|
Forward academic momentum (credits
taken)
Research shows that students who
complete at least 24 credits per academic year are more likely to stay
motivated to reach their goal of graduating from college. Students are
considered full-time when they take four or more courses (12 or more
credits) a semester; if you plan to complete your bachelor's degree in
four years, you should plan to take 15 credits (five courses) each
semester. If you need to reduce your credit load for any reason, keep
in mind that doing so may affect your financial aid or other standing as
a student. Check out our info sheet on how dropping a class may affect
you
http://www.usm.maine.edu/ess/withdraw
Top
Persisting in classes
Some students find it difficult to stay
focused and motivated in classes that don’t interest them or seem
disconnected to their career and life goals. The early parts of a
college degree are designed to expose you to a variety of subjects.
Once you have satisfactorily completed the core courses your options
for other classes open up. Many USM majors have a GPA minimum
requirement to gain acceptance, so it is important for you to stay
engaged and get passing grades in these early classes! If you are
finding it difficult to stay focused in a class, talk with the professor
and check out the academic support services offered through Learning
Foundations at USM http://www.usm.maine.edu/lap/
This is also a good time to make an
appointment with your advisor to talk about what’s going on.
http://www.usm.maine.edu/advising/
Top
Building
relationships with faculty/staff
When students make a
personal connection with one or more faculty and/or staff at USM it
makes the transition to college easier. Having a person to go to with
questions whether it be a professor, RA, or other staff person can keep
stress levels down and problem solving becomes a shared experience. The
Office of Early Student Success serves an entryway for you to the many
student services at USM and we are located on both the Portland and
Gorham campuses. Check us out
www.usm.maine.edu/ESS
Top
Managing finances and debt
Paying for a college education and
managing personal finances can be a challenge. MyMoney.gov is the U.S.
government's website dedicated to teaching all Americans the basics
about financial education. It is also important to use credit
wisely. As a college student, you may have credit card offers in your
mailbox every day. However, more and more students are facing
crippling credit card debt that can jeopardize paying for college or
even securing a loan later in life. Whether you are planning to buy a home,
balancing your checkbook, or investing in your 401k, the resources on
MyMoney.gov can help you do it better.
Did you know that Identity theft is the
fastest-growing white-collar crime in America today? Take a quiz to
assess your risk at
http://njaes.rutgers.edu/money/identitytheft/
Top
Minimizing substance use
It has been estimated that 45% of
academic problems and 28% of dropouts during the first year of college
are directly related to high-risk alcohol and other drug use. For more
information about substance use and the college experience, please visit
www.usm.maine.edu/alcohol
Top
Establishing clear,
realistic goals
Students who have clear
academic and personal goals are more likely to finish a bachelor’s
degree in four years saving
them money and moving them closer to achieving their career and
life goals.
Use the
SMART
acronym to help you:
S
–
Specific: Be specific in what you want to accomplish for the semester
and the academic
year. This can
include goals such as passing all of your classes, making new friends,
getting involved in a
club, getting a job on or off campus, etc.
M
–
Measurable: Make sure that you are clear enough about what you want to
accomplish
that you can measure
your success along the way.
A –
Achievable: As
the saying goes, try not to bite off more than you can chew! Be
realistic
about what makes
sense for you and your needs and don’t be afraid to make course
corrections along
the way as needed.
R –
Related: What
you are trying to accomplish academically as a student relates to your
career and life
goals. Talk with your advisor about ways to connect these together.
T –
Timely: Create
goals that can be realistically accomplished over the next year!
Top
Getting involved
The research is clear: getting involved
OUTSIDE the classroom results in better performance INSIDE the
classroom. Think about your academic, career and personal interests and
look for matching opportunities at USM. Check out a
copy of the "Success @ USM” publication.
Top
Positive relationships
Building positive
relationships is one of the best ways to start feeling connected at
USM. The university offers numerous opportunities to get involved in
clubs, learning communities or just engage in recreational activities
with other students. Start meeting new people, get some exercise and
have some fun!
Top
Addressing homesickness & other emotional stress
Even those students who
never imagined feeling homesick can experience a longing for friends,
family, pets and other things that are familiar and comforting in their
life. As you settle into the school year it is normal to feel some
anxiety about the decision you made to attend USM and you may be
wondering if you made the right decision. We encourage you to talk with
family and friends about what you are feeling and if you live in a
residence hall your Resident Advisor and Resident Director are great
resources to make contact with. University Counseling Services offers
free sessions for any student who has paid the health fee.
http://www.usm.maine.edu/ucs/
Top
Staying physically healthy
Attending college means a new schedule
and new demands that may interfere with your sleep habits, food choices
and exercise level. You are also getting exposed to new germs! It is
important to pay attention to your daily rituals and stay on top of your
health. USM Athletics and Recreation can connect you with a variety of
activities
http://www.usm.maine.edu/athletics/
USM Health Services has links to
health related topics. Check out Healthy Links at
http://www.usm.maine.edu/health/healthyLinks.htm
Top
Working enough, but not
too many hours
Many students work while attending
college for the financial as well as the personal rewards that go with
it. Research has shown that students who work more than 10-15 hours a week
on average have a harder time balancing the demands of school and work. Assess
your needs each semester and consider making changes if the demands of
work and school are taking a toll on your studies. Look for a job that
has enough flexibility to match your changing schedule each semester.
Career Services and Professional Life Development can help you look for
opportunities
http://www.usm.maine.edu/careers/
Top
Taking a healthy
approach to technology
At USM, we encourage you to utilize
technology in ways that connect you with other students, build a sense
of community, and enhance your learning both inside and outside of the
classroom. Just like any decision that you face as a USM student, we
want you to think critically about the use of technology to ensure that
it is helping you reach your goals and not inadvertently creating
obstacles for you. Miscommunication can happen between students due to
an IM chat or an email message being misinterpreted a certain way
because of the lack of body language and other cues that are often
absent in such electronic formats. Also, spending a significant amount
of time online can result in missing the many opportunities you have as
a USM student to participate in campus life.
Particular attention needs to be paid to online profiles, as this can
result in students making some poor and even high-risk choices.
Employers are now routinely checking the Facebook and MySpace profile of
job applicants. It is often a "wake-up call" when students begin to
consider that deleting a profile does not necessarily mean that it has
disappeared. Posting your cell phone number, apartment or residence hall
location, and class schedule online may seem like a way to provide your
friends with ways of reaching you, but as a result there have been
numerous victims of stalking, harassment, and other crimes that have
originated from online websites.
There are some steps you can take to reduce your risk, both to your
immediate safety as well as to your longer-term reputation, development,
and employment. Here are some of those "rules to live by" online:
-
If you wouldn't post it on your
front door, don't post it online.
-
Use privacy settings to help
control who can access your information.
-
Remember that your online profile
may be the only impression someone has of you, whether that be a
peer, a staff or faculty member at USM, or a potential employer.
-
If you find yourself spending more
time than you planned online, take a break, even if you need support
to do so.
Keep in mind that it is ILLEGAL to
download and/or share copyrighted material including (but not limited
to): mp3's, video, and picture files w/out permission of the copyright
owner. Learn more about copyrights at:
http://www.usm.maine.edu/resnet/doc/copyright.html
Top
Receiving support for
mental illness
The demands of being a student can be
an additional strain on your mental health and well being. University
Counseling Services offers services on all three USM campuses to support
you and they understand the many issues you face as a college student.
Hundreds of students take advantage of this service each year for
anything ranging from relationship issues to depression or anxiety. A mandatory health fee for University Health and Counseling Services is
charged to students registered for six or more credits. Students who
pay the fee can obtain unlimited free office visits at University Health
Services and 12 free counseling sessions at University Counseling
Services.
http://www.usm.maine.edu/ucs/
Top
Minimizing or
eliminating high-risk gambling
Gambling behavior can affect more than
just financial gains and losses; gambling can interfere with
relationships, jobs, and education. Small percentages of respondents
to one study reported that they had been criticized for their gambling;
had argued with someone with whom they live about gambling, cut classes
or missed work; and hid evidence of their gambling behavior from others.
For more information about gambling and the college experience please
check out:
http://www.unh.edu/health-services/ohep/gambling.html Contact USM
Health and Counseling at
http://www.usm.maine.edu/ucs/
Top
Securing adequate child care
We know that managing multiple life
roles as a parent, student, and/or full time employee can be a
challenge. Students who need to arrange child care in order to pursue
their studies can rely on the quality care provided by USM's
Child and Family Centers. Child care is provided on both the
Portland and Gorham campuses for children from infancy through
adolescence, and parent counseling services and workshops are also
offered. Financial assistance is available. 207-780-4125
The state of Maine has many different
child care options to meet the various needs of families. To learn more
about the options available, click on:
http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/occhs/infoparents.htm
| 
