Hi everyone, Becca here. Recently, the Office of Academic Advising hosted a series of workshops for students who found themselves struggling academically after fall term. During the workshops an advisor and the students went through a series of activities designed to help students set SMART goals, manage their time, identify helpful resources on campus, and utilize some Top Advisor Tips. Well, the workshops went so well, we figured it would be good to make the activities and resource sheets available to everyone who visits the blog!
The first link is all about SMART Goal Setting . Use this worksheet to develop a goal for yourself and identify ways to achieve it. So what makes a goal SMART? Your goal should be – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely. Think of it this way – if your goal is to get a 3.5 term GPA, how do you measure your progress before final grades are posted? While this goal is specific, how is measurable? Is it realistic and something you can attain? Do you even know what grades you would need to earn to get a 3.5? Instead try something like this – B in BI 130, C in MATH 111, and an A in WR 121. Next, think of three action steps you can work on to help meet your goal. On the second page think about what will motivate you towards meeting this goal and think about how to overcome challenges you may encounter. Lastly, SHARE YOUR GOAL – you need someone to “have your back” and hold you accountable and help you along the way.Make a commitment to yourself by signing this and posting it somewhere you see everyday!
Do you need help sorting out your day and keeping track of assignments and deadlines? Here are two calendars that can help with this. The “Quarter at a Glance” can be used to track major assignments, exams, quizzes and homework. It is designed to show you everything in one place. This way you don’t miss important dates.
Use the “Weekly Schedule” to map out your study plans, class schedule, and other time commitments. You can also use this schedule to evaluate how you are spending your time: are you following what you said you would do, or are you at the rec more than you allotted. Does it take two hours to study Spanish, or do you only need one, and what can the extra hour be used for – do you need more time to study for Math?
Ever have a question and don’t know who to ask? Well, we made a list of all the offices on campus we think students might find most helpful to answer your questions. You’ll notice that the bottom three aren’t actually campus offices, but other websites with helpful information.
Academic advisors are full of information and tips. So, we put together a list of our Top Tips we think students should know. Use these to refine your study skills and academic habits. See something missing? Leave a comment with your favorite tip!