Post on 26-Dec-2015
Induction Session:Academic Advising
(2014-15 Intake)
Dr. Tao LinSchool Academic Advising Coordinator
August 25, 2014
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What is Academic Advising?
Academic Advising @ HKU
Expectations and
Responsibilities
Check out the resources
Plan for your study years
You will learn about:
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A developmental process in which you are provided with support in clarifying your academic, career and life goals, developing plans to achieve these goals, and evaluating your own progress.
A process in which you are empowered to think critically, explore available options, and take personal responsibility for decision-making with the guidance of your teachers and academic advisers.
You will have greater satisfaction with your academic experience, better self-understanding and a sense of success in the achievement of personal and academic goals.
What is Academic Advising?
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HKU Academic Advising System
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Faculty-based Academic AdvisingAll first-year undergraduate students will be assigned to a Faculty Academic Adviser upon registration.
The relationship between Adviser and Advisee is one of shared responsibility and two-way traffic.
You are required to meet with your Faculty Academic Adviser once every semester in your first year of study to discuss different academic issues.
Faculty Academic Advisers
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Self Services > Student Center > Adviser section
Student Information System
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Your ResponsibilitiesThings your Adviser expects from you: Take the initiative to contact your Academic Adviser: you are required to meet with your
Adviser once every semester Have a basic understanding of the requirements of your Curriculum / Degree / Major /
Professional Core Be well prepared prior to each advising meeting:
◦ think about your educational, personal and career goals◦ consider your study plan / intended course enrollment for the coming terms and beyond◦ check the prerequisites for each course you intend to take and consider how they will affect
the sequencing of your courses◦ prepare a list of questions or concerns that you would like to raise
Be on time for the scheduled appointment with your Adviser
Accept responsibility for decisions and take ownership of your academic plans.
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Expertise: Course selection Major and minor programmes Guide you in developing your academic goals and study plan Discuss your academic performance and the implication of it to your
future plans (career or postgraduate studies)
You shall check the contact information of your assigned Faculty Academic Adviser and initiate meetings.
Office of School of Economics and Finance
Room 908, K.K. Leung Building
Tel: 3917 1058E-mail: enquiry@sef.hku.hkWebsite: www.sef.hku.hk
Faculty Academic Advisers
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Expertise: Help you guide through degree requirements, academic
regulations and procedures Provide you with information about cross-faculty learning
opportunities
Room 7, Upper Ground Floor,Knowles Building, HKUTel: 2219 4686Fax: 2858 2317Email: aaoffice@hku.hkWebsite: http://aao.hku.hk
Academic Advising Office
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http://aao.hku.hkResources at AAO Website
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Just to name a few: Study Tips Learning Opportunities Outside Classroom HKU Scholarships University Regulations, Degree Regulations and Syllabuses Grading System Honours Classification
Resources at AAO Website
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Expertise:Campus Life Section (tel: 2859 2305; cedars@hku.hk) Financial assistance, accommodation needs, visa formalities
Careers and Placement Section (tel: 2859 2317; careers@hku.hk) Career planning resources, career preparation, recruitment talks
Counseling and Person Enrichment Section (tel: 2857 8388; cedars-cope@hku.hk) Counseling services on personal, emotional or non-academic issues; person
enrichment workshops
Student Development Section (tel: 2857 8387; cedars-programmes@hku.hk) Leadership development, service learning opportunities
CEDARS Office
3/F & 4/F, Meng Wah ComplexWebsite: http://cedars.hku.hk
Centre of Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS)
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The University is the place for your: Intellectual development Acquisition of knowledge Personal and social development
Some tips for you: Develop your academic goal Profile type of students Tips on studying Plan for further studies
Plan for your study years
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Set an overall goal: What do you want to achieve in 4 years? Be enlightened by the wonderful insights of economics and
finance? Be admitted to top graduate schools? Be recruited by prestigious investment banks and
corporations? Set up your own business?
Set short-term targets:What do you want to achieve in a semester / year? Something to learn? Some books to read? Some programs to join? Some GPA to attain?
Develop your academic goal
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Be Practical in Your Plans What matters is output and not input, and not the thrill of
thinking about possibilities Impractical to aim too high but end up with only a little Importance of learning by doing in the process
A Balanced Portfolio Check out and choose from the rich variety of knowledge
exchange and experiential activities offered by HKU Time management is very important More tips: http
://gregmankiw.blogspot.hk/2006/05/advice-for-aspiring-economists.html
Develop your academic goal
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The High-AchieversGood grades, leadership roles in activities, exchange and internship experience, fluent English, excellent social skills and other personal attributes, i-bank or consulting to start career, CEO as target, own business
The academic typeVery good grades, superb technical skills, exchange experience, know the names and work of world renowned scholars, already taken or will take GRE and TOEFL soon
Which profile type are you?
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The Still-Searching TypeSome interests but not so much interests in Economics and Finance, do not have a clear idea what to do yet, take part in some activities but not very involved, may go for a master degree, may take one year off to work…
The “HEA” (Too-Relaxed) TypeCompletely lack of direction and focus, except day-to-day or immediate piece-by-piece optimization
Which profile type are you?
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Lectures 3 hours of lecture per week for each course
Tutorials mostly one hour each week for each course and adopt an
interactive approach some very small classes may not have tutorials students sign up their choices of tutorial sessions during
lectures in the first week
Full attendance in both lectures and tutorials is important.
English is the official language used in all lectures, tutorials, assignments, tests and exams.
Academic Study at HKU
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Course work and final exams Various forms of assessment: attendance,
assignment, project, presentation, tutorials, tests, term papers, mid-term exam, etc.
Assessment methods and their percentages in the final grade will be announced by teachers during classes
Final exams at the end of each semester (in December and May respectively) to be arranged by the HKU Exam Unit
Academic Study at HKU
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Grade PointsGrade Standard Grade Point
A+
Excellent
4.3
A 4.0
A- 3.7
B+
Good
3.3
B 3.0
B- 2.7
C+
Satisfactory
2.3
C 2.0
C- 1.7
D+Pass
1.3
D 1.0
F Fail 0
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Semester GPA (SGPA) the weighted average grade of all courses attempted
(including failed courses) during a semester
Year GPA (YGPA) the weighted average grade of all courses attempted
(including failed courses) during a given academic year
Cumulative GPA (CGPA) the weighted average grade of all courses attempted
(including failed courses) at the time of calculation
Grade Point Average (GPA)
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Determined by the Board of Examiners for the degree in accordance with CGPA scores and at its absolute discretion:
Honours Classification
Classification CGPA Range
First Class with Honours
3.60 – 4.30
Second Class Division One with Honours
3.00 – 3.59
Second Class Division Two with Honours
2.40 – 2.99
Third Class with Honours
1.70 – 2.39
Pass 1.00 – 1.69
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Criteria Achieving a YGPA of 3.6 or above; and No failed course during that academic year,
inclusive of courses which are non-graded as “Fail”
Dean’s Honours List
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What matters first is understanding: Learning by memorization is a dead-end road How do you know that you understand the
materials?
Application is an effective way to learn: Think through and explain to yourself and others Form discussion groups among yourselves Doing exercises again and again on your own
Study Tips
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Learn how to read Not all the chapters and paragraphs are equally
important Grasp and relate the main points
Get rid of the habit of relying on “standard answers” or “summarized materials” Given materials are dead materials which will
suffocate thinking, imagination and innovation Prepare notes yourself and you will understand
and learn in the process
Study Tips
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Beware of course progress and the calendar Compared with secondary school, the semester in
the university is shorter, but each course covers a lot more materials
There will be much to catch up if you fall behind for one or two weeks, especially so if you are behind in a few courses – Do not put yourself in such a situation
Last minute scramble in the study of economics and finance will only lead to mental indigestion
Study Tips
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HKU Worldwide Student Exchange Programmehttp://www.als.hku.hk/admission/exchange/outgoing-students/programmes/hkuww
FBE Exchange Programmehttp://www.fbe.hku.hk/Programme/Undergraduate/enrichment/index.asp?doc=exchange
HKU Worldwide China Programmehttp://www.asa.hku.hk/admission/study_tours.htm
Asia Institute for Political Economy (AIPE)http://www.als.hku.hk/summer/content.php?id=VmtaYVUxSnRWbTQ
Exchange Programmes
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Common Selection Criteria Academic performance Extra-curricula activities English proficiency Personality
Shall you go for an exchange in Year 2, 3 or 4? 1 semester or 1 year?
Exchange Programmes
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Check out enrichment opportunities
FBE:http://www.fbe.hku.hk/Programme/Undergraduate/enrichment/index.asp?doc=enrichment
CEDARS (Student Development Section):http://cedars.hku.hk/showext.php?id=sd
Economics and Finance Society:http://www.efs.hkusu.hku.hk
Internship, Competitions &Other Enrichment Opportunities
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Students who plan for further studies in economics or finance are advised to take theory courses in our MEcon programme, as well as more math and statistics courses
MEcon: Microeconomic Theory, Macroeconomic Theory, Econometric theory I and II, Game Theory and Applications, Selected Topics in Microeconomics etc.
Math: Linear Algebra, Multivariable Calculus, Introduction to Mathematical Analysis, Algebra I, Analysis I & II, Differential Equations, Probability Theory; Intro. to Optimization
Statistics: Probability & Statistics I & II, Statistical Inference, Advanced Probability
Plan for Further Studies
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Preparation for PhD studies: http://gregmankiw.blogspot.hk/2010/03/choosing-graduate-program.html
Plan for Further Studies
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Equate marginal benefit with marginal cost: There’s got to be an optimal time to start/stop
doing something Learn to be wise to start/stop
Maximize return to your effort: Work hard and play hard Aim at quality output
Last but not least…
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Q & A
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