Tips – Page 2 – WINAHEAD

What it’s Like to be Invisible

This post, from Disability.Blog, the official blog of Disability.gov, contains good advice for anyone with an invisible disability. The author, Beth Schill, has epilepsy. Although the three suggestions she officers are framed in the context of the workplace, they apply equally well in the post-secondary environment.

. . . .for those of us with invisible disabilities, being invisible is not always as great as one may think. On the one hand, no one can tell if we have a disability just by looking at us. And for those who face visible disabilities, I can only imagine how difficult that must be. Yet for those faced with an invisible disability, it can be difficult for us in school or the workplace to not feel understood as we deal with our own health issues. Many people see us as able-bodied adults, and wonder why we can’t work an extra few hours, why we take so long doing problems or taking an exam or why we can’t pull our own weight. In short, it can be a very confusing and lonely experience.features weekly posts from subject matter experts who address important topics for people with disabilities, their families and others. . . .

To read the full post and read her three suggestions, visit What it’s Like to be Invisible

Tips for Escaping “Transfer Shock”

If you enroll in a community or junior college, you may be planning to transfer to a four-year institution to continue your education or finish your degree. (Sometimes students that enroll in a four-year institution also change schools, transferring to a different college or university. Reasons for doing so will vary from student to student.

No matter where you transferred to, or why you transferred, you will face a period of adjustment. Other students have already formed friendships, relationships, and study groups. They are familiar with the campus, with its resources, with the sought-after instructors, with the local hangouts. How do you catch up and feel as though you really belong? Here are some suggestions:

Take advantage of orientation activities for transfers. Yes, you already know about college, but this is a new place with new demands and options. It’s much like moving to a new city, where we need to locate stores, post office, doctor, dentist, etc.; no matter how many places we’ve lived, we need to learn about the new town or neighborhood. Orientation is a prime opportunity to learn all you can about your new school. You’ll get acquainted with advisors, instructors, other students– and available services – before the term begins and you are too busy to search them out.

Use the catalog, a campus map, and the campus newspaper or weekly announcements to learn about your new home. Study the catalog, especially requirements and course descriptions in your major. With a campus map, walk around campus and visit each building; read the campus paper cover to cover. Get off-campus, too, to discover social and cultural opportunities in the neighborhood. It can also be helpful to explore the institution’s website, information in the catalogue will also be found there but may be more easily explored. If your college has a portal, log in and explore the information there. Information not found at the public website will be found there.

Locate the College library and look for a library map or ask for a brief tour before the semester gets busy. Libraries can seem to be intimidating places at first. Every college library is organized differently, and you’ll be a step ahead if you visited ahead of time before that first assignment sends you there – with a deadline. And, don’t hesitate to ask a library staff member or student worker for help with a specific task. No one expects you to know it all, and a little guidance could save you hours of frustration – and make the library seem less intimidating. Make sure to find out where study areas are and what the general rules are about the study areas.
Continue reading “Tips for Escaping “Transfer Shock””

Tips for First-Year Students

Tip #1: Go To Class
New students often hear that in college, “you can go to class anytime you want.” NOT TRUE. Some classes may seem less interesting than others, but college is not for entertainment. Experienced students often say that the more time they spend in class, the less time they need to study outside of class.

Tip #2: Learn the Campus
One campus tour seldom provides the geographical knowledge necessary to get around a major university. Become an explorer and spend time locating where major academic and service departments are located. Don’t become a senior who is still trying to find the library.

Tip #3: Know The University Has Academic Rules
No one memorizes all the rules–but know where to find them. Academic policies are usually found on the web page and almost always in the student handbook or catalog. Do not become one of those who says, “But nobody told me…”

Tip #4: Check Out Rumors
Rumors of all types fly across a campus. While almost all do have a particle of truth, most rumors are largely fiction. Check program or academic rumors with instructors or advisors before changing anything related to class preparation or scheduling.

Tip #5: Budget Time
Have a social life, but plan your study time properly. Do not begin to study for a test or write a paper the night before either is due. Read syllabi early for dates and note them on a calendar. Remember, sleep is also necessary, so budget for that as well.

Tip #6: Accept Constructive Criticism
Keep in mind that when an instructor critiques your work, he or she is doing you a favor. This is not personal; any work can be improved. The more “red lines” you see on a paper, the more time that the instructor took to point out ways for you to improve. It is very frustrating to see a grade assigned to a paper or test and no comments or feedback as to how that grade was determined or how you can do better next time.

Tip #7: Realize That Being a Student Is a Full-Time Job
You can’t work hard only one day a week and earn acceptable grades. Look at collegiate life as a full-time career for the present. Focus on good academic habits, social skills, and balancing priorities. Now is the time to develop skills that will be expected after graduation in your selected career.

Tip #8: Develop an Appreciation for Clear Communication Skills

No matter what your major or discipline of interest, the single most important skill for life success is communication. Understand what language is acceptable and in what situations. How you communicate your skills and thoughts demonstrates the depth of your education. Even if your grades in technical courses get you that first job, it is your communication skills–usually in writing–that get you your promotion.

Tip #9: Become Part Of Campus Life
Becoming part of the campus community is just as important as going to class, writing papers, and taking exams. Don’t join every group, but be selective and participate in activities that will offer balance to your life. Take advantage of the variety of university experiences.

Tip #10: Get To Know Your Instructors Before You Graduate
Begin by targeting some faculty that you think are worth knowing before you graduate. Who are you likely to have in more than one course? These are the instructors who will evaluate your work, supply references for future career options or graduate school, and help guide your intellectual development. Most faculty are very approachable; don’t let titles of “professor” or “doctor”‘ frighten you. Those titles are their achievement, and these are the people who will help you attain the goals you have set for yourself.

Tip #11: Have The Courage of Your Confusions
In high school, a good student is supposed to know all the answers and get everything right. But in college, you take on more difficult challenges and more demanding material. It is no longer possible to have “all the answers.” Beyond college, that kind of high school perfection isn’t even remotely possible. Learn to be patient with others and with yourself. Learn to function well in situations where 100% success isn’t possible; seek out and value the big questions which are more important than answers.

Tip #12: Be Patient With Yourself
You will make errors or mistakes during your collegiate career. Please be assured that you are not DOOMED. When you realize, or even think, you have goofed, set out to correct it.

Tip #13: Make Your Own Decisions
Seeking advice is always nice. Trying to play it safe and avoid making decisions can lead to as many problems as making uninformed or risky choices. Weigh options and gather as much information as possible. Accept responsibility for your decisions.

Tip #14: You Are in School for Your Education, Not Someone Else’s
If you enter college just to please everyone else, or even ANYONE else, you will end up pleasing no one. If you let others decide what you are going to study, where you attend college, and what you are going to be, you have ignored your responsibility to yourself.

Tip #15: Know Your Academic Situation Before The Withdraw Period
If you have a question or concern about how you are doing in a class, go to the instructor and discuss it. Keep yourself informed and record all grades received for each assignment. Read each syllabus carefully, and pay attention to the weight of all assignments as they determine the final grade in each course. Keep all grades updated.

Tip #16: Learn To Communicate In the Classroom
There are no dumb questions concerning subject matter. If you don’t know or don’t understand something, chances are several of your classmates don’t either. Learning to ask questions is a skill. Develop it!

Tip #17: Safeguard Your Physical and Mental Well-Being
When exhausted, rest. Eat proper food and know when to relax. Plan exercise into your schedule. No one is going to thank you for working yourself into a frazzle or getting ill, let alone for staying up all night. It is amazing how many students demand their independence and simply do not know how to take care of themselves.

Tip #18: Accept Responsibility for Yourself and Your Behavior
If what you say and do is prompted by others, or if nothing is ever your fault because others “pushed” you, you cannot claim to be an adult, just an immature follower.

Tip #19: It Does Not Help To Blame Others For Your Academic Problems
If you are not doing well academically, get help. Very few students get through college without some assistance. If it takes you longer to learn material or even to graduate, so what? Remove distractions when studying. Go to review sessions and use tutoring services. GO TO CLASS and participate. Don’t blame your instructors, your roommate, or your teaching assistants. Get their help to eliminate the problems.

Tip #20: Locate and Use All College Services
The college or university you are attending DOES want you to succeed and will help you by means of all its services. These range from math and writing skills centers to personal counseling. Let the university serve you. After all, it is your school. You are paying for these services anyway, in the form of tuition and fees.

Tip #21: Write Home
It may sound silly but parents and family can prove to be the best support service. Families honestly want to know how you are doing. They may not be able to do more than listen, but that act alone is essential to your well-being. Siblings, grandparents, and neighborhood friends are in your corner and want you to succeed. Let them share in your new life.
P.S. E-mail works great!