A "Veteran's" View: A Survival Guide From a Recent UC Grad Date: June 30, 2000 By: Eric Lose Archive: Campus News Welcome to UC. Say goodbye to hall lockers, gym class, lunchroom food-fights, demerits, detentions, standing in the corner for chewing gum and nights with 30 minutes of homework. Say hello to independence, exceptional teachers, course and schedule options, nights with four to eight hours of homework and personal responsibility. UC is the second largest university in Ohio. On the plus side, this big campus provides a wide range of educational options, top-notch research facilities, incredible cultural diversity and increased opportunities to socialize. On the other hand, a large campus can be overwhelming. It is easy to let yourself get lost in the shuffle and feel insignificant. But there's a lot of good help available if you have problems with your schedule, money, grades and such. This article will help you to know where to go for that assistance. Information about all student services is available through the university's web site. This campus will be your home for the next four or more years; spend some time navigating the site to check out your new residence. If you can't afford Internet access on your new collegiate budget, use one of the many terminals all over campus or check out Bearcat Online, which offers free dial-up service for students. Soon you will begin receiving mail from the university. If you're like me, if it doesn't contain a check, your tendency may be to throw it in a pile and look it at later. But resist that temptation. Read it. Read it all. Then read it again. Virtually every office on campus has told me that the majority of students' problems could be avoided if they read their mail. If you don't understand, ask for help. Here is some advice to get you started: Registration tips from Wendy Lambing, Director of Student Records 1.) Retain a copy of the current quarter's Learning Opportunities publication. Many policies and procedures are explained in that document, and it's a reliable reference tool to have throughout the quarter, not just at registration. (Each issue also contains a campus map; it's a good idea to keep one with you to find your way around.) 2) Make sure the university has a good mailing address on file. There's a lot that's going to be mailed to you from many different campus offices and it's important to read through everything sent to you. 3) Ask questions if something isn't entirely clear. It's always best to ask questions and seek advice from university administrators and staff. Parking Street parking is rare if you arrive after 6 a.m., and don't even think of being sneaky. The fine for expired meters on campus is $15. Parking in a lot without a valid decal is $25, and the steepest UC parking fines are $250 for illegal use of a handicap space. Decals are required for on-campus parking and can be purchased through the Parking Services web site, by mail or through a lottery system. Complete information on prices, parking locations and methods of purchase are available on the web site and are also explained in every issue of Learning Opportunities. If you do not sign up for the academic-year decal, you need to register for quarterly parking at the same time you submit priority registration for classes. Director of Parking Services Darlene Brown said, "The only students who encounter parking problems are those that decide they are not going to purchase a decal and choose to park on the campus without one. They get tickets. It's a conscious decision they make, thinking that the likelihood of getting caught is cheaper." A third alternative for parking is Burnet Woods. Permits to park in Burnet Woods are available through the Cincinnati Park Board and are on sale at the Krohn Conservatory in Eden Park. The passes are $60 per quarter or $150 per year. If you don't purchase a pass, don't park here. Police regularly check for permits and issue citations. The fine is $85. Call 352-4080 for more information. Financial Aid The financial aid process isn't as confusing as some people believe. According to Randy Ulses, assistant director of Student Financial Aid, "In simplest terms, students complete the FAFSA to apply and return the award offer to accept the aid." Loans, because of their long-term repayment obligations, add two other steps. All loan borrowers will need to complete promissory notes, the legal paperwork for the loans. Ulses says, "Promissory notes for Federal Stafford and PLUS Loans will be mailed to home addresses. Federal Perkins and Nursing Loan recipients will complete promissory notes when they arrive on campus in the fall." Finally, first-time Federal Stafford Loan borrowers must complete loan entrance counseling. This requirement can be fulfilled very easily on-line at www.financialaid.uc.edu. Additionally, careful planning for the year ahead will ensure your financial success. A basic part of planning is to take the time to project the quarterly bill and expenses to compare it to the quarterly financial aid. According to Ulses, "You don't want to assume your financial aid will cover your bill and other expenses. If they are not covered, you want to be plan now to meet your costs through income, savings, or family assistance." If you want help making these projections or with any questions about the application process, feel free to contact the Student Financial Aid Office at 556-6982 or via e-mail at financeaid@uc.edu. You can also stop by the office at 5150 One Edwards Center. Staff members will be happy to assist you and prepare you for the academic year ahead. Buildings There are more than 50 buildings on the west campus. Some stand alone and some are connected so you can't tell when you leave one and enter another. Get a campus map, and keep it with you: there is a map in each issue of Learning Opportunities. When in doubt, just ask the grounds crews for directions. They know where everything is located and are very helpful. More Financial Help Money problems can be commonplace on a college campus. Easy credit piled on top of student loans can leave you in debt before you know it. When that happens, call Consumer Credit Counseling at 651-0111. CCC is a nonprofit, no-charge debt counseling service. They can help arrange payment plans and negotiate some breathing room, but you still have to pay. Books According to Victoria Rogers, marketing coordinator for the UC bookstores, "Getting your textbooks at a university is very different than in high school. In high school most students have their books handed over to them the first day, and they hand them back on the last day. Here they actually have to buy their books." UC Bookstores sell texts for all classes. Whenever available, used books are offered for courses along with new. Used texts are current, in good condition and 25 percent cheaper than new. Rogers said, "We try to fill our shelves with used books first." There are three ways to get your books: in-person, on-line or by reservation. "The traditional way," said Rogers, "is students come into the store and our staff helps them by going to their departments' shelves and picking out the books their professors have required or recommended. "Another way is to go on-line. Students plug in the department and class they're looking for and our site shows the books they need, then they put them in a shopping cart, pay for them by credit card and get them delivered for free." New at UC Bookstores this year is a textbook reservation service. Students fill out a form in advance (or during orientation if they are incoming freshman). The books are reserved and set aside for the student at the bookstore. Advance payment can be arranged by credit card at the time of reservation or the bill can be paid when the order is picked up. What do you do with your books when the class is over? Those not kept for reference purposes can be sold back to the bookstore for up to half the current value. What if you buy the wrong book or drop the class? Don't worry. "We have a very liberal return policy," said Rogers. "We do full refunds up to a certain date. The policy is so liberal that students will know in plenty of time before they reach the end of the return period." Study help At some point you may find your grades heading for disaster. There is plenty of help available for those willing to do the work. Russell Curley, director of educational services, said most students wait until they fail their first tests to seek help. "If students find they're weak in math, they should find a tutor before they get into trouble. There's a desk just inside the door of Room 350 Tangeman, where students can request tutoring services; the staff will try to match up the tutors we have available with the times."