Starting the Semester Strong
Welcome back, Niner!
We understand that sometimes things don’t go as planned. Whether you faced challenges that impacted your GPA, didn’t do well in a critical course, or took a break from your studies, the University Center for Academic Excellence (UCAE) is here to help you get back on track. Charlotte has many tools, supports, and resources to make sure you reach your academic goals for this semester.
Where to Start?
- Evaluate your academic standing:
- Self-Assessment: Take a moment to reflect on your previous semester. Identify the areas where you excelled and others where you might have struggled. Consider the factors that contributed to your successes and challenges. Did you have difficulty with time management? Was certain course material particularly challenging?
- GPA Calculation: Use the GPA calculator provided by Niner Central to determine your current GPA and predict your semester GPA. This will help you understand where you stand academically and what you need to achieve this semester.
- Set clear goals: Define specific and measurable goals you have for this semester. Whether it is improving your GPA, passing a critical course, or managing your time, having clear goals will help you stay focused and motivated.
- Get organized: Follow the ideas below to make sure you are organized and ready to tackle this semester.
Steps to Get Organized
Review your schedule:
Make sure your course load feels manageable and aligns with your academic goals. Consider speaking with an academic advisor if you need to make adjustments.
Create a study plan:
Develop a weekly schedule that includes dedicated study time for each course. Use tools like planners, calendars, or digital apps to keep track of assignments and deadlines.
Connect with Professors:
Reach out to your instructors early in the semester. Attend office hours, ask questions, and seek clarification on course material. Building a relationship with your instructors early in the semester can pay off later in the semester if you need help with an assignment or have a conflict with course requirements.
Engage with Peers:
Form study groups with classmates to share insights, discuss challenging topics, and prepare for exams together. Consider joining an Accountability Group or attending a PAL Session. All UCAE services are peer-led, so we make it easy for you to connect with other Charlotte students
Stay Healthy:
Work toward maintaining a balanced lifestyle with regular physical activity, adequate sleep, and healthy eating habits. Managing your physical and mental well-being is crucial for academic success.
Recommended Resources
The UCAE offers a variety of services to help you succeed this semester. We are the largest academic support office at UNC Charlotte. We provide direct course support in the form of individual, group, and drop-in tutoring for over 100 courses. Peer Assisted Learning (PAL), or peer-led supplemental study group sessions, is also available for some courses.
If you want help with more holistic changes, like adjusting your time management practices, trying new study strategies, or working on your test-taking skills, we’ve got you covered there too. We offer academic skill workshops on a variety of topics. We also have one-on-one instructional and accountability support through one-time Academic Consultations, recurring Peer Coaching, or Accountability Groups.
Helpful Apps
- EquatIO: helps students more easily write math equations to have them automatically uploaded to a Google Doc.
- ModMath: virtual graph paper.
- Read & Write for Google: Chrome extension that makes documents, web pages, and common file types more accessible for students with different learning abilities. Includes text-to-speech features.
- Audio Notetaker from Sonocent: Captures audio, text, and slides in one space to organize and categorize notes.
- Mindomo: Mind-mapping software to create collaborative concept maps, outlines, and charts.
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