Thursday, July 31, 2014

Get Your Nassau Sports Here!

Say this about Nassau CC: there's never a shortage of games going on here.

Football, volleyball, men's and women's soccer, tennis, cross country, wrestling, bowling, indoor track, men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball, golf, spring track and field, men's and women's lacrosse--NCC's sports program rivals that of most four-year schools. 


And the teams are almost always good. 

NCC's football team has had winning seasons, including several undefeated ones, for more than two decades.  Men's lacrosse has won more than 20 national titles and is a regular in NJCAA title games. The wrestling team has not only won two NJCAA championships in recent years but produced several All Americans in different weight classes.  And just last year, the men's basketball team won a division title while the men's tennis team won a national championship.  

That's not all.

Nassau's intramural sports program offers an array of athletic activities, beginning in September and running through May.  A typical semester features flag football, dodgeball, and three-on-three basketball, along with a host of co-ed team sports--volleyball, tennis, racquetball, soccer, and handball. There are also individual competitions, such as three-point and slam dunk contests, open to the entire student body.

Most intramural activities take place in the Phys Ed Complex during club hours  (11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m.) on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  It doesn't cost anything to participate, and you don't have to be a world class athlete--just someone interested in fun, fitness, and friendship.

You can find out more about both intercollegiate and intramural sports, including schedules and start times, at http://www.ncc.edu/studentlife under "Athletics" and "Intramural Sports."  The action gets going early (the first weeks of September in most cases)--so don't miss out.

Whether you're a diehard fan, a gym rat, or just somebody who likes to stay active, you'll find a home in NCC's Phys Ed Complex.  Chances are you'll also make some good friends there, students who enjoy competition and whose idea of a good time is to work up a sweat. 

Saturday, July 26, 2014

You're Older. You're Starting College. No Need to Stress!

Starting a new school is always a jittery experience, but it's especially so when you've been out of the classroom for what seems like a lifetime.  If that's your situation, know that you've plenty of company.  In fact, you're part of a pretty large student population here at NCC--people who've decided at 25, 35, 45, or whatever age to see what college is all about.

Regardless of the date on your birth certificate, the fact that you've decided to continue your education is what matters.  Starting college at any age is an important step, but for older students it's often the ultimate life changer, a turning point like no other.  So before that thrilling (and terrifying!) first day of classes arrives, here are some tips on making your college experience a memorable one.

1.   Get over the age thing.  Most NCC students don't care a lick about the age of the people sitting next to them in class.  As long as their classmates are interested, serious, respectful, and approachable, it's all cool.  About the only time age becomes an issue is when someone gives off an "I'm-older-and-I-know-it-all" attitude, which sometimes implies disdain for younger students.  Don't be self conscious about your age.  Be genuine and you'll hit it off with students from 17 to 75.

2.   Be open to school.  You'll get out of college what you put into it.  If you approach school with the right attitude, you'll definitely be satisfied more often than not.  View each of your classes as a chance to stretch and grow, and try to focus on what you can take away from every experience (both in and out the classroom). There's a lot to learn in college, not only about the world but about yourself.  Stay on your toes.

3.  Use your help. Whether it's working with a Writing Center tutor on a paper, asking a librarian for help with a research question, or taking part in a Career Center workshop, you owe it to yourself to get the most out of NCC's many tutoring, counseling, and other support services (http://www.ncc.edu/studentlife/orientation/student_support_services.shtml).  You'll learn about services at the Adult Student Orientation on Wed., August 27 (call 572.7141 for details). And be sure to get acquainted the Adult Resource Center (a must for older students!) in Nassau Hall.

4.  Be smart (and realistic) about time.  Managing classes, a job, a social life, and family responsibilities isn't impossible, but it definitely requires you to be organized, to keep your priorities straight, and to make your minutes count. The challenge is to strike a balance between school and the other parts of your life, all of which deserve your attention.  If you need advice on making everything fit, try our time management workshops (http://www.ncc.edu/campusservices/educational_counseling/workshops.shtml) or chat with your NCC 101 instructor (http://www.ncc.edu/studentlife/ncc_101.shtml).  Both will help.

5.  Connect with the campus.  No matter how busy you are, don't let college become a solitary experience.  Talk to students in your classes. Join a study group (a good way to get a better handle on what you're studying AND to get to know your classmates).  If your department or program schedules a speaker or some other event, attend. Also, join a club: there are more than a hundred at NCC, all offering chances to meet people.  And, of course, get to know your professors, most of whom will be eager to speak with you about your coursework and offer thoughtful advice about college.

Still nervous about starting Nassau?  Don't be. You're beginning a great new chapter in your life, one that will be interesting and rewarding and exciting.  And even if you hit a few bumps in the road along the way (everyone does), keep this advice in mind and your college journey will be awesome.

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Who's Up for a Summer Workshop?

So now that high school is in your rearview mirror, you're probably starting to think about what lies ahead, including, of course, the next "chapter" of your life--Nassau.

Some good news: You don't have to wait until classes start to get a glimpse of college. Attend one of our free summer workshops scheduled over the next four Wednesdays (July 23 and 30 and August 6 and 13) and you'll come away with a ton of useful and valuable information about NCC.

Workshops (twelve in all) will cover a range of topics--academic skills (time management, note-taking, and test-taking), campus life (clubs, sports, etc.), online courses, career services, the campus Library, NCC's "extras" (campus jobs, scholarships, internships, international study, etc.), campus volunteer opportunities--pretty much everything you need to know to get off to a good start in September.  Each workshop runs a single hour and each addresses a specific topic.

You can attend as many workshops as you please--there's no limit and no RSVP needed!  All you have to do is show up (all workshops are held in the College Center, Rm. 251), have a seat, help yourself to a snack, and take it all in.

Why attend?  Why not wait until September to get a handle on college?  Two reasons: 1) College is very different from high school (don't expect a rerun of your senior year); and 2) Nassau is a BIG college--more varied and interesting than high school certainly--but also more complex than any school you've attended to this point.  Being familiar with NCC's landscape in advance can only help.

Besides, we're talking about only a few hours out of your entire summer--a small investment of time that will pay big dividends just down the road.  Trust me.   

Here's a list of workshop topics.  For descriptions (along with other info), scroll down the "Summer Workshops" page http://www.ncc.edu/studentlife/orientation/summer_workshops.shtml that's part of our Orientation link.  If you have questions, you can call us, Monday through Thursday, at 516.572.7148.

Hope to see you . . . .

July 23

10 a.m.   NCConline
11 a.m.   Quick Tips on Academics
12 noon  Ask a Librarian

July 30  

10 a.m.   NCConline
11 a.m.   Finding Your 'Dream' Career
12 noon  Want to Make a Difference?

August 6  

10 a.m.   Want to Make a Difference?
11 a.m.   Life Outside the Classroom at NCC
12 noon  NCConline

August 13  

10 a.m.   Life Outside the Classroom at NCC
11 a.m.   What to Expect in Your Classes at NCC
12 noon  Making NCC Work for You

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

An "Oasis" for New College Students

Wouldn't it be neat if you could start Nassau knowing practically everything you need to know about the College, including how to get around campus, what to expect from your professors, where to go for help, what student life is all about, and how to handle (maybe even ace) your classes? 

Well, guess what--you can.  It's called NCC 101: The College Experience.  And for the past 22 years, it's been an oasis of information and support for thousands of new Nassau students.


NCC 101 is Nassau's college success course.  Its basic goal is to help you get off to a good start in college, succeed in your classes, and make the most of your time at Nassau.  

The course provides lots of useful information about NCC, teaches practical skills (like how to manage your time, take good class notes, and prepare for tests), and offers thoughtful advice on navigating college--everything from strategies for getting along with your professors and tips on using campus services to the ins and outs of clubs and campus life.   

All this in a one-credit course.  

One of the best things about NCC 101 is its faculty.  The course is taught by professors who know how college works and who are committed to helping you get settled in school.   They're people you can call on no matter what your concern--being better organized, finding a major or career, getting a handle on academics, meeting people on campus, whatever.  Taking NCC 101 is a little like having a friend at Nassau, somebody whose door you can knock on if you have questions, need advice, or even find yourself in a jam.

It's a really cool way--and a smart way--to start your college career.

You can find out more about NCC 101 by calling 516.572.8030.  Don't worry  If you've already registered for classes for the fall semester.  Someone will answer your questions and help you add the course if you would like.  And by the way, you can also take the NCC 101 this summer.  There are day and evening sections, each running two weeks, in early August.

NCC 101 isn't a miracle drug, of course.  If you want to have a good experience in college, you'll still need to be open to school, make your classes a priority, and be willing to work hard.  But if you're looking for some straight talk about college success, you can't go wrong by making NCC 101 part of your schedule.  It's the ultimate inside track.

And at a big college like Nassau, being on the inside track can help you start and finish strong. 

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Getting Acquainted . . . .

Chilling with friends, spending days at the beach, going to parties, ball games, concerts, movies: Can there be anything better than the summer between high school and college?  

Probably not.  If you just graduated, this is a time to kick back, relax, and take in summer's pleasures.  July and August won't last forever, of course, but they're here now--so why not enjoy the moment? 


But now and then over the next two months, take a little time also to get acquainted with Nassau. Start by browsing the New Student Orientation link on the NCC homepage www.ncc.edu/orientation --lots of interesting and useful NCC info here.  Follow us on Twitter -- www.Twitter.com/fye_nassaucc --for updates on NCC life and events.  Or just read the FAQs in the "Starting Smart" publication you got when you registered for classes.  It will probably answer some questions you've been meaning to ask.

  
And if you really want to see NCC up close before September arrives, spend a Wednesday morning at our summer workshops.  From July 9 to August 13 (six dates in all), we'll be covering all sorts of topics you should know about--everything from quick tips on academics and the A-Z of financial aid to NCC's hidden gems (internships, scholarships, help centers, and campus life) and the role of our Career and Job Placement services in helping you find your "dream" career.  

You'll find a schedule of workshops (and descriptions) under "Summer Workshops" at www.ncc.edu/studentlife/orientation/summer_workshops.shtml.  Workshops run from 10 a.m.-12:50 p.m. each Wednesday.  They're free.  No RSVP is necessary.  You can attend as many (or as few) as you want.  All you have to do is show up in the College Center, Rm. 251, and have a seat.

Of course, you'll find out even more about NCC at the New Student Orientation program in late August (read your NCC email and check back here for more details about Orientation).  But that's still almost two months away.  Between now and then, take advantage of our online resources and summer workshops to "ease" into college.  You'll learn some cool stuff about Nassau, get a quick glimpse of the campus, meet some of your new classmates--and still have time to have the summer of your life.