Be sure that you acquaint yourself with the Facebook group entitled READY @ UB (Researching, Exploring And Developing Yourself). Sponsored by Student Advising Services, this interactive discussion group is for undergraduate students who are undecided or confused about a major and/or career, considering changing majors, as well as anyone who is looking for more information on these topics. Learn about helpful resources on and around campus to help you explore majors and careers!
If you are on Facebook, visit the following link and check out (and Join!) the group: http://buffalo.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7214834258
For more information, visit us on the web and view our brochure!
Web: http://sas.buffalo.edu/ready
Brochure: http://sas.buffalo.edu/pdfs/ready_brochure.pdf
If you have any questions please feel free to contact Student Advising Services’ Graduate Assistants, Caitlin Haskell and Jillian Reading, at sas-peer@buffalo.edu.
As Final Exams Week is here, UB’s Student Advising Services has compiled a list of study and test-taking tips to help YOU! From UB’s Counseling Services, to Texas A&M University, and so much more, be sure you review the following web sites to help YOU succeed on your final exams!
- Tips on study habits, reducing test anxiety, and more. Visit the self-help materials and resources from UB’s Counseling Services!
- From general test-taking suggestions, including how to best answer different types of exams, visit Texas A&M University!
- Want to learn several study tips from current UB seniors? Or interested to learn how UB’s Methods of Inquiry (GSE 155) class provides excellent information on preparing for tests, studying, and so much more? Then be sure you visit the Be Advised web log TODAY and search for information listed under our Study Tips category!
Caitlin, a Senior at UB and Peer Assistant in the office of Student Advising Services wants to help YOU! Read her end of the semester tips to help you succeed as the final weeks of the spring semester are upon us.
- Dreading End of the Semester Assignments? Most of you are probably bombarded with research papers, group projects or preparing for final exams – I know I am! And most of you are probably not looking forward to them. However, usually the last projects, papers or exams are weighed pretty heavy in the final grade for the class, so doing well on these assignments can really help. So, instead of dreading these final weeks of classes and procrastinating, see these last assignments as opportunities to bring up your final average for the class!
- Thinking about Taking Summer Classes? Whether you are staying in Buffalo or going back home for the summer, you might consider taking summer courses. I have found it really helpful to take a course or two during the summer, as it lightened my course-load during the fall and spring semesters. Since I always went back home for summer vacation and took courses through a community college, I used TAURUS and met with an Academic Advisor to make sure the courses I was taking were going to transfer to UB. If you have the time and money to take a course, I strongly recommend it!
- Looking for a New Place to Study? While the UB Libraries are great places to study, sometimes we all need a little change of scenery. Here are some suggestions:
- It’s officially spring and the weather is slowly but surely warming up. We’ve been stuck inside all semester, why not go outside and get some fresh air? Some great places on campus to study outside are Founder’s Plaza located on the Academic Spine, the quad outside of Harriman Hall, at The Commons or anywhere you can find green-space, a bench or a table!
Researching, Exploring And Developing Yourself
Search FACEBOOK.COM for: “READY @ UB” and join today!
READY @ UB (PDF) is an in-person discussion group and an online Facebook community sponsored by Student Advising Services (SAS). READY @ UB provides a unique opportunity for undergraduate students to engage in conversations with other UB students who are undecided or confused about majors. The READY @ UB Discussion Series is facilitated by Jillian Reading, SAS Graduate Assistant and Caitlin Haskell, SAS Undergraduate Peer Assistant.
READY @ UB is for undergraduates who are:
- Undecided or confused about a major or minor
- Thinking about changing their major
- Seeking help with career exploration or navigation of UB resources
The READY @ UB FACEBOOK page includes:
- An interactive discussion board
- Contact with other students
- Student videos and tutorials
- Updated posted items with links to web resources on exploring majors, career information and much more!!
Visit us on FACEBOOK.COM for more information and find out how you can join READY @ UB today! Group Name: “READY @ UB”
Please be reminded that Student Advising Services’ (SAS) PEER ASSISTANTS are available to help YOU throughout the spring semester! Caitlin and Vanessa are both senior Psychology majors at UB who would love to talk with you and help you in any way that they can! Here are some ideas of what they would love to help YOU with:
• Helpful hints for registering for classes.
• Searching for interesting elective courses.
• Navigating MyUB and setting up a MyPage.
• Setting up your UB email and tips to writing professional emails.
• Finding research positions, internships, volunteer opportunities, and other ways to get involved.
• Exploring numerous campus resources.
• Setting academic and personal goals.
• Advice on exploring and choosing majors.
• Their stories on how they chose their majors and what they are planning to do when they graduate.
• And more!
Visit Caitlin or Vanessa soon! They are located in 104E Norton Hall, Mondays through Thursdays, during the following times:
• Mondays - 9:30am – 11:30am
• Tuesdays - 2:00pm – 3:30pm
• Wednesdays - 1:30pm – 3:00pm
• Thursdays - 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Can’t make their hours? Send them an e-mail with your questions at sas-peer@buffalo.edu!
Caitlin is one of two Peer Assistants in the office of Student Advising Services who wants to help you! Read her advice on the Things to do BEFORE Spring Break.
Can you believe Spring Break is almost here?? Spring Break begins on Monday, March 10th with classes resuming on Monday, March 17th. Here are some things you might want to think about before you go to the sandy beaches in Florida or head home for the week:
• If you are heading out early and are going to be missing a class or two, it’s important that you speak to your instructors prior to leaving. This way you can complete any work ahead of time or make any provisions so your grade will not be negatively affected.
• Many professors assign a research paper or some type of project that is due after the break. Realistically, most of us do not want to be stuck writing a paper over break, so buckle down NOW and get it done! It’ll be one less thing you have to worry about during break and you can laugh when your classmates are worried about getting things done when they get back!
• If you are struggling in any of your courses, see your professor or TA now! Don’t want until it is too late. Once we get back from break the semester seems to fly, so take care of any issues now!
• I know it seems soon, but it’s not too early to start thinking about what classes you want to take this summer and/or next fall. The UB Summer and Fall class schedules are available online so check them out today!
• Attend a Life and Learning Workshop! There is even one about going home for break! Check out the various workshops – there is sure to be one that peaks your interests!
• If you are traveling somewhere for break, make sure you have all the phone numbers and addresses of the places you will be and give that information to your family and any close friends.
• Keep working hard these next two weeks and then you can get in the mindset to enjoy your break. It’s almost here!
I hope you all enjoy your Spring Break and if you are going somewhere, I wish you safe travels!
Caitlin is one of two Peer Assistants in the office of Student Advising Services who wants to help you! Her advice to fellow UB students on the ABC’s of Spring Semester are:
A is for Agenda
Make sure you are looking over your syllabi and are jotting down all important dates including exams, due dates, class cancellations, etc. Also, know important UB deadlines and cancellations by printing out student calendars that can be found on the Student Response Center web page.
B is for Bills
Did you pay your tuition yet? The first bill was due January 8th! You can view your account balance on MyUB under Finances. Make sure you stay on top of your other bills, too!
C is for CURCA
CURCA stands for Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities. Check them out and get involved in research and other projects on campus this semester!
D is for Decisions
Have you decided on a major or career path? This is the semester to explore your interests and figure out what you really want to study! See your advisor if you need some help with major decisions.
E is for Email
Check your UB email account on a regular basis as important information from professors, students, advisors and organizations on campus will use this account. Also, many professors and staff at UB prefer you to use your UB account when contacting them.
F is for Facebook
Make sure your facebook profile is a good representation of yourself. Professors, employers, and other students have access to your pages and you want to make a good impression. According to a survey by CareerBuilder.com, 63% of hiring managers did not hire someone because of the information they found online!
G is for GPA
As Vanessa has said before, everybody starts the semester with an A in each class. Maintain that A by going to every class, taking good notes, studying well in advance, asking the teacher questions and seeking tutoring if you need more assistance.
H is for Health
Stay healthy! Keep warm in this cold Buffalo weather, be sure to eat a well-balanced diet, exercise at lease 3 times a week for at least 30 minutes and be sure to get enough sleep! Stop by the Wellness Center for more tips on how to stay healthy this spring.
I is for Internships
There is still time to land an internship for this semester, and it’s not too early to begin looking for the summer and next fall. Visit Career Services for help with internships and jobs.
J is for Joining a Club
UB has over 100 SA Clubs on campus and there is something for everybody. Find something that fits your interests.
K is for kindness
Be nice to people on campus – hold the door for the person behind you, wait for someone to cross the street when you’re driving around campus looking for a parking spot, let someone have your seat on the stampede, or simply smile at people coming your way.
L is for Library Skills Workbook
Have you completed your Library Skills Workbook yet? You need this to graduate, so if you are a senior and graduating in May, make sure you do this soon!
M is for MyPage
Customize your MyPage so it suits your personal needs as a student! There are online tutorials to help you do this.
N is for New Year
When you’re signing your name and date on a paper, don’t forget it’s 2008!
O is for Overload
Don’t overload yourself with too many credit hours or take on too many responsibilities. A good rule of thumb is to stay around 15 credit hours and if you are working part-time, try to keep it around 10 hours a week.
P is for Procrastination
Stop putting things off! Use post-its and make lists of things you have to do today, things that should be done sometime during the week, and any other lists that will help you to not procrastinate.
Q is for Quitting
It’s a new year and it’s time to make a resolution – or two. Kick those bad habits and start this semester off on the right foot.
R is for Resume
Build your resume this semester by improving your GPA, getting involved in research, an internship, an SA club, or volunteering!
S is for Sleep
Make sure you are catching enough zzz’s every night! You’ll laugh, but you should shoot for 7-8 hours every night.
T is for Time
It’s not always easy managing a billion things at once, but it is easy to waste time. Make sure you are aware of your priorities and responsibilities before spending hours using the new application on facebook or trying to master your roommate’s guitar hero!
U is for Undergraduate Catalog
Use the online version of the undergraduate catalog to look up course descriptions, the various academic programs, policies and procedures at UB, and more!
V is for Volunteering
Give a little bit of yourself this semester! You’ll enjoy doing it, and it looks good on a resume. Check out some great opportunities and learn more about how you can volunteer at United Way.
W is for Workshops
Attend Life and Learning Workshops! There are so many workshops in a wide array of topics – check one out this semester.
X is for XLII
Whether you’re in it for the football or commercials, don’t forget to get together with some friends to watch the Superbowl XLII on February 3rd!
Y is for Yourself
With all your responsibilities and obligations during the semester it can be hard to find some time for yourself, but make sure you are still enjoying some “me time”!
Z is for Zoo
Visit the Buffalo Zoo this semester! Go check out the new Amur tigers that were born last fall - I hear they are becoming quite playful!
READY @ UB (Researching, Exploring and Developing Yourself) is a program sponsored and supported by Student Advising Services, housed at the University at Buffalo. I am a graduate assistant advisor at the center and am working closely with our peer assistant, Caitlin, to lead this group.
We are offering UB undergraduate students with a unique experience to engage in conversations with other UB students who are undecided or confused about majors, thinking about changing majors, or have any other questions or concerns regarding majors and careers. This is not a lecture-based program. Our belief is that students will benefit from a discussion-based group where you talk about your own experiences to learn from each other, and you can realize that being unsure or confused is completely normal and very common among students. Ultimately, we will provide a relaxed environment (with FREE FOOD and PRIZES) where you can come and feel comfortable while discussing majors and careers!
We are not afraid of going off on tangents, but we do have some topics of discussion we thought you might be interested in. Here are some ideas:
- Myths and Realities – unraveling the myths of majors, minors and careers
- Stress Management – feeling overwhelmed by choosing a major or career
- Soul Searching – discovering your interests and what motivates you
- Registering for Classes – figuring out what courses to take
- Learning Outside the Classroom – internships, research, volunteering, etc.
- Professionalism and Networking – how to better present yourself & facebook
- Jobs in the Media – is that what it’s really like?
READY @ UB begins Wednesday, February 6th from 12pm – 1pm in 210 Student Union. We will meet every Wednesday through April 20th (except March 12th). Each week we will be bouncing between 2 rooms in the Student Union, so please take a look at the schedule below so you are aware of which room we will be in each week:
February 6- 210 SU
February 13- 210 SU
February 20- 145B SU
February 27- 210 SU
March 5- 210 SU
March 26- 145B SU
April 2- 210 SU
April 9- 145B SU
April 16- 145B SU
April 23- 210 SU
April 20- 210 SU
Join READY @ UB! Signing-up is easy and there are a few ways to do so:
#1 Join our group on FACEBOOK: READY @ UB
#2 Fill out a registration form in 109 Norton Hall (Student Advising Services)
#3 Email us at sas-peer@buffalo.edu (include your full name and email address)
We look forward to seeing you at our first meeting on Wednesday, February 6th from 12pm – 1pm in 210 Student Union! Lunch is on us: pizza, drinks and baked goods! If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at: sas-peer@buffalo.edu.
Jillian Reading, Graduate Assistant, Student Advising Services
For those of you who are new to UB and as a reminder to those of you who are returning, welcome to UB and the Be Advised weblog! Important academic information critical to students’ success will be posted year round so be sure that you visit us frequently and that you stay informed.
If you have questions, comments or suggestions regarding the Be Advised weblog, feel free to contact Student Advising Services at sas-advisor@buffalo.edu.
Also, if you have questions for fellow UB undergraduate students, then don’t miss this opportunity to talk with two Peer Assistants in Student Advising Services named Caitlin and Vanessa who want to help you! They are happy to share their experiences with you and offer support and information to help you succeed in the classroom and beyond! E-mail the Peer Assistants your questions at sas-peer@buffalo.edu or visit them in 109 Norton Hall.
Remember to use the Winter Break for more than just a vacation. Plan to do new and interesting things, such as gaining experience by shadowing or volunteering or giving back to your community.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE VALUABLE RESOURCES OVER THE WINTER BREAK
Career Services - Utilize UB’s Career Services to gain valuable information regarding exploring careers, jobs, internships and so much more! If you are in the New York City metro area, don’t miss Career Conversations in NYC! Or check out Road Trips to the Real World throughout the Northeast!
Community Engagement Opportunities - Get involved with direct service experience in the greater Buffalo community or at home. Be sure you learn more about Community Engagement Opportunities through UB’s Center for Student Leadership and Community Engagement!
Plan to Take Courses at Another School? - Be sure that you consult with an Academic Advisor and utilize TAURUS, UB’s Transfer and Articulation System, to help you find articulated courses that may help you to get ahead.
Stay Informed and Check Your UB E-mail Often! - Students are urged to check their UB e-mail accounts regularly, including throughout the winter months. Important academic and financial communications, Be Advised web log updates, and other details that affect students’ statuses are communicated year-round.
Mark Your Calendars and Plan Ahead! - Be sure that you know all UB Student Calendar listings of important academic, financial, and billing date information to help you plan for the months of December, January and beyond.
What Would One of Your Peer Assistants Recommended? - Caitlin writes: Many of you will go back home and either go back to a job you had in high school or perhaps you’ll apply for a holiday position at the many places that are hiring. If you think your part-time job has no relation to a career you might have in the future, think again. Many valuable skills can be acquired through part-time jobs, no matter what the job is! Throughout your career you’ll always be dealing with co-workers and learning ways to get along with your bosses. Teamwork, effective communication, problem-solving, taking initiative, and leadership are all top skills that employers are looking for these days. So, whether you’re flipping burgers at the local drive-thru or filing paperwork at an office, start thinking about what skills you are acquiring and how developing these skills will help you in your future career – whatever it may be!
If you’ve looked at a calendar lately, you will realize that Winter Break is pretty long! Many students go home and after a week or so start getting a little antsy and realize they still have 3 more weeks left before they come back to school. Why not use this time to volunteer? These days, volunteer work is almost an essential to landing good internships and jobs in the future. Employers look for someone who has got involved in their community. Around these holidays, there are many opportunities to lend a hand. For tips on volunteering and getting involved in your community check out the United Way at volunteer.unitedway.org/index.cfm.
We hope you all have a safe and happy Winter Break!
Have questions? Contact an academic advisor or one of Student Advising Services’ Peer Assistants for assistance at sas-peer@buffalo.edu!
