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Right Now: Current Issues for Your Advisees
This page will be updated frequently to focus on current issues and academic processes that may be affecting your advisees.
Quizzes are being held in the freshman subjects, fifth week flags are soon to be sent, and advisees are committed to extracurricular activities- UROP, varsity teams, musical performance groups, student groups, etc. Your communication with each advisee at this time in the semester can help alleviate their stress.
Click one of the links below to jump to more information on the subject.
Fifth Week Flags and Beyond
As an associate advisor, you may already have become familiar with fifth week flags for freshmen. Fifth week flags have been sent to freshman, so we recommend that you talk to your advisor and check-in with all your advisees to see if you can be of assistance with referring them to the appropriate resources.
Some factors that can effect freshmen academically, include:
- Dorm issues
- Roommate issues
- Lack of time spent with TA or recitation leader
- Illness
- Personal problems
- Family concerns, etc.
Since the reason for poor academic performance can stem from a number of factors, it’s important too stay in touch with your advisees and make sure that they know about tutoring resources at MIT. Many of your advisees may never have really had to ask for academic help before. Therefore, taking that first step to get tutoring help is sometimes the hardest step for them to take, so it is something that they may need the most support in doing.
For more information on fifth week flags, please see the "Right Now" section of the Class of 2013 site.
Registration Changes: Dropping Classes
At this point in the semester, your advisees may find the need to make registration changes; either in response to fifth-week flags or to drop a class they have not been attending.
This term's ADD DATE was Friday, October 9. See Late Registration Changes below for more information.
This term’s DROP DATE is Wednesday November 18. This is the last day that students can drop a class from fall registrations. Some students will drop a class that is taking too much of their focus away from their other classes. Dropping a class can be very beneficial if it allows for more time on remaining classes. Ultimately, for the student experiencing academic difficulties, dropping a class can create more time to spend on other classes and hopefully improve overall academic performance and GPA. It is always helpful for advisees to talk with you and their advisor before making any class changes.
Late Registration Changes
Any student who misses either Add or Drop Date and needs to add and/or drop subjects from his/her registration must petition the Committee on Academic Performance (CAP). Petitions are available from the CAP website and in the Office of Undergraduate Advising and Academic Programming, 7-104. Petitioning to add or drop a subject does not guarantee that it will pass, and petitions that are approved are subject to a $40 approval fee.
Learning Strategies and Tutoring Resources
There comes a point in everyone's life when help is needed. We are at that time in the semester, when exams and quizzes are being offered more frequently, fifth week flags have been sent, and assignments are starting to pile up. As a result, your advisees may be feeling a bit overwhelmed. Encourage them to seek help if needed earlier rather than later in the semester.
There are a number of people and resources who can help, so check out the Tutoring Resources page of the Class of 2013 site for information on the tutoring and take a look at the Tutoring Resources page of the Learning to Learn site for information on the tutoring resources that MIT has to offer.
Also, look at the Learning to Learn site for on-line study modules including: study tips, time-management, test-taking strategies and finals preparation.
Recognizing Signs of Stress
Chances are that you felt stressed out at one point or another during your freshman year and perhaps even this year. You probably have a sense of what some stress symptoms are and how to spot some of the obvious ones (i.e. skipping class, receiving fifth week flags, falling asleep at your seminar meetings/in class, not responding to email, etc.). Other symptoms are less obvious, perhaps manifesting as a failure to engage with their schoolwork, apathy, etc. This means that it is important for both you and your advisor to look for signs of stress amongst your advisees and to talk about any issues that arise.
Resources for stress related issues:
- Time Management and Study Skills: Many freshmen run into academic problems because they lack experience in managing all aspects of their lives. This typically includes, poor time management and organizational skills. Some have never really had to study hard, and therefore have not developed good work and study habits. Help is available- refer your advisees to the Learning to Learn site for tips, tools, advice and resources.
- Personal Problems or Extenuating Circumstances: If an advisee is homesick, or appears depressed, now is the time to refer him/her to help and counseling. Sometimes advisees are unable to focus on schoolwork because of personal mental health issues like depression, illness, serious interpersonal problems (e.g., roommates, new or failing romances), or a family crisis (death, divorce, illness). The staff of the Student Support Services Office (S3) offers general help to students in distress, including but not limited to individual counseling. Advise any advisee who you feel may need the expertise of counseling deans, to seek out their assistance. S3 staff can be found in Room 5-104 or at x3-4861. In addition, the Mental Health Service at MIT Medical can help freshmen who are adjusting to life at MIT.
See the ‘Tips & Resources’ section of this site for more information.
Major Exploration
Choosing a major is an important decision that most of your advisees will be making in the spring. You probably remember how you felt at this pivotal time in your freshman year and can serve as a great resource for your freshman. Your freshmen are looking ahead and beginning to ask questions about choosing a major.
An extensive Major Exploration section is available on the Class of 2013 site. Encourage your advisees to use the site as a resource. Major information includes, major profiles, advice from upperclassmen and alums, information on open houses (including questions to ask) resources and more.
Additional Resources
Check out the Class of 2013 site in order to access the information provided to your advisees at this point in the academic year.
For information on tutoring resources and on-line modules to help students improve academic performance, please see the Learning to Learn site.
If you have any questions or need advice on issues that are not addressed on this site, please let us know.
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