Academic Reset
It’s hard to believe the end of your student’s first year at Carnegie Mellon is approaching. We’ve been honored to watch and support the development of each member of the Class of 2022+. As we hit the mid-way point of the spring semester, we want to share some information with families to ensure your students are ready to wrap up their first year with purpose and prepare for their second.
Fall Registration
Registration for Fall 2019 courses will take place during the week of April 22. Many first-year student schedules are filled with requirement courses and pre-requisites. As students plan to register for courses for their sophomore year, we encourage them to consider taking courses outside of their primary major requirements, as many majors offer the freedom to enroll in electives. Talk to your student about what other interests they have and encourage them to meet with their academic advisor to plan accordingly.
Study Skills
One of the major first-year transitions at CMU is adjusting to a rigorous academic environment. We have encouraged all of our students to develop a healthy daily routine (including getting enough sleep, eating well and practicing well-being in some form), attend all classes, meet with their advisor and take advantage of their professor’s office hours. If your student needs additional support for improving their study skills, Academic Development organizes workshops on First-Year Success, Time Management and Productivity, Mid-Term and Finals Prep, and a Strong Start to the Semester. We suggest that you ask your student how they have honed their study skills during their first year of college and encourage them to take advantage of the resources at CMU.
Preparing for Sophomore Year
As our students wrap up their first year, we want to highlight a few ways in which they can prepare for a successful sophomore year. Students will begin to lay the foundation for new opportunities, both in and out of the classroom. They will begin to take a deeper dive into their field of study, as well as take on leadership roles in their extracurricular activities and organizations. We encourage students to engage more with their faculty—participating in class and attending office hours—to build faculty-student rapport. In addition, students might connect with the Undergraduate Research Office, which supports student research in every field of study and offers grants, summer research and presentation awards. We hope you have a conversation with your student about some of the opportunities they are excited about pursing in their sophomore year.
(re)CHARGE Program
Students looking for some additional academic support will want to consider applying for the (re)CHARGE program, a cohort-based summer experience that aims to build effective study skills, establish goals and provide mentorship and a stronger sense of community. Offered in summer session 1 (May 20-June 28), students in (re)CHARGE will enroll in one academic course as well as a three-unit seminar course focused on identifying strengths and areas of growth. Applications are due by Friday, May 3, 2019.