By: Kimberly Catalan
Ever find yourself staring blankly at a textbook, realizing you've been reading the same sentence for the past 10 minutes? Welcome to the club! Traditional marathon study sessions can often lead to burnout and diminished focus. Enter intermittent studying, a game-changer for those looking to make the most out of their study sessions without succumbing to mental fatigue. The 25-5 rule, where you study for 25 minutes and then take a 5-minute break, might sound simple, but its benefits are profound. Our brains are not wired for extended periods of intense concentration, and short breaks help prevent cognitive overload. These mini-breaks provide a chance to recharge, allowing you to return to your studies with renewed energy and focus. It's like hitting the reset button on your brain, ensuring that you can absorb and retain information more effectively. Beyond the cognitive perks, intermittent studying also promotes a healthier relationship with learning. Gone are the days of dreading long study sessions; instead, you're embracing a more manageable, bite-sized approach. Knowing that a break is just around the corner can motivate you to stay on track during your study sessions. Plus, it's a win-win for productivity and well-being. So, why not give your brain the breather it deserves and sprinkle a little intermittent studying magic into your routine? Your focus, retention, and sanity will thank you!
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By Selena Bush
When I started at Roosevelt, I knew it was going to be one of the most difficult experiences I have ever put myself through. I knew it would be hard, not because of the regular difficulties that come with college like the difficult assignments or balancing a school and social life. I knew that the hardest part for me would be working full time and balancing having to work more than forty hour weeks with going to class, doing assignments and getting enough sleep to be functional in class. In my previous post here I explained that I started school again at twenty two years old. I had no financial backing from my parents, I had rent and bills to pay and I was solely responsible for every financial burden in my life. I was scared. How would I be able to finish in four years when I have to make sure to work a certain amount of hours to afford to live? My first two years were very hard to navigate. My freshman year I worked as a nanny and I would start my day at five am. I started work at six am, got my charges ready and dropped off at school by 8:30am and rushed to my classes for the day. After class, I picked the kids up then did not leave work until about seven pm usually and did not get home until 8:30pm usually. That schedule does not even include my hours as a Science Peer Advisor. Sophomore year got even worse with COVID and having to pick up another job, so I worked about 80-90 hour weeks as a nanny, receptionist and advisor. I was not sure how I would get through especially when I still had to participate in class and make it to the lab. I was not participating like I should have, I had to miss a lab or two and I was not telling my professors my circumstances so they were doubting my dedication to my education. I needed understanding and help. I needed their understanding and help but I also needed to understand my own circumstances. I was holding myself to the standards of my peers who, for some, did not have as many responsibilities, they did not have to work full time, they had more time to study. I was telling myself that there are many people who have had my circumstances and not cracked under the pressure. But what I needed to understand was that I was not one in a million, I was also not my peers. I was Selena, a person who needed help, who might need extra time, or maybe just slack on zoom participation where I do not have to speak but maybe can type in the chat. I also had to understand that unless I spoke up, professors would not know my circumstances, they would not know everything that sat on my shoulders. They look at me as a student like other college students, they assume I am having the traditional college experience. Understanding myself and them gave me the strength to actually talk to professors one on one and tell them what I had going on and actually feel their empathy and get help. I say strength here because I am a prideful person who will not usually ask for help even when I need it and it takes strength to know when to ask for help. Now that I got over that hump it became so much easier moving from my junior to senior year to ask for help when I need it, and to succeed in class. College prepares you in so many ways academically but I never thought about how it prepares you to move through the world and interact with people. University taught me that I could do it but you also never stop needing a village to help you succeed. Coming to a university as a freshman can be very intimidating, especially if you don’t know anyone and have to start building your way up from the bottom. I was always involved in high school and knew I couldn’t let get COVID get in the way of me making connections. I had found that Roosevelt was doing an involvement fair and as much as I wanted to stay in my dorm and watch Netflix, I knew inside that if I didn’t go to the fair I would be stuck in my dorm for the rest of the year. The involvement fair happens at the beginning of each school year with so many different tables with organizations at each one. I remember walking around and making small-talk with each and every table just so I could find one that stood out to me. There was an organization called SPEED that was looking for student volunteers to help out at free student-led events. I signed up on the paper and that’s when I really began my journey here.
I started attending SPEED weekly meetings to see what went on to fully organize events with planning, marketing, budgeting etc. During my first semester here I would help with setting up and taking pictures during the events. The following semester I applied for a position & was offered to join SPEED as the Social Media marketer and coordinator. I remember feeling so happy that I had finally made some new friends and having those familiar faces in a school so big yet so small made me feel at home. I started feeling more confident after my position as the social media marketer since I was always in contact with faculty/students at RU that I decided to look into more organizations that could help me further in my pre-med/science future. I was always on the lookout for flyers posted around school or any instagram posts from Roosevelt’s page about events or new clubs I hadn’t heard about. My professors were such a great help during this time by letting us know via email or during class about new opportunities. I started reaching out to organizations such as SSS STEM and SPA and asking how I could be a part of them. Looking back I am so grateful I took the step of just doing it. I was never a shy person and coming to Roosevelt made me more reserved since I didn’t know anyone. I never looked back and began going to events with other science students and tried talking to everyone so I could make those connections. It could be a simple “Hey I’m Aditi, are you majoring in x?” to get the conversation started. As I am coming to the end of my junior year, I have met all of my closest friends through class or the organizations I am a part of. It really just took the smallest push from myself to switch my mindset that got me out of my comfort zone. Change can be uncomfortable, especially when entering college as a freshman but having people you know that can help and support you is what makes the difference. But knowing you can trust and count on yourself is the biggest thing that helped me make connections and put myself out there! My journey to choose to be a part of the healthcare field has not been the most traditional. Being a first-generation college student, I did not have a lot of guidance on how to navigate college which is why I struggled as soon as I graduated high school.Born to two immigrant parents who have always pushed me to get an education which has always motivated me to work harder. I also come from a big family, understanding how much pressure there is on being a first-generation student.
My biggest aspiration is to not only finish my degree and get a job in the field. But to also make two of the most important women in my life proud. My mother who is my best friend and my Wonderwoman. As well as my grandmother who passed away in August of 2020. These two strong women have empowered me throughout my whole life. I wouldn't be the woman I am without them. Even though both my parents have work 2-3 jobs to put me in the position to attend university and have a great life. They have both made sure to do their best to help me even if English is not their first language. My father has always worked absurd hours to make sure my family has everything along with making his own personal sacrifices. My mother being she was a nurse in her home country, gave it up to bring my brother and me here for something better. I've heard her stories from when she enrolled to become a nurse, and how my grandmother supporter her just like she does with me. Those stories have always motivated me. Helping me realize I wanted to be in the medical field, helping people as well. As years went by. I've slowly stepped my foot into the world of medicine by getting to volunteer in hospitals to working in an ophthalmology office to being my grandparents' caregivers. This journey is never easy but I'm fortunate to be surrounded by a great support system and hope to be that support to someone else! By: Tatiana Sosa
When I decided I wanted to continue with my education after high-school, I immediately knew I was going to face barriers – I didn’t know how many or to what extent they would be. I began to question things like who could I rely on? Who will be there for me? Who can I ask my questions to when I have some? No one in my family went to college so this journey was going to be hard, but I didn’t let that discourage me. If anything, I used it as fuel to do better and prove to my family and myself that I can do it. For a while, I always wanted to work in healthcare – I knew healthcare was for me because of childhood experiences I faced and because of it, it inspired me to take that route. When I got accepted to different colleges I applied to, I decided Roosevelt University was the best option for me. Everything about the school excited me and I felt so happy to start this college journey. Once I did start college August of 2018, I quickly started to experience imposter syndrome. I started to think that university setting was not for me, and it made me have this mindset where I told myself “See, you even knew it yourself while in high school that college wasn’t for you”. I felt so out of place and like I didn’t belong. Because I am a first-generation student, I didn’t understand the route a pre-pa student needed to take to be able to get into a PA program. I began to realize that I was majoring in the wrong thing, taking the wrong classes, and not meeting requirements I should’ve to be on the right timeline. It was around the end of the sophomore year when I realized this and it really upset me because I felt like I failed – I failed at not knowing any better, failed for not fitting in better to meet peers that could help me, failed at college so far. I had to do a lot of research on my own to understand the pre-PA route which is when I switched from a health science major to a biology major! I’ve always loved biology and with this major, I would be able to take the classes I need to fulfill pre-requisites for different programs. It was at the beginning of my junior year when I met a professor who would then make me realize the potential I had. I finally broke out of my shell, made friends/peers, and started to notice my worth at Roosevelt. I was motivated to take on leadership roles like peer tutoring, becoming a co-founder of a university club called LatinMed and Allies and now working for SPA. I knew taking on these roles would be such a good thing because I would be able to provide and serve for those who are in a place that I was in at the beginning of my journey. As my college journey continued, I learned much more about the pre-pa profession through different resources which also encouraged me to get my CNA certification. I look back at the challenges and hurdles I faced especially throughout the first 2 years of my journey, and it amazes me because I see how much I’ve grown as a student, a mentor and as an individual outside of school. A lot of effort was put in and I am so proud of where it has got me to – I want nothing more for other first-generation students to feel the same way when they reflect on their college journey. The help is there and that is the key part in this journey. For those who are first generation, no matter what route you are going, I want you to know your journey and story matters. There is help all around you and everyone who crosses your path is on your side. You will get through this journey because you did so much to start it and if you can do that, you can finish the journey on a strong note. To be a first generation is a honor and we are building a bridge to end the gap and stigma that surrounds us. I hope my story inspires other first-generation students who find themselves struggling. I am always here if anyone needs advice or help with resources, academics and life. Our SPA office can be found in WB 909 but my email is [email protected] if you ever want to directly contact me! By: Emily Wielgus
There’s always going to be someone in your life that may disapprove of what you choose to do. The decisions you feel are right tend to be beneficial to the journey you are passionate about that others may not be. This disagreement is what makes decisions the most difficult. No matter what, there's no escaping that aspect of life other than believing in what you think is right for you personally and following it. I live by the saying that I am the main character of my own life so why wouldn’t I be the one to choose the decisions that write my story when it comes to things that only affect me. This was a self realization that I made not too long ago but while growing up I never had the option to make the majority of my own choices. A lot of the big decisions within my life came from others around me like family rather than myself, so it was difficult to realize I shouldn’t be making choices to please others if it is negatively affecting me. From a very young age I played multiple sports at the same time for a very long period of time whether I liked the sport or not. This was a big aspect of my childhood that always kept me busy and I appreciated all of the experiences that came with it, but at the same time none of it was my decision. As the years went on I grew tired of the restless schedule of sports that I no longer were passionate about and knew that my academics were starting to get negatively impacted. Balancing multiple sports/teams at once while working within high school was a very difficult task at a younger age but again I didn’t feel like I could make the choice to quit in fear of disappointing others. Rather than quitting I chose to drop honors courses instead just to avoid the fear of disappointment. Now I wish I could tell my younger self that it will all be okay in the end if I choose to switch up the narrative of my life. Starting off college I wanted to only focus on my major since I knew that any STEM major would be difficult. I was also worried about choosing a challenging major since I had some people in my life who didn’t believe I was capable of that level and had a strong opinion on what they thought I should be doing as a career instead. This person was someone that I always wanted to impress since they were one of the few that made the majority of my decisions but yet there was no amount that would ever impress them. That took a long time to realize and accept as well which I think is also what led me to realize that although I may disappoint them, the choices I make are only going to impact me and my future. I was still playing the one sport that I cut down to before I started college , but I had lost a lot of passion for the sport since I was very focused on academics over athletics. I knew that the dream career that I wanted to achieve was a very difficult road ahead, but I wanted to get the most out of college and see if I can achieve my goals with my own choices. Once again going into college a lot of the choices still weren’t mine and I had a stipulation on me going to college. The people who had lots of influence on my decisions said that I had to play a sport or I wasn’t going to college which put a damper on what I truly wanted. So yet again I didn’t want to lose the chance at my dream and I also didn’t want to disappoint the people who mattered the most to me so I settled for a couple more years of the busy student athlete life. I also was already disappointing others by going against what they wanted my career to be so quitting the sport that gave me my main connection to them felt like too much of a disappointment to face. Sadly my grades started to get negatively impacted again from the lack of time and the continuous days of missing class due to games. After two years of playing a sport within college I hit a point where I realized that I need to get over the fear of disappointing others. I felt like what was the point of putting so much hardwork and dedication into something that I was no longer passionate about and overall wasn’t making me happy. Not only was it hurting my academics but it was also harming my mental health from the lack of time and increased stress levels. Therefore I hit a breaking point where I knew if I wanted to turn things around that I’d have to disappoint others to get there. I ended up quitting the summer after my second year and had to deal with the consequences that followed the disappointment, but overall my academics and mentality increased so much instantly after I made my own choice. I feel like you get to a point in life where you find the control to make the decisions you choose on your own and the disappointment of others somewhat fades away. Advice from others is always great, but the decision you make should be what you truly feel is right. I hope my story helps you feel like you are capable of choosing what is beneficial to yourself without the fear of disappointing others. If you ever feel like you are stuck weighing out decisions based on others and don’t know what to do I’m always here to help with advice or just be someone to listen to help you figure out the decision you truly want! By: Grace Hahn
Being a student athlete adds an extra layer of complexity to attending college. For many college athletes like myself, there isn’t really an option to play or not play in college; it’s a goal of many junior athletes, like a final celebration or final hurrah to compete at a high level. I always knew I wanted to compete in college, but while pursuing a college degree at the same time, especially one in the science field, it can be hard to balance it all. In my case, I also work multiple jobs in my hometown and have two jobs on-campus, which makes my situation even more complex. Despite this complexity, balancing every aspect of your life in college is not impossible! I know there are many others with situations like mine, and I hope this can be of assistance to you. First, I suggest buying a planner, specifically a monthly planner, for not only your assignments, but also your competitions and personal events. I know everyone has their own preference of how to organize their schedules, but I have found that a monthly planner allows me to visually see the weeks ahead and my events like due dates and matches. It acts as my life at a glance. I use this planner: https://www.yesstyle.com/en/tcuc.USD/coc.US/info.html/pid.1097002527?googtrans=en&utm_source=GoogleAds&utm_campaign=1425184459&utm_term=&utm_content=62829238544_274256254249&utm_medium=Shopping&bac=EXUXNBGL&mcg=paidsearch&gclid=Cj0KCQiAjJOQBhCkARIsAEKMtO30KdrQLTuivdcIxEufirx59pExNpdheAJg349JRM49OrjepJZxYCYaAgZvEALw_wcB One thing that was hard for me, and still is, is finding class times that don’t conflict with my jobs and my practice/competition schedule. What I have found works very well is staying in contact with your advisors, since they are very knowledgeable regarding how to shift your schedule around between the current semester and your remaining semesters. Sometimes, if you have a course that you are unable to take in the current semester, your advisor would know if the course is offered in an upcoming semester. If you need more specialized help, your professors can also be a great resource to employ, since they may be able to help work with your athletic schedule as well. Roosevelt professors and advisors have been such great resources for me since they are so caring and always go out of their way to understand each student’s individual situation. I have never been stuck in a situation where I cannot take a class that I need in order to graduate; I have always been provided with a solution that helps me! I have also found that the Roosevelt professors that I have had have always accommodated my athletic schedule. I advise asking your coach for excused absence forms for each competition in advance so your professors are alerted sooner rather than later. If you ever have any questions regarding how to balance athletics, academics, and work, feel free to reach out to me or drop by my office hours! I would be more than happy to provide any help you may need. Trust me, it may seem hard, but it is NOT impossible! 02/01/2022 By: Selena Bush The decision to restart college was a hard one to make for me. As a first generation, non-traditional student who is African- American, college/university life can be hard to navigate. It is even harder to navigate when you have to work a full time job.
I am from the Southside of Chicago, I grew up in what some might deem a ‘bad’ neighborhood, my family was poor and so were the other families around us. All I knew everyday was struggling to make it. Even though I did not see better around me I knew there was better through reading. I would read books about everything and anything and though the characters had their struggles they were never poor. I was tired of being poor. In America they say the best way to fix your life circumstances is through going to College. They do not say how hard it will be to stay in college if you do not have the means to go in the first place. The first university I went to was Illinois State University right out of high school. I worked two jobs, had no support from family, and had no real community while I was there. I was so exhausted from working and frustrated that I could not afford to be there that I dropped out after my first year. From there, all I did was work. ‘At twenty-two I decided that I needed to go back to school so that I could live a better life. I felt very weird about being older than most of the other students, and felt kind of strange being one of the few Black students in class. Not a lot of people understand but it helps to have people that look like you in class so that you feel a sense of community. It has been hard being back in school and trying to work full time, there is guilt that I have over not being able to put my complete focus on school, and being exhausted from working and keeping up with assignments. Even with all those difficulties, if not for SPA and my own perseverance I probably would not still be continuing in university now. The other mentors have always been very supportive and have been there when I need to talk about how frustrating it is to be juggling work, school, and family. They give me advice when I am having difficulty keeping up in class because of work and do not want to express that to my professors. If you are a student who also works full time and thinks you are the only one having academic, personal, and professional struggles, you are not alone. It might be hard but reach out and ask for help, you might be surprised how much help there is. During Pride month, it is important to remember how to be an ally for the LGTBQ+ community. There are many ways to be an ally, but it is especially important to:
By: Victoria Lopez
Four years ago it was my goal to have a B.S. in Biochemistry. When school became difficult, I had to remind myself of my goal to keep myself motivated. Many times I wondered if having a college degree was meant for me. I struggled with imposter syndrome and doubted myself along the way despite excelling in my classes. Now that I have graduated, I’ve been able to truly reflect on what graduating college meant to me. As a Latina, it meant realizing that it was not just a blessing but also the result of my hard work. In my culture, working hard is always expected, but it is something we take pride in. However, “work” and “school” are often viewed as two separate concepts. Even though I was working very hard in school, I felt like I would have been appreciated more if I was working a full-time job instead. For a long time, I felt guilty for having the chance to go to college while my family mainly worked. It made me feel privileged, and I think I was and still am. You’re probably thinking: what? A privileged Latina? Underrepresented in her field both by culture and gender, first generation student - how is she privileged? If there’s anything that makes me feel privileged, it’s the undying support that I’ve had from my family these past four years. They always believed in me more than I believed in myself. Every stressed finals week I recall my family saying: “you’ve already learned everything, you got it” or “you’ll be fine” or “good luck on your test.” It made all the difference in helping me believe in myself. While the degree has my name on it, I would not have it if it weren’t for my family. If you’re a first-generation student like me, take the time to explain things to your family: what the degree means, what doors it could open for you, the things you have to do to prepare for life after college, etc. I did this along the way of getting my degree, and it feels like the more they understand your goals, the more supported you feel. Having support and encouragement from someone outside of the academic setting was very refreshing for me and they never failed to motivate me. It is well-known that first-gen students feel pressured to succeed to compensate for their families' sacrifices. While I did experience this pressure, I felt less pressured and more motivated knowing that my family understood and supported my goal. I am proud to say that not only did I graduate college, but I will continue on to grad school with the same love and support that my family gave me during undergrad. By: Angelina Anderson
This fall Roosevelt along with many other universities is requiring students to get the COVID-19 vaccine (Moderna, Pfizer, or Johnson & Johnson) in order to return to campus. Roosevelt is recommending students get vaccinated by Monday, July 19, 2021 inorder to be fully vaccinated in time for the start of the Fall 2021 semester. This is because students will only be concerned fully vaccinated two weeks after their final dose of the vaccine. All Roosevelt students and employees who plan to attend face-to-face classes, utilize on-campus resources, or regularly be on-campus are required to be fully vaccinated and submit proof of their vaccination to the university. Roosevelt plans to return to mostly face-to-face classes in the Fall of 2021, although students and faculty who plan to remain off campus are not required to be vaccinated. For more information about the Roosevelt plan to return to campus and the vaccination requirements, visit the Roosevelt blog. Many individuals are wary of getting the COVID-19 vaccine and are uncertain about the new requirements to have it in order to return to campus. Personally, I found it helpful to read up on the vaccine beforehand and work to understand the science behind the different vaccines available. The CDC has some wonderful explanations of the side effects, clinical trials, and general information about each of the three COVID-19 vaccines available. This article by the New York Times gives a more in depth explanation of how the Moderna vaccine works, alongside diagrams and text explanations, this article helped me to better understand the mechanisms behind the vaccine. I also found it helpful to hear from people I know who had already gotten the vaccine, knowing their experiences helped to make me more comfortable and confident when I myself went to get vaccinated. Getting vaccinated is a very personal choice and can be a very difficult decision to make. In this situation where Roosevelt students are required to be vaccinated to return to campus it is important to read up on the vaccines so that you can feel comfortable and confident when you do go to get vaccinated. By : Emily Wielgus
Living in downtown Chicago was an exhilarating experience compared to living back home and traditional college dorms. Coming from a small town in Indiana to one of the biggest cities in the US was a huge change of environment. I lived on campus in the dorms when I was a freshman in the fall of 2019 until the fall of 2020. Roosevelt’s dorms are a great experience with modern living situations and furniture, gorgeous views of the city, and bathrooms within each shared suite. Roosevelt’s benefit of being right downtown allows us students who live within the top 15 floors of our glass building to see breathtaking views everyday. My favorite part of living on campus was being surrounded by beautiful scenery, being so close to everything on campus, and having countless businesses and restaurants within walking distance. An academic benefit was having all of my classes within the same two buildings of the Wabash and the Auditorium Building. This benefit from living in the dorms made it very easy to get to my classes early, have additional time to study, and be able to grab a snack within the cafe if ever needed between classes. Having an older brother who went to two different traditional colleges gave me a behind the scenes look of how traditional college dorms look. Typical college dorm life of living on a big campus with several old buildings and old dorm rooms was definitely not the dorm life experience that Roosevelt provides. We have the benefit of having modern rooms, private bathrooms within the suites, and everything on campus like classes, the gym, the library, cafeteria, and many more within two buildings. In comparison to traditional dorms, they are not as modern, have community bathrooms within the dorm buildings, and amenities like the library, gym, cafeteria, and academic buildings are spread out throughout a series of buildings on their campus. My freshman year I planned on living in a quad room where four girls shared the same dorm with the overall suite having multiple people living within the different rooms. I was excited to meet new people within Roosevelt’s community so I assumed that living in a quad would give me more opportunities to meet friends on campus. There were a large number of students living within the dorms my freshman year so my plan did not work out and I ended up living in a single dorm my first fall and spring semester. The privacy of living within a single dorm was nice but I felt somewhat isolated since none of my 6 other suitemates would talk to each other. This put a damper on having close connections within my suite since friends from my classes who also lived on campus would tell me about how their suites were super close with each other. Within the Fall of 2019 and the Spring of 2020 guests were allowed to be within your dorm so I was able to bring my friends who didn’t live within my suite to my room. This aspect was a nice experience that made up for my suitemates having no connection. Overall living within the dorms was a great experience but once the pandemic began dorm life was not the same. I was living in a double dorm during this time so having a roommate made the experience feel a lot less lonely but we felt like there was barely anybody on campus. Being within a campus that felt so empty was a different experience especially when it felt like I was safer staying within my dorm. I hope the new rules and regulations of the pandemic will allow RU students living within the dorms to have a great residence life experience during their college journey! By: Angelina Anderson
Learning from your peers can be a super valuable experience, for both you and your peers. This can be true in many situations from studying together, to getting advice, or hearing a peers personal experience, all of these things can help in many ways. Studying and learning from a peer can help you to remember things better as you remember the way someone else said something or perhaps learn it differently then in class, this technique can also be incredibly helpful to the peer teaching as it helps them to remember the information and ensures they know the information well enough to teach it to someone else. This is a great studying technique and I often use it myself when studying for exams by explaining my work to someone not in STEM. Learning from your peers can also give you valuable advice regarding life and academics. Talking with a peer in another major can help you decide on general education classes to take or even help you pick a minor. Discussing your career goals with an older student or alumni can help you learn about careers in your field, network, and just get general advice about entering the workforce after college. Another valuable aspect of learning from your peers can be learning about professors and classes within your major. This can be very helpful when planning your classes for the coming semesters and deciding which major electives you want to take. Talking to your peers within your major can help you find out when certain classes are offered, how hard they are, and what studying techniques work best. This is something that can always be helpful as a student trying to determine and plan their classes, if you want to learn more about science classes at Roosevelt attend SPA’s workshop event this coming Thursday, April 22nd, 6:00pm-7:30pm, zoom ID: 774 757 5833 Check out the Graduation Checklist to make sure your last semesters and graduation prep run smoothly.
This includes not only applying for graduation but also completing a "degree check." As stated by the RU website, "Undergraduates in the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Business are required to complete a degree check with their graduation application. Your department reviews your major requirements, but the Assistant Registrar of Credit Evaluation makes sure you have met or will meet degree requirements at the end of your graduation term. You may complete the degree check prior to submitting your graduation application or after, but both are required to ensure the processing and posting of your degree. " To submit your request for a degree check, click the link below: https://form.jotform.com/82896588188179 The RU Office of Financial Aid has recently introduced the new self-service mobile financial aid process. Registering for the new online portal is quick, easy, and required to complete your financial aid file. Once you have registered your file will be sent to the Financial Aid Office for review. Make sure you complete these steps so you can have your financial aid processes as quickly as possible! :)
Four Easy Steps: 1. Go to https://roosevelt.verifymyfafsa.com and login using your Roosevelt NetID and password 2. Click ‘Create Account’ link 3. Enter/confirm your student information 4. Click ‘Create Account’ button Once your account is created, any required tasks you need to complete will become available By: Angelina Anderson
Something that many Roosevelt students may not know about is our Schaumburg campus near Woodfield mall and Ikea out in the suburbs. As a Roosevelt student, you can take classes at any Roosevelt campus or platform that offers the class you need. Many students think that the Schaumburg campus is only for the pharmacy program, but this is not the case and now with the addition of Robert Morris, Roosevelt also has campuses in Peoria and Waukegan. Personally, I took classes online, at the Chicago campus, and at the Schaumburg campus simultaneously this past spring (spring 2020). As a commuter student this worked out perfectly for me, because it meant one less day I had to commute downtown for classes. During this experience, I also learned that many science classes are offered at the Schaumburg campus and that many of the other students in my class had actually taken their entire program as biology majors at the Schaumburg campus. The Schaumburg campus has many, if not all, of the same resources as the Chicago campus. Some of these resources include, but are not limited to, a library, cafeteria, computer labs, academic success center, and more. The Schaumburg campus does not have dorms and is therefore an entirely commuter campus, with limited options for public transportation nearby (pace bus, Metra, rideshare, etc.). By: Angelina Anderson
This semester has been an interesting time for all of us and definitely been a new experience. For those of us on campus for classes or as residents, the school certainly feels like a ghost town and overall is an eerie experience. In semesters past the cafeteria, library, study rooms, and Ida B. Wells lounge would be filled with students throughout the day socializing and studying, as well as different campus events. While a mostly empty campus may seem like a big disadvantage there are also some unexpected upsides. One of which is that it’s the perfect opportunity to go exploring the building with low risk of interrupting a class and finding some good study spots. One of my favorite places to study is the counter on the sixth floor of Wabash because it has a bunch of outlets and tends to be empty even pre-COVID. The SPA coordinator Amparo, has shared that one of her favorite study spots on campus is in the library past the bookcases at a quiet spot where there are some tables. Another great place on campus is the tenth floor of wabash in the different study rooms on the floor that have great views out the windows. Now is also the perfect time to look into joining some clubs and organizations on campus. Even though on-campus events are low currently, the majority of Roosevelt’s organizations are running online and you can join and meet people virtually. Organizations are a great way to make connections on campus with faculty and your peers and make friends and meet people you may share classes with. Photo credits: Amparo Perez By: Victoria Lopez
Whether first-gen/minority or not, comment below if you can relate. Which numbers do you relate to? By: Victoria Lopez As a McNair Scholar, I took a summer course to help prepare for my graduate school applications this fall and to prepare for the GRE. For those who don’t know, the GRE stands for the Graduate Records Examination, and is a standardized test often needed for admissions applications. Depending on your program of interest, you might need the GRE or another type of test. The test is about 4 hours long, with a 10 minute break, and has 2 essay portions and 5 math or verbal sections. Interestingly, one of the math or verbal sections is an experimental section which doesn’t count toward your score (they don’t tell you which section).
When I first heard about this test, I was terrified. It reminded me of the time I was preparing to take the ACT in high school and I felt like whatever number I got was going to determine my future. Nothing feels worse than being judged by simply one test or one score when you, as an individual, have so much more to offer. At the same time, I remembered my high school English teacher telling me that the ACT was not going to make or break my life. While most standardized tests often feel this way, I always try to remember my English teachers advice because what she said is true. No matter what happens, we learn, adapt, grow, roll with the punches, and figure it out as we go. That’s life isn’t it? While I kept positivity in my mind and was always encouraged by my McNair cohort, life happens and taking the GRE during a pandemic isn’t exactly ideal. Due to testing areas being too far from my home, I was able to arrange to take the test at school. The first time I went to take the I was extremely nervous. After more than an hour of the online proctors redirecting me, I was not able to take the exam because of technical issues. Literally, I cried out of frustration but rescheduled for the following week. The next week all my test anxiety from my first attempt was gone and I was determined to simply take the test. I finally was able to begin the test, but technology kicked me out in the middle of writing my second essay (the two essays are the first section of the test). At that point, I admit, I did give up. I decided that I was not going to take the GRE, at least not anytime soon because I was so frustrated with it not working. After relentless support from the McNair director and help from RU IT support, the McNair director told me that I should not have any issues if I decided to take it. Even though it is not in my character to give up, I was hesitant to register for the exam. I asked my older sister for her advice and she told me, “well, third time’s the charm.” She made me realize I had nothing to lose and gave me the courage I needed to take the test. I was finally able to take the GRE on my third attempt. I received a score I’m happy with and I am proud of myself for not giving up (even though I did at first). Sometimes, challenges shut us down. However, I think when people find enough motivation within themselves or are able to have that encouragement from their supporters, nothing is impossible. By: Angelina Anderson As we prepare for back to school there are a lot of new changes and questions to be asked as we return to the school year during a global pandemic and this post is here to help answer some of those questions and offer some encouragement. One of my top tips for back to school is to get a planner. There are a lot of different kinds of planners out there, so find one that suits what you need. Personally, I like to have one that has both a monthly calendar and a weekly calendar, that way I can put long term projects and events in the monthly calendar and shorter everyday assignments in the weekly section. A planner will also be super helpful for any online or remote learning classes. Make sure to write down all of your assignments from the syllabus and include any Zoom class times. You can also get a wall calendar to help keep track of your meetings and assignments too, this can be extremely helpful if you have mostly online and remote classes and are having trouble keeping track of the days. I have a wall calendar hanging in my hallway so I can check what day it is and if I have anything to do that day. While many classes aren’t in person this semester that doesn’t mean you can’t pick up some fun new school supplies. I don’t have a desk at home, so I set up a little shelf in my room as a “work space” for the semester, where I plan to keep my notebooks, textbooks, and pens. Try to have some fun with getting your supplies and space together, assign different classes a color, get some stickers, or different colored pens and pencils. Having some new school supplies and trying to get some fun things too, will help to get you excited for the upcoming semester. I picked up some fun notebooks, stickers, and pens from the dollar bin/clearance areas at my local stores. I recommend keeping a regular schedule day-to-day, especially if most of your classes are online or remote. Set up a schedule for yourself when you’ll wake up, eat, do homework, and remember to make time for yourself to do something fun and relaxing too. Personally, I like to color code my classes, usually with a matching notebook and pen color for my planner/calendar. With both online/remote and face-to-face classes it's also important to keep a close eye on your school email and Blackboard. Your email and Blackboard are the main places where information about your classes will be posted (unless your professor states otherwise), so make sure to check both at least once a day for assignments and announcements. Another helpful way to keep track of assignments can be your calendar and reminder apps on your phone, especially if you find that a physical planner doesn’t work well for you (there are also planner apps you can check out like P. Schedule). Especially this year it is important to reach out to your professor early if you have a question about class or need help for any reason, the sooner you reach out the more time they will have to get back to you and help. Also don’t forget that just because a class isn’t in person doesn’t mean your professor doesn’t have office hours in some manner, reach out and see how they may be handling virtual office appointments. Although this semester looks very different then past semesters, there are still a lot of ways to get excited for the semester. When going out don’t forget your mask and social distance!
Photo Credit: Whitingham Town Library |