If your student is saying they don’t know how or where to make friends here at Longwood, we’ve got you covered!

One of the best ways to make friends is to get involved in activities where the group is relatively small, providing opportunities to talk with others in a relaxed environment and who share an interest.

Maybe you’ll see something below (just a few examples of what’s offered here) that would be a great fit for your student. Encourage them to take just a small step outside their comfort zone. It will be worth it!

Celebrating Halloween

Haunted House

Friday, Oct. 28, 8-9:30 p.m., Soza Ballroom, Upchurch University Center
It’s another crazy, scary, scream-worthy Halloween event by Lancer Productions!

Learning Something New

Bowties & Bites

Tuesday, Nov. 8, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Ground Floor Lobby, Upchurch University Center
Have a special event coming up? Attending a job interview? Don’t know how to tie a tie? Stop by and grab a bite while you learn to tie a tie or bowtie.

Irish Dance Workshops

Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2-3 p.m., and Thursday, Nov. 3, 7-8 p.m., Group Fitness Room, Health and Fitness Center
Bring out your inner Irish with these workshops where you’ll learn some Irish dance steps. No experience necessary! Just bring tennis shoes/socks you can dance in.

Sign Language Club

Alternating Tuesdays, 5:30 p.m.
Participants learn all about ASL and Deaf culture in a stress-free, exciting environment! All fluency levels are accepted—especially beginners! Contact luslc1819@gmail.com for meeting locations and the date of the next meeting.

Staying Healthy—Mentally and Physically

 Well-Being Clinics

Tuesdays, 4-5 p.m., Room 313, Upchurch University Center; Thursdays, 4-5 p.m., on Zoom
These clinics teach students how to manage their mental health through mindfulness, communication skills, preventative behaviors, tolerating difficult emotions and making changes. Email glassjl@longwood.edu for Zoom link (ID: longwoodcaps) and more info.

Group Fitness Classes

Various times and locations, Health and Fitness Center
Classes offered include Spin Express, Dance-versity, Barbells, Spin Bootcamp, Fast Fitness Circuit and Yoga. Schedules: https://www.longwood.edu/recreation/

Longwood Recovers Group Meetings

Fridays, 3 p.m., Room 309C, Upchurch University Center
If your student is in recovery or if they might have a problem with alcohol or drug addiction, Longwood Recovers is here to help. It provides a place for students facing these challenges to come together in a nonjudgmental, noncritical, private forum for discussion and support. Individual meetings with Longwood’s recovery support staff also are available. http://www.longwood.edu/longwoodrecovers/

Eating Out with Friends (For Free!)

Catholic Campus Ministry Dinner

Tuesdays, 6 p.m., Midtown Square (next to Chick-fil-A)
It’s dinner compliments of Catholic Campus Ministry every Tuesday night. The evening also includes a message and games.

Wesley Campus Ministry Dinner

Tuesdays, 5 p.m., 204 High Street
Join this organization sponsored by the United Methodist Church for a free home-cooked meal, fellowship and worship.

Other Ways To Get Involved

Music ensembles: Longwood has numerous vocal and instrumental ensembles that can be taken as classes (or audited) by music majors and nonmajors as well as student organizations focused on making music.

Intramurals and club sports: A wide variety of sports are offered and geared for everyone from beginners to more advanced players.

Theatre productions: From acting to creating scenery to handling lighting—there are many ways to contribute.

The Rotunda: Longwood’s student newspaper is always looking for good writers, photographers and graphic designers.

WMLU: Longwood’s student-run radio station broadcasts 24 hours a day and offers many ways for students to get involved.

Student Employment: Meeting people is easier at work! Student jobs are available across campus.

—Sabrina Brown

 

Today’s post gives you the “skinny” on some opportunities for parents and for students. I hope you find the information helpful.

Need help with the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)?
Attend one—or all—of these webinars

The FAFSA for the 2023-24 year opened Oct. 1. All students who wish to be considered for financial aid—including grants, loans and scholarships—must fill out the form each year.

Many of you are probably old hands at filling out the FAFSA by now, but for others it undoubtedly is still a challenge. Honestly, most of the parents I know who have grappled with this form consider successfully completing it to be a major triumph, something along the lines of climbing Mt. Everest.

However, you don’t have to face this challenge alone. Longwood’s Office of Financial Aid is ready to lend a hand. They’re offering a series of webinars to help you prepare for and understand the FAFSA. You can access these virtual webinars here, https://longwood-edu.zoom.us/j/91000769600.

FAFSA Webinar Schedule
Oct. 21              7-8 p.m.
Nov. 12              10-11 a.m.
Jan. 13               7-8 p.m.
Feb. 11               10-11 a.m.
Feb. 25             10-11 a.m.

Keep in mind that Longwood’s priority filing deadline is March 1, 2023. The Office of Financial Aid must receive your student’s FAFSA by this date to determine their eligibility for most federal and state grants. If a student submits the FAFSA after this date, they would miss their opportunity to receive this gift aid.

 If you have a question or concern about the FAFSA that you’d like to address one-on-one with a financial aid staff member, you can make an appointment for a virtual meeting here: go.longwood.edu/finaidappt.

A Great Campus Job
Applications now being accepted for resident assistants

If your student plans to live on campus next year and will have at least one year of campus residence by the beginning of the fall semester, they might want to consider applying to be a resident assistant. Applications, which can be found online here, are being accepted through noon on Friday, Dec. 2.

Resident assistants get free housing and a base meal plan. They also get great leadership, decision-making and event-planning experience that will enhance their resumes when they are searching for that first job after college.

Students eligible to apply must
—Be a full-time student while employed
—Have no judicial record
—Have lived in Longwood-managed housing for one academic year prior to fall 2023
—Have a minimum 2.5 GPA (both semester and cumulative)
—Commit to the entire 2023-24 academic year (fall and spring semesters; this means  student teachers, students studying abroad for a full semester, peer mentors, varsity athletes and students graduating in fall 2023 are not eligible)​​

In addition, the housing office looks for students who
—Are involved and love helping others
—Advocate for their peers and are creative
—Are willing to learn and meet new people

$3,000 Study Abroad Scholarships Available

Longwood’s Center for Global Engagement is offering a new scholarship this year: the ESC Summer Leadership Program Scholarship, which will award $3,000 each to two Lancers to use for participation in this excellent program through the European Study Center in Strasbourg, France. Students in the program can choose between two four-week summer sessions worth 6 credits each.

Applications, which can be found online here, are due no later than Nov. 1. Questions can be sent to studyabroad@longwood.edu.

—Sabrina Brown

Coming up the week of Oct. 17 is Longwood’s Career Week. It’s a week full of helpful job search-related workshops, opportunities to network with alumni and a career fair.

I was surprised to hear in a meeting this week that many students wait until deep into the spring semester of their senior year to start their job searches.

I’m hoping you can encourage your student to be proactive and take advantage of Career Week. And consider passing along this message from Longwood’s Career Services: “The most successful and least stressful job searches start early!”

Career Week is the perfect time for students to get a head start on writing a killer resume and cover letter, honing their job interview skills, making connections with Longwood alumni working in areas they’re interested in, and finding out what they can do now to get the kind of experience and skills that will land the job they want when they graduate.

Also, please let your student know they can get FREE business cards as part of Career Week. Here’s the order form. The last day to order cards is Oct. 14.

And finally, if your student is home this weekend, it’s a good time for them to grab some business casual/professional clothing to bring to campus for the career fair and networking event.

Details of Career Week are below. No registration is required for students for any of the workshops or other activities.

Monday, October 17, 2022

Walk-in Mock Interviews
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Maugans Alumni Center, G04
To make the most of Career Week, students should come to the Office of Alumni and Career Services to practice their answers to common interview questions. These will be first-come, first-serve and will take roughly 30-45 minutes.

Resume and Cover Letter Workshop
4 p.m. | Allen Hall, Room 101
Join us for a Resume and Cover Letter Workshop to prepare yourself to network with alumni and employers during the Career fair on Oct. 20. We will be covering current standards in formatting, appearance, and content, as well as how to highlight your skills and abilities to fit the jobs you want.

Tuesday, October 18, 2022

Walk-in Mock Interviews
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Maugans Alumni Center, G04
To make the most of Career Week, students should come to the Office of Alumni and Career Services to practice their answers to common interview questions. These will be first-come, first-serve and will take roughly 30-45 minutes.

LinkedIn and Networking Workshop
4 p.m. | Allen Hall, Room 101
Increase your employer visibility and marketability by building a professional, updated, and engaging LinkedIn profile using advice and feedback from industry professionals.

Graduate School Preparation Workshop
6 p.m. | Allen Hall, Room 101
Learn more about how to research and choose a program; get application tips and advice, and assistance in crafting strong personal statements; and gain insight into what graduate school admissions boards are looking for.

Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Minority Student and Alumni Networking Session
5-6 p.m. | Rotunda
Longwood Career Services would like to invite all minority students to attend a networking session with fellow alumni and career leaders to learn about their career paths and advice, build relationships and develop their professional network. Following this special session, we will move to the general networking session in the Colonnades from 6-8 p.m.

Alumni, Student, and Employer Networking Event
6-8 p.m. | Colonnades
Build your professional network by connecting with alums across dozens of fields and industries at our student, alumni, employer networking event. A professional cocktail-party style will help you feel comfortable at events in the future as alumni help you build toward your career goals.

Thursday, October 20, 2022

Career, Internship and Engagement Fair
1-4 p.m. | Maugans Alumni Center, Blackwell Ballroom
Join alumni, employers and graduate school representatives at our Career Expo to learn more about how to get the career you want, what top industry players are looking for in new hires, and how you can get a step ahead of other applicants. You’ll be able to take a professional headshot for your LinkedIn profile, develop your professional network and enjoy learning more about companies that want to #HireLancers.

Events and locations are subject to change. For the latest and most up-to-date information, visit the Career Week website: http://go.longwood.edu/careerweek

—Sabrina Brown