FROM THE DEAN
Dr. Marlene Hollick, Dean, Division of Health Disciplines

Midterms are Over…What Should I Do Next?

“In the long run, men hit only what they aim at. Therefore, they had better aim at something high.” – Henry David Thoreau

Congratulations on passing the halfway mark of the Fall 2012 semester!

Even for those of you who have consistently earned high scores on your midpoint evaluations, now is not the time to relax. Instead, to help improve your likelihood of success throughout the entire semester (and beyond), keep these time management factors in mind:

1. Begin to plan now for final examinations. Your final exams in health courses will be cumulative, so you’ll need to continue to study work from the first part of the semester as well as content learned after the midterm.
2. If you are in your last semester, begin to plan your study strategies for professional licensing/registration/certification examinations as applicable to your program of study. For example, medical assisting graduates will need solid preparation for the CMA exam. Likewise, pharmacy tech graduates will benefit from reviews for the PTCBs.
3. For lab courses, complete all your required lab procedures early. Make sure you have fulfilled requirements for the minimum number of procedures with adequate time to complete each step properly. Rushing at the end of the semester will not help your career nor enhance your coursework knowledge. Your externship supervisor and coworkers/employer will be able to immediately tell, when you perform phlebotomies and ECGs, if you know what you are doing!
4. Complete and submit your written reports prior to due dates. Many instructors will not accept late work, and others will issue penalties for failure to submit work on time. Early submission of your term papers and projects will help avoid unnecessary grade reductions and may also provide ample time to study for final exams.
5. If available, utilize your course’s eCompanions for additional study resources. If you are presently enrolled in first-semester health courses such as medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, or the fourth-semester microbiology, you presently have 24/7 online access to your courses’ electronic companions.  These resources include presentations, practice test questions, videos, and audio clips.
6. Make use of the College’s learning centers. If you are running below a grade of “B” in any of your courses, be sure to make use of the tutoring services provided by the Brooklyn and Manhattan learning centers. Ask your instructor to set up an appointment. When final exams roll around you’ll be glad you did.
7. If you are a continuing student, come in now to register for the Spring 2013 semester. The schedules have been printed, the faculty are in the process of being assigned, and the staff of the Registrar’s Offices are waiting to see you. Avoid the last minute rush – come in now to get the best possible class schedule!

Midterms are only the halfway mark, the right preparation and solid work will get you across the finish line!