setting a foundation for academic success in the sciences susana c. sandoval, m.a.t. jose j. rea,...

SETTING A FOUNDATION FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS

IN THE SCIENCES

Susana C. Sandoval, M.A.T.Jose J. Rea, M.A.UC Irvine

SETTING A FOUNDATION FOR THE SCIENCES

• FIRST THINGS FIRST!

• DECIDING WHAT YOU WANT

• DEVELOPING A PLAN OF ACTION

• BE PRO-ACTIVE


WORK HARDWORK SMARTWORK EFFECTIVELYRISE ABOVE THE STUMBLING

BLOCKSBUILD YOUR CONFIDENCEENJOY THE JOURNEY:

CHALLENGES &SUCCESSES


ESTABLISH EDUCATIONAL PLAN WITH COUNSELOR

TOOLS


LEARN REQUIREMENTS FOR HEALTH PROFESSION; EXAMPLE-PRE MED

-- 2 YRS BIOLOGY WITH LAB, *include biochemistry

– 1 YR GENERAL CHEMISTRY WITH LAB, – 1 YR ORGANIC CHEMISTRY WITH LAB, – 1 YR PHYSICS WITH LAB, – MATH WILL VARY—RECOMMEND 1 YR

COMBINATION OF CALCULUS & STATS– DIVERSITY OF COURSES IN HUMANITIES AND

SOCIAL SCIENCES

TOOLS


LEARN POLICY IN YOUR MAJOR AND UNIVERSITY

BUILD A REALISTIC SCHEDULE Know pre requirements for the sciences

TOOLS

AS YOU PROGRESS WORKLOAD WILL INCREASE & YOU WILL ADD

TOOLS TO BOX


Attend study skills workshops at your university, most provide this academic support service

STUDY SKILLS


OVERCOMING PROCRASTINATION

GOAL SETTING – PRIORITIES Have a daily, weekly, monthly planner of all activities, academic and non academic

TIME MANAGEMENTPlanner mandatory, build in tutoring, professor office hours, clinical experience, and time to do a non academic activity such as swimming, salsa dancing, other-work, house keeping, family visits


NOTE-TAKING - take lecture notes and make summary sheets of lecture

TEXTBOOK READING - take notes as you read material, rewrite notes as you review textbook and select most important topics and the application of the knowledge presented

MEMORY & CONCENTRATION

PROBLEM SOLVING - writing summary of notes from lecture will be helpful in solving problems on exams


EXAM PREPARATIONLecture notes, summary sheets, rewriting of notes from readings, and study groups will be helpful; also meet with course discussion group and professor office hours to clarify points, attend review sessions, appropriate sleep & proper nutrition are key factors

VOCABULARY BUILDING - this is constant


STUDY GROUPS —after you have read material/taking notes, studied lecture notes – re wrote lecture notes with summary of important points---study group discussion will help you internalize and reinforce information and problem solving skills,

TUTORING—most successful students use dept. tutoring in the sciences; and also becoming a tutor is great preparation for the MCAT, DAT, OAT, & OTHER EXAMS


• LA TIMES - DAILY• NEW YORK TIMES• NEWSWEEK• ATLANTIC MONTHLY• NEW YORKER

READ OUTSIDE OF YOUR COURSES


DEVELOP NETWORKS BY CONNECTING TO:–COUNSELORS–PROFESSORS–RESEARCH - key in building your analytical and problem solving skills in the sciences, plus communication skills in working with the research team

“FIND A MENTOR”


•NEXT CONFERENCE AT:

STANFORD SCHOOL OF MEDICINE,

FEB 9TH 2008 http://summa.stanford.edu/

MEDICAL SCHOOL CONTACTS


• SPECIALISTS/ATTEND SCIENTIFIC SEMINARS — AT YOUR SCHOOL THAT WILL ADD TO YOUR SCIENCE KNOWLEDGE – AND AWARENESS OF ISSUES; EXAMPLE – A SEMINAR ON STEM CELL RESEARCH. IF YOU ARE NOT AT A FOUR YEAR SCHOOL ---YOU CAN ALWAYS GO TO THE WEB OF THE CLOSEST UC CAMPUS AND LOOK UP DATES FOR SCIENTIFIC SEMINARS AND EVENTS.

SCIENCE & PROFESSIONAL CONTACTS


CLUBBING – STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS---CCM/ Chicanos for Community Medicine is a great resource, honor societies as well

KEY - FIND A MENTOR/S

*SUMMER PROGRAMS & INTERNSHIPS

*NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH: http://www.training.nih.gov

UROP/Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program AT UCI

www.urop.uci.edu

ADD TO YOUR ACADEMIC TOOL BOX

*APPLY FOR EDUCATION ABROAD PROGRAMS


http://www.training.nih.gov/

http://www.urop.uci.edu/

• ORGANIZATIONS:• ANNUAL BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH

CONFERENCE FOR MINORITY STUDENTSwww.abrcms.org

• SOCIETY FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF CHICANOS & NATIVE AMERICANS IN SCIENCE www.sacnas.org

*AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE

www.aaas.org


http://www.abrcms.org/

http://www.sacnas.org/

• COMMUNITY SERVICE• MUST ESTABLISH SOLID

CLINICAL EXPERIENCE & LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES

• STRONG COMMUNICATION SKILLS – ORAL & WRITING


• FAMILY• FRIENDS – POSITIVE PEOPLE IS KEY• MONEY – KEEP A GOOD BUDGET• TRANSPORTATION• OTHER, ON GOING SUPPORT SYSTEM


ISSUES TO RESOLVE: PART OF THE JOURNEY AND ALWAYS EVOLVING

“SIEMPRE ADELANTE”


Yes – I can do it! Building the solid science

foundation is key in moving your academics &

career dream forward

setting a foundation for academic success in the sciences susana c. sandoval, m.a.t. jose j. rea,...

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