Summer is almost here...now what?

The semester is winding down; the weather is getting warmer, so we're dedicating this post to spring/summer in NYC. What are your plans this summer? Whether you're still in class or taking some time off, if you're sticking around NYC try visiting the following places:

Bronx Zoo - Get in touch with nature and grab some friends for a trip to the zoo. It's a fun and relaxing way to get out of the city and get your mind off of stressful schoolwork. Visit the zoo's website to find out more about special attractions this summer.

Central Park - Pack a lunch, grab your books, and study outside this summer! Or if you want to visit the park for a live concert, view the schedule at: http://www.cityparksfoundation.org/calendar/.

Check out one of the food vendors at the High Line! The High Line’s food vendors are open daily on the High between Little West 12th and West 18th Streets. All food vendors are open! Vendors include:  Blue Bottle Coffee, Delaney Barbecue’s SmokeLine, La Newyorkina, L’Arte del Gelato, Melt Bakery, People’s Pops, Sigmund’s Pretzels, and The Taco Truck, as well as Terroir at The Porch. Yummy!

We hope the rest of your semester goes well.
The NYUCN Advising Team

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.

Study Spots around NYU & NYC!

In a loud and crowded city like NYC, it can be hard to find a nice spot to study for finals, especially among the crowded areas at NYU! Check out some suggestions below and don't forget to ask the Student Resource Center on campus for additional tips!

On Campus:

• There are available NYU Student Lounges, some of which are set aside for graduate students too!

• Elmer Holmes Bobst Library, which is located at 70 Washington Square South. You can study in open areas on the lower levels (open 24 hours) of the library or on various floors. You can also study in individual cubicles as well.

Near Campus:

•  Esperanto Café on MacDougal between 3rd and Bleecker. It has a cozy vibe with yummy paninis and it’s usually pretty quiet.

• McNally Jackson on Prince Street between Lafayette and Bowery has a nice café area and a great selection of books to browse

USA Today also has an excellent article on quiet places to study in NYC. Check it out here: USA Today's Study Spots!

Prefer to study with snacks? Check out our post from December 2011 highlighting locations on campus that are open late. Please don't hesitate to contact us if we can assist you during the finals crunch!

Good luck on finals!

S.M.A.R.T. Goal Setting!

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! We want you to not only plan to set goals, but to apply this strategy to your study habits as well as you are managing your time this semester. 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 unachievable 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 re-work you goals or your study strategies to implement these steps, make an appointment with a member of the Administrative Advising Team! We are here to help.

Study Strategies: NYUCN OAALD Endorses the 5 Day Test Prep!

The Stanford University Center for Teaching and Learning offers a review of what students should be doing to prepare when they are a week away from their exams. This strategy should be used in conjunction with sustained, structured study time, and offers a set system that you can use to keep your self on the right track until exam time comes.

5 Day Test Prep

Five days before: Organize

Organize and review your class notes and text notes carefully. Prepare a list of all topics that will be on the exam. List them in order of importance so you can focus your attention accordingly.

Four days before: Review and Recall

Review your notes thoroughly, but don’t just look at them. Explain them to yourself. Don’t mistake familiarity for comprehension. Concentrate on the topics that are more difficult for you to understand. Use mnemonic devices or visualization to organize the material as a “breadcrumb trail” back to the big ideas.

Three days before: Rewrite

Briefly rewrite all important information. Review these notes repeatedly. Trying to recall your own explanations will be more effective than trying to recall what the text and your professors have said.

Two days before: Question

Make a list of questions that might be on the exam and answer them in as much detail as possible.

One day before: Prepare
Review your notes and rewritten notes a few hours before the exam. Take time to relax before the exam. If you are afraid you will forget information or "blank out" when you receive the exam, write reminders on the back that you can come back to during the exam.

A handout with this information is available for pick up in the Office of Academic Advising, it is also available here: Stanford 5 Day Test Prep

The Office of Academic Advising & Learning Development is here to support you! If you want to discuss more study strategies or have a question about the 5 Day test prep method, feel free to reach out. You can make an appointment with a member of the advising staff as well as speak to your assigned academic advisor.