Before or during Thanksgiving break, take time to double-check what you are registered to take during spring semester:
Are you registered in a full course load (14-16 credit hours unless we specifically discussed otherwise)?
Are you registered in the remaining courses you need to complete Cluster I by the end of your first year?
Did you register for courses that you did not discuss with your advisor? Do you want to discuss those with with your advisor so that you get confirmation that your schedule will help you progress towards General Education, declared/potential major, and declared/potential degree requirements?
Remember, you can still make changes to your spring semester schedule until the second Tuesday of spring semester. Many students making course changes between the New Years and the first day of classes. Granted, after classes have started you want to be more strategic about making changes since you may have already missed classes.
Spotlight on Exploring Resources
Informational Interviews
The Holiday Breaks are a great time to connect with people in career fields you’re considering by conducting an informational interview! This is a uninterrupted time for you to have a Q&A with a professional. Generally, this runs 20-30 minutes, and can happen over the phone, at the professional’s place of employment, or another central meeting location Seriously, people love sharing their experiences and helping the next generation. When you conduct an informational interview, you can gather information you cannot learn online. When you talk with a professional, you can learn subjective information, such as opinions, advice, and an outline of their personal experience. For example, here are some great questions to ask:
How did you get into this field? What was your major in college?
What do you like most/least about this position?
What is the typical career path this job follows?
What is a typical day or week like on the job?
What skills and abilities have you found to be most important in your work?
What personal qualities do you feel are needed to succeed in this line of work?
What kinds of classes/experiences do you recommend someone obtain in college that’s entering this field?
How would you advise someone to begin seeking an internship in your field?
You don’t want to ask questions you can find the answer to online, and nobody wants to take time answering those questions. O*Net and the Occupational Outlook Handbook are good places to begin your research so you go to the interview with basic understandings about their profession. To identify a professional, utilize:
Professional Organizations associated with the career field
Organization/Company websites
Your Personal Network (e.g. parents, family friends, friend connections)
Learn more about (1) how to make contact, (2) how to prepare, (3) what to wear, (4) saying thank you, and (5) reflect on the experience by reading Informational Interviewing: Get the Inside Scoop on Careers. Remember, you can always meet with me to process what you learned with your informational interview to determine your next steps to make a decision!
This is the first in a series to spotlight resources and events that can help you explore your major and career possibilities.
Your Undeclared Advisor!
Already, students have begun utilizing their advisor to help figure out what to do for a major or career! During the meeting, it’s a very individualized exploration about yourself, academic and career resources, and how to make decisions knowing these things. Schedule your first appointment today by emailing your advisor your availability for the next 4-5 business days.
Studying
As I know you’re learning, there’s a lot of work for classes in college. If you need some help on how to study effectively or time manage, utilize Learning Strategies Instruction or Academic Support Instruction for an individual appointment. If English is your second or third language, you may also want to visit English Language Learner Services for support with reading the dense amount of English assigned to you. Below, I’m briefly discussing how study spaces and time management can help you study better.
Time Management
This sounds a lot easier than it is. Utilizing your time effectively is challenging, because you have competing goals that demand your time. Checkout Learning Strategies Instruction's tips for improving your time management. Listen to JMU students talk about the balancing everything...
“If you want to achieve academically, learn how to balance having fun and doing your work. You’ve got to make sacrifices a lot of times.”
Study Spaces
Don’t study in your dorm room. Seriously, how can you study when Facebook/Twitter, video games, TV, friends, your bed, and everything else is there tempting you not to study? Find places around campus that support your ability to focus on your studies.
Student Success Center include group study rooms and Learning Centers [mixture of quiet and background noise]
Rose Library including 45 group study rooms [mixture of quiet and background noise]
Carrier Library including 29 group study rooms [mixture of quiet and background noise]
You will also find nooks and crannies in many buildings you have classes in around campus, such as the 2nd and 3rd floors of HHS. The bottom line... almost anywhere can be a more effective study space than your room!
When you conduct an informational interview, you can gather information you cannot learn online. When you talk with a professional, you can learn subjective information, such as opinions, advice, and an outline of their personal experience. For example, here are some great questions to ask: