Peer Mentor Info

Alexander Lopez (alexander.lopez2@mail.citytech.cuny.edu) will be our Peer Mentor this semester. This is his space to post and update information. You can also comment or ask him questions here.

Hi, everyone!

I will be updating this tab with upcoming events and useful resources; It will contain the information found in the emails. Reach out if you have any questions!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

  • April 19-28 (Friday-Sunday): Spring Recess (No Classes)
Animated GIF
  • April 16 (Tuesday): First Year Program Registration Workshop: Run by Peer Mentors, this workshop will walk you through how to use the Degree Checklists and Maps for your major, as well as give you step-by-step guidance on how to register for classes in CUNYfirst. Don’t miss it!! (10-11AM in N420A)
  • April 18 (Thursday): 
    • ECOFEST 2019_EARTH DAY AT CITYTECH: Ecofest is a college-wide event & Earth Day Celebration! It is a forum for students, staff, faculty and guest speakers, to share their ideas about City Tech and environmental sustainability. (Library Building, Ground Floor – 11AM-4PM)
    • 38th Annual Literary Arts Festival with Jose Olivarez: Join us for a night of great poetry, dance, music, and community. (New Academic Complex Auditorium, (5:30PM-7PM)
    • First Year Program Registration Workshop: Run by Peer Mentors, this workshop will walk you through how to use the Degree Checklists and Maps for your major, as well as give you step-by-step guidance on how to register for classes in CUNYfirst. Don’t miss it!! (1-2PM in N420A)

*NOTE: More events are posted around the school than show up on City Tech’s website. The best places to check for upcoming events are: The walls in Namm near the elevators (the fourth floor usually has the most flyers), the Namm main staircase, and the walkway between Namm and the Library Building. If you are interested in major-specific events, be sure to check your major departments. For example, the CST department is on the ninth floor.*

SPRING BREAK CHECKLIST:

I know everyone wants to get their mind off of school for the break, but this is the best time to get some important items off of your to-do list.

  • File FAFSA, TAP, and any additional financial aid resources for the 2019-2020 semester. During the break, school offices are still open, so if you need to speak with financial aid, this is the best time (and shortest lines!).
  • Register for Fall 2019 (and Summer 2019, if you are interested in summer courses)
  • Get caught up on missing assignments, and start looking ahead towards finals. This is a crucial point of the semester so it is best to get ahead of the studying.
  • Reach out to your peer mentor if you have any questions.
REGISTRATION: Not sure where to begin with registration? Here are some tips:
1: Speak to An Academic Adviser
They can help guide you through the course selection process. They will make sure you fulfill your major requirements and stay on track. Below, I have attached a link to City Tech’s site containing all departments. From there, you select your major and will be able to view the contact information for each department.
https://www.citytech.cuny.edu/academics/academic-departments.aspx

2:Be Aware of Your Enrollment Date/Time
You do not want to miss out on a course because it is already filled. Keeping track of your registration appointment ensures you the best opportunity of getting all the courses you want.
  • To view your appointment date/time, check your student email for an email from CUNY City Tech that was sent out March 29th.
  • You can also view your enrollment date/time in your cunyLogin by doing the following:
    • 1) Login to your cunyFirst account.
    • 2) Select Student Center, on the left-hand menu.
    • 3) Select “Open Enrollment Dates”, in the Enrollment Dates menu, on the right-hand side of the page.
    • 4) Select the current semester, and your information should open up.
3: Your Shopping Cart: Adding, Removing, Finalizing Classes
  • To add a class:
    • After logging into your CunyFirst, and selecting Student Center, Select Enroll (on the left of the Academics Tab)
    • Select 2019 Fall Term
    • There are multiple ways to search for courses, but I find it easiest to use the “select” (green button on the left), and then enter courses by their subject and subject number. For example, Subject: Computer Information System, Course Number is exactly 1101.
    • After selecting search, all courses for that subject will appear. Select the desired course and continue. It will add it to your shopping cart. (NOTE: A course being in your shopping cart does not mean you are in the course. You must enroll in the course. To do this, select “proceed to step 2 of 3” and continue from there.)
  • To remove a course in your shopping cart:
    • Select the trash icon beside the course (in your shopping cart) and the class will be removed.
  • Finalizing and Enrolling:
    • After you have added your courses to the shopping cart, you select “proceed to step 2 of 3” and continue through the steps. If you meet all requirements, you will be enrolled in the courses.
4: Still confused? Come and See a Peer Mentor at our Registration Workshops
Wednesday April 10th from 2-3pm in G604
Tuesday April 16th from 10-11am in N420A
Thursday April 18th from 1-2pm in N420A

RECAP OF STUDENT SUCCESS SEMINAR #2:

  • Study Tips:
    • Place: It is important that your study spot is well-lit, quiet, and has all the supplies you need. 
    • Time: Set aside time to study a bit each day.
    • Daily Practice: Studies have shown that students who review class notes on a daily basis retain up to 60% more of the material. 
    • Limit Distractions: Use apps like Flora, Self Control, Freedom
  • Time Management
    • Use an Agenda: Note holidays/vacations, early release days, and other major commitments (weekend trips, appointments, etc).

      Write down your assignments every day for each class. If you have a test or project coming up, write it down on the due date, but also write down when you will study for it (like you would for a homework assignment).
  • Check out our Power Point for More Tips and Tricks (Attached). 
ACADEMIC RESOURCES
  • Tutoring: Attached are the comprehensive, math, and biology tutoring schedules. Biology I & II flyer S’ 2019 Comprehensive Tutoring Schedule – Spring 2019 020819 Perkins math flyer S’ 2019
  • Useful Applications: Below I listed some third-party applications that I use that really help me keep on track in school.
    • Evernote (evernote.com) – It is a note-taking software. It allows you to keep multiple notebooks (you can create one for each class), and you can use it just about anywhere – on your phone, tablet, and computer. It even has an offline mode if you want to study your notes when you do not have internet access. It has a built in search function, so if you want to go looking for a specific set of notes, you do not have to remember exactly where it is. There are many more features, so check it out!
    • Quizlet (quizlet.com) – It is another studying application, which allows you to make index cards of your notes. There are also a bunch of pre-made study cards from previous students. This application is also available on most devices and works offline.
    • HP Smart – It is a productivity application that allows you to scan, print, and copy from your phone. It is intended to be used with an HP printer, but you do not need one. It allows you to scan items using your phone camera; it then crops it for you and can even help you create a booklet of scans. I have used it to create booklets of all the handouts for classes, so that I can keep it all in the same space.
  • Studying Abroad: Are you interested in the CUNY Study Abroad programs? The Chancellor’s Global Scholarship provides partial funding and is open to all CUNY undergraduates. The deadline for applications is March 27.

FINANCIAL & ACADEMIC RESOURCES: 

  • Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP): ASAP is designed to help motivated students earn their Associate degree as quickly as possible. 

Program Perks

    • A free monthly MetroCard
    • A voucher to reduce (or eliminate) the cost of textbooks
    • A tuition waiver for any gap between tuition and your financial aid award (for students in receipt of financial aid) &&& MUCH MORE
Find out more (including eligibility requirements, how to apply) on their site: http://www.citytech.cuny.edu/asap/
  • Milton and Carroll Petrie Foundation: The City Tech Foundation has a fund for  emergency student aid provided through the generosity of the Milton and Carroll Petrie Foundation. Petrie Grants, as we call them, are not supplemental financial aid, nor can they be used to discharge debts to the College. Rather, they are to help students caught in an unanticipated situation that might leave them no alternative but to leave the College. To apply, Counseling Center – Namm 108.
  • Library Features:
    • In the library, you are allowed to print 30 FREE PAGES PER DAY.
    • In the front desk (next to the entrance on the fourth floor), you can check out books from around the library (and even view copies of textbooks for your classes). calculators, etc. 
    • There are more computers than just the ones on the floor and in the back when you come into the library; There is an entire room with desktop Macs on the left side, past the front desk. There are also computers in the room on the right past the recently featured books. 
    • You can reserve study rooms (need at least 3 people). They are quiet places to study, get group work done, etc. 
GETTING INVOLVED:
  • Interested in Clubs: You can visit Student Life & Development, located in G-516, to find more information on active clubs or even make your own.
  • Interested in Joining the Student Government Association: Join us for an Election Policy meeting on February 19th from 12:45pm – 2:15pm in the New Academic Building (A-215) to learn about the different SGA offices that you can run for and how you can benefit from it.
  • Interested in Writing: Submit your work for consideration in  the Literary Arts Festival (LAF)  Writing Competition! Winners receive recognition at the Festival ceremony on Thursday, April 18th, and a cash prize. (Flyer Attached)

GETTING STARTED AT CITY TECH:

  • Accessing Student Email:

http://outlook.com/mail.citytech.cuny.edu

Username: FirstName.LastName@mail.citytech.cuny.edu

Password: MMDDYY (Your Birthdate) and the last four digits of your EMPLID

  • Accessing CUNY LOGIN:

Step One: Go to – https://home.cunyfirst.cuny.edu

Step Two: Below the log in boxes, there should an option that says “New User”. Click on it.

Step Three: Enter the information for your First Name, Last Name, Date of Birth, and Last Four Digits of your Social Security.

It should ask you to create security questions. It will then provide your username and allow you to set your password.

Alexander Lopez

Peer Mentor, First Year Program

alexander.lopez2@mail.citytech.cuny.edu