Registration, Important Dates, and Choosing Majors
Registration, Important Dates, and Choosing Majors
four students walking in front of the Clark Library
SHEPARD ACADEMIC RESOURCE CENTER
PARENT NEWSLETTER
NOVEMBER 2017
Dear Parents:  
As the semester begins to wind down, many of you will begin to notice a shift in attitude of your freshmen. The energy that accompanied your student after returning from Fall Break will be gone and in its place will be frustration at classes, registration, and an overall sense of readiness and anxiety for the semester break.
In the coming weeks your freshmen will register for classes for Spring Semester. Many will not get all of the teachers and/or courses they originally sought or desired. Please encourage your students to talk frequently with their academic advisors regarding any concerns or difficulties they have with their schedule. Of course, they can also see us and we will help them find what they need to keep on track.  Additionally, the schedule they create and register for is not permanent. Students have until 4:30 pm, Friday, January 19, 2018 to add and/or drop any classes from their schedule. They register and make changes through our on-line system in Self-Serve.
Along with the stress of registration, many students will feel overworked and extremely tired during these last few weeks. Often, freshmen begin to develop a sense of regret about coming to the University of Portland, or even going to college in the first place. Many students feel as though they are not doing well enough in school, especially in comparison to high school, and that they would have been better off staying at home and working. Remind your students that the average freshman’s college GPA is about one point less than it was in high school and that this is not unusual in their first semester. Also encourage them to continue working hard and to build effective stress relief time into their schedule. Reminding them to sleep and eat right will also be important. If you will see your student over the Thanksgiving Break, use the time to pump them up for the homestretch of the semester. When they return to campus after the four-day weekend, they only have two weeks of class and then finals week itself. 
Many students are not sleeping enough. We have found that many freshmen students put off all their studying until late nights and early mornings (1 a.m.). That may not be a problem with your student, but we have counseled many students to use the time between classes to study and to get some sleep.  Many students experience sleep deprivation and do not know it.  Sleep deprivation hurts their ability to do calculations and reduces reading comprehension, but few students believe it.  We tell them to study during daylight hours!
Most freshmen are studying a lot but not always wisely. Some students have problems because they are studying in their rooms. We advise them to find other places to study because their rooms may hold too many distractions. Phones, food, technology, social media, and visitors can break concentration and make study time less effective.
Many are struggling in calculus, chemistry, biology, physics, philosophy and macroeconomics. Some came unprepared for college-level classes because they did not understand the conceptual basics of calculus and physics in high school. Others struggle because they think two hours of homework per day is enough.  However, by better managing their time and seeing their professors, many students will pass. In addition, students can also visit the Learning Commons in Buckley Center 163, to get individual help for each of these classes. The Learning Commons can help students learn how to study more effectively, prepare for exams, practice language skills, receive math and writing tutoring, or improve memory strategies. Please encourage your students to visit http://www.up.edu/sarc for more information on how to set up appointments, or call 503-943-8002 to get any questions answered.
Many freshmen struggle in their first semester but then do very well in the long term.  Some students are very concerned about their major, thinking that they may no longer be certain about their academic course of study.  To assist you in assisting your student, we have attached an information sheet about choosing majors.
With all this talk about struggle, how can you help your student feel love and supported during this time?  Every year, many of our freshmen parents order Pilot Survival Kits for their sons and daughters. What is a survival kit? They are kits which include UP swag plus snacks and goodies depending on the kit ordered. Proceeds from these Survival kits help fund the Student Alumni Association. For more information and to order, please contact Nancy Nofziger at 503.943.8327 or nofziger@up.edu.
One last note: remember our Shepard Academic Resource Center website includes more information for parents and family. There you’ll find links to academic and event calendars, parent FAQs, information on Proxy access, care packages through Bon Appetit, and a list of suggested readings, among other resources. Each month we update the site to include information on common struggles students work through as well as what you as parents can do to help with these issues. Twice a month, we post articles on timely issues happening in your student’s life – registration, final grades, getting healthy, etc. So be sure to visit http://www.up.edu/sarc and check out our new resources for you!
Don’t forget, if you have any questions please feel free to contact the Shepard Academic Resource Center at (503) 943-7895. 

Important Dates

    Fall Semester:
    • Last day of classes 12/8
    • Finals week 12/11-12/14
    • Meal service ends the evening of 12/14
    • Residence halls close 12/15 at noon
    The Pilot Express is a student run service that drives students to and from the train station and airport for breaks! The cost is $5 one-way and $8 round-trip. Sign-ups begin two weeks before each break. Students can sign up by visiting Student Activities in St. Mary’s during the sign-up period between 8:30 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. Fridays.
    Spring Semester:
    • Residence halls open 1/13 at 9 am
    • Classes begin 1/15
    • Last day to add/drop classes 1/19
    • Spring Vacation 3/12-3/16
    • Easter Break: 3/30-4/2 (No classes after 4pm 3/29)
    • Last day of classes 4/27
    • Finals week 4/30-5/3
    • Meal service ends the evening of 5/3
    • Residence halls close 5/4 at noon

     Helping your Student with “Major” Choices

    For most freshmen, second semester is considerably less stressful than first semester. Most of the big questions: "Can I handle the work?" "Will I make friends?" "Am I going to fit in?" have been answered by now.  Still for many freshmen, one important question remains: "What will be my major?" As of early October, 81 freshmen are listed with "undeclared" majors. Not reflected in this number are the many students who declared a major upon enrollment but have since had second thoughts about that decision. These students will be soliciting advice from their peers, professors, advisors, and families. When parents discuss this matter with their UP students they should keep the following in mind.
    Choosing a major does not mean choosing a career. What do CEO Michael Eisner, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, and astronaut Sally Ride have in common? All three have undergraduate degrees in English. The conclusion to draw from this bit of trivia is that an undergraduate major is not the surefire predictor of future career.  Some majors may be better preparation for certain kinds of work than others; however, relatively few undergraduate majors lead directly to a specific career. Career goals should certainly be one consideration when choosing a major, but by no means the only one. Moreover, employers in any field will be more interested in what a potential applicant can do than they will be with the student’s college major.
    Skills matter. When thinking about a major, students should consider not only their interests but their skills and talents as well. How will the major help them capitalize on their natural talents and develop skills that may be weak? In a recent survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, employers ranked communication skills as the most important personal characteristic they sought in potential employees. Other important characteristics included analytical skills, ethics, leadership abilities, work experience, motivation/initiative, teamwork skills, and technical skills. Students considering a major should ask professors and upperclassmen how the major will help them develop as writers and speakers. They should also inquire about internship and co-op opportunities in the major, and projects that will give them practice working with others and using the latest technology in the field.
    Think of a major as an intellectual home. When students enter a major they begin a concentrated course of study that becomes increasingly focused and demanding. They will be going to classes, working on projects, and socializing with other students as well as professors in that discipline. It is important that they enjoy not only the work but also the people with whom they will be spending so much time. If a student is drawn to a major because of genuine interest and curiosity about the subject, then chances are he or she will feel at home with peers within the field.  On the other hand, a student who enters a major because he or she thinks it will lead to a high-paying job, for example, or to fulfill parents’ or teachers’ expectations, they may feel out of place and uncomfortable.
    A good choice is an informed choice. Encourage your student to make use of the information resources available on and off campus. UP professors and advisors are always willing to share their expertise, and upperclassmen in the major can offer a student perspective. Career Center in Orrico Hall holds a wealth of information about majors and career planning as well as tools and services to help students assess their own interests and abilities. 
    Be patient. The earlier a student chooses a major the easier it will be to fulfill the requirements of that major. However, second-semester freshmen still have time to make up their minds. Students enjoying many different courses are often those who have the most difficulty choosing one discipline on which to concentrate. These students should be encouraged to begin the exploration process early to avoid making a hasty decision when the time comes to declare a major. Students who take the time to explore different major options before declaring are often more confident and content in their final decision.
    View our past Parent Newsletters!
    sarc@up.edu | 503.943.7895 | 5000 N. Willamette Blvd., Portland, OR 97203
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