Speaking Freely...Travel Without a Suitcase

Speaking Freely: Travel Without a Suitcase

With the start of the Spring Semester next week, we want to remind  you of a fantastic program offered at NYU - Speaking Freely!

Get a taste of a new language and culture without leaving home! Speaking Freely is available to all NYU undergraduate, graduate students and staff free of charge. The 75-minute language coaching sessions meet once a week for ten weeks each semester at various locations on campus. Each week, you'll learn how to communicate on a different topic, or you might enjoy a related activity--a movie, concert, or neighborhood visit--as part of a small informal language group. No books are required and there’s no pressure of grades!

For more information, please visit: http://speakingfreely.cas.nyu.edu/page/home

S-M-A-R-T Goals for the New Year

Winter break is a great time to think about setting goals for the new year and semester. As the semester approaches, the Office of Academic Advising would like to remind you of a strategy that we strongly support. Often, we encourage students to make use of S.M.A.R.T. goal setting! Not sure where to begin? Think of the acronym:

S-Specific
Being specific is helpful because it forces you to clearly define what is you want to do, why you want to do it, and how you are going to get it done. Specificity focuses your efforts, which is essential in the NYUCN program because there is a lot to do and not much time to get it all done. 


M-Measurable
Setting measurable goals is tied closely to your goal being specific. You want to ensure that you can have a means to measure progress and watch the change happen. Then, you can determine if the goal you set needs to be adjusted or if you were able to successfully complete it. For instance, when studying, you could include the chapter numbers as well as the number of pages you want to complete within a given time (ex. I will read pages 127-145 of chapter 7 in one hour).


A-Attainable
When setting goals you want to make sure that you are able to keep yourself motivated to continuously achieve. Setting goals that stretch you slightly is the best way to do it. If you set a goal that you know is unattainable you won't be motivated to achieve it--your commitment to the goal will be hard to maintain. In contrast, setting attainable goals helps you develop a skill set to make the impossible possible by way of small, measurable steps!

R-Realistic This is not to say that the goals you set should be easy . Much like setting attainable goals, your goals should also be realistic. You want to ensure that you are challenging yourself enough but that you also have the support in place, currently, to be able to meet the challenge/goal you set for yourself. Set goals for where you are and as you meet them, adjust them and set new goals.

T-Timely
Be sure that you set a clear time frame with an endpoint to work toward. Based on the goal, give yourself a period, one week, two weeks, etc. Make sure the time frame you choose is measurable, attainable, and realistic!


As you can see, many of the steps in this method are interrelated. They all work together to assist you in setting excellent goals so that you can  meet your mark and excel in school and in nursing.

If you have any questions about how to set your goals or develop study strategies to implement these steps, make an appointment with a member of the Administrative Advising Team! We are here to help.

Dust Off the Resume!

Winter Break is a great time to dust off the old resume. 

Add all the new and exciting experiences you're working on and start preparing for your career in Nursing!

  

Nursing Student Career Preparation
The Wasserman Center for Career Development collaborates with the NYU College of Nursing to provide students with tools and examples of how to develop effective cover letters and resumes specifically for nursing students. Additionally workshops are implemented to provide students with tips on the job search and interviewing skills.

If you're developing your resume from scratch or want to refresh your resume think about the following:

• Develop your resume based on career options/specializations. Visit discovernursing.com or allnurses.com for more information.
• Research employment trends/resources. The Wasserman Center has The Vault Career Insider Guide to Nursing, available for download via CareerNet.
• Attend a workshop at our office to learn more about how nursing resumes should be created. For example, special sections and tips for marketing your experiences should be included.

If you think your resume is ready to go then you can start developing the respective cover letters and preparing for interviews. Conduct a mock interview with someone in the field or visit our office for more information on how to conduct nursing interviews. 

These tips are just the beginning. Utilize the resources in our office to help you get a jump start on preparing for your career in nursing!

Feel free to contact us at nursingadvising@nyu.edu for more information!

Relax...It's Winter Break!

Relax...It's Winter Break!

The time between semesters provides you with an opportunity to step back from the demands of being a student and take a break.

You may find that spending this time with family and friends, traveling, or pursuing exciting off-campus activities is the best way to rejuvenate and return to begin the spring semester refreshed and energized.  Below are some tips from the Office of Academic Advising and Learning Development:

1) Reading for fun - Pick up a book that you have been wanting to read for pleasure but haven't found the time to because of all of your busy school work! Ask friends for recommendations or check out http://www.goodreads.com/

2) Practice some relaxation techniques such as yoga or meditation - This is a great time for you to relax and practice techniques to reduce stress before the upcoming semester. Many yoga studios offer donation-based classes. Search for them on Yelp! For more tips on relaxation techniques visit http://www.nyu.edu/shc/counseling/relaxation-oasis.html

3) Spend time with friends - Numerous studies show that a strong social support network benefits your ability to manage stress. So catch up with some old friends over a cup of coffee at your favorite local coffee shop, check out the latest Bond movie, or plan a ski trip!

4) Exercise - Try getting into an exercise routine during winter break to help you relax and boost your mood! Find a gym buddy and try a pilates class or kickboxing. If you are staying local you have access to the gyms on campus - you can find the winter break schedule at Palladium gym here.

These are just a few tips for relaxation during winter break. Please refer to this PDF for an NYU Winter Break guide if you need access to the University during the break. The NYUCN Office of Academic Advising and Learning Development is also available at nursing.advising@nyu.edu.

Enjoy the rest of your winter break!

The NYUCN Office of Academic Advising & Learning Development