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Aim High Writing College Consulting

Hidden Campus Gems and Opportunities

11/24/2014

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What would you say if I asked you to name some of your school’s best offerings for student life and performance?

I know what I would have said about the University of Notre Dame – my dorm room, the Harry Potter-esque South Dining Hall, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the Grotto, and the football stadium (obviously).

With some variation, students tend to gravitate towards the student center, dining hall, living spaces, and even the library when they want to socialize and blow off some steam. But most campuses have even more than students realize in terms of academic, professional, and social opportunities.


Quirky Museums and Galleries
Universities are a place of learning, and one way campuses incorporate scholarship into their design is through small museums and galleries. Stroll through the art building and see featured work by talented professors and students. Stop in the museum you pass by every day and see what exhibits are currently running. Take a good look at the walls in the classroom building you pass through every day. Chances are something interesting is there.

When I was at Harvard, there was a Central Asian textiles exhibit a friend convinced me to go to. I will admit, it wasn’t wildly fascinating, but I appreciated that it was there, free, and something to do to break up the monotony of our schedule.


Guest Lectures
When I was an undergraduate our professor offered us extra credit if we attended Russian-themed guest lectures. Sure, you might end up sacrificing some of your free time, but it was an easy way to raise your grade. It introduced us to professors from other universities, sometimes people we had read and now got to ask questions of in person.

And when the lecture was actually a sort of “audition” for the faculty member, who was being interviewed by our university for an open position, occasionally the powers that be actually solicited student feedback.


Conferences Open to the Public
Similarly, conferences hosted by the university are a great way to meet some fellow professors and students in your field of interest. If you’re an undergrad considering grad school, don’t be shy about attending conference talks and observing firsthand what will be expected of you as a budding scholar. If you’re really brave, you can even offer a question or comment at the end of the talk.


Student Written and Directed Plays
Theater and music was never, ever my thing, but I had a few friends in college who were incredibly talented. One in particular moved up the ranks of a student-run theater group and ended up directing a musical. I went as a show of support, certain I wouldn’t enjoy watching people burst into song and prancing around the stage. But you know what? It was really good. I was impressed with what my friend had done, and moreover, that all of it was accomplished in his spare time and purely because he loved it.


Travel Opportunities
University programs and clubs have tons of options for getting away from campus. Some groups do weekend day trips to a nearby city. Volunteer or social clubs sponsor longer visits over breaks. If you’re not interested in doing something as long as study abroad, many professors still organize 1-2 weeks trips to somewhere overseas to supplement your studies. Ask around – it’s a great way to meet more people and break out of the college bubble for a little bit.


Less thrilling but useful nonetheless are your campuses writing and tutoring centers, career offices, and job fairs. You might find it fun to attend a lesser-known sport event (the fencing team at Notre Dame was fantastic and boxing had a rather large following). Look up the club and organization list online – there really is something for everyone.

When you’re feeling somewhat limited by what your campus has to offer, remember that it’s very possible you have yet to experience the full scope of your school’s academic, professional, and social opportunities. Hanging out with your friends in your dorm’s common room is fun, but when that gets old, look into attending a polo match or stopping by the student art exhibit.

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10 Little Things That Annoy Your Professor Big Time

11/15/2014

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There are many ways you as a student can delight your professor: demonstrating mastery over a particularly difficult concept, meeting deadlines, and participating in classroom discussions.


And then there are some little things that can get on your professor's nerves (big time):

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1. Not putting your name on assignments
  • Once is an accident. Anything after that looks like laziness. No, your professor cannot identify who you are in class of 100 students based on your handwriting.

2. Never learning how to spell your professor's name.
  • C'mon, it's been 2 months. You should know if it's "Smith" or "Smythe."

3. Arranging a meeting you don't show up for.
  • Not only is this rude, you don't get points for intending to seek outside help. That's like expecting to be healed of an illness by merely scheduling a doctor's appointment.

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4. Not notifying your professor of your absence as soon as possible.
  • We believe students get sick, have relatives who are suddenly ill, and miss flights due to circumstances beyond their control. But don't leave it up to the professor to guess why you aren't there. Email ahead of time if possible with a valid excuse for missing class, or, if not possible, within the day. 

5. Chowing down in class.

  • Instructors know sometimes you have to eat on the go and most are fine with you bringing some snacks or a bagged lunch to class. What's irritating, however, is when someone draws out their meal, or practically lays out a table setting in front of them while ignoring what's going on in the classroom. Eat your lunch (preferably nothing too noisy or smelly), clean up, and stay focused on the class.

6. Disrespecting your professor or your classmates.

  • Being flagrantly rude, unkind, or insubordinate to either your professor or a peer is sure to alienate you from the group. If you do lose your temper, be sure to apologize once you calm down. The same goes for group projects - don't play the blame game behind other students' backs to your professor. If there's a real problem, have everyone meet together.

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7. Dominating classroom discussion.
  • Sometimes there is a student who thinks every question, invitation to comment, or request for volunteers is directed at them. It's not. While important to participate, understand that other students need a chance to speak up too. Don't create a situation where everyone silently seethes every time you open your mouth.

8. Never talking.
  • On the flip side, don't place the onus of the discussion or answering questions on your classmates. You're part of the group too, and need to contribute your fair share.

9. Asking individual-specific questions during class.
  • When there are 3 minutes left in class, and your professor says, "Any questions about the test on Friday?" do NOT raise your hand and ask something along the lines of, "Yes, I have a dentist appointment at 1:45, and the test starts at 2pm. Is that going to be a problem if I'm a little late? Also, on the last test, I missed points on the essay. Why was that? Can you tell me how to fix that for the next test?" If you have a personal concern, email or meet with the professor separately instead of hijacking the entire classroom.

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10. Claiming you "didn't know" that _____________.
  • Sure to elicit a face palm from your professor, don't bother excusing a missed class, poor exam, incomplete homework assignment, or being unprepared for class with "I didn't know." 99.9% of the time it was on the syllabus, announced in class, or both. 

Consider this a heads-up. Your professors, for the most part, want you to enjoy their class, and they want to enjoy teaching you. So help them out by reading the syllabus, showing up, participating, and getting your work done.
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    Jessica Peyton Roberts 
    I am a Higher Education Consultant working with students and parents on finding the right college, financial, and scholarship options for your needs.

    See Services for details and book your appointment today!


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