Sexual Assault Awareness
Building Self-Esteem
Building Relationships
The ABC's of Eliminating Test Anxiety
Depression: When the Blues Don't Go Away
Changing Career Direction
Guidelines for Student Success
Myths About Student Counseling

Changing Career Direction

Are you struggling with a career decision right now? Are you uncertain about the career for which you are preparing and afraid that redirection will hurt you further? What will your friends and family think?

The good news is that it is okay to redirect your career or program choice while you’re in school. If anything, we expect it to happen! But how do you get the support you need to see this decision through and minimize its impact on you and those around you? Here are a few things we’d recommend:

• First, seek the help of a counselor. We’re here to help you sort through your priorities and to connect you to resources.
  
  
• Take the time to learn more about your interests and abilities, what you value, and what’s driving your desire to make a decision. You can do this with your counselor, or consider taking the Career Decisions workshop offered here at NTC.
  
  
• Learn as much as you can about careers you are considering. There are some great occupational websites to check out. Also consider talking to someone who does that job… they can give you a firsthand account!
  
  
• Discuss your impending decision or current unrest with your friends and family - they can help to support you through the transition.
  
  
• Remember that it’s better to redirect now… than when you are actually on the job!
  
  
• Take care of yourself. Remember to take time for yourself and don’t rush the decision.

Guidelines for Student Success

To be successful in college, you’ll need to be prepared, develop effective study skills, and manage your time productively.

1. BEING PREPARED AND ORGANIZED

• Buy textbooks and any required materials as soon as your course begins.
• Use a planner to record your class schedule and to track due dates for daily/weekly assignments, projects and tests.
• Use a notebook with pockets to organize class notes, course syllabus, handouts and related course materials.
• Always be prepared for class with pens, pencils, notebook and textbooks.
• Have a paperback college dictionary or online dictionary available.

2. STUDENT BEHAVIOR THAT CONTRIBUTES TO SUCCESS

• Attend all classes and be on time.
• Read assigned material before class.
• Ask questions if you’re not sure about assignments or the material covered.
• Show your interest by sitting near the front of the class, by establishing eye contact with your instructor, and by taking notes.
• Participate in class discussions.
• Avoid whispering or talking with classmates in side conversations or working on your computer while the instructor or another student is presenting information.
• Complete your assignments on time.
• Contact your instructor before you miss a class, if at all possible and make up all missed work.

3. PREPARING FOR AND TAKING EXAMS

• Be sure what material the exam will cover and what type of questions (essay, multiple-choice, short-answer, matching) will be asked.
• Study from the beginning of the course, a little bit each day (Boyd, 1988).
• Use chapter outlines and summaries to help you organize and remember the course material. Try to relate information to your own experience or to what you’ve previously learned.
• Study with a partner, or organize a small (three- or four-person) study group. Meet after you’ve studied the material individually so you can compare notes and quiz each other.
• Use the “SQ3R” (Survey, Question, Read, Recite and Review) method. Add “Write and Reflect” (Lefton, 2000) for the “SQ3R Plus System:
  • SURVEY the chapter outlines, topic headings, tables, graphs, the summary and review sections to gain an understanding of the overall picture and the purpose of what you will study.
  • QUESTION what you need to learn in terms of what, why how, when, who and/or where to support the central concept.
  • READ specifically to answer questions noting that most paragraphs contain one or more main ideas in support of a concept; highlight them with a marker; make notes in the margins summarizing key points; notice bolded or italicized type and to tables, graphs and illustrations which may explain an idea more thoroughly than the text.
  • RECALL by pausing every 15 minutes to recall and summarize in your own words the ideas that you have read (mini-review).
  • REVIEW by rereading difficult parts and by asking yourself if you have answered your questions, understood the material and accomplished your goal.
  • WRITE AND REFLECT: Write a summary of the key terms and concepts in your own words and think about how they relate to your life. When you reflect on your own learning, you’re an active learner and a critical thinker (Lefton, 2000).

4. TIPS FOR TEST PREPARATION AND TEST TAKING

• Get a good night’s sleep before the exam so you can think clearly.
• Eat a healthy meal before taking a test.
• Always follow directions very carefully when you take an exam.
• Bring all the supplies you’ll need to the test (pencils, pens, paper etc.).
• Arrive early for the test.
• Try to relax. Take a few deep breaths, stay calm, and listen carefully to instructions.
• Budget your time so that you’ll be able to complete the test.
• If time permits, double-check your answers.