Weekly Preview: October 28 - November 1

There will be a Basic Math R1 Exemption Test on Monday, October 28 at 7:00pm (not 7:30pm) in Marcus 131.  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. There is no limit on the number of times a student may take this test. The focus of this exam is to measure knowledge of basic math skills. 

Are you planning on applying to a major in the Isenberg School of Management?  Have you attended an information session in order to apply for Spring 2014?  Information sessions will be held on Monday, October 28.  Attending an Information Session is required before applying to the Sport Management or HTM majors and highly recommended before applying to the BBA program.  Click here to review our earlier post on how to prepare for these sessions.

• The BBA Majors Group Info Session will be at 4:00pm in the Bernie Dallas Room on the 5th floor of Goodell.
• The Sport Management Group Info Session will be at 4:30pm in the Bernie Dallas Room on the 5th floor of Goodell.
• The Hospitality and Tourism Management Group Info Session will be at 4:00pm in Flint 203E. 

Applications for ISOM majors will be posted online in early November.  Applications are due by December 1.

 

Attention first semester transfer students: TRANSFERmations will be holding a Transfer Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, October 29 from 7:00pm - 8:00pm in McNamara Hall and again on Wednesday, October 30 from 4:00pm - 5:00pm in the Student Union, Room 314.  Stop by and share your feedback.  What did you think was helpful and what ideas do you have for TRANSFERmations?  While you're there, find out how to get involved helping future transfer students.

Join Career Services for the Annual Five College Graduate and Professional Schools Information Day 2013.  If you are thinking of going to Graduate School you should plan to attend this event. Take this opportunity to meet one-on-one with representatives from over 125 graduate, medical, dental, law, social work, theology, international relations, education, library science programs and a range of other post-baccalaureate options from across the US and abroad.  Click here to see who will be attending and get an idea of what majors they are looking for.  Wednesday, October 30, 2013 11-3pm in the Student Union Ballroom


 

It's time for the annual Majors Fair!  This once-a-year event puts representatives from nearly every academic department and program in one location for you.  Learn about different majors on campus, find out requirements for programs you're interested in, learn about minors and more.  Reread our earlier post and be sure to join us.   Wednesday, October 30 from 5:30pm - 7:30pm in the Campus Center Auditorium.  Don't miss out on this opportunity!  All students are invited to attend - undeclared or not!  

Curious about a major in Landscape Architecture or Environmental Design?  Want to study sustainable design, support social and environmental justice?  On Wednesday October 30 from 7:00pm - 8:00 pm in 105 Hills North Procopio Room, come learn more about these majors!  Speak to current students, tour the studios, see samples of work, meet professors, ask questions and get answers.  Explore possibilities of the great majors in our department.  See what options are available for creating and designing a sustainable world. 

Are you interested in Computer Science?  Join Professor Robert Moll on Friday, November 1 at 3:35pm in 151 Computer Science Building to find out Is There Life After College?  All students are invited to attend. 

Have a fun and safe Halloween!

Jennie's Tip of the Week: Get Involved on Campus!

All students are told that the most important thing in college is academics.  Although academics are the MOST important aspect, they are not the ONLY important part of college.  College is all about finding a balance between doing well in school and juggling other activities that will brighten up your day.  Staying involved and meeting new people allows you to find your place on campus and find people who enjoy the same things you do.  This broadens your sense of community and will make your time here so much more enjoyable.

In high school it is easy to find out which activities are offered.  Most people know when soccer tryouts are or when auditions for the school musical roll around, but college is very different and students must take the initiative to look for clubs to join on their own.  Sometimes students feel overwhelmed by the intimidating amount of choices.  Others are not sure where to look for information about different organizations or how to actually join those groups.  Luckily, UMass has created an easy-to-use network called Campus Pulse (Click Here to go to this page).  Campus Pulse lists every registered student organization (RSO) this campus has to offer, and each organization keeps their page updated with a statement about themselves/their purpose as well as how to get in contact with members of that group.  It is almost never too late to join a group, so get in touch with them and get the details!  Even if you are hesitant, go to a meeting or two and figure out how you feel and what you like.  It never hurts to look into something that might interest you.

Many students do not get involved right away, but eventually everyone starts to crave something more; we begin to crave something that will keep us busy and introduce us to a new group of people.  In my own experience, joining an RSO has been the best decision I've ever made in college.  It provides me with opportunities such as holding a position on the executive board of my organization, chances to participate in philanthropic events, life skills, problem solving skills and friends that will last a lifetime.  I only wish I had gotten involved sooner!

With all this campus has to offer, there is something for everyone.  So get out there!  Express your musical talents, your love of snowboarding, your passion for philanthropy - whatever makes you happy! Check out Campus Pulse, read the descriptions, look into multiple organizations and find one or two that are right for you.

Majors, Majors EVERYWHERE!

Have you not yet declared a major at UMass?  Or, if you have one, is it still a good fit for you?  Or perhaps does it leave you plenty of time to complete a double major or a minor?

In one week, you'll have a once-a-year opportunity to meet with representatives from ALL majors at UMass, in one place, at one time.  The Majors Fair is popular with students, as THE moment to gather information about academic programs and other opportunities to round out your degree.

Here's what you can do, at the Majors Fair:

• Ask about a potential major, minor or certificate;
• Ask about what courses would be a good introduction to a field;
• Ask about internship, grad school, research, and employment prospects with a particular major;  
• Chat with faculty and student representatives about their experience in the department.

Don't miss it!

Majors Fair 2013

Wednesday, October 30th

5:30-7:30pm

Campus Center Auditorium

Here's what recent students have said about the Majors Fair:

Deadline to declare Sociology -- October 25th!

The deadline to declare Sociology is THIS Friday October 25th! 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, you must do so by this Friday!

If you have questions, call Undergraduate Advising at 413-545-2191 and schedule an appointment to discuss it with an advisor!

Weekly Preview: October 21 - 25

Join Professor Lynn Phillips on Tuesday, October 22 at 7:00pm in 65 Bartlett for the film screening of Flirting with Danger.  Professor Lynn Phillips explores the line between consent and coercion in this thought-provoking look at popular culture and the ways real girls and women navigate their heterosexual relationships and hookups. The result is a refreshingly candid, and nuanced, look at how young women are forced to grapple with deeply ambivalent cultural attitudes about female sexuality. Question & Answer session to follow the screening with Professor Phillips.  This event is open to the public and deals with mature subject matter.

TRANSFERmations continues with Maximizing Campus Resources!  One of the best parts of UMass is that there's an office for just about anything you need. Sometimes having that many choices makes it hard to know where to start.  Join your fellow transfer students and come learn about the resources and staff available to help you make the most of your UMass experience.  7:00 - 8:00pm in McNamara Hall

In partnership with the UMass Amherst Career Center, the Campus Sustainability Initiative presents the Building Sustainable Leaders: Green Jobs Panel.  Join local and regional sustainability related employers, featuring UMass Amherst alumni in the green jobs industry as panelists.  Wednesday, October 23, 2013 3:30pm in Earthfoods Cafe in the Student Union.  This event is part of Campus Sustainability Day.  Click here to see the entire schedule of events.  To learn more about UMass Sustainability, visit their website.

Are you planning on taking majors only Sociology courses in the Spring?  The deadline to declare Sociology is Friday, October 25!  Go to the Sociology BLOG to make an advising appointment and find the hours for the Sociology Peer Advisors.  The Advising Office is located in 722 Thompson.

The Mid-Semester date has passed.  Are you keeping track of your grades?  Do you have an idea of how well you're doing in a class?  If you're worried about your GPA or just want to get some help, don't forget about the Learning Resource Center!  Visit their site to find the tutoring schedule.  Working on a paper?  The Writing Center is here for you!  Located in the northwest corner of the  DuBois Library's Learning Commons, tutors are available to help you with any part of the writing process.

Liz's Tip of the Week: Staying Healthy on Campus

Since we've completed about 6-7 weeks of classes, and mid-terms are still popping up, between studying, classes, jobs, homework, meetings, and of course your social life, it's easy to forget about maintaining your health. Though it's easy to forget, or put on the back-burner, maintaining your health will benefit you now, and help you establish healthy habits that will stay with you for life. Here are some easy tips to staying healthy and happy while you're at UMass.

1. Now this may be obvious, but eating healthy is beneficial for your energy levels, boosting your immune system, and improving your overall health. This of course becomes a challenge when it's possible to survive off a strict diet of pizza and french fries, however there are a few choices you can make to improve your diet. The first would be to make sure you eat breakfast each morning. This may be difficult as your running out the door to make it to your 8 am class on time, but snacks like granola and bananas go along way in providing you energy for your morning, and preventing you from overeating later in the day. Another tip would be to try healthier alternatives to your favorite midnight snacks. Opt for veggie pizza on whole-wheat crust when you and your roommate decide to order in for the night, and keep some healthy, filling snacks in your fridge for those late night study sessions.

2. With such a beautiful recreation center on campus, it's easy to find motivation to exercise throughout the week. Our class schedules can all get a little crazy, but sneaking in a quick jog and ab-workout between your classes can help give you a mid-day energy boost of energy, and help you focus better later on when you're taking notes in lecture. Working out alone not your thing? Check out the Group Fitness Schedule, and find a class that will work best for you.

3. Get some sleep! I know that you just had to stay up all of Sunday night to watch the Breaking Bad finale twice in a row, make sure not to make it a habit to stay up all night! Sleep deprivation can lead to reduced brain function, fatigue, headaches and weight loss or gain. We need about 7-9 hours of sleep a night, and getting this amount will improve your overall health. If you don't get enough sleep at night, take an afternoon nap. Be careful with naps though, they shouldn't be longer than 45 minutes, or your body enters the REM cycle of sleep, and waking up in the middle of it will make you feel even more tired then you were before the nap!

4. Wash your hands and get a flu shot! Flu season is upon us, and it is of the utmost importance to maintain your healthy habits to keep from getting sick. Washing your hands with soap and warm water is one of the easiest ways to prevent the flu (you and your roommate will be grateful!) Also University Health Services offers flu clinics, both at UHS, and all over campus for their mobil flu clinic days! Check out the schedule here!

5. Last but certainly not least, I think it's most important to remember to keep your brain healthy too! College is an exciting experience, but it can get stressful. The Center for Counseling and Psychological Health (CCPH) on campus is located in Hills North, and can help students with a variety of issues through its multitude of services. A consultation appointment is always free, and from there your clinician will help you come up with your best options that will help you the most. This could include short-term services with CCPH, group therapy, or perhaps a recommendation for longer-term service with a provider in the Amherst community. There's no shame in reaching out to get the best help for your situation, and as their website says "We all need a little help along the way!" Take advantage of their help, and always remember that you, and your should always health come first.

Mid-Semester Deadline

Tomorrow:
Thursday, October 17, 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.

If you miss this deadline, you will have to petition for a late drop and your request is not guaranteed.

 

Celebrate The School of Computer Science

“Broadening the Impact of Computing”

Mark your calendar for this series of special events to celebrate the new School of Computer Science and the 50th year of Computer Science at UMass.

Thursday, October 17 through Saturday, October 19

The events, aimed at a diverse audience of students (undergrads, grads, majors and non-majors alike), alumni, campus and community members, are open to all. Come and learn about the many exciting directions in which computing is heading!

Website and schedule: www.cs.umass.edu/SCScelebration

"W" Drop and Pass/Fail deadline: THURS. 10/17

Thursday, October 17th is coming up! 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.

Schedule Change

 There are no classes on Monday, October 14 and most offices on campus will be closed.

Tuesday, October 15 will follow a Monday class schedule.

The rest of the week will follow a normal schedule. 

The Academic Advising Link will be closed on Sunday and Monday.  It will reopen at 4:00pm on Tuesday.