Academic Panel FIP 2007 Starring Ms Francis Ms

Academic Panel FIP 2007 Starring… Ms. Francis, Ms. Pandita, Mr. Devlin, Ms. Gong, Mr. He, Mr. Berastain, & Mr. Koll

Lesson 1: First Week of Classes: Do’s and Don’t’s 6 Tips to Survive Freshman Week With Ms. Kylie Francis

A young man hired by a supermarket reported for his first day of work. The manager greeted him with a warm handshake and a smile, gave him a broom and said, "Your first job will be to sweep out the store. " "But I'm a Harvard graduate, " the young man replied indignantly. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know that, " said the manager. "Here, give me the broom -- I'll show you how. "

Tip #1: Start Early /DO remember that your overall grade is cumulative. / Every problem set, paper, project and, in some cases, attendance counts…starting from the first couple of weeks.

Tip #2: Don’t Slack /DON’T decide to drop your first problem set. / For most of the science & math classes, problem sets are assigned on a weekly basis and you’re usually allowed to drop one. However, the first problem set is probably the easiest so it’d be a waste to drop it.

Tip #3: Don’t Ignore Shopping Period /DO all your homework and take notes, even for classes you are just shopping / Some professors like to assign homework during shopping period. These are not ‘trial’ assignments; they WILL count towards your final grade. /The first couple weeks of material is still testable, so if you shop another class, get notes from a friend!

Tip #4: Mind Your Language /DO think seriously about taking languages / Language classes meet everyday, have strict attendance requirements, and often take off very fast. So if you miss the first few days of classes, it might be difficult to catch up. /Plus, they meet during reading period!

Tip #5: Don’t Shop Too Much /DON’T prepare a shopping list that’s too long /Can’t get good overview in 10 minutes /Check out syllabus online beforehand /Shop for at least half an hour, see if professor can hold your attention

Tip #6: Don’t Be Shy /DO speak to as many people as you can about a class before taking it / We are all your resources and would be more than happy to help.

Lesson 2: Picking Classes With Ms. Manisha Pandita, Mr. Ronan Devlin & Ms. Becca Gong

Q: How many Harvard students does it take to change a lightbulb? A: One; he holds it in the air and waits for the world to revolve around him

Placement Tests /Required: Math and Writing placements /Take placements in all planned subjects /Remember: These are only recommendations! YOU ARE NOT BEING JUDGED and DON’T NEED TO CRAM! /Talk to professors and upperclassmen

Picking your first courses /No single perfect plan /Balance interest and exploration

Picking your first courses: Requirements /Don’t overload with requirements in first year /Don’t ignore them either /If reasonably sure of field of interest, take its intro courses /If not, explore!

Of Ec 10 angst and LS blues /Large classes, taught in sections /Use the professors and section leaders to the maximum /Experience depends on section leader (Use the CUE guide) /Study groups. Don’t be afraid to help and take help

CUE Wha…? /Rates courses based on quality of teaching, workload and content /Good for starters, but not infallible /Talk to upperclassmen/random precocious freshmen

Freshman Seminars /Small classes, interesting, close interaction with great professors /Low stress, great way to balance course load /Pick 2 or 3 seminars you find most interesting

Language Courses /Required, place out though you will all probably /But make sure they have a placement test for your language! Contact FDO! /Fantastic way to enter a new culture /The TF is important /NOTE: sections meet during reading period Ronan

Balancing Classes /Classes vary in workload /Science/Maths classes tend to be heavy, but watch out for heavy reading assignments /Ask people who have taken these classes before. /Balance between cores & concentration requirements, Sciences & Arts. /Consider your priorities: extracurriculars vs academics. /A light first semester may be useful in facilitating the adjustment to college/US life

Core classes /You have to take 7 of them if you do not have Advanced Standing /If possible, try taking them early on /If you finish all cores before senior spring, you can get a Harvard certificate to apply for H-1 B visa

Add/Drop /First week of classes = shopping period /Standard courseload = 4 classes /Can add or drop 1 or 2 classes until 5 th Monday of a semester /Rather drop than add – starting a class later than others is stressful

The Secret of the Syllabus /When shopping, the syllabus is your friend! /Check your final exam/paper schedule! (exam groups) /Check midterm and problem set dates. Make sure you don’t have big conflicts! TIP 1: Don’t leave all your studying for reading period! TIP 2: No one does work over winter break. I’m serious…don’t even bother trying.

Things to look for on a syllabus: /Requirements (final research paper, takehome midterm, etc. ) /Balance of % weights in requirements /# of pages of reading per week /Specific readings in the class -- not just the general topic /# of (good) TFs /DATES!! (Put them into your calendar!)

Lesson 3: Picking a Concentration With Ms. Becca Gong

Top Five Lies Told by Teaching Assistants: #5: I'm not going to grant any extensions. #4: Call me any time. I'm always available. #3: It doesn't matter what I think; write what you believe. #2: Think of the midterm as a diagnostic tool. #1: My other section is much better prepared than you guys.

Picking a Concentration

Picking a Concentration /Now: middle of sophomore year! /“Advising Fortnight” - they woo you /Take intro classes to keep your options open /Size is important /Honors only? Requires a thesis!

Switching Concentrations /Can do so until spring of senior year /However, need to fulfill all requirements of new concentration /Try to keep your bases covered

Secondary Fields /Can only have one /Depending on your major, a closely related field may not be allowed /Varies, but generally 5 courses /Only one course can double-count w/ your concentration

Lessons 4 & 5: Grades & Advanced Placement With Mr. Yinnie He

An exhaustive study has revealed that 62. 381527% of all statistics are made up on the spot.

GPA/Grades consist of several components – Final, midterm, papers, section participation, problem sets etc. /In almost all courses, grades are assigned on a “curve” /Usually TFs determine your grade

GPA/Grades /GPA is calculated as the simple average of all course grades (A=4, B=3, C=2) /Average at Harvard = 3. 4 /If you get A- average, you are very good! /GPA esp. important for certain careers (e. g. law school), while less important for others (e. g. creative jobs) /Do not ask other people about their GPA!

Advanced Placement & Standing /APs, IB, A-levels, Abitur, French Bac can count for Harvard credit /Be sure to talk to Freshmen Deans Office as early as possible /Advanced Standing /Graduation in 6 -7 semesters, BA/MA in 8 semesters /Think hard a/b whether it’s worthwhile!

Lessons 6: Writing in U. S. College Courses With Mr. Ronan Devlin

A Harvard English 101 class was asked to write a CONCISE essay containing four elements: religion, royalty, sex and mystery. The only "A+" in the class read: "My God, " said the Queen, "I'm pregnant. I wonder who did it? "

Expository Writing /American style is different to most international writing styles /Mandatory ‘Expos’ program will help to acclimatise(/ze!) you to the American system /Expos is taken as a half course in either the fall or spring semester (assignments are random) /It is possible to change your expos assignment if you have a genuine reason for doing so.

U. S. Writing Style /THESIS!! - In American college essays you are expected to make a coherent argument in favour of a specific, debatable thesis. Counterarguments should be addressed, but their weaknesses should be outlined in order to demonstrate why your argument is superior. /MOTIVE!! College essays should justify themselves. That is to say that they should explain why your argument is worth making, or why the subject is important.

Cheating and Plagiarism /Taken VERY seriously in U. S. Will get you suspended or expelled, sometimes even if it’s unintentional. /MUST STILL CITE when paraphrasing / Writing with Sources /When in doubt, ASK. /Cheating: can get into recipient OR giver trouble for being

Lessons 7: Using Your Resources With Mr. Pierre Berastain

A young man rolls an overloaded cart to the checkout register in a Cambridge supermarket and starts to unload his many purchases. The salesman ask: "Are you from Harvard or MIT? " The young man proudly replies: "Harvard! How did you guess? " Salesman points to the sign "10 purchases or less" and says: "Harvard students can't count, MIT students can't read"

Proctors /They live in your entryway you can bother them at any time What should you bother them with? /Roommate issues /Academic issues /Personal issues /Just to talk http: //slantmouth. com/articles/my. Pal. Al/images/roommate. jpg

Your Woodbridge Mentor, PAF and Upperclassmen /These are students, which means they will have a different insight from your proctor on things like /Choosing classes /Getting used to living away from home /Extracurriculars /Social life

Academic Advisers /These are usually members of the Harvard faculty or your proctor /They provide more formal advice on academic matters /You’ll be meeting with this person to discuss your academic progress at Harvard

The Bureau of Study Counsel (BSC) /Counseling on cultural adjustment, study habits, time management and family/personal issues /Peer tutors for all subjects, including Writing and English language /Workshops on how to get the most out of your classes CONTACT: Linden Street, www. bsc. harvard. edu or 617 -495 -2581

Harvard Writing Center (HWC) /Basement of Barker Center, Quincy Street. /Offers student writing tutors who will help you write, rewrite or edit your papers at no charge /Scheduled half-hour conferences are available M F from 9 am - 5 pm. Drop-in hours are M – Th from 5 - 9 pm. /To schedule an appointment, go to http: //www. fas. harvard. edu/~wricntr/

Lessons 8: Chill Out With Mr. Daniel Koll

The three biggest lies of a student: #3: Thank you, I'm not really hungry. #2: Tomorrow I stop drinking. #1: Tomorrow I start learning.

Work Ethic at Harvard /Puritan work ethics in Cambridge?

/Balancing out Harvard: /Academics /Extracurriculars /Social Life. . . /Freedom to choose what is most important for yourself /Tips to cope with academic pressure