Month: February 2017

Why Foreign-Language Study is a Good Idea for Every Student

by

If you are a junior or senior who has engaged with foreign-language study while at Wesleyan, the rationale below will help you explain to prospective employers the skills you have gained through such a course of study.

***

Why Foreign-Language Study is a Good Idea for Every Student

We assume if you have reasons to learn a particular language (to study, work, travel, or live abroad or for resources not fully available in English translation), you already know why it is important. Here are reasons to study any language besides English or whatever you regard as your native language:

  1. Many employers, professional schools, and graduate schools see serious study of a second language (potentially, a double-major) as evidence that you can (a) put yourself more easily in others’ (colleagues’, clients’) shoes and (b) communicate more effectively even in English.
  1. You will never know your own language and culture more deeply than by studying another–by looking at it from the outside. Learning to thrive with the unfamiliar is often linked to creativity in many intellectual and professional contexts.
  1. Language learning teaches you to think more clearly and sharpens your brain’s ability to make sense of the world.
  1. Deep study of another culture through its language brings home how much of value will never be made available in English.
  1. Puzzling out another language and culture will help you understand (and empathize with) the difficulties of non-anglophone immigrants, colleagues, clients, and travelers in the U.S., even if you never leave American shores.
  1. Learning another language well makes it easier to learn any language in the future. Even if you never need this, the experience–especially if you study abroad–will make you far more confident in your ability to face any intellectual or professional challenge.  
  1. Foreign-language courses fit easily into study plans: offered on highly varied schedules, they provide a stimulating (and fun!) break from problem-set driven, heavy-reading or arts courses.

Wesleyan offers:

Arabic language and culture: http://www.wesleyan.edu/academics/faculty/aaissa/profile.html

American Sign Language: http://www.wesleyan.edu/lctls/courses.html

Classics (Greek and Latin): http://wesleyan.edu/classics/

East Asian Studies (Chinese, Japanese, Korean): http://wesleyan.edu/ceas/

German studies: http://wesleyan.edu/german/

Hebrew language and culture: http://www.wesleyan.edu/academics/faculty/dkatz01/profile.html

Romance Languages & Literatures (French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish): http://wesleyan.edu/romance/

Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies program: http://wesleyan.edu/russian/

Any other language: http://www.wesleyan.edu/lctls/silp.html

Admission Office Senior Interviewer Applications available now

by

Dear Class of 2018,
The Office of Admission is pleased to announce that the application to become a 2017-2018 Senior Interviewer is now available.

Each year the Office of Admission hires 20 members of the senior class to engage in the recruitment, evaluation and selection of the incoming first-year class.  SI’s conduct admission interviews with prospective students, co-lead group information sessions, sit on panels during our fall Open House programs and WesFest, interact with parents and students visiting campus, work with admission deans on specific projects, and a select few will have the opportunity to read admission applications in January and February.

There will be three information sessions in the coming weeks that we encourage you to attend to learn more about the position and application process: Monday, February 27 from both 12-1pm and 4-5pm, and Friday, March 3 from 12-1pm.  All will be held in the McKelvey Room in the Office of Admission, 70 Wyllys Ave; it is not necessary to be there for the entire hour.  You can register for one of these sessions here: https://goo.gl/forms/swxiaibb7g5Kj5bM2

We hire six SI’s to work full-time during the summer, from mid-June through September 1. It is possible that two of the summer SI’s may start in mid-July and unpaid time off is usually available with prior notice and approval if the needs of the office allow.  Because summer is a crucial time with thousands of visitors to campus, those who can work in the summer are given preference in the hiring process.

The application itself provides more information about deadlines and process, but in sum the application is due no later than Friday, March 17.  The first round of interviews are in a  group format and will take place from Monday, March 27 to Friday March 31 at noon; the following week we will conduct individual interviews with a current senior and an admission dean, and these will have a number of time slots available over the course of the week.  I will provide an electronic sign-up sheet for both the group and individual interviews.  We hope to make our final selections and notify applicants no later than Monday, April 10. 

The application can be found here https://goo.gl/forms/Y53EaCZLWhpgUn2t2

We hope you will find this to be an exciting opportunity to shape the student body at Wesleyan and leave a legacy with lasting impact, as well as gain professional experience in higher education and perhaps discover potential career interests.  Should you have any questions please contact Chris Lanser, Associate Dean of Admission, at clanser@wesleyan.edu

 I look forward to seeing you at one of the information sessions and to reading your 2017-18 SI application.

Best,
Chris

Chris Lanser
Associate Dean of Admission
Director, QuestBridge Admission
Wesleyan University

Student Academic Resources – Apply Now to join the Peer Advising team

by

Do you feel like you’ve mastered course registration and WesMaps? Are you interested in working one-on-one with your peers? Want to learn more about study skills, organization, and meta-cognitive learning strategies?

Student Academic Resources is looking for talented students to join the Peer Advising team for the coming academic year. Both Academic PeerAdvisors and New Student Orientation Peer Advisors are paid positions.

Academic Peer Advisors (APAs) will receive extensive training, will help lead workshops, and will mentor students one-on-one. Please find an extended job description and the application here: http://www.wesleyan.edu/studentaffairs/resources/peeradvisors/peeradvjobdesc.html

If you cannot commit for a full year but you are interested in helping new students with the academic transition to Wesleyan, consider applying to be a New Student Orientation (NSO) Academic Peer Advisor. NSO Academic Peer Advisors receive a stipend for their work and will help throughout orientation. Please fine an extended job description and the application here: http://www.wesleyan.edu/studentaffairs/resources/peeradvisors/NSO%20Peer%20Advisor%20job%20description.html

All applications are due on Monday February 27th at 5pm.

If you have additional questions regarding the position please contact Dean Patey (lpatey@wesleyan.edu).

The Gordon Career Center Launches New Student Funding Initiative

by

The Gordon Career Center launched a new student funding initiative called the Career Development Grant. This serves as an expansion (and replacement) of the old SuitUp fund. Students can still ask for money to cover interview attire as before, but may now also request funds for things like graduate exam fees, career-related travel expenses, and professional conferences. They may request up to $500 over their time at Wesleyan. In general students must be on need-based aid to qualify, though exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

You can read more here. Interested students are asked to contact Jacquie Fought (jfought01@wesleyan.edu) for an application, or Anne Santaniello (asantaniello@wesleyan.edu) if they have questions about what the fund covers, etc.

New Way to Celebrate Student Successes with Merit

by

Dear Class of 2018,

Wesleyan has just partnered with Merit, an online service that helps us celebrate and share your accomplishments. From research and academic awards to study abroad, volunteer work and co-curricular activities, your Merit page is a verified professional profile that we build for you, and that you can share with prospective employers, graduate schools and others. We’ll also use the system to notify your hometown newspaper, high schools and families about your accomplishments. More than 300 colleges and universities around the country now use Merit.

You don’t have to do anything to maintain your Merit page. If you wish, you can enhance it with a photo, bio, other activities or work experience.

You’ll get an email each time we update your Merit page. Follow the link in the email to sign into your page and see what you’ve been recognized for. You can also search for your Merit page at wesleyan.meritpages.com.

More information is available here. If you prefer not to participate, you can opt out at any time by emailing studentnews@wesleyan.edu, or responding to the email you receive from Merit. Questions can be directed to Lauren Rubenstein, lrubenstein@wesleyan.edu, in the Office of Communications. We’re excited to promote your success on your Merit page!

Sincerely,

Dean Thornton

Apply Now to be an Academic Peer Advisor or a NSO Peer Advisor

by

Academic Peer Advisors

The Deans’ Office is looking for talented and motivated students to become Academic Peer Advisors for the 2017-20178 academic year. Academic Peer Advisors are juniors and seniors who work during New Student Orientation (NSO) and throughout the academic year to support Wesleyan’s faculty advising program and enhance student access to academic resources. Academic Peer Advisors will receive training, give individualized peer advice and facilitate workshops for groups of students regarding metacognitive learning strategies, time management, public speaking, study, and exam preparation strategies. The Academic Peer Advisor position description and application can be found at: http://www.wesleyan.edu/studentaffairs/resources/peeradvisors/peeradvjobdesc.html

NSO Peer Advisors

The Deans’ Office is looking for talented and motivated students to become NSO Peer Advisors for the 2017-2018 academic year. NSO Peer Advisors are sophomores, juniors and seniors who work during New Student Orientation to support Wesleyan’s faculty advising program and enhance student access to academic resources. The comprehensive position description and application can be found at: http://www.wesleyan.edu/studentaffairs/resources/peeradvisors/NSOPeerAdvisorJobDesc.html

Deadline for students to apply for a mentor is F, Feb. 10th

by

APPLY FOR A WRITING MENTOR

Have you ever wanted a personal editor? Someone who would meet with you privately to help you with your writing?

Your Writing Mentor will work with you on your particular writing concerns, whether you need help generating ideas, structuring your essay, improving sentence clarity and grammar, or managing your time.  As mentors and mentees meet on a weekly basis, this program is designed for students who enjoy regular collaboration.  If you participate, you will have a sophomore, junior, or senior assigned to meet with you throughout the semester.

We work with students of all writing abilities and in all disciplines.  All services are free.

To apply for a writing mentor for the Spring 2017 semester, please fill out the online application here by Friday, February 10th at 11:59PM; we will let you know by  Wednesday, February 15th, if we’ve been able to pair you with a mentor. Please contact Ford Fellow Gabe Borelli at writingworks@wesleyan.edu or 860-685-2440 if you have any questions or concerns.

We look forward to working with you.