Academic and Advising Services Sophomore

The Sophomore Signature Program
Examine, Explore, Evaluate, Engage

Introduction
There's so much to experience during your second year at Mercer! Academically, you'll continue to build on the foundation you laid in your first year of studies, and you'll move towards a more focused approach to your major. Outside of class, you'll find many rewarding co-curricular activities in which to participate, and you'll continue to prepare for your future profession through participation in programs offered by Career Services. Your sophomore year is a time to explore your identity while choosing your academic and career paths; it's a time to think about your signature, the mark you want to leave on Mercer and the world!

Upcoming Events!

The Sophomore Signature Social!

Tuesday, October 20
6:00 p.m.
Connell Co-Op

Dessert, friends, and information! What could be better? Come get some dessert, hear live music by a fellow sophomore, and learn about all the Sophomore Signature Program has to offer you! Free!

Making Your Mark
on Your Sophomore Year

Monday, October 26
10:00 a.m.
Penfield Classroom
(inside Academic and Advising Services)

Come for some good food, good company, and a chance to explore with your fellow sophomores all the opportunities Mercer has to offer. We'll also be discussing how satisfied you are with your current direction and some ideas for how to make adjustments.

Making a MAJOR Decision

Monday, November 2
4:00 p.m.
Penfield Classroom
(inside Academic and Advising Services)

Considering changing your major? Wondering what other majors might be out there? Come to this workshop to explore new opportunities!

Junior/Senior Roundtable

Friday, November 13
10:00 a.m.
Penfield Classroom
(inside Academic and Advising Services)

Meet with current Juniors and Seniors to learn about what they did during their sophomore year. Directed conversation and food provided!

What do you value?

Monday, November 30
10:00 a.m.
Penfield Classroom
(inside Academic and Advising Services)

Come eat some great food, learn about what you value in the workplace and what that may mean for your future.

If you have questions about any of the above programs, please contact us. Please also contact us if you would like to see a program added to the schedule!

For more information about events that sophomores might benefit from attending, check out Career Services' Events Calendar.

The Office of Academic and Advising Services, located in Penfield Hall, is here to support you during your sophomore year with services provided as part of Mercer's Sophomore Signature Program. The office will communicate with you regularly throughout the year and will offer a series of programs created specifically for sophomores. Academic and Advising Services is also available to answer questions related to advising issues and various campus activities. Please contact us at 478.301.2078 with any questions you might have.

Finding Success
Finding success in your sophomore year requires knowing a few things: who you are, what opportunities are available to you, and how to get where you want to be. To help facilitate this journey, we have provided a few guidelines below. These guidelines correspond directly with the process our programming follows: Examine, Explore, Evaluate, Engage.

Examine (Retreat)
Get away from where you are normally to give yourself an environment that is stimulating but one that doesn’t carry the distractions of day to day life. Consider a coffee shop, the woods, a secluded spot on campus, etc.

Explore (Reflect)
Reflect: Ask yourself tough questions (see Personal Plan for Success to get examples) and get the answers. Give yourself plenty of time to mull over the question, consider any answer that comes to your mind.

Evaluate (Renew)
Renew yourself by looking down the path of life to see new opportunities that you may find through honest reflection during retreat.

Engage (Return)
Return: Come back to daily life, ready to engage in your plan.

Personal Plan for Success
The “Personal Plan for Success” is meant to be used in conjunction with the various sessions you may attend through the Sophomore Signature Program. We hope those sessions will add to your knowledge to be better able to answer the following questions. The packet (downloadable by clicking on "Personal Plan for Success" may also be used as a stand-alone, or in conjunction with a mentor or advisor. Please see the back of this packet for additional information on contacting an advisor. Good luck!

All sophomores should do the following:

Continue to meet with your assigned academic advisor.
Complete or update your BearTrak profile by visiting the following website, which is maintained by Mercer's Career Services
Develop a resume; Career Services is available to aid students in this process.
Explore potential study abroad experiences by contacting Mercer's Study Abroad Office.
Participate in campus organizations to broaden your educational experience; contact the Office of Campus Life or the Office of Academic and Advising Services for more information about various campus organizations.
Research scholarships and fellowships that are available to exceptional juniors and seniors. The following Mercer website is a good starting point: http://mercer.edu/nfs/.
During the spring semester, finalize your summer plans; consider finding an employment, volunteer, or internship opportunity related to your career goals; or take summer classes to stay on track with your academic progress.
During the spring semester, finalize your housing plans for your junior year.

Sophomores who have chosen a major should do the following:

If you are in the College of Liberal Arts and have earned 30 hours of college credit, complete a Declaration of Major Form; these forms may be picked up at and returned to the Registrar's Office.
Finalize your degree plan with your academic advisor.
Explore employment, volunteer, and/or internship opportunities related to your major. The department of your major can provide information about internships at Mercer; Career Services, Mercer Commons, and the Religious Life Center can guide you toward other opportunities.

Sophomores who have not chosen a major should do the following:

Do What You Are

Explore employment, volunteer, and/or internship opportunities that are related to your area(s) of interest; Career Services, Mercer Commons, and the Religious Life Center can guide you toward various opportunities.
Shadow someone who works in a profession that interests you.
Attend one of several workshops offered on Mercer's campus for students who are still exploring potential majors; check this website, as well as Career Services' website (http://www.mercer.edu/studentaffairs/careerservices/), for upcoming events.

The following list contains items to consider while planning your semester course schedule.

Review the online schedule of classes and your academic curriculum plan. Refer back to the online schedule periodically to ensure that no changes have been made to your preferred classes. Your major/minor/general education requirements can be found in your 2008-2009 catalog, online, or in the Office of Academic and Advising Services. Additionally, determine how often courses in which you are interested are offered (i.e. every semester, every fall, every spring, etc.).
Meet with your advisor to review your semester schedule. Don’t go into the meeting without a plan. Take ownership of your schedule! Know if courses in which you are interested have prerequisites, corequisites, or require consent of the instructor. If you are interested in an independent study opportunity, you must discuss your options with the individual instructor and department.
You advisor can provide you with more than your Registration Access Code (RAC). Come to the meeting with items to discuss, such as your future career/graduate or professional school plans. You advisor will also be able to point you in the direction of co-curricular or internship opportunities to help you meet your future goals.
If you are contemplating a departmental or college/school move, meet with a representative from the given department or college/school to ensure that you have completed all the necessary requirements for such a move.
Ensure that you don’t have any “holds” on your account. Holds will prevent you from being able to register. Your account status can be verified on BearPort.