophomore yourself, you should still attend!

And of course, don't forget that the actual Majors Fair happens on Wednesday, Oct 24th from 5:30-7:30 PM in the Campus Center Auditorium. All are welcome to attend!

THURSDAY OCTOBER 18th -- Final day to drop with a W

This Thursday, October 18th, at 5:00 pm is the mid-semester date! This is the deadline to drop a class with a "W" or elect to take a course Pass/Fail.

For more information, refer back to our previous post here!

This is also the deadline for changing a course to pass/fail grading.

the MAJORS FAIR is coming . . .

The once-a-year MAJORS FAIR will be held Wednesday, October 24, from 5:30-7:30 in the lower level of the Campus Center.  It's your opportunity to see representatives from close to ALL majors on campus! 

• Ask about a potential major or minor or certificate program;
• ask about what courses would be a good introduction to the field;
• ask about internship, grad school and employment prospects with a particular major;
• talk to the faculty or student reps about THEIR experience in the department.

For more general information about the Majors Fair and a map of the 2012 layout, click here. 

Not sure if the Majors Fair is for you?  Watch this video:

Not sure what you'd say if you went to the Majors Fair?  Watch here:

We'll see you there . . .

Paul & Gabby's Tip of the Week: Communicating Professionally

Last week we told you all to get out there and meet your professors.  Well, communicating with your professors in a professional way is just as important as meeting with them in the first place.  Here's some advice to consider before your setting up your meeting:

When contacting your professors through email, you want to come across as a student wanting to make an appointment with them, not the professor’s best friend. Make sure you include a subject title. A professor may not even read your email if there’s no subject! Don’t start off the email with something informal like “Heyyyy”, but also keep it casual so it doesn’t seem as though you are scared of them! A good way to start an email is “Dear Professor Carmichael,”. Don’t assume they know who you are (especially large classes), so give them your full name, your student ID number, and let them know what class of theirs you are in. Write in simple words as to why you are emailing them or need to meet with me, and don’t forget about good grammer and spelling! No one wants to read a poorly written email…especially your professors!

Once you have made a time to meet with them, make sure you actually go. Get there even a little before the appointment begins. Their office might be hidden away in some floor of some building and you might not be able to find it right away resulting in you being late (been there, done that). All of our time is valuable and not showing up to an appointment can show the professor that you don’t care about their time and their class. You probably won’t be getting much help from them if you never even show up. If you get sick or realize you have to work during the time you made your appointment, just let your professor know as soon as possible and try to re-schedule. While intimidating sometimes, professors are also understanding of student circumstances.

Continually meeting with professors will get easier and easier. One of our own peer advisors, Tyler, developed a great, professional connection with a professor of a lower level course. By emailing, meeting, and chatting with this professor he was then able to be more successful in his upper level courses. Professors love when students come with questions or comments about their classes, so there is no need to be worried about meeting with them! Teachers are here because they care about your education, so treat them and their time with the highest respect and regard.

Interested in even more tips on contacting professors/being professional? Read Dean Dr. Kregg Strehorn’s message to students.

Weekly Preview - Lots Happening!

Here's the weekly run-down for 10/12-21:


Friday-Sunday, October 12-14 – FAMILY WEEKEND – check out the many and varied activities to help you show off UMass to family and friends!

Monday, October 15 - Public Health Major – Priority Deadline!  Click here for more information. 

Tuesday, October 16,12:30pm.  Sociology Colloquium.  Professor Sarah Babb from Boston College: "Beyond the Horror Stories: Non-Experimental Social Researchers' Experiences with Institutional Review Boards."  Machmer Hall W-32.  

Tuesday, October 16, 5:30pm - 7:00pm.  Teach For America Information Session.  Are you interested in teaching? Do you want to get real-world experience after graduation, while also earning your teaching certification? Do you want to make a difference in the lives of children?  Click here for more information.  Campus Center 911-15.

Tuesday, October 16, 6:00pm - 7:30pm.  Community Forum with UMass Amherst Dean of Students and Chief of Police.  Come to an open forum to exchange information and ideas and hear about the student conduct process, the university’s protocol for addressing behavioral concerns, and the services provided through the Dean of Student’s Office.  UMass Police Station Community Room, 585 East Pleasant St.

Tuesday, October 16, 8:00pm - 10:00pm.  Declamation Day Orientation. ALL UMass Amherst undergraduates have a chance to demonstrate their oratorical skills, their presentation style, and their persuasive powers at Declamation Day, a public-speaking tournament. Previous experience is not required. Prizes include, $350 1st place $200 2nd place $150 3rd place, $200 Audience Choice Award. Declamation Day will be on November 5 at 4:30pm in Bezanson Hall.  Herter Hall 116

Wednesday, October 17, 6:00pm.  UMass Innovation Challenge MinutePitch Competition.  Teams of aspiring entrepreneurs will be given 60 seconds to pitch their business ideas without the use of slides or prototypes to an audience and panel of judges. Participants will be eligible to win a first place prize of $1,000, second place prize of $750, or third place prize of $500. In addition to the three placement prizes, participants are also eligible to win a $250 award based on audience votes. Come watch, cheer-on teams, vote and network! Want to compete? Visit www.umass.edu/innovation for the details.  Isenberg School of Management, Room 210

Thursday, October 18, 4:00pm - 6:00pm.  State Street Information Session.  State Street Corporation (investment management, research, trading and servicing) offers a number of part-time job opportunities at their office in Hadley, which is less than one mile from campus and located on the PVTA line.  Campus Center 803

Thursday, October 18.  “W” Deadline!  Click here for more information.


Upcoming/Ongoing Events and Information


Tuesdays and Wednesdays in October, 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Walk-in After Hours Advising for International Students. International Programs Office is holding after hours advising times in the W.E.B. Dubois Library, Learning Commons for all International Students. Students who have questions after IPO is closed are welcome to come and see an advisor.


CMASS is sponsoring its 3rd Annual Leadership Symposium which will focus on Leading Self. Investing in this symposium gives you the unique opportunity to spend an afternoon engaging with staff, alumni and keynote speakers, on a variety of topics which will help you delve into the type of leader you want to be. The event will be held on Saturday, October 27, 2012 from 12:00-4:30pm in the ISOM building. Students must register by Monday, October 15. Click here to learn more and to find out how to register.

SophoMORE Conference will run from Monday, October 22 through Thursday, October 25. Click here to view the full schedule. These events are open to all Sophomores in all majors and we'll post more information later this month.

The annual Majors Fair will be held on Wednesday, October 24 from 3:30pm - 7:30pm in the Campus Center Auditorium and First Floor Concourse. It's a great resource for both declared and undeclared students. Click here for more information.

Paul & Gabby's Tip of the Week: Meet with your professors!

We hope everyone had a relaxing three day weekend! It's that time again to get back into the daily grind of classes, exams, and work. Here are some tips on meeting with your professors.  Our next post will help you communicate professionally when you contact them.

Not understanding something in one of your classes? Feel like just a number in your larger lecture halls? Why don’t you change that?! Meet with a professor or a teaching assistant for some extra help. Professors and teaching assistants are here for you to succeed, so help them help YOU out. All of your classes should theoretically have office hours. These are hours where professors and TA’s sit an office pretty much WAITING for you to go see them and ask for help.

A lot of professors love getting to know their students even if a student doesn’t necessarily need help on a specific assignment. Meeting with a professor or teaching assistant will show them that you are making the effort to try to succeed in their class.  Allowing them to put a name with a face can work in your favor.

From my own personal experience, getting to know a professor has been really helpful for tons of reasons. When applying for a summer job at UMass in the Undergraduate Advising Office, I needed a recommendation from a professor or TA. I asked my TA for a Shakespeare course I was taking who I got to know pretty well and it turns out not only was she more than happy to write a recommendation for me, she also WORKED in the Undergraduate Advising Office. Connections.

You are going to be applying for scholarships, study abroad programs, jobs, internships, etc. and for a lot of these exciting programs, they will be asking for a recommendation from a professor. If you have never gotten the chance to actually get to know a professor, what are you going to do? Another reason meeting a professor is great is because a lot of the time THEY are the ones telling you about these internships, scholarships, and exciting opportunities. Having a professor who knows you well will allow them to write a letter of recommendation that is more than just “I had this student and they received a B+ in my class.”

So GO, start making appointments with your professors. You might learn a couple of things about the class you are taking and about interesting opportunities for your future.

Public Health Priority Deadline Oct 15th

If you are interested in applying to the Public Health major, your deadline is October 15th to get priority  for the Spring 2013 class registration period. What that means is if you apply by or before October 15th, and are admitted, 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 October 15th!

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 would you like to discuss the Public Health major in general?

Call Undergraduate Advising and make an appointment with an advisor! 413-545-2191

Dropping with a "W" & Pass/Fail: What You Need to Know

The Mid-Semester date is October 18th. 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 beyond 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.

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.

Weekly Preview: October 8 - 12

Monday, October 8 is Columbus Day.  There are no classes and most offices on campus will be closed.

Tuesday, October 9 will follow a Monday schedule.  The rest of the week will proceed normally.

On Wednesday, October 10 at 5:30pm in Memorial Hall, the UMass Alumni Association will present Creating the Perfect LinkedIn Profile & Online Brand.  Do you have a LinkedIn profile, a Facebook page, YouTube videos, a blog and maybe even your own website? How do you tie them all together to create a cohesive online brand? To find out the answer, check out this workshop designed to walk you through the questions you need to ask yourself to get started.  This event is free and open to all UMass Amherst students.  Please register here to let them know you will be coming!

Interested in gaining experience in the music industry?  Looking to expand your marketing and/or sound engineering background through substantive experience and the guidance of industry professionals? Come to Goodell 419 at 5:30pm on Thursday, October 11 to learn more about internship opportunities at Northfire Recording Studios.  For more information about this event, click here.

Upcoming Events and Information

If you're interested in declaring the Public Health Sciences, Monday, October 15 is the Fall 2012 deadline to get priority for the Spring 2013 class registration period.

CMASS is sponsoring its 3rd Annual Leadership Symposium which will focus on Leading Self.  Investing in this symposium gives you the unique opportunity to spend an afternoon engaging with staff, alumni and keynote speakers, on a variety of topics which will help you delve into the type of leader you want to be.  The event will be held on Saturday, October 27, 2012 from 12:00-4:30pm in the ISOM building.  Students must register by Monday, October 15.  Click here to learn more and to find out how to register.

SophoMORE Conference will run from Monday, October 22 through Thursday, October 25.  Click here to view the full schedule.  These events are open to all Sophomores in all majors and we'll post more information later this month.

The annual Majors Fair will be held on Wednesday, October 24 from 3:30pm - 7:30pm in the Campus Center Auditorium and First Floor Concourse.  We'll be posting more information about this event soon!  It's a great resource for both declared and undeclared students.

Schedule Change!

Monday, October 8 is Columbus Day.  There are no classes and most offices on campus will be closed.

Tuesday, October 9 will follow a Monday class schedule.

The rest of the week will follow a normal schedule.

Paul and Gabby's Tip of the Week: How To Manage Your Time

Welcome to Fall at UMass! I'm Gabby and I'll be writing the Undergraduate Advising Blog with Paul. It's October now and surely you are getting busier with upcoming exams and assignments. Worried about not getting everything done in a timely manner? Here are some quick tips on time management!

No matter what year you are at UMass, learning how to manage your time wisely can be tiring and tricky. Between clubs, work, class, and extra curriculars it may seem as though there is no time to get your homework done or to even hang out with your friends. No need to worry though, managing your time can actually be quite easy! Three simple guidelines of staying busy, staying organized, and staying relaxed can transform your busy schedule into a stress-free and enjoyable experience.

Staying Busy

Believe it or not, often the busiest students are the students that perform best academically in college. However, being busy comes with a lot of responsibility. How are you supposed to manage going to an advising appointment, a club meeting, rehearsal, work, and then finish all your homework in just one day?! It’s simple because being busy does not does allow for procrastination. Students who are busier get their work done in a timely manner because they need to. It is crucial to utilize any free time (especially in between classes), whether it be a half hour or 3 hours. Even this little amount of time spent working allows you to not have hours of homework in the nighttime, or have to pull a dreaded all nighter. Being able to manage extra curriculars gives you valuable skills to manage your school workloads, and adds efficiency to your schedule.

Staying Organized

The best way to stay organized and manage time is to write everything down. UMass gives every student a free planner in the beginning of the school year- take advantage of this!! Write down what homework you need to complete for the night, when your exams are, when you are working, and anything else that affects your schedule. College can seem overwhelming when looking at everything that needs to get done, but writing in a planner or on a calendar breaks everything down and makes assignments more manageable. Being organized helps you to not wait until the last minute to complete something and allows you to plan out everything ahead of time.

Staying Relaxed

While it may seem like you will never be able to get everything done, it’s most important to take care of yourself. So relax, take a couple deep breaths, and refocus your mind. Whether your way of relaxing is exercising or getting a warm cup of tea, remember to take breaks between staying busy and staying organized. This is why it is important to have a good mix of social activities and academics- your brain is able to think and act in different ways thus being able to excel in what is being done. It feels amazing to get everything you had planned out complete, so make sure to reward yourself well! Buy yourself a cupcake, go to your favorite hang out spot on campus, and get that sleep you’ve been wanting for the past week!

Helpful Workshops for College Survival

UMass Disability Services is offering a number of workshops related to important academic and success skills. Check them out and RSVP early. Space is limited!

WHY DIDN’T THEY TELL ME THIS BEFORE?!!

Helpful Workshops for College Survival

Deconstructing Exams and Papers- How Do I Show What I Know?
Thursday, October 4, 4-5:30 pm, Whitmore 103

Study Skills - Use Your Learning Style to Approach Various Subjects
Tuesday, October 9, 4-5:30 pm, Whitmore 103

Negotiating with the “UMassBrass”- Advisors, Professors, Offices…
Thursday, October 11, 4-5:30 pm, Whitmore 103

Each FREE workshop is limited to 15 participants.

Contact Cheryl Howland at cherylh@stuaf.umass.edu to register.