Parent & Family Magazine
Volume 1/ Issue 3
February 2014 In this issue: Kay’s Column A message from the Director of Parent & Family Programs Spring Welcome from Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Dr. Kathy Cavins-Tull Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr. spring welcome and updates Healthy relationships lead to healthier, more successful students
The TCU Parent and Family Magazine is a publication from Student Development Services in the Division of Student Affairs at Texas Christian University. 2901 Stadium Drive Brown-Lupton University Union Suite 2003 Fort Worth, TX 76129 www.parents.tcu.edu parents@tcu.edu 817-257-7855
HIRE ME- a special section with important Career Services Information •
Jordan Hamilton, TCU Class of 2017, tells us about his Career Expo experience and why students should go as early as possible in their years at TCU
• The #1 thing that can influence your student’s job and salary: INTERNSHIPS! •
Gearing up for the Spring Career Fairs! Tips for maximizing the Career Fair experience
Living on Campus: Yes or no? That is the question!
TCU Mission To educate individuals to think and act as ethical leaders and responsible citizens in the global community. TCU Vision To be a world-class, values-centered university.
Your Student, Transitioning Through College: Class of 2014-2017 Spring Break Options
Connect with TCU news, social media, photos, and more at www.newsevents.tcu.edu
Parent & Family Magazine February Greetings to you! I hope you are as excited about the February issue of the TCU Parent and Family Magazine as I am! It is packed with great information and enjoyable “reads!” I know that you will find the letter by Dr. Kathy Cavins-Tull, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, to be most interesting. Sometimes students are so involved in their relationships that you might wonder if they have time for anything else. As time-consuming and complicated as many relationships may appear, what students learn about themselves and others during this important developmental time of their lives is as, if not more, important than some of the classroom experiences they have. Parents can be very helpful to their students during these challenging times. Dr. Eric Wood has written an excellent article to assist you in navigating this conversation with your students! The staff of Career Services has given you much to ponder, as well as to share with your students! The first topic is a comprehensive discussion about the importance of internships, as well as information about the Internship Scholarship Program. TCU is one of the few universities in the nation that is helping students intern in their desired setting, even if the employee has no budget for
internships! March 21, 2014 is the deadline to apply. Read all about it! The second article discusses upcoming Career Fairs, as well as a 5-point plan for being successful there. Sign-up for Fall 2014 housing will be here before we know it. Along with the information about the upcoming process is some great video of all of the halls on campus! As always, whether your student is a first, middle, or senior student, the transition articles are geared especially for you! The Chancellor sent the campus a friendly and informative greeting when we returned in January. I thought you might like to read the update, as well. (www.chancellor.tcu. edu/greetings/spring2013/default. asp) Finally, as we look toward March, I have included some important dates between now and the end of the semester. You may want to print the page, then cut and post the righthand column.
Happy February!
Spring 2014 Calendar March 5-May 10 March 5: Unsatisfactory grades are sent from professors to the Registrar. (You might ask your student around the 10th of the month if he/she received one.) March 7: Spring break begins at 10pm March 17: Classes resume at 8am March 20: The last day of the semester to drop a class March 21: The last day of the semester to declare a class pass/no credit (p/nc) March 24: Schedule advising for fall 2014 begins April 18: Good Friday Holiday May 1 & 2: Study Days May 5–9: Finals
Kay Higgins, Ph.D. Associate Dean of Student Development Director of Parent & Family Programs
May 10: Baccalaureate and Commencement
Spring Welcome from Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Dr. Kathy Cavins-Tull Dear Parents and Family Members, Welcome to the second issue of the new Parent and Family Magazine. I hope you’ll find this resource to be useful to you as you work to coach your son or daughter through their undergraduate experience. The start of a new semester is a wonderful thing! The college experience affords the unique opportunity to start over each semester. For the most part, every semester our students have the ability to try out new habits, test new study strategies, and recommit to their own academic excellence. I love the determination in January when, like most of us, our students have made resolutions to do better, be healthier and become more accomplished at their desired skills. Also, like most of us, this determination can sometimes be challenged by old habits, peer pressure or a lack of strategy for their goals. TCU has a lot of resources to help students stay on track with their goals. You can help your son or daughter get connected to campus resources: •The Health Center, Counseling Center, Alcohol and Drug Education and Campus Life are available when they seem to need a little help. •Campus Recreation and our university’s dietician can also provide assistance in getting them moving and helping them plan a diet that supports good energy. •We have a lot of study skills and time management workshops early in the spring to aid students in the development of their strategies. Encourage your son or daughter to look for those offerings through Academic Services. •Finally, during the winter months of January and February, we know that students experience a bit of cabin fever, perhaps accentuating the effects of depression. Every week, the students are emailed an electronic magazine called “What2do@TCU” outlining programming offered each week. Social connections can make a world of difference when it is gloomy outside. Just as we welcome the Spring Semester as a time for renewal, I am reminded that our seniors are also getting ready to close down their time at TCU. This is a time of great celebration and, for some, great stress. If you are a parent of a graduating senior, ready yourself for the mixed emotions of this time (smile). This semester goes so fast for our students who are finishing senior theses and projects, perhaps looking for jobs or graduate schools and wanting to have quality time and experiences with friends. Our seniors should already be familiar with our Career Services Center and can also benefit from the other support services mentioned above. I know that as I begin another semester with our students, I am renewed by each of their emotions. Whether this is the start of the second semester for our first year students or the beginning of the final semester for our seniors, there is nothing more invigorating than the energy they each bring. Please know that we want the same things you want: happy, healthy Horned Frogs. To that end, if there is anything our staff or I can do to help, please give me a call (817)257-7820. Sincerely, Kathy Cavins-Tull
Welcome to Spring 2014
Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr. included many exciting and important updates about TCU in his spring welcome. Please visit the following link to view the interactive letter in full. www.chancellor.tcu.edu/greetings/spring2014/default.asp
Relationships
by: Eric C. Wood, Ph.D., LPC, Associate Director of Counseling and Mental Health, Counseling and Mental Health Center Every university should place a high priority on how their students form and maintain relationships on campus. The perception that students hold about their school, student organizations, and even academic departments are all influenced by the quality of their social interactions. In fact, the biggest psychological threat to any university’s retention rate is not severe pathology, but students who feel isolated and disconnected from their peers. Thus, it is not surprising that the operations of a college counseling center are affected by the social calendar of the university. Sorority recruitment is one example of this and even Valentine’s Day puts us on high alert (funny how the day before V-day is the world’s most popular day to break up!). None of the staff at the TCU Counseling and Mental Health Center claim to know everything about all relationships, but we are in a position to make intriguing observations about college students and give suggestions to those who are interested. As such, here is my advice…Since its February, I’ll start with a focus on romantic relationships and end briefly with general social relationships.
Romantic Relationships It’s normal to be a relationship-oriented person: There are major misperceptions about the dating life of college students and perhaps the most popular is what society has labeled, “the hook up culture.” In reality, the term “hook-up culture” is not talking about sex but the fact that most “first dates” among college students consist of meeting a stranger at a party, or someplace similar, and then waiting to see if the stranger calls or text the next day. If so, then the two might “talk” and then “date.” So instead of the historical pattern of talking, dating, and then acting as a couple; the new pattern is acting like a couple, talking, and then dating. Another misperception is that today’s college students are not as interested in formal relationships as previous generations. However, studies consistently show the majority of college students actually prefer to be in a relationship, and that they hope the people they meet while going out will actually become dating partners. With this in mind, let me share one of my professional observations at this point: I have met so many clients who regretted having certain physical/sexually encounters, but I have NEVER met a client who regretted waiting! I’m just saying…society/media love to portray the college student as promiscuous and having casual beliefs about relationships and sex. But research says that this isn’t true, and any student who wants to be relationship-oriented actually falls within the norm. If your student seeks your advice or the conversation presents itself, below I have discussed a few points that may be helpful to you. Evaluate your partner: Here is a popular saying, “Americans marry the people they don’t break up with.” Well of course we do!!...but the principle is that our culture tends not to objectively evaluate relationships, but instead we tend to get into relationships and then subjectively go with the flow. And if you ask me, there are three things to evaluate in a relationship: 1) The person 2) The situation and 3) The timing. Person: Just because someone is a good person does not make that person a good partner. In addition, you can’t split the positive qualities from the negative qualities as if you are dealing with two different people. Ask yourself; if your partner never changes at all, would you want to be with him/her? Situation: The person you date will take you on a certain path in life, and do you want to be on this path? For example; if he/she has drama with an ex, then you have drama with an ex. Timing: It is not always a good time to be in a relationship! We all have had times in our lives when we needed to make decisions with our own interests in mind. Sometimes, that may have meant we needed to “go it” alone Don’t settle: There are 7 billion people in the world, and no way that you are compatible with just one other person on this planet! In fact, mathematicians have calculated that during a lifetime, each person will meet at least 7 people with whom he/she could have a satisfying marriage. So it’s never correct to say you lost your “one true love” (Technically, you might have lost one of 7!). My point is that relationships are special because we use our free will to be with someone while forsaking all others. When you commit to someone, you are giving up the potential for any other future romance. Thus, you should not settle or compromise on who you decide to be in a relationship with, and you are so much better without, than to be in a bad/unhealthy relationship.
General Social Relationships Helping our daughters and sons relate to others and to feel confident in social situations has been a daily enterprise since his/her first “play date” at 3 months old. Even with 18 years of training behind them, college is a new environment and the challenges for our students remain the same. Below are some insightful thoughts, as well as information about resources if your student still feels that he/she has not been as successful relationally as he/she anticipated. First, realize that how you relate to and perceive others is directly connected with how you relate to and perceive yourself. The best thing you can do to improve your relationships is to improve your self-esteem. People high in selfesteem have better relationships, they communicate better, they set healthier boundaries with others, and they tend to be overall happier. Self-esteem is a belief, it’s not an emotion, but instead whatever you decide to think about yourself. Most of the time, this belief develops from a tendency to compare ourselves to others. However, the key question is how do we make such comparisons? For example, if you always decide that other people are better than you at everything, then you are not being objective because, statistically speaking (I love statistics), that’s impossible. So learning the see the good in oneself is the best relationship advice that anyone can give. Another important factor in building healthy relationships is communication. We know for sure that people tend not to express emotions by name when they argue. If they are hurt, they don’t say they are hurt; if they are sad they don’t say they are sad; and even if they are mad they don’t say that they are mad. How unproductive is this?! Most arguments are not productive anyway, but saying emotions by name can actually reduce the tension within an argument. It’s hard to yell “I’m hurt” at someone else, and it’s even harder to yell at someone who tells you that he/she is hurt. In regards to the college-age population, it is not hard to imagine why relationships are such an important issue. Considering the adjustments that traditional-aged college students must make upon arriving to campus, it’s natural that some might struggle with things such as taking the social risks of meeting new people. There is the fear of making mistakes in front of others and being embarrassed, especially in front of a new peer group. Some might also have a history of bad relationships and fear getting hurt again. Others simply might struggle with expressing emotions effectively. No matter the reason; it is not uncommon for college students to need help navigating through their relationships. At the TCU Counseling Center, relationship issues are one of the most common problems with which we help students. Indeed, one of our most popular services is our “Understanding Self and Other Support Groups,” where we help students explore how they relate towards others. So please keep us in mind if you think that we can be helpful for your student. For we know that whatever affects your personal/social life can eventually affect you as a learner.
Special Section
My experience at my first Career Expo Jordan Hamilton, TCU Class of 2016
My name is Jordan Hamilton, and I am a sophomore, business major from Pittsburg, TX. I am a member of the John V. Roach Honors College and am a very involved student leader on campus. I am one of the student directors for the 2014 TCU Orientation staff, and a member of the highly selective business honors program called Neeley Fellows. From these positions and other organizations, I have been heavily informed about the importance of being involved on campus and taking advantage of the many resources available to students at TCU. Yet, when I saw that Career Services was hosting a Career Expo in the fall of 2013, I had no interest or inclination to go. The reason I didn’t think it would be useful for me to attend was because I thought the employers were only going to be looking for juniors and seniors to apply for either full-time jobs or internships. However, I did attend the Expo due to a requirement for the Neeley Fellows Program, and I was not excited about it. In fact, I wasn’t happy about it up until the time I arrived at the Expo. I thought to myself that I would only be there for thirty minutes and then leave. However, after being there for a short amount of time and talking to my first recruiter, I was eager to talk to more of them! I ended up staying there for about an hour and a half, and I talked to several different recruiters and representatives. It was actually really enjoyable and beneficial for me. Going to the Career Expo was also really useful because I was able to get some experience talking to potential employers. I learned that I didn’t have to be afraid of the recruiters because they are nice and willing to talk to me even though I might have been a student younger than what they were looking for. Also, they were willing to give me information and advice on what I needed to do to be more competitive in the application process when it does come time for me to apply for the internships and jobs. Their interest and support was extremely helpful. On February 5, I will be attending the Spring Career and Intern Expo. I will also be there when it comes around again in fall 2014. I will be a junior and will be seeking the internships that the employers are offering. I am really glad that I attended the Expo, and I highly recommend everyone, including underclassmen, to attend the Spring Career and Intern Expo on February 5, 2014! I will see you there! (Oh yeah, it’s not just for business majors. They want everyone!)
The #1 thing that can influence your student’s job and salary: INTERNSHIPS!
by: Susan Sledge, Employer Development Manager, Career Services
comfortable speaking to specific openings and their unique attributes. As families of students you can help. Encourage your student to engage with his/her Career Advisor early to explore internship opportunities and create a career strategy customized to meet his/her specific goals. Students can call 817-257-2222 and schedule an appointment with a Career Advisor that is specifically focused on their major. The Career Services team supports each student’s vision to become global citizens and ethical leaders.
As anxious seniors approach the job market, they are confronted with tough questions from employers, as well as family and friends, asking, “What do you want to do after graduation? What experience can you offer us? How do you know this position is a good fit?” Students with the best responses, and the ones getting Reported by National Association of Colleges and Employers – 2011 hired, are able to speak from a well of experience gained from internships, classroom experience, and student involvement. Employers tell us they expect students to have two to three internship experiences during Interns are 70% more likely college. As a result, those with internships generally to be hired as full-time receive more job offers, at higher median salaries than applicants without internship experience. employees with any company.
Increase Hireability
Higher Starting Salaries Median Starting Salary Interns $46,000 Non-Interns $34,600 You may be wondering why employers expect such a high level of internship experience. Simply put, employers are trying to beat the 24 month average new graduates spend in his/her first job out of college. Training poured into new grads is costly and with retiring senior management positions, employers are looking to a younger work force to assume responsibility quickly and become key contributors. For a job seeker who can articulate his/her credentials through a lens of experience, he/she will have a focused career search and be more competitive than their counterparts. Students who have experimented with a variety of company cultures, job duties, and aspects of their field feel more
More Options 58% of interns receive job offers at graduation 30% of those who have not interned receive job offers
Employer Survey
TCU is Pleased to Announce the Return of the Internship Scholarship Program for Summer 2014
by: Susan Sledge, Employer Development Manager, Career Services
Program Description
Students interested in a non-paying or low-paying (less than $1,000 per semester) internship may be eligible for the Internship Scholarship Program. This program is designed to provide assistance to students while gaining valuable work experience in their field of study. Scholarship awards will be given up to $3,000 per semester.
The Internship Scholarship Applicant Must
• Apply for internships and secure a job offer. For assistance in job search strategies, students may contact their Career Advisor at (817) 257-2222. • Upload their most current résumé into FrogJobs as the default résumé. • Complete an application in FrogJobs and provide proof of internship by March 16th.
How to Apply Once a position has been secured, the student will apply online in FrogJobs along with proof of internship and current résumé. An advisory committee will review applications and grant scholarships based on quality of experience, duration, location, and availability of funds. Applicants will be notified by Financial Services of the committee’s decision. For specific instructions, go to www.careers.tcu.edu/ gaining-experience.html.
Scholarship Award Criteria
• Relationship of internship proposal to the future career goals of the student. • Substance of the written proposal. • Evidence of sound preparation for the academic program and/or internship experience. • General academic performance. • Scholarship funding availability.
Eligibility
• Must be a current TCU undergraduate or 2nd semester graduate student enrolled in classes in the Fall semester. • Secured an internship external to TCU departments or program. • Can provide verification of job offer and job description.
• Host organization is credible and work performed is not for an individual, relative, or family friend. • Experience must be well supervised by someone (non-family) with enough relevant expertise to ensure the internship will be an educational experience.
Timeline
• Application Deadline • Internship Scholarship applications due March 21st. • Notification sent out to applicants by April 25th. • Students will receive 100% of the scholarship disbursement on May 9th by check through the TCU Financial Services Office in Sadler Hall. • Learning Objectives due June 7th. • Final Report due August 7th.
TCU Spring Career Fairs are Right Around the Corner by: Kim Satz, Associate Director, Employer Development, Career Services
According to recent surveys by Careerbuilder.com and NACE, more than half of U.S. employers plan to hire recent college graduates in 2013. This is on par with 2012 and up significantly from 2011 and 2010.
Responding employers identified attending career fairs as one of the most important aspects of college recruitment and reported that over 50% of interns received job offers before graduation. This demonstrates that students who start networking early by attending Career Fairs have an advantage over their peers, not only with internships, but full-time jobs. Not surprisingly, students who prepare in advance for a Career Fair make This spring, TCU Career Services will host three career the best impression on recruiters and typically achieve fairs where students can meet with employers from a the greatest results. variety of industries looking to recruit students for To help your student, read The Five Step Career Fair internship opportunities and full time jobs: Plan and encourage him/her to attend one or more of • Career and Intern Expo February 5 the upcoming career expos in February. Recommended for all majors and classifications. Families of TCU students and TCU Career Services share a common goal - to help each student be prepared for, and make a sound decision on that first career step. Our primary purpose at Career Services is to provide counseling, services and events that help students develop the life skills needed to create a career plan and obtain internships and full time jobs.
• Careers in Health Fair February 13 Recommended for students majoring in nursing and health sciences. • Engineering & Technology Fair February 19 Recommended for STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) students. These Career Fairs are not job interviews, rather valuable networking opportunities. They provide the best opportunity for your student to make connections faceto-face with the recruiters who make hiring decisions. Last fall, 130 employers attended TCU’s Career and Intern Expo and we expect the same or more to attend the expo this spring. The fall 2013 employer expo survey showed that 94% of employers intended to interview students they had met at the expo. Remind your student that regardless of his/her year, major, or career direction, Career Fairs provide a valuable resource for exploring careers and employment. Without leaving campus your student can: • Identify available positions and submit a résumé directly to recruiters. • Learn about a wide range of jobs, companies and industries (including info not on website). • Gain valuable networking and interview experience from seasoned professionals. • Develop a network of contacts within a particular company and/or industry.
Upcoming Career Expos Career & Intern Expo February 5, 2014 4:00pm - 7:00pm Campus Rec Gym
Careers in Health Fair February 13, 2014 2:00pm - 5:00pm BLUU Ballroom
Engineering & Technology Fair February19, 2014 10:00am - 2:00pm Tucker Technology Building
The Five Step Career Fair Plan by: Kim Satz, Associate Director, Employer Development, Career Services
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Résumé Preparation Company Research Dress for Success First Impression Follow up with Employer
3. Dress – Your student should wear appropriate, professional attire, even if the job or industry they are interested in wears more casual clothing. Appearance will be the first thing noticed by a recruiter and the proper attire will increase your student’s confidence. Plan ahead and send your student with businessappropriate attire each semester.
Appearance Tips
1. Résumé – Your student should prepare or update • Conservative style and colors a general résumé with a broad overview of his/her • Clean and groomed hair and nails education, experience, and relevant skills. Résumés • Light makeup, fragrance, and jewelry for take time to prepare, edit and print so remind your females student to not wait until the last minute. Also, • Fresh breath, no gum encourage your student to take advantage of the • Portfolio to hold résumés, business cards, online résumé guides (available at www.careers.tcu. notepad and pen edu) and our Career Advisors who are available to meet with your student to critique his/her résumé. 4. First Impression – You know it’s true: first We have found that cover letters are not necessary at impressions count. Besides being appropriately and a Career Fair, since your student will be making his/ neatly dressed, your student should be prepared her introductions face to face. to approach recruiters with confidence, shake hands, make good eye contact, and deliver his/ her prepared 30 second personal introduction, or “elevator pitch”, along with his/her résumé. While • Highlight your accomplishments your student may feel more comfortable circulating • One page, easy on eyes with friends, encourage your student to approach • Error-free recruiters independently in order to capture their • Critiqued by Career Advisors • Printed on quality paper
Résumé Tips
The “Elevator Pitch”
2. Company Research – Your student should review • Overview of talents, skills, and studies the list posted on Frog Jobs of employers attending • Description of experience and career the Career Fair and research those companies of goals interest. Recommend your student to take notes • Explanation of interest in the company and write down company-specific questions to ask • Copy of Résumé (some employers prefer recruiters, so he/she doesn’t forget them when face students to submit online) to face with a recruiter. If your student does draw a blank, there are general questions your student can full attention. ask and still make a good impression. Common Reasons Employers Pass On Candidates:
Employer Questions
• How does your recruiting process work? • What type of opportunities are available? • What majors are best for this career? • Any additional course work or training to better prepare me for this job? • What do you like best about your company?
• Lack of relevant experience. • Lack of preparation. • Lack of knowledge about company. • Lack of enthusiasm.
1. Follow Up – After attending the Career Fair, your student should send a follow-up email or handwritten note to inquire about the opportunity to move the process forward. If the recruiter indicates he/she would like to set up an interview, your student should apply for the position through Frog Jobs. Even if there’s currently not a “good fit” at a company, your student can ask to be kept in mind for future opportunities or for another contact in the company or industry.
Top 10 Career Fair Tips 1. Plan ahead (résumé, research, introduction, questions, dress). 2. Dress professionally, neatly, and comfortably. 3. Visit your priority companies first, but move on and return later if long line. 4. Greet the recruiter with a smile, good eye contact, and firm handshake. 5. Introduce yourself by highlighting your accomplishments, studies, and goals. 6. Stay focused and ask open-ended questions to get information. 7. Provide a copy of your résumé . 8. Thank the recruiter for information and any promotional materials. 9. Request a business card or handout for future reference. 10. Back at the room, follow up by sending brief note of interest.
Parents’ Five-Step Career Fair Plan: • Become a “fan” of the TCU Career Services Facebook page and the Career Services Networking Lounge on LinkedIn to stay informed. • Encourage your student to meet with Career Services for résumé/interview help. Students may call 817-257-2222 to make an appointment with their Career Advisor. • Encourage your student to attend career preparation workshops and info sessions. • Encourage your student to attend career fairs
each and every semester. • Remind your student: practice makes perfect!
Star Qualities: Hear directly what qualities employers look for in a successful career fair candidate. • Strong Communication Skills (oral and written) • Team Player • Ability to Multi Task (school/work/activities) • Receptive and eager to learn (And knows more than just company name!) Contributed by: Terri Brigman Resource Integration Finance & Program Management Lockheed Martin
For more information about how Career Services can help your student launch his/her professional career, visit www.careers.tcu.edu.
BNSF Railway Career Center
Jarvis Hall / 817-257-2222 Monday - Friday 8:00am – 5:00pm
Alcon Career Center
Dan Rogers Hall, Room 140 / 817-257-5572 Monday - Friday 8:00am – 5:00pm
Living on Campus: Yes or No? That is the question! by: Heather Miller, M.S., Associate Director, Housing and Residence Life The room selection process for Fall 2014 is quickly approaching, bringing with it a number of possible reactions, including excitement and some nervousness. Topics students might discuss with you could range from “In which building do I want to live?” if your student is a first or second year student, to “Do I sign a contract now or wait and see if I ‘win the lottery?’” for juniors and seniors. When considering all of your student’s options for the coming year, you might ask yourself, “Why should my student live on-campus? What’s the value of living on-campus versus off-campus? What’s the benefit?” Six years ago, TCU extended the housing requirement to include first and second year students. We know that living on campus makes the college experience that much richer.
In Housing and Residence Life, our focus is to connect with students, help them connect with one another, and to the University. A student who is connected and invested in what it means to be a horned frog will be happier and more successful inside and outside the classroom. Here are five quick benefits: 1. Convenience – the residence halls are convenient to everything. To class, on-campus resources, meals, friends, activities, on campus jobs, etc. 2. Fully furnished, all bills paid – one price, one stop shop. 3. Friendly and helpful staff available 24/7.
4. Save on gas money. 5. The residence halls are nice…all of them! Check out the video: www.rlh.tcu.edu/residence-halls.asp.
Housing Selection Dates Housing Info Session February 18 & 19 @ 8:30 p.m. BLUU Auditorium Housing Application February 24-March 7 online @ my.tcu.edu Housing Lottery March 24-28 online @ my.tcu.edu
Your Student, Transitioning Through College Student Development in the first, middle and final year at TCU
Class of 2017 The First Year Experience Congratulations to your student for completing his/her first semester in college. As first-years returned to campus after the winter break, it may have seemed as though they had it all figured out. But February brings its own set of challenges and opportunities as students settle into their spring Lindsay Knight M.Ed., Assistant Director, Student semester routine: Development Services •Satisfaction or disappointment with fall semester grades. Good first semester grades should be celebrated, but some students will find their successes bring added pressure to continue to do well as courses may increase in difficulty. Students disappointed with their first semester academic performance may feel defeated as they face a new round of projects and exams, but it is helpful to reinforce a fresh start mentality. Students should learn from successes and failures of the fall but recognize they have new opportunities with new professors. •Returning to campus after a month at home. Some students will find relief in the presences of classmates and the return of busy schedules that come with the new semester. For others, though, February can mean a reemergence of homesickness, especially the winter months as feelings of depression or confinement can set in as a result of the weather. These feelings can potentially result in increases of unhealthy behaviors or substance abuse. Strong support systems both at home and on campus are important for all. •Excitement and anxiety over future plans. Valentine’s Day can highlight loneliness and isolation for some,
while others start to make plans for spring break in March and may be excited by the possibilities or frustrated by the lack thereof. This time of year also means making plans and interviewing for summer employment including on-campus positions, all while students are starting discussions about roommates for next year. Stress over these decisions on top of impending midterms in March can be overwhelming for some. •Dealing with rejection. As students begin to interview for both summer employment and oncampus leadership opportunities like Resident Assistants and Frog Camp Facilitators, many may experience not being selected for a position for the first time. Students not selected for a position should follow up with interviewers to discuss potential for improvement so that each experience, even a rejection, is an opportunity for learning and growth. Some important resources as your students face these new opportunities are listed below. •If your student is seeking help to correct academic missteps from the fall consider referring him/her to the Center for Academic Services at 817257-7486 and suggest he/she meet with professors during office hours. •All students feel overwhelmed and stressed at some point- to learn coping skills or just have someone with whom to talk; your student may contact the Counseling Center (www. counseling.tcu.edu) or call 817-2577863 to make an appointment. •If your student needs help preparing for summer employment have him/ her reach out to the Career Services at 817-257-2222. And finally, we are always here to help answer questions. Students can find us in suite 2003, on the second floor of the Brown-Lupton University Union or by calling 817-257-7855.
Class of 2016 & 2015 The Sophomore & Junior Year Experience At this time of year, many students are optimistic because they are fully into the spring semester and sense that they are on the “downhill side” of the academic year. While this is true in one sense, Daniel Terry, Ed.D., Director there’s another of the Sophomore & Junior Year Experience, Student side to the story. Development Services Students in their sophomore and junior year can also experience a sense of anxiety and melancholy about the future, especially if they don’t feel as though they have settled on a direction that makes sense for them. For sophomores, there’s an increasing sense of urgency about choosing a major and vocation. They have now been at college long enough to explore what’s out there, but the time for making choices regarding one’s direction is now. (Students are required to declare a major by the time he/she has completed 54 hours) Encourage your student, if he/she hasn’t already, to focus his/ her attention on an increasingly narrow range of options vis-à-vis an academic major. If your student seems adrift and hasn’t visited with a Career Services staff member, encourage him/her to do so. For more information, visit www.careers. tcu.edu. Also, the spring semester of the sophomore year is a perfect time to make plans to study abroad. Many students who take advantage of this opportunity do so in their third year. Now’s the time to make plans. Visit www.studyabroad.tcu.edu.
For second-semester juniors, the focus is starting to shift toward the senior year. Depending on their future plans, students start to look toward jobs or graduate school. For those who plan to seek employment after graduation, internships can be tremendously valuable experiences. The summer between one’s junior and senior year is an ideal time for an internship. Encourage your student to talk to the Career Services representative in his/her college about how to pursue an internship, or go to Career Services for more information: www.careers.tcu.edu. The second semester of one’s junior year is also the time to consider applying for a Mission Statement Scholarship. There are six finalists, but this $2,000 scholarship is awarded in the fall of one’s senior year to three students. Students apply in the spring of their junior year and do so by completing an application that asks them to reflect on the ways in which they exemplify TCU’s mission of ethical leadership, responsible citizenship, and commitment to serving the global community. The application period begins in March. More information can be found at the Student Development Services website: www. sds.tcu.edu. Finally, the second and third years of college are a time for cultivating meaningful relationships with peers, faculty, and staff. Encourage your students to make connections with people who can positively shape them. They should seek out people that they admire and respect, and then make an effort to spend time with them. Often, it’s the relationships we make in life that shape how we see ourselves and our future possibilities. TCU has a strong mentoring culture. Your student can benefit from the wisdom and experience of people here, but he/
At this time of year, many students are optimistic because they are fully into the spring semester and sense that they are on the “downhill side” of the academic year.
she must take the initiative to seek out those relationships. For those students who do, they’ll benefit immeasurably.
Class of 2014 The Senior Year Experience For most seniors, the spring semester can be thought of as the final leg of a long race. The finish line is fast approaching, and each runner is shifting into a new mode based on her or his own running Chuck Dunning, M.A., Direcstrategy. Seniors tor of the Senior Experience, Student Development Services and their families should think about the strategies they have followed this far, and decide how to cross the line of graduation with the best possible outcomes. And it’s certainly not too early for those students who are just becoming seniors and looking therefore, toward a summer or fall graduation. Your senior should discuss reprioritizing attention to the various aspects of his/her overall development. Below is a list of developmental aspects in alphabetical order, and spaces for your senior to rank his/her priorities. • ___Academic Performance: Can the GPA be significantly improved in this final phase, and if so, will there be significant benefits? Has the senior assisted a professor or graduate student with a research project for publication? •___Independent Living Skills: To what extent is the senior prepared to manage finances; make informed decisions about healthcare, insurance, housing; handle all the details of relocation; etc? Has the senior become involved with the Money Talks or SALT™ programs? •___Personal Enrichment: Research has shown that there are significant intellectual, interpersonal, and professional gains that come from engaging in things like leadership training, international and cultural experiences, community
involvement, physical fitness, and the arts. This category includes self-exploration and self-understanding through formal assessment of personality traits, strengths, and values. Instruments such as the Strong Interest Inventory, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, StrengthsFinder, and the Life Values Inventory are available on campus. •___Relevant Work Experience: Even if an academic program has required an internship or practicum, seniors will be better prepared for success after college by adding other internships, part-time jobs, or even volunteer experiences. This applies for those going to graduate school as well as those headed for full-time employment. •___Social Adjustments: These things deserve more careful attention than many seniors realize, such as celebrating accomplishments; saying farewell to friends or family members; moving to a new environment (or back home); establishing new relationships with bosses, coworkers, fellow graduate students, and neighbors; making the many changes from student lifestyles to professional lifestyles; and more. For assistance with considering priorities or accessing relevant resources on campus, your senior is welcome to contact Chuck Dunning at 817-257-5152, or c.dunning@tcu.edu. Finally, every senior needs to know about the TCU Commencement website (www.commencement.tcu. edu), which takes viewers step by step through everything that needs to be done in preparation for graduation and beginning life as a TCU alum. (It’s an excellent resource for parents and families as well.)
Spring Break Opportunities Fort Worth Community Service & Learning Days If your student wants to remain in Fort Worth for the break and enjoys serving others, this event is planned just for them! The days of service and learning will target hunger and homelessness within our community. We will be working collaboratively with the Texas Hunger Initiatives to develop both service and educational programs. To tackle huge issues like hunger and homelessness, education about the subjects is as important as actual service. For more information about getting involved in this exciting opportunity to learn and impact the Fort Worth community, contact Irene Arellano, Assistant Director of Community Involvement and Service-Learning, at i.arellano@tcu.edu.
Spring Break Backpacking Looking for something adventurous to do over Spring Break? Spend it exploring 124,400 acres of canyons, rivers, gorges, and breathtaking views in Zion National Park, Utah. Follow the paths where ancient native peoples and pioneers walked. Gaze up at the massive sandstone clifts of cream, pink, and red that soar into a brilliant blue sky. March 8-16 Registration Deadline: February 26 Pre-trip Meeting: February 26 & March 5 Cost: $450/$550 Includes transportation, access permits/ fees, backpacking equipment, food, and trip leaders Adventure trip registration and cancellation policies are available on the Recreation Center website at http://www.campusrec.tcu.edu/ outdoor/trips.html.
Our Mission: To educate individuals to think and act as ethical leaders and responsible citizens in the global community. Texas Christian University 2800 South University Drive Fort Worth, TX 76129 www.tcu.edu