Thanksgiving Weekend
Throughout November, many college students think, “I’ll catch up over Thanksgiving break.” The four-day weekend appears to be an endless resource for backlogged reading and paper writing.
Often these catch-up plans are unrealistic, the product of wishful thinking. Parents and families can take steps to help students meet their holiday study goals.
Consider asking, “Is there any school work you wanted to get done over Thanksgiving weekend?” While decisions about school work are the student’s responsibility, family actions can support or divert the student. If your son or daughter mentions a goal of reading three chapters over the weekend, ask when the best time would be for reading. It is a classic principle of time management that a person is more likely to complete something after sharing the intention with others.
If your student has a paper to finish before the end of the semester, remind him or her to consult the Writing Center http://www.umbc.edu/lrc/writing_center.htm early in the writing process. Writing Center tutors help students to think through the appropriate structure for papers and to review their logic as well as more technical aspects of writing.
Looking ahead
Registration for spring semester has begun. Students should act now by reviewing the online schedule of classes http://www.umbc.edu/catalog/2014/index.php, making an advising appointment (required for spring registration), and checking their myUMBC account to be sure they are cleared to register. An unpaid bill or missing immunization record can delay registration. Help your student by clearing up any such issues before registration begins.
Scheduling hint for new students: consider an IHU (Introduction to an Honors University Seminar) http://www.umbc.edu/undergrad_ed/ihu/. IHU seminars are offered as an additional component to several introductory courses and focus on enhancing skills that pertain to college life. They also help students begin to make decisions about their majors and careers, which can be intimidating choices for a first-year student.
Ask about final examinations. New student may need to be reminded that the schedule for finals http://registrar.umbc.edu/files/2014/07/F14FinalExam.pdf is not exactly the same as the class schedule. Final examinations will be held from December 11 to December 17.