Greetings from the Maine Educational Opportunity Center!!

Please visit us online at http://meoc.maine.edu/

In this issue:

*Services offered by MEOC
*LASSI - Learn a few tricks!
*List of upcoming L.A.S.S.I. workshops around the state (make sure to call and register as dates/times/locations are subject to change)
*Study Tip - Note taking
*Staff listing
*Reminder about address corrections

I. Services offered by MEOC

Call MEOC at 1-800-281-3703 if you need any of the following FREE services:
*Career Advising
*College Planning
*Referrals/Advocacy
*College Admissions Assistance
*Financial Aid Counseling
*Default Loan Counseling

A) eChoices.com - the always-on career planning tool from Bridges.com

Maine Educational Opportunity Center clients are now able to access the Choices career planning program on-line. If you are new to Choices, then the features of eChoices will open up a new world of opportunities to you. eChoices is a great way to find more information about colleges and occupations and is FREE for MEOC clients!

eChoices can help you:

- Explore careers: check out an occupation and see related programs of study at colleges.

- Discover your interests: The Interest Assessments feature in eChoices helps you find out what your interests are and how they relate to the world of work. You can also use your results as a starting point for searching for occupations. You'll learn more about your work values so you can decide what is important to you in a job.

- Find a college: eChoices is a great starting point for helping you find the college that's right for you. You can search for different colleges by state, majors and programs, campus size and athletics, just to mention a few.

- Save your information: With eChoices, you have the ability to save your information and access it from any computer (yes, even at home). As you move around the website and use its features, the details of your session are stored in your own account so when you return later, you can continue from where you left off.

- Planning for the future: The eChoices planner provides an online portfolio for you to use as a tool in your career planning. Use the Planner to record information about you and your career plans, track your job search activities, and prepare your resume and cover letters.

To Start Using eChoices
1. Go to the website www.eChoices.com
2. Click on "Open Existing Account"
3. Type in the 7 digit Access ID: (contact your MEOC Advisor)
4. Type the Access Password: umaine
5. Create your own account name and password and you're all set! It's that easy!

B) SkillsTutor.com - On-line access to extra help in areas in which you're having trouble!

SkillsTutor is a tutorial program designed to improve student achievement for students in grades 3 through adult. The lessons and tutorials found in SkillsTutor are used by thousands of schools across America. There are more than 1,000 skill lessons that help you focus on academic skills. The quizzes and tests in SkillsTutor can help identify your weaker skill areas and then give you lessons to improve your skills. You can even track your progress with short tests before and after you complete the skill areas. Best of all, you can do this all from your home computer.

There are many lessons and skill areas from which to choose, including:
- Reading
-Writing
- Language Arts
- Mathematics
- Algebra
- Reading Comprehension
- Workforce Readiness Skills
- Science
- Vocabulary
- Information Skills

To get on-line and start using SkillsTutor.com, please contact your MEOC Advisor. Your advisor has to establish an account for you before you're able to begin. You can reach your advisor by telephone at 1-800-281-3703. In the meantime, check out the website at www.skillstutor.com. SkillsTutor is free for MEOC clients!

II. The Learning And Study Skills Inventory (L.A.S.S.I)

LASSI Workshop for New and Returning College Students: Many students are not as aware as they need to be about how they study and learn. The Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI) is designed to help students develop or expand that awareness so they can be more successful in college. Participants will complete the LASSI to identify areas of their knowledge, skills, motivation and attitudes they may need to improve. These results, teamed with awareness of effective study strategies, will enable each participant to become a more strategic and successful student.

Sound good? See the upcoming workshops schedule (below) for upcoming L.A.S.S.I. workshops and register for one in your area!

III. L.A.S.S.I. Workshops - call 1-800-281-3703 to ask questions or to register!

Location: Saco - University College at Saco
Date: 10/12/04
Time: 12:30 - 2:30pm

Location: Augusta - Augusta Career Center
Date: 10/21/04
Time: 1-3pm

Location: Ellsworth - Hancock Cty. Higher Ed. Center
Date: 10/22/04
Time: 2-4pm

Location: Skowhegan - Skowhegan Career Center
Date: 10/25/04
Time: 1-3pm

Location: Sanford - University College at Sanford
Date: 10/26/04
Time: 12:30-2:30pm

Location: Thomaston - University College at Thomaston
Date: 10/26/04
Time: 1-3pm
Location: Belfast - Hutchinson Center
Date: 10/27/04
Time: 1-3pm
Location: Lewiston - Lewiston Career Center
Date: 10/27/04
Time: 1-3pm
Location: E. Millinocket - Katahdin Reg. Higher Ed. Center
Date: 10/28/04
Time: 1-3pm

Location: Bath - University College at Bath/Brunswick
Date: 10/28/04
Time: 1-3pm

Location: Presque Isle - Presque Isle Career Center
Date: 10/28/04
Time: 1-3pm

Location: Dover-Foxcroft - Penquis Higher Ed. Center
Date: 11/09/04
Time: 1-3pm

Location: South Paris - South Paris Career Center
Date: 11/15/04
Time: 1-3pm

Location: Portland - Portland Career Center
Date: 11/18/04
Time: 12:30 - 2:30pm

Location: Mexico - University College at Rumford/Mexico
Date: 11/19/04
Time: 1-3pm

Location: Bangor - University College at Bangor
Date: 11/23/04
Time: 1-3pm

Other times, dates and locations may be available. As with all MEOC workshops, please call to inquire about workshops in your area, confirm dates, times and locations, and register. If you do not register for a workshop that you are planning to attend, we have no way of informing you if the workshop is rescheduled, canceled, or relocated. The list above includes only workshops for those who have already attended the MEOC 101: Essentials of College Planning workshop. However, if you feel like you would benefit from another session of MEOC 101, please call our office to find a workshop site and time that would be best for you. Also, all MEOC Advisors maintain drop-in times at most workshop locations around the state. Please contact your MEOC Advisor for assistance with your college-related questions and challenges, and for on-going college and career planning assistance.

IV. Study Tip - It's the beginning of the semester, start off on the right foot with good note-taking!

Learning how to take good notes in class is one of the most valuable skills that you should pick up in your first semester at college. Taking good notes in class increases your retention of the material, reinforces the lectures, and highlights the main points of your classes and your readings. A good set of notes and make studying for a test a lot more efficient and less stressful. Follow these general guidelines to good note-taking:

-Start each class with a fresh page and write the date and day of the week at the top of the page. This will come in handy later when you want to compare notes with the dates of readings, or when you want to make sure you're studying the right dates for your test.

-Sit in the front of the class. You'll have less distractions and won't have to bob around to see the board.

-Use an outline format with indentations. Start off with main points as headings and then add details under the headings. (like this newsletter)

- Listen for cues as to important points. Professors often highlight the most important points by stating them louder, clearer, or repeating them several times. Be sure to write out these main points before moving on to minor points or examples.

-Always write everything down that the professor writes on the board if you can. The same goes for overhead projections.

-At the end of the lecture, ask questions about points you didn't understand, and fill in your notes as necessary.

-If possible, review your notes immediately after class or that evening to fill in any details your remember.

-Try to review your lecture notes before the next class so that you go to class prepared to continue with the topic.

V. Staff Listing

Please keep in touch with your advisor!

* Joanne Richards: joanne.richards@umit.maine.edu - serving Augusta, Rockland, Belfast, Bath, Brunswick, Thomaston, and Waldoboro areas.

* Christy Le: christy.le@umit.maine.edu - serving East Wilton, Norway, Lewiston, Auburn, Oxford, Lisbon Falls, and Rumford areas.

* Catie Leon: catie.leon@umit.maine.edu - serving Lincoln, Dover-Foxcroft, Old Town, and Millinocket areas, and Washington County.

* Diane Lambert: diane.lambert@umit.maine.edu - serving Bangor, Brewer, Waterville, Calais, Machias, and Skowhegan areas.

* Tina McDonald: tina.mcdonald@umit.maine.edu - serving the Portland area, Sanford, Windham, and Saco.

* Sally Daniels: sally.daniels@umit.maine.edu - serving Ellsworth (and Aroostook County until December of 2004).

* Sarah Paterson: sarah.paterson@umit.maine.edu - serving all clients who have entered into college.

Don't be afraid to call on our advisors if you need some help. You can leave a message for any advisor by calling 1-800-281-3703.VI. Reminder about address corrections

Be sure to contact MEOC at 1-800-281-3703 or via email if you:

- have moved/have an alternate mailing address
- have a new address due to 911 coding
- have changed your phone number
- have married/changed your name
- are going to be changing your email address and would like this newsletter readdressed!

Remember that we can't be of service to you if we can't find you!

If you have any questions/comments/concerns or suggestions for this newsletter, or if you wish to unsubscribe, send an email to sarah.paterson@umit.maine.edu.

Maine Educational Opportunity Center
5713 Chadbourne Hall
Orono, ME 04469-5713
1-800-281-3703
(F)- (207) 581-2532
http://meoc.maine.edu/