Compass for Success

This morning, we tweeted a picture of the semester length planner, created by our partners in student success, the Educational Opportunities Program (EOP). This planner has been an academic life-saver to many of our students, and we strongly recommend getting one ASAP. We have them in our office. Please come and pick one up today!

Planning is just one part of being successful. Execution is the bread and butter of goal achievement,so what else do you need to be your best self this semester?

Several of our Peer Advisors, Project MyStory Ambassadors, and MyStory Bloggers have something to say about this.

I am going to highlight just a few of their posts, but I invite you to surf our blog and see what nuggets can work for you. 

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Sam B., has a tool kit for starting well in her post, Starting the Semester Strong. She did not come up with this list by doing a Google search. As an athlete, she learned time management and study skills the hard way. She practices what she preaches and she has benefited from establishing better habits.  It is so easy to get off track.

Also check out From Zero Point Five to Hero by Melissa F. and Midterms, Finals, and Due Dates by Kate E. If you are working on your senior thesis, or are on the cusp of graduating, check out Phoebe’s blog series: Trials of Non-Traditional Students. It is filled with useful information for preparing for your next steps, right now!

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Lee’s entire blog is about how he learned to succeed at UAlbany. Lee had many things working against him, and academics were quite a struggle. Hence the title of his blog: C Average Student: Struggles on the Pathway to Success.

 

 

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Jon writes about finding the best place to study. There are so many nooks and crannies on campus that you might miss if you fail to explore. For some of you, your room or suite, works like magic. You may have already
found your favorite tree, or spot in the library. Do what works for you. But if you want a fun exploration break, or need more ideas about where to study, check out this post: Where do You Study?

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Taking care of yourself is as important as taking care of your academic responsibilities. Konya shares different strategies to de-stress and self-care in her post,  Top Ten Ways to De-stress. In Addition, Check out Liz B’s 3 Research Papers & 5 Final Exams: No Partridge and a Pear Tree for Me; Leo’s Advice from a Crazy Person;

 

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I hope that these resource have been helpful. There is a Help Me! tab at the top of the page, that links to a lengthy list of academic and personal resources, available to all UAlbany students. If you do not know where to turn, feel free to come see the advisor-on-duty, available on a walk-in basis, 1pm-5pm, Monday -Friday in the Advisement Services Center.

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Written by Rachel Moody,
Academic Advisor, Advisement Services Center

 

 

 

 

#Peer2Peer: When Everything is Due All at Once

Hey Everyone! My name is Danielle DeAcutis and I am a junior majoring in Criminal Justice and Sociology as well as Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cybersecurity! Yes, you read that correctly, I’m triple majoring. I’m also a Peer Advisor in the Advisement Services Center, serve on the E-Board for the Albany Criminal Justice Association and I work part time. As you can tell, I have a lot of things going on most of the time. You might be wondering how I manage to do it all; balance schoolwork, responsibilities, a job and a social life. I’m going to be completely honest, it’s not easy all the time. There are days where I get overwhelmed by everything and struggle to keep up, but I’ve learned to make it work. Many students might feel like there’s no way to have it all without making sacrifices. I’m here to tell you that it’s certainly possible to be able to do it all. Here are some tips that I learned over the past few semesters that help attribute to being successful, while keeping stress at the minimum level.

Making Plans Like a Boss!

Organization is key to being successful at UAlbany. Our partners in success in EOP create semester wall calendars to help you map out all of your exams, quizzes, and activities so that you can plan accordingly.  In the picture below, our Peer Advisor Diane is plotting out all of her responsibilities in many colors. She knows what it takes to be a Great Dane. Don’t learn the hard way! Make plans like a boss.

Come and get a calendar in our office TODAY.

About Those Study Skills…

MyStory Mondays is a weekly digest of our latest posts.

Our UAlbany MyStory Bloggers share their lives with you to help you to stay focused on your goals, to remind and inform you about the many supports that we have on campus to help you succeed, and to let you know that, whatever you are going through, you are not alone. 

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This week we share past posts from our Peer Advisors and our MyStory Volunteers about study habits and study skills. Please add to the list. What works for you? How do you manage your time? 

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Looking for a place to look over your notes before the big test? Are your roommates throwing a party the night before? Can’t find anywhere to settle in the library? Look no further as you’ll learn some of the secret and not-so-secret spots for studying to ensure you get that A you deserve! Click Here for More.

 

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The Advising PLUS Tutoring and Study Skill Schedule is Here!
CLICK HERE FOR MORE!

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Last semester, Simonti shared her struggles and successes with time management. Check out her experiences with, what she would describe as, the two sides of time management. Click Here for Side One. Click Here for Side Two.

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Sam B., has a tool kit for starting well in her post, Starting the Semester Strong. She did not come up with this list by doing a Google search. As an athlete, she learned time management and study skills the hard way. She practices what she preaches and she has benefited from establishing better habits.  It is so easy to get off track.

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During Fall 2015, we asked our advisors, peer advisors, and student workers for a list of study tips. If you are a senior, you might recognize some of their names. 

1. Start Studying now. Do not cram. You will learn more by not procrastinating and this will help you excel with your midterms. – John Donoghue, Assistant Director of ASC
2. Only focus on the same subject/class for 30 minutes- 1 hour and then switch subjects! – Sam Brookings, Peer Advisor
3. Use your time wisely and take care of your body. If your health is off-center your focus will not be on the books. – Mayra Raxon, Academic Advisor
4. Social studying helps! – Anita Ma, Peer Advisor
5. Breathe and be patient with yourself. Study often rather than waiting and cramming at the last minute.  – Kiara Davis, Work Study Student.
6. Examine yourself and think about when, where, and with whom you study best. I studied best in a cafeteria/coffee house/book store setting, but when working on a paper, I needed silence so the 2nd or 3rd floor of the library was my hiding place. I could never study in my dorm – never.  – Rachel Moody, Academic Advisor
7. Try your best and stay positive. You will get through this! – Krystal, Work Study Student
8. When studying- reward yourself with pre-planned break sessions. For example…”If I learn this chapter’s material, not just read it but keep full focus, receive full comprehension and ensure full confidence in my knowledge for the next 23 minutes, I DESERVE three minutes to eat an apple cider donut and check social media”. If you make it into a game, you will focus less on being overwhelmed and more on challenging yourself to learn the material without the FOMO. – Samantha Miller, Academic Advisor
9. Stay organized! Keeping track of due dates on one calendar will ensure nothing sneaks up on you! – Nicole Clause, Academic Advisor
10. Know that it is normal to be stressed right now and that this time will soon pass. Check your syllabi often. Map out your test and assignment due dates so that you are prepared. Knowing what is ahead of you really helps to lower the pressure.  –Barbara Brown, Coordinator of Advising Plus
11. Remember to take time off for yourself.  – Anonymous Work Study Student
12. Try to keep up that “first week of school” energy.  It can be easy to start to slack off in the middle of the semester.  Do something fun to celebrate getting this far, then hit the books with a renewed spark! – Amanda Parker, Academic Advisor
13. Remember that there is a bigger picture – a greater goal that you are working toward!  Do not panic, but do your best.  – Anonymous Work Study Student
14. Pace yourself! A little studying everyday goes a whole lot further than trying to cram in one night!  – Dr. JoAnne Malatesta, Director of the Advisement Services Center and Assistant Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education

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Genevieve Durso