Please note that these are only suggestions, and your instructor may have more specific instructions.
Plan! Your next semester or your transition to the job market
You may wonder why this is a good time to think about your future plans. Now that you have experienced half a semester of content in the courses you’re taking, you may want to evaluate whether or not you like what you’re studying. If you’re in your first or second year, it may not be too late to change your major course of study, or plan to do a minor. Does your academic plan reflect your career and personal interests? A minor or an elective course could help you explore a possible specialization in your career. Enjoyed a particular course? Talk with your instructor about how you can build upon what you’ve liked this semester by considering next-level courses in the same field, or related career paths.
When registering for courses on CUNYFirst, make sure you’re familiar with the designations for online, hybrid and in-person courses – here’s more on how CUNYFirst designates courses. Take advantage of Baruch’s Starr Career Development Center especially if you want to explore internships, part-time jobs, or other opportunities. They also help with resume-writing and interview prep! (And graduate students have specific Career Services within each of Baruch’s three schools: Weissman, Marxe, and Zicklin.)
Learn! How stress can affect your studying
Feeling stressed? You may be thinking that stress sometimes helps you get things done. While it is true that stress can sometimes focus our minds and stop us from procrastinating, it can also impact the brain’s ability to store and retrieve information. We cannot always make stress ‘go away’, but we can use it to guide our actions. Take a moment to listen to your body and understand what may be causing you to be stressed right now. Taking an online or hybrid course? Here are some common causes of stress, and suggestions for how to seek help, when taking online courses.
Our advice and resources regarding stress and mental health can only go so far, as we are not clinical psychologists or experts on mental health. If you need more help, contact the Baruch College Counseling Center. In addition, CUNY students who are struggling with any kind of psychological or emotional problems can text “CUNY” to 741741 to initiate a free and confidential conversation with a trained volunteer and receive a referral for further help if necessary.
Engage! Connect with school and city events.
You may think that you don’t have time for anything else except studying or completing that paper. Letting your brain rest or think about something different is part of the learning process too. You may even find yourself making connections between what you’re learning and other things going on in the world around you. These types of connections help your brain retain information for the long term, and professors are often impressed when you connect those dots.
Check out in-person or online events happening at the Baruch Performing Arts Center – tickets are sometimes free or heavily discounted for Baruch students. The Baruch Library holds many workshops and events, too, and you may find them helpful for any research you may be doing. If you’ve declared a major, check out some of the programs and events your department may be holding. And don’t neglect those club meetings if you’ve signed up for some – you may be surprised by how much you learn from other students when organizing events and actions with them.
More Tools and Services. . .
- Looking for free mindfulness resources?
- The 10 Minute Mind is free for CUNY students! With the 10 Minute Mind, you can learn to manage your stress in only 10 short minutes a day. Mindfulness has been scientifically proven to reduce stress, increase focus, and support feelings of wellbeing. Each morning, you will be emailed a short, guided mindfulness track. All you need to do is take 10 minutes to sit somewhere quiet, put your headphones on, and listen.
- More resources for mental health from CUNY, NYC, and NYS.
- Have you tried scheduling appointments with:
- the Student Academic Consulting Center for tutoring or exam reviews?
- the Writing Center for consulting on your writing assignment?
- Looking for some entrepreneurship resources? Check out CUNY Startups for tools and programs to build your next great idea!
↓↓ Use the buttons below to view tips and resources for different parts of the semester. ↓↓