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Helping Advisees Improve Performance
By now, students should have a pretty good idea of how they're doing academically. If any of your advisees should get a poor score on a quiz, reassure the student that this is the first of many, many tests and quizzes to come in eight semesters here. One poor quiz score doesn't amount to anything in the long run.
However, if the student receives one or more Fifth Week Flags, then the student really needs to pay attention NOW. The flag is an early warning to allow students time to take steps to turn things around. Freshmen who receive Fifth Week Flags and are proactive in following up with help are far more likely to pass the subject(s) in which they were flagged.
While you should meet with any flagged student to encourage him/her to take appropriate action steps and seek helping resources, it's important that your advisees understand that they -- not you -- are personally responsible for their academic performance.
So, encourage a student in trouble to access one of the myriad resources and people available to assist students in improving their performance.
- If the student believes he/she is in serious trouble in a subject, and may possibly fail it, s/he should meet immediately with you and with the instructor or TA of the subject(s).
- As the advisor, you can help the student focus on what s/he needs to do differently to improve performance NOW. Did the student allow enough time to prepare for the quiz? Did s/he just read the book? Successful studying often means that students have to rework homework problems, do practice exams (often on the web), and allow PLENTY of time to prepare—not just start the night before.
- If the student is distractible, suggest that s/he find a quiet place to study -- Student Center Reading Room, 5th floor, is one good place; libraries are another. Tell the student to turn off his/her cellphone and Instant messaging!
- Students might also consider meeting with one of the deans in Student Support Services, who can help with a multitude of problems, from study-related anxiety through personal or financial issues. Student Support Services deans can refer students to other support services and, if necessary, can advocate on behalf of the student.
Even if students are doing well in their courses, they should not allow themselves to become over-confident. It is very easy to get behind in MIT subjects. They should sustain their efforts, attend class and recitations, and stay on top of assignments.
Specific Resources
Here is some information with links to just some of the many resources available to students with regard to all ranges of performance issues.
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Learning Strategies: The Office of Undergraduate Advising and Academic Programming maintains a comprehensive Learning to Learn site to help students strengthen their learning skills and connect with resources within MIT.
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Tutorial Services: Tutoring is available in many forms at MIT, especially in science core subjects. Visit the Tutoring Resources and Academic Support page of the Learning to Learn site to find a list of individuals, groups, and departments who offer tutoring throughout the term.
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Improving Test Performance: Some students find that they do well on problem sets but have difficulty with tests. Problem sets and exams are meant to teach students sophisticated problem-solving skills, so continued practice is the key.
Encourage advisees to rework problem sets and tests to discover where they went awry, or to bring questions to their TA or instructor for clarification.
- Managing Stress and Staying Healthy: Stress can also be a difficult obstacle to overcome. As your advisees continue to work hard in classes, it is important they remember that MIT also offers many personal resources.
If students are feeling overwhelmed or stressed, they should consider contacting staff in Student Support Services or the Mental Health section of MIT Medical. The Mental Health Service at MIT Medical offers support groups for students which help them adjust to life at MIT.
See the Recognizing Signs of Stress page for more information on how you as an advisor can help your advisees.
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