Strategies for Success Course Rationale Strategies for Success helps students unlock their potential to succeed in college, career, and life by challenging them to become aware of that is not all about what you think you know, but what you know how to do. This course will allow incoming College students to build analytical, creative and practical thinking skills and will also provide them with in-depth knowledge of what to expect from the transition of high school life to college life. It is the objective of this course is to give students training and experiences that will allow them to be successful in their first year and beyond. Topics to be covered include learning styles, reading techniques, note taking skills, memory development, time management, test taking, communication skills, critical thinking skills, an understanding of diversity, and career issues. Course Learning Outcomes and goals: Take charge of your life Increase self- motivation Improve personal self- management Develop interdependence Increase self- awareness Maximize your learning Develop emotional intelligence Raise your self- esteem Improve creative and critical thinking skills Write more effectively Master effective study skills Manage your money IN GENERAL, LEARN HOW TO BE A COLLEGE STUDENT Syllabus Scavenger Hunt Activity syllabus: document that most instructors provide at the first class session. contains learning objectives, homework assignments, course rules College Terminology US colleges and universities use so many academic terminology, sometimes it can seem like college officials are speaking another language. Community College Community college, sometimes called a junior college, is a two-year school that offers reasonably priced higher education as a pathway to a four-year degree. According to the American Association of Community Colleges there are 1,167 community colleges in the United States. Completing a 2-year degree at a community college is called an associate’s degree. The advantages to attending a community college is that students can save money by attending a community college for two years and then transfer to a 4-year university where they will complete their degree. College vs University Very distinct difference in University maintains terminology between the research requirements for its USA and the rest of the instructors /more research world focused institution. In the US, there is very little The main difference difference academically between university and coll between a "college" and a ege is that "university" a university offers graduate programs leading to Universities are usually master's or doctoral larger and often contain degrees. multiple "colleges" within them Differences between Community College vs. University 1. Degrees and programs offered 2. Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree Cost 4. Living arrangements Community colleges usually don't offer housing to students, but universities almost always do in the form of dorms and on-campus apartment complexes Community Colleges average annual cost of tuition and fees 5. Class sizes is much lower a much lower overall student 3. Admission Requirements population, class sizes are also much smaller Community colleges typically have much less strict admission requirements than universities Private university: A university that is privatelyfunded. Tuition for a private college or university (before scholarships and grants) is the same for all students. Public university: A university that is funded by the government. Public colleges and universities are less expensive for residents of the state where they are located. Tuition and Fees Tuition is the price colleges charge for classes. Students also pay other fees related to enrolling in and attending a college Fees depend upon your school Examples include activity fees and parking decal fees. Schools can provide a list of fees The cost of tuition and fees varies by college Besides tuition and fees, students have to pay for housing, food, books and supplies. They also have to cover any additional college fees and other living expenses, such as transportation costs. https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/collegecosts/quick-guide-college-costs Financial Aid The Free Application for Federal Student Aid(FAFSA): is a form completed by current and prospective college students in the United States to determine their eligibility for student financial aid. Financial Aid: Money you receive for you college tuition or expenses that you may or may not have to pay back. (See: “Grant,” “Loan,” and “Scholarship”) Grant: A form of financial aid from a nonprofit organization (such as the government) that you do not have to repay Loan: A form of financial aid that you must repay Work-study: A federally and sometimes state-funded program that helps college students with financial need get part-time jobs. Scholarship: An award of financial aid for a student to further their education. Scholarships are awarded based upon various criteria Resident vs Non-resident Tuition Resident (In state): A student who lives in and meets the residency requirements for the state where a public university is located. Tuition at public universities often is more expensive for non-residents. Non-resident (Out of State): A student who isn’t an official resident of the state where a public university is located. Tuition at public universities is less expensive for residents. International students pay out-of-state tuition and fees Full time vs Part time Student Full-time student: A student who enrolls in at least a minimum number (determined by your college or university) of credit hours of courses foreign students must maintain full-time status to fulfill student visa requirements. Full-time students normally take three courses in the fall and spring semester and one class in the summer between their first and second year and work at a part-time (up to 20 hours per week) policy-related job or internship Part-time student: A student who doesn’t enroll in enough credit hours to become a full-time student, as defined by your college or university. Part-time students often take only one or two classes at one time. Part-time students normally take two courses in the fall and spring semesters and one class in the summer and work at a full-time job Definitions of Undergraduate Student Class Standing Definitions of Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, and Senior Class Standing For undergraduate day students, freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior class standing are systematically calculated by earned semester hours (SH) and cannot be adjusted: Freshman: First-year fewer than 32 SH college student. Sophomore: at least 32 SH but fewer than 64 SH Second-year Junior: at least 64 SH but fewer than 96 SH Third-year Senior: college student. college student. at least 96 SH Fourth-year college student. You are a senior when you graduate from college. Academic year: The school year that begins with autumn classes. The academic year at most US colleges and universities starts in August or September. Semester: Type of academic term. A school with this system generally will have a fall semester and a spring semester (each about 15 weeks long), along with a summer term Bimester(Quarter): Type of academic term. A school with this system generally will have a fall quarter, winter quarter and spring quarter (each about 10 weeks long), along with a summer term. Term: The length of time that you take a college class. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A COUNSELOR AND AN ACADEMIC ADVISOR? Advisor: School official, usually assigned by your college or university, who can help choose your classes and make sure you are taking the right courses to graduate. Counselor: is a faculty member, as well as a master’s degree-level professional trained in counseling. Advisors make referrals for various student concerns to counselors or other campus services. Counselors also work with faculty and staff as consultants and trainers and provide all services of academic advisors. College Dean: is someone who has responsibilities that involve students and faculty at a particular school. These can include academic or even duties that relate to student life. There can be different levels of dean that pertain to different areas or different college majors in the school. Registrar: is an official in an academic institution (consisting of a college, university, or secondary school) who handles student records. Transcript: is documentation of a student's permanent academic record, which usually means all courses taken, all grades received, all honors received, and degrees conferred to a student Also Known As: school transcript, academic transcript, college transcript, academic record Enroll: simply means you are selecting specific courses to take for a specific term. When you register for a course you are reserving your spot in that course. Course Number: The number your college or university uses to classify a course. You usually need this number in order to register for a class. Credit Hour: The number of hours assigned to a specific class. This is usually the number of hours per week you are in the class. The number of credit hours you enroll in determines whether you are a full-time student or a part-time student. Dropping Vs. Withdrawing From A Course Dropping a course When you drop a class, it is removed from your schedule, D2L, and transcript as if you never registered Tuition and fees for the course are removed from your bill It is your responsibility as a student to be aware of the drop deadlines for your courses, and to drop any course you do not plan to attend. Withdrawing from a course Dropping a class after the drop/add period has ended is considered a Withdrawal. You may withdraw from a course after the add/drop period has ended with no grade penalty, however, you will not be eligible for a tuition refund and must still pay any outstanding balances owed to the college. You will receive a "W" grade for the course when you withdraw. Must drop or withdraw by the published deadline for the semester on the Academic Calendar. What’s the Difference Between a Major, a Minor and a Concentration? Major: Your primary area of study. Your college major is the field you plan to get a job in after you graduate (for example: business, linguistics, anthropology, psychology). Minor: Your secondary area of study. Fewer classes are required for a college minor than for a major. Colleges and universities usually don’t require students to have a minor Many students’ minors are a specialization of their major field. For example, students who want to become a science reporter might major in journalism and minor in biology. Concentration: is a specific area of emphasis within your chosen major. Like minors, schools don’t usually require you to declare a concentration; instead, they’re used as an optional tool to help you customize your college experience. If you’re a sociology major, concentrating on anthropology or gender and women’s studies will help you choose a narrow path within your broad major General education classes: Classes that give students basic knowledge of a variety of topics. Students often must take general education classes in order to graduate. This set of classes includes different courses and is called by different names at various colleges and universities. Degree Requirements are prescribed by an institution for completion of a program of study. Requirements may include a minimum number of hours, required GPA, prerequisite and elective courses within the specified major and/or minor areas of study. Prerequisite: A class that must be taken before you can take a different class. (For example, Astronomy 100 may be a prerequisite for Astronomy 200.) Grade Point Average (GPA) A grade point average is a number representing the average value of the accumulated final grades earned in courses over time More commonly called a GPA, a student's grade point average is calculated by adding up all accumulated final grades and dividing that figure by the number of grades awarded. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SchWpYY931A Plagiarism ”Plagiarize" means: to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own to use (another's production) without crediting the source to to commit literary theft present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source Extracurricular activities: Groups you belong to outside of class, such as sporting teams, clubs and organizations. Greek: Fraternities and sororities. They often have specific student housing options for their members. Definition of Undergraduate and Graduate Student Undergraduate A university student who has not yet received a first degree is a college or university student who's not a graduate student. After high school, you can become an undergraduate Graduate or "grad student" is a student who, having obtained a bachelor's degree, is now pursuing a master's or "graduate degree” Associate Degrees: A type of degree awarded to students at a US community college A.A. Associate of Arts The associate of arts is a basic-level undergraduate degree granted upon completion of a two-year program, usually at community or junior college, technical college or trade school. As such, these are typically a jumping off point towards pursuing a full bachelor's degree. A.S. Associate of Science Similar to the A.A., the associate of science degree is the culmination of a two-year academic program. The A.S. is usually awarded to junior college students enrolled in science or tech-related programs. Bachelor's Degrees: A degree awarded to undergraduates B.A. Bachelor of Arts The bachelor's typically awarded to undergraduates in science and technical fields. Awarded to majors like art history, theater, film studies and photography. BSN Bachelor of Science in Nursing B.F.A. Bachelor of Fine Arts B.B.A. Bachelor of Business Administration The usual degree path for majors in liberal A business-oriented bachelor's path, arts, humanities or social sciences such as typically associated with management, English, creative writing, fine arts or political accounting, marketing, etc. science. A B.A. is typically awarded upon B.Arch Bachelor of Architecture completion of a four-year undergraduate program at a traditional school or university. A bachelor's degree geared towards the architecture field. B.S. Bachelor of Science A degree path oriented towards the technical and hands-on training necessary to obtain a nursing license. B.E. Bachelor of Engineering Concentrates on engineering fields like electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and computer engineering. Master's Degrees: A degree awarded to graduate students M.A. Master of Arts The basic graduate-level degree granted to grad students in fields in the humanities, social sciences or fine arts. M.B.A. Master of Business Administration The Master of Business Administration M.S. Master of Science Typically awarded to graduate students in scientific or technical fields. M.S.W. Master of Social Work Similar to the M.B.A., the Master of Social Work Getting On Course to your success CHAPTER 1 KEY EXPECTATIONS be responsible for education Be motivated to succeed Educators expect students to attend class Educators expect students to collaborate with peers Expect students to change if its not working Educators expect students to be passionate Educators expect students to manage emotions Have realistic self confidence The Top Choices of Successful Students Behaviors Attend class regularly Do all assigned work and turn in on time Participate actively Attitudes/Beliefs Take personal responsibility Be goal-directed Believe in yourself Ingredients of success Success is staying on course to your desired outcomes and experiences Soft skills: are invisible and difficult to measure Soft skills are learnable Skills that people don't see. (skills in your head) Examples: Persistence, Self- confidence & motivation Hard skills: are observable, measurable, and learnable Much of what you go to college for is to learn hard skills physical skills (playing piano) Example: Nurse’s need the hard skill of taking patient’s blood pressure Career Success Hard skills – the knowledge needed to perform a particular job. Soft skills - taking responsibility, making effective decisions, setting goals, managing time, prioritizing tasks, persevering, giving strong efforts, working well in teams, communication effectively, having empathy, knowing how to learn, exhibiting self-control, and believing in one’s own selfworth. ON COURSE PRINCIPLES AT WORK Identify each of the following as a "Hard Skill" or "Soft Skill." Properly mixing epoxy tooth filling material Identifying bacteria cultures Working well in teams Planning work time in order to get everything done Soft Skill on schedule Effectively applying tax laws to help a client avoid an IRS audit Hard Skill Setting work-related goals Hard Skill Hard Skill Soft Skill Soft Skill Successful Students Accept personal responsibility Seeing themselves as the primary cause of their outcome Discover self- motivation Finding purpose in their lives by pursuing personally meaningful goals and dreams Master self-management Consistently planning and taking purposeful actions in pursuit of their goals and dreams Employ interdependence Building mutually supportive relationships that help them achieve their goals and dreams(while helping others do the same thing ) Struggling Students See themselves as victims Believing that what happens to them is determined primarily by external forces such as fate, luck, etc. Have difficulty sustaining motivation Often feeling depressed, frustrated, and/ or resentful about a lack of direction in their lives Seldom id specific actions needed to accomplish a desired outcome And, when they do, tend to procrastinate Are solitary Seldom requesting, even rejecting offers of assistance from those who could help Group Activity Get Into Groups of 3-4 Create a list of actions that new students should do in their first week of college Which of these do you think are most essential for getting off to a good start in college The "A" Student - An Outstanding Student ATTENDANCE: "A" students have virtually perfect attendance. Their commitment to the class is a high priority and exceeds other temptations. PREPARATION: "A" students are prepared for class. They always read the assignment. Their attention to detail is such that they occasionally can elaborate on class examples. CURIOSITY: "A" students demonstrate interest in the class and the subject. They look up or dig out what they don't understand. They often ask interesting questions or make thoughtful comments. RETENTION: "A" students have retentive minds and practice making retentive connections. They are able to connect past learning with the present. They bring a background of knowledge with them to their classes. They focus on learning concepts rather than memorizing details. ATTITUDE: "A" students have a winning attitude. They have both the determination and the self-discipline necessary for success. They show initiative. They do things they have not been told to do. TALENT: "A" students demonstrate a special talent. It may be exceptional intelligence and insight. It may be unusual creativity, organizational skills, commitment - or a some combination. These gifts are evident to the teacher and usually to the other students as well. EFFORT: "A" students match their effort to the demands of an assignment. COMMUNICATIONS: "A" students place a high priority on writing and speaking in a manner that conveys clarity and thoughtful organization. Attention is paid to conciseness and completeness. RESULTS: "A" students make high grades on tests - usually the highest in the class. Their work is a pleasure to grade. Money Management Managing money and setting budgetary goals may seem like the last things you want to do at the end of a busy day filled with classes, group projects and exams, but developing good habits early is worth the effort. Why you Need a Budget Students who observe financial spending limits and savings goals early on not only worry less about money, but they also have nest eggs available when graduating and starting out in their adult lives. Students often find it easier to work from a semester model Whether you receive money from a parent/guardian or have a job, consider how much money you typically receive during a semester Divide that amount by the length of your semester to get a sense of how much money you can spend each month. Many students run into budget issues when they begin making decisions based on emotions in the moment “Students need to think through the ‘what if’ questions and be prepared for situations when they will spend money without thinking,” she says. Examples: “What if your friends are going to a concert where tickets cost $100 and you hadn’t planned on that expense?” Some expenses are fixed, while others fluctuate from month to month. Determining what your expenses will be is a valuable step for any budget, and students are likely to have several fixed and variable expenses each month. When creating a budget, it’s important to consider which (if any) expenses are covered by a parent or guardian and subtract those from your monthly expenses College Expenses to Expect Fixed College Expenses Housing: Whether students live in dorms or in off-campus accommodations, this is likely to be one of their largest monthly expenses. Books: Usually purchased at the beginning of the semester, books can add up to a little or a lot depending on whether students purchase them used or new. Utilities: Electricity, gas, water, cable and internet bills typically are covered for students living in on-campus housing, but those with their own accommodations off campus should tack these onto their list of monthly expenses. All students should also include that monthly cell phone bill. Transportation: Students with vehicles must consider costs related to auto loan payments, insurance, maintenance and repairs, fuel and parking, while those who rely on public transportation need to think about monthly bus, light rail or subway passes. Anyone who may take advantage of ride-sharing services (cabs, Uber, Lyft, etc.) or who shares costs as part of a carpool also should consider those occasional expenses. Savings: The image of poor college students is a pervasive one, but it need not be true. Those who plan and budget wisely actually can save money while in school. Even if it doesn’t seem like much, it does add up. Variable Expenses Groceries: Cooking at a dorm may not be completely feasible, but students can buy snacks or microwavable meals to cut back on costs. Those whose housing situations include full kitchens can significantly cut expenses by buying groceries and preparing meals at home rather than eating out. Dining out: Whether heading out with friends or picking up dinner after a long day of classes, students will inevitably do a lot of dining out in college. Childcare: Some students have children who must be cared for while they are in class, and they may either take advantage of on-campus child care or hire independent help. Either way, this is an expense that must be considered. Entertainment: Activities and entertainment expenses such as concerts, lectures, movies, TV or music subscription services and venue admission costs can add up and should be factored in. Medical/Health: This category includes insurance premiums, prescriptions and regular expenses at such stores as Walgreen’s, CVS or Rite Aid. Some students may also need to pay for memberships at gyms or health clubs. Clothing: Transitioning from winter to summer clothes or finding a special outfit for an upcoming event can be costly, but students can save money by having their families ship existing clothes or checking out secondhand stores. Laundry: Unless they live in apartments equipped with washer/dryer units, most students need to pay to use these machines in their dorms, in common areas or at laundromats. Additional costs for dry cleaning may be necessary as well. Example of a College Student’s Budget Expenses for college students vary significantly based on where they’re enrolled, how much their institutions cost, whether they receive money from parents or guardians whether they have solid budgets in place to rein in their spending. Some monthly costs — such as housing, transportation, utilities and groceries — are unavoidable, while others — such as entertainment, travel or trips to the mall — are more about wants than needs. By finding a balance between needs and wants, students can enjoy a happy medium that allows them to spend time with friends and have fun without blowing their budgets. To help college students better understand the expenses they are likely to incur while in school, the College Board provides an annual living expenses budget according to a national average as well as for specific regions of the country in which students may be enrolled. Example of a College Student’s Budget Top 10 Tips for Saving Money in College Buy used textbooks. A single new textbook can cost several hundred dollars, but often these items can be purchased used through such outlets as Amazon, AbeBooks or the on-campus bookstore. Purchase a coffeemaker. Those early morning lattes and late-night espressos can really add up over time. Studies have found that college students spend nearly $1,100 per year on coffee. Instead of making a beeline to the nearest coffee shop, consider the one-time expense of purchasing a coffeemaker for your dorm or apartment to cut back on those regular costs. Take advantage of free food. In addition to the myriad on-campus events that happen all the time and provide free food and beverages, students may also consider working part-time at restaurants. In addition to standard wages and tips, many restaurants provide free meals to their employees. Take advantage of student discounts. Hundreds of companies offer discounts especially for students, and many of them are significant. In addition to clothing stores such as J. Crew and Gap that offer discounts, Amazon Prime offers a free six-month membership, and technology companies including Apple and Dell provide percentages off for students with official school email addresses. Stay on your parents’ insurance. Thanks to special mandates under the Affordable Care Act, students are allowed to stay on their parents’ or guardians’ insurance plans until age 26. This also can help with getting discounted prescriptions and low- or nocost visits to the doctor. Top 10 Tips for Saving Money in College Be strategic at the grocery store. It may seem silly, but there’s truth to the advice about never going to the grocery store while hungry. It’s easy to throw random things into a cart, but those little splurges can easily add up. In addition to shopping the sales, try to buy store-brand items when possible, and don’t forget to check the clearance bins. Sell items you don’t need. Aside from selling old textbooks on sites like Amazon, eBay and AbeBooks, websites such as Poshmark and ThredUp also allow students to clean out their closets and make a profit. When getting rid of old furniture, technology, automobiles or household items, consider using sites such as Craigslist. Cancel memberships. Rather than paying for Apple Music or Spotify Premium, use services like Pandora or the free version of Spotify. Instead of having your own memberships for streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Prime TV or HBO Go, consider sharing a single membership with friends and/or family. Take care with credit. If you feel it’s necessary to have a credit card in college, be sure to get one that has no annual fee and the lowest interest rate available. Always make the payment on time (automatic payments are great for this) to avoid penalties or fees. Limit spending on alcohol. Did you know that college students spend $5.5 billion on alcohol each year? If you’re a college student who enjoys drinking responsibly, find out happy hours take place around campus or consider arranging a house party or game night so you don’t spend tons of money at a bar.
