Welcome to your first year at UT! This year will be full of new experiences, opportunities, sometimes challenges, and hopefully lots of great memories. This is your year to connect - to your peers, to your major, to your College, to UT.
We encourage you to spend some time this year thinking about your transition from high school to college. There are lots of things to acclimate to: a new schedule, autonomy, expectations, and more. Here are some things to help you navigate as you think about where you are coming from and where you would like to go, one step at a time.
College Culture
As a College of Natural Sciences student, you will be taking some tough courses during your time at UT. Our College culture prides itself on strong academics. We also pride ourselves on our student support. This college is full of staff, faculty, and students who want to help you and see you succeed. Below are some things to think about and people to contact as you begin your journey in the College of Natural Sciences.
Etiquette
College is more formal than high school was. Here are some tips to make a great first impression:
Etiquette
You're going to need recommendations from your professors for graduate school, jobs, and scholarships so be sure to always start and continue the right impression that will land you a glowing letter of rec.
- Facebook is not for asking for recommendations or poking your professor. Don't do it.
- Not sure exactly how to approach or interact with your professors? Here are some tips to get you started!
- Ready to ask for that letter of recommendation? Here are some tips on how to start the conversation and get the letter that's going to help you get the job/admission you want.
Social Media Checkup
Google your name and see what comes up. Are you comfortable with potential employers seeing everything? If not, now's the time to start some clean up of your social media presence, and the chance to start building a professsional online presence. 45% of employers admitted to searching social media when making hiring decisions so start your clean up now!
Advising
academic Advising
Your academic advisor is here to help you progress in your degree or help you find a major that's better suited to your future plans. You'll meet with your advisor each semester to decide your courses for the next semeester, but feel free to meet with them to talk about other degree and major-related issues. Not sure who your advisor is or where s/he is on campus? Find your advising center, or visit WCH 1.106 or call 512.471.3796.
Your advisors are a valuable resource during your time at UT. They have expertise to share in planning your schedules, and planning your four years at UT. Meet with them early and often to be sure you are on track!
We strongly encourage you to start sketching out your four-year plan early on. Doing so will help you to determine how best to organize your courses, and how best to fit in all of the other things you want to do while you are here.
Download your degree plan, run an Interactive Degree Audit, and work with the course schedule to find course corequisites and prerequisites, and start mapping! Make an appointment with your advisor to review your plan and make sure everything is where it needs to be for you to take full advantage of your time and opportunities at UT.
Non-Academic Advising
CNS Non-Academic Counselors help students navigate when life events and academics collide. So when life events could interfere with your studies be sure to talk to a non-academic advisor. Appointments can be set up with a non-academic counselor (Debi Elliot and Supna Sharma) by stopping by WCH 1.106 or calling 512.471.3796.
Academics
TUTORING/COLLABORATAIVE STUDIES
As a College of Natural Sciences student, you will be taking rigorous courses at UT. Our most successful students take full advantage of every tutoring and group study opportunity. In fact, there are very few students who wouldn't benefit from tutoring or joining a study group. So plan on including tutoring and study groups in your weekly schedule to take advantage of the full benefit of UT's academic supports.
- Sanger Center Learning Center: Offers one-on-one tutoring, drop-in tutoring, learning coaches, peer academic coaching, and many free classes and workshops.
- Residential Hall Study Groups: Meet others in your class to study and get answers from tutors when needed. A relaxed, helpful enviornment.
Discover Yourself
Not sure what you want to do? Had a plan and discovered it's not for you? This happens to lots of students, and is very normal to deal with during your first year. Here are some tools you can use to discover some other options to try.
wayfinder
Wayfinder has information on every major at UT, along with stories from students and alums about deciding on majors and the (very often) non-linear paths you might take to end up in your career choice.
THE VICK CENTER
Feeling unsure about your major? Feeling unsure about science? Feeling unsure about...well...everything? The Vick Center offers services in career counseling and provides personality assessments if you are feeling stuck or just need some help figuring out where to go with your current major.
Financial
office of financial aid
College costs money. During your time at UT, you may be working with the Office of Financial Aid to pay for your tuition. You may need to fill out a FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid (if you're not sure, check with the Office of Financial Aid).
scholarships
In addition to financial aid, you may also be interested in applying for (or you are already managing) grants and/or scholarships. There are scholarships avaialble just to CNS students, and some just for UT.
Housing
Living on campus can provide lots of advantages, especially for first year students. You are surrounded by other students dealing with many of the same challenges as you, there is great opportunity to make new friends, and of course you are very close to your classes (so you can roll out of bed and make it to your 8am class, right?).
Thinking about living off campus instead but not sure where to start? Or thinking ahead to move off campus later? There are tips to keep you safe and help ensure that you are renting in a good location.
Broaden Your Horizons
College, and especially the first year, is a time to try new things and discover what you do and don't like. You may think you already know what you do and don't like, but getting outside your comfort zone and trying new things is a big part of transitioning into adulthood. So don't be afraid to try something new! As you progress in your college career you'll come across many opportunities, but here are some ideas to kickstart your adventures.
Research
FRI & ARI
Some of you are already part of FRI (the Freshman Research Initiative), but did you know you can also apply to begin reserach after your first year? Check out the Accelerated Research Initiative! If you weren't in FRI, but you want to get involved in research and can commit to a 6-8 week research internship over summer, you can start your second year in ARI!
eureka
Eureka is a database that houses information on all kinds of reserach happening across campus. Explore some areas of interest and see what's out there!
Service
service learning
Service Learning is a great way to help your community, build your resume, and experience new things. If you are interested in helping our UT community or the greater Austin community, there are lots of ways to get involved. Here are a couple of places to start your search:
- HornsLink - connect with organizations campus-wide that are making a difference at UT, in Austin, and beyond.
- Visit the UT Volunteer Fair for ideas and to meet others who make service a priority during their time at UT
Leadership
develop your leadership skills
- Party on the Plaza is exactly what it sounds like - a giant party on Gregory Plaza. It happens every September, and hosts a Student Org fair where you can meet officers and members of organizations from across campus. These are current leaders at UT, find out more about how they got to where they are and find organizations that you'd like to get involved in! (Caution: it can be very tempting to join all the orgs, we recommend selecting one or two that you can get deeply involved in rather than being tangentially involved in many orgs)
- Burnt Orange Society - earn your orange and get inducted into this society of campus leaders
Internships and Jobs
finding internship and job opportunities
It's never too soon to start thinking about internships and job possibilities. Connect with CNS Career Services or the Health Professions Office to learn more about and apply for job and internship possibilities.
Study Abroad
study abroad
If you know or think that you'd like to study abroad during your time at UT, start exploring programs now. Not sure you'll pay for it? The Study Abroad Office has lots of great information about scholarships and calculators to help you figure out how much it will cost for you to go abroad.
You will also want to work with your academic advisor to find your best time to go abroad. Remember that four year plan you put together and had your advisor review? Revisit your plan to see which year, semester, or summer would be your best fit to go abroad.
When Things Don't Go As Planned
Every single student encounters something that does not go as planned while in college. So when your turn comes know there is a whole campus here to support you and get you back on track.
Health
Mental Health
- UT has an amazing Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC) located in the Student Services Building (SSB). Whether you want to be preventative ("I've got 4 tests in one day!"), you're homesick, you just helped someone go through a mental crisis (self-care is important too!), or you're the one in crisis help is just a visit away.
- BCAL: The Behavior Concerns and Advice Line (BCAL) is open 24/7 and answered by trained staff. When in doubt, call! (512) 232-5050 or online at https://www.utexas.edu/safety/bcal/.
- Students in Crisis: Need to talk to a licensed counselor? Call the CMHC Crisis Line: (512) 471-CALL (2255). There is someone available 24/7 to help you out.
CNS CARE Counselor
- CNS has their own counselor. Call Andrea Ortega with concerns or to schedule an appointment: (512) 471-7162. Her office is located in WCH 2.214.
Student Health Services
- Doctor visits are lower than most co-pays and there's a pharmacy on the ground floor.
Academics
Non Academic Counselors
- Different from mental health counselors, the CNS Non-Academic Counselors help students navigate when life events and academics collide.
- Be sure to speak with them at the beginning of the crisis if possible to start the documentation trail if it's needed.
- Call the WCH Advising desk to set up an appointment (512) 471-4536, or talk to your academic advisor.
Financial
When you find yourself in a financial emergency check out these resources:
- Emergency Cash Loan through Financial Aid
- Short term tuition loan
- Student Emergency Services can help with financial and other types of crises
Make a Plan B
Consider your parallel paths for career/graduate school/professional school goals. Never put all of your eggs in one basket. Visit these resources to find your Plan B:
