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Welcome!

Welcome!. Training with the Poke-Professors Academic Session, 2010 Riley Metzger Director of First Year Studies - Math. Online: http://www.math.uwaterloo.ca/ Click: Current Students / First Year Students. Welcome to Waterloo!. We’re delighted you’re here!

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Welcome!

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  1. Welcome! Training with the Poke-Professors Academic Session, 2010 Riley Metzger Director of First Year Studies - Math Online: http://www.math.uwaterloo.ca/ Click: Current Students/First Year Students

  2. Welcome to Waterloo! • We’re delighted you’re here! • Over 1500 new students this fall, from all over the world (mostly Ontario)‏ • Orientation is a time for you to make friends and settle in, but there are important academic events this week

  3. Academic session • Four major topics: • Events that happen this week and next • Highschool vs University • Course Selection • Basic Advice

  4. Upcoming Events! • Orientation is about settling in, making • friends, playing games… • There are a few exceptions, though • English Language Proficiency Exam (ELPE)‏ • Math Readiness Test • Special meetings for advanced or physics-based courses and for transfer credit information • Math 101 Information Sessions

  5. The ELPE To enroll in your 4th term (2B), must pass the English Writing Skills Requirement The easiest way to do this: pass the ELPE All students must take it. (ELAS and CFM students, take it in Dec.) Bring your Watcard and pen or pencil!

  6. The ELPE: details Where: PAC (Physical Activities Complex) When: Wednesday September 8 2 pm (students with last names A-L)‏ 4 pm (students with last names M-Z)‏ What you do: Write a 5-paragraph essay in 50 minutes, on a topic (revealed at beginning of test)‏ Sample topic: To what extent should scientists and engineers be responsible for the uses to which their discoveries are put? If you fail the ELPE…speak to an advisor!

  7. Math Readiness Test Where, When: More information is available in your first Calculus class. What you do: Write a 15 question math test. Preparation: An online Practice Test is posted: - You can write it as often as you'd like - Your login is your user id: i.e. rametzge - Your password is your id: i.e. 20202020 - located at (no www): mapleta.uwaterloo.ca

  8. More about the Math test • Bring: • Pencil • Watcard • Your Math 137 lecture (LEC) section number (from your timetable)‏ • Consists of 15 questions

  9. Some meetings today Most of you will take the regular Math core (CS 115/135, Math 135, Math 137), and have no transfer credits You don’t have to worry about the next two slides But the rest of you may want to attend one of three meetings this afternoon.

  10. Advanced / Physics-based Advanced Section Meetings: 5:15-6:30 PM in MC4061 (Math 145, Math 147, CS 145) Physics Based Calculus Meeting: 5:15-6:30 PM in MC4059

  11. Transfer Credits: AP/IB/A-levels You may have transfer credit for Math 137 You can either accept this credit and take Math 138, or decline the credit and take Math 137 or Math 147 (deadline Sept. 18th)‏ You may also have transfer credits for other courses For more information attend the meeting from 5:15-6:30 PM in MC4020.

  12. Math 101 Information Sessions • 5pm until 7pm on: Sept 27, Oct 27, Nov 22 • Rooms TBA. • These sessions will give you extra information regarding math faculty policies as well as allow you to hear from alumni.

  13. Things happening soon • Summary: • ELPE (Sept. 8th, 2 or 4 PM, PAC) • Math Readiness Test (Sept. 13th, 7-8:15 PM, in various rooms TBA)‏ • Meetings for Advanced sections, Physics-based calculus, A-level/IB/AP transfer credit (5:15-6:30 PM today)‏ • Math 101(5-7pm Sept 27, Oct 27, Nov 22)

  14. Advisors and Advice Where are we? MC 4023 What do we do? 1. We help you acclimatize to the university. 2. We help you pick courses. 3. We help explain faculty rules.

  15. Course Selection

  16. Course Changes • Go to the Math Undergrad Office (MC 4022) to attempt to make the change. • Courses are extremely full; change may not be possible. • Do it as quickly as possible, particularly if you are having trouble keeping up.

  17. Picking a CS course CS 135:A first course in computer science. All CS students should take this or CS 145. Other interested students are also encouraged to take this course. CS 115: An introduction to CS and programming; fewer topics than CS 135 and taught at a slower pace

  18. University vs Highschool

  19. High school University Class time 30 hours/week 15 hours/week Class size 30 100 Learning environment More controlled, can learn mostly in class Requires more work outside of class from various sources Class average 85% 70% Highschool vs University

  20. Course Average Mark Percent Failed Math 135 73 6% Math 137 76 8% CS 115, 135 72, 65 18%, 16% Averages are lower and people fail

  21. University Time Commitment (hours per week) 22

  22. Basic Advice Brought you by:MAGIC NUMBERS and some really really big CELEBRITIES!

  23. Celebrity Success!

  24. 1 (One) If you are at risk of failing or want to drop even one course, see your advisor.

  25. Lesser of 2 (Two) Evils Drop or Fail…? A drop is “better” than a fail. Please see an advisor to discuss your options. < ? 26

  26. If you need to drop courses • Do it as soon as possible. • After Nov 5th, please DO NOT drop online. See an advisor. WARNING! You have to make reasonable progress towards your degree. If not, you’ll be required to withdraw from the Math Faculty.

  27. The 4 (four) Calculator Policy Calculators allowed on tests and exams: SHARP EL-531W, CASIO fx-300MS and TI-30X II (S or B) Calculators are stickered with a tie: (available at Math Soc, CampusTech & TechWorx)

  28. 3 (Three) The minimum number of courses needed to be a full time student. In other words, SLOW DOWN! In many plans (see your advisor) there is no rule stating you have to have 5 courses a term.

  29. 6 (Six)(the number of rabbits and turtles in the last slide) The maximum number of courses you can fail. It is oftenBETTER to drop a course than fail. See your advisor.

  30. 9 to 22 Final Exams are from the 9th until the 22nd of December DO NOT book anythinguntil you are sure you aren’t writing on the 22nd.If you are uncertain, ask an advisor.

  31. 60 (Sixty) In most math courses you want a 60, not a 50. A 50 is a pass but a 60 is often required to progress to the next course. If you are worried, see your advisor.

  32. 60 (Sixty) To stay out of probation, you must maintain an average of 60%. Failure to correct your average may result in you being asked to leave the faculty. If you are worried, see your advisor.

  33. The main message from these slides…. If you are experiencing difficulties, see…? ________an advisor__________

  34. Life happens to us all Many of you will run into trouble while you’re here. In and of itself, that’s not the end of your being a student. The real question is not, “will there be trouble?” It’s “how will you respond to it?”

  35. Success! Trouble Prevention Success is a function “f(x,y,z,…)” of: A) Your Health B) Your Habits C) Your Ethos

  36. Your Health i) SLEEP ii) Get out and do some social activities. iii) Eat right! iv) Monitor your physical health. v) Monitor your mental health.

  37. Your Habits i) Starting homework EARLY. ii) (Study)∞ iii) GO TO CLASS! iv) Go to extra help sessions, office hours, math tutorial center and tutorials when available! v) DO your assignments AND pick them up!

  38. The most important tip:

  39. Your Ethos Ask for help when you are unsure Tell instructors when and how you worked with others Do your own work Don’t loan your homework to a friend (you’ll BOTH get in trouble). When in doubt, ASK YOUR INSTRUCTOR, or ASK AN ADVISOR!

  40. Sources of help • Instructors • We’re paid to help! It’s our job! • After class, office hours, by email, by appointment • TAs, tutors • Math Tutorial Centre (free! MC 4066)‏ • CS Tutorial Centre (free! MC 4065)‏ • Tutors in Mackenzie King Residence

  41. Sources of help • Counseling Services: • Counseling in MC (sign up in NH)‏ • They have: Time management courses, 1-on-1 counseling, study skills workshops, etc. • FREE

  42. Sources of help • First-year advisors (MC 4023) http://www.math.uwaterloo.ca/navigation/Current/currNavigation/firstyear.shtml • Office for Persons with Disabilities (NH 1132)‏ • Residence Dons

  43. Questions

  44. Questions for Panelists: What electives did you take in your first term? What about ENGL 119? Have you ever found yourself completely lost in a course? What should you do? What learning techniques have you found successful? What aspects of university life did you find hardest to adjust to? What about non-academic activities? Is there time? Any questions from the audience?

  45. Finally… • Don’t forget: • Advanced and physics-based course meetings today, 5:15 – 6:30 pm in MC 4061 (Advanced), MC 4059 (Physics-based), MC 4020 (Transfer Credit)‏ • ELPE written on Wednesday at 2 or 4 pm in the PAC • Mathematics Resource Manual for sale in MC 5181 • Math 101 Meetings! This presentation online: http://www.math.uwaterloo.ca Click  current  first year

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