Archive for the ‘College Life’ Category

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The 5 Best “Secret” Ways to Study While in High School or College

Saturday, April 21st, 2012

Whether you are in high school or have already made the leap to college, one thing is for sure; you need time to study… and lots of it!  There is no doubt that some majors require more study time than others, but no matter what major you select in college or what classes you take, you will need to study.

Unfortunately, finding the time to study isn’t always as easy as it sounds.  There are many different factors that can work to effectively suck up your time and leave you scrambling to find the time to focus.  This is a stressful feeling and one that you should avoid if you are planning on getting good grades in college of high school.  After all, you can’t focus on SAT practice test online, or figure out how to find scholarships, if you don’t have any free time.

So what are the best “secret” ways to make sure that you get the time you need?  It is important to identify what is keeping you from studying.  Quite often it is having an active social life and hanging out with your friends.  There may come a time that you are left with no choice but to make some sort of excuse so that you can have the study time you need.  Don’t be afraid to state, “I can’t go out this weekend, because…” While it is hard to let your friends go out without you, failing to do so could mean that you end up without enough time to study.  The bottom line is that you may need to take steps to ensure that you keep good grades.

Secret Ways to Study While in College or High School

  1. Tell your friends can’t go out because (insert excuse)…
  2. If necessary, take a short trip to the library do nothing but study!  This one really works if you let it.
  3. Bribery!  Bribe yourself that if you study for a certain amount of time, you will treat yourself to something that you want.
  4. If possible, study with a tablet computer such as an iPad or similar device.  Some studies indicate that tablet computers like the iPad may add in boosting learning comprehension.
  5. Replace the television with studying. Pinpoint your unproductive habits, like watching TV, and study instead.  You can always catch up with your favorite shows during the summertime on DVD or Bluray.

Don’t be afraid to look for different ways to squeeze in more study time.  Learning new habits might be difficult at first.  But, in time, those new habits will become old tricks, and you will see your test scores soar!

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How Can You Save Money on Rent While in College?

Thursday, April 19th, 2012

Living on campus isn’t for everyone.  The sooner you make the decision whether you want to live on campus or live elsewhere, the better off you will likely be and the more you will enjoy your overall college experience.  Why would you opt for living off campus instead of living in the dorms and experiencing dorm life firsthand?

There Are Pros and Cons to College Dorm Life

Dorm life has a good deal to offer, but there are some drawbacks as well.  If you value your privacy, you may have issues living in a dorm setting.  If, however, you are the type that loves to gossip, then you will feel as though you have died and gone to heaven!  Population density is quite high in the dorms and that is a fairly universal situation.

There are a variety of personal reasons that dorm life might not be for you, as living in the dorms isn’t necessarily for everyone.  However, there are other reasons to consider living off campus as well.  One of those reasons is that not all campus living is equal.  Let’s face facts; some college campuses are just plain better than others!  There is no reason to live in a horrible dorm just to say that you lived in a dorm while in college!  Yet, keep in mind that many schools require dorm living at least during freshmen year.

Location and Roommate Factors

Living off campus can get pricy, but that doesn’t necessarily have to be the case.  Many variables depend on what city and area your college campus is located.  The more urban the campus, the more options that you will have for rent.  With these options can come the opportunity to save money!  You might want to consider working with real estate agents to see if they can’t help you find a great fit.  Oftentimes rental companies handle renting apartments and working with one of these companies could save you a tremendous amount of hassle and time.

Having roommates is potentially a good idea for keeping your rent bills down while in college, but having a bad roommate can be more disruptive to your life and your study habits than any potentially bad dorm situation.  This means you want to invest the time to make sure you are making the right decision when it comes to having a roommate.

The Small and Very Small Apartment Options

For those that don’t plan on spending much time at home, there are the two great college student options of the small or very small apartment.  Sure you might not have much more room than you did in your bedroom at home, but the tradeoff could be low rent.  Those willing to live in a tiny apartment often have the option to live in a very central location.  If you are not claustrophobic, this option might work extremely well for you!

College dorm life isn’t for everyone, and every college campus is different.  These are all reasons that you might want to consider off campus options.  Yet, it is important to remember that for many people, the college dorm life experience is a great deal of fun and provides lasting memories.

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Should You Try to Become an Entrepreneur While in College?

Tuesday, April 17th, 2012

You’ve probably heard more than a little about college entrepreneurs.  Icons such as Zuckerberg started companies like Facebook while in college, and the media never wants to let you forget this fact.  It puts just a little bit of pressure on a college student, don’t you think?  It is important to realize that being an entrepreneur in college doesn’t mean that you need to start the next Facebook.  There are many potential benefits to being an entrepreneur other than building a reality changing entity worth billions of dollars.  College is a great time to explore a variety of possibilities, and this includes your substantial entrepreneurial options.

Build An Impressive Resume While Still in College

So much attention is spent on the money-making aspects of being an entrepreneur that some of other key aspects are simply ignored.  For example, even if your entrepreneurial ventures fail, this doesn’t mean that you’ve gained nothing.  Being an entrepreneur and starting a company can be a tremendous resume booster, especially if you start up the right kind of company.  For example, if you start up a company that has something to do with your major and your chosen career path, you have something interesting to offer your future employers even if you don’t hit it big!

Being an entrepreneur shows initiative and gives you the opportunity to learn a great deal.  Additionally, there are entrepreneurial endeavors that you can start with little or no start up capital.  If you are having trouble finding the right entrepreneurial path, then consider talking to experts in the field.  Family friends or relatives with business experience are one place to begin your search.  Another excellent source is the non-profit organization SCORE.  SCORE is made up of retired business executives that have a wide variety of impressive experience.  Chatting with a SCORE mentor would likely be worth your time and effort.

Experimenting in College

One of the main reasons that people love college is that it is full of new experiences.  You can become an entrepreneur at any point in your life, but there is no doubt that there are advantages to exploring your entrepreneurial options while you are still in college.  After all, later in life you will likely have a job and a variety of bills that must be paid, such as your college loans, unless you scored the right kind of financial aid and grants.  This means that college might just be the right time to experiment with your entrepreneurial endeavors.

What Kind of Business Should You Start?

Whatever kind of business you start, it should have as its focus helping people.  The more people you figure out how to help, the better off you will be.  If you are benefiting other people, you will organically attract customers.  Those customers will acknowledge your company’s merits and likely tell others, allowing your business to grow.  If you start up a business that is designed to help others and is also in line with your career path, the end result is a worthwhile endeavor regardless of whether or not your face ends up on a magazine cover or not.

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Private College Vs. Public College-Factors to Consider

Thursday, April 5th, 2012

Want to find the right college?  If you are like most students, the quest to find the right college is at the top of your list.  After all, you will be spending at least four years at your choice, and you will also be spending a considerable amount of money as well.  This makes taking the time to properly research your college choice time that is very well spent.

One of the single biggest choices you will have to make is the decision between a private college and a public one.  That decision may have been made for you already due to cost factors.  The simple, but highly unfortunate, fact is that college costs are simply soaring and doing so at a rate that is far outstrips the pace of inflation.  Going to college is becoming increasingly expensive and is putting more and more students under increasing levels of debt.  This means that the first choice you will need to make is whether or not you want to take on this new, higher level of college debt.

With some private colleges now demanding in the neighborhood of $50,000 just for tuition alone, it is necessary to ask yourself, “just how much extra benefit will I gain from a far more expensive private college?”  Many students are beginning to ask that question in earnest.  However, there may be direct federal student loans and financial aid and grants available that could dramatically alter the financial picture for you.

Are you planning on attending graduate or professional school?  If so, then realize that you will be attending college for many more years than your undergraduate peers.  This means that you have no choice but to think long term about your student loan debt!  If you are planning on being in college for six, seven or even ten years, then you might want to “go cheap” for your undergraduate education.

Ultimately, you will have to decide as to whether or not you are actually getting your money’s worth.  This answer is, of course, completely dependent on your own situation, what you plan on studying, whether or not you plan on going on to graduate school and your chosen career path. The bottom line is that you shouldn’t necessary select an expensive private college or university just because you got in.  Your pick needs to reflect your needs.

The value for your money and how well the given university or college will help your career goals need to be paramount in your decision.  Other factors such as “X school has a great football team” should mean little to you unless you are playing on the team and are getting a scholarship.

Picking a college or university can be hard, but there are ways to make the process a bit easier.  One of the first steps is to evaluate what factors are truly important and what factors are not.  Once you have accomplished this, you are set to make a great decision that you are far less likely to regret.

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How Swayed Should You Be By Amenities at a Given College or University?

Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012

Many factors go into selecting a college or university, and the process can be very confusing as a result.  It is no wonder that many students are left wanting to know how to survive college.  Most savvy students invest a good amount of time into researching important topics such as financial aid for college tuition and private loans for college, but there are, of course, other factors to consider.  You need to keep in mind that like no other time before colleges and universities are businesses, and that is exactly how many institutions see themselves.  They want your money and they want as many people as possible to be dying to go to their respective institutions.  Your job is to decide what is important to you.

The purpose of attending a college or university is to receive a great education that will teach you more than a skill. but will also teach you how to think in a critical and logical fashion.  That should be the number one goal of any educational institution.  However, increasingly many universities and colleges are becoming obsessed with what “perks” they can offer to entice a student to sign up and attend their university.

What you should be looking for out of a university or college isn’t who has the best waterslide or rock climbing wall, but who has the best reputation, who puts the most focus on education and who has the best job support and other services for its students.  Other considerations such as a “world class gym” or other such amenities should not be high on your list.  If they are, you might be attending college for the wrong reasons.

This does not mean that you shouldn’t be concerned about what a given university or college offers you in other regards.  The quality of your life while attending a university or college is, of course, important.  The purpose of this article is to simply highlight the fact that you shouldn’t be swayed by amenities that you don’t need or would not use.  Further, every dollar that is spent on amenities could have potentially been applied toward providing better education for students and programs for assisting graduates.  You and your parents should take these factors into consideration and you will likely make a better choice in the end.

When you are visiting different colleges if all the tour guides want to talk about is amenities, you should strongly consider other colleges or universities.  A college or university should be obsessed with proving to you that they will provide you with a great education and future opportunities, not non-stop, fun, fun, fun!  If all you hear is how much fun a university is to attend, that is a big red flag.

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Three Warning Signs that it is Time to Change Your Major

Saturday, March 31st, 2012

Exactly when are you supposed to know that it is time to change majors?  Every situation is, of course, different, and it can be tricky to determine when is the best time to change your major.  Just as you spent a lot of time in order to find the right college, you likely also spend considerable time thinking about and selecting your major.  However, this fact could be part of the problem.

One of the main points you need take into consideration where your college major is concerned is that you may be emotionally attached to your major.  After all, few of us want to admit that we’ve made a mistake or taken the wrong path.  Yet, sticking with a major that isn’t right for you is an even larger mistake and one that will have consequences that go far beyond your last day in college!  Let’s take a look at some of the warning signs that you might have picked the wrong major.

Warning Sign Number One – You Hate Your Major!

This warning sign couldn’t be much more obvious.  If you hate your major, then you will want to think twice about continuing on your current career path.  A major you hate could lead to more than just hardships in the “here and now.”  Pursuing a major you hate could mean a career that you hate, and that could mean an unhappy life!  For those of you reading this article who truly do hate your major, now is the time to jump ship and find a major that you like!  Don’t wait until it is too late and you’re stuck.

Warning Sign Number Two – You are Considering Dropping Out of College

If at any time you are considering dropping out of college either because you don’t like your major or because your major is too difficult for you, then drop that major!  There is nothing magical about one particular major, despite what you may have heard from older people.  Any kind of college degree in your hand is better than no college degree, so drop your major if you have to do so!

Warning Sign Number Three – Your Grades are Lousy

If you are actually studying hard and your grades are still awful, then you have two choices.  The first is you can try and study even harder and look for outside help, such as tutors.  However, if this doesn’t help, then your second option is to find a new major.  Poor college grades are not exactly going to get doors swinging wide open in the job market.  A dismal GPA isn’t likely to impress anyone.  So if you can’t handle a given major, don’t hang your head in shame.  Instead, invest your time in finding a new major.

You have a long career ahead of you.  The last thing that you want is to be stuck in a career that you simply hate.  Switching majors and career paths isn’t the end of the world.  No one will die!  If your parents or others tell you that they are ashamed or disappointed, that is highly antiquated thinking that should rest firmly on their shoulders and not yours.

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What Should You Be Looking for in a Part-Time College Job?

Wednesday, March 28th, 2012

A great part-time job can be a must for many college students.  If you are trying to or will try to pay for college yourself, then you are familiar with private loans for college and have likely researched how to find college scholarships.  Scholarships and grants are fantastic, as you clearly don’t have to worry about repaying the money!  Yet, scholarships and grants don’t materialize for everyone, and that means that you may need to supplement your income while in college if at all possible.  This all begs the question, “What should you be looking for when it comes to finding a college job?”

Factor One – A Job That Isn’t Too Physically Demanding Could Be a Problem

Situations often dictate that you have to grab whatever job you can.  But if possible you should try to avoid jobs that are very physically demanding.  Sometimes this is true even if a job pays relatively well, and here is why.  If a job is so demanding that you are left too exhausted to study, then your goals of graduating from college will become far more difficult.  Sure you may be able to squeeze all of your studying in on the weekends, but this just isn’t realistic for most people.

It is also worth noting that some jobs may not seem as though they would be highly demanding; however, once you begin you discover you are left exhausted.  College students who find themselves in this situation would be well advised to look for another job if at all possible.

Factor Two – A Resume Booster Would Be Very Nice

Throughout your college career, you should be looking for ways to boost your resume and effectively set your resume apart from the competition.  When it comes to finding a part-time job, keep your eye out for one that you feel will work well with your career path and your chosen major.  The connection might not be immediately obvious and it may only occur to you after you’ve given it some thought, but just remember finding a way to boost your resume now could make landing that first “real job” after college a good deal easier.

Factor Three – Use Your Social Connections and See Results

There is nothing wrong with asking around and seeing if any of your friends or family has a lead on a college job that would fit your criteria.  You may be pleasantly surprised if you ask around.  There may be some exciting options for you!

In the end, the last thing you want is for a part-time college job to be some taxing and so demanding that your grades are impacted.  Sometimes the best job decision you can make is to pass on a job.  Make sure that the college job you select is in line with your goal of graduating, and you are unlikely to regret your decision, now or in the future!

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The Top 3 Ways to Find More Time to Study

Monday, March 26th, 2012

You might feel as though you just can’t find the time that you need to study, and you might be right!  Of courser, you may have optimized your time to the fullest, but if this is the case then you are certainly in the minority.  Most students could find more time to study if they modified their schedule.  If you are in high school and are trying to find more time to prep for the SAT or get your grades up going into college, then realize that it is vital that you look for ways to boost your study time.  In this article, we will look at some of the ways that you can eliminate distractions and squeeze in more study time.

#1-Toss the Smartphone

Studies have shown that smartphones are insanely addictive. For all practical purposes, the smartphone is a portable computer with a built-in screen that allows you to connect easily to the web.  It is a perfect tool for time wasting.  No doubt your phone is tremendously useful and we would all be somewhat lost without them.  But when it comes to boosting your grades and boosting your SAT score, you likely need to put the smartphone away.  Don’t set it to vibrate either!  Turn it off and forget about it when you’re in your designated study time.

#2-Designated Study Time

We just mentioned designated study time.  You need a special time just for studying if you are going to accomplish your academic goals.  If you know that you will be studying at a given time every day and stick to this schedule without wavering, you will see results.  No matter how much your friends try and tempt you, it is critical that you stick to your guns!

#3-The Distraction Sweep

What is the Distraction Sweep?  Take a look at your life and your surroundings (including your home and your own room) and look for things that could be distracting you.  This is a situation where you need to be honest with yourself!  Only you really know all the different factors that serve to distract you.  Let’s face it, your parents really only know a fraction of the different distractions you have in your life, so that means it is up to you to eliminate as many distractions as you can!

You might be thinking that all of these suggestions require too much discipline.  College will require a whole lot of discipline, so why not start now?  If you want that great SAT score, for example, then you will need to sacrifice in order to achieve it.  If you put in the time and focus when you are studying instead of being distracted, you will see your grades go up and also your SAT practice scores.  You just need to hang in there long enough to experience that first wave of success, and after that it will get easier!

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What Should You Do with a Bad College Roommate?

Saturday, March 24th, 2012

Part of knowing how to survive college and make the most out of your dorm life experience is having a good or at least a working relationship with your roommate.  You are likely spending a good deal of time thinking about college, and may even be wondering how to find a college roommate.  If you are living in the dorms, then your roommate will be selected for you.  Yet, it is important that you don’t just live with the bad results of a random matching process.  If you are feeling as though you just can’t live with your roommate, realize that there are steps you can take.  Now, let’s take a look at a few of the ways that you can deal with your bad roommate situation.

Few things can be quite as painful as having a bad roommate whether you are in college or are living in your first apartment or even your tenth apartment.  In short, a bad roommate can sour your entire life!  Step one in dealing with a problematic roommate is to see if your problems can be resolved.  If you pause to think about the problems and the conflict at the heart of those problems you may find a solution.  Sometimes good communication can smooth over poor relationships and start things heading in another direction, yet this doesn’t always work.  If you first make attempts to resolve your conflict points with your roommate and are met with no success then you may have to consider getting the university involved.

Before you begin discussing your issues with university or college officials, it is usually prudent that you’ve first discussed your problems with your roommate.  The reason for this is that the officials are likely to ask, perhaps even as their first question, “Have you discussed this with Roommate X?”  If you answer “no,” they may conclude that you haven’t tried hard enough to resolve the conflict, and this could put you in a bad light.  However, if you are able to detail and outline your attempts to resolve the situation, you look mature, capable and reasonable.

Are there exceptions to this rule?  In short, most definitely.  If you fear that your roommate is dangerous or may lash out at you in some damaging way, then you are better off going straight to your university or college officials.

Visiting your college advisor so that he or she can help guide you towards your next step may ultimately be your only move.  Once this process begins, it is best that you work with college officials to resolve the situation quickly and find you another room or roommate if at all possible.  No matter how the situation works out, try and stay calm and keep from making an enemy for life!  Situations of this kind can be heated.  Remember that your goal is to get a new room or a new roommate and not to teach your roommate a life lesson or to change his or her personality.  The important thing in this situation is to quickly get the roommate issue resolved so you can get back to focusing on academics.

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Making the Most of Your College Summers

Wednesday, March 21st, 2012

It is quite common that students don’t think too much about their summers and this is, of course, somewhat understandable.  After several months worrying about grades and tests, it is nice to have a break.  But this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t make the most out of your summers.  Your college summers mark a way for you to distinguish yourself from your future job competition.  Of course, thinking in this fashion requires a good deal of planning and forethought, but the payoff can be immense when it comes time to find a job!  In this article, we will look at some of the possible ways for you to boost your resume come summertime.

Volunteer Work

Doing volunteer work any time of the year is a good idea.  More people need help than ever before, so you shouldn’t find too much trouble finding volunteering opportunities.  One option is to look for positions that will line up in some fashion with your future career options.  If you can learn a skill while volunteering, then you have something unique for your resume.  Additionally, using your college summers to volunteer shows that you were doing something other than partying or sitting around!

Be an Entrepreneur

Too many people are far, far too concerned with failure.  If you want a real resume booster, try being an entrepreneur.  This doesn’t mean that you need to max out your credit cards, your parent’s credit cards and smash the piggy bank your grandma give you for your sixth birthday.  There are many ways that you can start up your own entrepreneurial endeavor on the cheap.

A smart move is to have your business idea synch up with your future career goals in some fashion.  This shows effort, focus, drive and bravery, and these are all qualities that employers want to see.  Again, don’t obsess about success, just get out there do it, learn something while doing it and then be ready to discuss what you learned during job interviews!

Study Abroad If Possible

Your summers are a good time to study aboard. Think through your future career goals and look for ways that studying abroad could help you.  No matter what career path you choose, the odds are quite excellent that you can find a way that a little study abroad could give you that special little edge that you need.

Let’s face facts, you spent a great deal of time researching everything form college savings programs and financial aid and grants to how to find the right college.  Now you need to make the most out of those college years, and that includes making the most out of your college summers as well.  If you want a “leg up” in the job market competition, then why not start getting that leg up while in college?  It may not be easy, but once you’ve graduated, you could have a serious edge all thanks to how you chose to spend your college summers.

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