Category: College Life

5 Ways to Know if a Change of Major is Right for You

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Choosing a college major can be intimidating- there are so many options and it can be difficult to know which one is right for you. Many people do not know what career they want to have in the future, so it can be difficult to choose a subject to focus on. It is completely normal to change your mind about what field of study you want to focus on. In fact, it is actually common for college students to change their major at least once. Here are a few signs that you should change your college major: 

  1. You Cannot Pay Attention in Your Classes to Save Your Life

If you are sitting in core class for your major and find yourself online shopping every two seconds or scrolling through your Pinterest boards, this could be a major sign that your major is not right for you. If you are not enjoying your classes, why are you taking them? If you have no desire to engage during lectures for your major courses then maybe it’s time to look into some other ones.

  1. You Want to Try Something New

Perhaps since the ripe age of six years old, you have always wanted to be a doctor. Maybe you always thought that this was your path, but then when you got to college, you found yourself being interested in other subjects such as journalism or computer science. It’s okay to explore other interests- in fact, it’s better than working toward one thing for so long, only to realize later in life that this is not your passion. It can be rewarding and enjoyable to step out of your comfort zone and explore different subjects and potential careers. 

  1. It Feels Impossible to Succeed in Your Classes 

If you spend countless hours preparing for your classes and your grades are not reflecting your efforts, this may be a sign that you should switch to a different major. It is not worth it to continue to take major courses that you make feel stressed and discouraged more often than not. It’s okay to struggle sometimes, but make sure that the challenges you are facing in these courses are worth overcoming. In the end, it may suit your skills better and give you a breath of fresh air if you try to pick a new path of study. 

  1. You Only Picked Your Major to Make Big $

Some people want to live comfortably enough to buy a Lambo or Prada bag in the future. It makes sense to desire a career in which you can make the money to indulge in these things. If you only picked your major because you thought it could help you land a job where you make some big bank, this may be the reason why you should switch. It is important to have a job that sustains you in life, but it is also important that you love that job. Do not sacrifice your talents and passions for money because in the end, you may not only lose the cash, but you just may rob yourself of being happy in life. 

  1. You’re Just Not Feeling It

Sometimes, you have to listen to your intuition and go with your gut. If your heart is telling you that this major is not right for you, have some faith in yourself and take the leap to trying a new major. You may find that it will be the best decision you ever made in college.

If you make the choice to love what you are learning, you may just find your perfect future career. It is important to soak up the wonderful opportunity to explore courses that interest you. By delving into a subject you are passionate about, you will enjoy the process more and make the most out of your time at college. If you find the signs above relatable, have faith in yourself and don’t be afraid to change your major!              

Finish your school year right with 31 Days of Wellness

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May just might be the time of the year where summer is right around the corner, but it’s also Mental Wellness Month!

To ensure students focus on their wellbeing in the midst of midterms and finals, Cal Poly is putting on its annual 31 Days of Wellness. The event was planned since January by Kathryn Villareal, the coordinator of the Department of Environmental Health and Safety, along with student Gabby Rolph, the Co-Coordinator of the Wellness Ambassador Program.  For the next 31 days, they hope to raise awareness about health resources on campus for students.

The event

The kickoff to the series of events started Monday, April 29th on Dexter Lawn. Clubs and organizations such as Poly Fit, Men & Masculinity, PULSE, Health Services, FNL, SLO Food Bank, and more set up booths to inform students about how they can reach their needs and the activities they will be putting on.

At one booth, there were “quit kits” for smoking being offered to students. The kits contained pamphlets on methods to quit smoking, a card with the phone number for the California Smokers’ Helpline, along with breath mints and gum. Students could pick one up for themselves or for the friends.

“I hope to connect students to resources for their needs to quit smoking, but especially vaping,” said Nasseem Rouhani, a Health Education Specialist who works with the Tobacco Control Program and was running the booth.

Also in attendance, the Cal Poly PD was on Dexter Lawn and for the first time ever, is teaming up with the Department of Environmental Health and Safety for the 31 Days of Wellness event.

The reason behind the collaboration

Their biggest goal: “We’re trying to educate students to be more consciousness when crossing streets and biking,” said Frankie Herrera, a police officer for SLO PD.

Along with mental wellness, it is also national bike to work month, which promotes health living and a clear mind through increased exercise. However, students biking on campus often present danger to those who are walking.

According to SLO PD, most tickets given out on campus are written due to student bikers who are distracted on their cell phones, not adhering to stop signs or cars, not following the walk zone on Polyview, and those who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Awareness methods and prizes

Several actions will be taken to promote bicycle safety as well as the wellbeing of students who walk on campus.

“Students will be wearing sandwich boards with the tagline ‘why take a chance, stop, take a glance,'” said Kathryn Villarreal, who is leading the Department of Environmental Health and Safety in its collaboration with SLO PD.

Dum dum lollipops will also be handed out to bikers who are seen not following regulations- students should be alert or they will be called out!

Along with these lollipops being handed out, free prizes and gifts will be handed out throughout May.

There will be a raffle at the end of the month where students can win gift cards for a massage, Woodstocks pizza, Doc Burnstein’s, and more.   The grand prize of the rifle: a brand new bike and helmet! Tickets to submit for the raffle will be awarded to students by SLO PD and the Department of Environmental Health and Safety who are following safety regulations on campus to promote health and wellness. Students can also visit the office of the Department of Environmental Health and Safety to receive a ticket for the raffle.

“As a reminder, staff and faculty should also look for free lab safety glasses on Thursday at Building 180,” said Villarreal.

According to student Gabby Rolph, the Co-Coordinator of the Wellness Ambassador Program, Cal Poly Students should follow @myCPwealth on Instagram for more updates on events for the 31 Days of Wellness and how to get involved.

Quarter vs Semester System- Cal Poly SLO

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Cal Poly is the only California State University (CSU) remaining that runs on the quarter system.

The other 22 CSUs follow the semester system, which runs sixteen weeks long. Cal Poly’s schedule comprises of 10 weeks per quarter. Students are in a constant rotation of classes on the quarter system in comparison to the semester system. From this, several pros and cons in terms of how the quarter system impacts life on campus have emerged.

Amy Lan, a freshman Public Health major said the transition from the semester system at her high school to entering college on the quarter system was “fine first quarter, but really hit second quarter.”

“There was just so much work and it was very stressful … with only 10 weeks to accomplish everything. It is a lot pressure – your whole grade can be determined by one final,” Lan said.

She also said breaks would be nice, but because of the fast pace of the system, she has become more focused on spending more time working and admitted there is “less procrastinating” since there is hardly any extra time.

A downside to the quarter system, however, is that teachers tend to take longer to put in grades. There is simply less time to grade papers since there are only 10 weeks before final grades are reported. Due to this, there tends to be fewer assignments that count for more so a grade may only be based off of a few components instead of several.

On the semester system, Lan said students along with teachers have more free time so students have the ability to redeem themselves if they receive a bad grade and teachers have more time to collaborate with their students, instruct, and review their coursework.

On the quarter system, some students said there is pressure on students to perform well on every single exam and for teachers to get through material as fast as possible.

“No one really enjoys the quarter system, but it’s not too bad,” Lan said. “The fast pace of the quarter system makes you work hard and learn more.”

Agriculture business freshman Grace Pagliuso had a different take on the quarter system.

“I love the quarter system because it allows me to take more various classes throughout the school year,” Pagliuso said.

For her, she said the adjustment from high school to college was made easier due to AP classes she took that consisted of heavy work loads. The fast pace of the quarter system was not as much of a shock and Pagliuso said she finds it enjoyable.

“The quarter system makes you prioritize and it allows for constant exposure to new ideas since you are switching your classes so often, which is something I like,” environmental earth and soil sciences junior Monique Rae said.

A simple chart that better outlines the difference between the quarter and semester system was found on Quora.

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The shortness of the quarter seems to also put an intense pressure on students to manage their time well, especially if students want to fit in outside activities. Students have to squeeze in participating in clubs or sports within their fast paced study schedule.

Professors, like students, also like the quarter system on varying degrees.

“One of the things I like about the quarter system is that it moves so fast – you can do lots of different things in the span of the year, but it also prevents you from having in depth kinds of investigations of topics,”Professor Steven Ruszczycky from the College of Liberal Arts department said.

According to Ruszczycky, faculty do not have to submit grades until the Tuesday of Spring quarter so they only get four days off.

“I have to turn around and prepare to teach whole new sets of classes. Winter and Spring end up feeling like one gigantic quarter, or one gigantic term so its exhausting,” Ruszczycky said.

Prior to Cal Poly, Ruszczycky taught in New Zealand on a semester system that was 14 weeks long. Students would attend classes for six weeks at a time and then have two weeks of a break between each semester.

“It was nice to have that rest,” Ruszczycky said. “It would be nice if there was something like that institutionalized even with the quarter system.”

In terms of change, there was a survey that circulated around asking staff if they would be interested in having three day classes per week, such as Monday, Wednesday, and Friday rather than a two day class schedule. Classes would be 90 minutes rather than 110.

This is a benefit of the quarter system because teachers and students would be in the classroom for shorter periods of time. This would give everyone a breath of fresh air and slightly lessen the pressure of having to focus for such a long period of time in class and consume or teach a large chunk of information all at once.

The results of this survey distributed by the Cal Poly Administration were not available and no change has occurred after it was given.

A complete change in the system would be a tremendous amount of work due to the complex conversion of units from the quarter to semester system, because students would only take eight classes a year versus twelve.

The conversion would benefit transfer student however, because it would align their requirements or units up with several other CSU’s, making the switch a lot easier.

For now, the the Cal Poly administration is committed to to keeping the university on the quarter system.

“Cal Poly has carefully evaluated the quarter system and believes the pace and variety of courses taught by our esteemed faculty is essential to Learn by Doing and prepares students for a lifetime of learning and success,” University Spokesperson Matt Lazier wrote in an email to Mustang News.

Still, Cal Poly welcomes a new Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs this year, so the debate between the quarter and semester system continues to linger and is always very much on the table.

Fall Playlist 2018

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At least in Southern California, the fall vibes aren’t always real evident because the sun is still shining and the leaves haven’t fully changed colors yet. With that in mind, I wanted to feel more fall-like so I put together a playlist that puts me in the spirit! Here’s a list of some songs that is just the right kind of mood for this season- it makes me think of the smell of pumpkin spice and a rainy day : )

Sunflower- Rex Orange County

Best Friend- Rex Orange County

loveee rex orange county forevaaa

PCH- Jaden Smith

My Boy- Billie Eilish 

(or any other song by her)

BTSTU- Jai Paul

Berlin- RY X

Stay- Post Malone

so hard to not sing along ahhh

Hope- XXXTENTACION

Boy- Willow

Marceline- Willow

Chanel- Frank Ocean

From The Dining Table- Harry Styles

or just listen to his whole album

Fire Escape- Foster the People

Like Real People Do- Hozier

Landslide- Smashing Pumpkins

30 Hours- Kanye West

Writer In the Dark- Lorde

any Lorde will also do

City of Angels- Miguel

Sleep on the Floor- The Lumineers

The Weekend- SZA

a bop

R.I.P SCREW- Travis Scott

Loving Someone- The 1975

White Ferrari- Frank Ocean

Lost Boy- Jaden Smith

Snaggletooth- Vance Joy

Wash.- Bon Iver

bon iver will always set the mood

Sweater Weather- The Neighbourhood

Autumn Leaves- Ed Sheeran

Everything Has Changed- Taylor Swift

a fall anthem

Red- Taylor Swift

Roslyn- Bon Iver

Holocene- Bon Iver

From the Morning- Nick Drake

Run and Hide- Sabrina Carpenter

In the Airplane Over the Sun- Neutral Milk Hotel

Cherry Wine- Hozier

sooo pretty

Lego House- Ed Sheeran

River (feat. Ed Sheeran)- Eminem

The A Team- Ed Sheeran

 

Cat Eye Sunglasses

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Okay but I love black, cat eye sunglasses! I reallyyy want to invest in a pair this summer. They have such a classic, stylish look to them and go with literally ANYTHING. I love this trend and if you have a heart shaped face like me then the cat eye shape also fits your features really well. I think Forever21, H&M, and Urban Outfitters have some good ones so I’ll probably look there. In the meantime, I’ll try and find a pic of a cute pair so I could post it down below and maybe give you some inspiration.

Why I Chose Cal Poly Slo

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Next year, I will be a freshman at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo! While it is bittersweet to move away, I’m really looking forward to the new year and I feel more than ready for the change. emilydalybl

My close friends and family (and now you after reading this) know that before I chose Cal Poly, I was committed to play softball at a private university in Washington. It was a really brutal decision, but I decided I no longer wanted to devote my time at college to the sport I love and instead, explore other interests of mine- such as music, writing, and public speaking. Still, I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to play softball at the collegiate level and I learned so much from the recruiting process. Actually, I will probably write an article in the future for advice on how to get recruited if you do want to be an athlete in college.

Anyways, I applied to Cal Poly SLO last year and if I am being honest, I didn’t think much of the school at first. I had driven by the school a few years prior and it looked nice but being an English major and all, the whole “tech” vibe of the school threw me off. I still thought playing softball in college was the path I would be taking and so I didn’t bother to actually stop and walk onto the campus.

Flash forward to the college acceptance (and rejection) letters! I soon had it narrowed down to four colleges- my top two being the school I had my softball scholarship at and Cal Poly. I then went to the Cal Poly Open House weekend for admitted freshman and it really opened my eyes to how the school would be a great fit for me!

First of all, Cal Poly SLO’s teaching method is “learn by doing.” I’m really drawn to this because I want to go into the fields of either law or journalism in my future and experience/internships will help me gain insight on what career I could have in the future. In terms of campus size, the school is pretty big but class numbers are small to average so you are really getting the best of both worlds. Also, despite the school being known for Engineering and Agriculture, the English department is a hidden gem and has some of the best teachers on campus that have won several standout awards.

Another plus of Cal Poly SLO is that there’s an endless amount of activities at and around the college. It has an amazing choir and well put together newspaper which I am hoping to join in the fall, as well as ASI (the student body/council) that interests me. There is Morro bay, Pismo beach, and Avila beach to explore and endless amounts of hiking trails in the area. There’s a bubblegum wall, the SLO-DO-CO donut shop, and a really cute downtown. It has a college town feel and all the students that I have met so far are friendly and have made SLO already feel like my new home.

I can’t wait to make the move in September and I’ll keep you all posted when I do! I’ll soon be able to share my new life and all its adventures with you. I wish you luck if you are going to college next year as well and feel free to ask me any questions you may have about SLO, college, or really anything else. In the meantime… go mustangs! : )

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On the left is me and I’m next to my best friends, Sebastian (middle), and Grace (right)

 

Open Letter to High School Seniors- Choosing a College and Major

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As a senior in high school, it seems like the only conversations I have with friends and family members these days is about college. They ask me, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

When I was little, I always had an answer to that question. Some years it was an author, others it was a teacher, for a year I wanted be Nancy Drew, and for a few months after an interesting appointment, I found myself wanting to be a dentist. However, things change. Now, I feel stuck. As high school comes to a close, how is one supposed to suddenly figure their life out?

My hardest decision at the moment is deciding on what colleges I want to apply to and attend. There are so many different colleges- large or small, private or public- in so many different places. I don’t know whether or not I want to continue playing sports in college. Do I want to pursue a sport I’ve played since I was four years old or branch out and cater to other activities I am passionate about? So many choices, with so little time, and with such a great cost. Deciding on a college could decide my fate in terms of who I become friends with, how happy I am, where I may live in the future, and what my future job may be.

From deciding on what college I go to all the way to figuring out a major for a potential future career, I keep telling myself that everything happens for a reason and I need to just make a decision that feels right in my heart. I need to let be what may be and everything will turn out the way it’s supposed to in my life. At the end of the day, I will be right where I belong. If you are feeling down because you are indecisive about something or scared of choosing the wrong path for your future, the key is to remember that “everything happens for a reason.” So smile, breathe, and listen to your heart.

Back To School Tips

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It’s that time of the year again… back to school! Silently, I count the days I have left of summer and realize it’s all coming to a close. Senior year is around the corner and I just want my schedule NOW, but the counselors unfortunately are making sure that won’t happen for a couple days. The summer assignment that has been sitting on my desk abandoned for two months is finally finished and I’ve found time to workout and shop to better myself and style for the year. However, there are still a list of things that need to get done in the final days before school starts so just for you all, I made a list:

Re-stock on necessary supplies: This one is pretty straight forward but hey, it’s time to go to the nearest Target or Staples and grab all the necessities. Pencils, pens, highlighters, a binder, eraser, or maybe a new backpack (you know the drill)

Don’t forget to re-pack your backpack: What I usually do before the first day of school is I empty everything from my backpack that I haven’t touched in two months and throw it in the washer machine. Once it’s dry, I’ll evaluate everything I had in it before and pick out the things I’ll absolutely need this year. Pro Tip: A backpack usually a day to dry naturally (I wouldn’t put it in the dryer because it can shrink)

Make sure you have all summer assignments or books in your bag: This is super important because on the first day, you want to make a good impression in class to make your life easier the rest of the year. However, if you forget that one summer assignment that’s due or a book you had to read, not only will your grade drop immediately, but the teacher will view you as a student who is unprepared to take their class.

Pick out an outfit the night before: To make it easier for yourself to get up early, have a vision of your outfit or set it outside your closet on a hangar the night before so that you don’t have to think too hard in the morning. It also allows you to have less stress and not be late on the very first day. Tip: Don’t forget to set your alarm!

Eat a good breakfast and pack your favorite food: I love food and I hope you all get just as excited about eating as I do every day. For breakfast on the first day, have pancakes, waffles, a smoothie, or whatever makes you happy and motivated to get out the door. You can add some protein or drink some coffee to get you more energized. Also, pack food that you enjoy for snacks or lunchtime. It always makes the day better if you’re eating good. You can also do this the night before to save time.

Hope you consider these tips and won’t screw up on the first day! Haha jk good luck and have a good school year : )