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Milwaukee School of Engineering • Counseling Services Keys to College Success

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Becoming a successful college student involves more than just studying and going to classes; it also means succeeding in the school of life. In addition to increased knowledge, you also will invariably gain greater personal self-understanding and awareness. Learning to be a college student is what this manual is all about

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Page 1: Keys to college success

Milwaukee School of Engineering • Counseling Services

Keys to College Success

Page 2: Keys to college success

www.msoe.edu

Page 3: Keys to college success

1

Persona l

Will MSOE be difficult? Sometimes.Will it require hard work? Yes.

Becoming a successful college student involves more than just studying and going to classes;it also means succeeding in the school of life. In addition to increased knowledge, you alsowill invariably gain greater personal self-understanding and awareness. Learning to be acollege student is what this manual is all about.

By choosing to attend MSOE you have said something goodabout yourself. You have decided to help yourself become all youare capable of being.

What’sThis All About?

TTaabbllee ooff CCoonntteennttssPersonal Keys

A Matter of Attitude ................................................................................................................2Making the Transition ............................................................................................................3Motivation and You..................................................................................................................4Planning + Goal Setting = Success ......................................................................................5Sample Goals..............................................................................................................................6Managing Time ........................................................................................................................7Weekly Schedule ....................................................................................................................10Healthy Financial Planning ..................................................................................................11

Academic KeysAcademic Skills for Success ..................................................................................................14Learning to Listen ..................................................................................................................15Reading is Necessary ..............................................................................................................16

Exam KeysPreparing for Exams ..............................................................................................................17The Day of the Exam ............................................................................................................18Taking the Test ........................................................................................................................19

Support KeysLearning from Mentors ........................................................................................................20Some Significant Extras ........................................................................................................21Another Type of Learning ....................................................................................................22On-campus Referrals ............................................................................................................23

Now It’s Up to You

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Developing PurposeOf importance here are the tasks of

prioritizing interests, beliefs and values;determining career goals and lifestyle;defining your skills; and buildingcompetence. Challenges involved indeveloping purpose might includelearning effective decision-making;developing skills and resources to reachcompetency in a chosen area; learninghow to make the most of your abilities;and implementing your career choice.

Most assuredly, you will probably notrun into all of these “passages” duringyour freshman year. You will, however,tackle many of them throughout yourtotal college experience. Whether youcasually toss some of these lessons asideor really catch hold of them and learn

about yourself is very much up to you.As you see some of these “passages”approach, it is our hope that you will time and time again choose to dothe latter – learn about yourself – andutilize some of the ideas and resourcespresented in this manual to help you do so.

As you can see, college is going tochallenge you. MSOE is going to require that you become responsible for your own development and well-being. Students who become personallyresponsible for the successes and failuresin their own lives feel in control of their lives. Developing a healthy attitude about your new responsibilitieswill help you positively influence whathappens to you.

I n her book, Passages, GailSheehy asserts that life is aseries of “passages” through

which we must move, and that eachpassage involves its own tasks. As anew college student, you face threemajor developmental tasks that more formally identify some of thestated responsibilities:

Developing IdentityThis involves achieving independence,

clarifying personal beliefs, interests andvalues, and building a sense of integrity.Challenges you might encounter herecould involve redefining yourrelationship with your parents; dealingwith your feelings involved in separationfrom your family, friends and homeenvironment; making your actionsconsistent with your beliefs; learning totrust your feelings; reducing dependencyupon others and increasing your ownindependence; learning to deal withstress, anxiety and disappointment; and developing self-confidence and self-esteem.

Developing MeaningfulRelationshipsBuilding relationship skills, forming a

sexual identity, and understanding andexpressing feelings and emotions are therelevant tasks in this category. Challengesyou will face might involve learning skillsto initiate, maintain and endrelationships; learning to express yourselfclearly; developing intimacy withanother; learning to give and receive in arelationship; conveying self-respect as wellas respect for others; and learning to beyourself – preserving your independencewhile being close to another.

A Matter of Attitude

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Persona l Keys

Page 5: Keys to college success

Making th e Transition

C ollege is an exciting time,perhaps one of the mostexciting times in your life. It

also is a time of major adjustments,however, some of which can be verytrying. As we consider some of thedifferences between high school andcollege, you’ll begin to understand moreabout the changes you will face in thefollowing weeks, and, we hope, feelbetter equipped to deal with them in apositive manner.

The most immediate change you willdiscover is a new-found sense of freedom.The single greatest problem collegestudents face is freedom – too muchfreedom. As an MSOE freshman, you willenjoy an enormous amount of personalfreedom, probably more than you have everhad or will ever have in life. The problemof freedom and what you make of it andhow well you use it will have an impact onall other aspects of your college career.

Let’s take a look at some of theresponsibilities you suddenly have toconsider as a result of this new-foundcollege freedom:*

• What kind of clothes you will wear• Eat breakfast or skip it• Attend classes or cut them• Study each day or only for exams• Start a paper two weeks before it isdue, or do it the night before

• Eat properly balanced meals orjunk food

• Use drugs or alcohol or not• Choosing friends• Join a fraternity or sorority or not• Exercise• Get 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 hours of sleep per night

• Keep your room clean or messy• Get romantically involved• Consider sexual involvement• See your academic advisor• See your professor for extra help• Drop a course or add a course• Choose a major• Choose your classes for the next quarter

• Figure out how to do your laundry• Figure out what to do with the rest ofyour life

On Campus• Remember how many car loads it took toget all your stuff to your dorm orapartment, because it will take more tripsto move it all out.

• Open door policy is the best way to floor unity.

• Set basic rules and agreements on dayone with your roommate(s). It’ll help toalleviate the future disputes with setground rules.

• If something is broken, report it rightaway without delay so that it can bereplaced faster.

• Make sure to find out day one if yourroommate(s) drink, smoke, or do drugs,especially underage, and work out theground rules for that right away.

• Floors have quiet hours but also set atime frame when loud noise in the roomwould be unacceptable for sleep orstudying purposes.

• Find out what your roommate does for clubs and fun cause it’ll make thetransition into living together easier if you can at least try to enjoy similar things.

• Buy some Febreze® because your roomwill smell eventually.

• Everyone shares so don’t bring yourentire house thinking you’re going toneed it.

• Create an atmosphere in your room that’sconducive to studying as well as chillingout with friends.

• Don’t be afraid to drop by other people’srooms. Be sensitive and considerate (aka don’t overstay your welcome), butit’s safe to assume that if you like havingpeople drop by to say hi, then otherpeople probably enjoy it when you return the favor.

• If you’re in your room a lot, leave yourdoor open for at least an hour every day.Make an effort to get to knowyour floormates.

• Be a peacemaker on your floor—don’ttake sides in squabbles.

• Keep the door open when in your roomwhich allows you to meet others.

• Don’t be afraid to walk around and meetothers on your floor and other floors.

• Be considerate of others (aka don’t have music loud at night when others are sleeping).

Off Campus• Whether or not the previous tenantscleaned their apartment, clean it againwhen you arrive just to be sure.

Commuting• When commuting, set the amount oftime you think it will take you to get toschool and give yourself an extra 15minutes or so based on how far away youare coming from.

• Get involved in a club or organization toget connected with other students.

“What’s the difference between high school and college?”

3

Persona l Persona l Keys

* From: College is only the Beginning, John N.Gardner and A. Jerome Jewler

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Persona l

Y ou are responsible for makingup your own mind about thevalue of college and what you

want to get out of it. Knowing what youwant will help you succeed.

There are three major ingredients tosuccess in college:

Basic Intelligence This is rarely enough by itself. Good

grades in high school are no guarantee ofhigh grades in college. Remember – it’snot the IQ, it’s the I WILL.

Ability to Work ConstructivelyWorking constructively is different

from simply working hard, and oftenmakes the difference between passingand failing grades. Effective study habitsare essential to using study timeconstructively; these skills can be learnedand developed like any other behavior.

Will to Succeed The major difference between success

and failure in college is a well-definedand realistic goal. It is nearly impossibleto work constructively without a goal. If you can establish goals, eventemporary and provisional ones, your motivation to attain these goals will encourage you to gain the skillsessential to success in college.

You can set up goals by evaluatingyourself, and your needs, interests andaptitudes. Assistance in this process canbe obtained through CounselingServices. Establishing goals today doesnot have to mean a final commitment,but it can provide you with direction.

Motivation and You“How can I motivate myself to do well in my classes?”

Persona l Keys

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Long-Range Goals These are concerned with the overall

style of life you wish to live, such as thetype of job you want, whether or notyou wish to be married, etc. Althoughyou should develop some overall idea ofwhat you are after, don’t try to planlong-range goals in detail as too manychanges will come along. Have an overallplan, but keep it flexible.

Medium-Range Goals These goals cover the next four to five

years, including the particular kind oftraining or education you are seeking.You have more control over these goals,and you can tell along the way whetheryou are going to achieve them andmodify your plan accordingly.

Short-Range Goals These goals cover approxi mately one

quarter to one academic year. You canset these goals quite realistically byfollowing the programs laid out in theUndergraduate Academic Catalog or byconsulting with your academic advisor.

Mini-Goals These goals cover about one day to

one month. You can plan a studyschedule for the next week or a fitnessprogram for the next month. While youalways want to stretch yourself, don’t setimpossible goals or you will becomediscouraged. Aim realistically, but tryhard to achieve your goals.

Micro-Goals These goals cover the next 15 minutes

to an hour. Realistically, these are theonly goals that you have direct controlover. Because of this direct control,micro-goals, even though they aremodest in impact, are extraordinarily

important. It is only through these goalsthat you can attain your larger goals.

Characteristics of a well-chosen goal:

• It’s exciting: you can hardly wait toget started on it

• It’s definite: you know exactly whatit is you are aiming for

• It fits you well: it enables you tomesh your interests, personality and skills

• It’s challenging: it is not easy to reach,but it is reasonable and achievablein the amount of time available

• It’s satisfying: it will be personallysatisfying to reach, regardless ofwhat others may think

The final step in goal-setting isevaluation. You can determine whetheror not your goal has been achieved byidentifying tangible evidence of thegoal’s completion, such as a completedlab or a 3.10 on your grade report.

Setting goals, taking action andevaluating progress are ongoingprocesses. As you move through the year,take time to realistically reevaluatechanging goals and the steps you’retaking to achieve them to ensure thatyou are accomplishing what it is you setout to do.

“When a person does not know whatharbor one is making, no wind is right.”

(Source unknown)E ach accomplishment actuallyis the successful attainmentof a goal. We need goals to

illustrate to ourselves and others wherewe are going. Setting goals and chartingthe necessary steps to reach them areimportant elements in the success ofmost endeavors. Once definite goalshave been established, specific plansshould be made to reach them. The goal is the target; the plan is the pathtaken to reach it. If a goal cannot beattained, a new plan should be adoptedrather than setting a lower goal. Manypeople aim too low when goal-setting –few aim too high.

Be honest and do some soul-searchingas you set goals. Think about what youreally want to accomplish, rather thanwhat you think others would want foryou. Once these goals have been selected, commit to a carefully developed plan that will help youachieve them. Be diligent in followingthe plan. Do not undertake more thanyou can reasonably accomplish at onetime. Goals and plans should bechallenging yet realistic.

When you are thinking about goal-setting, consider all the different areas inyour life: school, family, personalrecreation, church, friendships and self-development. Try not to let one area ofyour daily life dominate to the exclusionof other areas. You need to keep your lifein balance to be happy.

Your planning should cover differenttime spans, such as one hour, one week,one year or 10 years. Categorize yourgoals roughly as follows:*

Planning+Goa l Setting=Success“How do I go about setting realistic goals for myself ?”

Persona l Keys

* From: If You Don’t Know Where You’re Going,You’ll Probably End Up Somewhere Else, DavidCampbell

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Sample Goa lsPersona l Keys

TimetableIn four to five yearsAfter sophomore and junior yearsJoin one in sophomore and junior yearsObtain a 3.40 my freshman year and 3.00each year after

TimetableAfter one quarterOver the quarterAfter first quarterDuring the first quarterDuring the first quarter

TimetableWednesdaySundayTuesday, Thursday and SaturdayWednesdayAs needed weekly

Timetable9 a.m.-Noon, 2-6 p.m.Noon-1:30 p.m.At lunch1:30-2 p.m.7-7:45 p.m.10:30-11 p.m.Midnight

Four- to Five-Year GoalsTask Graduate with BSEE degree Work two summers (one in my field)Join two clubsKeep a 3.10 GPA

First-Quarter GoalsTaskObtain a 3.40 GPALearn about downtown areaLook for part-time jobAttend a Student Activities eventAttend a student club meeting

One-Week GoalsTaskComplete physics lab reportCall homeWork out at the Kern CenterPlay basketballVisit Drop-in Center at the LearningResource Center

Daily GoalsTaskGo to classRead math, chapter 2Have lunch with someone newPick up notebook from BookstoreReview class notesWatch TVGet adequate sleep

(Medium Range)

(Short Range)

(Mini)

(Micro)

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such as classes, labs and meetings. Next,develop a rough idea of when you intendto study, trying to schedule this work forthe hours when you are at your best.Some people are sharpest and mostefficient first thing in the morning,while others concentrate best in theevening. Be sure to plan enough time todo justice to each subject. Follow this bylisting essentials such as meals and sleep,and finally, divide your remaining timeamong other activities such as socializingor exercise.

In addition to using a weeklyschedule, you also might wish to use aterm calendar to assist you in yourplanning and preparation. This calendarallows you some perspective on workdue in all your classes simultaneouslyover an entire quarter.

Using a day planner or MicrosoftOutlook, copy important test or duedates from your class syllabi into thecorresponding spaces on your calendar(you may wish to color code tasks listedby class) as soon as possible in the new

L earning to manage yourtime is a major goal in itself.Because it requires constant

daily attention, effective timemanagement is a crucial part of yourexperience as an MSOE student, fromyour first week of class as a new freshman until your graduation. Tacklingthis major task head-on from the startcan help to develop a pattern for successthat will last throughout your collegecareer. Your main goal is to completeyour assignments on time and not let yourself fall behind.

If you have never planned study time,you have probably had theuncomfortable experience of fallingbehind in one or more subjects. Becausethere always is new work to be done, it isdifficult to catch up. You struggle along,and just before exam time, you try tomake up back assignments and cram bystaying up nights. Exam week finds youexhausted, and you take your testsfatigued and nervous.

Probably everyone has experiencedthis type of disappointment to a certaindegree. However, it can be avoided by alittle time spent planning a studyschedule. In the beginning, this planningmay seem difficult, but after your firstefforts, it will become easier and morenatural with each succeeding quarter.You will discover through carefulplanning you can finish your daily workand still have leisure time.

Use the chart on page 10 to startbudgeting your time. Begin by listing,hour by hour, your daily obligations,

Managing Time“Where does all my time go?”

One of th e most dangerous thre ats to re aching goa ls is procrastination.

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Persona l

Procrastination: What is it?*One of the most dangerous threats to

reaching goals is procrastination. Youcan procrastinate in many ways; themost obvious is going to the movies

instead of working out those chemistryequations. A subtler form ofprocrastination, however, is when youdon’t carefully consider the realimportance of various tasks. Forexample, you could spend a whole dayworking on a challenging extra creditproblem given by your calculus professorinstead of getting started on that termpaper for psychology that’s due nextweek. You would have been better off tohave spent some time on the extra creditafter you had spent at least two hoursworking on the paper.

Some procrastination may fall intothe “normal” or healthy category,consisting of a legitimate delay that

actually may help you complete projectsor tasks more satisfactorily. Rarely is thisthe case, however. Most procrastinationis a deliberate, often habitualpostponement of some task that should

be done. Problems arise when we let thetasks become so overwhelming that wecan do nothing at all. Procras tinationhas distinct self-defeating aspects, andcan lead to feelings of anxiety, guilt andeven depression.

The first step involved in climbing out of a procrastination rut is to admitthat you’re in one. Simply put,procrastination is an unpleasant routinethat is keeping you from reaching yourgoals. Make up your mind that you’regoing to stop.

quarter. Continue to fill in the calendaras the quarter progresses. Whenplanning for the writing of a paper, forexample, set one date for having theresearch completed, another date forcompletion of the rough draft and a

third date for the completed paper.Watch for times when many tasks falldue on or about the same date, and dosome special planning for preparation orstudy time accordingly to avoidcramming and all-nighters. Oftenhanging these calendar pages side by sidein some prominent place can provideyou with an important visual sense ofyour quarter’s obligations.

Some other helpful tips for successfultime management:• Leave some free hours each week to

provide for the extra study time thatmay be required in a particularsubject.

• When you complete a goal or projecton time, be sure to reward yourself.

• Utilize odd hours during the day forstudying; scattered hours betweenclasses easily are wasted and couldadd up to free time at other times inthe week.

• Revise your schedule during mid-termand final exam periods to allowtime for planned review sessions.

• Practice using your schedule just asyou practice any other habit youwant to acquire. If it does not workwell, revise it. Its purpose is toprovide you with efficient use ofstudy time as well as leisure time.

So, is managing your time as simple asall that? Of course not! If it were, wewould all accomplish a lot more than wedo. You will often fail as you try to liveup to your plan, but if you look at thethings that make you fail, you will learnsomething valuable about yourself, thedistractions in your life and your realpriorities. You can then use thisinformation to help make a betterschedule and stick to it in the future.

When you complete a goa l or proje ct on time, be sure to reward yourse lf.

Persona l Keys

* Adapted from: Stop Procrastinating – Do It!,James R. Sherman

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Persona l

Escape Sometimes people will try to escape

from unpleasant tasks so they can gettheir thoughts in order, but they cannotescape from their deadlines. Their stress,tension and fatigue will continue togrow until their tasks are completed andthe deadlines are gone. Those who havetried to escape must continue to searchfor ways to finish their tasks, otherwisethey’ll just compound the conditionsthat made them escape in the first place.

With some of these ideas in mind,take a look at what you can do to stopprocrastinating. Find a suitable solutionbased on your own personal reasons foryour habit:

Study Your Task Get involved with your task. The

search for information can serve as themomentum you need to get off to agood start. Your interest will increase asyou learn more. You’ll be able to finishyour task more quickly and easily byapplying your new knowledge.

AnalyzeTry to thoroughly analyze everything

you have to do. On one side of a sheet ofpaper, list all the reasons you have forfinishing a task. On the other side, listall the reasons you have for postponingit. Then, compare the two lists. You’llcome up with more reasons for doingthan delaying if it’s really important.

Be Decisive Start working on a task as soon as you

have everything you need, makingadjustments as you go. If you discoverlater that you’d like to make revisions toyour original work, do so and go on.Come to terms with your task. Makeyour decision to go ahead or leave italone. Whatever you decide, it will atleast help you avoid the anxiety andindecision that would come fromprocrastination.

Set Priorities Arrange your tasks in order of

importance. In his book, Getting ThingsDone: The ABC’s of Time Manage ment,Edwin Bliss provides these excellentguidelines:

• Important and Urgent - you’ve gotto do these tasks right away or youwill suffer serious consequences.

• Important But Not Urgent - thesetasks are easily ignored because theycan be postponed.

• Urgent But Not Important – thesetasks are high on other peoples’ lists.

• Busy Work - these tasks provide awelcome relief from difficult tasks if you control them.

• Wasted Time - this group of tasksshould be excluded from your list ofpriorities.

Know YourselfThink about your capabilities

and limitations, and the levels ofachievement that are open to you.Examine your goals and objectives to see if they’re really attainable. Recall your history of successes andfailures. Learn to recognize andunderstand your moods. As you learnmore about yourself, you’ll probablydiscover some things that can beimproved upon and help you avoid apattern of procrastination.

The final step is to decide on anappropriate plan of action based on theabove information, and to make aconscious decision to carry out thatplan. If you find yourself strugglingregularly with procrastination, you maywish to seek assistance throughCounseling Services. Oftentimes, talkingwith another individual can help youanalyze more objectively your reasonsfor procrastinating, or help you commitmore firmly to doing something aboutthis problem.

Next, find out as much as you canabout why you procrastinate. Take aclose look at why you avoid certaintasks; does a pattern develop? Once youhave a general idea of what might bekeeping you from achieving your goals,you’ll know better how to confront theproblem with a fitting solution. Listedbelow are some common reasons whymany people procrastinate.

Confusion Sometimes people procrastinate

because they’re confused and uncertainabout what to do next. They’re usuallyoverwhelmed by the size and complexityof a task. People who are confusedusually fail to analyze the things theyhave to do well enough to know whereto begin.

Priorities Lack of priorities is one of the most

common causes of procrastination. Ifpeople fail to attach priorities to theirwork, they have a tendency to jumpfrom task to task without gettinganything done. These people also find itdifficult to say “no” if they cannot setpriorities; it is difficult for them to knowwhat is important and what is not.

Forgetfulness If a task is really forgotten, a person

won’t remember anything about it –even if it’s right in front of them.Procrastination in this case, however, ismore typically a case of subconsciousdisregard. Instead of being completed,these tasks are intentionally shoved intolow priority corners where they are moreeasily forgotten.

Persona l Keys Persona l Keys

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Date:

10

We ekly Sch e du le Week #

Notes:

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

7:00

8:00

9:00

10:00

11:00

12:00

1:00

2:00

3:00

4:00

5:00

6:00

7:00

8:00

9:00

10:00

11:00

12:00

a.m.

p.m.

a.m.

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Persona l

your own resources, college work-studyor some combination of these.Recognizing your anticipated costs andbudgeting your money accordingly willensure successful financial management.

Begin budgeting your money bylisting known expenses. Do this first forthe academic year, then break thesefigures down further by quarter.

Figure in whatever type of aid youmight be receiving to offset some ofthese costs, and use the remainingbalance as an adjusted listing of yourannual and quarterly expenses.

Anticipating fixed expenses is onlyhalf the budget battle. Estimating andcontrolling your personal spending is thereal test. For at least the first quarter, trykeeping a record of all your types ofexpenses; this will help you to literallysee how efficiently or inefficiently youare spending your cash. Based on yourrecord, you will then know how much

you may need to temper your spendinghabits, as well as how much money tobudget for such expenses each quarter.

Should your personal expenses tendto run consistently over budget, or ifyou’d just like to have some extra pocketchange, you may want to consider a part-time job. The Human ResourcesDepartment and the Placement Officecan assist you with several good leads foremployment. We recommend, however,not to jump right into a new job yourfirst quarter at MSOE.

Remember why you’re here; your classes need to take precedence over awork commitment. Many students whocarry a full academic load work up to 10 hours a week at the most.Students who try to work more inaddition to a full course load can findthemselves burned out by mid-quarter.Use your best judgment whenconsidering this option.

Worrying about money canuse up a lot of energy.Even worse, mismanagement

of your money could easily lead to anabrupt end to your college career. Likeeffective time management, managingyour finances takes some seriousattention at the beginning of yourcollege experience as well as a conscientious attitude throughout.Whether or not you’re footing the billsyourself or receiving some type of assistance, developing a healthy respectfor money and good spending habits incollege will help you lay some importantgroundwork for yourself in the future.

Attending college costs serious moneytoday. Tuition, residence hall living,meals, books, and even pencils and pensenter into the total picture. In order foryou to meet your financial need, you areprobably receiving some financialassistance – through MSOE, a federalgrant, a private loan, from your parents,

Hea lthy Financia l Planning“What do I need to know about managing my money?”

Persona l Keys

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Get Involve d ... Be come A Part Of Things!

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Get Involve d ... Be come A Part Of Things!

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Another likely reason for lack ofconcentration has to do with poordefinition of the task at hand, enough sothat you might be unsure as to exactlywhat it is you should be concentratingon. Or, you may not be doing the mostimportant thing on your priority list. Ifyou are working on the least importantthing on your list before the mostimportant, chances are you will find itdifficult to concentrate; in the back ofyour mind you will be worrying aboutthat more important task. If you domore important things first, you will probably complete them more efficientlyand with more energy than if you get tothem later. Try to recognize when youare avoiding a difficult or important task by keeping busy at something that is less so.

Other reasons forpoor concentrationmight be as simple asa noisy workenvironment,sleepiness or notenough to eat. Acombination ofcommon sense as wellas some specificattempts atmoderating yourhabits will providesome solutions inthese situations. Tryto work in a placewhere distractions areat a minimum; if theresidence halls are toonoisy find an emptyclassroom or campuslounge. The studentcenter and library arealways good options.

Studying in a well-lit and well-ventilatedroom can do much to alleviate feelingtired, but also try to give yourself someshort breaks. A balanced diet is essentialto maintaining energy, so make sure youare feeding yourself regularly. If you feelyour stomach growling in the middle ofyour evening study session, find yourselfa healthy snack and get back to work.

Making effective use of your studytime by setting goals for each session alsowill go a long way toward enhancingyour ability to concentrate. Plan aheadexactly what you wish to accomplish in astudy session, focus on that goalspecifically and work to achieve it.

Although the facts and theoriesyou are learning in collegeare significant, of equal

importance are the insights you shouldgain about the learning process itself.This is perhaps the single most valuablething you can get from your collegeexperience. This is what makes you moreintelligent, rather than simply beingbetter informed. This ability to learn, iflearned well, will last you a lifetime.

The Art of ConcentrationOne of the most common problems

reported by college students isconcentration. You should first be awarethat concentration means differentthings to different people. Somestudents mean they are unable to stickwith a subject or assignment longenough to master it; others think first ofone thing, then another, but rarely thecontent of what they are studying; stillothers do not comprehend the materialdespite persistence and the prevention ofmind-wandering. Like procrastination, itis important to discover just what causesyour lack of concentration so you canattempt to decrease the difficulty with asuitable strategy.

More frequently than not, lack ofconcentration represents some form ofconflict between other desires andacademic goals. You might want to bewatching a favorite television programrather than completing a lengthy labreport; or you might be worried aboutroommate problems while trying tostudy for an exam. If such a conflictexists, you can try to remedy thesituation by looking at one problem at a time, or by deferring attention to at least one of the problems to a moreopportune time.

Academic Ski lls for SuccessIf you are going to be successful, there is hardly any

career that doesn’t involve continued learning.

Academic Keys

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he/she trying to develop? Anybackground you have acquired inpreparation for the lecture will helpyou answer these questions. From themo ment the speaker begins,concentrate on finding the main ideas.

3.While listening, take notes. Youshould prepare for class by doing somereading and concentrating oneverything the instructor says, andcheck out the main ideas. Now youshould keep a record of those ideasyou have worked so hard to obtain.Your notes will not be of much use toyou if they are not as complete as youcan make them. All the main points aswell as important details should gointo them. In order to take reallyusable notes, try to write down thefollowing four items when listening toa talk: a) main ideas, b) key pointsunder main ideas, c) specific words,names, equations, dates, and otherdata that seems important and d) anyimportant words whose meanings youare unsure of.It is not as easy to take orderly noteswhile listening as while reading. Youneed to do two things at once: youhave to write down what has been saidand at the same time listen to the

following points and comments.However, you can think faster thanthe speaker can talk; this gives youtime to think back and ahead whilelistening. By taking full advantage ofthis time difference, you can learn tomake each note a solid bridge betweenwhat was just said and what seems tobe coming.

4.Revise notes later. Unless the lectureis exceptionally well-organized, yournotes will not be in ideal order. Thesooner you can go over your notesafter class and revise them, the easierand more quickly you can clarifythem. There may be omissions in yournotes that you can supply frommemory if you don’t wait until thecues are stale.

Some other helpful tips for note-taking:• Develop and apply a consistent

method of note-taking.• Store notes in a three-ring binder for

greater mobility.• Record everything written on the

blackboard or an overhead projection.• Record any assignments and their due

dates accurately.

T here is a good deal more tolistening than just hearingsounds. Good listening is an

active process. The good listener isconstantly thinking, evaluating andmaking connections. Good listening isan essential study skill; you can make asubstantial improvement as a student byimproving as a good listener.When in class, you have to absorb

everything that is said. Your instructorsand classmates will present material andexplanations that you may not find inyour textbooks. You cannot always relyon the help of your friends for somepoint of information you have missed inclass. No one else can listen for you. Although good listening is very

useful, it is not always easy. Goodlistening can be difficult for a variety of reasons. The speaker’s pace may notbe yours. When listening, you have totravel mentally at the speed of theperson who is speaking, rather than atyour own. The speaker may talk toorapidly for you to take in everything that is being said, or may speak tooslowly for you to concentrate wellenough on the subject. There may bedistractions in the classroom.You can train yourself to be a good

listener by utilizing some of the following suggestions:*1.Prepare for listening.When youknow the subject of a lecture ordiscussion in advance, you can prepare to get the most out of it intwo ways: review what you alreadyknow about the subject and read asmuch additional information about it as you can.

2.While listening, search for mainideas. Try to determine from the verybeginning of a lecture or discussionwhere the speaker is headed. What isthe professor’s purpose? What ideas is

Le arning to Listen“When should I take notes, and when should I listen?”

Academic Keys

* Adapted From: How to Study, Ralph C. Prestonand Morten Botel

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Put Things in YourOwn Words Stop after each section or difficult

paragraph and try to put what theauthor says into your own words. Thiswill help you see that complicatedstatements often contain simple ideasand will let you check out whether youhave understood the material presented.Being able to repeat the same wordsback is not a true measure ofcomprehension.

Sort Out Fact FromInterpretationAny chapter usually can be separated

into two types of information: facts orevidence and interpretation or opinion.Sometimes, it’s not easy to sort out thesetwo things, but you will be reading moreintelligently and actively if youremember that both fact andinterpretation are almost always there.

Try to Solve it Yourself If the text poses a question or

problem, try to answer it before readingon. When you are told the method toapply or the answer to the problem, itoften seems obvious. You may think youknow how to do that kind of problembecause you could easily follow theanswer provided in the text. However, ifyou try to figure it out first, you get theopportunity to discover that you maynot know the material well enough afterall. Once you’ve struggled withsomething yourself for a while and thenget the correct answer, you are morelikely to remember the solution and tohave real insight that can help you whensolving similar problems.

Use Your Dictionary It isn’t always worth the time to look

up every unfamiliar word you comeacross. Often, you can get the generalidea from the rest of the sentence or thepassage. However, there are times whenyou will miss something very importantif you don’t find out what a word means.Have a dictionary handy to recordmeanings of words in the margin next tothe text. You will gradually build avocabulary that will make your readingeasier as well.

What About Highlighting?Highlighting the most important

points while you are reading helps keepyour attention on the page and allowsyou to read more actively. You have toseparate out the points to highlight fromthose not to highlight. If you arehighlighting too much, you’re not beingselective enough. If you’re onlyhighlighting a few things, either thereisn’t enough information in the chapter,or you are missing the information thatis there. In addition to highlighting,make notes in the margins to cue you tomain ideas and to help you find pointsto review.

When to ReadYou cannot do active reading in a rush

at the last minute before an exam.Therefore, read regularly as the materialis covered in class or as the assignmentsare listed on the course outline. Inaddition, reading relevant informationjust after or just before it’s discussed inclass makes both the lecture and thereading easier to understand.

Successful reading of an assignment, like listening,requires active thinking. Your

first job is to understand the material,and understanding frequently requiresquite a bit of mental effort. It helps todo some of the following things.*

Get an Overview When you first read a chapter, flip

through it quickly, looking at all theheadings and subheadings, pictures, andtables and graphs. Also glance quickly atthe introduction and the summary. Thiswill give you an overview or an idea ofwhat the chapter is about, or what theauthor hopes to tell you. Spend a fewminutes trying to figure out beforehandwhat the main point seems to be. Thesefew minutes will help you develop someorganization for the information you areabout to read.

Ask Questions Try to come up with some questions

that are directed specifically at what youare reading. There are several things theheadings in the chapter can tell you, andseveral questions they might make youask. Some headings are prettystraightforward, but others may be morecomplicated and have manysubheadings. Try to relate all thisinformation back to the original intentof the chapter.

Take Notes As you read, take notes and try to

make the organization of what you readclear from the way you arrange yournotes. Put the main topic at the top ofthe page, the major subtopics at the nextlevel, ideas within each subtopic at thenext and so on. Fill in more detail as you read.

Re ading is Ne cessary“Do I really have to read everything that’s assigned?”

Academic Keys

* From: How to Succeed in College, Marcia K.Johnson, Sally P. Springer and Sarah HallSternglanz

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1.Plan a definite examination studyschedule and stick to it. You shouldmodify your typical study schedule fora week to two weeks preceding amajor exam. This special preparationis very worthwhile in that it will saveyou from frenzied, last-minutecramming and help you to be morerelaxed and confident at exam time.

2.Prepare and study a master outlineof the subject.During your firstreview period for your exam, make amaster outline of the material youhave dealt with. This outline is acondensed version of all your notes,combining class notes on lectures anddiscussions, notes you made whenreading your textbook and notes fromany other supplementary reading. Theact of making a master outline is initself an excellent review.

3.Make up a practice examination foryourself and then take it. Find outfrom your instructor whether or nothe or she plans to give an essay examor an objective exam.

An essay exam is one that requireswritten discussion in answers to itsquestions. You have to supply thefacts, organize them in logical fashionand write them up in a well-roundedessay. Creative thinking, ability toorganize and careful writing arenecessary in order to do well on anessay exam. You also have tounderstand main ideas and rememberdetail-related facts. When making andtaking your own essay exam forpractice, you do not need to write outthe answers in full, rather outline theanswers informally.

An objective exam asks for bare factsand is made up of different types ofquestions: true-false, multiple choice,matching and sentence completion. Itrequires little writing and mainly teststhe ability to recognize truestatements of facts and concepts.Draw ideas for your own sample testquestions from main concepts andtheir related supporting information.

4.Pay special attention to points thatare troublesome for you.Making asample test will help you identify yourweak spots. Make a list of these andwork to commit the information tomemory through constant repetition.Using flash cards or writing out theinformation are helpful tactics.

5.Cram as the last step. If you haveever crammed frantically most of thenight or even the last few momentsbefore an exam, you might have feltyou made a mistake leaving yourstudying until the last minute. If youstay up later than usual or pull an all-nighter, you are probably not very fitto take the exam. Then why cram?Cramming before an exam can behelpful as a final review of materialthat you have studied and reviewed ifyou have followed the other taskssuggested in this manual. Cram thelast day and evening before an exam tocinch the more troublesome points inthe information you have been reviewing – then go to bed at yourusual time so your mind will be clearand your body refreshed for theexamination.

Y our best preparation forexaminations is regularday-to-day study. If you apply

the skills described in the previoussections of this manual, you will findyourself well-prepared for exams as yougo along. You will be reviewing a little at a time instead of waiting to beginuntil the night or even the week beforethe exam. You will have preparedfor them all term as you study your daily assignments.

However, you will still have to solvethe problem of recalling, late in a quarter, what was covered at thebeginning. If you leave this material untilexam time, you will have to relearnmuch of it. Instructors sometimes helpwith periodic reviews, but it is your jobas a student to keep up with materialpresented throughout the course. Try to review your textbook and notes regularly.

In addition to these regular reviews,you will want to do some special reviewwork immediately prior to exam time.

Take some of the followingsuggestions into consideration as youplan your preparation:*

Preparing for Exams“What should I be doing to get ready for a big test?”

Exam Keys

* Adapted From: How to Study, Ralph C. Prestonand Morten Botel

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• Try to get to the location whereyour test is being given at least fiveminutes before the scheduled starttime, and sit in your usual seat. Getout everything you will need for theexam and put everything else out ofthe way.

• Find a spot on the wall in front of you to be your memory-triggeringspot. When you experience troubleremembering something, focus on this spot, and it may just come to mind.

• When the test is distributed, writeyour name on it right away. Then stretch, relax, take a few deepbreaths and begin.

void eating a large meal ordrinking caffeinatedbeverages before an exam.

A heavy meal can make you feelunusually sluggish. Too muchcaffeine can make you feel wired;the anxiety associated with takingexams should be enough to keep you sufficiently alert without much help.

• Stop all studying at least a half hourbefore test time. If you are not prepared by then, an extra half hourwon’t help you – it could actuallyheighten your anxiety level insteadas you try to cram right up to thelast minute.

• Have the materials you will need totake with you into the exam ready.Sharpen your pencils, clean youreraser, make sure your calculator isoperating well and find some cleanpaper to use for scratch.

Th e Day of th e ExamExam Keys

A

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it is not wise to give equal time to allquestions. Some questions can beanswered quickly while others may taketime to think out carefully. You maywant to jot down beside each questionthe amount of time you have budgetedfor it. Often questions will be weighteddifferently; you should budget moretime for those questions weighted moreheavily than others. Allow time at thebeginning of the test to follow the abovesuggestions as well as time at the end ofthe exam to proofread your answers.

When writing an essay exam, begin byoutlining your answer to each question.Answer the easiest question first. Writeout key words and phrases to make aninformal outline of your proposedanswer. Use whatever scratch paper isavailable for this purpose. With youroutline before you, begin writing youranswers. Write as clearly and concisely aspossible. Good organization isparticularly important. Begin a newparagraph for each point; if a paragraphincludes too many ideas, your instructormay think you have not bothered to takethe time to think through the answers.

In an objective exam, you have twogoals: to answer as many questions asyou can and to answer them correctly.Go through the exam quickly, markingthe items where you are sure of theanswers. Mark the more difficult itemsin the margins for easier spotting whenyou return to them. Try to interpretitems with common sense. The moreyou labor over an objective item, themore likely you are to read somethinginto it that your instructor did not intend.

You also can use easy items as clues tohelp you answer those items you findmore difficult. Consider your huncheswith caution.

When you have finished the entireexamination, read over what you havewritten or answered to try to catch andcorrect careless mistakes. Errors on essaytests could include lack of clarity,misstatements, vagueness, variousgrammatical or punctuation errors, orillegibility. When proofing your answersto objective tests, make sure youanswered all the questions completely, asyou intended, and that your answers areclearly legible. Be sure to go back oversome of the more troublesome items.

K nowing your subject is only part of your preparation for exams. You also will have to

know how to write an exam. There areseveral things you can do that mightmake the difference between a fair markand an excellent one. Some of theseconcern getting started, making a wisechoice of questions, organizing youranswers and catching careless errors.

It is extremely important to followdirections exactly. Before you write anything, read the whole exam carefully,making sure you understand every question, and underline key words in thedirections and questions. This will directyour attention to important words, focusyour thinking on the exam, clear yourmind and get you off to a good start. Italso will prevent your trying to writebefore you are settled and organized. Ifthere is something you do notunderstand, ask the instructor to clarifyit for you.

Before you begin writing an exam,decide how much time you can afford togive to answering each question. Usually

Taking th e Test“Are there some particular strategies that I should know about?”

Exam Keys

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B y now you are aware of the many challenges of starting college. While you have

gotten some tips on how to handle thesenew responsibilities, you may still have alot of questions. Should I join aprofessional organization or maybe asocial fraternity or sorority? Whereshould I study? What if I don’t get alongwith my roommate or don’t like thefood? How do I get some exercise?What if I’m not sure of my career choiceor major? One way to help find answersto all these questions is to use a supportnetwork through mentoring.

Especially as a freshman, beingmentored is a critical tool for studentsuccess. Sometimes students think of amentor as a faculty advisor, but a mentoris much more than that. A mentoringrelationship is a personal, as well asprofessional, relationship. In its broadestsense, anyone who takes an interest inhelping another person be successfulcould be referred to as a mentor: acoach, a teacher, another student, a tutorand so on. If you want to have guidanceand support throughout your academicjourney, you will need to find anddevelop mentoring relationships.

Some of the benefits of mentoringinclude having someone to turn to forquestions about school, career andadjustment issues; having a ready-madesystem of support; gaining knowledgefrom someone who’s “been through it;”and making connections with peoplewho can further your career. Especiallyin the engineering and science fields, amentor can assist your socialization intothat particular discipline.

An effective mentoring relationshipinvolves mutual respect, trust,understanding and empathy. A mentorcan give you advice, support andguidance. Someone who is able to sharelife experiences, listen well, and problemsolve with you would make a goodmentor. But how do you find such aperson? At MSOE, you can join analready established program. Studentscan also take advantage of MentorNet, anetworking Web-based programdesigned for women, that can beaccessed at www.mentornet.net.

Take advantage of all the support youcan get to make your journey a smoothand successful one!

MSOE Mentor Program The MSOE Mentor Program was

established more than 10 years ago as away to help incoming students adjust tocollege. Throughout the year, activitiesbetween mentors and mentees varydepending upon the interests of peoplein each mentee group. The underlyingpurpose of any activity is to help newstudents feel connected to the MSOEcommunity, to develop special bonds

with MSOE faculty, staff and fellowstudents, and to make the first year ofcollege a positive one.

Each mentor/peer mentor team isassigned several new student mentees.After your first meeting, youimmediately have a new group offriends!

Mentors and peer mentors arefriendly and helpful resources who canprovide answers to the many questionsyou will have as you begin college.

In addition to the activities ofindividual mentor/mentee groups, theMentor Program organizes educationaland fun activities, events and programsthat all mentees are encouraged to takepart in. Participation in the MentorProgram can help you establish a veryhelpful network that you can maintainthroughout your career at MSOE.

For additional information, includinghow to become a part of the MSOEMentor Program, please send an e-mailto [email protected] [email protected], or call Brian Burkeat (414) 277-7266 or Cindy Kotlarek at(414) 277-7336.

Le arning from MentorsSupport Keys

“Who else can I turn to for advice?”

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Health Development and Wellness ProgramsCounseling Services sponsors a variety

of workshops throughout the academicyear designed to help students developnew skills or address issues prevalent intheir lives. Many of the topics alreadypresented in this manual, such as studyskills or time management, are discussedin greater detail through thesepresentations. Additional programs areoffered, however, and we encourage youto check these out as well: test anxiety,stress management, self-esteem, careerdevelopment and many others. Contactthe Counseling Services Office for moreinformation about when and where theseworkshops will be presented throughoutthe year. Counselors also are available foryou to speak with on an individual basisabout these or any other concerns. SeeCounseling Services staff at K230 or call(414) 277-7590.

TRIO Programs Our nation has asserted a

commitment to providing educationalopportunities for all Americansregardless of race, ethic background, oreconomic circumstance. In support ofthis commitment, Congress established aseries of programs to help low-incomeAmericans enter college and graduate.These programs are funded under TitleIV of the Higher Education Act of 1965and are referred to as the TRIOPrograms (initially just three programs).

While student financial aid programshelp students overcome financial barriersto higher education, TRIO Programshelp students overcome class, social,

academic and cultural barriers to highereducation. See the TRIO staff in CC-27,or call (414) 277-7265.

Learning Resource Center(LRC) offers a wide variety of services

to students. The LRC gives students theopportunity to assess their academicneeds by gaining an understanding oftheir learning styles and study habits. Inorder to help students build betterreading and writing skills, the lab offersconsultation with a specialist in each ofthese areas. Peer tutoring on acontinuing or long-term basis isobtainable through the LRC, and faculty members teach support classes as ameans to supplement your in-classinstruction. See the LRC staff in CC-02 (ground floor), or call (414) 277-7266.

University DisabilityServicesThe Learning Resource Center

(LRC) offers services for students withdisabilities through the UniversityDisability Services Center, located onthe third floor of the Student Life andCampus Center. Students withdisabilities can work with thecoordinator or with other LRC staff tocoordinate academic accommodationsthat they may need due to a documenteddisability, such as specific learningdisabilities, Aspergers Syndrome,Attention Deficit Disorders, depressionor anxiety, as well as all physicaldisabilities. Students seeking assistancewill work with the program coordinatorto develop an individual accommodationplan that will encompass all areas of theiracademic life. These accommodationsmay include assistance with note-taking, tests online or testing assistance. Eachplan is designed around the individualstudent’s needs.

Some Significant Extras“Where can I get extra help?”

Support Keys

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SOE encourages the development of thetotal person, including mental, emotional,physical and social well-being. To promote

this, students can take advantage of the many types of co-curricular activities that are offered at MSOE.

While you are attending MSOE, there are many ways inwhich you will learn. The learning that takes place in theclassroom and laboratories is very important. You will learnfrom your living environment, whether that is the residencehalls, an apartment or home. You also will grow and learnfrom activities, student organizations and programs that areavailable to you. The Student Life Office strongly encouragesyou to take advantage of these opportunities!

How do You Get Involved?You can join a student organization. There are service

groups, social fraternities and sororities, honor societies,intramural and intercollegiate athletic teams, and groups witha common interest like MAGE (gaming, anime, sci-fi andchess club). There are professional societies to aid you indeveloping contacts within your academic department as wellas for your future career. There are governmental groups thatrepresent student viewpoints to the administration. Inaddition to the aspect of experiential learning, all of theorganizations promise to offer FUN! For more informationvisit www.msoe.edu/st_orgs/

Attend SeminarsThroughout the academic year, there is a wide variety of

programs offered to you, including leadership developmentseminars, career information workshops, business and technicalspeakers, and wellness information. Take advantage of them.

Attend Special EventsThere are a wide variety of special events that occur on

campus. MSOE offers fun-filled Raider Week festivities, St.Pat’s week and SUB-Zero days, to name a few. Take part inthese events – you are sure to enjoy them!

Intranet and MyMSOEAs a student, you’ll find much of the information you need

on the Campus Intranet (inside.msoe.edu) or network. Theseresources provide the tools and information you need such ascomputer technology FAQ’s, Webmail, technical supportchat, an online student directory and information on all ofour programs. Course registration, grades, student accountspayments and more is available on the campus informationsystem called myMSOE (my.msoe.edu).

Campus E-mailsEach e-mail is an invitation to you to get involved, as well

as an opportunity to keep up with current campus events.Take advantage of the opportunity to get the most out of yourcollege experience. Be sure you are signed up for a variety ofcampus mailing lists.

Servant-LeadershipAn endowed chairmanship of servant-leadership (first

in the country) exists to improve the caring and quality of MSOE through: effective leadership, increased service to others, a holistic approach to work, promoting a sense of community, and the sharing of power in decision-making. This position has been generously funded by the S&R Pieper Family Foundation. For more information visitwww.msoe.edu/s-lead.

Anoth er Ty pe of Le arning“What’s there to do besides going to class and studying?”

22

Support Keys

M

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On-Campus Referra lsOn-Campus Referrals (Area Code 414)Academic AdvisingArchitectural Engineering andBuilding Construction Department CC-69 277-7301

Architectural Engineering (BS)Construction Management (BS)Environmental Engineering (MS)Structural Engineering (MS)

Rader School of Business R-106 277-7279Business Management (BS)Engineering Management (MS)International Business (BS)Management Information Systems (BS)Marketing and Export Management (MS)Medical Informatics (MS)New Product Management (MS)

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department L-350 277-7323

Biomedical Engineering (BS)Cardiovascular Studies (MS)Computer Engineering (BS)Electrical Engineering (BS)Electrical Engineering Technology (BS)Engineering (MS)Perfusion (MS)Software Engineering (BS)

General Studies Department GM-218 277-7351Technical Communication (BS/BA)

Mathematics Department L-326 277-7454Mechanical Engineering Department S-110 277-7375

Engineering (BS)Industrial Engineering (BS)Mechanical Engineering (BS)Mechanical Engineering Technology (BS)

School of Nursing S-201 277-7158Nursing (BS)

Physics and Chemistry S-236 277-7349BioMolecular Engineering (BS)

Athletics K-344 277-4552Intercollegiate, intramural and club sports, vans

Bookstore CC (third floor) 277-7173Textbook sales, general merchandise, used books

Career Placement Office CC-370 277-7120Student and alumni employment, internships, on-campusrecruiting, resumes

Counseling Services K-230 277-7590Personal, educational and career counseling on an individual orgroup basisDean of Students/ CC-377 277-7226Vice President for Student Life

Conflict resolution, student grievance process, discipline and judicialprocedures

Enrollment Management CC-302 277-6763Admission advising for all classes

Financial Aid Office CC-431 (mezzanine) 277-7223Grants, scholarships, loans, work study

Health Services K-250 277-7590Treatment of minor illnesses, first aid, referrals, diagnosis andtreatment of urgent care needs, management of chronic illnesses andhealth care screenings.

Learning Resource Center (LRC) CC-02 277-7274Academic tutoring, support classes

Library Walter Schroeder Library, second level 277-7180Books, reference materials, periodicals, audio-visual resources, inter-library loan, electronic access to resources

Mentor Program CC-02 (LRC) 277-7266Helping new students adjust to MSOE life

Public Safety MLH (ground floor) 277-7169

EMERGENCY: 277-7159Campus security, parking, shuttle service

Registrar CC-365 277-7215Scheduling, add/drop, student records, registration

Residence Life RWJ (ground floor) 277-7400On-campus housing and food services

Servant-Leadership K-240 277-7373

Student Accounts CC-437 (mezzanine) 277-7130Financial records, payments

Student Activities CC-377 277-7225Student organizations, activity programming, campus events, roomreservations for student organizations

TRIO Programs CC-27 277-7264Academic/personal support to eligible non traditional students aswell as those with disabilities and learning disorders

University Disability Services CC-341 277-2476Support and accommodation for students with learning and other disabilities

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What we’ve tried toaccomplish with thismanual is to offer you

some basic suggestions for collegesuccess. We’d also like to grab you bythe shoulders, look you straight in theeye and say, “Try some of these things,they really do work!” Unfortunately, wecan’t follow you around and make youdo things – that much is up to you.

If there is one thing we’d like you totake away from this manual, it’s the ideathat you can do a lot to determinewhat’s going to happen to you. We wantyou to believe that if things are notalways going the way you want, you canalmost always do something to changethem. This is especially hard toremember when you find yourself in acomplicated situation like college, andeverything is coming at you at once.Even if you find yourself at the pointwhere you’re overwhelmed, it’s almostalways possible to pause and say, “Waita minute,” and then take a look around.Usually when you do, you will findsome options to consider. Shouldthings get beyond you, use your bestsurvival instincts and grab a lifelinefrom Counseling Services.

Counseling Services(414) 277-7590

For more information andhelpful links visit:

inside.msoe.edu/counseling

Now It’s Up to You

Be kind to yourself as you reach the end of this quarter. Don’t

be overly critical if you’re not yet making the grades you want

to make or believe you can make.

What’s important is to make the best effort possible

and to be persistent in that effort. Give yourself a

little credit for the life lessons you’ve learned

thus far, too – for learning to be a college student.

Meanwhile, good luck.

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Student Life OfficeMilwaukee School of Engineering

1025 N. BroadwayMilwaukee, WI 53202-3109

(414) 277-7225www.msoe.edu

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