The Orange Print

OPRRATIHNNEGTE
YOUR FOUR-YEAR BLUEPRINT FOR BUILDING SUCCESS AT MERCER
BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE OFFICE OF ACADEMIC AND ADVISING SERVICES

YEAR ONE: Focus on a successful transition to Mercer, learning how to
balance your life in and outside of the classroom. DISCOVER everything
Mercer has to offer to build your college experience!

CHECK STEPS TO SUCCESS IDEAS FOR COMPLETION

GET  Attend summer and fall orientations.
STARTED  Write down personal goals for your first

KNOW YOUR year.
CAMPUS  Take placement exams.
 Use a planner to get organized.
STAY ON  Get to know your course professors.
TRACK  Familiarize yourself with campus
LEARN
ABOUT resources such as the Academic
TRADITION Resource Center, Career Services,
Counseling and Psychological Services
GET (CAPS), and others.
INVOLVED  Take advantage of the UC Fitness Center
to stay active.
 If you are on a pre-health track, attend all
pre-health orientations and workshops.
Read your pre-health handbook.
 Declare participation in a Special
Consideration program, if appropriate.
 View four-week and midterm progress
reports in Starfish and review with your
advisor
 Check out Academic Resource Center’s
tutoring and supplemental instruction (SI).
 Begin your participation in as many of
Mercer’s traditions as possible such as
Pilgrimage to Penfield, Tower Tour, etc.
 Attend First-Year Fridays.

 Join a student organization. Are you
interested in intramurals? Literary
magazines? Tutoring children?

 Consider applying to be a Peer Advisor,
Resident Assistant, or running for Student
Government.

 Attend optional workshops related to
academics and job fairs.

 Attend a concert, lecture, or athletic event.
 Explore activities that support your

spiritual growth.

© 2016 Mercer University Academic and Advising Services

DISCOVER  Explore your academic major choices. If
YOUR you are undecided about a major, attend
the Majors in Minutes workshop and visit
OPTIONS the Office of Career Services. Enroll in
spring courses to explore your major
MAKE A interest.
PLAN
 Look for ways to gain experience in the
CAPTURE career path you want to pursue through
THE internships, undergraduate research, part-
time jobs, or volunteering.
MOMENT
CONNECT  Learn about national scholarship and
fellowship opportunities.
WITH
OTHERS  Attend the Study Abroad fair and explore
FOCUS your international study options.
FORWARD
 Take the “Do What You Are” personality
assessment offered by Career Services.

 Develop a four-year academic plan. Talk
to your academic advisor and consider
when you will take all General Education
requirements along with degree
requirements and professional track
course requirements.

 Begin documenting your college
experience through your writing, photos,
social media etc.

 Share ongoing updates with your family.

 Use weekly opportunities to talk with your
academic advisor.

 Connect with upperclassmen sharing
similar interests and majors for
mentorship and guidance.

 Discuss how to make the most out of your
approaching summer with your advisor.

 Register for your sophomore courses
including any summer classes you want or
need to take.

 Begin compiling your resume.
 Follow up on local and federal scholarship

deadlines from Student Financial Planning
and look for outside scholarships for
which you might qualify.

© 2016 Mercer University Academic and Advising Services

© 2016 Mercer University Academic and Advising Services

© 2016 Mercer University Academic and Advising Services

© 2016 Mercer University Academic and Advising Services

© 2016 Mercer University Academic and Advising Services

DRAFT VISUALIZE YOUR GOALS.
YOUR HAMMER OUT THE DETAILS.
GOALS BUILD A BETTER YOU.

YEAR ONE:

PERSONAL ACADEMIC
GOAL GOAL

MAIN OTHER
GOAL GOAL

YEAR TWO:

PERSONAL ACADEMIC
GOAL GOAL

MAIN OTHER
GOAL GOAL

YEAR THREE:

PERSONAL ACADEMIC
GOAL GOAL

MAIN OTHER
GOAL GOAL

YEAR FOUR:

PERSONAL ACADEMIC
GOAL GOAL

MAIN OTHER
GOAL GOAL

© 2016 Mercer University Academic and Advising Services

YEAR TWO: Experience MORE in your SophoMORE year. Take your vision for
college to the next level and DESIGN a plan that makes it a reality.

CHECK STEPS TO SUCCESS IDEAS FOR COMPLETION

CHOOSE  Declare your major. Decide upon a minor area of
YOUR PATH study (if applicable).

 Begin actively pursuing internship opportunities
related to your academic and career interests.

 _______________________________________
 _______________________________________

_______________________________________

DISCOVER  Are you interested in graduate or professional
YOUR school? Start researching them. Find out how to
prepare and learn about any timelines you need
OPTIONS to follow.

 Visit the Office of National Scholarships and
Fellowships to consider options and begin
preparations for applications if you are interested.

 _______________________________________
 _______________________________________

_______________________________________

GET MORE  Join Phi Eta Sigma if you earned a 3.5 or higher
INVOLVED GPA your first year.

 Stay involved in organizations outside the
classroom.

 Look for leadership and research opportunities.
 Consider joining or attending a professional

association in your career interest.
 _______________________________________
 _______________________________________

_______________________________________

MAKE  Decide on a study abroad opportunity.
DECISIONS  _______________________________________
 _______________________________________
 _______________________________________

_______________________________________

FOCUS  Update your resume.
FORWARD  Register for your junior year courses including

any summer classes.
 _______________________________________
 _______________________________________

_______________________________________

© 2016 Mercer University Academic and Advising Services

YEAR THREE: As you make your way toward graduation, it’s time to bear down.
DEVELOP and implement your plans to achieve your goals!

CHECK STEPS TO SUCCESS IDEAS FOR COMPLETION

REVIEW THE PLAN  Review your four-year plan, and make sure you
are on track with General Education
requirements and major courses.

 _______________________________________

ENHANCE YOUR  Plan another internship or research opportunity
EXPERIENCE that enhances your academic career as well as
your resume and graduate school applications.

 Attend workshops and lectures to expand your
knowledge base in your future career.

 Study abroad, if you can.
 _______________________________________
 _______________________________________

_______________________________________

BUILD  Identify faculty and staff who will serve as
CONNECTIONS references for employment and graduate school
applications.

 Mentor a first or second year student.
 _______________________________________
 _______________________________________

_______________________________________

LEAD ON CAMPUS  Pursue a leadership opportunity in a student
organization.

 _______________________________________
 _______________________________________

_______________________________________

TAKE STEPS  Visit the Office of Career Services to review your
TOWARD resume, and practice employment and graduate
school interviews.
POST-GRAD
GOALS  Take a graduate exam or professional exam
preparation course or develop a plan to prepare
for the exam. Take the exam.

 Make choices regarding professional and
graduate schools and start the application
process.

 _______________________________________
 _______________________________________

_______________________________________

FOCUS  Submit your graduation audit and
FORWARD commencement form through the Registrar’s
Office website.

 Register for senior year classes including any
summer classes.

 _______________________________________

© 2016 Mercer University Academic and Advising Services

YEAR FOUR: Make senior year the year to DEFINE your future! Put the finishing touches
on your time at Mercer and move on to bigger and better things!

CHECK STEPS TO SUCCESS IDEAS FOR COMPLETION

FINISH STRONG  Complete a graduation audit through the
Registrar’s Office.

 Complete exit counseling for federal loans.
 _______________________________________

_______________________________________
 _______________________________________

_______________________________________

TAKE STEPS  Collect letters of recommendation from
TOWARD references or request letters be sent directly to
schools.
POST-GRAD
GOALS  Practice interviewing skills.
 _______________________________________

_______________________________________
 _______________________________________

_______________________________________
 _______________________________________

_______________________________________

MAKE DECISIONS  Apply to graduate or professional schools.
 Research companies and organizations you will

pursue regarding employment
 _______________________________________

_______________________________________
 _______________________________________

_______________________________________

FOCUS  Finalize your resume.
FORWARD  Attend a senior workshop on: budgeting post-

graduation, health insurance, saving for the
future, how to buy a house or rent an apartment,
etc.
 _______________________________________
_______________________________________
 _______________________________________
_______________________________________

GRADUATE  Attend Baccalaureate
 Participate in Commencement

© 2016 Mercer University Academic and Advising Services

BUILD YOUR

EXMPEERRICEENRCETO TEACH.TO LEARN.TO CREATE.
TO DISCOVER. TO INSPIRE.
TO EMPOWER. TO SERVE.

- SIGN YOUR NAME AT THE TOP OF THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
TOWER

- INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO PRESIDENT UNDERWOOD
- ATTEND PILGRIMAGE TO PENFIELD, CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING,

& FOUNDERS DAY
- GO TO HOMECOMING EVENTS
- FLOAT DOWN THE OCMULGEE RIVER
- SPEND A SUMMER IN MACON
- ATTEND A MERCER SINGERS CONCERT
- GO ON MERCER ON MISSION
- SUBMIT AN OPINION EDITORIAL OR ARTICLE FOR THE CLUSTER
- PLAN A CAMPUS WIDE EVENT
- HAVE LUNCH OR DINNER WITH A PROFESSOR OR FACULTY MEMBER
- BE A MENTOR TO A YOUNGER STUDENT
- PARTICIPATE IN A SERVICE PROJECT IN MACON
- BECOME A REGULAR AT A LOCAL ESTABLISHMENT
- GO TO BEARSTOCK OR BRAGG JAM MUSIC FESTIVAL
- GO TO MIDNIGHT MOVIE
- ATTEND A SHOW AT THE GRAND OPERA HOUSE
- TAKE A WALK THROUGH RIVERSIDE CEMETERY
- WATCH THE SUNSET FROM THE OCMULGEE NATIONAL MONUMENT
- PLAY ON AN INTRAMURAL SPORTS TEAM
- CONVINCE A PROFESSOR TO HAVE CLASS OUTSIDE ON A SUNNY DAY
- RIDE A BIKE DOWN THE OCMULGEE HERITAGE TRAIL
- RING THE BELL AT A MERCER FOOTBALL GAME
- HUG TOBY AT A BASKETBALL GAME
- ATTEND A SPORTING EVENT TO CHEER ON A FRIEND
- SEE A MCDUFFIE CENTER FOR STRINGS CONCERT
- PICNIC IN TATTNALL SQUARE PARK
- HAVE AN INTERNSHIP OR DO RESEARCH WITH A PROFESSOR
- LEARN THE MERCER FIGHT SONG
- LEARN THE ALMA MATER
- PARTICIPATE IN A UC FITNESS CLASS
- TAKE A PICTURE WITH THE MERCER CAR OR MERCER TRUCK
- EXPLORE LOCAL COFFEE SHOPS
- FALL MORE IN LOVE WITH MERCER THAN EVER!

© 2016 Mercer University Academic and Advising Services