…And with winter coming, that also means that winter break is coming. Now, now, you might be thinking to yourself, “I cannot think about break when I have a thousand things to do!” and while that may be true, it never hurts to plan ahead!

• The last day to withdraw from a course with a W is November 15th
• Even though there is only a month left in the semester, there is still plenty of time to catch up, take advantage of all the resources available to you (Professor, tutoring, etc.)
• Study, and use your time accordingly, do not sacrifice your health (Ex: sleep) if you do not need to, this is the final push!
• Your final exam schedule can be found on SiS so make sure to log in and check that out! Rooms should be posted on there at a later date

All students living on campus need to be checked out of their room by December 17th at 6 PM. So you want to make sure that you are bringing home any priority items such as a laptop that you may need when home because you will not have access to your room after this time until the spring semester. Feel free to speak to your RA for any other specifics you may want to know

Just as you are, Enrollment Ambassadors are also UMass Lowell students. We can relate to the college struggles and understand the pressure of expectations to be successful once college ends. This is why I want to emphasize the importance of the Career Services’ Co-op Program.

I can’t even stress how important it is for students to apply for internships or co-ops during college. When you graduate, employers really look out for whether you made this effort or not. Getting your foot through the door is everything. My freshmen professors mentioned this all the time, but I let it go “in the ear and out the other.” It wasn’t until the summer before my junior year that I started to feel like I wasn’t doing much with my life. It hit me that I could really struggle with finding a career. That’s when I decided to look into the Co-op Program.

“There’s no way I’m joining the Co-op Program. I don’t want to graduate late.”

^^^ That was my mentality. I didn’t want to miss graduating with my friends. I didn’t think it would be a good look either. But boy, was I wrong.

First of all, you don’t necessarily have to graduate late if you join the Co-op program. They have two pathways you could take.

1. There is a 6 month pathway where you would take off a semester and work full-time if you are chosen for a position.

2. There is also a 3 month pathway that you could choose where you would be working for two summers.

Throughout your 6 month co-op, you’d still be considered a full-time student. If you feel like you can handle it, you could take evening classes or catch up on classes during the summer.

The entire Co-op Process if shown in the picture below.

I am currently taking the Professional Development Seminar and I have never been so thankful for a class. From strict revision on resumes to interviewing skills and Linked In Profiles, the advisors get very passionate about preparing you. You are not guaranteed a position, but with their guidance you have a great chance.

If this sounds like something for you, I suggest making an appointment here to speak with a Co-op advisor to learn more.

Let UML guide you into being Work Ready. Take advantage of these resources while you have it.

UPPERCLASSMEN ADVICE OF THE WEEK!

“Time management is key!” – Bruno S. (Junior Criminal Justice Major)

 Are you a morning bird? A night owl? Or have you turned into some kind of permanently exhausted pigeon?

 College is busy. October of the fall semester is especially busy, as you’ll be encountering due dates of homework, group projects, and papers. Also coming soon to a classroom near you: midterms. All of that hard work and hours of studying on top of your extracurriculars can make you very tired. That’s why sleep hygiene is so important. 

What are some ways to get your best sleep?

•  Stick to a routine. Having a bedtime routine lets your brain know it’s time to rest and that helps you fall asleep faster. 
• Use relaxation techniques and breathing exercises to fall asleep when stress and anxiety are keeping you up. 
• Keep your room cool and dark; studies show that a cooler temperature actually makes for better sleep. Experiment with windows, fans, and different blankets to find what is most comfortable for you. 
• Exercise during the day, but at the latest make sure it is at least three hours before you want to go to bed.
• Put your phone down! This is the hardest thing for most of us, but the light given off by your screen actually tricks your brain into thinking it’s daylight and time to wake up, which is the opposite of what you want.
• And lastly, don’t watch the clock! Turn your alarm clock to face away from you during the night. This prevents you from stressing about how much sleep you’re getting.

 Have a good night!

Upperclassmen Advice:
“Don’t neglect your health trying to get everything done. Your best work will come from when you feel your best so make sure to exercise and get sleep” – Corey C., chemical engineering

Hello Riverhawks! With the weather starting to cool down, how have you been feeling? You know, have you felt congested? Or maybe had a sore throat? Well this week we are going to focus on staying healthy! Because while we all want you to succeed in your academic and social life here at UMass Lowell, we also want you to do so without wearing yourself down because you are just as important as everything else. Scratch that… You are MORE important than those other things.

Conveniently located on the second floor of University crossing, the wellness center serves as a go to for… Well, all your wellness needs. For example, health services which is housed within the wellness center can do a check up on you if you feel like you need a professional opinion. They are also highly qualified to diagnose you and give you recommendations because they have full-time Nurse Practitioners on staff who are quite knowledgeable on what they do!

With September coming to an end, I’m sure first exams, projects, and essays are on its way! Not everyone considers themselves great test takers though. So, I’ve decided to provide you guys with a quick and fun video on how to prepare for an exam!

So, it’s clear that exams come with studying, BUT how much time do we actually give ourselves to study or simply finish any assignments in general. For most of us, probably not much. We all need to watch out for PROCRASTINATION and its secret agenda to stress us out as much as it can… I know. I know. It’s waaaaaaay easier said than done. It’s clear that we’re much happier when we tackle our assignments bit by bit, so WHY CAN’T WE JUST DO IT?! Why don’t we just stop procrastinating when we know it ONLY stresses us out? Well, let’s use this TED Talk video to first see “Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator.”

So, now that we know in a less scientific yet, funny way how it’s like to think like a procrastinator, I want to share some knowledge on HOW you can prevent yourself from procrastinating.

As I already mentioned, I know it’s easier said than done. It’s gonna take your own effort to fight it, but just think about how much happier you could be. Try finishing an assignment early and see how it makes you feel. That could motivate you to really change your habits. The thought of essays and exams is already stressful enough. Don’t procrastinate and make it even more tough on yourself. Hopefully, you use these tips and tricks and really make college a more positive experience.

Didn’t forget about the Upperclassmen Advice of the Week!
Jorge Soto, a Junior Business Student, says..

“Don’t be me. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Go to tutoring and email your professors when you don’t understand. You’ll regret it if you don’t.”

Hello Riverhawks! In our last blog we had mentioned that college will be a lot of fun, well lets expand on what you can do at UML! While the main purpose of college is to get you educated, you should definitely have fun because that leads to the best memories! And college should be memorable…Right?

1. Join a club! This is pretty straightforward. There are an ABUNDANCE of clubs here at UML, if there is something that interests you remotely then we probably have a club for you. For example, did you know there is a coffee club? I bet you didn’t, but yep we have one. They get together, drink coffee, and talk coffee, how great is that? Just head over to www.uml.edu/clubs to get a full list of the clubs that you can choose from!

Now, if there isn’t a club for an interest that you have, you can easily get a new club up and running. All you have to do is get you and 9 friends that want to start this club and head over to the office of student engagement in University Crossing, they will guide you with the rest of the process but then eventually you will be rewarded with your own club! Woo-hoo!

2. Go to events! There is always something going on on-campus and you should definitely take part in them. While you will see posters advertising certain events, scattered throughout campus, the easiest way to find out what events are going on is to download the Corq app on your smartphone, this lists every event and orders it by date and time! These events can be as simple as a presentation all the way to a sporting event. Oh, I should mention that sporting events are AMAZING so do yourself a favor and go to some!

3. Get active! If you love physical activity, there are quite a variety of things that you can take part in. Register yourself for an intramural tournament and be prepared to have lots of fun. Remember, these tournaments have different levels, so even beginners can play and still have fun. If you want a different type of commitment that is active, consider a club sport. Similarly to regular clubs, there are a variety of club sports to choose from. Heck, we even have a Quidditch team! So definitely check them out!

All in all, college is what YOU make of it, and getting involved can enhance that experience tremendously. Do not be afraid to try something new because you may never know how much you love it. While I only listed 3 kinds of activities, there are definitely many more things that you can do. So get out there Riverhawks, and have some fun!

Upperclassmen advice of the week:
“Being involved on campus has been great for me, it gave me confidence that I never had before and it allowed me to make more friends. Every new student should push themselves to get involved!”
– Leissy M. Junior, Biology major