Health-N-You

You are here, now what?

You made it!  You have unpacked, set up your room, had some fun and you are gearing up for the first semester of classes.  The move from high school to college is an exciting one. It means freedom, independence and choice.  But there is one important challenge- high school and college are different!  Understanding and acknowledging the differences is the key to success.

The high school schedule provides a structure.  You attend classes five days a week, seven hours a day with extra-curricular activities and homework to round out the evening. Your high school teachers would remind you of upcoming assignments and correct your homework.

College life provides little structure. College classes meet only a few times a week, sometimes with hours in between each class. You will be doing most of your studying outside of class time (2-3 hours of studying for each hour in class) with lectures and other class work as a guide.  A substantial amount of reading and writing will be assigned and may not be reviewed in class.  Tests and exams are scheduled far less frequently than in high school.  It would not be unusual to have only 2 or 3 tests for the semester in a class in college.  It is also possible to have two classes schedule tests for the same day. 

So, what can you do?  Believe it or not, you have an amazing amount of control over this situation.

1. Attend class.
2. Read the class syllabus! College professors feel that their expectations of you are clearly outlined in the class syllabus.
3. Review class notes and textbook material on a regular basis.
4. Get an organizational system in place, whether it is a week-at-a-glance planner or electronic calendar.
5. Contact the professor or visit during office hours if you start having difficulty in class. College professors can be very helpful, but they will expect that you initiate any contact.
6. Never be afraid to ask for help.

As a member of the Northeastern community, expect to be challenged, and expect to grow and succeed. It is the choices and decisions which YOU make that will determine the success of your university experience.

post by Mary Barrows, Director of the Learning Disabilities Program

Beyond Boston Bon Voyage 2010

On Wednesday evening UHCS joined Co-op Connections in their annual bon voyage event.  Students going away on Co-op for Spring 2011 were invited to this event to help prepare them for their journey. Information about services, programs and events from various offices were available.  In addition, students who had traveled to these destinations shared their experiences and insight.

There are many things to remember when you are preparing to go away on Co-op.  One important area often overlooked -- until it is an emergency situation -- is your health. 

At the Bon Voyage event, the UHCS wheel offered some questions to consider when preparing to go on Co-op:

    1.  Do you have your own insurance card?

    2.  Have you identified a health center and/or therapist where you are going on Co-op?

    3.  Is your health insurance accepted by these health centers and/or therapists?

    4.  Have you made an appointment with your clinician to get refills on medication to cover the months while you are away?

   5.  Have you made arrangements to get your medications?

   6.  If traveling outside the country, are you aware of any emergency assistance your health insurance provides for evacuation if you were to become ill?

Best of luck on your Co-op! We look forward to hearing about your incredible experiences all over the world.  If UHCS can be helpful, be sure to contact us at 617-373-2772.