DUS News - February 27, 2023
If you’re applying to a study abroad program, internship, or other opportunity, you’ll need letters of recommendation as part of your application packet. Recommendation letters should personalize your application by allowing reviewers to get a sense of who you really are, so it’s important for the writer to know you well enough to speak about you in specific ways. Hopefully, you’ve been cultivating relationships with instructors and advisers and have a few people who know you well enough to write a letter that speaks to something special about you.
Some basic etiquette:
- Make an effort to allow potential reference writers to get to know you.
- Ask permission before putting someone’s name down as a reference.
- Allow ample time for the writer to complete the letter—good letters take time to compose.
- Share information about what you’re applying to and what you hope to achieve through it so that your recommender can tailor their letter.
- Fill out a confidentiality form, allowing your recommender to talk about your academic record.
Your instructors care about your success. If they’re concerned by something you’re doing or not doing in their class—your grades, attendance, participation—they can "raise a flag" in Starfish to share their concern with you and/or your adviser. Your instructors have been invited to raise flags and send kudos (positive feedback) to students in their classes over the next several weeks. This gives you a chance to see how you’re doing and make any needed changes before the end of the semester.
What Can I Do About It?
Try these strategies to take charge of your success:
- Talk with your instructor about their concern during their office hours. Be sure to review the syllabus before the meeting and reflect on the reason(s) for their concern. While it’s normal to feel nervous about attending office hours for the first time, there are plenty of tips to help with crafting the perfect email and office hours etiquette.
- Attend a Study Smarter session to learn the most effective study techniques.
- Use FREE tutoring services on campus.
- Schedule an appointment with your DUS adviser to discuss your progress, learn about additional resources, and create a plan for your success. We care about your success and want to help you thrive.
Following up on flags can help you to achieve your full potential! Don’t know if you’ve received a progress report yet? Check your Starfish dashboard or Penn State email for progress reporting messages from notices@starfishsolutions.com.
- February 27 (Mon.)
- Smeal Student Mentor Application Deadline - February 28 (Tues.)
- Pre-Law Orientation Session - Zoom (registration required)
- Interested in Smeal Majors? (Group Advising)
- APMP Application Deadline - March 5–11 (Sun.–Sat.)
- Spring Break - No Classes - March 14 (Tues.)
- Explore and Find the Right Major for You (Group Advising) - March 15 (Wed.)
- Study Smarter Workshop
Do you need legal assistance? Penn State's Student Legal Services offers referrals, consultations, or representation. Want an appointment? You can complete an intake form online or call (814) 867-4388 for more information. Services are free and confidential. Student Legal Services is only a short walk from campus, their video can help you locate their office.
Are you interested in taking on a leadership role where you will have the chance to make a difference? If you are a current sophomore with a 3.2 GPA or above and have a conditional or permanent offer to a Smeal major, please consider applying to become a Smeal Student Mentor! As a Smeal Student Mentor, you will become a helpful resource for incoming first-year Penn State Smeal students and will focus on guiding them through their first college experience and answering any questions they may have. Mentors should maintain regular communication with their assigned mentees throughout the semester, make themselves available for meetings and events with mentees, provide advice about scheduling and academics at Penn State, and encourage first-year students to get involved on campus. Mentors also partner with Smeal Undergraduate Education in leading various Smeal-affiliated events throughout the year.
Smeal Student Mentor applications are now live on www.smealstudentmentors.org and are due by Monday, February 27, by 5:00 p.m., in 202 Business Building. Contact the Training and Recruitment Director, Noah Broderick at nmb5898@psu.edu with any questions.
Are you proud of your academic success? Do you enjoy helping others? You might want to join the APMP team! The Academic Peer Mentoring Program (APMP), through DUS and Penn State Learning, pairs peer mentors with students who are in or near academic warning to work on everything from time management to study skills to metacognition. Peer mentors are students with strong academic records (a 2.67 cumulative GPA or higher) who have been taught vital mentorship skills like active listening, motivational interviewing, and study and time management techniques.
Applications for spring 2023 are due by Tuesday, February 28. Successful applicants will enroll in a one-credit, half-semester course (EDUC 295, Mentoring for Success) from March 13, to April 28, 2023. If approved, you will be added to EDUC 295 by the program facilitators for the semester that you indicated you'd like to take the course.
Register to attend the Pre-Law Orientation Session on Tuesday, February 28, 6:00–7:00 p.m. on Zoom.
Pre-Law Orientation Sessions are open to all Penn State students considering law school. First- and second-year students must attend a Pre-Law Orientation Session prior to scheduling an individual appointment with the pre-law adviser or attending the Applying to Law School Session. Topics covered in the Pre-Law Orientation Session include:
- Preparing for law school and strengthening your application now (even if you are not yet certain that you want to attend)
- Skills required for law school
- Learning about law school
- Exploring legal practice
- Deciding whether to apply to law school
- Introduction to the LSAT and GRE (brief intro to this topic – more in the Applying to Law School Session)
- Law school application timeline (brief intro to this topic – more in the Applying to Law School Session)
- Pre-law advising resources
The Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIENT) Ambassadors welcome you to Hot Cocoa and Cookies on Tuesday, February 28, 1:30–3:30 p.m. in the Smeal Atrium (right outside of Saxbys). Get free swag, learn about CIENT opportunities, and meet CIENT students! For more information, contact bjf5540@psu.edu.
DUS will be holding group advising sessions throughout the spring semester as a way to discuss popular advising topics with groups of students. These sessions are open to all DUS students and will help you to learn more about the topic and to ask questions in a friendly, open environment. For more information on each session visit https://dus.psu.edu/group-advising. All sessions are held in the Grange Building Lobby, unless otherwise listed on the website.
Spring 2023 Sessions
All sessions are at 4:00 p.m. ET and held in the Grange Building Lobby.
February 28: Interested in Smeal?
Please register in advance for the February 28 session.
March 14: Explore and Find the Right Major for You
Please register in advance for the March 14 session.
March 21: General Education 101
Please register in advance for the March 21 session.
March 28: Course Enrollment 101
Do you want to develop leadership skills and help other exploratory students find their niche in college? How about giving back to the DUS community while gaining professional communication skills? If you're a rising DUS second-year student at University Park, you may want to learn more about the DUS Leadership Council. To be invited to apply for the Leadership Council, you must be nominated by your academic adviser no later than Tuesday, March 7. Make an appointment with your adviser before this date to learn more about the opportunity and to ask to be formally nominated.
Eligibility requirements and more information can be found on the DUS Leadership Council website.
Are you a first-year student looking for opportunities to gain valuable leadership skills? The Presidential Leadership Academy (PLA) is a three-year leadership development opportunity for a select group of students. As Academy participants, students develop leadership fundamentals to thrive in an environment in which multiple dimensions of issues are explored, diverse viewpoints are welcomed and heard, and a fully informed and respectful discourse ensues. A highlight of the Academy is a two-credit introductory seminar led by Penn State's President. Deadline to apply is Friday, March 10.
There are three ways you can talk with a DUS adviser at University Park (Note: DUS students at other campuses or at other colleges at University Park should check how advising services are being offered where you are):
- 20–30 minute scheduled appointment with your assigned adviser over Zoom or in person.
- Quick question advising (QQA) with any DUS adviser over Zoom or in person. No appointment is needed. Quick question advising will be held Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 1:00–3:00 p.m. and Tuesdays from 9:00–11:00 a.m. You can find the link to the QQA waiting room on the DUS appointments webpage.
- Email your assigned adviser.
The Division of Undergraduate Studies is on Instagram! Follow us @PennState_DUS to see student/alumni stories, academic tips, events, announcements, and more. Share your own DUS story with us using #PennStateDUS for the chance to be featured.