DUS News - February 5, 2018
Exploration Series Topic #4
How do I make decisions?
Everyone has a decision-making style as well as a decision-making strategy that they tend to follow. Is your style spontaneous, or do you collect all the information available and weigh the pros and cons? Is your strategy to follow your gut instinct, or is your strategy to plan carefully? Your style and the strategies you use as you explore majors will affect how certain you are of your academic goals.
To Do: Read and do the exercises in the Decision-Making Style and Strategy and Major Certainty documents. Bring them with you to your next advising appointment for an in-depth conversation about your decision-making and major certainty.
Last week's topic: How do majors relate to careers?
Next week's topic: How can Gen Ed courses enhance my education?
Schedule an Appointment
You can schedule an appointment with your DUS Adviser (at University Park and at some Campus Locations) online via Starfish (starfish.psu.edu). To do this, log into Starfish and click the "My Success Network" icon on your Home page to display your personalized network. This channel lists the people and resources that are available to assist you, including your assigned DUS Academic Adviser. If online scheduling is enabled, you will see a link to make an appointment (If not, you can always contact your adviser or your Advising Office directly). For more information or step-by-step instructions, please visit: http://sites.psu.edu/starfishinfo/user-roles/student-users/#appointment
- February 5-6 (Mon-Tues)
Spring Career Days - February 8 (Thurs)
DUS Group Advising Session - Major and Career Planning - February 12–March 4
Final Exam Conflict Filing Period - February 13 (Tues)
DUS Group Advising Session - Decision Making - February 22 (Thurs)
Study Smarter, Not Harder - March 5–9
Spring Break (No Classes)
More events at dus.psu.edu/calendar.
Are you considering law school? If so, you may know that law schools do not have any preferred majors or require any pre-requisite courses. DUS students interested in law school should work closely with their advisers to find a major that is a good fit for their strengths and interests that will help them build strong reading, writing, and critical thinking skills.
Pre-Law Advising is housed in DUS and has resources available to all students who are interested in law school. Start learning more about law school and how to prepare by attending a Pre-Law Orientation Session. To find out about other law-related events across the University, sign up for the Pre-Law Advising Listserv.
DUS will be holding Group Advising Sessions throughout the fall 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. All sessions are held in the Grange Building Lobby.
February 8: Major and Career Planning
February 13: Decision Making
February 21: Smeal Entrance to Major
February 26: DUS Students and Study Abroad
March 14: Sophomore Schedule Planning
March 20: First-Year Schedule Planning
Education abroad is an invaluable experience offering personal growth and intercultural development, cultivating strong global citizenship, leadership, and perspective. If you are interested in studying abroad, Penn State's Office of Global Programs is a great place to start. They offer a set of Steps to Study Abroad, which includes information about Study Abroad 101 Sessions, and a Program Search. If you are serious about study abroad, please note that Application Deadlines are approaching quickly! Make an appointment with your Academic Adviser to learn more today.
Health Promotion and Wellness is now offering free Wellness Services for students. The services are designed to help students increase knowledge and learn new skills that contribute to healthy behaviors and academic success. Services are available for:
- Financial Wellness
- Healthy Relationships and Sexual Health
- Nutrition/Healthy Eating
- Physical Activity
- Sleep
- Stress (Relaxation and Time Management)
Each service includes three 1-hour sessions and are held in the Wellness Suite, Room 20 IM Building. Trained peer educators deliver the services. Schedule an appointment by calling 814.863.0461 or by using the myUHS page. For students who are unable to make it to University Park, call in appointments as well as Skype/Zoom appointments are available.
PA Prep sessions introduce first-year and sophomore students to the coursework, experiences, and skills needed for a career as a physician assistant. The session also introduces the coursework, experiences, and skills needed to successfully apply to physician assistant programs.
Spring 2018 PA Prep session:
- Wednesday, March 21, 6–7 p.m., 216 Thomas.
Smeal Student Mentors would like to encourage DUS Smeal-bound Sophomores to apply to become a Smeal Student Mentor! Applicants need to have a conditional offer to a Smeal major at the time of application (as stated on the application). There have been some great former DUS students in the group. In fact, the outgoing SSM president is a former DUS student! Applications will be available at https://www.smealstudentmentors.org/ starting February 5 with a hard deadline of 5:00 p.m. on Monday, February 26. Questions? You can reach out to Alla Hatfield at anh130@psu.edu