Quick Guide: Student Resources On Campus

Where do you go to...

Register for classes? 

Students may register for classes online via the college database or app, which is usually used to store student information such as basic background information and courses/grades. You may also go to the Office of the Registrar of your school to sign up for classes.


Add money to your meal plan or pay for tuition?

Meal plans for students which include meal points (corresponding to money) would commonly be called a Flex Meal Plan or a Flex Dining Plan. You can add money to your meal plan online via the school meal plan app.

There are several tuition payment options available. Some colleges offer prepayment plans, monthly payments, or even deferred payment plans. Students may pay via paper check, electronic debit, or credit card (if permitted by school).

For more information, go to: 
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/paying-your-share/college-tuition-payment-plans
https://www.collegeanswer.com/paying-for-college/other-ways-to-pay/tuition-payment-plan.aspx


Find school policies/rules? 

School policies and rules can usually be found on the school website. You can just do a quick search of "(school name) policies" on a web search engine and you could find the page for all school policies.

For example, search for "uc berkeley policies":

You can click on the first link (http://www.berkeley.edu/admin/policy.shtml) and find a list of all the policies of UC Berkeley. If you click on a specific link on that list, you may be redirected to another webpage of links, of the policies, or to the school catalog or a PDF file of the policies.


Meet other international students and/or TCKs?

There are always centers where you can go to in order to meet other international students like yourself, the TCKs (the cool kids or third culture kids). At the University of Manchester, there is the International Office as well as the International Society, where students can meet other students from around the world. Fun trips around England are also organized for them to sign up in order to get to know the country a bit more as well as to make a few friends from across the globe.


Get help if you are struggling in classes? 

There are usually tutoring and mentoring centers where students can ask for help with their academic work from tutors, ranging from other students to TAs.


If you are having trouble with a roommate?

You should always seek your Residence Advisor for help whenever you're having trouble with your roommate. The first thing they will ask you, is whether you have talked with your roommate about the problems. Always communicate with your roommate directly before seeking others for help. If your roommate is mean or seem irritated at most times, sit down and talk to her, maybe she's having family problems. If she seems to be stealing, make it clear that she's welcome to borrow things, and refuse when it's not okay for her to take things without asking. When things seem to get more and more severe  between you and your roommate, seek your Residence Advisor, Residence Assistant, or Residence Director for help. They will offer some typical compromises for dealing with certain situations, and if things still doesn't work out, you may request for a room change.


If you are throwing up and have a fever? 

When you have an upset stomach or fever, stay in and rest for one or two days. Go to class after you feel more refreshed and less drowsy. Drink lots of water and keep hydrated. Get at least 8 hours of rest, and if you're still not feeling well just stay in bed! Remember if you do throw up, rest the stomach, stop eating and drink minimum amounts of water at a time. Drinking too much water, even an ounce, can cause you to throw up again.

If you would like to read more about common college health issues and how to prevent / deal with them, check out this source: http://brown.edu/Student_Services/Health_Services/Health_Education/common_college_health_issues/


Talk to if you are feeling paralyzed and overwhelmed?

At most universities, there will be a certified counsellor who has his or her own office in a part of the school (probably the student support center or the equivalent thereof). There are visiting times outside of class hours and during class hours for students, depending on their needs per case. More places to check out would be the student mental health service or the county crisis center, where trained professionals can offer you a listening ear or valuable advice.


Prepare for a job interview?

Certain universities (such as DeVry University) hold workshops for students that train students for the progression into their careers. In addition to preparing students for job interviews, colleges may also offer career advice through talks, guided discussions sessions, or one-to-one counseling blocks.

Sex, Drugs, & Alcohol

Consequences of College Student Alcohol Abuse Consumption

Excessive use of alcohol can lead to dire consequences. Here are some reasons why you should not engage in alcohol abuse:

• Damage to self
• Risk drinking may result in blackouts (or memory losses), fatal and nonfatal injuries including falls, drowning, car accidents, illnesses, missed classes, unprotected sex that could lead to a STD or unwanted pregnancy, falling grades and academic failure, an arrest record, accidental death, and death by suicide.
• Damage to others
• 8 percent of all students admitted damaging property or pulling a fire alarm in connection with their drinking.
• Occasional binge drinkers were almost 3 times more likely and frequent binge drinkers nearly 10 times more likely to report having damaged property when compared with students who do not binge drink.
• Each year, 600,000 college students aged 18 to 24 are assaulted by another student who has been drinking and 70,000 college students in the same age range are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape.
• 61 percent of nonbingeing students living on campus said they have experienced sleep or study disturbances due to someone else's drinking.
• Damage to the institution
• More than 25 percent of college administrators from schools with relatively low drinking levels and more than half of administrators from schools with high drinking levels reported that their campuses have a "moderate" or "major" problem with vandalism and property damage.
• Failure and dropout rates due to student alcohol misuse can damage a college's academic image, resulting in the loss of tuition and the capacity to attract high-calibre students.
• Misuse of alcohol poses a threat to other road users when drinking occurs before hitting the road.

The above is taken from: http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/niaaacollegematerials/panel01/highrisk_04.aspx

Health Risks associated with the Use of Illicit Drugs and Alcohol

Alcohol is a depressant that decreases the responses of the central nervous system.
• Excessive drinking can cause liver damage and psychotic behavior.
• As little as two beers or drinks can impair coordination and thinking.
• Alcohol is often used by substance abusers to enhance the effects of other drugs.

• Alcohol continues to be the most frequently abused substance among young adults.

This source explores the common types of drugs that are abused and the effects they have on our health. Some of the drugs addressed are Marijuana, Cocaine, Meth, Ecstasy, and Heroin.

The above is taken from: http://www.cabarruscollege.edu/content/students/HealthRisksDrugsAlcohol.pdf

How to make healthy choices regarding drugs
The most common source of influence to take drugs comes from our peers. Being in college is a stage at which finding social acceptance is one of the most important concerns that students have. This source is very informative on how to navigate situations effectively when people around you are doing drugs, but you want to avoid it for the good of your own health. Some suggestions are:

• Trying not to judge others to avoid conflict
• Simply saying 'no' when offered drugs
• Pretending that you are busy with something else instead of hanging out
• Suggesting activities that are not related to drug use
• Changing the peer group you hang out with if necessary

The above is taken from: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/drugs/publishing.nsf/content/campaign/$file/Making%20your%20own%20choices%20about%20drugs.pdf

About Safer Sex
This source explains what is safe and what is dangerous when it comes to having sexual relations or intercourse. Students should know how to protect themselves not only from unwanted pregnancies, but also from sexually-transmitted diseases by using condoms, avoiding contact with open skin, combining alcohol or drugs with sexual activity, and sharing needles with another person, regardless of who he or she is.

The above is taken from: http://pc.brooklyn.cuny.edu/SAFESEX.HTM

More information on sex and sex-related topics

This next source contains several links to issues relating to sex, such as contraception, sexually-transmitted diseases, testing for Chlamydia, things to consider before engaging in sexual activities and how to communicate with others on this topic.

For contraception, there are various options according to the needs and preferences of the persons involved. It also ranges from pre-intercourse medication and precautions to morning-after pills.

10 considerations one should have before having sex are:
1) Whether or not it is his/her own decision
2) Whether it feels right to him/herself
3) Whether he/she loves his/her partner
4) Whether feelings are reciprocal and mutually shared between the two people
5) Whether condoms will be used and how each person feels about it
6) Whether other methods of contraception will be opted for
7) Whether it is okay to stop anytime if either party wants to
8) Whether either party is being pressured to do it
9) Whether any regrets will arise after doing it
10) Whether sex is just an attempt at keeping the partner faithful

One of the most important things is communication. Sex is a very intimate activity that may or may not happen between two people who truly have feelings for each other. In view of the dangers, it is advised that one thinks through all his or her options before making the decision to take risks for his or her partner.

The above is taken from: http://www.nhs.uk/worthtalkingabout/Pages/sex-worth-talking-about.aspx

HOW TO: Introduce Yourself To Someone At A Networking Event

If you are unfamiliar with networking or stil dread them time after time, fear not! There are people out there who are just as afraid or just as inexperienced as you, and like you, want to avoid awkward conversations. So, here are some tips to help you.

From:
https://www.devex.com/en/news/you-had-me-at-hello-how-to-introduce-yourself-at-a-networking-event/80523
http://www.womenunlimitedworldwide.com/networking-introductions-promoting-yourself-with-clarity-and-confidence/

The main purpose of an introduction at a networking event is to generate conversation which may lead to the development of a business relationship.

To generate a more genuine conversation with a one-sentence introduction, keep these three questions in mind:

• Who am I?
• Who do I work with, or want to work with?
• What do I help these people or organizations do?

Use this template as a guide:

I help ______ do/have/be ___________ by ______________.

(Example: I’m a strong communicator who helps microfinance organizations tell the story of how their work impacts the well-being of families in developing countries.)

Using this short introduction can help you avoid introductions that may be too long or boring, and allow other people to ask for further details of your work.

Become Memorable At A Networking Event

http://www.accountingweb.co.uk/blog-post/5-ways-become-more-memorable-business-networking-event

• Help people remember your name at business networking events: Say your first name, pause slightly, and then say your first and second name (Example: My name is Rosalind... Rosalind Hsu...)

• Add in relationship hooks: make yourself memorable by showing your personality than just your name and rank, adding an exchange of pleasantries and small talk (Example: When asked 'How was your journey here?', answering along the lines of "An easy journey and I'm hoping that the M25 behaves itself on the way home")

• Prepare some "credibility stories": Talk about stories which illustrate the length and breadth of what you do, and who you do it for, and the results you help your clients achieve. To increase credibility, always remember to send the people you met an email after the event to let them know that you enjoyed speaking to them.

Three General Steps To Take When Meeting People At A Networking Event

http://stryvegroup.com/an-easy-3-step-formula-to-making-networking-easier-and-more-effective/

1. Introduce yourself
2. Carry the conversation
3. Ask to stay in touch (swap business cards!)

Looking for networking tips for specific situations?

http://blog.hubspot.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-non_awkward-effective-networking

Get these 20 networking tips from Andrew Griffiths, an Australian #1 small business author who is described by most as a street-smart entrepreneur:

http://www.andrewgriffithsblog.com/1568/if-you-dread-going-to-networking-events-you-need-to-read-this/

More tips for your reference!

http://sbinfocanada.about.com/od/networking/a/networkingtipmh.htm

Want a whole collection of articles discussing networking tips?

http://businessnetworking.com/category/introducing-yourself/

Good luck networking!

HOW TO: Build Relationships with Professors

Are you nervous about meeting new friends and classmates at university, but even more nervous about meeting your professors?  Don’t you worry folks, it's all sorted.  Just remember that professors are people too, not monsters.  Here are some tips that will hopefully help you cultivate the positive relationships with your professors.

1. Sit in the front of the room: this may seem trivial and simple, but it works like a charm because this gives the professor a chance to know who you are.
2. Visit them during office hours: visit every now and then(often) with questions you have about the course material, a paper that you’re writing, or simply have a chat with him/her for suggestions regarding your future.
3. Be attentive, and participate actively in class.
4. Always ask questions when you don’t understand the course material: don’t be afraid to ask for clarification.
5. Respect their time, and always be punctual.
6. Be polite and respectful; approach them in a courteous and considerate manner.
7. Be proactive if you run into problems during the semester: communicate with them through emails, especially when you have to miss exams or classes due to certain circumstances.
8. Don’t be afraid to make friends with your professors.

A cheeky and humorous list of how to build relationships with (or please your) professors:

http://bwog.com/2013/02/19/how-to-build-a-relationship-with-your-professor/

The DO's and DON'Ts in Choosing Classes

The process of choosing classes may seem a little overwhelming and complicated when school year starts at university, especially for you freshmen out there.  But CHILLAX~ and yes I mean chillax.  This ain’t harder than the course content that you'll be learning later on in the school year, so quite worrying.  This doesn’t mean you can treat it with a careless attitude.  Instead of thinking too much about how you'd screw your year up by choosing the wrong courses, why don't you focus on what sparks your interest?  Here is a list of the do's and don'ts in choosing classes.

Sources: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/find-colleges/academic-life/8-tips-for-choosing-college-classes

DO 

1. Check out the available options for you: review the course catalog.

2. Find out about the core requirements that you need to fulfill at uni: try to take most of these core classes during your first two years so you can focus on your major later.

1. Meet with a college advisor or academic counselor.
2. Visit the class or contact with the professors who teach the classes that you’re interested in taking.
3. Consider courses that are relevant to your future plans.
4. Pick the classes that fit into your schedule: allocate a fair amount of time for studying and other activities each day.
5. Maintain balance: choose classes that require different types of work, so you don’t end up writing five papers or solving five problem sets in a week.
6. Sign up ASAP: don’t wait till last minute or vacancies will run out.
7. Find out if you can fulfill any core requirements by using college credits and placement exams before registration.
8. Consider taking a writing course: good writing skills will be important in all your courses and in your future career as well.

DON’T

1. Double-book yourself: check that your courses don’t clash with one another.
2. Overwhelm yourself by choosing many hard courses since uni courses will require much more effort and time than those of high school.
3. Follow the crowd(or friends): make your own decisions, what your friends or other people want to do don’t apply to you unless you truly feel interested as well.

Dealing With Roommates

Dealing with roommates can be a very daunting task. Just thinking about who your roommate's going to be makes your hands sweat. But don't worry, as long as you follow some simple strategies and be a fairly nice and reasonable person, your roommates won't bite.


1. Communicate and set clear rules at the beginning. It's important that you and your roommates  (if you have multiple roommates) establish clear rules to follow. For example, no music after 11 o'clock, no bringing friends to your room, no eating on the bed...etc. You need to communicate with your roommates from the beginning; let them know if anything is burdensome or causing a problem. They won't know unless you tell them! Agreeing on certain rules from the beginning can help avoid problems before they become problems.

2. Don't think you're going to become best friends with your roommates from the start. It's good to respect and treat your roommates nicely, but don't do so because you think you guys are going to become best friends (though it is possible).

3. Respect your roommates things. Always ask before you borrow something, and don't throw away things randomly without asking. Chances are those things could be a piece of your roommates project or something very precious to them. Not respecting someone else's property is one of the most common reasons why conflicts occur. Don't ever assume that your roommates will borrow anything, be polite and ask.

4. Be friendly and reasonable. Don't act as if you're smarter or more high class. They're going to the same college as you, so chances are they're as smart or even smarter than you (or if not, as dumb as you). Don't act very irritated all the time as if they're annoying to be with. Be reasonable, communicate, respect, and appreciate the person you're going to spend a long time with.

5. Don't judge. Never treat your roommates a certain way because of their physical appearance. You should get to know your roommates, see what they're all about and decide whether you like them.

6. Most importantly, treat your roommates like how you'd like to be treated too!

Managing Your Time

In college, managing your time is one of the most crucial things to be aware of. College success comes with careful planning and consistency in carrying your routine out. Failure to balance your social and academic life can lead to serious consequences that I would rather not talk about. Instead, here are some tips on how you can start developing a healthy schedule:

1. Create an "autopilot schedule," that is, create a schedule that runs by itself. There are two kinds of tasks: regular occurring tasks (homework reading, making prep sheets...) and non-regular occurring tasks (essays, projects...etc). Assign your regular occurring tasks to specific times in the week, and focus on completing the task during the assigned time slot.

For example,

Reading for literary analysis class - Mon, Weds, Fri after class
Prepping for chemistry - Tues, Thurs before class
Working with TAs to discuss problems & solutions - 2 hours, Wednesday afternoon
Workout at gym - Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun 9 a.m. for 1 hour

2. When creating an autopilot schedule, remember to:
- identify what work you do every single week
- not put too much work in one day

3. It's helpful to assign working periods to specific events (ex. lab work right after chemistry class, studying right before history class). This way it's easier to get started on your work.

4. The main reason why this kind of schedule can help you is that you can focus on the big, non-regular occurring tasks (ex. papers, projects) and not have to worry about the other regular occurring tasks, because they're all taken care of. During your free time, you can focus on your getting your big projects done. Of course, you can also get involved socially.

Creating a routine can not only help you balance your social and academic life, but also prevent things from geting hectic and out of control.


Source: http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/04/07/monday-master-class-how-to-reduce-stress-and-get-more-done-by-building-an-autopilot-schedule/

If you have time to spare so that you can save up more time in the future (and possibly have your life changed), check out this one-hour lecture by Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch!

Typical Residential Options

Residence Halls

Residence halls may have single, double, and triple rooms. One hall (floor) shares a common bathroom area that holds several showers and bathrooms depending on the capacity of the hall (eg. 30 residents of one hall may share 4 bathrooms and 4 showers).

There are single-sex or coed residence halls.

A residential hall hallway

Suites

Suites may hold 4 to 10 people depending on its size. A suite may have single, double, or triple rooms with a common room and common bathroom area.

Suites are more commonly single-sex accommodations.

Common area in a suite

Typical suite layout

Apartments

Students can also share apartments which usually have single rooms and private bathrooms, a living room, dining area, and kitchen.

 

Theme Housing

Theme houses or halls have themes that could be according to subject interests (eg. maths and engineering, visual and performing arts, etc), ethnicity (eg. African American) or for other community purposes (eg. Global Environment, Multicultural Engagement).

Greek Housing

Greek houses are for sororities or fraternities, with shared bathrooms, a living room, a dining room, and a kitchen.

Co-op Housing

Residents share the same apartment and are both entitled to its legal entities.

A Co-op house at Mills College

Family Housing

Family houses are usually offered for married students/students with a domestic partner, students who need family members around to help their transition into college life, or faculty members.

A family housing accommodation at Mills College

Fictional Monthly Budget for Fictional College Student

given $2780 for 9 months
earn $3420 per 9 months; $380 per month

Financial Goal:
Spend as I need (until budget is gone)

Monthly budget after textbook fees (add monthly salary) is ((2780 - 500*2)/9 + 380 = $578).

Transportation
Public Transport (Bus): $48

Household
Laundry: $6
Groceries/Toiletries: $100

Entertainment
Movies: $25
mp3s/CDs: $25
Concerts: $15 (save up)
Shopping: $150
Eating out: $150

Personal:
Banking (Sovereign): $0 - no registration fee required, no interest rate
Phone Service (Verizon): $35 - unlimited text, Web, 500 min of talk


Leftover/Savings per month: $19