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By USucceed, August 20, 2013 9:13 am

Click on the link below to check out the fall schedule for Student Success Seminars…part of your Destination: Graduation!

STUDENT SUCCESS SEMINARS Fall 2013

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By USucceed, August 19, 2013 3:08 pm

Start the new semester off right!  There are two crucial tools that can help you stay on track and keep up with your coursework:  the class syllabus and a daily planner.

When you get your syllabus, read through it carefully.  This is essentially your contract for the course.  It contains a ton of important details about each class—including your professor’s office hours and contact information if you have any questions, required and suggested readings, classroom expectations, grading policies, Supplemental Instruction information (if offered with your class), and what happens if you miss an exam or a class session.  Not to mention course assignment due dates and when the exams are scheduled!  Keep all course materials, including the syllabus, in a binder so you know right where they are.

A daily planner (whether in Outlook, on your iPad, or a spiral notebook) is your next most important tool–it will help you visually and physically keep track of all your commitments.  First, mark all your class periods each week.  Note all the important dates from each syllabus—homework assignments, readings, and exams.  Fill in time to study—a good guideline is two hours studying for every hour you spend in class.  This time can be used to read the materials and review your notes, or meet with a group to discuss concepts from the lectures.  If your class has Supplemental Instruction, mark those times in your planner and then GO to the sessions!  Your planner can also help you stay on track for major projects by creating a personalized timeline—break each project into smaller chunks and assign a due-date to each part.

Next, be sure to set aside mealtimes and breaks, such as time to workout or just relax (it sounds silly—but you can’t forget to take care of yourself!).  Keep an eye out for flyers around campus advertising student organizations or events that may interest you—and put those in your planner, too.

Using these tools—the syllabus and a planner—can help you be more prepared and less stressed as you approach the end of the semester.  Making a plan for your time—and following it!—will pay off when you are ready for the final exam and you have your final project completed on time.

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By USucceed, April 16, 2013 8:21 am

For many students, with finals just a few weeks away, stress is at its peak.  Although you may be itching to get outside and soak up some sun (which is a great natural stress-reliever!), spring can still give us bad weather.

So what can you do when you need a quick break to clear your mind and refresh yourself?  The list below gives ideas for fun, relaxing activities without having to rely on the weather!

• Go to a lunch-time concert (the Conservatory has many free concerts this time of year–check out their events calendar)
• Visit the MindBody Connection in the Student Success Center
• Play pool in the Student Union
• Bake a treat for your neighbors or cook dinner for you and your roommates
• Visit a museum–there are three near campus, including the Nelson-Atkins Museum, the Toy & Miniature Museum, and the Kemper Museum
• Go see a movie
• Get in a quick workout or walk the indoor track at Swinney Recreation Center
• Have a lunch with friends- off campus!
• Meditate, stretch, or try yoga for a half hour
• Volunteer a few hours on the weekend
• Clean- it gets your mind off school, and you feel much better when you’re done!  It’s also easier for most people to focus on their studies in a clean environment.

But don’t confuse stress-relief with plain old procrastination!  Stick to a schedule (another way to curb stress) and remember that these ideas are meant to be short breaks to relax and unwind so you feel energized and more focused on your school work.

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By USucceed, March 12, 2013 9:01 am

Spring break is in TWO WEEKS!  Going from mid-January to the end of March with no breaks is tough, but it’s tougher to take a week off with no plan for when you get back!

Over the next two weeks, sit down with your calendar and class syllabi and make a list of all the assignments due for the rest of the semester.  This will help you put everything into perspective and give you set of short-term and long-range goals.  For each assignment, think about how long it will take you to complete it–you should have an idea of your study habits and how long it takes to read class materials.  And by thinking about this now, nothing should sneak up on you after break!

So, right now you should also be thinking about those assignments due just after break.  Take some time now to work ahead and finish these assignments before you leave or make other plans for the week.  That way, if something comes up and you want to go on a trip, you can go without feeling stressed about all the work you have left!

Spring Break is supposed to be relaxing, spending time with friends and family.  But if you do need to catch up on classwork, make sure you plan some time to take a break.  One idea is to work on assignments in the morning and then take the rest of the day to relax and get outside.  But it’s always best to do your work first–then you can reward yourself with an afternoon movie or dinner out with friends.

Careful planning can make Spring Break a true break, whether or not you have assignments due, no matter where you go.  Plan now and you can come back refreshed and energized!