BEFORE����������� ������������������  LIFT����������� ������������������  OFFGeneral Introduction of American College

Your Guide to Straight As

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Upon your arrival at Stony Brook, there are a lot of things you should know about the American college system. The purpose of this PowerPoint is to get you ready for your further study here at Stony Brook.

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What Kind of Classes Would You Take?

Type Style Class Size ! !

LectureYou sit down, listen to

professor and take notes. Many professors use

PowerPoints and clickers (described later).

Up to 500 students in a big

lecture hall.

You can learn from professionals who know the subject

very well.

Least contact with professors.

Your active participation is

important

RecitationOften conducted by TAs (described later) You work on actual problems with your

classmates.

20-30You can learn how to use what you learned in the

lecture to solve actual problems.

Your active participation is

important

SeminarYou exchange your opinions with your

classmates. Casual,

discussion-centered.

10-20You can gain new perspectives from

both expressing your own opinions and listening to others.

Can be a big challenge for non-native speakers of

English or those who are not used to

expressing themselves.

Major Things to Know

Major • Unlike most countries, you do not have to know what you want to study when you start college in America.

• During your undergraduate studies, you will be taking a lot of courses that are not related to your major.

• Major means your “main field of interest”. If you are a biology major, many of your classes will be biology-related, but not all.

Minor • Very similar to majors.

• Fewer required courses.

• You do not have to have a minor, but you may wish to (The Business major requires a minor).

Types of Tests

Type Length Schedule Portion in total grade

Quiz/Pop-quiz 20-30 minutes

• In class • May not be

announced before1~2%/each

Midterm 1.5-2 Hours• Schedule stated on

syllabus • 2-3 times per semester

20%/each

Final/ Final Exam ~2.5 hours

• Schedule stated on syllabus • Held during “finals week” at

the end of semester - no class will be in session during finals week

20~30%

Screenshots from a Syllabus

Professor & TA information

Exam Schedule & Grading

Screen shots from a Syllabus

Reading Schedule & Course Schedule

The Most Influential People (In School)

Name Who Contact Tips

Professor• Teaches big lectures • Often has own lab

and conducts research

• Office Hours • Contact info on

syllabus

Visit their office hours-they actually LOVE to

see you in person Go ask them questions.

Instructor• Teaches smaller

classes • Could be a professor,

TA or staff member.

• Office Hours • Contact info on

syllabus

Talk to them before or after class

Let them know about yourself.

Teaching Assistant

• Teaches recitation • An undergraduate or a

graduate student

• Office Hours • Tutoring center

!TAs can be great help

since they were in your shoes not so long ago.

College ABC's

Attendance

• Attendance is mandatory for all classes

• While actual attendance will not be taken in big lecture classes, a few absents can result in a grade of F in smaller seminars

!Grade Point Average (GPA) • A grading system that converts percentage (%) into letter grades (A~D/F). Each class will have its own grading scale. Check the

syllabus or ask your professor. In general, letter grades translate to:

A: Excellent

B: Good

C: Average

D: Below Average

F: Fail

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Computer Use

Computer use • Computer literacy is one of the most important skills in college • Many instructors require submitting assignments online

Access Codes

• Codes that are needed to access online assignments such as ALEKS(chemistry), Webassign(math) or MylanguageLab

Blackboard

• An electronic “bulletin board” that all of the essential information about the course is posted

• You can find syllabi, assignments, lecture notes or your grades on Blackboard

Clickers (Response Pads)

• Used in big lecture classes in place of attendance

• Lectures often contain “clicker questions” that you answer by sending your answer to the professor’s computer by clicking the button on clickers.

College ABC’s Where the Wi(ld thing)se are

Undergraduate College Advising

• The first place you go to whenever you are facing difficulties about anything related to school.

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Tutor centers (Math, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Writing) • Place where you can go anytime for questions.

• Graduate or undergraduate TAs are available.

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Office Hours • The time when you can visit your professors’ offices and ask questions.

• A great way to get to know professors in big lectures.

• Schedules are shown on syllabus, but you can arrange your own meeting time by e-mailing the professor.

Welcome to Stony Brook Can’t wait to see you!