Student Organization Officer Transition Guide: Fill & Download for Free

As we are here particularly to discuss all things going wrong in WCE, Sangli, let me start from cons, then we'll see good side.As a Computer Science and Engineering student, I would focus more on the issues and good side of my department along with general issues of the college.Cons:Sangli city: As a small city in Maharashtra, college somewhat lacks exposure and opportunities to grow and come up as one of the finest and most ‘Sought after’ colleges for engineering aspirants, as compared to colleges in Pune, Mumbai. Well, you, as a student cannot change this fact.Mess Food: This sucks. I don’t know why we are unable to find a mess that will provide at least okish food. No question of asking for delicious, healthy food. You’ll see many good food centers and cafes near other engineering college as it is obvious these kinds of businesses grow in the vicinity of colleges. But in case of Walchand, I don’t see any good, quality cafes/hotels nearby. College mess food is okish. I personally don’t like (and I know no one really likes) the food provided by Cafeteria and canteen. Yeah, and you cannot change that either.Administration: At this, WCE really needs to improve upon. Nothing is organized here. In this computer era, I find the offices and all the procedures for scholarships/inquiry/ID cards and library cards issuing/all other clerical stuff very outdated 19th century thing and redundant. Because of poor organization, you will suffer while getting done this kind of stuffs. This could have been improved to a great extent.Basic services we need: No good hostels. I wonder how my friends live there. But what they can do but to somehow survive in very uncomfortable and unhygienic place. There are not enough toilets in the college and cleanliness of classrooms and campus is not maintained properly. It is such a sad thing to have more than 90 acres of campus with lush greenery yet nothing is taken care of and properly maintained. A lot of area in the campus could have been used productively. Also, there are no ATM’s, not a single one in the campus. No question arises of existence of any famous food chain like Dominos, Mc’D or any ice cream parlor in the campus.Faculty: It is surprising how some teachers were able to get selected as faculty member in such a prestigious institute. I mean how could they? With lack of proper knowledge and extremely poor communication skills, it gets boring to sit in their lectures just to maintain above 75% attendance. :( How would these teachers be after some years? Would they be delivering same content which doesn’t add anything new to students’ existing knowledge?Now having mentioned all the negative points of the college, it’s time to look at the bright side!I would like to give an analogy how looking at the good side matters. Look, we are living in India. You love India as much as I do. We call her our mother! Does it mean this nation is perfect in every aspect? We know that problems do exist, too big to be handled and conquered by few good people in few years. Too huge to be overcome overnight. Poverty, unemployment, discrimination, corruption, illiteracy, rapes , violence and what not! But does all of this make us hate our own country? Do we abandon it? Or do we accept the fact and acknowledge the cons and try to overcome them?Those who really owe to the nation and try not to escape from the reality, do know these problems. Instead of complaining , they accept the facts, develop themselves in the very situation which others are cursing and try to improve the nation.Fighting for rights and better services is absolutely acceptable but things which are not in our hand must be accepted as well. While being in transition process of development, we must accept the cons and do best to overcome them.That’s the approach we must possess while we transition to a better WCE.Pros:Good people do exist. In my department as well as in others, there are great teachers and researchers, willing to share their knowledge to students. They really work hard to develop the institute. Many students get benefited from their guidance. (e.g HoD of CSE: Dr. S.H. Bhandari). Also, many junior faculty is trying hard to match up to the teaching standards delivered by good teachers. We as students can gain knowledge from these good faculty members as well as Internet. Not having good faculty for some subjects is unfortunate but it does not limit the opportunities to learn and succeed. A person having will to learn can definitely do it from anywhere.See it as a stepping stone in your career. In spite of all negative points, you could succeed if you will. You save a large amount of time as compared to students in Pune, Mumbai as the campus and city is quite free from hustle and bustle. That extra amount of time you can put in efforts, may be to develop a skill, learn a language, do remarkable projects, prepare for your next big exam etc.(We can do these things using Internet, literally everything is available there. Can’t we?) Many guys in this college participate and win national level competitions too. There are excellent coders, event organizers, researchers, capable employers emerging from this very college. Don’t limit yourselves to getting just a job for living. Use the resources to do some big. Big enough to make people get to know about the institute because of it!Student organizations and interaction: If we are not close to teachers as we used to do in school days, that’s okay. Seniors are always there to help you. They tell you what to do, what not to do. They guide you. Many student organizations are running well that may help you develop personality, communication and technical skills. Events and competitions will boost your confidence. That’s a good thing! :)Prestigious Institute: Walchand College has been a respected name in Engineering institutes since many years. Though today it is not delivering up to the standard, the fame has not faded away. Doing your graduation from this college is not THAT bad. This optimistic approach of ours might change the winds in Walchand. Great students=> Great Institute. And you will always have opportunity to achieve even bigger in future.Peace.

Over the course of getting my undergraduate and two graduate degrees (very different from one another), I collected tips and learned from professors who went to Ivy League schools. Then I studied, researched, and compiled dozens of additional tips on how to study smarter and not necessarily harder, because going to school is tough enough and having a shortcut or two can make a huge difference. Now, for a part of my career I coach students (many from those same top schools) to maximize their day, use their time effectively, and get results without feeling like they’re putting their life on hold.Why? Because you should enjoy every single year of your life, especially while you’re in college!Here are my top 10 tips for studying smarter:Tip #1. Start the day with a BBB: a brain-boosting breakfast.Boost your brain power ahead of a busy study day with food that will give you energy, improve your focus, and optimize your brain function.Oatmeal mixed with 1 tablespoon flaxseeds, 1 teaspoon peanut butter, sliced banana or other fresh fruit, and some walnuts or almonds on top. Flaxseeds are an excellent source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a healthy fat that boosts cerebral cortex function and helps to build and protect neurons.A parfait: Layer 1/2 cup of yogurt, 1 tablespoon granola, 1 cup fresh fruit (sliced or diced), and a spoonful of nuts such as walnuts and almonds. Almonds are beneficial for increased attention and awareness necessary for learning, as well as restoring memory and cognitive function.Eggs. They’re a powerful mix of B vitamins (they help nerve cells to burn glucose), antioxidants (they protect neurons against damage), and omega-3 fatty acids (they keep nerve cells functioning at optimal speed). Have two eggs either soft or hard-boiled, or make an omelette with some mushrooms or spinach.A beet and berry smoothie. The natural nitrates in beets can increase blood flow to your brain which improves mental performance. In a blender, combine 1/2 cup orange juice, 1 cup frozen berries, 1/2 cup diced beets (raw or roasted), 1 tablespoon granola, 2–3 dates, 1/4 cup coconut water or plain low-fat yogurt, and 3 ice cubes. Blend for one minute.Tip #2. Commit to reaching ONE study goal a day.The best way to get your mind on board to concentrate on studying is to start the day with a question: “What is the one thing I am committed to completing today?”Why it’s important: It will encourage you to think strategically about the day, keep you focused on your top study goal, and force you to prioritize the one goal that you want to reach by the end of the day. This doesn’t mean that you don’t have many study goals, but it does means that you can finish one today (read a certain number of chapters or practice exam questions, for example), so that you can concentrate better on your other goals in the days that follow.How you can practice it: Write the question in big bold letters on a sheet of paper and hang it on your bedroom or bathroom wall. Pick a location where you can easily see the question as soon as you wake up (next to your bed or the bathroom mirror, for example). Then, read it out loud as you start your day. Take a few moments to think what you want to prioritize, and then come up with an answer and say it out loud too. Later, as you go through the day, make sure you’re working on completing what you’ve identified as your study goal for that day.Tip #3. Let your brain map out the learning process.This technique is called building a mental model: you imagine in detail how you expect things will go during your studies and even when you get to exam time. By telling yourself a story, you train your brain to anticipate your progress. Here’s how:Start your day by visualizing your success with studying. Do this before you begin your study session, and set aside about 5–10 minutes for this activity. You can do it either before you get up in the morning, while you’re having breakfast, or right after breakfast as you’re sitting with your eyes closed.Be detailed in thinking about all the steps you will take. This can include covering the chapters and exercises planned for that day, to taking the time to review the material, to writing out an outline of important concepts, to practicing exam questions and knowing the answers.Anticipate and identify which parts you will find challenging to understand and remember. This helps you prepare for problems so you don’t end up getting surprised because you don’t understand a part of the lecture. Then, come up with ways to resolve this (for example, by asking a classmate, reaching out to the professor during office hours or via email, or by designating a little extra time for review).Imagine yourself at the end of the day feeling great about covering the study material and understanding what’s most important. It’s not all about just what happens on exam day that can contribute to your feeling of success. Celebrating small wins every day will boost your motivation and help you feel more positive about moving ahead.Take a minute to think what you will do in the evening to treat yourself for all your hard work. Maybe you’ll want to go for a long walk or bike ride by yourself or with a friend, enjoy a run through the park, prepare a dinner with some of your favorite ingredients, watch a fun movie, or spend some quality time with a friend or family member.Tip #4. Tackle the most difficult material early in the day.Why study early? It’s all about taking advantage of your circadian rhythm, which dictates which activities we’re more likely to do best at certain times of the day. For most people, your brain’s peak performance happens 2-4 hours after you wake up. This is the time when your brain can focus on analytical thinking that requires the most concentration. For studying, this can be reading, writing, coding, analyzing, critical thinking, or problem solving.When should you study? If you wake up at 8, your peak times are between 10 and 12. And just because it’s noon, it doesn’t mean you have to stop; feel free to extend this time for another hour or so to maximize your peak performance and wrap up an important section, chapter, or lecture.What are the benefits? Doing your hard work early in the day allows your brain to focus fully on the problem at hand, with fewer distractions, less inputs from your environment, and with a lot of energy that you've gained from a restful night. It's the exact opposite of what can happen if you leave your toughest studying for nighttime, when you are exhausted, both mentally and physically, from the day. That time is much better for going over the material you’ve already covered earlier.Tip #5. Work shorter and smarter.For most efficient studying, you don’t need to be sitting at your desk for hours. Use a timer to better manage your study session. That way you allow your brain to focus in a more targeted and effective way. Here are some examples:Read and review study material. Set the timer to 30 or 60 minute increments to maximize concentration; or, for really short bursts of study, try the Pomodoro technique which consists of 25 minute blocks of time, followed by 5 minute breaks.Practice exam questions. Use the review questions from your textbook or handouts prepared by your professor; you can also create your own questions based on the most important concepts from each chapter. Write the questions down on a sheet of paper. Then, use the Pomodoro technique to rehearse for the exam. Give yourself only a short time to answer each question. Use each 25-minute block of time to cover several questions, and go down the list until you’ve covered them all.Take breaks. When you're done with one timed segment, step away from your desk and do something completely unrelated to work: get some fresh air, stretch, have a snack, grab a cup of coffee or tea.Tip #6. Master your note-taking skills.Don’t just sit and read the textbook passively; write stuff down. This improves your brain's cognitive skills, makes retention of information easier, and boosts memory.Note down what’s relevant. This includes key concepts, ideas, and topics. Don’t waste time writing down every single word, Instead, boost your critical thinking skills by identifying what is relevant to the topic. An excellent example of how to write relevant information is to use the Cornell Method.Use bulleted lists. This saves time, enables you to skim the material when you need it, helps you locate information faster, and makes the review process easier.Use color. Get notes more organized with multi-colored pens, markers, or highlighters to emphasize the most important sections. Use specific colors to highlight top priority concepts, then pick other colors to identify second level priority items such as examples and additional information.Make additional information easily visible. When you find more information you want to add to your notes later, draw an asterisk (*) next to the concept that you want to expand on, then add the new information in a footnote at bottom of the page.Tip #7. Become a pro at eliminating distractions.Distractions can easily take you away from the work you’re focusing on. You know only too well how this goes: you think you’ll spend ten minutes browsing Facebook or Twitter, and next thing you know two hours flew by without you noticing. And on top of everything, you’re starting to feel overwhelmed and maybe even stressed out with all that information overload. Time to minimize all that noise. Here’s what can help:Check your email and social media apps only 2–3 times a day (around lunchtime, later in the afternoon, and evening).Set your phone to Airplane mode when you need to focus, or simply turn off the volume and put it away for a few hours.Avoid browsing the Internet or reading the daily news; leave these activities for later after you’ve completed all the items you need to cover.Set expectations with others by letting them know you won’t be available in the next few hours; this can apply to family members, classmates, and close friends.Tip #8. Boost memorization with the teaching technique.One of the most powerful memory techniques is recalling newly learned information by teaching it to someone else or simply retelling it to yourself out loud. This helps you review, recall, and retain what you’ve learned better than just silently looking over the material. Here’s how to get started:Get an audience. It can be a close friend, study partner or family member. Too shy to speak to anyone? Pretend you have a couple of invisible students who really need to learn what you just covered, or use the family dog to be your attentive listener - chances are they’ll enjoy the attention!Create a private classroom. Take a large sheet of white paper (or tape together several sheets for a bigger writing surface), then tape it to your bedroom wall at eye level. Be sure you have some leg room to stand in front of it. Have a pen handy, and a thick black marker (or different colored highlighters) to underline important concepts.Get to work. Write an outline of the most important points in the chapter you just covered, then go over the concepts aloud one by one. Make your “lecture” come alive by drawing diagrams on the side and by providing a few examples. At the end, summarize the key parts of your lecture and highlight these sections with your thick marker, which can help you recall details better and solidify what you’ve learned.Tip #9. Set aside some time in the evening for strategic thinking.This is typically the time of day when the brain slows down, doesn't go at top speed to adhere to deadlines, so it has space for more creative thinking. Use this time to focus on strategic activities. For example:Set your study goals for the week so you’re always thinking two steps ahead.Strategize ways to optimize your learning by finding new learning tools, resources or apps that can help you study smarter.Review your schedule for the next day so you know what’s coming up.Contemplate the big picture with questions such as:Where you would like to be once you’re done with your exams?What are your long-term goals?What is the career you want for yourself?What are the steps you’ll need to take to get started on the next phase of your professional development?Tip #10. Plan for getting enough sleep to help your brain organize what you’ve learned.What are the benefits of sleep? Neuroscientists believe that sleep can help us learn and memorize better, and also give our brain time to get rid of unnecessary waste. Conversely, chronic sleep deprivation can reduce our cognitive abilities, can impact our concentration, and can even reduce IQ.How can you optimize your sleep? Adjust your sleeping position so that you sleep on your side. According to a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience, the brain’s glymphatic pathway (the exchange of two fluids, the cerebrospinal fluid in your brain and the interstitial fluid in your body) helps to eliminate “brain junk,” and this process of elimination is most effective when we sleep on our side. The result? You wake up more refreshed the next day with a clear mind.What helps to unwind faster in the evening? There are things you can do each evening to make the transition from study time to sleep time easier. Step away from electronics (mainly your computer and TV screens), because the light may be keeping you alert without you even being aware of it. Have a cup of herbal tea, some warm milk with honey, or a magnesium supplement (in tablet or powder form). Then, do something relaxing 15–20 minutes before bedtime: listen to some music, read a chapter of that book you’ve wanted to start, or just close your eyes and breathe deeply for 10 counts before you brush your teeth and get ready for bed.And here’s a bonus tip: read books that empower you as a student!They can be books that teach you how to simplify your studying strategy, help you learn tools so you can focus better, and show you how much your success lies in the mindset that you cultivate about what you are studying.Here are my top 3 picks:How to Become a Straight-A Student: The Unconventional Strategies Real College Students Use to Score High While Studying Less by Cal Newport. This book is a practical guide to studying smarter instead of harder. You can find out how to conquer procrastination, what’s the difference between pseudo work and real work, as well as how, when, and where it’s best to study. If you’ve often found yourself sitting at your desk for days getting frustrated because you’re not making the progress you need to pass your exams in order to graduate, start with this book.Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck. It explains in detail how we adopt a certain mindset about our abilities very early in life, due to the messages we receive from parents and teachers when we are still very young. These messages are then “baked in” to our understanding of what and how we “should” study, what our strengths and weaknesses are, and what to avoid. You will learn the difference between a fixed mindset (believing that your affinities and talents are set in stone) and a growth mindset (believing that you can grow and cultivate your skills through continuous efforts). The former can be detrimental to your studying, but the latter can be incredibly empowering!Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World also by Cal Newport. This book explains the importance of deep work: the ability to focus on cognitively demanding tasks in order to achieve more in less time. Newport uses many real-life examples to explain why this is a challenge in the 21st century that revolves around distractions, mainly emails and social media. He also provides practical suggestions how to deal with distractions and how you can master your deep work so that you can excel in your chosen field of study or expertise.

UNCA was very strong in liberal arts and the humanities. UNC published this link in 2015: Outcome By Major. Also so as not to underestimate the dedication to liberal arts read the following from the UNCA site: U.S. News & World ReportUNC Asheville ranks seventh in the nation among public liberal arts colleges. U.S. News & World Report also listed UNC Asheville's Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects Program, and the university's Department of Management & Accountancy as among the nation's best. UNC Asheville also is included in the U.S. News "A+ Schools for B Students" list which recognizes schools that seek and admit a broad and engaged student body, and where spirit and hard work, individuality and seriousness of purpose are valued by the admissions office. - U.S. News & World Report's "2018 Best Colleges" (September 2017).The Princeton ReviewIn 2016, UNC Asheville was ranked first nationally on the "Best Schools for Making an Impact" list - The Princeton Review guidebook, Colleges That Pay You Back: The 200 Best Value Colleges and What It Takes to Get In - 2016 Edition. (February 2016)The Princeton Review features UNC Asheville in its Guide to 361 Green Colleges, 2016. (October 2016)The Princeton Review features UNC Asheville among The Best 382 Colleges, earning a spot on two of the top 20 lists, coming in at No. 18 for “Town-Gown Relations are Great” and No. 20 for “College City Gets High Marks.” The Princeton Review selected the 382 colleges and universities based on academic strength and surveys of students. Students quoted said, "Most people’s favorite part of the university is the faculty, who are ‘engaged, helpful, thoughtful scholars and educators.’ These professors are ‘incredible at bringing new knowledge and facts and explaining both, while also leaving us enough room to formulate and even question our own opinions.’ Many ‘strive to be creative and flexible with their delivery,’ and the small class sizes allow students to build one-on-one relationships with professors and ‘feel more like a peer than a number in the classroom.’” Students also cite “incredible downtown Asheville choices” and an “amazing local food scene,” as well as the Blue Ridge Mountains and time spent outdoors. - The Princeton Review’s The Best 382 Colleges – 2018 Edition (August 2017)WNC Sierra ClubUNC Asheville was named "Green University of the Year" by the Sierra Club of Western North Carolina. In announcing the award, the Wenoca Chapter cited UNC Asheville's significant sustainablity initiatives and the work of the university's Student Environmental Center. (December 2016)The Fiske Guide to CollegesUNC Asheville is once again named a "Best Buy," along with UNC-Chapel Hill and N.C. State University - the only North Carolina public universities to earn a place on this international ranking list reflecting academic quality and affordability. - The Fiske Guide to Colleges 2018 (July 2017)For 14 consecutive years, UNC Asheville's Environmental Studies Program has been named to the list of pre-professional programs with unusual strength in preparing students for careers. - The Fiske Guide to Colleges 2018 Edition (July 2017)Kiplinger's Best College ValuesUNC Asheville is among the top 100 best values in public colleges, ranking ninth nationally in lowest total cost of attending for in-state students. - Kiplinger's Best College Values (online, December 2016)Military Friendly® SchoolsUNC Asheville has been designated a 2017 Military Friendly® School by Victory Media, a service-disabled, veteran-owned business. “UNC Asheville is an excellent choice for military members because it provides an exceptional Liberal Arts education at a public institution price. … It also is home to a veteran student organization, the Veterans Alliance, and proactively seeks to support Veterans in their transition into Higher Education.” – 2017 Military Friendly® Schools and Employers (November, 2016)Lonely PlanetAsheville was named the top U.S. destination for 2017 by the travel guidebook publisher Lonely Planet. (December 2016)Travel + LeisureAsheville ranks 9th on the Travel + Leisure Best Cities in the U.S. list. (July 2017)