studying at rwth aachen university

Studying at RWTH Aachen University

Student Advice Centre

RWTH Aachen University

Dipl.-Ing. Mei Zhou und Dipl.-Psych Sabine Salentin 2

Zentrale Studienberatung der RWTH Aachen

Introduction: The RWTH Student Advice Centre

• neutral and impartial

• helping students help themselves

• free of charge

• confidential

All services are offered to students under public law at RWTH Aachen University

Advising and services for students Psychological counseling

Student Advice CentreTarget group: students

Dipl.-Ing. Mei Zhou und Dipl.-Psych Sabine Salentin 3

Zentrale Studienberatung der RWTH Aachen

Counseling Organisations: Where to go?

Advising and services

for students

Psychological

counseling

Student Advice CentreTarget group: studentsInternational

Academy

Student

Counseling

seniorstudents@academy.rwth-aachen.de

Dipl.-Ing. Mei Zhou und Dipl.-Psych Sabine Salentin 4

Zentrale Studienberatung der RWTH Aachen

Counseling Organisations: Where to go?

Advising and services

for students

Psychological

counseling

Student Advice CentreTarget group: students Center for

Mental

Health for

Students

(ZPG)

zpg@ukaachen.de

Dipl.-Ing. Mei Zhou und Dipl.-Psych Sabine Salentin 5

Zentrale Studienberatung der RWTH Aachen

Counseling Organisations: Where to go?

Students studying at

RWTH International Academy

Advising and services

for students

Psychological

counseling

Student Advice CentreTarget group: studentsInternational

Academy

Student

Counseling

Center for

Mental

Health for

Students

(ZPG)

Dipl.-Ing. Mei Zhou und Dipl.-Psych Sabine Salentin 6

Zentrale Studienberatung der RWTH Aachen

Counseling Organizations: Where to go?

Students studying under public law at

RWTH Aachen University

Advising and services

for students

Psychological

counseling

Student Advice CentreTarget group: studentsInternational

Academy

Student

Counseling

Center for

Mental

Health for

Students

(ZPG)

Dipl.-Ing. Mei Zhou und Dipl.-Psych Sabine Salentin 7

Zentrale Studienberatung der RWTH Aachen

• Familiar structures are gone

• Friends from school embark on a new life elsewhere

• Germany: a new world

• No more “All-Inclusive Mom Hotel”

• What will I eat tomorrow? Learn how to cook?

• How do I do laundry?

• How far can I get with my money? Student Job?

• How do I make new friends?

• New Hobbies

Exciting new experiences…

A new adventure

Dipl.-Ing. Mei Zhou und Dipl.-Psych Sabine Salentin 8

Zentrale Studienberatung der RWTH Aachen

School University

Fixed class Large cohort

Teachers know pupils Anonymity

Set schedule Flexible schedule

Attendance required Attendance rarely required

Subject matter in school:• Adapted and taught at an age-

appropriate level

• Material worked on interactively

• “Bit by bit”

Subject matter at university:• Very abstract and comprehensive

information

• Fast pace

• 6-8 times more material

Difference school – university

Dipl.-Ing. Mei Zhou und Dipl.-Psych Sabine Salentin 9

Zentrale Studienberatung der RWTH Aachen

Learning strategies from school might not work at university:

• Degree of difficulty increases: Rework, reread, ask again

Do not start exam prep just 2-3 weeks before the exam

• Lectures are just an “appetizer”

• Lots of theory and fundamental knowledge at the beginning

University life means personal responsibility.

University Life

Dipl.-Ing. Mei Zhou und Dipl.-Psych Sabine Salentin 10

Zentrale Studienberatung der RWTH Aachen

What belongs in the past?

• The expectation that someone will tell

you what you should do

• Passive behavior: others may make

sure you attend and do the work in

school, but not at university

What is now important?

• Be proactive!

• Be responsible!

• Manage yourself!

Copyright: Martin Braun

Copyright: Martin Braun

University Life

Dipl.-Ing. Mei Zhou und Dipl.-Psych Sabine Salentin 11

Zentrale Studienberatung der RWTH Aachen

Advising and services for students

Advising and services for students

Student Advice CentreTarget group: students

Advising:

• Brief Advising by Telephone daily

• Non-Scheduled Advising 2 times a week

• Scheduled Advising

Dipl.-Ing. Mei Zhou und Dipl.-Psych Sabine Salentin 12

Zentrale Studienberatung der RWTH Aachen

How to schedule an appointment

www.rwth-aachen.de

> Academics

> Advice & Assistance

> Advising and Services for Students

> Contact and Office Hours

Dipl.-Ing. Mei Zhou und Dipl.-Psych Sabine Salentin 13

Zentrale Studienberatung der RWTH Aachen

Dipl.-Ing. Mei Zhou und Dipl.-Psych Sabine Salentin 14

Zentrale Studienberatung der RWTH Aachen

Student Advice CentreTarget group: students

Advising and services for students

• Questions about beginning studies and initial orientation

• Initial frustration with studies:

o lack of motivation

o pressure to perform

o exam problems

o difficulty getting oriented

• Doubts about the choice of study

• Financial, social, or sickness-related events influencing students’ studies

and lives

Advising and services for students: topics

Dipl.-Ing. Mei Zhou und Dipl.-Psych Sabine Salentin 15

Zentrale Studienberatung der RWTH Aachen

Upcoming Events (in German only):

• Sept. 21 RWTHMoodle Basic Course: University Studies – the Transition

Made Easy

• 08.11.21 Online-Workshop: Bachelor and then what?

• 09.12.21 / 13.01.22 / 10.02.22 Presentation: Am I Studying the Right

Thing?

• 17.+21.12.21 / 18.+22.02.22 My strengths, my interests

• 25.01.22 Information Event: Doubting Your Choice of Degree? Find Your

Career Path!

https://www.rwth-aachen.de/cms/root/Studium/Im-Studium/Studientrainings-

Vortraege-Workshops-d/~dxkhz/Vortraege-und-Workshops/?lidx=1

Advising and services for students: Events

Dipl.-Ing. Mei Zhou und Dipl.-Psych Sabine Salentin 16

Zentrale Studienberatung der RWTH Aachen

Introduction: The RWTH Student Advice Centre

• neutral and impartial

• helping students help themselves

• free of charge

• confidential

All services are offered to students under public law at RWTH Aachen University

Psychological counseling

Student Advice CentreTarget group: students

Dipl.-Ing. Mei Zhou und Dipl.-Psych Sabine Salentin 17

Zentrale Studienberatung der RWTH Aachen

Psychological counseling

Psychological counseling

Personal counseling

Academic trainings

Movie Tutorials

Dipl.-Ing. Mei Zhou und Dipl.-Psych Sabine Salentin 18

Zentrale Studienberatung der RWTH Aachen

Internal stress External stress

Psychological counseling – why?

Dipl.-Ing. Mei Zhou und Dipl.-Psych Sabine Salentin 19

Zentrale Studienberatung der RWTH Aachen

Study strategies

Dipl.-Ing. Mei Zhou und Dipl.-Psych Sabine Salentin 20

Zentrale Studienberatung der RWTH Aachen

Symptoms of stress

Symptoms of stress

Dipl.-Ing. Mei Zhou und Dipl.-Psych Sabine Salentin 21

Zentrale Studienberatung der RWTH Aachen

Procrastination

Procrastination

Dipl.-Ing. Mei Zhou und Dipl.-Psych Sabine Salentin 22

Zentrale Studienberatung der RWTH Aachen

Exam anxiety and other anxiety/fears

• Exam anxiety

Exam anxiety and

other anxiety/fears

Dipl.-Ing. Mei Zhou und Dipl.-Psych Sabine Salentin 23

Zentrale Studienberatung der RWTH Aachen

Mood swings, bad moods

Mood swings, bad moods

Dipl.-Ing. Mei Zhou und Dipl.-Psych Sabine Salentin 24

Zentrale Studienberatung der RWTH Aachen

Relationship problems

Relationship problems

Dipl.-Ing. Mei Zhou und Dipl.-Psych Sabine Salentin 25

Zentrale Studienberatung der RWTH Aachen

Personal crises and conflicts

Personal crises and conflicts

Dipl.-Ing. Mei Zhou und Dipl.-Psych Sabine Salentin 26

Zentrale Studienberatung der RWTH Aachen

Psychological counseling – arranging an appointment

Website Psychological Counseling

Send an e-mail to:

Psych.Beratung@rwth-aachen.de

Dipl.-Ing. Mei Zhou und Dipl.-Psych Sabine Salentin 27

Zentrale Studienberatung der RWTH Aachen

Psychological counseling

Psychological counseling

Personal counseling

Academic trainings

Movie Tutorials

Dipl.-Ing. Mei Zhou und Dipl.-Psych Sabine Salentin 28

Zentrale Studienberatung der RWTH Aachen

• Time Management

• Memory Strategies

• Concentration

• What is my goal?

• Procrastination

• Exam anxiety

• Confident communication

Academic trainings by the Psychological Counseling Team

Learning strategies

Target Group-Specific Offerings

Motivation

Coping strategies

• Managing studies with children

• Ideas for your own career planning

• Time Management (in English)

• Memory Strategies (in English)

Dipl.-Ing. Mei Zhou und Dipl.-Psych Sabine Salentin 29

Zentrale Studienberatung der RWTH Aachen

Academic trainings

Website Academic trainings

Dipl.-Ing. Mei Zhou und Dipl.-Psych Sabine Salentin 30

Zentrale Studienberatung der RWTH Aachen

Psychological counseling

Psychological counseling

Personal counseling

Academic trainings

Movie Tutorials

Dipl.-Ing. Mei Zhou und Dipl.-Psych Sabine Salentin 31

Zentrale Studienberatung der RWTH Aachen

Tutorials (Video and Audio)

Dipl.-Ing. Mei Zhou und Dipl.-Psych Sabine Salentin 32

Zentrale Studienberatung der RWTH Aachen

Tutorials (Video and Audio)

Website Movie Tutorials

Dipl.-Ing. Mei Zhou und Dipl.-Psych Sabine Salentin 33

Zentrale Studienberatung der RWTH Aachen

Advising and services

for Students

Psychological counseling

www.rwth-aachen.de/psychologische-beratung

Make an individual appointment:

Psych.Beratung@rwth-aachen.de

Information and registration for academic trainings:

www.rwth-aachen.de/studientrainings

www.rwth-aachen.de/studienberatung

Make an appointment:

studienberatung@rwth-aachen.de

Templergraben 83/ corner of Pontstr., 52062 Aachen

Student Advice CentreTarget group: students

The RWTH Student Advice Centre