About Joshua

Email: jlarriso@oswego.edu

Posts by Joshua

How to Stay Occupied in this Freezing Weather

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This past week has definitely been a cold one. Snow, wind, and frigid temperatures have already caused the school to cancel night classes once. This is surprising to most students because as we all know, Oswego very rarely cancels class. Walking across campus in these extreme conditions can  truly be a challenge to some students, and I’m sure not many people wake up in the morning looking forward to walking from West-Campus to Shineman in 0 degree weather. Of course, there is always the bus that runs once every 20 minutes, but as some of us know, the bus can fill up and will not allow any more students on. This can be devastating if you were counting on the bus to get you to class on time. These are only but a few of the struggles presented to SUNY Oswego students during the winter. Between the harsh winter months and the workload presented to you by classes, the beginning of the spring semester can be stressful. Luckily, there are ways to combat this stress. Oswego State provides some useful facilities and activities to help you unwind and ultimately remain stress free and on track when it comes to classes.

The two fitness centers: Glimmerglass and Cooper, are two great facilities if you’re trying to get fit and relieve stress. There’s nothing better than a good workout. These facilities provide dumbbells, weight benches, treadmills, bikes, elliptical machines, and a variety of other fitness equipment to students who have purchased a membership. Both fitness centers offer a variety of programs and group workouts to students as well.

Your residence hall also contains some fun things to do. The front desk at your residence hall is  a good place to stop by if you’re looking for something to get your mind off of school or just chill out on the weekends. The school provides hundreds of DVDs which can be rented out as long as you have your student ID. The front desk also has a variety of board games that can be rented out as well. Depending on your residence hall, you may also be provided with pool tables, pianos, ping pong tables, etc. Your R.A. as well as the other R.A.’s in your building work really hard to provide you with fun and informative activities that are designed to bring the residential community together. Flyers for these activities are usually posted within each residence hall.

Many other things are going on as well! Check out http://www.oswego.edu/news/calendar for more exciting activities.

Major Changes

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Having trouble finding a major that’s right for you? Don’t get too worked up about it, it happens to a lot of students here at Oswego. Personally, I’ve changed my major twice. Don’t get me wrong, it’s been pretty stressful trying to figure out what I really wanted to major in, but the only way to find out what you really want to do is to test out a bunch of alternative options. I came into Oswego as a declared economics major, and after a few weeks, I decided that it definitely wasn’t for me. Looking back at it, I have no clue why I chose that major in the first place–I wasn’t even very interested in the subject to be honest. Needless to say, I changed my major after my first year of college. From economics, I went to Electrical and Computer Engineering. I love computers, so I decided to give it a shot. After a semester of  taking the ECE prerequisites and some core requirements, I found that engineering wasn’t something that I could put my heart into–I just wasn’t into it at all. Just goes to show how you can be interested in something one minute, and then after testing the waters, you decide that it doesn’t suit you at all. From my experience, I gained knowledge of a variety of things, ranging from the Economics of Gender, to Calculus. I also got all of my general education requirements out of the way by sophomore year. After my decision to change my major for the second time, I took a lot of time to really think my next major change through and weigh my options. I finally opted for the Public Justice major here at SUNY Oswego, and I couldn’t be more satisfied so far. It took me almost 2 years to figure out what I wanted to major in, but that’s what college is all about. In order to figure out what you want to achieve, you absolutely need to search for something that you can enjoy doing. It may take a while, but you WILL find something  that interests you. I hope my post here will help those who are unsure of what they would like to major in put themselves out there and take a variety of courses that may point them in the right direction.

Study Tips: A Guide to Getting That A!!!!

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Studying for a quiz or test can be extremely stressful. In order to get a good grade, it is necessary that you have the proper work ethic, and that you know how to study properly without stressing yourself out. First of all, you need to know that different study techniques work for different people, and that it is not guaranteed that these tips will work for you. It is very possible that these methods may improve your particular study habits, however. This blog post is focused on providing you with various methods of studying that may help you to get good grades on future exams.  Below are study tips that may help you out:

 

  • Reviewing the material you have learned right after class may be beneficial. Since the material is fresh in your head from class, if you review it the same day, the chance that you will retain the information increases.
  • Do NOT put off studying. Try and review the material that will be on the exam throughout the week before the test itself. Cramming will only stress you out and may decrease the chance that you will actually retain the information that you are studying.
  • Utilize every study resource that you have. This includes text books, lecture notes, powerpoints, and any other handouts made available to you by your professor.
  • Comfy, quiet environments are essential to your ability to effectively study. They make it easier for your brain to capture the information that you are memorizing and to access it at the time of the exam.
  • Study the most important information first! Find the things that you think will definitely be on the exam and rigorously study them.
  • Don’t study right before bed; this will only result in you becoming tired. Instead, study in the afternoon, or whenever you have free time. Studying while you’re wide awake will help you retain the information that you are trying to remember.
  • Keep relaxing music playing while you study. If it is kept at a relatively low volume, this music will help you to focus and retain the information that you are studying.
  • Either test yourself or have a friend test you on the material that is going to be on the exam. Verbally practicing questions that could possibly be on the exam will help you to remember certain material.
  • Make sure you understand material that will be on the test. Simply memorizing things will not help you get a better grade.
  • Frequently take short breaks while you study. Long study sessions may stress you out and tire out your brain.
  • TAKE NOTES!!!! Writing down information will help you remember what you have learned.
  • Read through the material provided by your professor multiple times. Only reading through it once will not help you to remember what will be on the test.

 

I hope these tips helped you. If you have any questions or concerns, leave a comment on this post and I will try to reply as quickly as possible.

Time Management-How to Successfully Get Your Work Done on Time

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Sometimes, your classes can get the best of you.

 

Have you ever put off a huge project until the last day before it’s due? Ever let your homework pile up over the course of the week? These two things can work together to make you feel overwhelmed, stressed, and buried in work. Contrary to popular belief, a pot of coffee and an all nighter are not the solution to this problem. This bolg post is aimed at time management, seeking help in topics you may be struggling in, and how to survive the semester without stressing over being behind in classes.

 

When it comes to time management, there are many courses of action you can take to help keep organized and work in a productive, timely manner. Here are a few methods you can use to help manage your time:

  • Make a schedule for yourself!-When a professor assigns a project that is due in a month, it may be a good idea to utilize all of the time that you have been given to complete the assignment. This usually means that you’re expected to put a lot of work into the assignment. In order to keep on track, make a schedule for yourself. Use a loose leaf piece of paper, calender, etc. to remind yourself what part of the project you should be working on at a given time.
  • Buy yourself a white board!– This is a must have for any college student. A great idea is to keep the white board on the wall next to your bed so you can see whatever reminders you’ve written yourself as soon as you wake up. That way you won’t forget about an assignment that is due. Plan your week out on the board–it will be extremely helpful!
  • Have a smartphone? Use it!-There are some great features in most smartphones that can work wonders when it comes to managing time. Most phones have a notepad, which can be used to write notes to yourself regarding a project or homework assignment. Another great feature is the alarm. Set alarms for yourself to remind you that you should be doing your work. That way you won’t get distracted by whatever you may be doing and lose track of time.
  • Buy a planner!-Planners are a great invention–especially for a college student. Use them to keep track of all of your assignments and their due dates. This way, you can get things done before they start to pile up.
  • Others- Other great ways to stay on track include leaving sticky notes for yourself, or having a trustworthy friend remind you to stay on track.
Sometimes for a student, procrastination occurs because they do not understand the material in class. If this is the case, and you are struggling in a class, here are a few methods to help you bring up your grade and do better on exams, homework, or papers:
  • Office Hours-Most professors on campus have open office hours–which is a specified time on a given day where they are open to students who may wish to come in and seek help on a project, paper, homework assignment, or seek additional instruction in a specific area. Usually office hours are posted in a courses syllabus. If not, consult your professor to see when they are available. This is a great way to establish a good relationship with your professor as well as receive one on one help with whatever you may be struggling with. Professors are always happy to help!
  • Tutoring Services-  SUNY Oswego’s Office of Learning Services provides numerous resources t students who wish to seek extra help with their classes. A great service provided is their tutoring service. If you visit the OLS office (Located in room 171 in the Campus Center), you can request a tutor to help you. Tutors are available for most lower level courses, as well as upper level courses. These tutors are usually undergraduate students, graduate students, or professors who make themselves available to help you.
  • Need someone to proofread your paper? Go to the WRITING CENTER!-Located on the third floor of the Penfield Library, the Writing Center is a great service offered to those who wish to seek help with a writing assignment. If you wish to have somebody read over your paper and help you improve your writing skills. To make an appointment with a writing tutor, go to this web address and follow the instructions. http://www.oswego.edu/academics/support/OLS/wc.html
  • When studying, DON’T CRAM!-Spreading out study sessions over a period of time before your exam will help you to retain the information better. Study one portion of the material at a time. Cramming is stressful and ultimately is not a good way to study. Taking breaks between study sessions is healthy and gives the information time to sink in.
  • Study with a group of friends- Sometimes, working in a group is much better than working alone. If you have a big exam to study for, study with a group and take turns testing each other on the material.
  • Go to the library!-If you feel as if you may be studying in a distracting environment, go to the library to do your work. There are plenty of places in the library that promote productivity and help you to focus on your work and your work alone. For me, just being at the library makes me study harder and focus more.

 

How to Survive Oswego’s Weather

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Is anybody else confused as to how Oswego can go from 56 degrees and sunny one week to negative temperatures, massive amounts of snow, hail, sleet, and forty mile an hour winds the next? After last weeks beautiful weather I was just about ready to pack away the snow gear and bring out the shorts and tee shirts. Unfortunately, that isn’t looking like a possibility anytime soon. It seems that the weather here changes every other week, and mother nature doesn’t want to give us a break! This weather proves to be a major problem when it comes to having classes all the way across campus. It may seem near impossible to enjoy this weather, but there are definitely some great ways to stay warm, make it to class, and have a great time while the winds rage and the snow piles up.

 

The number one rule for surviving these frigid temperatures: LAYER, LAYER, LAYER! Unless you want to freeze, bundle up as much as possible. A heavy jacket, gloves, hat, and boots are all pretty much essential. Face masks are also great to block out the wind and keep your face warm.

 

Another great strategy to survive the winter is to utilize the Centro bus system, also known as the Blue Route. I was extremely surprised when a couple friends of mine told me that they have never ridden the bus before. If you look around campus, you’ll notice blue signs by the road (they usually have a picture of a bus on them) or the enclosed bus stops such as the ones behind Penfield Library and next to Oneida Hall. Just about every 20 minutes the bus will leave the Campus Center. The bus is free to ride, and is great if you need to get to a class that’s particularly far away. Here is the link to the times the bus departs from the Campus Center as well as a map of the Blue Route: http://www.oswego.edu/Documents/auxiliary_services/ShuttleMap090111.pdf

 

If you’re snowed in on the weekends and feel that the only thing the weather will permit you to do is sleep, I’m pleased to inform you that there are great things you can do in your Residence Hall without even having to go out into the cold! Normally, I’ll just read and relax, but if you have different preferences, you could always rent a movie from the front desk free of charge! There really is a huge selection of movies and TV shows that the front desk can rent out to you. Board games are also available for anybody. All you need is your Oswego I.D.!

 

This weather may seem to be a drag, but there are many things that the school provides to it’s students to make it as tolerable and comfortable as possible. All you need to do is utilize these services. hopefully these tips will help you out!

 

SUNY Oswego Presents: Lupe Fiasco!

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Whatsup bloggers?

 

The time has finally come! The artist performing at this years Spring Concert has been announced! I’d imagine you’ve all been as excited as I was for this huge announcement. As stated in the title, this years concert is to be put on by famous rapper Wasalu Muhammad Jaco–Better known by his stage name: Lupe Fiasco. If you remember, we voted on who should play this concert a few months ago. Personally I’m very happy with this outcome. For those of you who have never heard of Lupe Fiasco, I suggest you take the time to look him up. Lupe’s lyrical style is quite unique; he focuses most of his music on controversial political and social issues such as war, poverty, prostitution, terrorism, and religion. Lupe is also strongly opposed to censorship, and believes that it only blinds and deafens people from the truth. He currently has released four studio albums including “Lupe Fiasco’s Food and Liquor”, “Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool“, “Lasers”, and “Food and Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1”. Now I bet you’re wondering about when and where you can get tickets, so here are the details:

 

  • The will be held in the Campus Center Arena on April 20th, 2013
  • Doors open at 7:00 p.m. ; The show starts at 8:00 p.m.
  • Ticket prices are $10 for SUNY Oswego students and $20 for the general public
  • Tickets go on sale for students on March 25th, 2013 and can be bought at the Campus Center Box Office
  • Tickets go on sale for the General Public on April 1st, 2013

 

 

 

Who doesn’t like free stuff?

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Hello bloggers!

If you’re a student here on campus, you should obviously know what CTS is. For those of you who don’t, you’ve been missing out on a very helpful group of individuals. CTS, or Campus Technology Services, is the primary source of help when it comes to any technological pitfalls you may be experiencing. If you are having a problem with your computer, the internet, or any other electronics, CTS should be your first phone call. Conveniently located on the ground level of Lanigan Hall, the CTS Help Desk is open Monday through Friday fro 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. During this time, walk-ins are available to SUNY Oswego students. You can also email them at help@oswego.edu or call at (315) 312-3456. Along with their expertise, CTS also provides students with a variety of programs that are available for download on their website. They pay for the licenses to the software in order to allow students to download it for no charge. The programs available for download include:

 

Minitab: A program used in most statistics classes in order to provide students with a way to complete problems and create graphs.

 

Sophos Anti-Virus- An anti-virus program that will protect your computer from malware, spyware, trojans, and other threats to your computer’s security.

 

Microsoft Office- All of your run of the mill Microsoft programs such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher.

 

Along with these programs, Spyware and Malware removal tools are also available for download. These programs are essential if you believe your computer may have a virus. Be sure to utilize the wonderful service that CTS provides for students on campus!

 

 

How About a Quick Introduction….

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Hello all! My name is Josh, and I’m a freshman here at SUNY Oswego. I’ve recently returned for my second semester here and let me just say, thank god the first semester is out of the way. Between meeting new people, finding things to do, doing homework. and adjusting to all of the new classes I had, the first semester was strictly transitional (and quite hectic at times). I’d like to focus this blog on general campus news and/or interesting experiences I may have throughout the semester. Currently, I’m a declared economics major, but once I turn in the paperwork, which will hopefully be done sometime this week, I will be enrolled in SUNY Oswego’s newest program: Electrical and Computer Engineering. I’m particularly excited about this due to the construction of “The Richard S. Shineman Center for Science, Engineering and Innovation”, which is the name of the new Science building that has been in construction for quite some time now (even as I was touring the school before I applied). This building is going to provide students with a state of the art learning environment, and I can’t wait to see it in the Fall of 2013 when the project is completed. Of course, this will likely be the building where I’ll have to take Calculus and Chemistry, but I won’t let that ruin it for me just yet! I’ll just have to cross that bridge when I get there.