If you're like I was about this time last year, you're a new high school graduate with pockets full of cash. You've probably got more money on you right now than you've had your entire life. I fully support going out and buying yourself a few spluge items. Don't go overboard with it though. It's wise to put some of it in a bank account. Most importantly, you need to furnish your dorm room! It's going to be your home away from home, so you need to make it as comfortable as possible.
You'll need to buy things, that for most of your life have always been in the closet. Stock up on shampoos, body wash, face wash, all that kind of stuff. Buy a few towels in different sizes, from full size to wash cloths. A robe to wear to and from the bathroom is probably a good idea too, unless your bathroom is attached to your room. A basket to carry it all in is very helpful. Get a first aid kit too! You'll need a band-aid at the most random times.
Now for the actual decorating...
You want your room to represent you, just like the one at home, but on a smaller scale. You can't drill holes in the walls, or use any kind of nails in most places, so bring posters and pictures that can be hung with tape of sticky-tac. I also recommend bringing a dry erase board and/or cork board. It's a great way to keep up with assignments and important papers.
Make a run to your local office supply store before you leave. Having a stapler, paper clips, tape dispenser, tacks for the cork board, magnets, pens/pencils, highlighters, post its...
For the bigger items (t.v., mini fridge...) get together with your room mate and decide who brings what so you don't end up spending a lot of money and your room mate spends nothing. This worked really well for my room mate and I. She got a t.v. for her birthday and I brought the mini fridge we used all year.
You'll find out there are more things you need as you adjust to college life. These are just a few of the things you might want to think about getting to start the year with.
Quote to live by: "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
-Eleanor Roosevelt.
Showing posts with label deko and posh the learning curve. Show all posts
Showing posts with label deko and posh the learning curve. Show all posts
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Learning Curve: 8 Things
I follow a lot of other college bloggers on Twitter who post links to several articles that are useful to me as a college student. During the summer I'm going to be passing some of these along to help out the Class of 2009 as they get ready to start their first year of college. Hopefully some of these tips will help them have a successful year.
This week one of my fellow bloggers posted a link to an article about the 8 things everyone needs to know before they go to college. So, with my commentary, here's the 8 things this blogger believes all people should know before they go to college.
1. Washing: Unless you live really close to your school and take your laundry home every weekend, chances are you'll be doing you're own washing at least once a week. Definitely a skill I recommend that everyone (including you guys out there!) learn. Have mom teach you about the different load sizes, what gets washed in what kind of water & how much detergent you should use per load/load size, what goes in the dryer, how long does it go in the dryer, SORTING LAUNDRY (you don't want your whites turning red!!), different detergent types, dryer sheets...the list goes on. Sit down with mom or dad this summer and have them show you if you're not used to helping out with the family laundry already.
Once you get to school, pick a set day of the week that you have time to wash. I'm not talking about an hour or so, I'm talking 3-4 hours, especially if you have more than one load. The hall I lived in last year had 3 washers/dryers for around 150 girls. If you have to leave your laundry unattended for an extended amount of time, be kind enough to mark it so someone can get ahold of you if it finishes and you're not there to do something with it. Taking clothes out of the washer is one thing, but DON'T put someone elses clothes in a dryer! If you have to take someone's stuff out of a dryer, be kind and fold it for them. The favor will be returned.
2. Driving: I'm probably one of the few who went to college with no license and no car. Not only did I have a fear of cars for the longest time, but I never had a need to drive. Everywhere I needed to go, mom was usually going too, so I could bum a ride with her or get her to take me there. Once I got to college I realized that I have to take myself to get food, or make Wal Mart runs. Luckily, my room mate was pretty understanding and we went to the store about once a week anyway. If you're going to school without a car, at least be able to drive. I'm sure some new friend will let you borrow theirs if you need to.
3. Paying: One of the biggest and probably hardest lessons I learned this year. Mom & Dad aren't going to continue to be there for you to bum money off of so you can hang out with your friends at Sonic or go grab lunch in the Student Center. Learn to budget what little money you do have. Be able to look a few weeks down the road and decide if that late night burger is worth not going to a movie or to listen to that cool new band play. You're the one that will be buying the food that you keep in your room, along with laundry detergent, bathroom items, clothes, movies, games. The price adds up fast, so be able to keep up with it.
4. Cleaning: This wasn't as new to me as it is to a lot of first year college students. I've always had to clean my own room and help out with chores around the house. Just remember that Mom & Dad aren't there to remind you to clean the sink or take out the trash. Even if you think you're room is clean, it really isn't. If you keep it clean throughout the year, when it comes time to do the heavy cleaning most halls require for check out, it won't be nearly as hard. Make your bed, throw out the trash, and dust about once a week. It'll make dorm life for you and your room mate so much smoother.
5. Marketing: College is all about networking. You may be there for the education, but once you have that degree in your hand, you are a commodity that businesses will be looking for. If you've built the right conncections with the right professors, you can easily build your resume. If you don't know how to make a professional looking resume, there are places on campus that will help you.
6. Spending: I didn't get a credit card when I left for school, but I know that's something a lot of parents do for their kids. If you have a credit card, this DOES NOT mean you have unlimited cash in your pocket!! You need to be able to pay the bill every month. Same goes for a debit card. It can sometimes be hard to keep track of your spending when you don't see the cash leave your hands. Most banks have online banking so you can keep up with how much is in your account. Speaking of banking, college is the first time a lot of kids have bank accounts. If you have one or are going to get one, it's a good idea to see what banks are in the area of your school and see if you have a branch of the same bank back home. This helps especially if you're going to school away from home. Mom & Dad can put money in your accont and you can withdraw it at school.
7. Writing: You've used Sparknotes, Cliffnotes, and Wikipedia all through high school and you did ok right? That won't work in college. One, you won't get the material out of any of these "sources" the professors will expect you to have or know. Two, they actually check sources. I learned this lesson the hard way and will not be using Wikipedia in the place of doing actual work ever again. If you do, just use these sites as a guide and not in place of the actual work. They make great study aids.
8. Sharing: Didn't think you would see this on the list did you? Sharing is a huge deal in college. Not only will you be sharing a living space with another person but you'll be sharing a bathroom, laundry room, among other things. Sharing isn't usually the hard part, it's sharing with people you don't know. Make sure your room mate knows what things you are and aren't willing to share. Can he/she use your stapler but not your laptop? It's a huge deal, so go over these things at the very beginning of the year.
All of you that are graduating within the next few weeks, Congratulations! You're getting ready to have some of the best experiences of your life, I wish you the best of luck. If there's anything you want to know about before you leave for school in the fall, leve a comment with the subject and I'll try to give the best advice I can.
Quote to live by: "Live at the bottom even if you're at the top." Jonas Brothers
This week one of my fellow bloggers posted a link to an article about the 8 things everyone needs to know before they go to college. So, with my commentary, here's the 8 things this blogger believes all people should know before they go to college.
1. Washing: Unless you live really close to your school and take your laundry home every weekend, chances are you'll be doing you're own washing at least once a week. Definitely a skill I recommend that everyone (including you guys out there!) learn. Have mom teach you about the different load sizes, what gets washed in what kind of water & how much detergent you should use per load/load size, what goes in the dryer, how long does it go in the dryer, SORTING LAUNDRY (you don't want your whites turning red!!), different detergent types, dryer sheets...the list goes on. Sit down with mom or dad this summer and have them show you if you're not used to helping out with the family laundry already.
Once you get to school, pick a set day of the week that you have time to wash. I'm not talking about an hour or so, I'm talking 3-4 hours, especially if you have more than one load. The hall I lived in last year had 3 washers/dryers for around 150 girls. If you have to leave your laundry unattended for an extended amount of time, be kind enough to mark it so someone can get ahold of you if it finishes and you're not there to do something with it. Taking clothes out of the washer is one thing, but DON'T put someone elses clothes in a dryer! If you have to take someone's stuff out of a dryer, be kind and fold it for them. The favor will be returned.
2. Driving: I'm probably one of the few who went to college with no license and no car. Not only did I have a fear of cars for the longest time, but I never had a need to drive. Everywhere I needed to go, mom was usually going too, so I could bum a ride with her or get her to take me there. Once I got to college I realized that I have to take myself to get food, or make Wal Mart runs. Luckily, my room mate was pretty understanding and we went to the store about once a week anyway. If you're going to school without a car, at least be able to drive. I'm sure some new friend will let you borrow theirs if you need to.
3. Paying: One of the biggest and probably hardest lessons I learned this year. Mom & Dad aren't going to continue to be there for you to bum money off of so you can hang out with your friends at Sonic or go grab lunch in the Student Center. Learn to budget what little money you do have. Be able to look a few weeks down the road and decide if that late night burger is worth not going to a movie or to listen to that cool new band play. You're the one that will be buying the food that you keep in your room, along with laundry detergent, bathroom items, clothes, movies, games. The price adds up fast, so be able to keep up with it.
4. Cleaning: This wasn't as new to me as it is to a lot of first year college students. I've always had to clean my own room and help out with chores around the house. Just remember that Mom & Dad aren't there to remind you to clean the sink or take out the trash. Even if you think you're room is clean, it really isn't. If you keep it clean throughout the year, when it comes time to do the heavy cleaning most halls require for check out, it won't be nearly as hard. Make your bed, throw out the trash, and dust about once a week. It'll make dorm life for you and your room mate so much smoother.
5. Marketing: College is all about networking. You may be there for the education, but once you have that degree in your hand, you are a commodity that businesses will be looking for. If you've built the right conncections with the right professors, you can easily build your resume. If you don't know how to make a professional looking resume, there are places on campus that will help you.
6. Spending: I didn't get a credit card when I left for school, but I know that's something a lot of parents do for their kids. If you have a credit card, this DOES NOT mean you have unlimited cash in your pocket!! You need to be able to pay the bill every month. Same goes for a debit card. It can sometimes be hard to keep track of your spending when you don't see the cash leave your hands. Most banks have online banking so you can keep up with how much is in your account. Speaking of banking, college is the first time a lot of kids have bank accounts. If you have one or are going to get one, it's a good idea to see what banks are in the area of your school and see if you have a branch of the same bank back home. This helps especially if you're going to school away from home. Mom & Dad can put money in your accont and you can withdraw it at school.
7. Writing: You've used Sparknotes, Cliffnotes, and Wikipedia all through high school and you did ok right? That won't work in college. One, you won't get the material out of any of these "sources" the professors will expect you to have or know. Two, they actually check sources. I learned this lesson the hard way and will not be using Wikipedia in the place of doing actual work ever again. If you do, just use these sites as a guide and not in place of the actual work. They make great study aids.
8. Sharing: Didn't think you would see this on the list did you? Sharing is a huge deal in college. Not only will you be sharing a living space with another person but you'll be sharing a bathroom, laundry room, among other things. Sharing isn't usually the hard part, it's sharing with people you don't know. Make sure your room mate knows what things you are and aren't willing to share. Can he/she use your stapler but not your laptop? It's a huge deal, so go over these things at the very beginning of the year.
All of you that are graduating within the next few weeks, Congratulations! You're getting ready to have some of the best experiences of your life, I wish you the best of luck. If there's anything you want to know about before you leave for school in the fall, leve a comment with the subject and I'll try to give the best advice I can.
Quote to live by: "Live at the bottom even if you're at the top." Jonas Brothers
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Learning Curve: End of the Year
As I'm writing this, my room is a MESS! There are clothes all over my bed, suit cases thrown open, totes, everything you need to move. Today was my last day of classes for the year, next week is Finals Week and then I'm done until next semester. I can't believe I'm already done with my first year in college. I met so many cool people this year that I'm going to miss over the summer. They've been like my family, my home away from home. These were the people that were here for me when my Mamaw passed away last fall and my uncle this spring. The people I've talked to about class, teachers, and all the other problems I've had. As excited as I am to go home for the summer, I'm going to miss it here in Conway.
Thanks everyone for the birhtday wishes. It was honestly the BEST birthday I have ever had! Taylor's concert was AMAZING! If you have the chance, see her in concert this summer. You won't be disappointed. I'll have pictures on my regular blog as soon as my friend sends them to me. Check them out! You'll be surprised by some of the shots I got.
I hope everyone's end of the year testing is going well. Study hard, get the grade, because that's what I'm doing all weekend! :)
Thanks everyone for the birhtday wishes. It was honestly the BEST birthday I have ever had! Taylor's concert was AMAZING! If you have the chance, see her in concert this summer. You won't be disappointed. I'll have pictures on my regular blog as soon as my friend sends them to me. Check them out! You'll be surprised by some of the shots I got.
I hope everyone's end of the year testing is going well. Study hard, get the grade, because that's what I'm doing all weekend! :)
Quote to live by:
beach sand.
perfect tans.
day walks.
night talks.
sleepless nights.
pillow fights.
spending everyday with those who matter most.
SUMMER 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Learning Curve: Music Weekend
Today's a HUGE day for me. It's my 19th birthday, so be nice and leave me lots of comments! :) I'm going to have to make this week's column short and sweet, because I don't have a lot of time. As soon as I get out of class, I'm going home (which is a 3 hr drive from school) to celebrate my birthday with my family. Friday night I get to see one of my idols, Taylor Swift, in concert. I'm so excited! I've been looking forward to Friday night for the last two months.
I spent all night packing up my room because the concert and my birthday fall 2 weeks before school's out for the year.I can't believe I'm already done with my first year in college. Every day I was in high school, it seemed like I would never get out of there, and now, here I am with only 3 more years to go. Time goes by so fast.
I hope everyone had a GREAT Earth Day and did something to help protect our earth. Have an awesome weekend because I know I will! Continue to live your life, not only focused on the destination, but also the climb.
Rapid Fire: Since I'm getting involved in music this weekend, why don't you guys check out a few of my favorite bands right now.
Quote to Live By: "Without music, life is a journey through a desert." -Pat Conroy
I spent all night packing up my room because the concert and my birthday fall 2 weeks before school's out for the year.I can't believe I'm already done with my first year in college. Every day I was in high school, it seemed like I would never get out of there, and now, here I am with only 3 more years to go. Time goes by so fast.
I hope everyone had a GREAT Earth Day and did something to help protect our earth. Have an awesome weekend because I know I will! Continue to live your life, not only focused on the destination, but also the climb.
Rapid Fire: Since I'm getting involved in music this weekend, why don't you guys check out a few of my favorite bands right now.
And for those of you watching American Idol, vote Kris Allen! He's a hometown boy (he actually goes to the same college I do) and would love your support!
Quote to Live By: "Without music, life is a journey through a desert." -Pat Conroy
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Learning Curve: The Journey
I'm a Disney kid. I was raised on Disney movies, televison, and radio. This doesn't go over well with a lot of my college peers. I guess they see it as something childish that should be abandoned during adolesence. Me? I'm a firm believer in Never Land and have plans to escape there with my younger sister after we kidnap Nick Jonas & Orlando Bloom. KIDDING! Growing up is important, but don't ever fear giving up something you love to satisfy others or maintain an image.
For the last several weeks, every time I turn on the TV, Miley Cyrus's face has been plastered all over the place, promoting her new movie: Hannah Montana The Movie. I have yet to see the movie, hopefully I can go next weekend with my best friend while I'm home for my brithday and the Taylor Swift concert!!! Anyway, there's a song in this movie that I will forever equate with my college journey: The Climb. If you haven't heard it (which is hard to believe) look it up on Youtube. It's worth the listen.
The song talks about dreams and how things can block you from achieving these dreams. There's a stanza that really resonates with me. It says
College is not the easiest thing. It's not an all day party, but it's not an all day study session either. You have to be willing to take chances and put yourself out there. Meet new people, experience new things. They may not turn out just the way you expected them to. Classes are going to be hard and some professors will be down right mean. Don't let it get you down. The good experiences outweigh the bad ones. College is going to be the one experience you'll remember for the rest of your life, so make it a story worth retelling someday.
What am I doing to make my story one that I want to tell over and over again? Tonight, I'm going to watch The Curious Case of Benjamin Button on the football field with a bunch of other Brad Pitt fans.
Quote to live by: "Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself."
For the last several weeks, every time I turn on the TV, Miley Cyrus's face has been plastered all over the place, promoting her new movie: Hannah Montana The Movie. I have yet to see the movie, hopefully I can go next weekend with my best friend while I'm home for my brithday and the Taylor Swift concert!!! Anyway, there's a song in this movie that I will forever equate with my college journey: The Climb. If you haven't heard it (which is hard to believe) look it up on Youtube. It's worth the listen.
The song talks about dreams and how things can block you from achieving these dreams. There's a stanza that really resonates with me. It says
"The struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down but
No, I'm not breaking
I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm gonna remember most"
College is not the easiest thing. It's not an all day party, but it's not an all day study session either. You have to be willing to take chances and put yourself out there. Meet new people, experience new things. They may not turn out just the way you expected them to. Classes are going to be hard and some professors will be down right mean. Don't let it get you down. The good experiences outweigh the bad ones. College is going to be the one experience you'll remember for the rest of your life, so make it a story worth retelling someday.
What am I doing to make my story one that I want to tell over and over again? Tonight, I'm going to watch The Curious Case of Benjamin Button on the football field with a bunch of other Brad Pitt fans.
I challenge each of you this week to get out there and DO SOMETHING that makes your story worth being heard. Get involved in a new club, make a new friend, help someone at the store, smile to a complete stranger. Make your journey one to remember.
Quote to live by: "Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself."
-George Bernard Shaw
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Learning Curve: Studying for Tests
It seems like all I’ve done since I got back from my spring break 2 weeks ago is study & take test. Now, I’m not saying that these two things aren’t important, because, as a college student, they are. The number one reason I decided to go to college was to further my education. I’ll be the first one to admit though, sometimes studying isn’t my main priority. College is all about finding balance in your life. I hope I can at least give you guys some tips and pointers I that I wish someone had told me before I got to college.
So, for this weeks column I’m going to focus on studying tips & tricks that have really helped me. If you have any other tips that you want to share, leave a comment at the end! I love to get feedback from you guys!
I know I was freaked out over my first big college test. I was so afraid that it was going to be pages long, full of confusing vocabulary, or topics that hadn’t been covered during the lecture. I did pretty good and have since developed some pretty good study habits. I’m not saying these work for everyone, this is just what I’ve found most helpful.
1. Read the book! : I can’t stress this one enough. Actually buying the book and reading it is important. Professors don’t cover everything in the chapter in class. There’s not time in the semester for them to get into detail. They’ll hit the high points briefly, but will expect you to know the details when it comes test time. So take the time to open the book and READ!
2. Take notes! : Be prepared with a lot of spiral bound notebooks and pens for this one. I don’t know about other college campuses, but most professors on mine don’t allow laptops in class because the entire campus has wireless internet. This is the best study tool I have. My notes contain everything that the professor talked about that day. Title and date your notes to make looking for certain sections easier. I like to take all my notes in pen because it doesn’t smudge as easily as pencil. Most of my professors so far have used PowerPoint or used the chalkboard religiously, so following along has been pretty easy. Another thing I like to do with my notes is type them on my laptop once I get back from class. This lets me put the random words or phrases into complete thoughts that make sense when it comes time to study.
3. Use the library! : I’ve learned the hard way that you should definitely use the library to your advantage. I study in my room a lot, which has way too many distractions. The library is usually quiet, has several large tables, comfortable chairs, and computers that are available to use. Along with all of this, the library has all the books on any topic you could need. The people in the library are there to assist you, so don’t be afraid to ask for something if you need a bit of help.
4. Notecards/Flashcards : I use flashcards A LOT, especially for foreign language classes. They’re a great way to help you remember information. I also use them for multiple choice, true/false, and vocabulary test, pretty much anything that requires you to just regurgitate information for a test. Hang on to any you make during the semester! They’ll come in handy whey it comes time to start studying for finals.
5. Study Groups : Not only are they a great way to make friends and get to know kids in your class, but it helps you pick up on things that you might have missed in class. By sharing information with others, you are better able to recall the information for the test. Discuss points from class that you didn’t understand, go over old material, quiz each other. Study groups are flexible, which is what I like about them. Do whatever works for you and the other members of your group.
6. Go to Office Hours! : Most, if not all, professors have set times that they are in their offices to talk to students. Again, use this to your advantage!! You’re paying to go to school now, so use every resource you can! Professors can help clarify points of confusion or better explain something you might have missed in class. They want to see you succeed, so don’t be afraid to talk to them. Try to contact them in some way before going to talk to them. This way you’re guaranteed that they will be in their office. Come prepared so you’re not wasting your time or theirs.
7. Outlines : This could easily be classified as an organizational tool, but I find it a great way to study. I have a professor that emails a review sheet out at least a week before the test. He includes the main topics that he’s going to focus on and even a few sample questions that usually show up on the test. I’ll take each topic he has listed and write down anything and everything from my notes and the reading about the topic. This makes my notes easier to study and I only focus on the material that will be on the test.
8. Start studying early!! : Everyone procrastinates in college. It’s an awful habit and one I’m constantly trying to break. You’ll save yourself so much time and stress if you start studying at least a week in advance. By the time the teacher goes over a study guide or starts talking about what will be covered on the test all you’ll have to do is spend a few hours making sure you understand the specifics that will be covered on the test. If you take anything away from this column today, I hope it’s this. I wish I was better with this and work all the time to improve.
9. Avoid CRAMMING & ALL NIGHTERS! : You’ll be so stressed out that you’ll remember nothing or you’ll be so tired that you’ll be jittery from all the caffeine/energy drinks you’ve filled your body with that you won’t be able to focus. If you have to do last minute studying, study as much as you can and go to bed at a decent hour. If you feel like you need to study more, get up early and study before class. This way you’ve at least had some rest and your body’s not exhausted. Try not to stress out too much. Do the best you can. You can always make up a bad grade with extra credit and the final.
10. GO TO CLASS!!!!!!!!! : College is a HUGE responsibility. For a lot of teens, this is the first time they are truly on their own. Mom & Dad aren’t here to wake you up, feed you, do your laundry…whatever else it is that they did for you in high school. If you’re not in class, you’re not getting the notes you need to study for the test. Yes, you can borrow them from a classmate, but most people won’t take notes the same way you do.
True Story: I ended up failing my first big history test this semester because I skipped class to buy Taylor Swift concert tickets for my birthday. Probably not the best reason to skip class, but I’m super excited for this show and I wouldn’t change the decision I made for an A on that test. Anyway, the day I missed was a huge part of the notes. I borrowed the notes from a girl in my class, but they weren’t nearly as detailed as my own would have been. Moral of the story: DON’T SKIP CLASS! (though I’m being a bit hypocritical in saying this. I’m skipping class to see this concert in a few weeks. If you must skip class, use your better judgment & let your professors know. They’ll respect you more for it.)
That’s it for this week. I’m gonna try to switch it up between the boring College Tips & Tricks and my normal, everyday life as a college student. Want ALL the details? Check out my blog and follow me on twitter!
RAPID FIRE: Study Sites
www.cliffnotes.com I like to use these when I don’t completely understand the book I’m reading for class. USE AS A STUDY AID & NOT A REPLACEMENT FOR READING THE BOOK!
www.sparknote.com same goes for this site as the one above
www.fastweb.com they have a lot of scholarship info as well as more tricks, tips, and info for college kids
Quote to live by: “The aim of education should be to teach us how to think, than what to think…” -James Beattie
So, for this weeks column I’m going to focus on studying tips & tricks that have really helped me. If you have any other tips that you want to share, leave a comment at the end! I love to get feedback from you guys!
I know I was freaked out over my first big college test. I was so afraid that it was going to be pages long, full of confusing vocabulary, or topics that hadn’t been covered during the lecture. I did pretty good and have since developed some pretty good study habits. I’m not saying these work for everyone, this is just what I’ve found most helpful.
1. Read the book! : I can’t stress this one enough. Actually buying the book and reading it is important. Professors don’t cover everything in the chapter in class. There’s not time in the semester for them to get into detail. They’ll hit the high points briefly, but will expect you to know the details when it comes test time. So take the time to open the book and READ!
2. Take notes! : Be prepared with a lot of spiral bound notebooks and pens for this one. I don’t know about other college campuses, but most professors on mine don’t allow laptops in class because the entire campus has wireless internet. This is the best study tool I have. My notes contain everything that the professor talked about that day. Title and date your notes to make looking for certain sections easier. I like to take all my notes in pen because it doesn’t smudge as easily as pencil. Most of my professors so far have used PowerPoint or used the chalkboard religiously, so following along has been pretty easy. Another thing I like to do with my notes is type them on my laptop once I get back from class. This lets me put the random words or phrases into complete thoughts that make sense when it comes time to study.
3. Use the library! : I’ve learned the hard way that you should definitely use the library to your advantage. I study in my room a lot, which has way too many distractions. The library is usually quiet, has several large tables, comfortable chairs, and computers that are available to use. Along with all of this, the library has all the books on any topic you could need. The people in the library are there to assist you, so don’t be afraid to ask for something if you need a bit of help.
4. Notecards/Flashcards : I use flashcards A LOT, especially for foreign language classes. They’re a great way to help you remember information. I also use them for multiple choice, true/false, and vocabulary test, pretty much anything that requires you to just regurgitate information for a test. Hang on to any you make during the semester! They’ll come in handy whey it comes time to start studying for finals.
5. Study Groups : Not only are they a great way to make friends and get to know kids in your class, but it helps you pick up on things that you might have missed in class. By sharing information with others, you are better able to recall the information for the test. Discuss points from class that you didn’t understand, go over old material, quiz each other. Study groups are flexible, which is what I like about them. Do whatever works for you and the other members of your group.
6. Go to Office Hours! : Most, if not all, professors have set times that they are in their offices to talk to students. Again, use this to your advantage!! You’re paying to go to school now, so use every resource you can! Professors can help clarify points of confusion or better explain something you might have missed in class. They want to see you succeed, so don’t be afraid to talk to them. Try to contact them in some way before going to talk to them. This way you’re guaranteed that they will be in their office. Come prepared so you’re not wasting your time or theirs.
7. Outlines : This could easily be classified as an organizational tool, but I find it a great way to study. I have a professor that emails a review sheet out at least a week before the test. He includes the main topics that he’s going to focus on and even a few sample questions that usually show up on the test. I’ll take each topic he has listed and write down anything and everything from my notes and the reading about the topic. This makes my notes easier to study and I only focus on the material that will be on the test.
8. Start studying early!! : Everyone procrastinates in college. It’s an awful habit and one I’m constantly trying to break. You’ll save yourself so much time and stress if you start studying at least a week in advance. By the time the teacher goes over a study guide or starts talking about what will be covered on the test all you’ll have to do is spend a few hours making sure you understand the specifics that will be covered on the test. If you take anything away from this column today, I hope it’s this. I wish I was better with this and work all the time to improve.
9. Avoid CRAMMING & ALL NIGHTERS! : You’ll be so stressed out that you’ll remember nothing or you’ll be so tired that you’ll be jittery from all the caffeine/energy drinks you’ve filled your body with that you won’t be able to focus. If you have to do last minute studying, study as much as you can and go to bed at a decent hour. If you feel like you need to study more, get up early and study before class. This way you’ve at least had some rest and your body’s not exhausted. Try not to stress out too much. Do the best you can. You can always make up a bad grade with extra credit and the final.
10. GO TO CLASS!!!!!!!!! : College is a HUGE responsibility. For a lot of teens, this is the first time they are truly on their own. Mom & Dad aren’t here to wake you up, feed you, do your laundry…whatever else it is that they did for you in high school. If you’re not in class, you’re not getting the notes you need to study for the test. Yes, you can borrow them from a classmate, but most people won’t take notes the same way you do.
True Story: I ended up failing my first big history test this semester because I skipped class to buy Taylor Swift concert tickets for my birthday. Probably not the best reason to skip class, but I’m super excited for this show and I wouldn’t change the decision I made for an A on that test. Anyway, the day I missed was a huge part of the notes. I borrowed the notes from a girl in my class, but they weren’t nearly as detailed as my own would have been. Moral of the story: DON’T SKIP CLASS! (though I’m being a bit hypocritical in saying this. I’m skipping class to see this concert in a few weeks. If you must skip class, use your better judgment & let your professors know. They’ll respect you more for it.)
That’s it for this week. I’m gonna try to switch it up between the boring College Tips & Tricks and my normal, everyday life as a college student. Want ALL the details? Check out my blog and follow me on twitter!
RAPID FIRE: Study Sites
www.cliffnotes.com I like to use these when I don’t completely understand the book I’m reading for class. USE AS A STUDY AID & NOT A REPLACEMENT FOR READING THE BOOK!
www.sparknote.com same goes for this site as the one above
www.fastweb.com they have a lot of scholarship info as well as more tricks, tips, and info for college kids
Quote to live by: “The aim of education should be to teach us how to think, than what to think…” -James Beattie
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