Friday, January 29, 2010

Preparing for your Program Declaration Meeting

As you consider your intended program of study, we would like you to take a few minutes and think about why it is that you have made this decision.  There are many factors that have probably influenced your choice:  faculty members, the subject matter, your ability to do well in the coursework, career prospects, advice from other students and family members, and the research you have done using available ND resources.  

We want to ensure you are deliberate in the choice you are making, so we are going to ask you to fill out a form when you come to see your advisor within the next few weeks.  On this form, we will ask you to evaluate the factors that led to your decision.  Think about this so that you are able to have an in depth conversation with your advisor and give your choice of program the attention it deserves.

Check out these related posts to help prepare for your meeting with your Advisor:

Exploring Major Exercises

Need help deciding a major? Visit this link for 10+ techniques, tips, and tricks to help you explore majors.

FYS Launches the Why Major in...? YouTube Podcast Series

We are launching a new podcast series designed to help you explore the colleges and majors available at Notre Dame. We hope that this will serve as a valuable resource in your research and discernment of your major. We suggest that you first listen to the initial podcast in this "“Why Major in…?” series. In this podcast, Dean Hugh Page further describes this initiative and helps to guide your experience through these podcasts. We think it is important to listen to all of the podcasts as this will help to ensure that you make the most informed decision possible when declaring your major. We will continue to update the First Year of Studies blog as we collect and publish more podcasts.

Start off with the introductory Episode 1 by the Dean of First Year of Studies at

Then browse the all the latest podcast episodes at

Visit the Career Center

First year students should consider taking advantage of the Career Center this semester. At http://careercenter.nd.edu, you will find many resources that can help in your search for an internship, writing a resume, and even choosing a major or a career path. If you are concerned about your choice of major, the Career Center offers multiple self-assessment tools to help identify your individual strengths. Career Center counselors are available through both appointments and walk-in hours to meet with students to answer questions. Additionally, there will be representatives of the Career Center available at First Year of Studies in Coleman Morse this semester for walk-in meetings with first year students during the month of March.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

FYS Cénacle Groups Forming for the Spring

We invite students to join the Cénacle Poétique, small First Year of Studies reading and conversation circles that will meet monthly in the homes of faculty. Spring readings will include: JRR Tolkien, The Hobbit, (18 February); Tracy Kidder, Mountains beyond Mountains (18 March); and Malcolm Gladwell, Outliers (15 April). Books will be available for purchase at the Hammes Notre Dame Book Store. Meetings will take place on Thursday evenings, 5:30-8 pm. Transportation will be arranged, and dinner will be provided.

Please contact Dr. Maureen Dawson in the First Year of Studies (mdawson3@nd.edu) if you are interested or have questions. Space is limited, so please don’t delay. This is a wonderful way to enrich your Notre Dame experience and develop a healthy appreciation of reading and conversation as a creative and life-changing art.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Learning Resources for the Spring

The Learning Resource Center has some great opportunities for supplemental learning sessions. Here are the links to the schedules for tutoring and collaborative learning.

Tutoring Schedule Spring 2010

Collaborative Learning Schedule Spring 2010

Monday, January 25, 2010

Monday, January 18, 2010

Career & Internship Fair

The Career & Internship Fair will be held on February 3, 2010. This is a great opportunity to explore different careers, organizations, and internships.

Click here for the link to the Notre Dame Career Center. There is information about visiting employers, along with other important information on how to prepare for this event.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Monday, January 11, 2010

PE Registration

PE Registration for Spring 2010 will take place on January 12 and January 13. You will register through insideND for your activities during the same time of your PE class hour. Complete registration instructions are posted on the Physical Education Department website.

Schedule Changes

You must see your advisor in the First Year of Studies to make a schedule change. The last day for making any kind of schedule change is Wednesday, January 20, 2010.

Make an appointment with your advisor by calling (574) 631-7421. Most advisors will hold walk in hours from 1:30-4:30 during the week of January 11-15.