EducationUSA Ukraine

PRE-DEPARTURE ORIENTATION 2013

UNIVERSITY LIFE & ISSUES OF SAFETY
ACADEMIC LIFE WHAT'S A CAMPUS
(a self-contained world)
Institti!ns !"
Hi#$%& E'()ti!n
Di*isi!ns +it$in
Institti!ns
A()'%,i()--.
S/%)0in#
S!(i)--. S/%)0in#
- University
- College
- Technical College
- Community College
- Junior College
- Academy
- College
- School
- nstitute
- !e"artment
- #aculty
- administrative offices
- classrooms$la%s
- li%rary
- %ookstore
- residence halls
- eating facilities
- student union
- athletic facilities
- entertainment
WHO IS THE TEACHER1 HOW DO I APPROACH HER2HIM1
A()'%,i( R)n0 TA 3&%s/!nsi4i-iti%s5 F!&,s !"
A''&%ss
As0in# 6%sti!ns
- "rofessor
- instructor$lecturer
- teaching assistant (TA)
- grading "a"ers$e&ams
- teaching
- research
- in class
- after class
- during office hours
CLASS STRUCTURE CREDITS
L%(t&%s
- anywhere from '(-)(( students
- generally taught %y "rofessor
- may have discussion section led %y
TA
S%,in)&s
- fewer than '(
- advanced undergrad or graduate
students
- each class is with a certain num%er of
*credits* or *credit hours*
- one credit hour + one hour in class$week
- a three credit class ty"ically meets for ,
hours$week
- undergraduates take -'--) credits$semester
- graduates take .--' credit$semester
L)4
- natural sciences
In'%/%n'%nt St'.
- advanced work on a "articular to"ic/
no formal classroom instruction
7RADES 7RADE POINT AVERA7E 37PA5
7&)'%s )&% t./i()--. #i*%n !n ) 8 /!int s()-%
- A+01(+E&cellent (ug1 or grad1)
- 2+,1(+3ood (ug1) or 3ood$Average (grad1)
- C+'1(+Average (ug1) or 4assing (grad1)
- !+-1(+4assmg (ug1) or #ailing (grad1)
- #+(1(+#ailing (ug1 or grad1)
T$%&% )&% )-s! st%/s +it$in #&)'%s9 A- :;
7PA < (&%'it $!&s = #&)'%s2t!t)- (&%'its
- e&am"le/ a student took , classes one semester1 She received an A(01() in
a , credit class5 a 2 (,1() in a 0 credit class and a C ('1() in a ) credit class1
6er 34A is/
01( & , +-' 7,1( & 0 + -' 7 '1( & ) + -( + ,0 (total grade "oint)
- divided %y -' (total credits)
* e8uals '19,
WHO CARES1 HOW AM I 7RADED1
St'%nts
- undergraduate students are e&"ected to maintain a C average or %etter
- graduate students should have no less than a 2 average
- #aculty
- 4ros"ective Em"loyers
- 3raduate 4rograms
E=),s
- 8ui::es
- test
- mid-term
- final
e&am
P)/%&s
E=), >%sti!ns
- true$false
- multi"le choice
- short answer
- essay
PLA7IARISM TIPS FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS
- 4lagiarism5 using someone else;s words or ideas without acknowledging the
source
- n some cultures< incor"orating the words of res"ected scholars is a "art of the
a""ro"riate academic writing style
- n the US< it is an e&tremely serious offense and may %e "unished %y a failing
grade< or even e&"ulsion from the university1 Always cite your source=
- Attend first class (and most thereafter=)
- >ee" the sylla%us
- Actively "artici"ate in class
- Use office hours
- Take notes$ta"e record
- >een u" with the assignments
- >now your resources
STUDENT FACTS 3"&!, -i*in# in t$% USA 1??@A AT&T5 STUDENT LIFE
- .'? of students work during the school year< 9@? during the summer
- A,? have "hones in their dorms or a"artments5 .9? own a camera5 .0?
own a car5 ,)? own a com"uter
- @9? went to a movie last month5 ).? e&ercised in the last week5 ',?
"artici"ate on volunteer work
- Bc!onald;s is favorite fast food for )A?5 ))? say Coke is their favorite
soda
- 3etting A8uatinted
- Civing Situations
- Clu%s$Drgani:ations
- S"orts$Entertainment
- Eolunteerism
- 6ost families
- Alcohol< to%acco< drug=
WHERE TO ASB >UESTIONS
Academic adviser
- Academic skills center
(writing worksho"$study skills)
#oreign student adviser
- Career resource center
- #aculty Bem%ers$TAs
- Counselors
- Fesident Assistants (FAs)
Fece"tionists
* Ci%rary
Some of this information was ada"ted from
GA#SA ;s nternational Student 6and%ook/ A
3uide to University Study in the USA< -AA.1
ISSUES OF SAFETY
Any time you move out of your home environment< you must learn how to recogni:e "otentially threatening "eo"le and situations1 2egin %y
reading the safety information "rovided %y your institution and attending the orientation "rogram for international students1 (f your
institution does not mention safety in its written materials< you can usually o%tain a current *crime re"ort* from the admissions office1)
S)"%t. Ti/s !n C),/s9
-) #amiliari:e yourself with your neigh%orhood and cam"us %y walking around during the day1
') Ask other students and staff mem%ers a%out areas you should avoid at night1
,) !o not walk alone at night1
0) >now where the nearest "olice station and hos"ital are< and what to do in case of any emergency1
)) >ee" *emergency* "hone num%ers ne&t to your tele"hone (*A--* is the general num%er1)
.) >ee" your dorm room or a"artment locked whenever you are away even for a few minutes1
@) !o not leave your %ooks< %ack"ack< or "urse unattended anywhere1
9) 2uy a good lock for your %icycle and always use it1
A) Use Caution with strangers who are overly friendly< offer you gifts or a ride home1
S)"%t. Ti/s !n P4-i( T&)ns/!&t)ti!n9
f you are in an ur%an setting and will use "u%lic trans"ortation< "articularly trans"ortation such as a su%way< which does not have an official
in each car/
-) Choose a car in which others are riding1
') !o not dis"lay money< Hewelry< or other valua%le items1
,) >ee" your wallet in a side "ocket5 kee" your "urse closed and in your arms1
0) 2e discreet when consulting ma"s1
)) f someone is %othering you< change cars1 Avoid confrontation1
A W!&' A4!t CS%),sC
Americans have two e&"ressions which you may want to learn/
-) f it sounds too good to %e true< it "ro%a%ly is1
') There;s no such thing as a free lunch1
Iou may receive "hone calls< letters< or e-mails from organi:ations asking for money for a "articular cause1
Iou may also receive calls asking you to %uy a "articular "roduct< sign u" for a s"ecial "hone service< or announcing that you have *won a
fa%ulous "ri:e* or a vacation at a famous resort1 Some seams are even s"ecifically aimed at foreign students - the organi:ation may offer to
change your immigration status for you< for e&am"le< (seams such as this should %e re"orted to your #SA immediately< so that other students
can %e warned)1 n any of these cases< never give out your credit card< %ank account< or Social Security num%er1