Posts Tagged ‘tips’
January 13th, 2010
By Amelia Anderson
New backpacks, clothes, folders, pencils, classes, and of course new books are typically bought at the beginning of classes. Although the expenses can add up, some of the most trying things to buy have got to be the books. Maybe you can reuse an old backpack, maybe you don’t necessarily need a new wardrobe for school, and you may very likely have spare pens, pencils, and binders for the new school year. But, new books are something that has to be bought. Depending on the types of classes you are taking, books can be very expensive for students and can easily put a hole in a person’s budget. However, there are ways to make buying new books for the semester a lot more economical.
Order Textbooks Online
It is usually more convenient to buy textbooks through the school you are attending, however that is typically the most expensive way to buy books for school. There are many websites online that sell textbooks for a much cheaper price. Just make sure that you buy your books a week or two in advance, so you have your books in time for school. Popular websites like cheapesttextbooks.com, half.ebay.com/ , textbooks.com/, and even http://www.barnesandnoble.com/textbooks/index.asp are great resources for inexpensive text books. If you can’t find what you want at these sites, research more to find others and compare prices – there are plenty to choose from.
Read Online
There are many novels that are available to read online, without having to spend a dime. Textbooks are probably not accessible, but classic novels are often found. As long as you do not have sensitive eyes to reading for an extensive period on a computer screen, then reading online is a great way to save a little money. I read the entire text of Uncle Tom’s Cabin online, which was required for one of my literature classes. Since the book didn’t need to be brought into class, there was no problem just reading the book online.
Buy Used Books
Both textbooks and novels can be a lot cheaper when they are bought used. And, since most students do not keep their school books after they have finished their class, there is no point in buying a book in pristine condition that you have no intention of holding onto anyway. Novels can be found for half price at used book stores, and used textbooks that are available at the local bookstores can be ¼ the price of a brand new textbook.
Rent Textbooks
It may be the newest form of getting textbooks for school – Renting! Yes, there is actually a website that offers students to rent texts. You can rent and even sell textbooks to make money at http://www.chegg.com/. Renting books is even cheaper than buying used books, and with the speed this new option is taking in popularity, I am certain that there will be more online sites available for renting books in the near future.
Borrow Textbooks from the Library
It is one of the oldest tricks, but it really does work. Borrow books from the library. School libraries are supposed to carry the textbooks that are required for your school’s classes, so just borrowing those books instead buying them is way cheaper. I recommend double checking to be certain that the library does carry the textbook you need and to check the policies for borrowing a textbook (some libraries are stricter with the length of time you can keep a textbook out of the library). If everything seems to work in your favor, borrowing textbooks from the library is a free option instead of having to buy a book that may cost anywhere from $50 to $100.
January 11th, 2010
By Amelia Anderson
There is no avoiding the anxiety that comes with the start of a new school year. Students cannot help worrying whether they will like their teachers or whether they can handle the new homework. It is the unknown that can be so frightening, and being unprepared only heightens that feeling. However, if you have an idea of what to expect from your classes and can get yourself ready for them, you will not feel so overwhelmed and nervous at the beginning of class. Here are some ways to prepare yourself for your new classes even before they begin.
Buy Your Books Ahead of Time
Most teachers make the book lists for their classes available to the students in advance. It is a good idea to buy all the books you can before classes start, so you can be prepared for class. So many students make the mistake of buying their books the day after classes start, but this often leads to problems. Long lines at the bookstores are a nuisance and books are easily sold out. Having a delay in getting your books can make you fall behind with your homework early in the semester, and turning in homework late is a bad way to start your classes.
Read Some of Your Homework Before Class Starts
Reading the introduction or skimming some of the homework in your new textbook is a good way to see what is coming in the next few months. Instead of wondering whether your homework is going to be difficult, take a look and see what your book has to offer, so you can mentally prepare yourself for upcoming homework. Don’t get so ambitious that you actually do the homework, but familiarize yourself a little bit with what you will be studying. Getting too far ahead probably isn’t a good idea since you may see some material that is confusing, which could just make you that much more nervous in the first place. The idea is to make yourself aware of what you can expect, so there are no real surprises when you start your classes.
Practice Skills You May Have Forgotten
Subjects that require practice like math and grammar rules may be difficult to remember when you come back from a long break. If you feel you are getting a little rusty with your algebraic formulas, or are having trouble remembering punctuation rules, it may help to do some light studying before the new classes begin. Skim through an old grammar book, or find some math sheets online that you can practice a little bit with. Getting some practice will not only jog your memory, but it will help you feel prepared for the upcoming school year.
Skim Through Last Year’s Grades
Take a quick look at the kind of work you turned in last year. What kinds of grades did you get? Were you happy with them? What did you do well? What did you do badly? Keep these past grades in mind as reminders of what good habits you should keep up with the New Year, and what bad habits you should be fixing this coming year. If you slacked off or turned in-work that was incomplete, these old assignments should be a wake up to make better practices for the upcoming school year.
Have Your Backpack Ready
It may seem minor, but having your backpack organized and set with your binder, books, pens, and pencils will make you feel prepared for the first day of school. Throwing all of your things in your bag at the last minute can make a student feel anxious and unprepared. If you are rushed into putting things together, you are likely to forget something important, or leave yourself with the fear of forgetting something. In short, if your backpack is prepared early, you will feel less anxious and more prepared for class.
January 6th, 2010
By Julia H. Jackson
When I was a freshman, I was stressing through my first college exams when my brother, who was three years above me and had already learned the ins and outs of college life, took me aside and said: “Find the Egg Chair. Trust me.”
Mystified, I followed his directions to the Counseling Center on campus, where I found a room called Stress Services. The room was dimly lit, and soft music was playing in the background.
“Um, excuse me?” I asked the student receptionist. “Is this where I can find the Egg Chair?”
The student nodded, and asked for my student ID card. “Come this way,” he said, and I followed him into a small room, where a massive massage chair lay waiting. I could see why they called it the Egg Chair—it had a circular seat and a little white dome overhead. “You can turn on the music if you want,” he said, gesturing to a stereo behind the chair. “You’re entitled to thirty minutes,” and then he left the room.
I was awestruck. How was it that, halfway through dead week, I was somehow entitled to my own personal massage chair? Just how many university students knew about the magical Egg Chair? And what other equivalent services could I cash in on with my school ID card?
As it turns out, most colleges and universities offer a plethora of student services. Believe it or not, but schools are not just for classes. Now that your semester is winding down, here’s a list of the Top 5 Campus Resources You Forgot Were There. You never know, there might be an Egg Chair out there for you.
5. Drop-in Tutoring
The transition from high school to college can be a big academic jump. For this reason, most schools have an on-campus tutoring center where students can make appointments or drop in to get help with their homework. Depending on the class, your professors might be able to direct you to a specific extracurricular workshop that corresponds with your field. Many of these tutoring services are also linked to programs such as the Economic Opportunity Program (EOP) and the National Collegiate Athlete Association (NCSA), so if you qualify for those scholarships, you are usually guaranteed a certain number of tutoring hours per semester.
If you can’t make the tutoring times, you can always get help here on Eduify with writing. We offer a whole group of great writing tutors that are standing by 24×7.
4. Counseling Services
As my experience with the Egg Chair shows, Counseling Services can apply to a variety of different things. For many students, starting college can be a surprising life change, and sometimes it can be hard to ask for help away from home. It is also common for certain health conditions, such as depression or bipolar disorder, to emerge in late adolescence, so it’s always a good idea to check in with counselors if you feel the need. Most colleges will offer a series of counseling sessions with a therapist, and can refer you to other resources if necessary.
3. Career Services:
Here’s a service I wish I’d utilized more as an undergrad. Most colleges have programs in place to help students meet with career counselors, take aptitude tests, research grad schools and internships, and attend resume and job skills workshops. These are amazing resources that are pretty hard to find once you leave school. Many career centers also offer a service where students can save letters of recommendation from their professors on file, in the event they want to apply to grad school. This is great because professors can write your recommendations while your work is still fresh in their minds, and also helpful if you plan to take time off before applying to graduate school.
2. Study Abroad Services:
The opportunity to study in another country is a privilege that might not interest everyone. That said, it is an incredible opportunity to immerse yourself in another country, and, sometimes, language. Even if you have no plans to leave the country, it is worth visiting your school’s study abroad center, if only to meet exchange students on your campus and learn about school and internship opportunities beyond your college. Many majors and departments have affiliated programs in other countries, especially foreign languages. Given the state our economy is in these days, many companies value students who have lived, studied, or worked abroad. ¿Por qué no?
1. Recreation Services:
Most colleges these days support athletics programs in a huge range of sports: football, basketball, soccer, swimming, water polo, volleyball…sailing. That said, you don’t have to be on a college team to use the facilities and equipment on campus. As a student, I often registered for half-unit recreation classes such as weight lifting, aerobics, or swimming, just to become familiar with the facilities. Of course, you don’t need to take a class to use a Stairmaster. Take advantage of these services while you’re enrolled; they get a lot pricier once you graduate!
Believe it or not, but universities offer a lot more than simply classes. Regardless if this is your first semester or your last, you still have time to take advantage of some of the student services on campus. Many students might not realize just how many programs help universities run, as well as how many services they qualify for. So what are you waiting for?
January 4th, 2010
There is no shame in wanting to make a resolution to help improve yourself. But, how many New Year’s resolutions have you kept in your life? Almost every person I have ever heard make a New Year’s resolution will only hold that pledge for a small percentage of the year. Resolutions should be a sign that people are taking charge of their lives by trying to improve themselves. Unfortunately, promising yourself to get into a good habit will not alter your life unless you actually take steps to ensure your change. Here are some tips to taking charge of your resolutions and finally sticking to them. You should use at least two of these tips, if not all of them, to encourage yourself to stick to that resolution. One reminder or reason is rarely enough to help anyone.
1. Have daily rituals for your resolution
Use some form of a daily calendar to keep yourself aware of your changes. If you are trying to lose weight, find a daily calendar on cooking healthy, or if you want to learn a new language find a word-a-day calendar in that new tongue, or find some form of inspirational calendar to remind you to be nicer to yourself or others. You can even try placing sticky notes around your home in strategic places you look at every day to remind yourself of your resolution. Or, set up reminders on your phone or on an Outlook calendar to help you follow through with your tasks.
2. Make your resolutions important to yourself
It may be helpful to actually write a list of all the reasons why you want to start this resolution. People who are trying to improve their health will probably have an easier list to make, but even resolutions that involve learning a new skill or taking up a new hobby should have some importance, so be sure to list those reasons. If you keep in mind why you initially made your resolution, it will be easier to stick to it.
3. Give yourself a goal to reach part way through the year
Maybe you want to lose so many pounds by March, or be able to speak simple sentences in Italian by April. Reaching your goals should encourage you to stick with your plan through the rest of the year. And, if for some reason you do not reach your goal, do not feel discouraged. Instead, you should feel more determined to try that much harder with your resolution in the coming months and create newer goals that may be more realistic.
4. Plan rewards for yourself for reaching your goals
Maybe plan a trip France to practice your new-learned French, or buy yourself some new clothes after losing 20 pounds. You should congratulate yourself for sticking to your resolution and give yourself incentives to keeping up your new habit or skill. Make sure your reward is something that you control, though. Your resolution is for yourself, so your reward should be from yourself, too.
5. Make realistic resolutions
Resolutions should be reasonable. Yes, they are supposed to signify a change in your life, but keep in mind that if your resolution is too difficult, then you are likely to quit after a matter of weeks. Ask yourself what you really need to do to keep your resolution and can you use any of the steps in this blog’s list to help you. If you cannot find realistic ways to follow through with your resolution, then you are probably dooming yourself for discouragement and failure.
December 11th, 2009
Reaching the end of a semester of school should bring on a thrill of excitement for anyone. No more books! No more studying! No more schedules! The winter break should be used as a time to let your brains relax and recharge for the new year of classes. However, there are some students who have a hard time getting back in the swing of things after they have had several weeks of doing absolutely nothing. Sleeping in and staying up late is a hard habit to break when you go back to school. For those who have a hard time restarting their brains for the new school year, here are some activities suggested to help you feel relaxed while keeping your minds from completely shutting down during the whole winter break.
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