-Stephen-

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

-J

Schedule: You need to plan your schedule for next year of course.  The enrollment dates are soon approaching, some have already begun!  We can help you plan both fall and spring semesters next year.

Major Requirements: Depending on your major, you will have a certain set of requirements for your Math, Chemistry, Physics and Biology disciplines.  If you haven’t looked up your major’s program guide, your advisor can help.  Human Biology advisors are located 108 Natural Science Building.  To find out where other major advisors are located, check out this link: http://ns.msu.edu/index.php/students/advising/

Pre-Professional Requirements:  If you plan to attend medical, dental, pharmacy, PA, OT, PT or any other kind of professional school, come see us!  These schools have requirements that may or may not be covered in your major.  If not, we’ll help you fit them in.  It is important to complete the pre-requisite courses for your desired professional school, we have the resources to help you out.

Future Planning: Questions such as… When should I apply?  When should I take or how do I study for my MCAT/DAT/OAT/GRE/PCAT?  Will I be competitive?  Should I re-take a course?  What extracurricular/volunteering activities can I find on campus?  Can all be answered at the College of Natural Science by your preprofessional advisors found in the link above!

Utilize your advisors if you feel lost or unclear on your academic track.  We can put you on the right path to reach your goals!

-Stephen-

Get time away. Get away from the stressful atmosphere in the library. Take a few minutes to take a walk off campus, treat yourself to a coffee or ice cream cone, or find some other way/place that you can get yourself out of the finals week environment.

Get exercise. Go for a relaxing walk with a friend, ride your bike without knowing where you’ll end up, or go for a quick jog. Even if it’s just 15 minutes, you’ll feel better afterward.

Get organized. The best way to get things organized is to write down every single thing you need to do. Getting things written down makes it easier to keep track and helps you break down finals into manageable pieces. Plus, getting to cross things off that list is very satisfying!

Get started early. Start preparing the week before your final exam. Make sure you have all the notes you need, begin making outlines, create a reasonable study schedule, and make sure you won’t need to cram the night before.

Get some sleep!  Even though enough sleep can seem impossible give how much work has to be done, be sure to get a good 8 hours- especially the night before an exam. Not getting enough sleep can make you more anxious and emotionally all over the place. Need a break? Take a 15-20 minute nap.

Get outside. Ditch the library during your study breaks and venture out into the sunshine. The change of scenery helps break up the blocks of studying and makes it easier to get back to it. You don’t want to feel like a zombie halfway through the week; make sure you don’t lock yourself inside!

Put it into perspective. Take breaks when you need them. You’ll feel refreshed and ready to conquer more studying with a clear mind. Finals week doesn’t determine the rest of your life; you’ll get through it!

Good luck!

-K

Taking summer courses: many prerequisites for medical, dental, pharmacy, PA and much more can be taken at a local community college or four year institution.  If you have fewer than 56 credits, you may take the class at a two year institution.  This is a great way to knock a few tough courses out of the way to make your fall and spring semester a lighter load.

Job shadowing: having a little trouble thinking about which field you would like to pursue?  You need to get your hands dirty and see for yourself!  Job shadow physicians, dentists, physical therapists, physician’s assistants to figure out which field is right for you.

Studying for an entrance exam: the MCAT, DAT, OAT, PCAT and GRE are long tests with lots of information.  Studying for these exams in the summer can pay dividends when you take them later in your education.

Volunteer: find your passion and lend a hand.  Volunteering is crucial for any professional school application, but most importantly you help out your community!  Check with the Service Learning Center in Student Services if you are staying in East Lansing for some awesome opportunities.

When that sun finally comes out and the temperature rises above 50 degrees, put some of these items on your to-do list for the summertime!

-Stephen-

Your Room: Some people work best in their own environment! Here you control the noise level, the food availability, and you don’t have to worry about closing hours. Watch out for the temptation to crawl into bed and sleep instead!

Coffee Shops: Grand River Coffee, Biggby, Wanderers Tea House, Starbucks, Espresso Royale, and more. The coffee shop offers a low hum and bustle that might be the perfect background noise for those who need it. If all the seats are taken, be sure to have a back-up plan. Did I mention they’ll have coffee and tea?

MSU Libraries:

MSU Main: East side is a quiet, no-talking zone while West side allows for low volume talking and can be good for group work.  The library is open 24-hours to fit your schedule. If you’re looking for an extra quiet spot, head to the upper floors!

MSU Law: This is the place for absolute silence!

Biomedical Physical Science Building (BPS): Spartys is available, and there are plenty of tables, chairs, and desks in the Atrium. Check it out, as it tends to clear out after classes end for the day.

Dorm Building Study Lounges: Many dorm buildings have open areas for studying.  An example is Holden Hall, with an open place for group work and lounge chairs it can be a great option to study between classes.  Many other dorms have similar work places that vary in traffic and noise levels.

Most importantly, figure out what kind of atmosphere you work best in. Some people like background noise, some people need absolute silence. Some people don’t mind a crowd, others do better working alone. Find what works for you, and check out some of the study places around East Lansing! Good luck!

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

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

The Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM) is having an open house next week on April 12th from 1:00-4:30. Stop by Conrad Hall at any time during the open house for talks and tours about:

• dual degree programs (D.O.-Ph.D. and D.O.-M.P.H.)
• the state of the art teaching facilities, including the gross anatomy and histology laboratory
• osteopathic manipulative medicine
• the history of osteopathic medicine
• and much more!

This is a great opportunity to increase your knowledge about this branch of medicine, while networking among others with the same interests. Hope to see you there, pre-meds!

-Nikkie