““Adjusting to ISU”Adjusting to ISU”Julia N. Visor Academic Center

Fall 2010

Welcome to ISU!Welcome to ISU!

Congratulations on your decision to attend Illinois State University!

Our goal today is to help ease your academic transition to ISU.

To do that, we will talk about what that transition might look like, as well as services provided by the Julia N. Visor Center that will help you adjust to college academics.

IntroductionsIntroductions

Could I have a few volunteers describe what was discussed between partners?

Do we see any commonalities among the answers?

Introductions Introductions

But first, let’s get to know one another. Find a partner, introduce yourselves, and

answer the following questions:◦Why did you choose ISU? ◦If you have a major, what is it? ◦What’s your favorite thing about ISU so far? ◦In terms of classes, is there anything that

makes you nervous?

Adjusting to ISUAdjusting to ISU

In order to obtain admission to ISU, it is likely that you received good grades in high school.

You may have had to study a lot or only a little to do well in your courses.

However, college academics will likely bring on a new challenge.

In order to meet that challenge, it is necessary to understand the difference between high school and college courses.

How is college different from high How is college different from high school? school?

You are likely very excited about the freedom associated with college.

Regardless of whether you live on-campus or off, college is a time when you will meet many new people and will likely make life-long friends.

Unlike high school, you now have the ability to choose much of what you will study and can shape your own schedule.

How is college different from high How is college different from high school? school?

Although college promises more freedom in both academic and social aspects, college also expects more responsibility.

In college, you must manage your own time efficiently.

Professors and instructors may not remind you of upcoming tests or assignments, they will expect you to familiarize yourself with the course syllabus.

If you miss a class, your professor will expect you to obtain the material you missed; he or she will not seek you out.

How is college different from high How is college different from high school? school?

In high school, you many assignments and tests throughout the quarter, semester, or year.

In college, your grade in a course may be based on only a few exams.

In high school, your teachers may have routinely reviewed course material in class.

In college, professors may expect you to complete this process on your own.

The Visor Center can help!The Visor Center can help!

The purpose of the preceding information is not to scare you…only to help you better prepare for the realities of college!

Here at the Visor Center, we offer workshops, course content tutoring, and writing assistance.

All of our services are free!At the Visor Center, we help students

succeed.

How can we help you?How can we help you?

We offer helpful, informative workshops, much like this one.

Some workshops that may be of particular interest to you as a first year student are: ◦“How to Talk to Your Professor”◦“Study Tools and Test-Taking”◦“Textbook Reading Strategies”◦“Time Management”◦“Math Study Skills”◦“Taking and Using Notes Effectively”◦“Stress Management”

Course Content TutoringCourse Content Tutoring

In addition to our many workshops, we also offer course content tutoring in the following courses:

Accounting: 131, 132, 230, 231

Biology: 101, 181, 182, 196, 197

Chemistry: 102, 110, 140, 141

Economics: 138Geology: 102History: 111

Kinesiology and Recreation: 181, 182

Math: 113, 119, 120, 121, 144, 145, 146, 147

Management and Quantitative Reasoning: 100

Physics: 102, 105Politics and

Government: 101, 106, 140

Psychology: 110Spanish:111, 112, 115,

116, 213

Why should I sign up for tutoring? Why should I sign up for tutoring?

96% of students who utilize our tutoring services pass the class!

You will have the opportunity to meet other students in a welcoming group environment.

While you may think it makes sense to sign up for tutoring after you realize you need help, it would actually be in your best interest to sign up early in the semester.

Writing AssistanceWriting Assistance

We also offer writing assistance in any course!

This will help you adjust to the different writing styles that some professors and instructors will expect in your courses.

Professors and instructors will expect your work to be free of spelling and grammar errors and having a writing tutor help you proofread will help you turn in the best work you can.

How do I obtain services from the How do I obtain services from the Visor Center?Visor Center?

To sign up for workshops, go to www.ucollege.ilstu.edu/tutoring/workshops and reserve your spot!

To reserve your place in a tutoring group, call (309) 438-7100, or stop by Vrooman 012 to sign up.

For set up an appointment for writing assistance, visit Vrooman 012.

Questions?

Thank you!Thank you!

Thank you for attending our workshop today.

Here is a list of our upcoming workshops:

We hope to see you in the Visor Center!