Archive for October, 2009

Monday, October 12th, 2009

University courses and degree programs take around four years of study to complete. Nevertheless, some students may need more time to complete the university course. It is also possible to shorten the university courses by studying in the intersession of spring and summer.

An average student has to spend three hours of study for every hour spent in class. Fifteen hours per week is the average time for a university course. Depending upon the university course’s subject, classes may be held during the evening, afternoon or in the day. To support the academic university courses, they may also have to attend the clubs, athletics, recreational activities and societies.

The overall requirement for the degree along with the degree elements will be explained to the students by the faculty advisor. The advisor should be kept informed if the student has any specific area of interest or careers in mind while selecting the university courses. The university courses can be chosen by the students based on their degree requirements, schedules and their interests.

During the transition to the university course, there will be a peer mentor or an upper class student studying in the same degree program to assist the first year students undergoing the university course.

Study skills are enhanced by free workshops conducted through out the year. By appointment and during the regular hours of office, the professors will also assist the students to overcome any problems faced by them during their university course period. For specific classes, tutorials and labs facilities will also be available for the students. In case of difficulties, the students studying a university course are encouraged to contact professors, faculty advisors or counselors to overcome their problems.

The cost of university courses depends upon the area of study and the lifestyle of the student. The technology fee, student fees and tuition fee are standard and must be paid by the students.

Each university course focuses on its studies. To cite an example, languages, politics, history, psychology are people oriented university courses in the Bachelor of Arts program. Where as the university courses under Bachelor of Science programs such as statistics, mathematics or biology are not people oriented.

Within a university course, in the degree program, a major should be chosen by the students. Within the overall degree, this is a specific study area. The majority of the courses will be related to the specific discipline when a major subject is chosen by the student. A student selecting history as his major in his university course will be studying more history related material than any other areas of study within that course.

Whilst selecting the university courses, try to find out the courses disliked during high school and concentrate more on the courses liked. To find more about the interesting university courses, make an appointment with the liaison officer for a discussion. Take a tour of the universities and colleges to find out more about the courses available.

Monday, October 5th, 2009

On a recent tour through Mexico and Central America, I realized that I had forgotten many things for my journey. For some reason I made it out of my house without my toothbrush and toothpaste, but fortunately I was able to replace them as soon as I realized my mistake. I also forgot film for my camera but was able to purchase some once I got to Mexico as well. Far worse than forgetting those things, however, was the realization that I had forgotten my Spanish dictionary that I had received and practiced with just for this trip.

My best friend gave me the Spanish dictionary a few months before I headed out on my trip because she remembered what a difficult time I had in high school Spanish class. She assumed rightly that my Spanish skills were even more poor fifteen years after my last Spanish class. She handed me the Spanish dictionary and wisely advised me to practice the basic words and phrases found in the front of the dictionary every day until I left on my trip. I’ve never been good at following any advice that included the phrase “every day,” so naturally I only picked up my Spanish dictionary a few times before I headed out on my journey.

Many people warned me that having a Spanish dictionary would be one of the best tools for me as I traveled alone throughout several Spanish speaking and foreign countries. I certainly believed the warnings of friends and family, but I had no real idea until I landed in Mexico how true their warnings had been. I was like a lost puppy or a child without her mother. I couldn’t talk with locals or even begin to make out the words on signs or billboards.

I made it through the three week tour, but not without much stress and too many miscommunications. I learned quickly that gestures and pointing can go a long way when no words can be communicated. I made it to every city on my itinerary, so I did not miss out on anything in that sense, but I realized quite quickly that forgetting my Spanish dictionary made me miss out on what would have perhaps been the biggest blessing of the trip. Without a tool to help me communicate with the locals, I missed out on a lot of potentially amazing conversations and on getting to know the ins and outs of Spanish cultures from locals.

I will always regret forgetting my Spanish dictionary when I went on that trip, and not just because I couldn’t get around with ease. I’ll regret it even more because of the lovely Spanish people that I didn’t have the privilege of conversing with during my journey.