admin

LSC Resources Overview

Posted on by admin

Whether your courses are online or in-person, the LSC is here to help you get and stay organized and maximize your learning and growth as you navigate your Cornell journey. On this page you’ll find detailed information about the LSC’s academic support services—free for all undergraduates at Cornell—plus a wealth of ideas about how you can study most effectively.

Supplemental Courses

Supplemental courses are offered to support students in:

Chemistry 2070 and 2080, Chemistry 3570 and 3580, Economics 1110 and 1120, Math 1106, 1110, 1120, and 2210, BIOG 1440, BIOMG 1350 (Cell and Developmental Biology), Physics 1112 and 2213. LSC supplemental courses help Cornell students:

  • Evaluate and implement effective learning strategies.
  • Enhance their sense of agency.
  • Learn and practice effective problem-solving strategies.
  • Expand conceptual understanding of parent course material.

You can find more information on supplemental courses and the course schedule here.

Office Hours and Peer Tutoring 

The Learning Strategies Center provides FREE tutoring to ALL Cornell undergraduate students in:

BIOMG 1350, BIOG 1440, CHEM 1570, CHEM 2070/2080, CHEM 3570/3580, ECON 1110, ECON 1120, MATH 1106, MATH 1110, MATH 1120, MATH 2210, PHYS 1112, PHYS 2208, PHYS 2213/2214, Statistics courses (AEM 2100, BTRY 3010, HADM 2010, ILRST 2100, ILRST 2110, MATH 1710, NTRES 3130, PAM 2100, PSYCH 3500, SOC 3010, STSCI 2100, STSCI 2110, STSCI 2150, STSCI 2200), and Italian 1201, French 1210 and 1230, and Spanish 1120, 1210, 1230, 2000.

You can find more information on tutoring here and the schedule for office hours and tutoring here.

The LSC can help you with:

Explore the website for more information!

Need additional help with study skills?

The LSC provides additional support and resources to help students develop study skills.  We offer the following:

Check out our study skills tips Youtube Playlist here!  Hear from LSC peer experts on academic success, preparing for exams, self-care, asynchronous classes, back to back or clustered exams, Zoom fatigue, and more!

Find additional Support and Resources: 

For useful information, go to the Cornell COVID-19 updates page covid.cornell.edu

The Learning Strategies Center is committed to ensuring access for all students.
Please email us if you have any questions or concerns about accessing our services.  

Semester and Weekly Calendars

Posted on by admin

Semester calendars can help Cornell Students:

  • make long term study goals
  • prepare for the format of the semester
  • reduce wasted time
  • become more prepared and organized

On your semester calendar, physically list out all of your exams, major assignments, projects, and other important due dates. (Include major personal events, too.) This helps you see the big picture of the semester and learn in advance what your crunch times will be.

Additionally, many students also use a weekly planner to map out their schedule and find hidden time.

Check out the LSC pages on “Finding Your Academic Groove,” which includes resources on time management.

For all versions of semester and weekly calendars, click here.

How to use Office Hours

Posted on by admin

Where can you get help?

You can get help at office hours!  But, what are office hours?

Professors and teaching assistants schedule time outside of class to meet with students. These are called office hours. Office hours are times when you can meet with your professors and teaching assistants to discuss the material being presented in class or other related interests you have. Course-related discussions include asking for extra help, seeking clarification of material presented in class and following up on aspects of the class you find compelling. In addition, students also discuss majors and programs of study, and graduation requirements, as well as summer internships, graduate schools, campus events, and much more.

Most professors do not require that students attend office hours. They expect students to decide for themselves when they need or want to participate. Professors usually announce their office hours on the first day of class or on their print or web-based course material.

Most Professors and teaching assistants do not have lessons planned for office hours. They expect students to “drive” these meetings with their questions and their thought. A good way to prepare for office hours is to attempt your homework and review your notes from class and from readings and identify as clearly as you can what you do not understand.

Do not be surprised when the professor and teaching assistants reply to your questions with questions of their own. They are working with you to uncover the source of your questions. Often they will ask students to show them their work and where they got stuck. They may ask you to explain what you were thinking as you moved from step to step. They may ask you to generate alternative ways to solve a problem. Hopefully they will help you change how you think about the material so that you can answer many different kinds of questions about it- not just the question on the homework that is stumping you. Don’t be surprised if they ask you to solve another problem before you leave the office.

TIP: You can always go with a buddy to office hours! Talk with your peer before you go and plan your questions and what you are going to ask!

What Office Hours Are NOT

Office hours are NOT related to activities in high school that require students to stay after school. They are not detention or negative consequences for poor decisions. They are also not a place where the instructor will do your homework for you.

What are my responsibilities as a student going to office hours?

To make the very most of your time with your instructor during office hours, you should:

  • Study your textbook and lecture notes thoroughly and attempt the assigned problems before you go to office hours.
  • Try to identify specific questions or concepts you need to address during the office hours.
  • Expect instructors to ask you questions about the material. They do this to find out what you understand, and to provide you with information and strategies tailored to your individual needs.
  • Be patient! Several students come for office hours at the same time. If the instructor is especially busy, you may have to wait a little longer for individual assistance. Use this time to study the material.
  • Expect the instructor to suggest general study strategies to help you improve your overall academic performance. These strategies will help in all of your courses.
  • Avoid waiting until the day before the test or the day before an assignment is due to seek assistance. Study a few hours each day, and keep up with your assignments. It is EASIER to keep up than to catch up!

Use other resources such as formal study groups and informal homework-help groups.

Keep a positive attitude about the subject and about your potential to excel. Your attitude will go a long way in determining how well you do in your course!

New to Cornell?  Don’t forget to check out our page on learning Cornell’s unique lingo!