Freshmen Focus: Tackling Transitions

1. Put in the Extra Effort

It is completely in your control how much you get out of Transitions. The way the class is set up (at least from the perspective of a student) is to inform you about the resources in Isenberg and give you a push in the right direction. You won’t learn everything you need to know about Isenberg or about succeeding in business from Transitions, but if you take the time to use what you learn in class on your own, you will be off to a very good start. One of the class assignments is to create (or update) a resume and submit it to your TA. You can submit a basic resume to your TA and call it a day, or you can ask for more feedback, read about resume tips online, and visit the Chase Career Center. My Transitions TA last year pushed me to take these steps, which proved to be invaluable as a freshman actively looking for internship opportunities. Spending my summer as an intern in Boston showed me that the combination of support and proactive hard work paid off!

2. Meet Your Classmates for the Next Four Years

This is one of the big advantages of being required to take Transitions – every other freshman in Isenberg has to take it too. While most of your other classes are open to any student at UMass, 191T is only for students like you: Freshmen in Isenberg. This is a great opportunity to meet other students in your major (if you have already decided on one), not to mention become familiar with the people you’ll be in most of your classes with over the next few years. Forming these connections is a great start to your time here.

3. Nail the Group Project

A big part of your Transitions grade will be your final group project – I know, group projects can be tough. Who takes on which part of the work? Will everyone finish their portion on time? What happens when it comes time for the presentation? These are questions that business professionals have on projects too, so there is no better time to improve your own outlook on group work. Working alone might be comfortable for you, but in a group you’ll have the opportunity to split up tasks, bounce ideas off others, and give/receive honest feedback – all really valuable skills!

4. Form a Relationship with Your TA

Compared to your other classes which may have 200 or more people in them, Transitions seems tiny: 20-30 students per class. But your class only meets once a week, not to mention that several of those times are in a larger lecture with the Dean and guest speakers. That means that in order to really form a relationship with your TA, it is important to make an effort. My TA for the class offered extra help hours to assist with anything from resume and internship applications to class selection. Your TAs were in your shoes just a few years ago, and can offer you lots of genuine advice. Take advantage of these opportunities!

Article By Gabriel Sehringer