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Washington University Newsletter
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| Welcome to the First Year Center |
11 December 2010 |
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Dear First Year Student,
Every issue of the First Year Center newsletter is brought to you by a different team of WUSAs. This issue is brought to you by BEAU! We hope you enjoy it.
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First Year Center Series
The First Year Center Series is made up of two weekly experiences to introduce you to all that our campus and our city has to offer. Get ready to make the most of your experience at WashU!
THIS WEEK:
Finding Your Campus
FINALS FIESTA!
Tuesday, December 14th, 8:30-9:30pm, Ursa's Stageside
Finding Your City
-nothing this week-
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Faculty Spotlight: Getting to know faculty!
By: Hillary Conkey, Beau WUSA
WashU simply overflows with support services for its undergraduate students. From Uncle Joe's to exceptional ResLife staff, from Cornerstone to accessible deans, we always have someone to talk to about both our personal and academic lives. Yet an often-untapped resource on campus remains those people who form the foundation of our college education: professors.
While it's true that some seem less than approachable and others expressly tell students to seek help from a TA or other resource, most professors are just waiting for students to - literally and figuratively - knock on their doors. So, here are five tips on connecting with professors.
- Reach out to professors via email when their office hours don't work with your schedule. Most are entirely willing to meet with you at other times and will appreciate the extra effort you're putting in.
- Go to office hours even when you aren't having a problem in the class. Going to see a professor can't save a paper or lead to a better grade on a test, but it's when you're not stressed and want to discuss ideas from class that you might learn the most.
- Don't be afraid to ask professors about themselves. Learning about your professors as people helps you understand them as lecturers, discussion leaders, and even graders.
- Don't try to be the student who talks the most in class. Try rather to be the student with insightful comments, and show the professor that you've both prepared for class and are actively listening to what they - and your classmates - are saying.
- Know your professors outside of the classroom. If you love their class, you'll likely be interested in other things they're involved in: lecture series, academic organizations, or departmental events.
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Student Spotlight
Bailey Breems
By: Peter Birke, Beau WUSA
Bailey Breems is a member of the Beau 1 Family. She hails from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. According to Bailey, Sioux Falls is very different from Washington
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University. "In Sioux Falls, you always smile to everyone while walking down the street-no matter what. I don't feel like people do that at WashU," says Bailey. Her favorite high school memory is when she and her two best friends went bison tipping. Her favorite mystical creature is the centaur.
Bailey loves her classes at WashU and her favorite is Writing I because it is a smaller class that allows for a lot of interaction. Bailey has really enjoyed her WashU experience so far. Her favorite part of the school is that it is "very accommodating for things you want to do. People are willing to help you do what you want to do." Bailey is excited for her next seven semesters at WashU. If you see her on campus, make sure to smile. You'll know she'll smile back.
Guy Dille
By: Andres Parra, Beau WUSA
Guy Dille is a student living in Beau 2 who is in the Engineering School and currently majoring in BME. Guy is originally from Atlanta, Georgia. A very upbeat and energetic person, Guy likes to play ultimate Frisbee when he has free time, as well as watch movies, listen to good music, and watch random videos online. His favorite class at WashU thus far has been General Chemistry 111 because despite
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being quite challenging, the new material and the style of the course are unlike any he's taken before. He's also a big fan of the professor who teaches the class first semester, professor Loomis. Of the many resources offered on campus for various reasons, Guy thinks that Cornerstone is the one that's been most useful to him because coming to a school as rigorous as WashU has been a big adjustment. Guy's least favorite thing about WashU so far has been how difficult and challenging the classes are, considering how much more easy he found classes in high school, relatively. However, Guy very much enjoys his floor and says that the people, atmosphere, food, and yes, even the challenging courses themselves make WashU very accommodating, even to the point of making it his home-away-from-home. Despite that, Guy misses home (and its warmer weather) and can't wait to be reunited with his family (and to sleep in his own bed) over winter break. Now that he's on the brink of finishing his first semester, Guy says he feels like he has enough insight to develop better study and work habits so as to make his academic experience a little more successful next semester. For next semester, Guy hopes to be able to find more balance in his schedule and be able to find the happy medium between successful academics and fun extracurriculars.
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Campus ResourceBy: Francis Aguillard, Beau WUSA
Too many times students on campus mumble, "It just doesn't matter how well I write my paper because the teacher just does not like my writing style." Well, don't let that feeling get you down because there is a place that can help. Located in Eads Hall, Room 111 (right next to Olin Library), the Writing Center can help you navigate through your teacher's ridiculous amount of red, electronic comments, or maybe help you avoid getting them altogether. How  do they do this? For starters, they "will read and discuss any work in progress, including student papers, senior theses, personal statements, and more." The Writing Center's hours are Sunday through Thursday from 11am - 9pm and Fridays from 11am - 5pm. They do accept walk-ins if a tutor is available. The best way to guarantee a session with one of the tutors is to call ahead of time (314-935-4981) and make an appointment. You can also contact them at writing@wustl.edu. The Writing Center also offers "The Speaking Studio" which will video tape you or your group's oral presentation. The recording can then be reviewed with a tutor. Also, stop by the Writing Center to pick up a schedule of the workshops they offer throughout the semester on conducting research, writing exam essays, etc.
I have used the Writing Center on many occasions, and was thoroughly satisfied each time. My best advice to you is to find a tutor you work well with and then schedule your appointments with that person. This will take some effort on your part, as you have to start your paper far enough in advance to book appointments with your preferred tutor. You can schedule up to two appointments a week. Remember that this service is available until 9pm Sundays through Thursdays, so take advantage of it!
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Social Tip of the Week
By: Brooke Husic, Beau WUSA
The one place off campus that, after nearly a year and a half here, which I might go so far as to say I "frequent," is a small, wonderful place called Boosters Café located on Melville Drive. -"But I don't know where Meville Drive is?" Yes, you do. It's the street between the overpass and the Loop. Next time you go to the Loop you might notice a green sign with yellow and black words that says BOOSTERS CAFÉ. Guess what that means?
-"So is it like a Starbucks?"
Actually not so much. It's a wonderful, cozy breakfast place with absolutely the best pancakes I've ever tasted. Their menu is simple, not too extravagant. It contains the breakfast staples everyone knows and loves: eggs (I can confirm these are excellent in the following varieties: - scrambled and - scrambled with cheese, onions, and sweet peppers), breakfast sandwiches (I can confirm these are excellent through a friend who is not vegetarian and whose taste in food I credit), oatmeal, bacon, sausage, yogurt with berries, crepes with Nutella and vanilla ice cream...
... and, of course, PANCAKES. Their pancakes are AMAZING.
-"Tell me why they are amazing, Brooke!"
1. Plain pancakes
2. Chocolate chip pancakes
3. **Pumpkin pancakes** (actually legendary)
4. You can purchase an order of two pancakes for only three American dollars.
Summary: I have gone to Boosters maybe 10 times in the past year and it has never disappointed me. I experienced it for the first time with my roommate and have taken Wash U friends, home friends, and my parents there and all of them have enjoyed it (as far as I could tell). It is also close to campus and very reasonably priced. I highly recommend it for any occasions that are compatible with pancakes or [insert breakfast dish here].
For more information or to see the menu, go to boosterscafe.com
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Token of Wisdom
By: Shivani Mahapatro, Beau WUSA
Believe it or not, you are almost done with the first semester of your freshman year! Here are some tips to help you finish the final stretch of the semester successfully:
-Stay Healthy: The effectiveness of studying and retaining information is correlated with staying healthy. Even though the next two weeks will be super busy with studying for finals, sleep is necessary! Try to get as much rest as possible. Eating regular meals is also essential to your health. Food for thought and rest for the mind will help you stay focused on studying.
- Practice: Practice, practice, and more practice... It is always a very useful way to study for finals. Reviewing the class material is important, but applying that information by doing practice problems is key.
- Take Study Breaks: What do you like to do for fun or to relieve stress? As long as you budget your time well, study breaks are a great way to take your mind off of school for a little while. So, go hang out with your friends, play an instrument, go off-campus to get Fro-yo, or whatever suits your interest, but know that you are not wasting time when you do take a little break to recover from studying.
- Manage Your Time: If you find yourself in a crunch, put more time into the exams in your borderline classes.
- Stay Confident: Trust yourself. You know what you know. There's always that one person worrying about something or the other that they haven't studied which makes you wonder and doubt yourself. Don't listen to them; it will be OK in the end.
- Be Positive: Last but not least, stay positive and always keep smiling J. You can do it!
Good luck on finals and happy holidays!
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You are cordially invited to attend an exciting program that will feature the work of selected first-year students in Writing 1.
Emerging Voices, Emerging Communities: Selections of Poetry and Prose from the Writing One Classroom
Tuesday, December 14
College Hall on the South 40
4:00 to 5:30 p.m.
Hot chocolate and refreshments will be provided after the event. Emerging Voices, Emerging Communities is an event sponsored by the English Department, the First Year Center and Residential Life.
**Dean McLeod will be providing brief opening remarks and the Faculty Fellows along with a few of the Faculty Associates will be introducing the students who have been selected to read!**
We hope that you will be able to join us for this community event!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All the best,
Jill Stratton
Background on the program:
JKL's Faculty Associate is Rob Patterson, and he is also an assistant director of Writing 1. Every semester for the past five to six years the English department hosts an event for students in Writing 1 to showcase their work. This showcase is usually during reading week and takes place in the English department. Normally, around 30 students read from some of the creative writing they did for their Writing 1 class. These students are chosen by instructors as representing the best and most interesting creative works produced in the class. The English department is excited to collaborate with Residential Life and the First Year Center this year and to move the event to the South 40.
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