First-Year Checklist

Fall Semester

Month

Checklist Item
End of August Before the end of August (last two weeks), you must complete the SNS GROW Checklist.
Sept. 1 This is the time where you can adjust your course selection as necessary. If level of preparation is less than necessary to achieve a passing grade in all classes (B or better), discuss alternatives with your faculty advisor and cc your grad group coordinator.
Oct. 1 Now is the time to double-check your work-life-sleep balance with the SNS Time Management Worksheet.
Oct. 15 Attend mid-semester advising meeting with faculty advisor (Applied Math and QSB) or grad group chair (Physics-Chemistry). Faculty advisors need to check on all first-semester students. Forward a completed first-semester meeting report from the meeting to the graduate group coordinator.
Second week of November  Register for spring classes. Failure to register on time may result in loss of priority for TA assignments and delays in paychecks or tuition payments. For more information, consult MyAudit and Grad Group Policies, then contact your faculty advisor and cc your grad group coordinator.
December Keep track of and make sure to pay all student service fees (campus-based fees) for spring. 
All semester
  • Attend graduate student workshops (see Lyceum Series or Grad Life Events Calendar).
  • Begin identifying key personal contacts at each level within the SNS Roles and Responsibilities matrix.

Spring Semester
Feb. 1 Adjust course selection as necessary.
March 15 Priority deadlines for TA applications for next year.
Second week of April Register for classes for the fall semester. Failure to register on time may result in loss of priority for TA assignments and delays in paychecks and tuition payments. For more information, consult MyAudit and grad group policies, then contact your faculty advisor and cc your grad group coordinator.
May Schedule a faculty committee meeting with your faculty advisor and at least one other faculty member before the fall semester. The first meeting can be informal, and a full committee does not need to be assembled, but the meeting should include at least one other faculty member who is not your advisor. The meeting should cover at a minimum:
  • what is required for you to prepare for your qualifying exam of a master's during your second year;
  • coursework selection;
  • the development of your academic and professional skills; and
  • self-assessment of your progress and performance to date

For more information, consult your grad group policies, program learning outcomes and other graduate guidance documents as available on your grad group website.
All semester
  • Attend graduate student workshops (see Lyceum series or Grad Life Events Calendar)
  • Solidify key personal contacts at each level in the SNS Roles and Responsibilities matrix. Contact your grad group coordinator for suggestions as necessary.