Weekly Preview: September 2 - 6

Welcome to the first week of Fall 2013!  Be sure you're checking the blog often.  There is always a lot of information during the first weeks of the semester and you want to be sure you don't miss an important meeting or deadline.


 
The first day of classes is Tuesday, September 3.  (Did you print a hard copy of your schedule or save screen shots on your phone in case SPIRE isn't working?)

Find some time to stop by the Student Activities Expo on Tuesday from 4:00pm -7:00pm in the Student Union.  Find out how to get involved in one (or more) of the over 200 student organizations here at UMass Amherst.  Check out the free giveaways from many campus vendors.  Sponsored by Student Activities and Involvement.

 

The Writing Placement & Exemption Test will be held on Friday, August 30 from 2:00pm - 3:00pm in Isenberg 133.  It will be offered again on Tuesday, September 3 from 6:00pm - 7:00pm in Bartlett 206.

Foreign Language Exemption Tests

German, Latin, and Spanish tests will be held on Tuesday, September 3 at 4:00pm and again on Wednesday, September 4 at 3:00pm.  The test will be in the Campus Center, Room 101.

The French test  time and location are currently TBA.  Update:  They will be held on Thursday, September 5 at 10am and again on Friday, September 6 at 9:30am in the Learning Resource Center, 10th Floor W.E.B. du Bois Library.


 

Hoping to be accepted into an Engineering major?  Make sure you’re enrolled in the right classes and hear about how to enhance your chances for getting in.  Come to the Engineering Information Session on Thursday, September 5 at 5:30pm in 604 Goodell.




Remember, you can make changes to your schedule on SPIRE from now until September 16.  If you're not sure you're in the right classes, don't wait to ask!  Call or stop by our office and make an appointment to speak with an advisor.

Calling All Undeclared First-Year Students . . .

WELCOME TO UMASS!  

On Saturday morning, as part of Fall New Student Orientation, all incoming freshmen will be meeting with their School/College prior to going to Convocation.   Undergraduate Advising is looking forward to seeing all undeclared students at the Fine Arts Center.  Come at 9:30 and pick up your T-Shirt, and as you enter the auditorium, we'll have another gift for you that will assist you in being a successful student.

All of us from Undergraduate Advising & Learning Communities 

wish you the very best that UMass has to offer.

Welcome to the 2013 Fall Semester!

Have you made your travel plans?  Did you check your Boarding Pass for Move-In Weekend?  Have you looked at the First Week schedule?  It's time for the new school year!

In the next few weeks we will be posting LOTS of information to kick off the semester.  There are many deadlines to pay attention to, as well as information sessions for specific majors.  We'll remind you of all the resources available to you as a student and give you tips and strategies for how to plan your time for a successful semester, both academically and socially.

While you are checking things off on your To Do List, there is something very important to add:

PRINT OUT A HARD COPY OF YOUR SCHEDULE!!!

Sometimes SPIRE stops working, especially during high traffic moments.  In past semesters, students have been unable to access their schedule and don't know where their class is meeting.  At the very least, take some screen shots and store them on your phone.  Don't miss the first day of class because you're not prepared.

Check the dates on your schedule.  SPIRE shows each week individually, so if you have Monday classes, they won't show up when you look right now since there are no classes on Monday, September 2.  Look at "Week of 9/9/2013 - 9/15/2013" and be sure everything is there.

We're looking forward to seeing everyone arrive on campus.  Don't forget to stay proactive and call or stop by the office if you want to make an appointment to meet with an advisor.