Posts filed under 'academics'
I can’t say I was surprised when the results of the latest poll showed that almost 25% of you chose “maintaining balance” as your top worry for this school year. Why? Well honestly, it is one of my top worries, too.
From balancing a budget (ugh!) to keeping on top of my workload, and trying to do laundry, remember to cook (and not burn) dinner, meeting with my friends for morning workouts and book club, and making time for my family and my sweetie, I am probably busier now than I have ever been!
So to keep all these balls in the air, I’ve been doing a lot of research–and soul searching–and I’m finally starting to get the hang of it. Here are 3 of my secrets to (mostly) having success in the whole life-balance arena.
1. Prioritize.
If you’re anything like me, you start the day excited about all the things you can get done. So how is it that at the end of the day all you’ve done is spent 3 hours on facebook and written two (terrible) lines of an essay that’s due on Friday? You haven’t checked your priorities.
Each day I set myself a couple of goals (sometimes just one or two!) or tasks that MUST get done by the end of the day–and I start them ASAP.
2. Eliminate Distractions.
One of the biggest problems in our multi-tasking society is stimulus overload–there is so much going on that we can’t focus on the task at hand (even when it’s not homework!).
Taking away some of that stimulus helps your mind calm down and focus on what you’re doing, making you more efficient (so you have more free time) and even allowing you to enjoy fun things more.
Limit yourself to one or two things going on at a time, like maybe emailing with some music on. Simple things like only checking your email a couple times a day (instead of hourly… or more!), leaving the TV off, or signing out of chat when you’re writing a paper can help you get on with the work and on to the play!
3. Set a Schedule.
Growing up, Monday and Wednesday were laundry days. Every. Single. Week.
I never understood how important that was until I moved out on my own (and at first only did laundry when I ran out of underwear). It isn’t so much the laundry itself that’s important, but the comfort and manageability of a routine.
Before I set a schedule, I felt like I was always rushing to catch up–and I never could. It was discouraging. After a while I figured out how that planning my week left more time for catch-up and social time. Here’s how to start.
- Print out your class schedule. This is the skeleton of your weekly routine, and it’s already made for you.
- Add in your other can’t-miss activities like work, club meetings, religious attendance, athletic training, etc.
- Look over your week so far. Fill in the gaps with study time or other chores, and choose which days are your laundry/grocery shopping/whatever days based on which have the lightest workload.
- Schedule time for relaxing and fun. If you don’t you will feel burnt out and start resenting and hating your schedule.
What about you? How do you keep your crazy life in balance?
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October 22nd, 2009
After the busy buzz of Welcome Week activities and the whirlwind of the first few days of classes, it’s not uncommon to get a case of the blues. Living on your own–and trying to make a whole new group of friends!–can be overwhelming. Add that to missing your family and friends from home, and you’ve got a full-blow case of homesickness.
Here’s how to punch homesickness right in the (figurative) nose, no matter what your personality type.
Type-A Go-Getters
For a former ASB President/Football star/lead in the school play like you, college is a wide wide world of opportunity.
Start the year off right by getting a weekend crowd organized. Celebrate the end of the week by throwing a bonfire, s’mores roast, or cookout while the weather is still nice, and invite as many people as you can. Use your leadership skills to get food, music, location, and rides organized.
Having so much to do–and something to look forward to–will help get your mind off that pesky lonely feeling.
Want a bigger challenge? Figure out how to show an outdoor movie.
Shy Guy (or Gal)
If you’re a naturally shy person, breaking out of your shell in a brand new place may be more than a little challenging. Luckily there are some less in-the-spotlight ways for you to beat the homesickness bug.
Start by trying to meet some people–even if its just a few people you can chat with and sit by in each class. Consistent interaction with fun people is a nice energy boost on a rough day. Also, find out what intriguing clubs or sports are on campus, and try to hit a couple of meetings or games. Be confident, and when you’re feeling scared, remind yourself that you can skip out any time.
Meeting people takes time, so while you’re working on that, keep up a steady stream of contact with your already-established friends. Video chats can make you feel like you’ve just had an hour of hang time with your BFF, and emails or texts keep you in touch at the click of a button.
Above and Beyond
Just a few more ideas to get you out of the rut…
- Helping Hand. One of the best tactics for overcoming homesickness–or any form of self-pity, really–is to focus your energy outward. Instead of worrying about how you feel, focus on how the people around you are feeling, and try to help them out. Whether you’re complimenting your roommate’s shoes or volunteering at a retirement home, making other people feel good will help boost your own mood!
- Work Through It. While I still encourage you to take time to meet and greet new people and create a friend base at school, on the really bad homesick days, you can decide to throw yourself into your studies. And if you have a career goal in mind, put more energy towards networking, interning, and volunteering so you can get a handle on your future.
- Touch Base. Just because you’ve moved doesn’t mean you have to give up the relationships you already have. In fact, as you become an adult and pursue a career, you may find yourself moving several times. Keep the love (or friendship) alive by remembering birthdays and keeping in touch via facebook, texts, phone calls, emails, Skype, or whatever works best for you.
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October 1st, 2009
If you’re feeling a little under-prepared for exams to begin, take it one step at a time–and start with these.
Spend Some Time at the Office
You veteran readers will already be pretty familiar with this one–and I’m not talking about heading to your job. That office can wait! You need to get to “office hours,” that hour or two each week when your professors and TAs are available to talk and help you work out problems.
This is your opportunity to get face-to-face with the person who best knows what you need to study for the test–and he/she can even help you figure out the tougher concepts of their class. After all, they love the subject enough to teach it!
And don’t think you’ll be bugging your teacher–many professors complain that no one ever shows up to their office hours!
Go to Work
Okay, this time I am talking about your job. Studying for a big test like a midterm or a final can be stressful. Throw in the pressure and commitment of a job, and you could have a recipe for a migraine.
If you have a job (or other regular commitment, like volunteering at a hospital, etc.), take a little extra time one day to discuss your upcoming exam schedule with your supervisor. If you’re going to need to work a little less the week of the test, plan that ahead. Also, if your test is being held at a different time than usual class so that it interferes with work, make sure you notify your superiors of that, too.
Remember, you’re a student first, but most offices are willing to work around you a little so you can keep the title of employee, too.
Test Yourself
One of the best ways to really learn the concepts and info that just won’t stick is to take a practice test. You might have access to practice tests from your professors (you can always ask for one, or a previous year’s test, from your prof at office hours!). If you don’t you can quiz yourself or make up flash cards.
I’d definitely recommend flash cards if they make sense for your subject. They’re easy and cheap to make, you can start paring them down to the concepts you are really having trouble with, and they let you study whenever you have a few spare minutes on the bus or between classes.
For more tips, check out these handy study-tip posts:
September 29th, 2009
I love getting feedback from you guys in comments, emails, and poll responses, and one of the biggest concerns this year is getting good grades–which is exactly what you should be focused on in college. So right on.
The nice thing is that when it comes to studying, a little effort goes a long way. Here’s how to get ahead of the game this year.
Duly Noted
Get out your pen and paper–or your laptop–and pay attention during class. I know it’s tempting to email, chat, and surf the web when class gets slow, but none of those things will help you score well on a test.
Figure out your ideal note-taking style not for speed but for processing. Class should be your first “study time” so don’t settle for mindlessly copying down the notes. Try to really absorb what your professor is saying so that when you go to study later, its all review.
Some people process really well working on a laptop, but many of us are more visual and need to physically write notes and draw diagrams to keep the info stuck in our brains. Be honest with yourself about which type you are and you’ll find studying gets way easier.
Take Two
When you find yourself with free time during the day, skip the iPhone Wheel of Fortune and go over your notes from class that day. Just read through them once or twice, make notes about things you don’t understand, and plan what to go over in depth later.
Sometimes going over things right before bed is a good way to help them stick in your head–your brain keeps processing this information while you sleep at night (but you might start dreaming in calculus equations. You win some, you lose some.).
If you’re feeling antsy about spending daylight studying, remember that studying in the day means you’re free to go out and be social at night.
Schedule some Alone Time (with your books)
Scheduling study time is crucial, especially as you start adding more activities and work hours to your day. Map out a couple weeks before your finals week starts, planning when (and what) to study, when to work, and when to take breaks. Give yourself a couple extra days, too, because good studying usually takes longer than you expect it to (sorry).
The “alone” part is crucial, too. Spending time with a study group can be really helpful–especially if you’re still learning the material–but it is also really distracting (especially if your crush happens to be studying with you…). So if you decide to go the group route, pencil in some private study time, too. This will give you a chance to go over the things you personally struggle with.
Still freaking out about your first test of the year? Here’s an oldie but a goodie that really applies to any test: 10 Finals Week Survival Tips. :) Deborah Fox, founder of Fox College Funding (and author of our sister site, the Pay for College Blog!) highly recommends the book, How to Become a Straight-A Student: The Unconventional Strategies Real College Students Use to Score High While Studying Less by Cal Newport. She told me her son, a college sophomore, has found it to be extremely helpful.
More study tips to come. And don’t forget to take some brain breaks!
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September 9th, 2009
Oh, summer. The perfect time to sleep in, spend hours at the beach, and catch up on those 62 hours of House you missed because you didn’t have DVR at school.
But I think you’d have to agree that even the amusing antics of Dr. House can get old after twelve straight hours (too much of a good thing). Plus, Mom won’t let us keep using the DVR if Oprah comes on. 
So if you want to avoid the “too much of a good thing” syndrome, I suggest getting some work done so your “play” time will be more meaningful. Here are a few ways to get started.
Win Some Scholarships
Well, at least try to win some.
Deborah Fox of the Pay for College Blog has several tips about how to increase your odds of winning scholarships. She recommends applying to local scholarships and those targeted to a specific personal trait (hobby, sport, religion, major, etc.), because those will have a smaller applicant pool than the traditional national essay contest.
She also recommends that you do a little background research on who has won in the past. Often times winning essays or short bios are available–these can help you figure out how to present yourself as a good candidate (or if you should move on to the next opportunity).
Study, Buddy
What? Are you serious? STUDY during summer?
Definitely.
I’m not saying you have to start writing existentialist essays in French or spend the afternoon decoding the human genome, but make sure you keep your brain working. Read a book, even if it’s only for fun. Make a field trip to some local tourist or historical spot you’ve never visited. And if you’re planning to take the MCAT, I’m afraid you’re going to want these homework-free summer months to prepare for that.
Volunteer
If you really need convincing, volunteering is good because:
* It looks great on your resume and scholarship, grad school, and med school applications,
* It is a great way to meet other people who are passionate about the same things you are,
* It can give you experience in a new field, and, the big one,
* It helps other people.
I am hard pressed to think of a field that doesn’t want volunteers. You can do everything from working at an animal clinic to building houses for homeless people, so if something really floats your boat, find out how to become a volunteer!
Resources:
http://www.volunteermatch.org/
http://www.volunteer.gov/gov/
http://volunteer.united-e-way.org/
Go to School
This is probably right up there with studying on your summer to-do list, but taking a couple of extra classes can be extremely helpful. First, if you take the right courses, it could actually speed up your graduation. Second, it keeps your mind active so you are less likely to lose all the stuff you’ve learned this year. Third, you can take the opportunity to take classes you wanted to take but haven’t had time to do during the year.
Clean Up
Want to make your mom happy, and your wallet a little fatter? Spend a couple days going through all the stuff you left behind this year and thin out your clutter collection. If you didn’t use your desktop computer for those 9 months away because you got a laptop, you can probably move on.
Once you’ve separated your stuff in to a “trash” and “sell” pile, post the sellables on eBay or craigslist.org and try to make a little money. Don’t forget to sell back your text books, too. Amazon.com and Half.com are good bets for getting a reasonable return on them.
photo by benipop
May 20th, 2009
So, you want to apply for a scholarship. Or med school. Or grad school. Or a really competitive job. What do all these things have in common? Clearly, you need some awesome letters of recommendation. And I’m going to tell you how to get them.
- Do Some Legwork. Not applying for med school for two more years? Perfect. Start networking NOW. The sooner you start making friends with the people you want to recommend you, the better your chances that they WILL recommend you. Early networking means your letter-writer will know you better, and (hopefully) be more inclined to be your advocate. Plus, they won’t feel like you’ve used them just for a letter, which, frankly, can make them just say no.
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- Choose Wisely. If you want good, solid letters of recommendation, choose people with whom you have a good rapport. (Go for the teachers whose classes you have aced, not the ones who gave you a C+ on your final.) Also, stay away from asking family. Instead, try asking professors, employers, volunteer/church leaders, or long-time family friends (adults!) who work in your field
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- Give Plenty of Notice. Remember how hard it is to write a good paper the night before its due? Don’t put that kind of pressure on your letter-writers! If possible, give them at least a solid month to write your letter (and give them a deadline before the real one in case they’re late!).
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- Give them Specifics. Let your recommendation writer know exactly what you need in the letter, especially if you need them to focus on certain aspects of your achievements. If your letter-writer has never written a letter or rec before, be sure to give them some samples (campus career centers are usually a good source for these, or you can look around online) and let them know about how long it should be. A too-short letter of recommendation can be almost as bad as a half-hearted one.
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- Offer to Help. Ask your letter writer what you can do to help them out. Do they need a list of your awards and achievements? Do they want to read your application essay? Try to give them as much assistance as you can so they can get your letter written quickly–and well! Providing them with a one or two page resume of your list of achievements can jog their memories, inform them of things they didn’t previously know about you and make the task a lot easier.
Final Tip: Ask your letter-writer to send you a digital copy of the letter once it has been sent. Keep all your letters in a folder, so that if you need to apply to another scholarship or school, you can just send the copy to your recommendation writer to sign and send off. They’ll be more willing to help you multiple times if they don’t have to search their own computer for the letter again and again!
photo by asafesh
April 18th, 2009
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