Academic Plan
Academic Plan ¿¿ Danille Hoffer ¿¿ 10107464
Course of Study
I am a second year student studying History (major) and Jewish Studies (minor) in the BAH program. I currently have a GPA of 3.39 and I am currently on a trajectory to either maintain or raise my GPA during the current semester.
I intend to study in Israel at either Hebrew University (Hebrew U) or Tel Aviv University (TAU) during the fall 2015 and winter 2016 semesters. Both universities offer a variety of courses pertaining to my major and my minor. Hebrew U and TAU offer unique courses which I cannot study at Queen¿¿s in areas such as Middle Eastern History, Israeli History, and Jewish Studies. In addition, being immersed in an environment with so many Hebrew speakers would enable me to improve my Hebrew by practical experience. Studying in Israel would allow me to enhance my studies.
I have obtained a letter from Professor Barrington Walker, the Chair of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of History, which says I am eligible for a year abroad.
Full Time versus Part Time Status
To date, I have successfully completed three semesters as a full-time student, and I am on track to accomplish the same in my fourth semester. I will not work as I study and my course load will be similar to what I have already experienced. My study strategies have been largely successful so far and I will be able to maintain my academic achievements. I believe I will be capable of studying under a full course load in Israel.
Strategies for Success
Although I have been mostly successful in my academic pursuits, I have had minor struggles; however, I have adapted my study strategies for improvement and I will continue to improve in Israel. Of course, I will maintain methods which have consistently worked for me, such as reading my notes aloud, copying notes by hand before exams, and composing multiple drafts of my essays.
One of the struggles I have encountered thus far in my university career has been with the two Hebrew courses I took in my first year. Although I passed both Hebrew courses, I failed to achieve the grade I had expected considering my success in high school Hebrew courses. In retrospect I have a better understanding of the time required for me to succeed in a university level language course. At either Hebrew U or TAU I will be required to take Hebrew courses again; however, because the Hebrew program takes place before the school year begins, I will be able to devote much more of my time to Hebrew, which will improve the level of my work. In addition, I will be surrounded by Hebrew, and therefore even when I am not actively studying, I will be absorbing the language which will increase the likelihood of my success.
I also experienced a struggle last semester. Early on in the semester the plan I created for my study time was grossly inadequate, which negatively impacted the quality of my work and my ability to complete reading assignments. While I was able to end the semester with satisfactory grades, I know I would have done better if I had not wasted so much time at the beginning of the semester. Therefore, in the present semester I have been much more rigorous and strict with my time management. Although I have not perfected my methods, I have seen improvement in most of my results. Therefore, the continuing modification of my study strategies will enable me to continue to improve my study habits even though I will be in an unfamiliar environment.
Course of Study
I am a second year student studying History (major) and Jewish Studies (minor) in the BAH program. I currently have a GPA of 3.39 and I am currently on a trajectory to either maintain or raise my GPA during the current semester.
I intend to study in Israel at either Hebrew University (Hebrew U) or Tel Aviv University (TAU) during the fall 2015 and winter 2016 semesters. Both universities offer a variety of courses pertaining to my major and my minor. Hebrew U and TAU offer unique courses which I cannot study at Queen¿¿s in areas such as Middle Eastern History, Israeli History, and Jewish Studies. In addition, being immersed in an environment with so many Hebrew speakers would enable me to improve my Hebrew by practical experience. Studying in Israel would allow me to enhance my studies.
I have obtained a letter from Professor Barrington Walker, the Chair of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of History, which says I am eligible for a year abroad.
Full Time versus Part Time Status
To date, I have successfully completed three semesters as a full-time student, and I am on track to accomplish the same in my fourth semester. I will not work as I study and my course load will be similar to what I have already experienced. My study strategies have been largely successful so far and I will be able to maintain my academic achievements. I believe I will be capable of studying under a full course load in Israel.
Strategies for Success
Although I have been mostly successful in my academic pursuits, I have had minor struggles; however, I have adapted my study strategies for improvement and I will continue to improve in Israel. Of course, I will maintain methods which have consistently worked for me, such as reading my notes aloud, copying notes by hand before exams, and composing multiple drafts of my essays.
One of the struggles I have encountered thus far in my university career has been with the two Hebrew courses I took in my first year. Although I passed both Hebrew courses, I failed to achieve the grade I had expected considering my success in high school Hebrew courses. In retrospect I have a better understanding of the time required for me to succeed in a university level language course. At either Hebrew U or TAU I will be required to take Hebrew courses again; however, because the Hebrew program takes place before the school year begins, I will be able to devote much more of my time to Hebrew, which will improve the level of my work. In addition, I will be surrounded by Hebrew, and therefore even when I am not actively studying, I will be absorbing the language which will increase the likelihood of my success.
I also experienced a struggle last semester. Early on in the semester the plan I created for my study time was grossly inadequate, which negatively impacted the quality of my work and my ability to complete reading assignments. While I was able to end the semester with satisfactory grades, I know I would have done better if I had not wasted so much time at the beginning of the semester. Therefore, in the present semester I have been much more rigorous and strict with my time management. Although I have not perfected my methods, I have seen improvement in most of my results. Therefore, the continuing modification of my study strategies will enable me to continue to improve my study habits even though I will be in an unfamiliar environment.