ACE: Academic & Career Explorer

HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL!

2012-01-10T16:48:00.003-05:00

Hello!
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday break and is ready to begin the Winter/Spring semester here at UTSC. Knowing that a lot of you are still in that process of shifting gears from the holiday season to back-to-school mode, here are a couple of helpful hints for getting you back into the academic spirit:

TIP OF THE DAY:
CONCENTRATION AND MOTIVATION!

Adjusting back into a new set of classes may be slightly challenging for some of us who are still reeling from the after effects of the holidays. Often we may feel discouraged or overwhelmed once those syllabuses start rolling out or when we get that chance to look over our grades from last semester. However, all is not lost and there is always a way of bouncing back and regaining that motivation you need to do well in this semester.

SMART Goal Setting

- a good way of getting back into focus and increasing motivation as well as self-confidence is to set SMART goals for yourself. What are SMART goals? SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely. In a nutshell, SMART goals are goals that are within your own limits and capabilities, that are concrete and simple enough to visualize as well as being set with a specific time frame. Writing down these goals is a good way to stay on track as you go through the semester. Don't forget to reward yourself after completion of your goals and create new ones to maintain academic focus and motivation.

PATS model of concentration

- PATS stands for: Pick the best environment for studying or doing schoolwork; Always remember to keep away from distractions; Try to eliminate noise around you and Self-talk to control internal distractions. Having a designated study space for yourself ensures that you remain in a space that is reserved especially for your academic work. Keeping away from televisions, radios and, if possible, laptops and cellphones are good ways to limit visual and auditory distractions. Occasionally reminding oneself of the task at hand or goals to accomplish is also a good way to keep focus, so agendas and/or post-it notes could come in handy.

Time Management and Planning

- Keeping a time table, calendar or a general to-do list is another good way to keep track of the goals you have set down for yourself. Having a good grasp of time management and planning in advance not only keeps you motivated but it also reduces stress, procrastination and anxiety.

Hopefully these tips will help you out this semester. A couple more reminders for you all is that the Study Skills workshops are back and if you are interested in learning more about the tips mentioned above, I would recommend checking them out. See the UTSC Intranet or the Academic Advising website for more details about the dates and times of the Study Skills workshops. As always, I encourage you to drop by the AACC office at AC213 and meet our staff and counsellors or check out ACE's Facebook page. Have an awesome semester!

Cheers,

ACE

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT WITH A STUDY SKILLS PEER COUNSELLOR TODAY!

2011-11-11T15:41:00.003-05:00

Hello everyone!
Hope all is going well. We are more than halfway through the semester and with final exams drawing near, here is a good tip for all of you out there:

Book an appointment with a Study Skills Peer Counsellor!

Disappointed with your midterm marks? Feeling overwhelmed by the number of assignments and papers due by the end of the month? Need some tips in taking better notes or reading textbooks more efficently? Hope is not lost. There's still a chance to bounce back and learn about better study skill techniques. How? By meeting up with one of our Study Skills Peer Counsellors!

Our peer counsellors are senior students who not only have excellent academic records but are trained by AACC staff to help you to improve your study habits and grades. Study Skills Peer Counsellors assist students with various study skills including (but not limited to) time management, taking lecture notes, effectively reading texts, and test preparation and test-writing skills.

Want to know more about your Study Skill Peer Counsellors? See their web page here.

Here are the following steps in booking an appointment with a study skills peer counsellor:

Go to intranet.utsc.utoronto.ca
Enter your UTORid and password to login
Click on “Calendar”
Click on the drop down box in the right corner
Select “AACC Study Skills Counselling”
Select the time
Under Re: select “Other”
Select “Book now"

And there you go!
If you need any assistance, ACE is on Facebook, check out the AACC website or drop by the Academic Advising and Career Centre office at AC213. AACC staff and counsellors are always ready to help out. Best of luck to everyone!

Cheers,

ACE

Tips for writing exams!

2011-10-25T18:36:00.002-04:00

ACE here once again. So you've studied the test material in depth and you're ready for your exams! Keep in mind though, that test writing is a skill in and of itself. Here is some useful advice!

Before your exams,

Make sure you know where your exam is! If you've spent so much time studying, the last thing you want to do is forget your exam location. Write it down early, and make sure that you check for any last minute changes.
Arrive early! Give yourself enough time to sit down, relax and collect your thoughts.
Take care of your body! Eat well-balanced meals and get enough rest. Your brain will thank you. Stay away from high sugar energy drinks.

During your exam,

Relax: Panicking won't help you now. Take a deep breath and focus on the task at hand.
Look over the test once: First, make sure no pages are missing. Then find the easier questions and do them first. This gives you more time to focus on the challenging problems.
Double-check your work. Re-do your calculations, re-read your explanations and re-examine your thought process. Make sure that you are answering the question!
Concentrate! During an exam, there will be distractions. Whether it is an announcement or a shuffling invigilator, try your best to tune it out.

After your exam,

Reward yourself. Relax and do something you enjoy. You deserve the break!
Study for the next one! If you have another exam coming up, study hard and get ready to do it all again!

These are just some ideas of what to do before, during and after your exams. Remember if you have any questions, feel free to visit the UTSC AA&CC in Room AC213. You can also book an appointment with a Study Skills Peer Mentor through the UTSC Intranet.

That's all for now, good luck with your exams!

- ACE

Find a good study environment!

2011-10-18T10:00:00.004-04:00

Hello once again! Midterms are underway and I’m sure you guys are all very busy! But as usual, ACE is here to provide some help.

Tip of the Day: Find a good study environment!

With midterms and assignments piling on, it’s easy to quickly feel overwhelmed!

Remember that where you learn very much influences what you learn. Pick a quiet spot with limited visual distractions. This means no Youtube, Facebook or chatty friends. In terms of noise level, absolute silence may be great for some but not others. It’s important find out what works for you.

After your designated study times, reflect on whether or not your study environment was helpful. If you didn’t accomplish your goals, perhaps a new location would work better.

Remember that the UTSC AA&CC provides many helpful workshops, including ones related to studying and test-taking. You can book these using the UTSC Intranet.

Aside from studying, come out to a few events hosted by the AA&CC. Many are related to either graduate studies and employment- something that all university students should be thinking about!

Getting Started on your Personal Statements – October 19, 2011 from 5:00-7:00pm

Applying to Professional and Grad School- October 20, 2011 from 10:00 - 12:00 pm

Hi My Name is...An Intro to Networking – October 25, 2011 from 12:00-1:00pm

Volunteer Fair - October 26-27, 2011 in the Meeting Place.

Make time for these events! They’re very informative and will definitely help you in the long run. Remember, if you are applying for graduate school, funding applications are quickly ending! Make sure you are aware of all the internal deadlines.

Once again, if you need any help, visit the AACC website or come by the Academic Advising and Career Centre at AC213!

Good luck on your midterms!

ACE

SHARPEN YOUR STUDY SKILLS!

2011-09-29T17:15:00.004-04:00

Greetings to you all! September is drawing to a close giving way to October and we all know what that means. Midterms! Essays! Deadlines! Yikes! But have no fear for ACE is here to help you out, as always.

TIP OF THE DAY:

Attend a Study Skills WORKSHOP!

Every semester, the AACC offers different seminars and workshops which are meant to help students improve on their academic study skills. The Study Skills seminars and workshops are provided for students who are interested in learning new strategies for studying more effectively, managing time and other skills that are essential for academic success. Want to know how to do better on multiple choice exams? There’s a workshop for that. Are you struggling with textbook reading or note taking? Well, there’s a seminar for that. Lacking motivation or feel like procrastination is bringing you down? Yes, we have a workshop for that too. You can find and sign up for any of the upcoming workshops and seminars on the Intranet or, for more information, visit the Study Skills page on the AACC website.

A couple of interesting workshops coming up in October:

Reading Textbooks - Monday, October 3, 2011 from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Mastering Multiple Choice Tests and Exams - Monday, October 3, 2011 from 3:00 - 4:30 pm and Monday, October 17, 2011 from 12:00 - 1:30 pm

Extreme Time Management and Procrastination- Wednesday, October 5, 2011 from 12:00 - 1:00 pm

Midterm Test Preparation - Wednesday, October, 5, 2011 from 3:00 - 4:00 pm and Thursday, October 13, 2011 from 2:00 - 3:00 pm

Memory and Concentration- Tuesday, October 11, 2011 from 12:00 - 1:30 pm

Note taking in Lectures - Wednesday, October, 12, 2011 from 2:00 - 3:00 pm

Hoping all of you are doing well and keeping up with all your coursework! Again, if any of you need any help or have any questions or concerns, ACE is on Facebook, also check out the AACC website or come by the Academic Advising and Career Centre office at AC213!

Cheers and happy studying to you all,

ACE

A NEW SCHOOL YEAR, A NEW SEMESTER! ARE YOU READY?!

2011-09-13T11:40:00.001-04:00

To all the new students ready to start their first year at UTSC, WELCOME! To all students returning for another year, WELCOME BACK! It’s another school year for many of us and there are a lot of things to get done, a new routine to get used to and many new faces to get to know. But worry not! ACE is here to help all of you get settled in as classes begin and course syllabuses start rolling out.

First off, the UTSC Experience Fair is back again this year. The Experience Fair is an excellent opportunity to get familiar with paid or volunteer experiences available on campus. Faculty and staff from a wide array of departments will be participating at the fair to meet up with students who may be interested in getting involved with their projects or activities. The UTSC Experience Fair will take place on TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2011, 12-2 PM at the SCIENCE WING MEETING PLACE. I will be there as well along with some Academic Advising and Career Centre staff, so please feel free to stop by our booth! To learn more about the UTSC Experience Fair, click here.

Well, I believe that is all for now, I sincerely hope everyone is ready and excited for this new semester. Best of luck and happy studying to each and every one of you! Stay tuned for more important events, dates, study tips and other awesome things!

If any of you have any questions or concerns, find me on Facebook, visit the AACC website or visit the Academic Advising and Career Centre office at AC213 and our staff would be more than happy to help you out.

Cheers,

ACE

Procrastination and Distractions

2010-11-30T13:09:00.001-05:00

Final exams are just around the corner, if you haven't started reviewing... this would be a good time to start.

List of review tips

Procrastination is a problem that almost everyone at one point or another has experienced.

Procrastination starts with a distraction, followed by the thought "I'll do it tomorrow" and ends with you following suit.

Distractions (that causes procrastination) are all around us....

that new movie that just came out and you must watch on opening day
the remote control on the couch
your computer "accidentally" open to Facebook/Twitter/Youtube page and now you're chatting/watching/updating
you hate doing the laundry but for some reason, just before the test, you don't hate it anymore
your friend told you to watch this new TV series. For weeks you ignored the recommendation but all of a sudden you're very interested
thinking you need to go for some fresh air, but 3 hours later you come back with a handful of shopping bags
it has been 3 hours since your phone rang, and you are still chatting
you spent an hour re-arranging your bedroom but not much has changed

Has any of the above ever happen to you? Well don't worry, you're not alone.

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Today's Tip of the Day:
Strategies to Reduce Procrastination:

Identify the roadblocks, your distractions (above list). Why do you think you're procrastinating? Awareness is the first step towards change.
Pay attention to self-talk. Don't fall into the "Mañana Trap." (Mañana means "tomorrow" in Spanish.) Whenever you are tempted to do it later, ask yourself why later is better than now. (Actually, yesterday was probably the best time to do it, right?)
Have trouble starting? Try the 5 minute plan. Spend five minutes actively working on the task. Your resistance will go down, and you'll likely want to keep working.
- if you find yourself distracted try "PATs" model (from my previous blog entry) reminder:
  - Pick the best environment for you to study
  - Always reduce visual distractions
  - Try to eliminate noise around you
  - Self talk to control distracting thoughts
Reward yourself. Give yourself something to look forward to when the task is completed.
- if you finished a chapter of reading, or finished a practice exam, then treat yourself to something!

Multiple Choice Tests

2010-11-25T11:31:00.000-05:00

Most tests we take will have a multiple choice portion and today's tip will give you strategies to figure out the A, B, C and D (so on).

MQ's are usually constructed of two parts:

A) a stem that identifies the problem or the question and

B) a set of alternatives. Alternatives contain the key (correct or the "best" answer) and the distractors (possible but incorrect answers).

Our Job is to pick out the correct answer out of the list given, but MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions)c an be challenging because they tend to test for detail. No part marks given, thus you cannot justify your answer. You either know it, you don't, or you guessed well.

Good news is, there is tricks to MCQs and today's tip will help you with MCQ tests.

Today's Tip:

Strategies for Writing Multiple Choice Exams

Watch your time. Don't spend too much time on one question
Underline qualifying words like "always," "never," etc. You'll pay closer attention to them.
Watch for typos as clues to the best answer. If one of the alternatives has a typo, it is probably not the key.
Eliminate wrong answers and see what is left over.
Beware of true statements that don't address the stem. Make sure the true statement refers to the stem.
If two items have similar wording, one of the parallel statements is probably correct. Often the choice comes down to two very similar answers. Pick the most complete response.
In a question with an "all of the above" choice, if you see at least two true statements, then "all of the above" is the right answer. This is self-explanatory.
Be systematic with confusing MCQ's with many alternatives, such as "all of the above," "A, B and D," etc. Evaluate each alternative carefully.
Review your answers. Always leave time to check your work.

Study Tips to Prepare You for Finals!

2010-11-23T23:57:00.002-05:00

As we approach the end of the semester we also approach the season of final exams. Finals can be daunting especially when there are many of exams back to back, so to help you study, here's a collection of all the study skills tips aimed at helping you study and to get you focused.

The key is to study smart, not hard. Take a minute to read some of these tips...it might help you save a lot of time when you study! Study a little bit at a time and try your best to avoid procrastination.

Multiple Choice Exams

Improving Your Memory

Note Taking and Listening

Textbook Reading

General Reading Tips

Managing your time

Procrastination and Distraction

"PATs" studying model

Reward Yourself

Just Right: Developing you own Checks and Balances

2010-11-15T13:46:00.005-05:00

Today's Tip: Finding the right balance.

Do you remember when Goldilocks broke into the three bear's house and sampled everything from beds to porridge? Everything as either too this or too that or just right?

If you look around at the people you work with, you will start to notice the same trend. There are three types of people- coasters, workaholics and the just-rights.

Usually the workaholics are your boss and managers, usually the coasters are those people that have been there forever and haven't really seen any upward mobilities, surfing through the weeks looking for Fridays.

Then there are the just-rights. They find that work/life stability that gets them ahead not only in their careers but also in in their personal lives. They're not too much of a workaholic and they're not too much of a coaster---they are just-right.

How do you find your own system of checks and balances between the three?

Here's a few tips:

#1 Work for it: Find your inner workaholic. Sometime syou just have to get down to work. Projects come against dealines, customer demand satisfaction and dises need cleaning. You wnat to get ahead and management expects you to get the job done....so eat lunch at your desk and stay late a few nights this week.

Show them you are willing to work hard and put in some extra effort to get the job done and that our job MATTERS to you.

Enjoy the thrill of being crunched for time and tired out of your mind. BUT don't over do it or you'll burn yourself out. If you feel on the brink of burning out remember too.......

#2 Relax a little: Go coaster. After all the stress, whether one or six weeks, you need to find some time for yourself. You worked late getting that project done one time last week, you satisfied your customers and the dishes are done! Now it's time to take a minute and browse the internet while no one's looking or put on some music. If yo finish early, ask if you can leave early. Rest on Friday nights, party on Saturday night..catch up on TV shows or start a new series (I recommend Big Bang Theory or Community--good laugh).

#3 ride the wave: Get it just-right. Surfing involes some serious work but it also invovles some serious floating.

Workaholics work and work and as a reslult their careers might move up and up...but on the flipside their personal lives takes a dive. Coasters focus on hteir lives outside of while, and while their social lives might be intact their careers can become stagnant and simply a means to an end.

Work hard when you need to...but don't forget to take some time for yourself. Ride the wave and find the perfect balance.

Article from the magazine Jobpostings page 32 (Available at AC 213)

Interview Smarts

2010-11-10T13:03:00.005-05:00

Have you ever been asked the question: "Give an example of a time when you had to work with someone who was difficult to deal with; Why were they difficult and how did you handle it?"

Flipping through the magazine Jobpostings, I found an article on Interview Smarts (page 8 of Nov/Dec issue), where David Meister (Campus Recruitment @ Suncor Energy) gave some pointers on how to answer the above question.

Usually when this question is asked, it always changed the mood and candidates struggle to find examples. The reasion interviewers ask this question is not to identify how easgoing you are, but to understand how you manage through challenging situations.

Tips to preparing for this question:
1) To prepare for the question, think of a time when you had to deal with a problematic individual.
2)Practice descibing the situation; why you considered this person "difficult", and what the goal was in your interaction.
3)Then descibe teh action you took to resolve the issue or to reach and finally prepare to discuss teh result of your action.

The article continues to give an example of how this interview question could be answered. You can find this article and many others in the JobPosting Magazine. Get your copy at the Academic Adving and Career Centre at AC213!

Note Taking and Listening tips

2010-11-09T18:31:00.000-05:00

Have you ever sat in class with everyone around you constantly scribbling/typing notes, and you're wondering what everyone is writing down? Well today's tip is to help you take good notes and write down what is important.

Today's Tips:

#1) Active Listening is KEY to Taking Good Notes!

Puts you in a better position to understand and recall material.
Greater recall when studying for midterms and exams.
Makes class more interesting because you are involved.
Listen for cues as evidence of what the instructor thinks is important.

• "The three main issues are..." • "The key issue here is..." • "I'll begin by..." • "To sum up..." • "This is really important!"

-----------------------------------------
#2) Try the Cornell Notetaking System - PQ5R

Step 1 - PREPARE

Read and review any assigned readings.
Review notes from the last lecture.
Preview the lecture powerpoint slides if you get them in advance.

Step 2 - QUESTION

Get unanswered questions from the readings answered in class.
Write down questions you predict may appear on future tests.

Step 3 - REDUCE

Set up your lecture notes like this:

The key column is where you write key questions about the notes
The notes column is where you write full notes during class.
Within 24 hours of lecture, generate key questions or phrases about the notes. Write these in the key column.

Step 4 - RECITE

Cover over the notes column and answer the questions in the key column.
Recite the material in your own words.
Did you cover all the points correctly? If so, move on the to the next question.

Step 5 - REFLECT

Ask yourself - how does this material relate to previous lectures?
Look for connections. Connections could point to future test questions.
Write short summaries of each page of your lecture notes in your own words.
Complete all steps within 24 hours of class to maximize memory.

Managing your time

2010-11-08T12:41:00.000-05:00

With a full course load, part/full time jobs, extra curricular activities and a need for some free time it is a challenge to manage everything into the short span of 7 days a week.

Everyone wants to reduce procrastination, have more control over their schedule, limiting stress, complete more tasks, and at the same time enjoy some free time. This all sounds good but how to manage it is not as simple.

Today's Tip of the Day is Time Management Strategies

#1) Let's start off with: Plan your week ahead of time with a daytimer/scheduler. Slot in:

Committed activities - classes, labs, tutorials, part-time job, meetings
Well-being activities - exercise, lunches, breaks, social activities
Academic work - 2-3 hours of study for every hour you spend in lecture

#2) Use a semester planner to keep track of the year. Using your course outlines write down:

Assignments
Tests
Exams

#3) Make a to-do lists. Writing down tasks that you want to complete achieves three important goals:

You track what has to be done
It helps you to come up with a more accurate estimate of how long a project will take to complete
You are making a firm commitment to get the work done

#4) Following through on your goals:

Stay motivated!
1. Reward yourself!(see entry on Reward yourself)
2. something small after finishing a chapter: (such as a half-hour of guilt-free TV-watching after reading your assigned chapters)
3. a larger reward after a midterm/submitting an essay (an evening out with friends after handing in a big paper).

Avoid procrastinating
1. Avoiding distractions and procrastination (See blog entry on procrastination and distraction)
Evaluate your progress
1. This will give you the information you need to modify your time management strategies

Improving your memory

2010-10-29T17:09:00.001-04:00

Having a good memory is a cornerstone of academic success. Today's tip is set on helping you improve your memory.

It is thought that humans possess two major types of memory: short‐term memory (STM) and long‐term memory (LTM). If you wish to be successful on tests and exams, it is important to have crucial information stored in your longterm memory.

Frequent review of material is important.

Today's TIP:

Always review your lecture notes and recite material within 24 hours of your class to encourage information transfer from your STM to your LTM. LTM allows retrieval of information decades after it is stored, and its capacity is considered to be infinite.

I know it's not the most exciting exercise to go through your lecture notes, as reading your notes can be very dull and by the end of ther material you still don't remember.

Instead, try to go through your notes and write post-its of the most important points. Then post the sticky-notes around your room, and the next couple days go through your sticky-notes to refresh your memory. You might find that the information starts to stick and next time you go through your lecture notes you will remember points faster.

Study Tips are back!

2010-09-30T17:25:00.003-04:00

For those who were not around during the summer, I have been posting up Study-Tips to help everyone study smarter. These study-tips are courtesy of the Academic and Career Centre Tip-Sheets.

Today's tip is about the different types of learning styles and how finding the right style will make a huge difference when you are studying.

Today’s TIP:

Learning styles makes a difference when you're studying.

#1 If you prefer auditory modality of learning (learning by listening):

Reciting material to yourself while studying, talking outloud
Tape recording study notes so that you can listen to them while travelling to and from school or while exercising.
Have discussion groups, talk to someone else

#2 If you prefer the visual modality of learning (learning through sight):

Try using colour coding and highlighting text material
Using bullets to separate ideas
Making pictorial representations and diagrams of material to be learned

#3 Kinesthetic learners are those who prefer using whole body movement and real life experiences to help them to learn. If you are a kinesthetic learner, you will learn best from:

Typing notes into your computer (assuming you have time and are a fairly fast typist!)
Underlining or taking notes while reading
Making flash cards to record information for review
Actively writing on lecture notes and on print out readings to help yourself understand

Hope today's Study Tip is helpful, if you want to know more about study styles and other study skills, you can visit the AACC tipsheets for Learning Styles and other tipsheets.

Resources and Locations on campus (Photo Blog)

2010-09-27T13:29:00.016-04:00

Remember the previous blog where I took you on a tour of the different places to eat on campus? Well, this time I will be taking you on a tour to the many interesting resources and locations at UTSC.

The Academic and Career Centre

Starting with the Academic and Career Centre. Located at AC 213 near the library, this is where you can find help with academic advising and career counselling.

You can find learning resources, latest job postings, private peer counselling..and many more other resources.

You can also make appointments to speak one-on-one with an academic or career counsellor at the centre.

So feel free to pop in sometime or visit the AACC website!

The Library

Not far from the Academic Advising and Career Centre is the Library. Located in the ARC near Tim Hortons and the Writing Centre.

Besides endless shelves of books, the library homes many quiet study spaces...great for studying on your own and working on group projects!

If you have term papers, essays or any other assignments that involves you researching outside resources, then definitely take some time at the library. The library offers librarians who are there to help with just that!

The Bookstore
Need to buy a textbook? Pens? Binders? Backpacks? Mugs? UofT memorabilias? Then visit the UTSC BookStore!

Located in the 3rd floor of Bladen Wing, the Bookstore holds all your academic needs!

The Health and Wellness Centre

Not feeling well? The Health and Wellness Centre has many trained professionals to provide you medical, nursing, wellness information and health promotion.

Located upstairs of the Student Centre, SL-270

CopyKats

Need to photocopy something? Need to fax a form/letter? Need to print an assignment/file?? Well then visit CopyKats!

Located in Science wing, besides the Meeting Place. Look for the sign CopyKats

Women's Centre

The Women's Centre is located upstairs of the Student Centre, SL-224

The centre is there to improve the condition and status of women at U of T.

If you need someone to talk to, questions or other concerns feel free to visit the centre or visit the Women's Centre website

Math & Statistics Learning Centre

The Math and Statistics Learning Centre (MSLC) is located in AC312 of the ARC

MSLC provides free seminars, workshops, virtual tutoring, individual appointments, and small-group consultations to improve students’ proficiency in various subjects of mathematics and statistics.

The Math Aid Room is located in S-506F of the Science Wing

The Office of Student Affairs & Services

The Office of Student Affairs & Services is located in Student Centre, Room SL-157

The Office of Student Affairs provides leadership and general oversight for the entire division of student affairs, including all student services as well as providing unique campus services such as notary public services, budget leadership for the Council on Student Services, managing the undergraduate Academic Travel Fund and IT coordination for all departments.

The Office also functions as a clearing house for information and referral related to the student co-curricular and extra- curricular experience.

The Writing Centre

Need help with a paper? Essay? or any writing needs? Visit the Writing Centre. Located across from the Library in the ARC.

The Writing Centre service provides support for teaching and learning through writing for all University of Toronto Scarborough students

Also, the centre offers many seminars that helps you with academic writing and reading. Visit Writing Centre website for list of seminars and sign up on the intranet.

The Doris McMarthy Gallery
The Doris McCarthy Gallery is located in the Academic Resource Centre.

DMG houses many permanent collections as well as many exhibits. Visit the DMG website for more information!

Hope this little tour across campus is helpful. Stay tuned for more interesting locations on campus!

2010/11 school year

2010-09-23T12:30:00.006-04:00

Welcome back to the new school year! And to new students, welcome to UofT!

As second week of school reaches an end, there are couple of important dates and up and coming seminars to take note of.

Important date(s):
The last day to add courses is this Sunday, Sept 26th, 2010.

The last day to apply for credit/no-credit is also Sunday, Sept 26th, 2010

Upcoming seminars (Sign up on INTRANET for seminars):
Study Smarter, Not Harder Seminar is on Monday, September 27th , 12:00 – 1:30pm

Extreme Time Management Seminar is on Wednesday, September 29th, 5:00pm – 7:00pm

Mastering Multiple Choice Questions Seminar is on Thursday, September 30th, 3:00pm – 4:30pm
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Stay tuned for next blog where I will show you some interesting spots on UTSC campus (including places to get photo copy and location of lost&found.)

Ace is everywhere Part one (photo blog)

2010-07-28T17:55:00.016-04:00

This week's photoblog, I will take you on a tour to some interesting spots on campus!

Do you need to photocopy, print or fax files??? Do you need to print items that's not on the standard letter paper? Then CopyKats awaits your visit! Located in the Science Wing right next to the meeting place (the giant square area of the Science Wing). I am a frequent visitor of CopyKats as you can see in the photo :)

Science Wing Meeting Place, where most of the Acedemic Advising and Career Centre Fairs are held. As well as many special events.

Study study study! There are many study spaces around campus, you can find them in the Science Wing, H wing, Arc and library. If you need it to be absolutely silent, there are Ultra Quiet study spaces upstairs of the Library. My favourite spot is in the Science Wing, as you can see in the photo.

Checking out the latest news on campus. You can find these TV all over campus with the latest campus news as well as the weather report.

If you forgot to bring your cell phone and need to call someoneyou can do what I do... use pay phones on campus. You can find these pay phones in the AA building first floor across from the "Welcome Hall".

Need to do a research paperor essay? In need of a quiet place to study? And you don't mind being surrounded by books? Then the library is the perfect place for you! Located in the Arc building...you can't miss it!

In a hurry and don't have a chance to wash your hands, you can find these Hand sanitizer Stands all over the campus.

If you live far from UTSC and need a place to stay while studying at UTSC there are on campus residences! Town houses and Foley Hall located in the South Rez and Town Houses located in North Rez, all set aside so students can stay on campus.

Stay tuned for more interesting places on campus in the Ace is Everywhere Part Two photoblog where I will be showing the resources on campus!

Ace is hungry (Photo Blog)

2010-07-28T16:57:00.022-04:00

I was studying earlier and felt hungry. So I went on a little tour around school to the many places to eat on campus...in my attempt to decide what I wanted to eat.

My stop took me to the vending machine in the Science Wing. Great place to go for food when everything else is closed!

Next, I passed Tim Horton's, or as I like to call Timmys.
With two entrances and a lot of seating, Timmy's is one of my favourite place to hang out. After I grabbed some timbits, I am off to the next location on campus!

Not far from Timmy's is the Market Place. Located in the H Wing of the school. The Market Place offers a large variety of food from burgers to pasta. There's also two floors of seating connected to the Market Place, great place to have meals with friends.

In the Student Centre, you can find Subway, A&W, Treats as well as Asian Gourmet. My favourite is Treats, where you can find me buying myself bubble tea and sandwiches! I bought myself a cookie here and set off to the next location.

Next, my tour around campus takes me to where I spent most of my time watching the FIFA World Cup and other sporting events: Rex's Den! There's not games on TV today, so I moved on to the next location.Downstairs of the Student Centre is Rex's Den where large screen TV and restaurant combine for the perfect sports-watching environment.

Campus Xpress, housed also in the Student Centre is, what I like to call the on campus convenience store. If you are craving chocolate bars, chips, drinks, candy, coffee, ice cream, yogurt, assorted gummy candy and just about any other snacks...then I would recommend you visit the Campus Xpress. (Also, this is where you can buy TTC tokens, hoodies, stationaries and other non-food items...more on that in later blog entries.) I am feeling thirsty, so I bought (an infamous) Arizona tea here.

I finally found what I wanted to eat at UTSC's own hot dog stand. Located outside of the Student Centre near the student drop off area is the Hot Dog stand. Chicken, beef, vegetarian hot dogs...all can be found here! I bought myself one and now I am ready to study once again.

Stay tuned! More photo blogs to come!

Internships

2010-07-14T16:05:00.001-04:00

Why do an internship? To gain skills and experience for a competitive edge in the workplace, confirm if a career is the right fit for you, to gain valuable contacts in your field, be offered more long‐term positions, and gain understanding into workplace issues and ethics.

Step 1: Assessing Your Goals
Prior to selecting an internship, you will need to have a clear understanding of what you are hoping to gain from the
experience. Do you want experience in Canada or abroad? Are you looking for a large or small organization? Are
there financial issues you need to address? What experience and skills do you need to develop? The “Choosing Your
Career” workshop can assist you. Sign up on the intranet.

Step 2: Finding an Internship
As internships can take on a variety of forms, there is often confusion as to what an internship really is, which can
make it tricky to locate the internship of your dreams. Internships can be listed in a variety of places (or not listed at
all!), so you need to have a multi‐pronged approach to find yours. Be sure to attend our Volunteer & Internship Fair
offered each year. Start with some of the resources listed on this tipsheet to help you identify potential opportunities.
Most of these resources are on‐line as there are less and less internship directories being printed. The print
directories, although older, can still be useful for generating some leads as they typically list organizations that are
larger and more stable. It would be beneficial to look at specific company websites to see if they offer internships. If
you would like to intern with a specific company or organization, but they do not advertise internships, contact them,
explain your interest in the company and your background and ask if they would sponsor an internship for you. Many
students have found internships by taking this initiative. If you need help identifying employers in your field, consult
the employer directories available in the Career Resource Library.

Step 3: Researching the Organization
You can never know too much about a potential placement. The Career Resource Library and the Internet are good
places to start. You will want to find out about the current trends, challenges facing the organization, innovations,
recent successes, and workplace philosophy.

Step 4: Applying and interviewing
Applying to an internship typically involves writing an effective résumé/application that clearly outlines your skills,
education, experience, volunteer work, accomplishments and interests. If you are writing a résumé, be sure to include
a targeted cover letter. For help, attend a “Winning Résumés and Cover Letters” seminar. Also, have these documents
critiqued with the Résumé Critique Service, to ensure you are marketing yourself effectively. If an interview is
required, prepare for it as seriously as you would for any other job interview. The Academic Advising & Career Centre
offers the “Interview Techniques to Land That Job” seminar as well as one‐on‐one Practice Interview sessions. In
addition to these services, the Career Resource Library (AC213) offers a number of resources on résumés, cover
letters, and interviews.

Step 5: Making the most of your internship
This is your chance to get some of that much needed work experience! For a successful internship be sure to be
punctual and professional; show initiative, energy and commitment; learn from those who have more experience than
you; participate in team projects; ask questions; understand how the company operates; learn about the
organization’s recruitment strategy; ask for a letter of recommendation when you leave and keep in touch with the
company; send a thank you letter upon completion of the internship.

For list of internship websites visit the Internship Tipsheet brought to you by the Academic and Career Centre

Choosing your program

2010-07-07T11:50:00.004-04:00

Unsure of what program to go into? Today's tip is directed to those who are indecisive and unsure about the program they to major/minor in.

As you know University of Toronto Scarborough students may only register in Scarborough programs. If you are a degree student and you have at least 4.0 credits, you must register in a program or programs.

Today's tip(s):

Choosing Your Program(s)

There are many factors to consider when choosing your program(s). There is not one universal ‘right’ choice; each person must look at his/her own situation and decide upon the right program options for him/her. Ask yourself these questions:

• What are you interested in?
Studying subjects that are interesting to you means you will enjoy your time at university more, you will be more
focused in your learning and probably achieve higher marks.

• Where do your strengths lie?
This means looking at where your skills lie; are you a good writer, researcher, problem solver, organizer? Are you
good with numbers, creative expression, or intricate details? Assessing your strengths and understanding those
required by different programs may give you some ideas as to which programs are best for you.

• What courses have you done well in?
It is important to assess this now, as you complete your first courses at university. You may have been good at a
number of subjects in high school; usually, the field is narrowed down by the intensity of study at the university
level. Assess what you are better at in the university setting.

• Have you checked to see if enrolment in the program is limited or unlimited?
Enrolment in some programs is limited, so you have to meet standards to gain admittance. If you do not have the required standard, you will need to choose another program of study. Please refer to the UTSC Calendar to determine if the program has prerequisites or grade requirements.

• What career opportunities are available with this program?
For many programs there are a number of career opportunities available. The answer lies not so much with the program, but with each person. What skills, interests, personal qualities and values does this person have? These
factors, gathered through all your life experiences, will help you choose the career option that is right for you.

If you would like to discuss your career options, phone the Academic Advising and Career Centre at 416‐287‐7561
and book an appointment with a Career Counsellor.

• Why do you want this program?
Examine why you are making this choice; look at the above factors, and ensure that your program is interesting to
you, that you can succeed at it and that it offers courses and career options that are right for you.

• How Do I Register in a Program?
You should begin by reading your Calendar. Read the regulations regarding Programs of Study to be aware

---------------------------------------------

Need further assistance? Use the Career Centre Resources and Services

• Use the Career Centre library located in Room AC213 for descriptions of different careers, their educational
requirements, and potential employment opportunities.
• Talk to people in your field of interest; find them by using our Networking binder.
• Explore the field through job shadowing with the Extern program.
• Peruse the Volunteer listings and Part‐time and Summer jobs to find opportunities to build relevant skills.
• You can find out more by visiting the Choose Program Tipsheet

Testbook Reading Tip

2010-06-14T16:26:00.006-04:00

Continuing from the previous entry on Reading tips, today's tip will be focused on textbook reading.

Textbook readings can be a challenge and difficult to get through. The best way to jump into a chapter is to get organized first. Get to know what the chapter will be aimed towards before you plow in. Last thing you want is to reread the chapter.

Follow today's tip on the 5 steps to textbook reading (Reading Tipsheet by Academic Advising and Career Centre)

Today's TIP:

Textbook Reading: The SQ3R Method

Step - SURVEY

Preview the material first, by looking at all headings and sub-headings, glancing at diagrams and reading the chapter summary.

Organize a brief outline of the chapter, emphasizing main themes.

Note the length of the chapter and estimate how long it will take you to read it.

Step 2 - QUESTION

Turn headings and subheadings into questions you can use to test yourself on the material. Answer these questions while your read.

Jot down any unanswered questions you may have after reading to clarify in class.

Step 3 - READ

Watch for bold and italicized printing as clues for important topics.

Take notes in your own words. Use color, diagrams, key words, etc.

After each section, stop and take a moment to summarize that section.

Step 4 - RECITE

Answer questions about what you just read. Use the questions you generated when surveying the chapter.

Recite important ideas and any connections you see between chapters.

Step 5 - REVIEW

Review your textbook notes within 24 hours so material is not forgotten. (Skim over your notes, keeping the material fresh)

If possible, discuss the material with a classmate. (Ask them questions or just discuss the chapter)
Aim for a major review of all notes at least once before your midterm or exam.
Ask questions! Best way to remember and understand a reading is to ask questions.

General Reading Tips

2010-06-14T15:49:00.014-04:00

Assigned readings, be it from textbooks, Xeroxes, PDFs, or novels, can be quite time consuming and challenging. Let’s face it, some readings can be quite dull and painful to get through.

Today's tip is to give you some brief reading strategies and to give you some motivation.

TIP of the Day:

General Reading Strategies:

Read the assigned materials. Don't assume professors will cover textbook material in class

Read ahead. Make sure you have assigned readings done BEFORE lectures. If possible, stay one week ahead of lecture.

Try and get some reading done before class because professors usually talk about the importance of each reading
If the reading is long and your time is limited then:

TRY to get a general idea of each reading
Read the introduction, read a bit from each paragraph to get the overall idea and finish the conclusion

Read for comprehension. Don't read to memorize.

Stay tuned, the next TIP OF THE DAY will be focused on Tips with Textbook reading!

preparing for midterms

2010-06-06T20:09:00.001-04:00

With midterms just around the corner, this would be a good time to do a Test Preparation and Writing for Tip of the Day

#1 Test Preparation Strategies:

Say goodbye to cramming. Set a study schedule for intense review 1-2 weeks before the test or exam.
Commit to a (good) study group. If the group can't stay focused, they may not be the group for you.
If you find yourself chatting, eating, laughing and joking around...this might not be a good study group.
Protect your health. Do what you need to do to stay healthy:
Eat well: fruits, vegetables, plenty of water everyday
Exercise: go for a run in the gym, prepare a gym work out schedule
Sleep well: 6-8 hours of sleep is recommended;
Take Naps (if needed):
-Don't burn out, if you didn't get enough sleep during the night then take a short nap!
-Try and avoid long naps (2o minutes is recommended), last thing you need is to wake up from a nap feeling drowsy.
Find out what is going to be on the midterm. Attend the lectures and tutorials, where midterm content is revealed. Ask your professor what to expect.
Match your study strategies to the test format.
-If it's a multiple choice test, focus on details.
-If it's essay or short answer start making short outlines and structures as practice.
-Test yourself. Practice problems from assignments and old exams.
-Have a friend quiz you. Use flash cards.

use PATS to help you study

2010-05-26T15:39:00.011-04:00

As the weather is warming up, midterms are coming up as well. Midterms and summer just doesn't mix, it is hard to study with the sun beating down.

Continuing my Study Tip of the Day, today's tip will be targeted at helping you study.

---------------------------------------
TIP of the Day:

Staying on task is quite difficult sometimes. If you find it hard to focus try the PATS model to help you stay on task:

Pick the best environment for you to study
Always reduce visual distractions
Try to eliminate noise around you
Self talk to control distracting thoughts

---------------------------------------------
This is not as easy as it sounds. So here's some pointers that I use to help me follow "PATS".

If you are studying around your computer/laptop, turn it off or (if it's a laptop) put it away so you won't see it. If you need the computer to type notes, unplug the internet to help you stay focused. If you need internet for research, then log out of all social networks (like facebook, twitter, and messengers.)

Clear your table of newspapers, magazines, and novels that can distract you.

Find a quiet location, a place where there aren't so many noises.

If you like to listen to music whilst studying, try and listen to instrumentals only. Meaning songs that have its lyrics removed and with only instrument playing. This will help keep you focused and avoid singing along with the song. Use noise canceling earphones or use big headphones that cover your ears.

By staying focused, you can retain information easily and get studying done quicker. Don't forget to take short breaks during your studying time.

Reward yourself

2010-05-20T23:57:00.010-04:00

♫♪Everybody's working for the weekend. Everybody wants a new... ♫---ooops sorry, had my earphones on. Just needed a little motivation for the weekend.

It was such a lovely day today, sun was shining, a small breeze....almost perfect. However, I did spend most of the morning indoors writing working on an essay and finishing some text readings. Studying shouldn't be be dull and without rewards. During my studying time today, I did take the occasional break and once I finished a chapter I rewarded myself with half an hour of TV time (in which I watched The Big Bang Theory). This leads me to today's tip!

---------------------------------------------

TIP of the day!

Following through on your goals:

#1 Stay motivated!

Reward yourself for accomplishments.

You can plan small rewards (such as a half-hour of guilt-free TV-watching after reading your assigned chapters) or a large reward (an evening out with friends after handing in a big paper). Or even the occasional 5 minute breaks to rest and listen to some music.

#2 Avoid procratinating

See our procrastination tip sheet for more info. (This will be my TIP of the Day on my next blog.)

#3 Evaluate your progress

This will give you the information you need to modify your time management strategies.

----------------------------------------------
Want to know more about tips and other study skills? You can visit the AACC tipsheets for more!

Career Compass Certificate

2010-05-12T13:13:00.011-04:00

I am happy to announce the Career Compass Certificate by the Academic Advising and Career Center (AACC) has began.

What is Career Compass Certificate?
The Career Compass Certificate is a certificate given to students in recognition of their attendance to the set of seminars offered by the AACC targeted towards exploring career and employment options.

Why should I go to the seminars?
By attending these seminars offered by the AACC, you not only get a certificate but you also get experience with discovering career/employment options, writing effective resumes, cover letters, how to search for work, networking skills and interview techniques!

How can I get the certificate?
The Career Compass Certificate is comprised of 7 seminars aimed to help you explore your career options and prepare for employment. In order to get the certificate you will need to attend 5 of the 7 seminars:

You must attend ONE of the following:

Plus, ALL of the following:

Interested in participating?
If you are interested in taking part of the certificate, pick up your stamp card from the Academic Advising & Career Centre, Room AC213 today!

Each time you attend a seminar, you will receive a signature or stamp from the seminar leader. When you have completed 5 seminars, please submit your card to the Academic Advising & Career Centre. Once your attendance has been confirmed, you will receive a signed certificate.

Summer seminars and events!

2010-05-04T13:19:00.003-04:00

To those who aren't taking summer courses: have a fun and safe vacation!

To those taking summer courses: welcome to another semester and pay attention to the Academic and Career Centre Website for updates on upcoming events.

This week is HIRE POWER, if you missed out on the week of events don't worry! There are other seminars and events throughout the month of May that are targeted towards job hunting and resume writing.

Discover Your Skills and Career Options
Mon, 10 May, 2:00pm – 3:30pm
Sign up on intranet!

Winning Resumes & Cover Letters
Wed, 12 May, 10:00am – 11:30am
Sign up on intranet!

Interview Techniques to Land that Job
Thu, 13 May, 10:00am – 11:30am
Sign up on intranet!

and another Resume Blitz!!

Resume Blitz
Thu, 13 May, 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Location: Lobby of Arc building, in front of the lecture hall.
First come first serve!

Reminder: Hire Power and Career Info Fair NEXT WEEK

2010-04-28T13:40:00.006-04:00

HIRE POWER

Reminder to those who has registered for Hire Power, it is coming up next week May 3rd - May 6th.

Here's what you can expect to learn from career conference:

How to create a job search and career plan
Strategies for an effective job search
Personal branding techniques
Industry trends
Etiquette guidelines
How to build and target your resume and cover letter
Interviewing strategies
Networking techniques as well as opportunities to engage with employers

---------------------------------------------------------
CAREER INFORMATION FAIR

The Career Information Fair is coming next week:

Dates: Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Time: 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Place: Science Wing Meeting Place

This Fair is a great opportunity for you to get a head start on finding your future career! Network with professionals from a wide range of organizations about typical career paths available in their field. Learn what skills, experience and education are needed for your future career.

Upcoming events, seminars and more!!

2010-04-21T13:59:00.005-04:00

It's that time of the year again when those big winter jackets are thrown into the back of the closet to make room for sun glasses, shorts, t-shirts, flip flops, beach towel...you get the idea. Yes, summer is almost here!

Like myself, many of you might be looking for a summer job. Searching job posts, preparing resumes, writing cover letters, and getting together references.

The Academic and Career Centr e is aware of everyone's search, thus is offering many seminars and events in the coming weeks (yes after the final exams)!! All of which are aimed at helping you get that summer job you've wanted!

Resume Blitz :

Wed, April 28, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Wed, May 12 , 1:00 – 4:00pm
Thu, May 13, 1:00 – 4:00pm

First come first serve!!

Career Fair

Dates: Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Time: 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Place: Science Wing Meeting Place

How to Find Work

Tue, May 11, 10:30 – 12:00

Come to this seminar and learn more about the hidden job market. Discover alternative job search strategies and resources that can help you generate and follow up on leads for jobs you really want. Sign up on intranet required!

Making Connections: Networking to Find Work

Tue, May 11, 13:00 – 14:30

Come to this interactive workshop to learn more about networking and get a chance to gain hands-on experience using networking skills.
Sign up on intranet required!

Winning Resumes & Cover Letters

Wed, May 12, 10:00 – 11:30am

Sign up on intranet required!

Interview Techniques to Land that Job

Thu, May 13, 10:00 – 11:30 am

Sign up on intranet required!

Resume Blitz and Hire Power

2010-04-14T12:35:00.004-04:00

Final exams has started, which means Summer is just around the corner.

As you are studying don't forget to take breaks and get some exercise!

Resume Blitz is back!

It will be held on Wed Apr 21, 1pm – 4pm and Wed Apr 28, 1pm - 4pm.

First come first serve.

Hire Power: Strategies for Finding and Keeping Work

Hosted by the UTSC Academic Advising & Career Centre and the Office of Alumni Relations, this four-day event is aimed at providing new graduates with the skills and resources needed to find and keep work.

This four day event will be held from Mon May 3 – Thu May 6.

For information on the event and registration visit Hire Power.

LAST CHANCE!

2010-04-07T15:10:00.005-04:00

Want to win a $100 Mastercard??

Then go to
http://ca.studentvoice.com/scarborough/annualsurvey2010
and help improve the Academic Advising & Career Centre!!

Survey Closes Thursday, April 8th!!

Good Luck!

Making history

2010-03-25T10:41:00.003-04:00

Hello all! It has been a busy term! Everything is winding down and finals are arriving soon. Amongst the rush of getting midterms finished and assignments completed UTSC held the historic student referendum for a new athletic complex.

UTSC has voted "YES" to the new state-of-the-art athletics complex following a historic referendum. Here's parts from the article:

The unofficial vote count is: 1454 yes, 748 no, representing a 62 per cent majority in favour of YES (with 58 abstained and 77 spoiled ballots). The results are unofficial until they pass through the normal schedule of ratification by the SCSU and the University.

With 2,337 ballots cast, this represents 23 per cent of the student body and the highest participation level of any student referendum on the UTSC campus. For the past 18 months, the students at UTSC have been working side-by-side with the other partners in developing plans for this new athletics and recreation complex. Students at UTSC have been advocating for decades for enhanced facilities. The existing athletics facility was designed for 4,000 students and is inadequate for today’s student population of over 10,000.

Exam help and graduate school information

2010-03-15T11:48:00.002-04:00

Graduate School Panel

Are you thinking of attending graduate school? Do you have questions? If so then visit the Graduate School Panel.

Hear from students who have been admitted into graduate programs.
The panel will be held on Tue, March 23, 5:30pm – 7:30pm

Sign up on the intranet to attend!

----

Exam Preparation and Exam Writing: How to Ace Your Finals

As finals are closing in and stress levels are going up. Before final exams begin you should visit the Exam Preparation and Exam Writing: How to Ace Your Finals seminar. You'll be glad you did.

This seminar addresses exam preparation timelines and strategies for the day of the exam. It also discusses "exam stress," general test anxiety, and writing MCQ and essay style exams.

The seminar will be held on: March 31, 2010, 5-6:30pm

Sign up on the intranet to attend.

March events!

2010-03-09T13:28:00.009-05:00

I wanted to inform everyone of some of the events happening this month!

Program Information Session

There are many program information sessions are occurring this month. Visit AACC website for more information on dates and location of the sessions.

--
Fairs

The Environmental Career Fair is coming up on March 31st, From 12 noon- 2pm at Science Wing meeting place.

Two events associated with the Environmental fair:

the Green Resume: Communicating your Environmental Experience will be held on Wednesday March 24, 3-4:0pm
Before you go to the fair visit the Maximize Your Result at Career Fair seminar, held Tuesday March 30th from 1pm- 2pm.

If you have questions regarding the fair please feel free to visit the AACC website or come visit us in person at AC213 in the ark.

--
Other Sessions and seminars

AACC is offering many information sessions and seminars throughout March and here are some topics:

Discover your skills and career options
How to find work
Interview techniques to land that job

you will need to sign up on the intranet for these seminars. Visit the AACC website for more information

Reading week and Olympics!

2010-02-22T09:34:00.009-05:00

The 2010 winter Olympics is occurring in Vancouver, BC. As a hockey and speed skating fan, I am so excited to have reading week off to watch the games.

A bit of an update for those who have not been following the winter games: Canada has 4 Gold metals, 4 silver and 1 bronze. For those who are unaware, Canada has never won gold on HOME SOIL- meaning Canada has won gold before...just never won gold in an olympic held in Canada.

Alexandre Bilodeau broke that record by winning Canada's first Gold on HOME SOIL, as well Ricker, Montgomery and Nesbitt has gold for Canada.

picture: Bilodeau winning gold

Speaking of sports, UTSC is hoping to bring in a recreational centre to the campus. Visit re-imagine your campus to find out more!!

Students can be skating, playing hockey and swimming without having to leave campus! Imagine that!! As an athlete and sport enthusiast this is so exciting for me to share with everyone.

Anyways, welcome back to campus, hope you had a good reading week.

GO CANADA GO!!

Program information session!!

2010-02-08T15:07:00.001-05:00

There are many factors to consider when choosing your program(s).

Visit the different Program information Sessions offered to find out more about the different programs offered here at UTSC. I chose my program after attending a program information session.

Throughout March the Academic Advising & Career Centre coordinates Program Information Sessions for many UTSC programs. Program Supervisors or other staff will present the information you will need about potential programs.

Most students, however, need to explore the range of programs available at UTSC. They should attend as many sessions as possible—and seek advice and information in the Academic Advising & Career Centre and/or from the supervisors and faculty in programs for which there are no formal Information Sessions.

These information will be held in March 2010, so mark your calendars!

CTEP (Concurrent Teacher Education Program) Information session
Tuesday, March 2nd, 12-1 pm B360

Management Information Session
Wednesday, March 10th, 4-6 pm, AC223

Physical Sciences
Monday, March 15th, 12-1 pm, AA160

Humanities
Monday, March 22nd, 4-5:30 pm, B360

Biology
Tuesday, March 23rd, 4-5:30 pm, AA160

Joint programs- Paramedicine & Industrial Microbiology
Thursday March 24th, 4-5:30 pm, B360

Psychology/ Neuroscience & Mental Health Studies
Wednesday, March 10th, 1-2 pm and 2-3 pm, AA160

Find out more about programs and ask program supervisor/staff questions. Take advantage of these information this March.

Get involved...and earn extra money!

2010-02-03T17:04:00.011-05:00

Want to get involved on campus, but never had the opportunity to or found the right activity? Well I want to inform you of the Get Started Coach with the Get Started Program.

If you're looking for a position that's energetic, highly-interpersonal, and interactive, being a Get Started Coach offers this and much more! The Academic Advising & Career Centre is hiring up to 15 coaches for these part time positions.

This is a great opportunity for upper year students to get involved on campus and earn some extra money while doing it!

This is a position that requires a positive outlook, humour, and a willingness to engage with others. As a Coach, this program will offer you an opportunity to be a campus leader, shaping your skills and taking it to the next level by putting you to the test - each day is an opportunity to positively influence a student's transition into university.

Applications are due FRIDAY MARCH 5TH at 12NOON. Please submit your cover letter, resume and a copy of the job posting to AC213.

Please see the website below for a copy of the job posting.
http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/~getstarted/jobdescription.pdf

Sandra
- 2008 & 2009 Coach
Get Started gave me the opportunity to work alongside fantastic campus leaders, and become a mentor for incoming students by sharing my university experience. Make a positive influence, become a better public speaker, and have a fantastic summer meeting new people everyday. Hope to see you at Get Started 2010!

FRAN
- Attended in 2008
My name is Fran and I attended Get Started in my first year. It was a great experience for me and it allowed me to make friends and meet new people. I also learned everything I needed to be a successful student!

Apply to be a Get Started Coach! Not only can you get involved on campus but you can help a student's transition into university!

Two fairs in one week!

2010-01-25T14:29:00.023-05:00

Did you know there isn’t one BUT two fairs next week? The International Opportunities fair and the Summer Job Fair in one week!!

Did you know I went on a Summer abroad volunteering trip as result of going to the International Opportunities fair? It was such a reawarding experience, and I highly recommend people to go to fairs. You never know who you will meet at the fairs and what opportunities are out there for you.

Join us at the Science Wing meeting place on Wednesday for the International Opportunities Fair and Thursday for the Summer Job Fair. I will be present at both fairs, you can find me at the AACC booth. Feel free to stop by and say hi!

Some organizations that will be present for the International opportunities include:
AIESEC
AustraLearn Internship Program
EF International Language Schools
International Student Volunteers
Korean Education Centre/Korean Consulate
Verge Magazine: Travel with Purpose

Some organizations that will be present for the Summer Job Fair includes:
Bonanza Garden Centre
City of Toronto, Parks, Forestry & Recreation
Fern Resort
International Student Exchange (ISX)
Kitimavik
Management Development Program
March of Dimes Canada
Project Canoe
Ontario Public Service

ALSO before the fair, come to the Maximize Your Result At Career Fair seminars on Mon, 25 January, 3pm – 4pm. (Sign up on the intranet is required for seminars.)

Re-Imagine your campus!

2010-01-20T13:35:00.009-05:00

Did you know I am a swimmer? You should see me with my goggles on! As an athlete I am excited about this up coming project.

Are you aware of the athletics and recreation complex that is in plans to come to UTSC? Well here' s a brief idea of what will be expected at this recreational complex:

The new complex will not only be comprehensive, meeting all your sports, recreation, fitness and wellness needs, it will be built to a world-standard and include specialized facilities, suitable for international competition.

Students would have the best possible facilities available to them, from multiple gymnasiums and multipurpose program area, fitness and training facilities, to two Olympic-sized swimming pools, diving tank and more.

Are you as excited as me?! There will be a student referendum and this is your opportunity to partner in a world-class athletics and recreation complex and create new opportunities for student space by voting yes in the referendum.

Do you have questions or just want to know more about this project? Visit: Re-imagine Your Campus

2010-01-13T15:17:00.016-05:00

Welcome back! Happy New year!

Hope everyone had a good holiday, and stocked up on all sorts of Christmas goodies.

There are many fairs, seminars and panels coming up. Take advantage of the events before all the assignments and papers start to pile up.

The Career in Health Panel was held today, with four guest speakers. The next career panel is the Career in Human Resources Panel, which will be held on Feb 10th 5pm 7pm. Sign up on the intranet is required.

Two back to back fairs are coming up:

The international Opportunities Fair
Date: Wednesday, Jan 27th
Time:11:30am-2:30 pm
Place: Science Wing Meeting Place

Summer Job Fair
Date: Wednesday, Jan 28th
Time:11:30am-2:30 pm
Place: Science Wing Meeting Place

For information on other events you can visit the AACC website!

Stressed?

2009-11-25T10:28:00.008-05:00

Being stressed is what every student has to go through.

With midterms over, there's now final exams to worry about. Not to mention this is when many class assignments, projects, papers.... are due.

Also I am sure many of you have jobs, clubs, sports and other extracurricular activities.

However, no matter how stressed you are---please try to SLEEP, EAT and TAKE BREAKS. The last thing you want right now is to burn out.

SLEEP!
Try and get sleep everyday. At least 6 hours!

You don't have to burn the midnight oil. If you are finding you don't have enough hours a day, have a look at our Time Management TipSheet, it might be helpful.

Consider your priorities! If you have too much to do, consider what is more important...and write yourself a schedule--- INCLUDE SLEEP, and BREAKS/REST TIME into your plan.

EAT WELL!
I can't stress this enough! Avoid junk and fast food. Get some fruits or vegetable into your diet.

Don't rely on coffee or energy drinks as your liquid. Drink water, tea and/or milk. I find a hot cup of tea with some honey to be very soothing during times of stress.

TAKE BREAKS!
Go to the gym, get some exercise if you can.

Take breaks, some time to relax---lie on your bed/couch, listening to music and empty your mind for a while. You will find yourself more productive once you have some rest.

it's that time of the year again

2009-11-19T11:23:00.010-05:00

Leaves are falling, wind is blowing, scarves and gloves are out again....and if that isn't exciting enough exams are fast approaching.

Yes, final exams are just around the corner, lurking and daring you to procrastinate. BUT I am here prevent you from procrastinating and get you started!

I have experienced not knowing how to study, and panicking as the exam dates neared. But not to worry because I can help. View the Study Skills Tipsheets from the Academic and Career Centre. These tipsheets will teach you the best way to study and give you confidence when you are studying. Remember study smarter not harder. It worked for me.

The Academic and Career centre also offers seminars to help you prepare for your exams. Come to the Exam Preparation and Exam Writing: How to Ace Your Finals seminar. The seminar addresses exam preparation timelines and strategies for the day of the exam. It also discusses “exam stress,” general test anxiety, and writing MCQ and essay style exams.

The Exam prep seminars will be held:

Tue, 24 November, 12:00 – 1:30 (B360)
Wed, 25 November, 5:00 – 6:30 (AA160)

Hit the books, get cracking, get a move on, ...basically get started studying! Good luck =)

Belly Wopper

2009-11-12T11:26:00.001-05:00

For those of you who have had time to take your face away from your laptops, notes and books have experienced the cold breeze and tumbled leaves. That just means one thing winter’s right around the corner and so comes the Belly Wopper. You probably are wandering, now what is a belly wopper? Simply put, it’s the bulge U of T student’s tummies forms over the winter. This is due to our fear of the cold, and our desires for warm fatty comfort foods. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle will not only make you look good as you ring in the holidays but will definitely make you feel good on a mental level as well. It is proven that those who exercise on a regular basis perform better in school. Remember that you have already paid for your UTSC gym membership as soon as you enrolled for courses, so make use of it. Instead of waiting on our super speed state of the art elevators opt for walking the stairs and if you are a keener skip stairs for extra muscle strength. As soon as the first snow flake falls your mouth demands a hot chocolate but resist temptation. No one’s judging you for indulging once in while but try something lighter, a herbal tea perhaps? Living a healthy lifestyle will not only help us be confident individuals but allows us to perform better in our day to day tasks whatever it may be. So skip the junk and kick it out of your trunk.

Resolutions For You

2009-10-25T23:00:00.002-04:00

If you’ve had late nights, in sweat pants and have waited hours in line to buy your coffee from Timmy’s, chances are you’ve just survived the first half of the fall 2009 session at UTSC. Now that you’re done, you want to wind down and simply ‘chill’. Don’t get too comfortable yet, because finals are just around the corner. Re-evaluate your good and bad study habits, how could you have made your life easier? With stress comes heavy repercussions, so remember to exercise, eat healthy and allocate your time for readings and assignments. It will take you only ten minutes to create a goal sheet and schedule to better manage your time this semester. If you follow through, you will be sleeping like a baby during finals. Take my advice and I promise you’ll ace your test. Remember that time is something that you can never get back so make good use of it.

Check out my goal’s for this semester.

1) Wake up @ 7am

2) Eat a balanced breakfast (This will help you concentrate for your 9am classes)

3) 30 minutes of Cardio / 3 days a week

4) Yoga class/1 a week

5) Stay on top of homework and Prepare notes for finals along the way

6) Make appointments with the writing centre/ TA 2 weeks in advance

Best of Luck,

Ace ;)

Kicking Procrastination to the Curb!

2009-07-21T13:16:00.000-04:00

Hey Everyone!

I had some trouble focusing on school work this weekend so I went by the Academic Advising and Career Center to pick up a tip sheet on procrastination. It really helped me put things in perspective so I thought I would share it with you:

Student’s are especially vulnerable to procrastination because:
-they don’t have a supervisor overseeing their productivity
-rewards for effort are further in the future
-you have to apply yourself for four years before receiving the reward of a degree

Common Reasons for Procrastination:
Fear of Failure
-Students may set low goals to protect themselves from really trying and being disappointed if they should fail, but by procrastinating there is an increased likelihood of failure

Fear of success
-Once you have established a high standard for yourself you may feel a continued pressure to maintain that standard. This can be an overwhelming feeling

Disorganization/ Not Enough Information
-You may procrastinate if you don’t know where to begin
-A task may need to be broken down into component parts and goal sets
-Remember: “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”

Lack of Interest
-Students can lose interest in school for many reasons
-The course content may not capture your attention or personal issues may be interfering with your concentration

An Established Pattern
-The pattern of last minute projects may become a part of your study approach
-there is a tendency for such a pattern to become a problem
-if academic success is to be obtained it may be time to break the pattern

Solving the Problem
-You must first understand the reason behind your procrastination.
-the underlying reason may vary from course to course and a student may exhibit different symptoms at different times

Steps to begin solving the problem:
1. Identify the roadblocks posed by your time wasters, examine your rationale for procrastinating, and explore accompanying feelings

2. Pay Attention to self-talk : subconscious messages like “I have lots of time” or “I’ll do it later” lead many students into the Manana Trap. “Manana” means tomorrow in Spanish. Ask yourself why “later” is a better time to work on a specific task versus right now. Unless you have a rational reason for delaying: get started immediately!

3. Try the 5-Minute Plan: many students agree that the hardest aspect of completing a project is getting started. Next time you find yourself procrastinating, commit to working on the task for 5 minutes. Most of the resistance associated with that activity will decrease after working on it for 5 minute and at the end of that time you may feel yourself motivated to keep working.

The Importance of Rewards
Your old procrastination patterns can resurface from time to time. You may become discouraged and have a sense that change is impossible. You can help to foster change by incorporating rewards into your action plan. Take some time to explore both small and large rewards as part of your action plan to become a better time manager, and plan to implement these self motivators.

If you need to talk to someone about your personal study skills you can always drop by the Academic Advising and Career Center.

All the Best,
ACE

RICH BEFORE 30!! (Can your dreams still come true?)

2009-06-19T11:31:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone!

Have the recession blues got you feeling down? Here's some inspiration!
I found a really cool article from the "Job Postings" magazine from the Academic Advising and Career Center. It discusses some really useful tips to help you on your road to success. I found it extremely helpful and I really think you should drop by the AA&CC and read it if you get the chance. Here's a quick summary of the 10 steps:

1. FOCUS: Do what makes you happy - Don't over-commit yourself. Figure out which activities will help you achieve your primary goals and learn to say 'no'.

2. PRIORITIZE: don't waste time on things that don't make you happy

3. WORK HARD: and maintain your enthusiasm!

4. RESEARCH: Identify role models in your industry and research what they did.

5. MENTOR: Get a role model to mentor you.

6. TEAM BUILD: Work with people you admire.

7. DO FAVOURS: Go out of your way to lend a hand

8. VOLUNTEERS: Get next to the bigwigs by helping out with special projects

9. TAKE RISKS: create and take opportunities to learn new things.

10. FOCUS AGAIN: Don't let money get in the way of doing what makes you happy.

BEST WISHES!
ACE

What is 'Get Started'?

2009-06-03T17:03:00.002-04:00

Get Started is a one day academic orientation event created for incoming students. The program is designed to introduce you to, and help you use all of the tools necessary to have a successful first year at the University of Toronto Scarborough.

Why you should go:
--> you will get the opportunity to meet staff and faculty members
--> get the chance to interact with other first year students
--> you will also get the chance to choose which first year courses
--> get tips & advice from a Coach - a senior student.
--> you will get to explore the campus
--> get your new UofT Student Card

Find out more and register here:
http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/~getstarted

2009-02-02T17:38:00.009-05:00

International Opportunities Fair

Date: Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Place: Science Wing Meeting Place

Have you ever thought about going overseas? Or are you just curious about the things you can do internationally?

Come to the fair to gather information and speak directly with representatives from a variety of organizations with interests around the world.

Be sure to bring copies of your updated resume. Many organizations will be collecting resumes at the Fair. Get your resume critiques prior to the Fair at the Academic Advising & Career Centre, room AC213. Preparation is key to success at a Job Fair.

Summer Job Fair!

2009-01-22T10:03:00.003-05:00

Had enough of the snow? Wondering about your plans for the summer? Well you are in luck! The Summer Job Fair is around the corner.

Date: January 29,2009
Time: 11:00am-2:00pm
Location: Science Wing Meeting Place

This is the perfect opportunity to get information on summer positions. Many organizations complete their hiring for Summer by the end of February. This fair offers you the chance to speak with representatives from a large number of organizations from many different sectors. All students are welcome to attend!

Preparation is key to success at a job fair! Visit Summer Job Fair site for tips on how to prepare for the fair!

I will also be attending the event! Look for me or any staff member from the Academic Advising and Career Centre if you have questions.

All the best at the event!!

ACE

Goals, got any?

2009-01-08T09:41:00.004-05:00

Welcome back everyone! I hope everyone had a relaxing and enjoyable break. New year, new semester, and I know for many including myself, that means new goals. Let's be honest here, I have not been the greatest at achieving my goals so I'm taking a new approach this year. I'm going to make my goals SMART.

SMART Goal is:

Specific

Measurable

Attainable

Realistic

Timely

And my SMART goal for this year is:

I am going to complete my e-portfolio by the end of this term so I have something to present to potential employers by attending all six of the weekly E-Portfolio workshops starting on January 20th.

Specific? Who? me. What? Start my e-portfolio. When? Starting on January 20th for 6 weeks and for 2 hours each week. Why? So I'll have my very own e-portfolio to show future potential employers.

Measurable? Yes, I have to attend 6 out of the 6 sessions available.

Attainable? Definitely, 2 hours for 6 weeks. I can do this!

Realistic? For sure, this is something I really want to do. I am very able and willing to do it!

Timely? Giving myself plenty of time to complete my e-portfolio by the end of this term.

If you're interesting in learning more about SMART goals, read this great website.

If you're interesting in joining me and completing your e-portfolio this term, sign up on the Intranet.

Best of luck in this new term.

ACE

Happy Holidays!

2008-12-19T09:17:00.003-05:00

Phew, I'm finally done exams. Some went well and some not as well as I had hoped but I tried my best and will now hope for the best. More importantly, I am now going to enjoy my break! Putting textbooks aside, I'm going to read some fun books and watch some movies.

What are your plans? Whatever it is, I hope you have a fun, relaxing and safe holidays because I know we all deserve it!

Don't forget, winter term starts up on Monday, January 5th, 2009! See you then!

Cheers,
ACE

les examens finaux

2008-12-04T13:13:00.002-05:00

Hey guys! Just practising my French in my blog title ... that means "final exams" (in case you couldn't figure it out) ... I have my first exam in French next week-- so I'm just trying to get ready for it! I was browing online and found a great link: http://www.calss.utoronto.ca/Learning/lslinks.htm

The website is from U of T's Counselling and Learning Services website; I just thought there may be something there to help you for your upcoming exams. If you scroll down on the website there's actually a whole section on writing exams ... check it out!

Well I hope your studying is going well ... feel free to ask me a question on facebook if you need any other advice. Time to etudier pour le francais!

Au revoir,
ACE

Assignment Calculator

2008-11-17T15:43:00.004-05:00

Last research assignment I completed was a disaster. I procrastinated and didn't start the assignment until the week the assignment was due.

I have an assignment due at the end of the semester. To get a head start, I used the Assignment Calculator to break it down into manageable pieces. The great thing about this tool is that, I plugged in the assignment due date and it created a step-by-step process to complete the assignment. When you use the calculator, you’ll get lots of suggestions and resources that will help too.

To drop or not to drop a course???

2008-11-13T17:45:00.002-05:00

I'm not doing so well on my first year calculus course, and the last date to drop the course from academic record is this Sunday (November 16). I went to the "Should I drop this course or not?" seminar today and here are some questions that helped me to make a decision.

Is this course a pre or co-requisite for a course I'm registered for the winter term?
If I keep the course, will it affect my academic standing?
What kinds of resources can I use to improve my mark?
I'm falling behind in the course, will keeping this course prevent me from spending enough time on my other courses?
If I drop this course how will it affect my GPA (use the GPA calculator)?
Will this course affect my chance of applying to Professional or Graduate school?

If you are having difficulty deciding, drop by the AACC (Room AC213) and talk to the staff. I'm sure they can help.

Introducing the Premack's Principle

2008-11-07T12:16:00.004-05:00

So many of you have given me the feedback that you would like for me to blog more about study tips so here I am to tell you about the Premack's Principle.

Many of you who are in psychology may have heard of this but for those of you who have not, the Premack's Principle basically suggests that we should tackle a list of tasks in the order of most challenging to least challenging. This way, the "easier" task becomes a reward for the more challenging tasks we have to do. I know I know, the "easier" task is not really a reward like ice cream but it's still a good way to motivate ourselves.

Like grandma have always said, "you have to eat your veggies before you can have your dessert!"

So far, this little trick has been doing a good job in motivating me to tackle my calculus homework. I hope it does the same magic for you.

Also, do you have any good study tips to share? Be sure to leave me a comment. Thanks in advance!

Good luck studying,
ACE

Running out of ideas...

2008-10-23T14:17:00.006-04:00

So help me help you...

If you're not able to vote on here, please visit http://www.polldaddy.com/p/1036597/
Thanks guys for helping me out.

ACE

Planning for your future

2008-10-14T01:15:00.008-04:00

Are you confused about your future career plans and would love to connect with employers to learn about the qualifications required for your dream job? Then, you should attend the first ever Career Information Fair at the Meeting place on October 30th from 11-2 pm. Don't forget to check out these resources to prepare yourself before the fair

Career Fair Tipsheet
Maximize Your results at the Career Information Fair Seminar, Oct 24 & 28 (sign up through your Intranet account)
AACC website

Stay tuned for a list of employers who will be attending the fair (available through the AACC website).

I look forward to seeing you and don't forget to dress to impress.

Grad school, professional school, or post-grad diploma?

2008-09-26T12:30:00.004-04:00

With lots of friends currently putting together their application packages for medical schools and other things, I am forced to also think about my future after UTSC. Although, I still hope to get some full-time work experience after I graduate, I guess it's also a good idea to consider further education.

It was a time-consuming task to research universities when I was applying from high school, I guess I have to do the same again. However, it's always good to know there are resources and people available to help me.

Mark you calendars, Professional & Gradu ate Fair is happening on October 2, 7, and 8th at the Meeting Place. With all these schools coming to UTSC, you can get all your admission questions answered by school and program representatives. It's always good to drop by and pick up pamphlets and brochures to see the wide range of programs available. And lots of schools give great freebies including pens and post-its, things a student can always use.

Here are some pictures from fun times last year:

See you at the P&G Fair!

Take care,
ACE

Time flies...

2008-09-18T10:07:00.003-04:00

When you're having fun or not. So the first two weeks of September have flew right by. Working on my work-study applications and attending Career Info Days downtown have kept me a very busy person. Not to mention all the course readings and assignments that are starting to pile up.

Learning from my mistakes last year, I know I definitely need to plan my time better and avoid procrastination. Setting realistic goals and making "to do" lists have been helpful in the past. But I have to be careful this year so my lists don't get too long. In addition, AA&CC also offers a bunch of helpful seminars including Extreme Time Management and Reading & Notetaking that I really recommend to everybody. And if you're like me and not so great with multiple-choice questions, you definitely want to check out Mastering Multiple Choice Tests & Exams. Sign-ups are available on the Intranet, nice and easy. Oh yeah, and going to these workshops and seminars can earn you stamps towards a Study Skills Success Certificate which looks great on my wall right now.

Remember "study smarter, not harder!"

Good luck everyone!

ACE

The NEW Podcast Series @ the AA & CC.

2008-09-07T23:03:00.007-04:00

Did you know that the Academic Advising & Career Centre (AA &CC) has a NEW Podcast Series? These short video clips give more information to UTSC students about:

GPA calculation
program selection & review
degree requirements
occupational research
career exploration

Here's one of the podcasts that introduces the Online Self Assessment tool:

Be sure to check out the AA & CC website to find more of the Podcast Series. It's pretty cool & very helpful for your academic & career planning.

Enjoy,

ACE

First Day of School!

2008-09-07T22:59:00.002-04:00

Hello Frosh!, originally uploaded by ACE: Academic & Career Explorer.

Welcome back to school & happy first day of school to all the UTSC students!!! I know that the first day of classes brings about new beginnings & new school resolutions each September. The first week of classes is filled with new professors, buying textbooks, planning your schedule, and organizing your life according to your course outlines/syllabuses.

Many of the NEW students who are starting first year will have various questions about any of the above & will be looking for some help at The Academic Advising & Career Centre (AA & CC). Be sure to stop by to ask questions about:

course conflicts
part time job & work experience
wait lists questions
work study applications
academic schedules & issues
and MUCH more!

The best way to answer those quick questions is to stop by AC 213 IN PERSON (beside the Library in the ARC). The office does get busy, but if you are patient then you can probably be helped that very day.

Be sure to check out what the AA & CC does to support students and the hours the office is open. Good luck with your first week of classes!

Job Hunting, Anyone??

2008-09-03T15:15:00.013-04:00

Are you on the hunt for a job? The beginning of the school year also means the start of a new job for many students.

If you're like me, you're interested in making some cash while at school. I currently work at the AA & CC with the Work Study program. Other jobs in this department & others are posted online NOW!

I know it can be tough landing that new gig, so let me help with the job search. Here are a few resources I recommend:

Job Postings: U of T students have exclusive access to job opportunities through their Career Centre Online account. If you don't have one, you can sign up for FREE today if you are a registered student.
Work Study Program: a financial need program, for students collecting OSAP, that allows you to work part-time on campus during the Fall & Winter session. These jobs are on campus with a staff or faculty member and the postings can be found HERE. For more information, please check out the AA & CC Work Study page and information on Financial Aid & Awards website.

Volunteer: there are great opportunities to get involved on & off campus to gain experience. Be sure to check out the SCSU's Volunteer Network, the Job Postings, and other external resources for getting connected.

Check out the various AA&CC tipsheets such as Working on Campus to get more information on finding part-time jobs on campus.

Good luck everyone!

All About The Registrar's Office.

2008-09-03T13:22:00.005-04:00

The Registrar's Office, originally uploaded by ACE: Academic & Career Explorer.

Be sure to check out the Registrar's Office website:
http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/registrar/

It's a great resource for students to find information about:

course registration
fees & payments
student account information
OSAP & Financial Aid information
academic & financial dates/deadlines
university regulations
petition process
graduation
and MORE!

Here's the 411 for the Registrar's Office...

Location: AA 142

Hours: (September 4th-June 30th inclusive)
Monday 9:30 am - 4:30 pm
Tuesday 9:30 am - 4:30 pm
Wednesday 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Wednesday Evening 5:00 pm - 6:45 pm
Thursday 9:30 am - 4:30 pm
Friday 9:30 am - 3:00 pm

Telephone: 416.287.7001

Fax: 416.287.7528

You might have to wait a bit to speak with someone on the phone OR in person, since the beginning of the semester is pretty busy. Please be patient & polite with the staff there who are trying to help you.

Be sure to browse through the Registrar's Office website to find answers to your questions. Or you could ASK UTSC: www.utsc.utoronto.ca/askus

Got Books?

2008-08-29T17:59:00.002-04:00

The Bookstore, originally uploaded by ACE: Academic & Career Explorer.

It's almost September, which means that it's time to gear up for school and BUY YOUR TEXTBOOKS.

The best place to look for the books & course materials you need for class will be listed at the UTSC Bookstore.

I would recommend visiting the UTSC Bookstore on the 3rd floor of the Bladen Wing:

The Hours:
Monday to Thursday 8:45am - 6:00pm
Friday: 8:45am - 5:00pm
Saturday & Sunday: Closed

OR you can preview what textbooks you will by checking out the Course Books on the Scarborough Campus.

Another great place to find used books is on the Toronto University Student's Book Exchange. This website MIGHT have the books you need, but be sure to check the online first OR wait until you get your course outline during the first week of school.

Happy hunting,
ACE

Time to update that resume

2008-08-21T09:34:00.004-04:00

September is fast approaching and that means two things:

Clean up my room and get into study mode again.
Clean up my resume.

After a summer of exploring new things and gaining new experiences, I definitely have quite a bit of updating to do for my resume. This not an easy thing to do.

I still remember when I first tried to create my resume, I was staring at a blank screen for hours. Thankfully, the Academic Advising & Career Centre has a lot of resources on how to do a resume.

In addition, peer employment counsellors and career counsellors were also available for appointments to help me improve my resume. So if you're thinking about starting or updating your resume, make sure you make use of these resources.

Other handy tools I use:
UTM's Resume Tool Kit

List of Action Verbs

I'm going to go work on my resume now.

Bye for now,

ACE

2008-08-13T12:12:00.005-04:00

Need Math Help?

I'm a Biology student, so even though I'm not studying Mathematics, I may still need to take it. Problem is--I'm not the biggest fan of Math (no offense to those of you with a natural gift for it- I'm jealous!). This is where the Math & Stats Help Centre comes in!

The Math & Stats Help Centre is located at AC320B on the 3rd floor of the Academic Resource Centre. What's great is that you don't have to be a math student to use these services. The Math and Statistics Learning Centre (MSLC) provides free seminars, workshops, virtual tutoring, individual appointments, and small-group consultations.

For those of you enrolled in Mathematics, there is also the Math Aid Room. This is located in room S506F in the Science Wing. The Math Aid Room offers assistance mainly to students enrolled in Mathematics courses.

Well good luck with x + y = ? and all that other good stuff!

Ciao,
ACE

Need Help?: Writing, Researching & Presenting.

2008-08-09T17:05:00.006-04:00

Ace visits the Writing Centre (AC210, across from the Library), originally uploaded by ACE: Academic & Career Explorer.

Are you concerned about writing & researching papers this Fall? Well then you should be sure to stop by the THE WRITING CENTRE (AC 210 in the Academic Resource Centre across from the Library).

The Writing Centre is a free service that provides support for teaching and learning through writing for all UTSC students, staff, and faculty.

Get connected to Teaching & Learning Services this summer by attending the Research, Writing & Presenting Summer Learning Institute.

Here are some of the programs they have to support students throughout the school year:

One-on-one Consultations - Book an appointment, bring in a writing assignment, and receive individual feedback from an experienced instructor; Appointments are 50 minutes & booked at least one day in advance.

Drop-in Hours - only 20 minutes long so & you need to come with a focused question.

Writing Seminars - group seminars on writing at university, including essay-writing, lab reports, thesis statements, introductions and conclusions, grammar, style, & more.

On-line Writing Handouts - Resources for web pages, handouts and advice on writing.

** You can Book An Appointment online on the Intranet TODAY or check out the upcoming Fall Seminar Schedule that will be posted in the near future.

Decisions, decisions, decision...

2008-07-31T09:10:00.000-04:00

To wait or not to wait...

So I've just discovered that a course I wanted to take is full. Now the question is to do I go on the wait list or not? I guess since I'm 20-something on the wait list, it is worth it to wait and see. In the meantime, I'm going to use the web timetable to see which courses are not restricted and still available. It's probably a good idea to also check out St. George and UTM's calendars as I can take up to 5 credits (only 1 if you're in first year) at those two campuses and I have not taken any, I better go check out their courses too. I keep hearing about this cool course on sudoku. Then on August 15th, starting at 6 am, I can sign up those courses.

To work or not to work...

My boss at my summer job has also asked me if I wanted to stay on as a part-time employee throughout the school year. I really have to think about how many hours I can afford to work as I will be tackling 5 courses and continuing my role as the explorer with the Academic Advising & Career Centre. At the same time, I think it would look great on my resume if I stayed on and the extra cash definitely helps. I really need to sit down and draw out my schedule for the upcoming semester.

I guess I'm going to use my long weekend to do some thinking and make some decisions. And of course, go to a couple of BBQs and check out a few street festivals.

As always, if you have got questions, leave me a comment here or Facebook me.

Have a good long weekend everyone.

ACE

Money, money, money!

2008-07-24T09:30:00.000-04:00

As of Monday, your tuition fees have been added to your ROSI account.

If you click on the "financial accounts" tab you will see your fees for the fall and winter semesters. I don't know about you, but when I opened my ROSI account, I freaked out a little! What do I do now? Luckily, I found a few great places with tips on what to do next.

The Registrar's office has an entire section on FEES and PAYMENTS. Sweet!

The Academic Advising and Career Centre (in AC-213, beside the Library) has some great books for you to use:

If you're like me, you might be taking OSAP to help you pay for school. If that's the case you need to make a FEE DEFERRAL by August 19th using something called 'eService' available online.

Well I'm heading out to the bank to pay my fees! Got more questions about finances? Check out the FINANCIAL AID website or ask me on facebook!

Ciao! :)
ACE

On Campus @ UTSC

2008-07-18T14:13:00.001-04:00

By now you're probably registered in courses for the fall and winter semesters.

If not, my blog from last week can give you all of that information.

Let me share a few of the things I love to do as a UTSC student!

There are some great resources & places to go on this campus, let me tell you about a few...

Monday -- It's the first day of the week.
To prepare myself for the week ahead I like to work out and get my energy up!

(You've seen my muscles, haven't you?)

Try using the athletic facilities on campus:

cardio centre
squash courts
tennis courts
golf studio
register for instructional classes (2nd week of each semster)
drop in to a FREE group fitness classes in the teaching studio

Tuesday -- You survived Monday, now what?
"Toonie Tuesdays" can be found ON CAMPUS at our hot dog vendor - ONLY $2!!!
Need vegetarian or halal? -- Don't worry, both are available.

Wednesday -- It's STUDY time!
Head to the library where you can study solo in the carrels, or in a group by booking a private study room.

The library also has computers where you can download and print lecture notes. You will need your Tcard for this, so always carry it when you're on campus.

Another great place for all your printing needs is CopyKats, located on 2nd floor of the S-Wing (behind the Meeting Place).

Thursday -- It's Thursday. You might just need a pick me up!
Why not visit the Art Gallery on campus for a refreshing escape away from the chaos of studying and classes.

Friday -- TGIF. It's almost the weekend!

Why not head down to the Bluff's Restaurant in the Student Centre for a delicious meal or dessert (cheesecake …mmm).

Or, you might want to grab some grub at the local pub, The Fossil and Haggis, which is walking distance from the campus at 790 Military Trail.

You survived a week of University, now it's time for the weekend! :)

Ciao!
-ACE

p.s. For more photos, be sure to check out my On Campus @ UTSC Photo Set on Flickr. Enjoy!

Registration & Course Selection... Oh My!

2008-07-09T20:29:00.000-04:00

It's course selection time!!!!

I know that many of you have been excited/concerned about selecting your Fall & Winter courses, so let’s get you on the right track before you start at UTSC. Below I have listed a few key items & websites that you should have available while selecting your courses:

Registrar's Website
Registration Package: Registration Handbook & More!
Course Calendar
Get Started Handbook (for First Year Course Selection Guide)
Your Open ROSI Account (Have you already viewed the helpful tutorial?)
Academic Dates for the Upcoming Year
Online Course Timetable
Ask UTSC!

Be sure to map out the courses you NEED for first year, i.e. the program you are intending to work on typically has required courses to complete this Fall & Winter session. These courses are available in the Get Started Handbook.... along with other great definitions & course selection tools! You should register for courses for both Fall AND Winter now.

You will also need to have a few electives for each session. Electives are outside of your program area and are often A-level courses that can be found in any other section of the calendar.

Be sure to note any pre-requisite, co-requisite and exclusions for each course. Read over the course descriptions in the calendar & check out the Scarborough Campus Student Union’s Anti-calendar.

Need more help?
Be sure to post a question at the bottom of this blog or on the Facebook wall, and I will be sure to help you out.

If you attended the Get Started program, you are eligible to sign up for one of the Course Selection Review Sessions held throughout the summer:

Thursday, July 17th, 08
Thursday, July 24th, 08
Thursday, August 7th, 08
Thursday, August 14th, 08
Wednesday, August 20th, 08
Thursday, August 28th, 08

Or attend one of the late Get Started sessions this summer:

Thursday, July 24th, 08 Thursday, August 7th, 08 Thursday, August 14th, 08 Wednesday, August 20th, 08

Individual advising appointments are NOT available for incoming students until you start classes in September. For further questions about any of the above be sure to contact the Academic Advising & Career Centre:

In Person - visit AC 213 in the Academic Resource Centre
By phone - 416.287.7561
By e-mail - Contact An Advisor

Nice To Meet You!

2008-07-09T20:18:00.000-04:00

Thanks for visiting me at Get Started... or for those of you just meeting me online, it's great to meet you! Be sure to check out my pictures from the Get Started program as I post them in a Facebook album or on my Flickr photo page.

There was a lot of information & resources from the Get Started program, so be sure to check out the Get Started Website. Here are a few specific links you'll want to use:

Get Started Handbook

ROSI Tutorial

I'll be sure to answer some of your academic questions & concerns over the summer via my blog & podcast...so stay connected! Here are the topics that I plan to explore and share with all of you over the next few weeks:

-Registration & Course Selection
-UTSC Campus Information
-Things to Know About the University Experience
-Tools & Resources to Help Study Skills
-Academic Resources on Campus
-Student Life & Involvement at UTSC
-Students & How to Get Connected
-How to Look For Work or Volunteer Opportunities
-Academic Advising & Career Centre Services and Resources

Be sure to post any academic or career questions to these blog posts, or leave me a message on Facebook and I will be sure to answer back. I'm looking forward to exploring with you!

Hello!! I'm ACE.

2008-06-22T18:16:00.000-04:00

Hello,

I'm ACE - Academic & Career Explorer. I'm here to help guide your journey at UTSC for academic and career exploration. I am just a curious UTSC student who explores academic and career questions. I am able to help you with career & academic planning since I work at the Academic Advising & Career Centre. If you are interested in the same thing, then join my adventure here on this blog or connect to my main website.

I will be posting about my exploration & adventures throughout the summer months before school starts. I'll be sure to give you some helpful tips & info about campus, and give you the inside on what to expect for life at UTSC.

Be sure to read my blog posts, listen to the weekly podcasts, look at my Flickr photos, and check out my recommended del.icio.us web links. You can also be my friend on Facebook - "Ace At Utsc."

I will be at the Get Started program from June 23rd to July 9th. Come visit me there! You can find me at the Lunch and Mix & Mingle in Bluff's Restaurant. I can't wait to meet you!

See ya,
ACE