Mary R. Anderson-Rowland Arizona State University Making an Easier Transition: Success (Survival) Tips for Excellence & Peace (less Stress) Mary R. Anderson-Rowland Arizona State University

Dr. A-R’s Survival Tips 1: WORK: Don’t work if you don’t have to If you work 20 hours or more: Take a max. of 12 hours + 2 credit hrs for FSE 394 School is now upper division All the easy courses have been taken Pace of class is faster More homework in general The first semester is a period of adjustment If you get a 4.0 and have lots of extra time, then take a larger class load your second semester You are starting over with a 0.0 GPA If you are a full-time student, you can’t work full-time

Dr. A-R’s Survival Tips 2. MANAGE YOUR COURSE LOAD Even if you don’t work: take 12 hours + 2 hours for FSE 394 – Academic Success Class Many transfer students tend to take 16-18 hours their first transfer semester Promise to drop one class when you realize that the load is too much for the first semester Try to take one “easy” course, if possible If you have to drop to 9 or 10 hours a semester, you can take a summer course and keep the CIRC/METS scholarship

Dr. A-R’s Survival Tips 3. GET 8 HOURS OF SLEEP EACH NIGHT! Much more likely to stay well and not miss class and deadlines because you are sick You can concentrate 100% on what you do: Reading material ahead Listening in class Doing Homework Learning new material Meeting with Study Group Meeting with friends And you will feel good!

Dr. A-R’s Tips for Success 4. JOIN OR CREATE A STUDY GROUP FOR EACH CLASS. Engineering was not meant to be done alone Get other students working on the 4.0 Plan to be in your study groups

Dr. A-R’s Survival Tips 5. USE THE GUARANTEED 4.0 PLAN TO DO WELL Only guaranteed learning plan: Based on research It works! Donna O. Johnson has not yet had to give out $100 The plan teaches you: Time management (set up schedule the first week) Excellent study skills Taught in FSE 394 Class each semester Reduces stress

Time Management 6. TIME MANAGEMENT CHART Gives a plan for the week Shows where you have extra time Meant to be flexible Helps to keep you on track Helps to keep you efficient

Dr. A-R’s Tips for Success 7. SPEND AS MUCH TIME ON CAMPUS AS POSSIBLE Do your BPR, BPN, HW, POH, BPC (4.0 Plan) Meet with your study groups for each class Study groups usually meet on campus Do not have all classes on just two days It is very difficult to do all of your studying on the days when you do not have class Relax when you go home

Get to Know Your Professors 8. POH (PROFESSOR OFFICE HOURS) Professors may know some of the students in their classes because the students are in their third year at ASU. You are new. Why? Information Research Opportunity Recommendation Letter Internship Scholarship Graduate School Academic Advice

Dr. A-R’s Tips for Success 9. DON’T REGISTER FOR CLASSES BACK TO BACK, IF POSSIBLE Difficult to pay attention for two classes in a row, let alone three Use time between classes to BPN (should do right after class, takes only 15 minutes) and to begin HW (begin the day it is assigned) Exams back to back (to back) are not fun

Dr. A-R’s Success Tips 10. RIGHT AFTER EACH CLASS: Know where you are going to work on the class material Bullet Point Notes (15 minutes) Start Homework the first day it is assigned Don’t spend more than 20 minutes being stuck on a problem

Dr. A-R’s Success Tip 11. DON’T ASSUME THAT YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WHO IS STRESSED AND HAVING DIFFICULTIES! All engineering/CS students have stress! The first semester for transfer students is usually tough Just because others are smiling, do not assume that everything is going well for them Academic Scholarship Program and FSE 394 is good for letting you know that everyone struggles at times

Dr. A-R’s Success Tips 12. GET AND MAINTAIN A GPA > 3.0 Starting all over with a 0.0 If you start out with a low GPA, it is very difficult to get it back up 3.0 is often a minimum for Scholarships 3.0 is often expected for an internship 3.0 or higher is expected for graduate school

Dr. A-R’s Success Tips 13. USE AVAILABLE TUTORING SERVICES Study group for each class is excellent alternative May want to consider hiring a tutor from among the academic scholarship students

Dr. A-R’s Tips for Success 14. BECOME WELL-ACQUAINTED WITH FULTON CAREER SERVICES Prepare your resume Workshops on resumes Career Services has PowerPoint presentation on resumes on-line Joyce Donahue can help with your resume Sign up with “Career Link” Get notices on companies who visit ASU Sign up for interviews Companies view resumes on file with Career Services

Dr. A-R’s Tips for Survival 15. JOIN A STUDENT ORGANIZATION Join AISES, MAES, NSBE, SHPE, SWE Join the organization for your major IEEE, ASCE, IIE, etc. Later join the Honor Organization for your major Networking is very important for engineers Industry notices if you are not active in organizations Leadership Skills for important for engineers Go into leadership slowly Volunteer to be on a committee; then become a committee chair.

Dr. A-R’s Tips for Success 16. Enroll in FSE 394 – Academic Success Two credit hours Seven meetings per semester Each meeting offered four times Special session on 4.0 Plan for students new to class Engineers from industry speak Graduate student panel How to use research data bases on-line Course required by METS Scholars Other transfer students can take the course + assignments and earn $300 scholarship (x2)

Dr. A-R’s Tips for Success Additional Hints: Classes may use Blackboard. Be sure to check. Use the METS Center Take advantage of the computers and free printing Network – new computers in Fall 2014! Use the METS staff for resources, informal mentoring Attend their workshops Don’t call a professor by their first name unless they tell you to Don’t call female professors “Mrs.” or “Maam”

Success Tips Be aware of “transfer shock” and “transfer ecstasy” Be aware of “PCP” Be aware of the “imposter syndrome”

Reference: “Guaranteed 4.0 Plan” by Donna O. Johnson Mackey Questions? Dr. Mary R. Anderson-Rowland Email: mary.anderson@asu.edu Tel: 480-720-0000 (cell) Reference: “Guaranteed 4.0 Plan” by Donna O. Johnson Mackey