Freshman Biology Major Orientation.

 

Take ownership of your academic career!!!!!!!!!!!

 

It's your career and future, and you have to take responsibility for it. Be proactive and do things that pave the way to that future. What are your goals?? What do you want to be doing in 10 years?? How do you get there???? Sure you have a plan A (getting into med school and becoming a physician) but what about a plan B, if plan A fails??? Careers paths for the biology degree are many and varied, so educate yourself to all of the possibilities and alternative you may not realize exist!!!!!

 

Know the degree requirements!!!!!!!!

 

First of all, know the college and departmental requirements for attaining your degree. Keep a check-list of all the courses you take and in this way you can track your progress through the years. See a departmental faculty advisor every term whether you are a freshman or upper classman.  Consistently see the same advisor through out your career. In this way he or she gets to know you as a person and this can be of great benefit to you in the future (Letters of recommendation).

 

Plan out your career at YSU (the next four years of courses)!!!!!!!!!

 

Some universities require students to design a rough four year study plan, as a way of focusing their efforts towards attaining the degree they desire. This is an excellent way to start at the university. Sit down with the undergraduate bulletin, departmental requirements and map it all out in accordance with your career goals. Play especial attention to course prerequisites this will give you information of which courses need to be taken before others. In addition to departmental requirements there are University requirements for General Education Requirements (GER). Make sure you know all of the requirements for the degree. When in doubt, ask questions!!!!!  The undergraduate bulletin that is current when you declare your major will apply to you throughout your career, regardless of changes in degree requirements.

 

Execute the plan that you have designed!!!!!!!!!!

 

Seeking advisement can save you a lot of trouble, time and expense!!!!!!!

 

Be prepared when you come to see the faculty advisor. Questions to be asked should clearly stated so think about what precisely you want to ask. If you need course placed on the advisement page for scheduling have all your courses written out with department abbreviation and catalogue number of the courses you want (course code is optional but inclusion of it can possibly limit your option of section). Do not give course title or course codes. The computer only recognizes department that offers the course not the title

 

Engage in out-of-class room experiences

 

There are many undergraduate research opportunities or internships outside the university available to undergraduates