Welcome Introduction!

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to introduce myself to you all. My name is Jonathan Cruz - I am a Senior transfer student here at Governors State University. I am currently finishing up my undergraduate psychology degree, and about to apply for my masters program. My ultimate dream job is to go into the advising world in student services, admissions, or somewhere in higher education.

Now in case you were wondering how I got to GSU, here’s a little background about me:

Transferring to GSU, I started here in the Fall of 2014 as a Kankakee Community College Alumni, finishing up my Associate’s Degree also with a concentration in Psychology. Now I will say one of the perks of going to a community college, is that you have time to explore other majors and career opportunities.

I was originally a nursing student, but realized it was not something I was fit for. WIth campus involvement, volunteering, and exposure to KCC, I switched my major to psychology wanting to pursue a degree in the higher education field. For any of you high school students, take advantage of dual credit classes offered. When I entered KCC, I finished my senior year in high school with 28 credit hours! It was definitely a big money saver. :)

I also did not know I would transfer to GSU. For any student who is at a community college, see if your campus offers GSU’s Dual Degree Program. Hence the name itself, the program’s goal is to seek that you finish up your Associates and Bachelors debt free. That’s right you heard it! DEBT FREE! Now one of the major benefits I reaped from the program is the “DDP Honors Scholarship.” From getting involved, maintaining a high Cumulative GPA I get my tuition and fees paid for throughout my bachelors program. I consider it to be almost like a full ride scholarship; all i need to pay for were textbooks!

Now in July 2015, it’s been close to a year since I started at GSU. For any transfer students, I will say the first semester was pretty rough. But like all GSU professionals say, it may not just take a semester, it may take even two or three to find where you can fit in. As for myself, I found my home in the admissions office. As a student ambassador, I have great advisors, colleagues, and mutual friends to network with!

Starting the 2015-16 Year!

Now as the school year is about to start this upcoming August, here are a few tips and tricks before and during the first week of school:

1. Make sure you are registered for classes~

If you know what you want to major in, it is beneficial to speak with you academic advisor. They are your primary resource to find out what classes you may need to take in order to earn your degree. If you are undecided or want to continue to pursue your education, your first stop will be in the admissions office! By finding out what classes you will need, be sure that you mention your concerns about wanting to graduate on time - they can help you make sure you will finish in a timely fashion.

2. Once registered, be sure to pay for them!

After you are registered for your classes online, pay attention to the costs of your tuition and fees. If you are paying out of pocket, you can visit the cashier’s office if you need to set up a payment plan. If you have financial aid, check in at the financial aid windows to ensure that your FAFSA award is applied for the fall semester! Another opportunity is to apply for scholarships offered every semester. So be sure to pay attention to your GSU email for these opportunities.

3. Registered, Paid, and now Textbooks?!?

Through your student portal account (you can get assistance on accessing it through the ITS Helpdesk), you can find a list of your required textbooks from looking at your student schedule. By visiting the bookstore on campus, they have new or used textbooks that you can rent or purchase and/or vice versa. If you’re a techie person like myself, they also offer a variety of electronic textbooks for each course.

4. Where do I go for my classes?

It may be of benefit to you to find where your classes may be so you don’t run late the first day of class. From your class schedule, there are different wings of the campus labelled A-G to find where your class may be. If you get lost, you can always ask faculty and staff around you. If you are completely new to the campus, you can also request a full campus tour through the admissions office.

5. I’m feeling nervous for a class, and afraid I won’t do well.

If you feel you might struggle with a class, it’s important to see what supplemental resources are available to you ahead of time. Such resources include the library where they have different primary articles for writing research papers. Look into the academic resource center for tutoring services in various subjects and even writing/counseling. Primarily, also look into your instructor’s office hours. If ever during the term, you need help with something, they are always approachable with you to stop by their office hours. That’s what their hours are there for! Go to them for some extra clarification or help with the subject.