Blog Entry 11/30

• Go to class: Sleeping in and skipping that 8 am class will be tempting at times. Avoid the temptation. Besides learning the material by attending classes, you'll also receive vital information from the professors about what to expect on tests, changes in due dates, etc.
  
  
• Become an expert on course requirements and due dates: Professors spend hours and hours preparing course syllabi and calendars so that you will know exactly what is expected of you -- and when. One of the lamest excuses a student can give a professor: "I didn't know it was due today."

MUSE Interview

Patrick Hennessey Interviewed Matt Won and Jose Interviewed Natalie:

Blog Entry 11/25

• Be proactive: Being a self-starter is an important trait to cultivate for college, and beyond. Taking the initiative to meet with professors, consult with advisors, or seek out activities and opportunities related to personal development and career goals can really pay off.
  
  
• Be prepared for tougher academic demands: 200-page reading assignments are not unusual in college. Carve out time each day for heavy reading and assignments and take advantage of campus resources such as tutoring centers that can help them devise strategies to manage their workload and keep their performance level high.

Blog Entry 11/23

• Ask for help when you need it: Whether you're thinking about changing your major or are dealing with a difficult personal situation, help is always available. Seeking out information and assistance from advisors, counselors, faculty and friends can help you survive the tough times and keep them on the road to success.
  
  
• Become financially literate: Financial literacy starts with understanding the requirements of scholarships and loans, and the steps needed to maintain them. It also means creating a budget and then sticking to it, knowing the terms-of-payment for credit cards and cell phone services, and focusing on "needs" rather than "wants."

Blog Entry 11/18

Today in class we interviewed both a senior and a peer mentor. The two guests were pretty cool and they had a lot of good advice for us freshmen. Professor Dan recorded both the interviews and showed us how to edit them in Audacity. Audacity is a pretty cool audio software. You can record and edit audio and the program is free. Both the guests were seniors and peer mentors so they answered all kinds of questions. One of them told us to get more involved on campus because that's what they wished they did more when they were a freshman. Don't take too long in choosing your major but don't make a quick decision.

We also learned more about peer mentors. To become a peer mentor, you must go through a certain process where they interview you. Apparently the school really takes care of them; they get first pick of classes and help out students on campus for pretty much everything. Professor Dan also talked about how the president of SJSU keeps making his speeches all positive and hopeful while in reality the school is in big trouble.

Blog Entry 11/16

• Keep track of your money.
  If you've never had to create a budget, now is the time to do so. Find ways to stretch your money - and as best you can, avoid all those credit card solicitations you'll soon be receiving. The average credit card debt of college grads is staggering.
  
• Don't cut corners.
  College is all about learning. If you procrastinate and cram, you may still do well on tests, but you'll learn very little. Even worse, don't cheat on term papers or tests.
  
• Be prepared to feel overwhelmed.
  There's a lot going in your life right now. Expect to have moments where it seems a bit too much. As one student says, be prepared to feel completely unprepared. The trick is knowing that you're not the only one feeling that way.

Blog Entry 11/11

• Strive for good grades.
  While good grades could have come naturally to you in high school, you will have to earn them in college -- and that means setting some goals for yourself and then making sure you work as hard as you can to achieve them.
• Take advantage of the study resources on campus.
  Just about all colleges have learning labs and tutors available. If you're having some troubles, these resources are another tool available to you. Another idea: form study groups.

Video Project - "A Bathroom Surprise" [Repost]

Don't forget to watch our video!

Blog Entry 11/9

• Get to know your academic adviser.
  This is the person who will help you with course conflicts, adding or dropping courses, scheduling of classes for future semesters, deciding on majors and minors. This person is a key resource for you -- and should be the person you turn to with any academic issues or conflicts. And don't be afraid of requesting another adviser if you don't click with the one first assigned to you.

• Get involved on campus.
  A big problem for a lot of new students is a combination of homesickness and a feeling of not quite belonging. A solution? Consider joining a select group -- and be careful not to go overboard -- of student organizations, clubs, sororities or fraternities, or sports teams. You'll make new friends, learn new skills, and feel more connected to your school.

Blog Entry 11/4

Recognize Organization Patterns Part 2

• Cycle: Cycle patterns of organization show how trends end up where they started. Signal words include first, second, finally, while, now, then, same and circular.
• Problem-Solving: The instructor identifies a problem, establishes conditions for solving the problem, explains the solution, and predicts the aftereffects. Signal words include since, resulting, hypothesis, leading to, because, so, if... then, and solution.
• Cause-and-Effect: These patterns involve showing causal connections between two events. Signal words include prediction, effect, causation, and control.
• Examples: These patterns involve defining a concept and then offering examples or illustrations to clarify or explain the term.
  

Blog Entry 11/2

Recognize Organization Patters in the Lecture:

• Listing: Instructors present all the relevant facts, concepts, and events in simple lists that reflect the order of importance. Signal words include first, second, also, in addition, another, moreover, next, and furthermore.
• Comparison: These patterns focus on similarities and differences. Signal words include on one hand, similarly, in contrast, but, then either, or, compared to, opposite of, and like.
• Sequence: Many times instructors will incorporate timelines, chronologies, or procedural steps or stages to show how things are fixed in a certain order. Signal words include first, second, finally, while, now, then, and next.