I can still remember my first class in college.  I was sitting in a humungous CEM 141 lecture wondering what the heck I might do with my life.  Now that I’m a senior and just had my last day of undergraduate classes, I look back and am so thankful for my education here at MSU.  I just want to lend a word of advice to the rest of you who will be here for next year and beyond.  Get involved!  Nothing has been more rewarding then exploring the campus, meeting new people, trying out student organizations and going to festivals and sporting events.  Get the college experience that MSU has to offer, it will be the time of your life!  Sparty on.

-Stephen-

Well, this is the last week of classes! After this week is over, most of us have a few finals next week; and then its over (temporarily or otherwise)!

If this is your first year here: congratulations! You’ve made it through your first year of college! Not that bad, huh? The next few years are going to fly by so enjoy your time here! If you are graduating next week: congratulations! This is a major accomplishment; you’re done with undergrad and moving on to your career or professional school. I want to wish everyone a safe, happy, and productive summer.

Good luck on finals! Study, study, study

-Nikkie

Although you are probably slammed with studying, taking tests, reading books, etc. make time to read the preprofessional newsletter that will be coming out next week! It is the last edition of the year and has some great articles for preprofessional students. I hope you all have a wonderful summer whether you are taking classes, relaxing, applying to professional school, or working. See you all in the fall!

-J

It’s that time of the year when Schedule Builder seems slower than the construction on Michigan Avenue!  Just like your bed, your schedule won’t make itself, so come on in to the College of Natural Science for some expert advising.  Here are a few reasons to go to your advisor as soon as you can. Continue reading →

Sorry to bring it up again. But alas, finals are quickly approaching! Even if it’s not your first finals week, we all need help to make it through sometimes. Read on for ways to make your finals week a little less stressful. Continue reading →

Although the weather may not being showing it, summertime is swiftly approaching!  The summer is a great time to relax, catch some rays and catch up on some sleep.  However, there are some things you can be doing if you are a pre-professional student! Continue reading →

Sometimes studying in the same spot everyday can make it feel extra monotonous. With final exams (sorry to bring that up) approaching, you may be in the need of a fresh new study spot. Not sure where to turn? Read on for a few ideas! Continue reading →

The weather and the calendar seem to finally be in synch, it’s starting to feel a lot more like spring! Can you believe it’s already April?! The end of the semester (and the school year) is quickly approaching; which means final exams are around the corner. Yes – finals. Sorry to dampen your mood with the “f word”, but it’s about time to start gearing up for final exam week.

If you’re anything like myself, you experience a great deal of anxiety when it comes to taking exams. It seems no matter how much I study, I still have a hard time dealing with the stress of taking tests. My sympathetic nervous system completely takes over as my heart rate increases and my palms start sweating (too nerdy?) and my mind goes blank. Not too mention, the stress I experience on a daily basis can sometimes be overwhelming when I’m trying to excel in class. If you can relate, I have an awesome opportunity for you!

The College of Natural Science and the College of Arts & Letters Offices of Student Affairs have been hosting the S.T.A.R. workshop series since January. This month, they are hosting a workshop entitled “Dealing with Test Anxiety and Managing Personal Stress”. The workshop is Monday, April 15th; right in time for finals week!

4/15/13 (Monday), 6:00-7:30pm; Room 1145 Engineering Building

Please stop in if you think you may benefit from this workshop!

-Nikkie

With finals approaching in a meer three weeks, it’s the perfect time to get a little extra help with your coursework. How, you ask? Why, office hours of course! Your professor’s office hours are a great and under-utilized resource for you as a student. Here are the top reasons you should be attending:

1. To introduce yourself. Get to know your professor. So many of our classes have hundreds of other students in them, and this is a great way to stand out from the crowd. This is especially useful at the beginning of the semester, but it’s never too late!

2. To clear up confusion. Your professors can help clarify lecture notes, readings, assignments, or any other course materials. Try to target specific concepts or topics you are having difficulty with, and write down questions or bullet points you would like to discuss. Additionally, if you want to hear more about a certain topic, this is an opportunity to use your professor’s knowledge and learn more. They are the experts in their field, who better to ask?

3. To avoid repeating the same mistakes. If you made several errors on a previous exam, office hours are a great chance to review where you went wrong. It is especially useful to go over old exams with your professor if you have a cumulative final exam. You don’t want to make the same mistakes twice!

3. To discuss special requests. Office hours are a great chance to talk to your professor about letters of recommendation for professional schools or scholarships. Getting to know your professor will allow them to put more in a letter of rec than “He got a 4.0 in my class”. This is your way to show your professor more about you. Attending office hours helps a professor know what kind of person you are, what your goals are, and where you want to go in life!

4. You’re already paying for it. You’ve paid tuition for the class– why not make the most of it? A professor’s office hours are at your disposal, and taking advantage of them is a great opportunity to make connections with faculty members and enhance your learning experience.

Good luck!

-K