Heading into Spring term March 6th, 2012
Entering into Spring term, it’s easy to get into the “just finish out the year” and “start over next year” mentality. However, there are still plenty of ways to enhance your academic performance, meet new people, get involved on campus and meet new people. While the opportunities might not be as transparent as they were at the beginning of the year, you can still improve your overall experience here at OSU. Here are just a few things to consider:
1.) Start Spring term off right with an academic coaching appointment through the Academic Success Center (http://success.oregonstate.edu/academic-coaching ). Let an academic coach help you manage your time better, take better notes, & study more effectively for tests. As the temperatures rise you’ll want to be effective so you can enjoy the sunshine.
2.) Make small changes to your daily schedule that results in big gains when it comes to academic performance. Simply getting 7-8 hours of sleep each night is a huge benefit. Or try to schedule specific times to study/review for individual classes, even if you can only commit a few hours a week to each course, it’s a great place to start. Or perhaps you can simply turn off your phone while you read, you’ll be surprised how much easier it is to pay attention when you aren’t waiting to comment on your friends’ latest messages.
3.) Student clubs and organizations are still looking for new members. Check out the list of student clubs at: http://oregonstate.edu/sli/studentorgs/find_organization and check the “Group Dashboard” for clubs you want to find out more about. Many clubs are in the process of electing new members so there may even be some opportunities to get a leadership position right away.
4.) Looking for other involvement opportunities? The Memorial Union Program Council (http://mu.oregonstate.edu/mupc/join-mupc) which organizes Dad’s Weekend, Battle of the Bands, Snow in the Quad and more is hiring for next year. ASOSU will be holding elections for next year’s leadership team in April. Check out http://asosu.oregonstate.edu/elections for more information on how to be involved. Rec Sports will be starting up a new round of intramural sports teams and tournaments that you can check out here: http://oregonstate.edu/recsports/spring-leagues.
5.) Lastly, don’t forget to keep introducing yourself to people in your classes. You never know where your next great study partner, roommate, or friend is going to come!
Good luck continuing to explore campus and Corvallis and remember to challenge yourself to meet new people and try new things this Spring.