November 6th, 2024

Hello, Bobcat parent and family members of first-year students,

We're getting to that point in the semester where fatigue often settles in as the exams, papers and projects due before Thanksgiving quickly approach.

The semester's end is in sight. Two more full weeks before Fall Break, Nov. 25-29, and then it'll be a quick slide into Final Week. I'd like to share some important dates and recommendations as your student prepares for the end of their first semester of college:

• The last day to withdraw from a fall 2024 course with a "W" grade is Nov. 13.
• Students should expect to be on campus through Thursday, Dec. 12, for final exams.

As the semester winds down, stress tends to spike. Encourage your student to:

• Take advantage of resources to support their success, e.g., it's not too late to get a tutor.
• Talk with their instructors if they are worried about their grades or exams.
• Take care of themselves. "All-nighters" are rarely a good idea, and cramming doesn't work. Exercise, sleep, and a structured study schedule are the best ways to prepare for final exams.

After final exams, it's critical that your student review their academic standing by checking their:

• Fall Semester final grades and credits completed in MyInfo around Dec. 27. If they didn't pass a class with a C- or better grade, they should reach out to their advisor because we may need to adjust their spring classes. 
• Spring Semester 2025 class schedule by day and time (also in MyInfo) to ensure they are registered and confirm with student accounts about tuition payment deadlines.

What if the first semester didn't go so well? That happens -- college is a big adjustment. Please encourage your student to connect with me or my colleagues in the Allen Yarnell Center for Student Success for support and strategies to improve. They can also schedule directly through Jabs Drop-in Advising or the Allen Yarnell Center for Student Success Advising. Remind them that they get to start fresh in January.

And speaking of the new year, I'm delighted to share that your student can enroll in BGEN 204-Business Fundamentals, which is all about the basics of business -- management, marketing, finance and accounting. First-year students find it motivating at the start of their second semester to have a class focused on their chosen major. They'll likely also be enrolling in more math or statistics, and possibly economics, college writing and some university core (general education) courses. Many first-year students are registering for their spring semester classes this week.

Both Thanksgiving and winter breaks are great times for reflection. What's going well and not so well? Is business the right major? As your student starts to answer these questions, gently remind them a whole team is here at MSU to provide support.

I'm going to step away from this email series for the holidays. In January, I'll be back with more information relevant to guiding students through the spring semester.

Sincerely,

Brenda Truman
Assistant Dean of Student Services & Retention