College Discussion - View Single Post

NorCalDad · 07-24-2008, 04:32 PM

Paul/Wogus,

This is a great post! You provide some good personal insight that I think a lot of prospective/incoming students will find valuable.

As a parent of an Emory student (from Bay Area/California), I have found that most of the people I have spoken with are NOT "really mean over the phone". Maybe I was just lucky, but maybe not. At any rate, I think many of them are busy and like most people, they don't always have time to devote to constant phone interruptions to their daily schedules.

I entirely concur with your advice to freshman to get immediately involved. The transition to college for many incoming freshmen can be deceptively complex -- such as with adjustments to a new social environment being non-intuitive to many who have come from comfortable homes where they've known their friends since kindergarten. Because Emory does not have Div. I athletics, there is a lack of an established focus for students to come together, especially in the vein of say "school spirit". As you say, there are hundreds of organizations available to students, and the toughest thing to do is to choose which ones to get involved with. One thing seems certain, however, and that is that the student must reach out.

I have found that the resources available to students at Emory are vast. That said, it's sometimes difficult to know where to start if you have a problem. I have always recommended that if somebody (whether it be a student or a parent) is confused, start with the Office of Undergraduate Education. Their resources alone are very broad, everything from academic advicement to learning specialists... or directing you to the right person elsewhere at Emory. Whereas Emory is not huge, it's still a big place that especially for freshmen can be daunting.

Here are some quick thoughts on other touchpoints that I think are beneficial:

Woodruff Library: Take the tour; talk to the librarians; there are dozens of Ph.D. research librarians working there, just waiting to help you with your topical research. (Also, check out all the other libraries, such as Music & Media -- just fabulous materials to know about.)

Science Advising: This is part of the Office of U/G Education. Focused on science students, this resource can be helpful in steering you toward the maze of science classes/requirements. Here is their link: Emory College | Current Students | Science Advising

Also, at the above site, you can click on another link to "Clued In: A Survival Guide for the Science Student at Emory". If you are an incoming freshman, you will need to use your student ID and Password to access. For science students, it has a wealth of information.

Office Hours for Professors: Take advantage of this. All professors have posted office hours, and many feel that many students do not visit them often enough. They are there to help and guide you.

Tutoring: There are so many, it's difficult to name all of the resources, but for incoming freshmen, know that there are places such as The Emory Writing Center (Welcome to Emory Writing Center) that provide graduate student and peer tutors that can help improve your writing skills. What's apparent is that they won't come to you, but if you need any kind of academic help, reach out to them.

Learnlink: I think that organizing one's life (contacts, schedules, events, tasks, homework, assignments) is imperative to being successful -- and this holds true for students as well as professionals/adults. Personally, I have a smartphone that has an integrated PDA, which I find essential to my professional life, and I think the same types of tools can be highly valuable to students. The Learnlink facility at Emory can be a very beneficial focal point for organizing yourself. Unfortunately, it's not what I consider to be highly intuitive, so it serves all students well to go through the Learnlink guides and know how you can use it.

Balance: Whether it's doing intramural sports, working out at the WoodPEC, or doing volunteer work through Volunteer Emory, try to find balance. Don't just study 24/7. Diversify your academic classes. Look for things that will broaden your horizons. The college years can be the best years of your life if you explore all your options.

07-24-2008, 04:32 PM	#4
NorCalDad Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 667	Paul/Wogus, This is a great post! You provide some good personal insight that I think a lot of prospective/incoming students will find valuable. As a parent of an Emory student (from Bay Area/California), I have found that most of the people I have spoken with are NOT "really mean over the phone". Maybe I was just lucky, but maybe not. At any rate, I think many of them are busy and like most people, they don't always have time to devote to constant phone interruptions to their daily schedules. I entirely concur with your advice to freshman to get immediately involved. The transition to college for many incoming freshmen can be deceptively complex -- such as with adjustments to a new social environment being non-intuitive to many who have come from comfortable homes where they've known their friends since kindergarten. Because Emory does not have Div. I athletics, there is a lack of an established focus for students to come together, especially in the vein of say "school spirit". As you say, there are hundreds of organizations available to students, and the toughest thing to do is to choose which ones to get involved with. One thing seems certain, however, and that is that the student must reach out. I have found that the resources available to students at Emory are vast. That said, it's sometimes difficult to know where to start if you have a problem. I have always recommended that if somebody (whether it be a student or a parent) is confused, start with the Office of Undergraduate Education. Their resources alone are very broad, everything from academic advicement to learning specialists... or directing you to the right person elsewhere at Emory. Whereas Emory is not huge, it's still a big place that especially for freshmen can be daunting. Here are some quick thoughts on other touchpoints that I think are beneficial: Woodruff Library: Take the tour; talk to the librarians; there are dozens of Ph.D. research librarians working there, just waiting to help you with your topical research. (Also, check out all the other libraries, such as Music & Media -- just fabulous materials to know about.) Science Advising: This is part of the Office of U/G Education. Focused on science students, this resource can be helpful in steering you toward the maze of science classes/requirements. Here is their link: Emory College \| Current Students \| Science Advising Also, at the above site, you can click on another link to "Clued In: A Survival Guide for the Science Student at Emory". If you are an incoming freshman, you will need to use your student ID and Password to access. For science students, it has a wealth of information. Office Hours for Professors: Take advantage of this. All professors have posted office hours, and many feel that many students do not visit them often enough. They are there to help and guide you. Tutoring: There are so many, it's difficult to name all of the resources, but for incoming freshmen, know that there are places such as The Emory Writing Center (Welcome to Emory Writing Center) that provide graduate student and peer tutors that can help improve your writing skills. What's apparent is that they won't come to you, but if you need any kind of academic help, reach out to them. Learnlink: I think that organizing one's life (contacts, schedules, events, tasks, homework, assignments) is imperative to being successful -- and this holds true for students as well as professionals/adults. Personally, I have a smartphone that has an integrated PDA, which I find essential to my professional life, and I think the same types of tools can be highly valuable to students. The Learnlink facility at Emory can be a very beneficial focal point for organizing yourself. Unfortunately, it's not what I consider to be highly intuitive, so it serves all students well to go through the Learnlink guides and know how you can use it. Balance: Whether it's doing intramural sports, working out at the WoodPEC, or doing volunteer work through Volunteer Emory, try to find balance. Don't just study 24/7. Diversify your academic classes. Look for things that will broaden your horizons. The college years can be the best years of your life if you explore all your options.