College Advising at UC Santa Cruz

FINAL EXAMINATION SCHEDULE: MON - THURS, JUNE 11 - 14

Can you believe finals are here already???  The spring 2012 final examination schedule can be downloaded from the Fall 2012 Schedule of Classes.  Go to item 6:  “Final Examination Policies and Schedule.”  First you will see Fall 2012, scroll down and Spring 2012 will be listed.  Planning out your finals will help you to be able to prioritize your studying and allow you to feel more organized.  Remember to take care of yourself during this time with healthy food, sleep, and little breaks now and then.  Stock up on pencils, blue books and scantrons so that you will be prepared!  Good luck!

DO YOU NEED TO REQUEST AN INCOMPLETE?

At the instructor’s discretion, an incomplete grade notation may be assigned for work that is of passing quality but incomplete by the end of spring term.  The deadline to complete the work must be negotiated with the instructor and must be no later than the last day of fall quarter 2012.  Incomplete grade notations are typically given for emergency reasons or unforeseen circumstances, and if the course work is not completed by the deadline, the “I” lapses to an “F” or “NP”.  Because an incomplete grade carries no credit, talk with your college academic adviser about the possible consequences on your academic standing.  If an Incomplete grade is truly necessary for your situation, you must make your request with your instructor by the end of the quarter, June 8, 2012.  Faculty members generally appreciate any efforts you might make to contact them well before the end of the quarter.

IT IS NEVER TOO EARLY TO START CAREER PLANNING

Whether you are in your first, second, third or fourth year at UCSC, you can be taking steps to identify meaningful career goals.  Click here for a four-year planner with suggested activities for each year to clarify your career interests and begin to take steps to enter the professional world.  The Career center offers career assessments at UCSC and links to online career assessments, major handouts that link majors to careers, and much more.  Click here to see a comprehensive list of all career services available to students.

INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY IN EDUCATION: CORRE LA VOZ

Undergraduate mentors will intern at Bay View Elementary with 4th and 5th graders who need to re-classify as English proficient.  You will work with students in areas of: math tutoring, digital project development, photography, video making, etc.  Working with students in small groups and one-on-one to assess their interests and needs will be key.  As a mentor you will learn: classroom management, math tutoring skills, tools for English Language Learners, digital technology, and immersion in educational and developmental issues as they arise.

To be a mentor in the program you can contact Leslie Lopez at lesliel@ucsc.edu for application procedures.  If accepted, you will enroll in EDUC 199 a 5 credit course that has a seminar component on Mondays from 5pm-6:30pm, Tuesday’s and Thursdays will be spent in the field from 3pm-5:30pm.

WHAT IS ACE?

Are you thinking about majoring in a science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) discipline?  Would you like to meet other UCSC students with the same interest?  Then ACE is the Place for you!

The UCSC Academic Excellence Program (ACE) brings STEM students together in small discussion sections that accompany the large math and science lectures.  This program helps you understand the lecture and textbook through concept specific worksheets that you and your classmates work on as a team.

ACE is offering discussion sections for fall 2012 in CHEM 1A, 1B, 1C, & 108A, MATH 3, 11A, 19A, & 23A, BIO 20A, and PHYS 6A.  The deadline for priority enrollment for these sections is TOMORROW Friday, June 1st.  Download the application HERE and submit to the ACE Office in Baskin Engineering 199. 

For more information visit the ACE website.

ADVISING TIP OF THE WEEK: PREPPING FOR FINALS

As you wrap up your 9th week of spring 2012, finals are waiting right around the corner.  In two more weeks the quarter will be over and summer break will be here!  But before you start daydreaming about the wonderful summer plans that lie ahead, make sure you are setting yourself up for finals success.  You are on the home stretch, the final sprint to the finish line, so don’t give up now!  Here are a few tips that can help you stay focused on your finals prep:

1. Take advantage of review sessions.  Find out if your professor or TA will be holding a review before the final.  If so, do not miss it!  This will give you the inside scoop for the test and the opportunity to ask questions and clarify any confusion before the final.
2. Form a study group.  If you haven’t done so already, form a study group with some of your fellow classmates.  You can meet a couple of times between now and the final in order to prepare.  Group study can help you solidify your knowledge by allowing you to explain concepts to others, while at the same time you will learn from your group members.  Studying in a group also creates greater accountability.  You are less likely to bail on your friends, than if you have a study date with yourself!
3. Get missed notes from a classmate.  It is likely that you missed at least one class this quarter; if not, give yourself a pat on the back!  If you did have to miss any classes, now is the time to ensure you have any missing notes or handouts from those classes.  One of your classmates is likely to come through for you.
4. Skim through missed readings.  Reality is, you were not able to get all of your reading done for every class.  For the classes that seem to rely heavily on reading content for testing, go back and skim through chapters or sections that you may have missed during the quarter.  Especially those covering topics that were a big focus of discussion in class or that have appeared on previous exams.  
5. Find out what your current grade is.  Now is the time to check in with your professor or TA after class or during office hours regarding your current grade in their class.  Some may not be able to give you a hard and fast answer, but it is worth it to at least ask.  Finding out this information will allow you to set a goal for your finals.  This awareness could result in the difference of a whole letter grade.

MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY: MON, MAY 28

Monday, May 28th, no classes and UCSC campus office will be closed in observation of Memorial Day.

DEADLINE: REMOVAL OF INCOMPLETE FROM WITNER 2012: THURS, JUNE 14

If you received a grade of “I” (Incomplete) in a winter 2012 course, it is time to finish your work if you haven’t already done so!  (Not sure if you have an Incomplete?  Check your winter grades on your MyUCSC now.)  Contact the instructor to clarify what is required to complete the course.  You must complete the work for the course and file the “Petition for Removal of an Incomplete” before the last day of the quarter, Thursday, June 14th.  (Your instructor can set an earlier deadline for work due to them.)  The petition is available online at http://reg.ucsc.edu/forms.htm; a $10 fee will post to your student business account upon filing.  Complete procedures can be found in Chapter 4 of The Navigator on page 61.  If you do not complete the work by the end of spring quarter your Incomplete will lapse to a “No Pass” or an “F: depending on which grade option you selected.

SENIORS! DO YOU NEED TO CORRECT YOUR EGT (Expected Graduation Term)?

Your EGT (Expected Graduation Term) can be found in your Student Advising Summary on the Student Center page of your MyUCSC portal.  Clicking on the “Degree” tab will reveal your final quarter at UCSC.  If you need extra time beyond your EGT to complete your degree requirements (especially if your EGT is spring 2012), it is important to see your college adviser to petition extra quarters as soon as possible.  It is very important to have an accurate EGT, especially if you hope to receive financial aid next year!
 

SATISFYING YOUR C2 REQUIREMENT

Have you satisfied your C2 requirement?  Your C2 requirement must be satisfied before the start of your 7th UCSC quarter.  Writing 2 and 80B of your college core course (and Stevenson 81B) are the only UCSC courses that satisfy the C2 composition general education requirement for graduation.  WRITING 2 COURSES FILL UP QUICKLY, so be sure to enroll at your first opportunity!

• Enrollment Procedures:  You must satisfy the Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR) and C1 before taking Writing 2.  If you have not yet satisfied ELWR, click here for info.  Not sure if you’ve satisfied ELWR?  Visit your MyUCSC portal and go to your academic advisement report.  Please see your college adviser for any questions or concerns surrounding this.