5/23/13 Grad Connect - News from Utica College

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March 2013 - Published periodically by the Office of Graduate Studies

Feelin' the Grad School Blues With the cold weather still lingering andbeing in the middle of the semester,many students are feeling the "gradschool blues." Students can experiencethis along with depression and anxiety.Studies have shown that graduate schoolis not the healthiest place to be, and astudy conducted at the University ofCalifornia at Berkley indicated that a large percentage of graduatestudents (67%) felt hopeless at least one time in the past year. Manyrecent conversations with graduate students at Utica Collegeincluded phrases such as I am over this, I just want to quit, and I feellike this will never end. It is important to know that you are not alone. Graduate students sometimes have a difficult time balancing theirschool work and personal lives. It is very important to remember thatyour life is more than academics, and you have to take care ofyourself and the relationships you have outside the physical or virtualclassroom. It is because of this knowledge that Utica College has tried to createpaths that will help students fight feelings of anxiety, depression, andeven "the blues." The college has tried to make taking a Leave ofAbsence (LOA) a painless process by allowing students to submitthe request form online. It is also important to note that taking anLOA is not a sign of weakness or defeat. As humans we all have ourlimitations and sometimes just need a break. While Utica College is understanding that "life can get in the way" ofyour academic studies, please note that there may be financialimplications if you have federal student loans; you will need talk withStudent Financial Services. Utica College also has a counseling center for people who may needa little more than just a break. This is a free service to all UticaCollege students. The counseling services offered by the collegeprovide assistance with depression, relaxation techniques, stressmanagement, and anxiety among many others (to see a completelist, visit the Counseling Services web page).

Issue 12

Important Dates Please note the upcomingdeadlines: March 25 - Summer andfall registration opens foronline students

April 1 - Deadline to RSVPfor commencement if youanticipate graduating inAugust April 5 - Last day towithdraw from a 16 weekcourse or change it toPass/Fail April 8- Summer and Fallregistration opens forcampus-based students April 8 - Last day towithdraw from a D2 class April 15 - Deadline toRSVP for commencementif you anticipate graduatingin May April 15 - Deadline to orderyour regalia (cap, gown,and hood)

Need to Take aBreak?

Life getting in the way?

Need to take a semester off

5/23/13 Grad Connect - News from Utica College

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The staff and faculty understand that at times graduate students feellike they may fail, but studies and statistics show that most studentsdo not. In fact the majority of students who enter graduate school dofinish and get that diploma. It is important to remember that there is asupport system to help you reach the end of the graduate journey, allyou have to do is ask!!

The Write Idea: Chipping Away at Writer'sBlock

Whether you're writing a term paper, acapstone project, or a thesis, writer's blockcan hit, and when it does it will leave youfeeling completely drained. It may not seemlike it, but writer's block can be a blessing indisguise. It is your brain telling you that youneed to step away from that computerscreen. In an 8-week online class, it maynot seem like you have enough time to takea break, but you have to make yourself stepaway. Forcing yourself to write for writing's sake will only make youwrite a subpar paper, and in the end you will not be satisfied withyour grade. If you find yourself in a bind where you need to get a paper donequickly but are just getting more irritated the longer you look at thatblank screen, these tips may be your answer. Instead of trying totype out your paper, you should try reverting back to an actual penand paper. This allows you to write down your ideas, cross them out,rearrange, and change them. This will allow you to create manydifferent trains of thought which could spark inspiration.Before you start writing make a map of places where you findinspiration. For example, if you are a physical therapy student,maybe being in a hospital or talking to different patients can helpyou. If you are a Cybersecurity student, maybe go to Barnes andNoble, order a beverage, and skim through tech magazines.

Make a list of activities that you like to do. What is it that you do thatallows your mind to "wander free"? Do you have your best thoughtsin the shower, on the toilet, on a jog, driving, or watching adocumentary (just make sure to write the idea down as soon aspossible)? It is important to draw inspiration from where you can anduse it! Also, talk it out. Find a friend who doesn't mind being asounding board. Sometimes when you say things out loud or haveothers ask you questions allows you to really think about the topic.Then take those ideas and start writing one sentence and oneparagraph at a time.

from graduate school?Request an approved Leave

of Absence! Timeaccumulated during a

Leave of Absence does notcount toward the six-yeartime limit for completion ofa graduate degree. Pleasenote that multiple Leaves of

Absence may havefinancial implications forstudent who use federal

aid. It is important todiscuss these potential

issues with your FinancialAid Counselor.

Please see the Graduate

Catalog for these newpolicies.

Did You Know?

The city of Utica boaststhe fourth highest refugeepopulation in the United

States, and in 2009 USAToday claimed that Utica,NY was among the top ten

places with internationalflair.

A population this diverse

provides great opportunitiesfor things to do and placesto eat. If you are planning atrip to Utica for residenciesor commencement, be sure

to check out the City ofUtica webpage for a list of

attractions and restaurants.

Utica, NY has many hiddengems, so get out there, find

them, and enjoy!

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It is important to remember that as a graduate student you will bedoing a lot of researching and writing. One of the worst things youcan do to yourself is to not take care of yourself. Make sure that youeat right. Too often students sit in front of a computer and snack; ifthis is you make sure you have healthy snacks. Foods that are highin sugars and fats can actually drain your energy and make you losefocus on what you are trying to accomplish, such as that final paper. So remember to take breaks, find inspiration, and take care ofyourself. If you follow this advice you will find that writing is not sobad and that you can do it! Don't let writer's block get the best of you - take steps to fightit!

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Office of Graduate Studies Utica College 124 White Hall 1600 Burrstone Road Utica, NY 13502-4892 Voice: (315) 792-3335 Fax: (315) 792-3170 ogs@utica.edu utica.edu/ogs

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Utica College | Office of Graduate Studies | 124 White Hall | 1600 Burrstone Road | Utica | NY | 13502-4892