Test Preparation Strategies

You may be starting to wonder, “how should I study for these tests/quizzes?” And the thought of it can be overwhelming, especially the night before the test. To help you best prepare below are 7 strategies on how to create a good study plan.

Strategies for Successful Studying

1. Avoid Passive Studying--Students tend to want to re-read the textbook or re-write notes, but these activities only passively engage your brain in understanding the material. To make the most of your time spent studying, try engaging with strategies that require your brain to recall and synthesize information.

2. Summary Sheets--Try to create a sheet of “need-to-know” information for each chapter of the course while NOT using your notes. You will be challenging yourself to recall information that is the most important for your test. This could be concepts, formulas, keywords, etc.

3. Concept Mapping--Make a flowchart or map of the kind of problems, concepts, keywords,  etc. you need to know for the test and allow your brain to make connections. Physically drawing the connections and seeing the information in your own way will allow you to recall the information better on the test.

4. Quiz yourself--Use notes, summary sheets, concept maps, flashcards, keywords, etc. to quiz yourself. Once you have tried to remember as much as you can about that concept, problem, formula, keyword, etc. check and see if you are correct.

5. Differentiate--Try to determine why the author of the book chose specific problems and establish what concepts they might have been trying to teach you.  Then take a couple problems and see if you can make them harder and then try to make them easier.  Being able to manipulate problems tests your understanding of the concepts.

6. Study Groups--Teaching someone else a chapter or topic that you know does wonders for your understanding.  Allowing others to teach you what they know will also do wonders for their understanding and help you understand something that you may be struggling with.

7. YouTube Videos--When you are struggling with a particular concept, you can search for a video demonstration on YouTube. Do NOT passively watch the video from start to finish though. Watch the introduction and write down the problem, now try to solve as much as you can. If you get stuck, play the video and if you feel like you get to a point where you can solve the rest of the problem, pause the video again and try. If you engage with YouTube this way, it can help you with all types of problem solving while also challenging your brain.

When thinking of how exactly to attack studying for exam, the idea may be incredibly overwhelming. A list of tasks without any time-related goals attached to them are extremely hard to accomplish. Try to take each activity you would like to complete and plan a certain block of time to complete it along with when you actually will do it. For example, if I am going to create a concept map for Ch. 2 of Calculus 1 I might set aside 1 hour on Wednesday from 4-5 pm. Planning out all of your classes, extracurricular activities, and study times into an hourly calendar can help make your goals more achievable. Here are two examples of study plans from current engineering students:

The idea of planning ahead may still seem overwhelming, but picking 2-3 activities you want to try is a great place to start! The most successful students start studying 4-5 days prior to their test and schedule in specific times to do some of the strategies above. What is your plan? Email your plan to seas.success@gmail.com to receive feedback. You may be highlighted in a future post.  

Selling Your Science

Learn how to market your science, tech or engineering experience to any employer! Develop techniques to communicate your specialized skill set in a way that will grab an employers attention. Get tips for making your resume stand out, writing a compelling cover letter, and maximizing your on- line presence. In short, Sell Your Science to ANY employer. For more information, go to this link or email Christie Julien at cj4q@virginia.edu.

Friday 4/24, 12:30pm-1:30pm

Bryant Hall

Stress-Reduction Workshop

If you are worrying, you're not studying. 

Come check out a one-hour stress reduction workshop, just in time for finals. Learn a very simple, effective way to reduce worrying and improve focus right now.

Monday, April 27

6-7pm

Rodman Room

Thornton A Wing

UK and Ireland Scholarship Sessions

Ever thought about studying abroad in the UK?

Interested in pursuing a graduate degree outside of the United States?

Come hear about a number of incredible opportunities for Engineers to pursue graduate study in the UK and Ireland.

Wed 4/15 at 4pm in Wilsdorf 200

Monday 4/20 at 4pm in the Special Collections Library Room 314

 Sponsored by the Center for Undergraduate Excellence.

Questions? Email Andrus Ashoo at Andrus@virginia.edu

Research Opportunities

Have you thought about getting involved in research but aren't sure where to start? Have you heard about scholarships and fellowships but don't know what they're looking for in the application?

The Center for Undergraduate Excellence is putting on a workshop to cover what these awards are and how you can improve your application for these opportunities.

Come check it out in Wilsdorf 200, tomorrow night, Thursday, April 9 at 5:30 pm.

Questions? Email Andrus Ashoo at Andrus@virginia.edu

UVA Summer Session

Looking for a way to stay in Charlottesville this summer? 

Participate in Summer Session at UVA! 

Several engineering-related courses will take place during these sessions, including courses on probability, statistics, artificial intelligence, statics, and computer game design. Summer Session also offers Science, Technology, and Society (STS) courses that cover the humanities requirement for engineering students, including Utopias and Society, Science Fiction and the Future, Engineering Practice, and Engineering Ethics. Visit the Summer Session website to browse full listings of courses and instructors. 

Registration begins on April 13 for 3^rd and 4^th years, and April 14 for 1^st and 2^nd years.

Summer Session Dates:

Session I: May 18 – June 13

Session II: June 15 – July 11

Session III: July 13 – August 7

Eight Week Session: June 15 – August 7

Summer Session Website:  http://summer.virginia.edu/

Calc 2 Review Session

It's that time again.. another Calculus test. Need help reviewing for test #3? Drop by Olsson 120 at 6:30pm on Tuesday, March 31 and the Crunch Time Reviews crew will lead you through the trickiest concepts.

You can also check out the review videos on their website: Calc 2 Review Videos

Dean Cahen on Promoting Respect Between Students and Faculty

While you’re away on Spring Break, Dean Cahen weighs in on how to have productive conversations with faculty members, both in person and via email.

1.)  Be Direct and Concise

Speak and write in complete sentences. Ask questions in complete, thought-out sentences.

For example: Instead of saying, “I do not understand” or asking, “How do you do this?” it is preferable to ask a specific question of your faculty member.

Our time is extremely valuable (as is yours!), so instead of approaching a conversation with a broad question and spending five minutes trying to understand what the question is about, come to a meeting after thinking out your goals and objectives.  The more specific you can be in your questioning, the better the chance of getting the answer for which you are looking.

2.)  Ask Yourself Before You Ask Your Professor

Never ask a question about a homework/test problem that you have not tried to solve and have thought very little about.  It becomes obvious very quickly that the student has put little preparation into understanding the subject matter they are having an issue with and once the student is given the answer, it is unlikely that the level of learning by the student is what the teacher wants.  Learning is a two way activity!  The teacher presents the information and the student needs to put the effort into getting the information understood and learned.  This does require equal efforts on both the part of the teacher and the student.

3.)  Grade Comparisons

Do not discuss and compare grading of a fellow student’s homework or test to yours (usually because you lost more points) with a faculty member unless you are prepared to have the other student’s paper re-graded…..perhaps to a lower grade!  More often than not, there were other reasons not noticed or understood that were responsible for the lower grade.

4.)  Multiple Graders

In large classes where there are multiple graders used for different sections, realize that there will be variations in the sections’ grading.  In most cases the faculty adjusts grades to account for this variation.  Please be aware that this does happen, but efforts are made to minimize impact.  Nasty comments do nothing to change or correct this inevitable issue!

5.)  Course Subject Matter

At most Universities, faculty members design the courses that the students take.  I have seen some students who assume that they know better about what subject matter should be in a course.  Keep in mind that considerations are being taken into account that the students know very little about.  Unfortunately, students frequently tell faculty that they do not need some of the material taught in a class or that something should not be taught…..you should avoid this mistake and respect the experience and expertise of the SEAS faculty.

6.)  Importance of Email

When as faculty member writes an email to students pertaining to a class, the student should take the time and carefully read the content and pay attention to the details that are included.  Do not read this message on a small screen while walking and perhaps talking with friends out in public where other distractions will keep one from understanding the details of the message.  Take the time to read the message preferably on a large screen where there is little chance that some detail will be lost.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email Dean Cahen at glc@virginia.edu, but make sure that you've thought out your questions before you reach out to him!

Dean George L. Cahen is the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and the Director for Experiential Programs and Engineering Outreach. He is a Professor in the Department of Materials Science & Engineering and the Department of Engineering & Society. 

Safe Spring Break

Brought to you by the Gordie Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, ADAPT (the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team) has some tips for a safe and healthy Spring Break.

For more information and to take the ADAPT Work Hard, Play Smart pledge, see the website at  http://gordiecenter.studenthealth.virginia.edu/peer-education/adapt

5 Interviewing Tips for Engineering Grads

From this past week's Alumni HoosNetwork, ENGR alum Mark Johnson shares his advice on how to navigate the interview process as a SEAS student and alum.

He writes about:

1. How to stand out from your classmates and teammates.
2. Tailoring your interview responses to the position.
3. Determining the culture and fit of a particular organization.
4. Explaining your approach to problem solving.
5. Understanding who you're speaking with and catering responses to that audience.

Read more at: http://alumni.virginia.edu/hoosnetwork/2015/02/5-interviewing-tips-for-engineering-grads/


Mark Johnson graduated from the University of Virginia in 2007 with a degree in Aerospace Engineering. He is currently a program manager for Lockheed Martin Corporation, a global security and aerospace company headquartered in Bethesda, MD. Mark is also a proud UVA basketball and football (yes, still) season ticket holder.

Seas Major Mixer / Panel

Hosted By: Engineering student Council

Who: All engineering students who would like to find out more information about different majors

What: Engineering Major Mixer / Student Panel

When: Wednesday March 4^th from 5:00- 6:00

Where: Olsson 011

Why: Come out to ask questions regarding different majors and to listen to older students' experiences within their discipline. We will provide pizza and drinks!

Questions? Email the Engineering Student Council: Academic & Professional Committee

Casey Russell: ccr4kt@virginia.edu

REMINDER: the Major Application Deadline is March 22

Spring Semester Deadlines

Don't forget these important deadlines this semester:

Add/Drop/Withdrawal Deadlines

March 3: DROP deadline for SEAS courses

March 18: WITHDRAWAL deadline for all courses

March 22: Major Application Deadline for first year SEAS students (first years have received an email)

SEAS faculty do not have the authority to waive, modify, or otherwise change the add, drop, or withdrawal deadlines, nor can they change final exam dates.

Academic Calendar

March 7-15: Spring Recess

Advising for Fall 2015 classes will be in late March and early April, with registration happening in the 2nd and 3rd weeks of April.

April 29; May 3, 6: Reading Days

Spring 2015 Tutoring Hours

There are several outlets for free help in SEAS, but tutoring and review session hours change every semester. Check out the most recent tutoring schedules below:

Center for Diversity in Engineering 
The CDE offers free tutoring to all Engineering students for various subjects. Students may request a tutor for any course and the CDE will locate a tutor.
CDE Spring Tutoring Schedule
Contact the CDE to request a tutor.

APMA Help Sessions

The Applied Mathematics Department offers free tutoring workshops in Thornton A-Wing. Feel free to drop in for help with a specific problem set or to review a general concept. 

APMA 1000 & 2000

APMA 3000 & 4000

Crunch Time Reviews

Crunch Time offers review sessions for several different math courses, particularly right before big tests, midterms, and finals. 

Check out the Crunch Time Reviews website and Gallery for session schedules and additional videos covering concepts from APMA 1110, 2120 & 2130.

Omega Chi Epsilon

OXE offers free 1-on-1 tutoring for ChemE students for a variety of subjects, as well as for professional development.

Omega Chi Epsilon Tutoring Site

My Brain Is Not for Picking: An Alum Weighs in on Email Etiquette

Spencer Ingram (@beingSpencer) is founder of HackCville and internship agency The Bureau. He's a Double Hoo; he graduated from SEAS with a BS 2008 and received an MA in environmental studies in 2010. For advice on careers, connect with him at 5centCareerAdvice.com

I regularly receive emails from students and young entrepreneurs that say something like, “I’m a student at [university of wherever] working on a startup / want to work at a startup. Can I pick your brain over coffee?”

Putting aside the fact that I dislike coffee, “picking my brain” is a sign that you don’t really know what you want and we will spend the entire meeting just trying to find value for being there. It took a lot of work to get things into my brain, so you need to show me why I should spend my valuable time letting you poke around.

To write emails that land a response, you need to address two questions:

1. Why should this person help me?

2. Am I making it easy for this person to help me?


Here are tips (and tough love) on how you can answer those two questions:

Don’t be boring. As a student, you are boring until proven otherwise. Set yourself apart from being a student. This is a good time to think about crafting a personal elevator pitch. I don’t need your life backstory. Keep it short.

Let’s use an example I hear often, “Hi Spencer, [long irrelevant backstory] and that’s why I’m thinking about working for a social impact company. Can you recommend some companies?”

Contrast that first sentence with, “I’m passionate about eliminating systemic poverty through financial access. I’m curious about domestic opportunities related to micro-lending and education.” This is a strong personal elevator pitch that gives me a good sense of what you are about. My brain neurons say, “Ah! we know someone/something about this specific topic!”

If you are asking for help on a project, then share that project with me. I love to hear about your self-directed learning and your side projects. I want to see resourcefulness and imagination, so don’t come to me with a concept and no work. Have an elevator pitch for your project and share a link where I can dig further on my own.


What is in it for me? You need to do your homework on me. If you haven’t done your homework, then how do you know I can help you? You can reference my blog or a class I teach, or a company I’ve worked on that lends context to your question.

If you do your homework, then you will know what I’m working on. Give me something that I might find useful. You can share fresh ideas for my projects or perhaps you have an eye for design or copy and can make some recommendations. Maybe you have ideas about how to generate customers.

If you really want to get close to someone’s brain, offer to help for two-weeks on a project. I always have a project that can use a little extra hustle.


What do you want from me? Be specific. The more specific you are, the easier it is for me to respond quickly. Let’s continue with our example, “Can you recommend some companies?”

This question falls into the category of broad recommendations like “general feedback”, or “help in anyway you can.” It also feels lazy. Do not ask for something that should be simple to figure out yourself. If you ask me to recommend companies, I’m thinking, “what companies are you currently interested in and how did you find them?” Show me you have already done some work for yourself. I’m not here to do the work for you. Here is a full revision of our example:

“Hi Spencer, I’m Jane.

Your blog post on learning resources was super helpful! I use Rework for discovering social impact companies and thought it might be a nice edition to your list.

I’m passionate about eliminating systemic poverty through financial access. I’m curious about domestic opportunities in startup companies related to micro-lending and education, but I’m hitting a wall on finding companies in Austin.

Can you give me one new lead for my Austin hunt?”

Jane shared a useful resource for my blog and she provided a short elevator pitch. Jane knows I provide career hunting advice and that I live in Austin so I might have a valuable lead for her search. This is easy to respond to.

“Jane, glad you found the learning resources helpful. Thanks for the tip! For new leads, check out the companies at Center61 and my Guide to Austin Startup Scene”.

Additional tips:

1. Keep it short, but do not write one paragraph. Break up your sentences like Jane did above.

2. If you do not receive a response in 48 hours, email again. Try for a third time if you have to. If you can’t get through on three tries, then try a new strategy. Find your contact on LinkedIn or Twitter.

3. Say thank you as soon as possible. A thank you earns you a future response. If you meet in person, consider mailing a thank-you note. A thank-you note is unexpected and you will earn major etiquette points. The physical note will arrive a few days after your encounter and will create a nice reminder of who you are.

4. Report back on how you used the advice you were given. What was helpful? What did you learn? Showing that you listened or acted on shared advice will earn you a future response.

5. If you are introduced to someone, try to be the first to respond. In your opening sentence, thank the person who made the introduction and move them to bcc. For example, “Jane, thanks for introducing me to John. Moving you to bcc.” If you want to make an introduction, please first ask both parties.


Don’t over-think any of this advice. Simply show why I should help you (don’t be boring) and make it easy for me to do so (be specific).

Got email peeves, etiquette, or tips on getting a response? Leave them in the comments below.

Improv Workshop Rescheduled

The improv workshop was rescheduled, so you've still got the chance to:

Become a better listener!

Think quicker on your feet!

Impress all of your friends!

Tuesday, February 17 from 5:30-7pm in the Rodman Room, Thornton A Wing
Registration required
Email Laura.Coutts@virginia.edu

6 Reasons Why You Should Go to the Career Fair

You may be asking yourself if it's worth ironing your nice shirt and wearing some fancy shoes over to the Engineering Career Fair on Tuesday or Wednesday this week. Of course it is! And here's why:

1. Market research.
Find out who made the trek to Grounds to hire UVA students. They might have a history of hiring Virginia alums. They may even be a fellow 'Hoo! Learn about companies who are looking for your skill set and find out what positions are open there.

2. Meet recruiters in a less formal setting.
Meeting company reps at a career fair can be much less stressful than coming into the office for an interview. Take advantage of the environment and feel free to ask a lot of questions. Speaking of which...

3. Ask Questions!
Particularly if you're a First or Second Year, you can ask recruiters what they look for most in candidates. What do they think you're missing from your resume? Do you need more leadership experience? Specific technical skills? You can also ask about company culture, industry demands, and how your knowledge could be applied outside of higher education.

4. Get a professional headshot for LinkedIn.
Get your photograph taken for FREE at the LinkedIn photo booth.

5. Practice your elevator pitch. 
What makes you unique? What are you passionate about? Why should someone hire you?! Your elevator pitch isn't going to be perfect the first time you deliver it. As you practice, you'll be able to make a better first impression.

6. Get an interview.
This is the name of the game. Find companies that interest you, make connections with recruiters, and exchange information so you can follow up with them.

Career Services in the E-School? What do they do?!

The Center for Engineering Career Development (CECD) at UVA is a career center just for engineers.

Who do they serve?

CECD offers engineering students from their first to their fourth year personalized guidance on finding internships and jobs. They also work with SEAS alumni. 

What services do they provide?

• Resources for exploring majors and careers in engineering
• Resume-writing workshops
• 24 hour turnaround on resume and cover letter review
• Events with employers and UVA staff focused on helping students find employment
• Mock interviews and interviewing workshops with employers
• Self Assessments (the Strong Interest Inventory and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator)

How much does it cost?

Nothing! These are free services available to you as an engineering student or alumni. 

Where is the office located?

A-Wing of Thornton Hall (map)

When are they open?

The CECD has new walk-in hours this semester:

Mondays and Tuesdays: 

1:30-3:00pm

Wednesdays and Thursdays: 

9:30-11:00am

Also, be sure to check out the career fair next week:

Engineering Career Fair 

February 3 and 4

Newcomb Hall 3rd Floor

10am - 3pm

Other resources are available on the CECD website.

Improv Workshop

Become a better listener!

Think quicker on your feet!

Impress all of your friends!

Wednesday, February 4th from 5:30-7pm in the Rodman Room, Thornton A Wing
Registration required
Email Laura.Coutts@virginia.edu

Credit Overloading

Thinking about taking more than 19 credits this semester? Make sure keep these things in mind:

Request Permission
Fill out the Overload Form and submit it to the Undergraduate Programs Office in Thornton A-122 (map). Requests are not guaranteed to be granted and working toward a second major or minor is not sufficient grounds for approving a course overload petition. You will need your advisor's signature for this form.

Look at the Long Term Implications
If you know you'd like to do a 4th and 5th year at Batten or are considering medical school after graduation, you'll have some extra prerequisite courses. Sit down and list all of your required classes and start dividing them into different semesters. Do you need to take those extra courses right now? Maybe you can do J-Term or take a class during the summer.

Strategic Overloading
Do some research. Ask other students who have taken those classes. What is the work load like? Is it heavy on reading? Writing? Problem sets? Try to get a sense of how many hours and what kind of work you'll have for each class

Balance Your Course Schedule
Maybe you're not an early bird. Maybe you like three day weekends and avoid Friday classes like the plague. If you're taking >19 credits, be honest with yourself. If you know you're going to be up late working, don't take 8 a.m. classes.

Midterms and Finals
If you're planning on taking 3 classes in Physics or APMA, you can generally predict how the course schedule will play out (2-3 big tests, 1 midterm, and 1 final). Avoid scheduling them back-to-back on the same day. If you do that, you'll likely end up with multiple midterms on the same day, so save yourself that hardship and focus on weekday balance when looking at classes on SIS or Lou's List.

Office Hours
Look ahead and see which classes conflict with office hours. If you can't make a professor's office hours because you're in another class at that time, you'll need to plan ahead and work with your instructor to find a different time to meet. This will require additional planning on your part.

Pick Fun Classes as Buffers

Love writing? Take STS in the semester that you're overloading. Do you have a favorite professor? They might be the respite you're looking for during a rough week with a lot of coursework. Build in spots in your schedule that might be less time-intensive (maybe that lab class you've been putting off).

Extra Curriculars
What days of the week do they meet? Are they on a regular schedule? Consider your course load and what days you'll have the most work when you plan your schedule.

Down Time
Everyone needs time to rest! You might need to build this into your schedule. If you have to watch Scandal, block off an hour every Thursday night. Your friends go to O-Hill together every Sunday and Wednesday night? Great! Put that in your schedule so you know you have an obligation at that time. (Even if it is a fun one!)

Ask for Help
Don't be afraid to ask for help if you start to feel overwhelmed. Free tutoring is offered through the CDE, all of your faculty have office hours, and you can also make an appointment with Lisa Lampe, the Director of Undergraduate Success to talk about study strategies and time management.


Have any other suggestions for students thinking about taking over 19 credits? Leave them in the comments below. 

Stress Reduction Workshop

Looking to start the semester off on the right foot? 

Want to practice healthier behavior this year?

Come to the Stress-Reduction Workshop on Wednesday 1/14, led by Sam Green, an Associate Professor of Medical Education at UVA School of Medicine.

Questions? Email Laura.Coutts@virginia.edu

Academic Deadlines

Welcome back to Grounds!

Take note of some important deadlines for this semester:

Add Deadline: Jan 26
College Drop Deadline: Jan 27
Engineering Drop Deadline: March 3
Withdraw Deadline: March 18

Major Application Deadline: March 22

(add deadlines to your google calendar by clicking + Google Calendar in the bottom right) 

UVA Academic Calendar