Studying for finals

Posted on May 15, 2013 by mille287

By: Alexis Godshall 

Miami’s school year ended last week and you know that means we made it through exam week!  As a first year student, I had to learn how to organize yourself, so that I did would do my personal best. For exams, I think it’s important to start studying at least a week or two in advance, so that you don’t feel as overwhelmed when finals week comes around.

Students find that studying far enough in advance helps them learn the material at their own pace, as opposed to cramming at the last minute and potentially forgetting the material. Besides studying far enough in advance, designating specific days for each course is the best. You will then be able to dedicate the same amount of time to each subject and will have an organized way of studying.

Lastly, just don’t become too stressed. If you are stressed, not eating enough, or sleeping enough then you won’t do well.  I think if you do all these steps you will succeed when it’s time for you to take finals at Miami!

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King Library

Posted on May 6, 2013 by mille287

By: Alexis Godshall

King Library is the place to be! If you’re in the mood to listen to some music and hang out with friends, then you are more than welcome to find a seat in King Café, which has a very relaxed atmosphere. Students are allowed to chat and not feel like they are being too loud.  

The first level is much quieter than the café. On this level, students are working on computers, in groups, and even solo. The environment is much more study-oriented. The second level is extremely quiet and there are less people on this level. Most people gravitate towards the café and first floor, but the second floor is for those that want minimal distractions.

Finally, there is the third floor that is completely silent. This is the floor that you will get stared down by people if you make even the slightest noises because people are very focused. Each floor has seating provided to you and there are even study rooms that are for individuals or groups. Utilize your resources because King Library does make studying be a much easier task than just sitting in your dorm room.

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Need a job?

Posted on May 3, 2013 by mille287

By: Justine Daley

You have your diplomat meal plan. You have your MuLaa. But what if your friends want to take a break from Erickson dining hall and head uptown? What if you want to order Chinese food from Wild Bistro to your dorm room on a movie night? What if you want to spend a night on the town with your friends? Unfortunately, you cannot charge a meal at 45 East (or any other Uptown restaurant) to your diplomat!

This is where a campus job comes in handy. Students can work in basically any building on campus, like dining halls, academic offices, the recreation facilities, and a myriad of other places on campus. You can pour coffee at King Café, make stir-fry at Bell Tower Place, or mail packages at Wells Package Center. I even work at the Goggin Ice Center! All you have to do is put yourself out there and seek out the multitude of opportunities out there basically just for you, the Miami University college student.

How do you find your campus job?

Step 1: Go to www.miamistudentjobs.com.
Step 2: Search postings, and find a few jobs you are interested in!
Step 3: Create your application and submit!

If you want to be proactive about this process, I suggest looking at the job postings around late July or early August to get a jump start. Good luck and happy job hunting!

 

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Don’t know what to major in? That’s okay!

Posted on April 30, 2013 by mille287

By: Melissa Goldberg

Recently, while I was giving a tour of campus, I was discussing academics with a father of a prospective student when he said, “I bet it’s really unusual for students to switch majors then.” I explained to him how the exact opposite statement is more accurate where it would be unusual for students to not switch or at least consider switching majors. In fact, about 60% of college students across the country switch their major at least once while in college. And I am definitely part of that statistic, as long with the majority of people I know.

So for those of you that are absolutely terrified about trying to choose your major, I’m here to tell you not to worry because most likely, what your major is your freshman year won’t be what it is by the time you graduate. At Miami, you can take courses in a variety of subjects and find your interest that way. Of course, if you have a specific major in mind that you would like to pursue, by all means come in with that major but don’t feel like you are tied down to it for all of college if you find out you really dislike it after your first semester. If you meet with your academic adviser early on and discuss your concerns and interests, as well as stay on top of your credits, you can switch majors and still graduate on time.

I came in microbiology on a pre-med track. My whole like I wanted to be a pediatrician and I had no doubts about choosing my major when college time came around. However, after my first semester, I realized just how much I didn’t want to be a doctor anymore. I wasn’t passionate about the subject and my ideas of what I wanted completely changed but I thought I was stuck. Of course I eventually realized that it was completely fine to switch majors and that’s exactly what I did. I am currently a mass communications major with a marketing minor and my passion for learning has come back again. Not only have I made a drastic change in majors, I am studying abroad next semester and I am still on track to graduating on time.

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It’s that time of year

Posted on April 27, 2013 by mille287

By: Melissa Goldberg

It’s that time a year again. It’s the same thing in high school and college–that time where summer is so close it’s teasing us, but we still have 3 weeks left of classes. You can feel the stress for the hours of work, group projects, and exams building up while the scent of sweet summer air grows stronger each day. Now I know how easy it may be to sit in a pile surrounded by papers and books to just daydream about the days you’ll spend on the beach with those exciting summer plans but let’s face it, we can’t get to that point until we finish off the semester successfully.

Here are a few ways Miami students stay motivated:

1. Stay organized: My assignment notebook is flooded with marks, post-it notes and reminders. This keeps me on task and I know that if I didn’t make sure to write everything down, I’d be lost. Especially during these next weeks, make sure you stay on top of everything!

2. Treat yourself: When nights and weekends are slowly starting to be loaded with dates with Club King however, reward yourself for all those hours you spent studying for that exam you just aced. Be it going to the movies, painting uptown, or just going out to dinner uptown, rewarding yourself can help you stay motivated.

3. Stay focused: I know this is easier said than done. Believe me, I’ve been having a hard time trying to stay focused on the next 3 weeks myself but it’s vital. I keep reminding myself that if I finish off the semester in great academic style, I’ll enjoy my summer that much more.

4. Take some time to enjoy Oxford: I know the thing on everyone’s mind is to finish up the semester and go off with our summer plans but stop and look around. Many students will just be leaving Oxford for the summer, but I’m studying abroad next semester so I won’t be back till January of 2014. I’m honestly going to miss Oxford. From hanging out uptown, to being with all my friends, to just walking around campus, I’m really bittersweet about leaving so I’m enjoying the last few weeks while I can!

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Social fraternities and sororities

Posted on April 25, 2013 by mille287

By: Courtney Taylor

Miami strives to be the leader in diversity in all aspects, something it does well even where Greek Life is concerned. In order the join any Greek organization on campus, one must have 12 credit hours and a minimum GPA. At Miami, there are currently 3 councils that unite the primary sororities and fraternities on campus: the Panhellenic Council, the National Pan-Hellenic Council, and the Interfraternity Council.

  • Panhellenic Council: This council recognizes only chapters that exhibit good behavior and academic excellence. There are currently 19 sororities involved with the Panhellenic council at Miami University and most practice “Formal Recruitment,” which takes place at the start of the second semester.
  • National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC): This council consists of just six traditionally African American fraternities and sororities. These organizations conduct their recruitment in ways specific to each fraternity and sorority and are open to the entire Miami community. They also hold meet and greets at Mega Fair as well as other Welcome Week activities.
  • Interfraternity Council: This council presides over the fraternities on Miami’s campus (not linked to the NPHC) and the satellite houses that each fraternity owns off campus. Their recruitment is somewhat similar to that of the Panhellenic Council, being that they also hold their own type of “Formal Recruitment” at the start of the second semester.
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Social fraternities and sororities aren’t the only option!

Posted on April 24, 2013 by mille287

By: Courtney Taylor

Not all Greek organizations on campus are social fraternities and sororities. Other organizations pride themselves on other aspects of life, such as service, business, and academics. These groups are very prominent in making Miami such a great leader in community service, academic standings, and a high ranking college in business-related competitions!

  • Service Fraternities: Alpha Phi Omega is a service fraternity that assists with community work, individual causes, and works heavily with their philanthropies.
  • Music Fraternities and Sororities: There are several fraternities on campus that are open to all majors who appreciate the art of music. The organizations provide social, service, and academic support to all its members. 
  • Business Fraternities: Miami also has fraternities, including Alpha Kappa Psi and Delta Sigma Pi, on campus that specialize in maximizing career outcomes by giving the like majors their own chance to network through their own Greek life.
  • Honor Fraternities: These fraternities  focus primarily on academics and are for those who wish to be challenged more than the average student or would like to meet more people who decide social or business fraternities just aren’t their thing.
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Finding your Finals Week study spot

Posted on April 22, 2013 by mille287

By: Justine Daley

Finals week is quickly approaching, and students are starting to think about where the perfect study spot will be. King Library is a nut house this time of year, so it is time to get creative in finding the perfect environment. Here are some of my favorite places to go besides the frequently visited libraries on campus:

  1. Bell Tower Place: If you don’t mind a little bit of noise, Bell Tower has tables galore as well as easy access to study snacks. This gets busy around meal times, but besides that is the perfect study hiding spot. Other dining halls on campus may also provide similar atmospheres. Grab a tray right when lunch starts and stay the whole time, making use of large tables.
  2. The Art Museum: The Miami University Art Museum is free to students not only to look at the eclectic collections of art displayed, but also to use as a study spot. With free parking and free wi-fi, this quiet place provides a safe haven from the craziness amidst campus. If you need a study break, you can just take a walk around and take in the creative displays!
  3. Academic buildings: Need to meet with a group but can’t find a table due to crowds? Email your teacher and see if the academic building you have class in will be open! Buildings like the Psychology building, Farmer School of Business, and Benton Hall provide not only seating in the lobby, but all around the building.  These places are almost guaranteed to be quiet and not as populated.
  4. Outside: We have been blessed lately with perfect weather. Sometimes, you need to take a step outside and use the perfect lighting to study. Take a blanket out on the grass and study with friends. Find a picnic table on campus and set up shop.  With wi-fi all over campus, you can study your online flash cards basically anywhere!
  5. Uptown: So many restaurants and shops have wi-fi and tables, providing a myriad of places to switch it up when cramming. Don’t feel limited by the lack of table space at Starbucks or Koffenya. Check out SoHi or Subway!
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Scheduling classes

Posted on April 21, 2013 by mille287

By: Alexis Godshall

Scheduling isn’t my favorite time of year, but Miami makes it a little less chaotic. Depending on the number of credit hours your have, you are assigned a designated time slot to register for their classes.

Students log in to their BannerWeb, a website provided to you by Miami, and type in their courses that they want to register for. The website is very helpful because it will not let you overlap classes start and end times and will not let you go over 17 credit hours. The best part is that students are able to view which professors are teaching the classes, the class times and days, as well as the buildings that the classes are held. This information is helpful to students, so that they can plan their schedules so they have enough time to walk to their next class.

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Working Girls and Guys

Posted on April 19, 2013 by mille287

By: Melissa Goldberg

At first, the idea of having a job while in college may sound overwhelming. I know I didn’t think I could balance everything from classes to activities to having a social life, but in my second year here, I’ve realized that not only is there time, but it is extremely beneficial. According to the Miami University Student Employment site, about 5,300 students have on-campus jobs.

When I got hired to be a tour guide for Miami, I was ecstatic but a little concerned at the same time. As I mentioned previously, I didn’t think it would be possible to juggle everything I was involved in as well as clocking in at a job. I quickly learned that I was able to adapt to this new schedule and I love it. Not only did I have time for a job but I have learned to be much more efficient with my time as well as staying organized with all my commitments. It has forced me to learn and apply time management skills that are not only beneficial to me now but will be for the rest of my life.

Having a job is also a great way to get some real-world experience while still in school. Learning the ins and outs of a job helps students engage with co-workers and employees and students gain professionalism skills that will extend far beyond college. By being responsible with work obligations as well as learning how to communicate with co-workers, one gets a wealth of knowledge in real-world experience as well as networking skills that can be used for years to come.

Miami makes it extremely easy for students to have jobs on campus. If you visit the Student Employment site, you will see all the job listings with the descriptions and you can apply online. Even if one works just a few hours each week, a student will still gain all the benefits of learning to be efficient with time, professionalism skills as well as being involved on campus. Not to mention, it’s great having some spending money to go out with friends!

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