Academics at Elmira College

I thought I would devote a Blog to the unique academic environment that Elmira College has to offer all kinds of students!

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A - Analytical Discussions: These happen in almost every class that is offered at EC, whether it is Freshman Core, a French Literature class, or even a dance class. These are so important in a collegiate environment and it helps expands the student's knowledge and range of thinking. I recall during Term I of Freshman Core, my professor said, "There is a lot here, so let's flush this out some more." She was referring to The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. To this day, that quote is stuck in my head and whenever I have to do an in-depth reading, I refer back to it!

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C - Creative Presentations: As a student, one will have to do a lot of presenting throughout the four years they are here. This is important because it helps enhance public speaking skills, as well as, conveying information to a large audience. Now, since everyone is doing a presentation, there should be a lot of different methods to convey the topic. For example, one presentation I did, I used a quote from the Austin Powers trilogy to support my thesis regarding the Psychedelic '60s to add something different to the old-fashioned PowerPoint. When forming a presentation, it is important to remember what is going to set it apart from every other PowerPoint and outline that the class sees. Originality is the key!

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A - Avoid Procrastination: This is a great piece of advice that everyone should take into account, whether it is for an essay, or a presentation. It will need to be done no matter if it is two weeks before or if it is two days before it is due, so why not work on it over a long period of time, so as not to stress oneself out? This is important and it allows for enough time to proofread and rehearse.

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D - Distinctive Honor Societies: There are rewards for high averages, not just the personal gratification, but also the possibility of getting inducted into the many prestigious National Honor Societies that Elmira College has. Some of these include: Phi Eta Sigma (Freshman Honor Society), Psi Chi (Psychology Honor Society), Scabbard and Blade (Military), and so many others. Many of these organizations have community outreach programs and develop presentations or conferences that their members can go to. They help make one's academic career even stronger with the many educational opportunities that they continually offer.

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E - Extra Credit Opportunities: A part of the Psychology major at Elmira College mandates research classes where students create a thesis and test it on their fellow students. For most of the other students who are in Psychology classes, they can go to these research sessions and receive extra credit from their professor. This usually depends on the professor who teaches the class, but both my Introductory Psychology and Child and Adolescent Psychology professors allowed this. The sessions usually only take a half an hour, but it is incredibly valuable for all students; test subjects and researchers!

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M - Mandatory Officer Hours: One would be crazy not to go to them at least once throughout the term! These are where a professor has to be in their office for at least an hour a week, most professors have their office hours twice or more during the week. I found this is most helpful when preparing for a large essay assignment. Some professors will look over outlines or rough drafts before handing in the final copy. This is great because it can be the difference between a C and a B for some students. These hours also let the professor get to know the student on a personal level and helps establish the student-professor connection that will help for future classes or even recommendations.

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I - Interesting Classes: These are plentiful at Elmira College, one just needs to look for them! Some of these include, "Marking the Body: The Art of Body Modification," "Fermentation throughout the Ages," and "History of Rock and Roll." There are many other ones, but these are the classes that have interested me the most. Term III is best to take these classes because they can be enjoyed without the hassle of four or five other classes! One can really find value in what they are learning and take the most out of their classes while applying it to their major as well!

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C - Committed Professors: When a prospective students enrolls at Elmira College, they know what they are going to get out of their professors. They are all committed to their subject area, as well as, helping their students grow. Not once in my almost two years at EC have I doubted the commitment of my professors, not only are they there for you to teach you a subject, but they also provide great life or future career advice. A small college, like EC, allows for the personal one-on-one interaction between students and professors and this is invaluable in a society where two opinions are always better than one!

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Hope everyone has a great week and enjoys studying in the sunshine!