Being a Peer Advisor Part II

When I first applied for this job I was very excited about the prospect of having a job where I could help other students through the process of picking a major and enjoying their academic experience at AU. My freshman year, I probably changed majors every week; by my sophomore year, it was only every other week. It was a tough process, but I enjoyed it; I liked exploring different fields and using the resources on campus to do so, which is why when I learned about the CAS Peer Advisors, I got very excited for the job.

                Now that I am a Peer Advisor (and have finally chosen a major) I very much enjoy helping others try to make the best of this process. However, as I came to realize, there is more to being a Peer Advisor than just meeting other students in similar situations to yours. There are many things that go into Peer Advising, and many reasons why I love this job. One of my favorite ones, though, is the work environment. From the CAS Advisors to the other peer advisors and the CAS Dean’s office, the ‘Battelle People’ are welcoming and great to be around. While the atmosphere is relaxed, flexible and fun, there is usually a lot going on and interesting things to do. It is a very dynamic job and you are continuously learning new things (#CASAcademicsWonk, sorry I had to say it).

                Being a Peer Advisor is a fun job for many reasons, but I would definitely put the office environment among one of the top. Over the last ¾ of a year, I have really enjoyed being part of the CAS Advising team, our office hours, staff meetings and kind of living in Battelle. So, if you are looking for a great work environment, this is certainly one.

-Triana Tello Gerez

Being a Peer Advisor Part I

As we discussed in our last post, the CAS Peer Advising Program is accepting applications for the 2012-2013 Peer Advising Team! We wanted to tell you about our experience as peer advisors so that you can learn more about what we do and why we love doing it.

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This is my second year as a peer advisor. I decided to apply because I enjoy meeting other students and helping them figure out how to make the most of their time here at AU. At first I was worried that I wouldn't be able to keep track of all the requirements, resources, and programs at AU, but I gradually got the hang of it. The CAS advisors are extremely supportive of the peer advising program, and are always willing to help us with any questions we have. One of the great things about the program is that I get to learn something new every day in an environment where questions are encouraged.

A big part of the peer advising role is meeting with students, specifically CAS freshmen and sophomores. Most often students meet with us to talk about majors, the general education program, and academic resources at AU. Because each student's situation is unique, peer advisors need to be able to think on their feet in order to address that student's specific concerns. One thing we try to keep in mind when meeting with students is that we don't have to know all the answers, just where to find them. It's impossible for one person to know everything about AU, but we strive to aid students in finding the best resource for their question. It's extremely rewarding when you're able to help a student find exactly what he or she needs. Helping students has also helped me in my own academic career, since it has given me the chance to learn about resources that I otherwise may have never realized existed.

Because peer advisors work closely with CAS students, advisors, and professors, being a peer advisor has helped me to feel like a part of the AU community. I've only scratched the surface of what the peer advisor program is about, so please feel free to email me at CASPeerAdvisors@american.edu if you have more questions about what we do. I hope you consider applying for the 2012-2013 Peer Advising Team!

-Lindsay Inge

Now Hiring: 2012-2013 CAS Peer Advising Team!

• Are you involved on campus and knowledgeable about student resources?
• Do you have strong communication and listening skills?
• Are you a highly motivated self-starter with an interest in counseling or advising?

If you answered yes to these questions, then you should apply to be a member of the 2012-2013 CAS Peer Advising Team! The position is open to CAS students who have completed 30 credits with a 3.0 GPA or higher. Applications are available online at www.american.edu/cas/advising/peer-application.cfm. 

 We encourage all interested students to attend our CAS Peer Advisor Information Sessions, where you can ask questions and get to know more about the program and the role of a peer advisor. The information sessions will take place in the History Lounge in Battelle 130 on the following dates:

• Wednesday, 2/15 (12:00-1:00 pm)
• Tuesday, 2/21 (5:30-6:30 pm)
• Friday, 3/2 (12:00-1:00 pm)

You can also email us at CASPeerAdvisors@american.edu with questions, or visit our office to find out what it's like to work on the peer advising team. In the upcoming weeks we'll also be featuring blog posts by each member of the current team to give you insight into why we love this job!

The deadline for application is March 8, 2012, so don't delay! Please don't hesitate to contact us with questions. We hope to hear from you soon!

Clubs at AU

We hope that everyone is enjoying this (surprisingly) warm February so far! Now that your course schedules are settled and you're back in school mode, we hope that you're also finding things on campus to help you relax and socialize outside of class. AU has a ton of great clubs, and we want to hear which ones you're involved with! Send us an email at CASPeerAdvisors@american.edu and tell us about the clubs that you've joined, or what kinds of clubs you want to get involved with or wish AU had. Send us an email by February 8th and we'll post your response on the blog. All submittors will have their names entered into a prize drawing for EagleBucks, so don't forget to submit!  

Here's a link to a list of AU clubs:  http://www.american.edu/ocl/activities/Student-Organization-Network.cfm

Welcome Back!

Welcome back to AU! We hope you all had a relaxing break and that you're ready to take on a new semester. We're excited to get back to work, and we look forward to acting as another resource for CAS students throughout the semester. As a reminder, you can come to peer advisors with questions about academic resources, major exploration, the general education program, or any other academic issues. If you'd like to make an appointment with us, visit http://www.american.edu/cas/advising/undergraduate.cfm

Here are our office hours for Spring 2012:

Emma Morgan (students with last names starting with A-D, K)
Mondays: 1:15-3:45 pm
Tuesdays: 12-3 pm
Wednesdays: 9-11:30 am
Fridays: 11:45 am-1:45 pm

Lindsay Inge (H-J, L-P)
Mondays: 9 am-12:30 pm
Tuesdays: 9-11 am
Thursdays: 2:30-5 pm
Fridays: 9-11 am

Triana Tello Gerez (E-G, Q-Z)
Tuesdays: 9 am-12:30 pm
Thursdays 9-11 am, 12-12:30 pm
Fridays: 9-11 am

As always, feel free to email us with any questions at CASPeerAdvisors@american.edu Be sure to check our facebook and twitter for updates as well. We look forward to working with you this semester!

-The CAS Peer Advising Team

  Here are my picks for my favorite general education course for each area:

• Area 1: ARTH-210 Modern Art: Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries 

          I'm an art history minor, so it was easy for me to find courses that interested me in Area 1. Even if you've never taken an art history course before, ARTH-210 is a great option for gen ed credit. The art history department is very small, but professors are more than happy to work with students and understand that this may be students' first exposure to art history. If you're good at memorization and don't mind a bit of reading and writing this is a good class for you!

• Area 2: LIT-265 Literature and Society in Victorian England

           I admit that this class is not for the faint of heart: it's reading and writing intensive, and the Victorians aren't exactly known for their clear and concise prose. But if you're willing to put in the work, this class will be one of the best ones you take at AU! Your writing will improve as will your analytical skills, which will serve you well in any other course you take. I especially recommend this course for anyone interested in literature or history.  

• Area 3: LFS-210 Latin America: History, Art, Literature

         LFS stands for "Language and Foreign Studies" and as the title implies, this course is designed to appeal to a wide variety of students. I have a special soft spot for this course because it introduced me to Gabriel Garcia Marquez, who is now one of my favorite authors (even if you don't take this course, check him out! You don't know what you're missing!). The course has sections taught in English and Spanish.

• Area 4: PSYC-215 Abnormal Psychology and Society

          What is a college education without at least one psych course? PSYC-215 is the classic college psych course, covering everything from eating disorders to schizophrenia. It's a really interesting class that you'll enjoy even if you're not a psychology major.

• Area 5: BIO-100 Great Experiments in Biology

          I'm terrible at science. Just awful. So for two years I've been dreading having to complete Area 5. But I took Bio-100 this semester and something miraculous happened- it wasn't that bad! In fact, in many ways it was a lot easier than high school biology. I'm taking Professor Tudge's class and he's great; he understands that most students in the class aren't planning on taking upper-level science courses, so he tailors his lectures to address issues that are relevant to every day life (even the biggest bio-phobe will appreciate the environmental lectures). The lab portion of the class is pretty painless as well. This is a great course for students who know they're not interested in a science major, but for students who think they may want a science-related major or who are considering pre-med, make sure to take BIO-110 General Biology I instead.

If you have any questions about the general education program in general or specific courses, drop us a line at CASpeeradvisors@american.edu. Good luck with registration!

-Lindsay Inge

General Education, Part 2

Gen Eds

Everyone has to take gen eds and, almost inevitably, we all have to deal with the one or two areas with classes we’d rather avoid entirely. For many students, Area 5, the Natural Sciences, is the dreaded area. I never had any problems finishing my sciences, but I had trouble choosing classes in some of the other areas. I came to AU undecided, but have always been a science and math person (and I’m now a math major and music minor). While I didn’t use the gen eds as much to help decide on a major, I wanted seize the opportunity to take classes in subjects that I might otherwise never experience.

Area 1 was especially challenging for me, but I eventually decided I wanted to take Meaning and Purpose in the Arts, PHIL-230. I play the viola and am passionate about music, plus I’d never taken a philosophy class and thought it might be interesting. It’s a choice I’m glad that I made. Meaning andPurpose with Professor Erfani was an absolutely fantastic course. It was conducted mainly as a seminar based on weekly readings. The subject itself was interesting, and I really enjoyed having something different from my math classes. Math courses don’t have many reading assignments, and it was nice to be able to take my readings outside on nice days and sit in the sun, rather than always needing to work at a table. Plus, I got to write one of my papers about Finding Nemo, which was pretty much the most fun assignment ever for me, since I happen to LOVE that movie.

I had a good experience overall with my gen ed classes. Some gen eds I chose because the description sounded interesting, while others I signed up for with friends so that we could all have a better experience completing the requirement. While the gen eds you take may not be your favorite classes, going into them with a positive attitude can make the experience worthwhile. Take time to really look at the options, read course descriptions, peruse wildcard courses, and likely you’ll find at least some classes you think you might actually enjoy.

-Emma Morgan