Category Archives: Uncategorized

Welcome Back!

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WELCOME BACK RIVERHAWKS!!
 We hope you enjoyed your break! Now it’s time to get back to work and ace all your classes this semester!
Here’s a few things you might have forgotten during your winter slumber:

YOUR HEALTH
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We’re guessing you probably slept a lot during break, as well as ate a lot of junk. We know we did! Now it’s time to get back into good sleeping habits so that you can wake up on time for your classes. And making sure you take care of yourself to prevent sickness is important too. Attending class is your first step to success!
YOUR STUDY SKILLS 
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Just in case you forgot, let’s go over some of the things you can do academically to succeed this semester.
  • Practice good study habits in an environment that works for you!
  • Be aggressive in staying ahead of your work so that you don’t fall behind!
  • Go to class, go to class, go to class!
  • Don’t forget to make use of your professor or the Centers For Learning. They are there to help you!
YOUR RESOURCES
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   And just to remind you, here’s a list of your resources when you have questions:
  • The Solution Center (1st floor UCrossing) with any questions regarding the registrar or financial aid 
  • Reslife (1st floor UCrossing) for any questions about your residence hall or living on campus next semester 
  • Your professors, TAs, Centers for Learing, and your advisor for any questions or concerns regarding your courses
  • Your friendly neighborhood Enrollment Ambassadors for anything else!  (Alexander_Eden@student.uml.edu) and (Erika_McCullough@student.uml.edu)
 
WE WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK THIS SEMESTER AND AGAIN, WELCOME BACK!
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P.S. Don’t forget to check out all of the events happening this week!  

Finally Finals

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Okay Riverhawks, it’s time to finish strong!
Here are the best ways to tackle finals week:
Plan your week around studying
Figure out your exact exam schedule and then plan exactly when you’re going to study for each subject. Even plan your breaks and time to eat! The more efficiently you use your time, the more prepared you will be and preparation is your best weapon against test anxiety.
Create a good study environment
Pick the place that works best for you (check out our last post for some ideas!) and move in for the week. Bring headphones, even if you don’t listen to music, to keep people from bothering you. Bring healthy snacks to munch on – food is brain fuel!
Exercise
Do not neglect your health this week. Fitting in even a small amount of exercise a day (such as taking a walk with some friends) is good for you. It will give your brain a break and will also be a good form of stress relief.
 Get plenty of sleep
I cannot stress this one enough. Study hard during the day and then cement the material at night during a good night’s sleep. By getting enough sleep, you will also feel more alert and less spacey when you actually sit down to the exam.
You got this Riverhawks! And congratulations on completing your first semester here!
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Do you see the finish line?

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Procrastination? No! DETERMINATION!
With the last week of classes beginning next week, this is the time when you really need to push through! Procrastination may be getting worse by the minute but you need to remember that these grades now are just as important as the grades that you received at the beginning of the semester!
Your GPA is precious so if you start to slack now, an A can turn into an A-, a B into a B-, and so on. If you have a major exam or project this week or next week, turning in something of poor quality could turn your B into a C! Definitely be wary and do not procrastinate. There are many techniques that you can use to ward off procrastination, one technique is to actually exercise! Some individuals actually feel more motivated and focused after they have finished exercising, so definitely give it a shot!
Study Spots
Since we are talking about the end of the semester, one thing that you may want to consider is the perfect study spot. While the residence halls will have 24 hour quiet hours during finals week, it is important to know what works best for you when it comes to studying. Some people have too many distractions in their rooms so they choose not to study there. Some people also rather study alone rather than in a group. So definitely try to brainstorm what will work best for you and you will definitely reap the rewards. Some study spots include but are not limited to:

  • Libraries
  • Common room
  • Computer labs
  • UCrossing
  • Southwick dining
  • McGauvran Meeting rooms
  • Tutoring centers
Wrap-up
Riverhawks, you can do this! Push down on the pedal and you can finish off a semester to be proud of. And definitely remember to study, those finals are important!

Shopping on Cyber Monday!

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Happy Thanksgiving all!

For some, Thanksgiving means getting stuffed with food and a lack of sleep for those Black Friday adventures! However, if you’re anything like me, Black Friday sounds way too chaotic. Why wait in long lines when you have Cyber Monday? If shopping from the comfort of your own home is for you, then I have some great ideas.

After searching the web, I came across dealnews.com and noticed that their top 10 recommended Cyber Monday sales list sounded awesome!

Here are a few that I thought really stood out:

1.                                     Image result for travelocity

Winter break is coming up and you might want a well-deserved vacation. Travelocity is known to have great discounts when booking a trip on Cyber Monday!

2.                                                    Image result for Levis

Jeans can SURELY be expensive. However, take advantage of Levi’s jeans as they are known to add an additional discount to their Black Friday sales on Cyber Monday. I could surely use some!

3.                                      Image result for Deal genius

Stressed out from the thought of Christmas Shopping this year? Same! As a college student on a budget, I’d definitely check out Deal Genius for awesome, but affordable Christmas presents during Cyber Monday.

To check out other recommended places to shop at on Cyber Monday click here!

Good luck shopping and hope you’re all in the Holiday spirit!




UPPERCLASSMEN ADVICE!

“If you’re taking notes from class on your laptop, make sure to save it on Google Docs or a USB, just in case your laptop crashes like mine did right before my finals last semester!”

– Amara S. (Nursing Student)

Wintertime Blues

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How To Finish Strong & Avoid Burnout
 
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It’s getting to that point in the semester: it’s cold, dark out at 5 o’clock, and you’re so close to winter break that you’re losing the energy to do anything remotely academic. That’s okay! It’s normal! So here are some tips to keep it all together:
  
Step 1: Take Care of You
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Now that the days are shorter and a little gloomier, you need to make sure you are in good shape. That means good nutrition (get in all your vitamins, especially C & D!), exercise, and sleep. The better you feel physically, the more productive you will be with your schoolwork. 
Step 2: Stay Organized 
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Just because you only have a few assignments or exams left in each class, doesn’t mean you can slack off now. This is the final sprint! A good way to stay on top of things is to make lists. That way you won’t forget about anything and it feels good to physically cross out or check off items as you complete them. 
Step 3: Stay Motivated
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There are four weeks left of classes and then finals week. You are almost finished your first semester here and you made it! Work hard for the time remaining and then you get to relax for almost a month. Get those good grades and then be proud of them; you earned them!
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Winter is coming…

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…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!

Classes
Before I go into the importance of planning ahead for winter break, I just wanted to touch upon a few quick notes when it comes to classes:

  • 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
Moving back home
Image result for winterAll 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
Something that certain students like to do is they begin bringing certain clothes back home weeks in advance that they no longer need in their residence halls. This makes it easier when you move out in December so that you can carry less. 
You are also able to live on campus over the winter if you want to, you just need to put in a request with residence life. Please note, that this does cost extra!

Final Thoughts
We have roughly one month left of classes and while it may feel like everything is piling up, you can certainly get through! You are all Riverhawks and with that comes the power to soar! Continue to use the resources available to you and you will earn the credits you deserve and get a nice winter break. 
Upperclassmen Advice of the Week:
“I never realized how intense my classes could get at times, but it certainly does seem to pick up towards the end of the semester. I am so glad that we had the centers for learning because if it were not for the tutors there, I may not have passed some of my classes. Make sure to use it!”
– Vincent S. – Junior Psychology Major

Professional Cooperative Education Program

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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.

Three discinct phases of the UMass Lowell co-op program

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)

Scheduling Struggles

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We are halfway through this semester and yet it’s already time to start thinking about the next one! By now you should have met with your advisor and have made plans for what classes to take in the spring. Here are some of the issues that can come up with enrolling and the best ways to approach them:

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“This class is full”
This is okay and it happens. The only thing you can do is have a backup plan. Have a couple of other classes in mind that fulfill requirements and try to enroll in one of those instead.

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“I don’t want to take an 8 am”
Unfortunately, you will have to take early classes at some point or another. The best thing to do is look at the bright side. You still get to sleep in a little later than you did in high school. And by taking earlier classes, your day will end sooner, giving you plenty of free time in the afternoon and at night.

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“This course is going to be boring/hard/has nothing to do with my major”
This is another case where you need to be optimistic. Look at these classes as an opportunity to learn something you normally wouldn’t get the chance to. You will become a well-rounded individual! You will also get to meet new people who may introduce you to exciting new topics you wouldn’t discuss within your major.

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The thing to keep in mind is that next semester is not ruined if you have to take an 8 am or a boring class or can’t get the exact schedule you want. These things happen to everyone. You will still have fun and you will still be one step closer to graduation. So finish this semester strong and dive into the next one!


Wait, Its almost Time to Register for Classes?

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YEP! But do not panic, I promise that it will all be okay and that as long as you are prepared ahead of time, you will go into registration, knowing exactly what you need to do! Maybe down the line you will get excited for registration, because personally, I love figuring out how my next semester is going to look like!

Advising
One of the biggest things you need to do is SPEAK TO YOUR ADVISOR. I cannot stress this enough. If you are the kind of student that already knows what they plan on taking next semester, you still need to speak to your advisor! At the end of the day, they are the most knowledgeable on your major requirements and can make sure that you stay on track to complete all the classes that you need to. Also, you should definitely try to go to your appointment with any questions in mind, that way you can ask them sooner rather than later. For example, if you are interested in getting the discussion started on a 4+1 program, mention it, and your advisor will help structure a plan with you. If you do not know who your advisor is, just log in to SiS and you can find out on there!
***Important note: if you do not go to your advisor, there will be a hold on your account and you will NOT be able to register for classes!

Choosing Classes
As of tomorrow, the list of classes that you will be able to take will be posted on SiS. What this means is that you can get a head-start on figuring out what times you want to take for all of your courses. Eventually, when your enrollment date comes and you have to actually enroll in classes, you can do it manually in SiS or you can use the new, convenient, schedule builder. You may have been introduced on how to use it at some point but in case you would like a refresher, you can view this brainshark on how to use it:
http://www.brainshark.com/uml/vu?pi=zHBzkXAUUz7hQVz0
Just remember that if you do not get into your #1 preference for the class, that is perfectly fine. At the end of the day, what matters most is that you complete the course in general!
Last notes
Remember Riverhawks, choosing classes is not as complicated as it may first seem. Just make sure that you are proactive on meeting with your advisor, and planning your courses ahead of time, and of course seek help if you need it! Also, another big thing to mention is that you should check your SiS account for any other holds you may have as those will also prevent you from registering for classes
Good luck! 
Upperclassmen Advice of the Week:
“I wish someone had told me how important it was to speak to your advisor, I didn’t go during my first semester and not only did I miss my enrollment date due to a hold, but I was going to end up taking the wrong courses! Do not make the same mistake!
– Jose R. Sophomore Criminal Justice major

Let’s Get to Know our Chancellor!

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Chancellor Jacquie Moloney began her career as a social worker for the Lowell Association for Retarded Citizens. She then became director for the Indochinese Refugees Foundation. She was even a part of the board of directors for Lowell General Hospital, Greater Lowell Community Foundation, House of Hope, Girl’s Inc. and more!
Not only is she an alumni of UML, she is referred to as a “Double River Hawk” for having received a bachelor’s degree in sociology as well as her doctorate degree in education. She conducted research that led to her creation of the UML’s renowned online programs that has even received recognition internationally!
Before becoming Chancellor, she was the Dean of the Division of Online and Continuing Education and director of our Centers for Learning. She was also involved in the development of UML’s Office of Entrepreneurship and Economic Development. This brought $10 million worth of funding that led to many great partnerships with organizations like Massachusetts Life Sciences Center.
I’m sure you’ve all heard of the Difference Maker Program by now. Chancellor Moloney is also credited with establishing that as well!

Eventually, Jacquie Moloney was chosen to be Executive Vice Chancellor by our previous chancellor, Marty Meehan, who is now President of the UMass system. Inaugurated as chancellor on August 3rd, 2015, she became the first female chancellor of UMass Lowell.

She plans to implement the UMass Lowell 2020 Strategic Plan that is a strategy to enhance every aspect of the campus.
With her help, UML has progressed into the university that we now know and love! Thank you Chancellor Moloney!

UPPERCLASSMAN ADVICE OF THE WEEK!
“Be resilient. School can be really tough and I didn’t know how to handle the stress as an underclassman. You just have to stay determined and believe that you’ll get through it.”
– Najja Joseph, Junior Electrical Engineering Student