Posts Tagged ‘study habits’

3 Ways To Improve Your Discipline and Get Great SAT Scores

Wednesday, December 28th, 2011

SAT prep is a lot more complicated than simply studying X,Y and Z.  SAT Prep involves having great study habits as well.  If you are going to get a great score, then it is necessary not just to study, but to study the right way and with the right materials and study aids.  In this article, we will look at how you can improve your study habits.  Many of the steps we will cover here are very easy, but you have to stick to them.  In time, however, you will see a big difference in how much you accomplish during your study time.

1. Draw on Discipline From Other Areas

More than likely, you have more discipline at your disposal than you think.  If you play sports, know how to play an instrument or have a hobby that requires focus and determination, then you already have a degree of discipline.  Even playing video games, such as shooters and role-playing games takes focus and patience.  You can tap into that discipline when it comes to your study habits.  Now this isn’t an overnight process and it will take time, but once you’ve given it some effort, you will discover that you are making nice progress in the direction of being more disciplined with your study habits.

2. Set Aside A Designated Time to Study

Knowing that you will study specifically for the SAT at a given time every day will help you find the success you want!  You may also want to consider mapping out what sections of the SAT you wish to focus on for a given day.  Through good organization you will decrease your chances of not properly covering a particular section of the exam well enough.

Just as you set time aside to study for SAT prep, you may want to do the same for other aspects of college success.  How to survive college and get into college may have a lot to do with the process of searching for financial aid for college tuition and financial aid and grants.  Setting aside time for this part of the process is a great idea and could literally make the difference between being able to afford the college or university of your choice and not going to college at all!  Discipline in this regard is really quite important.

3. Ask for Help

Don’t be shy about asking others to assist with your discipline if you are having trouble focusing like you should.  If you have a friend that is far more focused and disciplined than you are, then see if he or she will help you stay on track.  You may want to ask family members or even teachers to stay on top of your progress.  While this might not exactly be pleasant, your main goal should be achieving a great SAT score.  After all, you don’t want to waste all of those hours you spent on test prep tutoring, and finding SAT practice tests online.

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Posted in College Admissions, Preparing for College, SAT/ACT Test | No Comments »

5 Tips to Survive (and Thrive) Freshman Year

Tuesday, June 14th, 2011

Making the transition to college—well, it isn’t always easy. But, there are things that you can do to help ensure your college success. My College Guide has five tips to guide you as you begin your college career.

Don't let the work pile up--schedule in study time!

Don't let the work pile up--schedule in study time!

Ensure Your College Success

Network – College is a great time to network. It’s not only a good idea for what comes after college (you know, real life) but it’s doubly good in case you miss a class due to illness! If you can’t be in class, you will have someone else that you can call to find out what you missed—and to have a set of notes from the day’s lecture to copy!

Eat Well – Now more than ever your college cafeteria offers a ton of meal choice. Sure, you can eat French fries and a burger every single day—but don’t! The Freshman fifteen is avoidable but more than that, a healthy diet can keep you, well, healthy!

Get Involved – The wall flower will never have the college experience they had hoped! College is a time to try new things: Get involved in clubs and activities, don’t be afraid to chat up anyone who sits beside you in your college classes, and make your Freshman year everything you wanted. Bonus: If you miss class due to illness, you will have someone around to fill you in on what happened as well as give you notes to copy.

Know Your Professors – Your college professors aren’t just there to lecture, pass out assignments, and assign research papers. While it might seem scary, introduce yourself personally after class (maybe come up with a question about the course as an ice breaker). Knowing your college professor can be really helpful if you run into scheduling conflicts later. If you join the ranks of the majority of college freshman and end up changing your major, having a mentor in the field that you are interested in is invaluable!

Study Time – This might sound a little silly but you should think about scheduling yourself time to study! It’s very easy to fall into the “I’ll get to that later” routine and later never seems to happen. College isn’t like high school. You will have lots of reading and studying to do just about every night. Stay on top of it early to keep it down to a minimum because cramming for a test at the last minute? It just isn’t fun.

Next Year

Don’t stop there! Make a mental note to carry out our advice throughout your college career. Good study habits, networking with others, and having a back-up plan in case of illness is always a good idea, no matter what year in school you are!

Image Courtesy of Flickr, Opensourceway.

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Posted in Choosing a College, College Campus, College Classes, College Life, College Search, Fun Stuff | 2 Comments »

Tools of the Trade: Online Distance Learning Checklist

Thursday, May 5th, 2011

Bring on your desire to begin your online distance learning – but you’ll need more than motivation to finish your online degree program! Check out My College Guide’s list of online distance learning tools of the trade. Figure out what you already have and what you need to know before you officially enroll and before that first day of class!

Your online distance learning checklist!

Your online distance learning checklist!

Online Distance Learning: Personal Checklist

Textbooks – For some online distance learning programs, your textbooks will be available completely online. For others, you will have to go to an outside source or your school’s online bookstore. You can cut costs if you consider purchasing new or used college textbooks! Make sure you plan ahead in case you need to buy or rent your college textbooks!

Time – You are a busy working adult. Are you ready for the challenges of balancing work and leaving time to study for school? Every online distance learning institution is different. Find out how many hours on average you will be expected to set aside for schoolwork and see how you can fit that into your schedule.

Tools of The Trade

Computer – A busted computer is not going to make your online distance learning experience an easy one! If you have a computer that is prone to crashes and lags, that won’t make your college experience very enjoyable. You’ll need something that will let you take quizzes and tests without getting you locked out! Some financial aid options will go towards the expense of a new computer or laptop. Fill out the FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and see what how you qualify.

Reliable Internet – Do you have internet access? While the thought of heading to the library or stealing from your neighbor may sound appealing, not having access to the internet won’t work as an excuse for when you can’t turn in your research paper! You may want to consider getting your own internet service. Free up your time and make life a little bit easier on you (Psst! Even your browser can help with your online distance learning experience).

The Joys of Technology

Tech Support – Things happen. If there’s a glitch in the site or you can’t access a needed page on your college’s website, you’ll need the assistance of tech support! See if there’s an email address or working phone number that you can hang on to “just in case.” It’s reassuring to know good to that there’s somewhere to go for help!

Image Courtesy of Flickr, Theen … / Theen Moy.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For more than 20 years, My College Guide has provided information to help students find the best college degree and career for them. Get information on online distance learning and find the right career for you!

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Posted in Career Colleges, Choosing a College, College Campus, College Classes, College Life, College Search, Distance Learning, Online Colleges, Online Degrees, Online Education, Online Tools, Preparing for College, Technology, Vocational School | No Comments »

Three Things To Ask Yourself Before Getting a Master’s Degree Online

Saturday, April 30th, 2011

In tough economic times like these, getting a master’s degree online can give you a real competitive edge. But don’t kid yourself—getting a master’s degree is hard work—online or off.

Thinking about getting a master's degree online?

Thinking about getting a master's degree online?

Before you make the commitment to getting your master’s degree online, put some serious thought into it. Do a gut check and make sure an online program is the right choice for you.

The master’s degree online and you.

Online master’s degree programs are a great choice for working professionals. But it’s a different sort of graduate school experience. Before applying, ask yourself:

How self disciplined am I?

Online master’s degree programs offer a level of flexibility that can’t be matched by most traditional schools. Often, you’ll be given a syllabus, access to pre-filmed lectures and an assignment list, and simply be expected to complete the necessary work by the end of the term.

That means you can study whenever it’s convenient for you, whether that’s before your morning Wheaties or after your kids are finally in bed! But, as an adult going back to school, if you can’t commit to a regular study schedule—and stick to it no matter what—getting your master’s degree online might not be the best choice for you.

Do I have the right personality to go to school online?

There can be no doubt about it—the experience of getting a master’s degree online is very different than that of a traditional graduate program. While you’ll probably participate in regular online discussions with your peers and may even chat with a study group over Skype, it can feel rather isolating.

So if you’re the type of person who needs regular, in-person interaction to feel fulfilled, studying online will be challenging for you. If, on the other hand, you just want to learn at your own pace, on your own time, getting a master’s degree online might be just the thing for you!

The #1 question to ask yourself before getting a master’s degree online.

Once you decide that yes, you do think an online master’s degree program is the right choice for you, there’s only one question you need to ask yourself:

Will getting a master’s degree online pay off?

For most professions, the answer is an unqualified yes! For careers ranging from business to education, an advanced degree usually translates into a bigger paycheck. But there are exceptions. So before making the commitment, take a look at your industry and make sure getting a master’s degree online will enhance your job outlook.

And if it won’t? Maybe you should consider using your online master’s degree as a way to transition into a better paying field!

Image Courtesy of Flickr, lauren-janelle.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For more than 20 years, My College Guide has provided information to help students find the best college degree and career for them. Get information on master’s degrees online that will get you on the road to the right career for you!

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Posted in Choosing a College, College Campus, College Classes, College Life, College Search, Distance Learning, Online Colleges, Online Degrees, Online Education | No Comments »

Distance Learning College Study Tips or Make Your Way to An “A”

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011

Finally going back to school to finish up your distance learning degree? Or, are you a first time student? Either way, you probably realized that it will take a lot of balancing to get everything done. Good study habits can go a long way in helping you not only improve the way you study, but to reduce the time spent studying!

Distance learning college study tips to make your way to an "A!"

betsyjean79 / Betsy

Distance Learning College Study Tips

If you are returning to college or are new to the higher education game, My College Guide has tips to help improve the way you study. You don’t need to study harder—you just need to study smarter!

Turn it Off – It might be tempting to study while catching up on Modern Family episodes or to rock out to your latest iTunes download–but don’t! Cut out the distractions so you can concentrate on your distance learning coursework.

Get Away From It All – Is that unread mail calling your name? Is your phone constantly ringing or is Fido hounding you for another walk? Head out to the door and go! Try the library, your office, the local coffee shop, or anywhere where you can soak up some free wi-fi and a little peace and quiet. Just take your laptop and work on your distance learning college classes without the distractions!

A Family Affair – You don’t have to go it alone. If you have school-aged children, make studying something you do together as a family. It’s important for your kids to see that school should be a priority. By working on your distance learning college homework, you’ll be setting a positive example and sending a powerful message that will last a lifetime.

Get Organized – Time flies! Don’t miss points because you lost track of time and forgot to turn something in. Using a daily planner, a reminder function on your computer, or the family calendar, wherever you keep track of your day and write down your distance learning college assignments. Don’t wait—right them down as soon as they are assigned. For adults going back to school, this will certainly help you stay on top of schoolwork—no matter how busy life becomes!

Keep it Together – Right from the start, you should be keeping all of your school files separate from your work files. Create a separate folder and give it a name that you can remember: the name of your school, the class, whatever works for you. Always save your assignments to this folder so you don’t lose anything—and waste time searching for missing files! From the start of your distance learning college classes, you should create a separate place that will house all of your assignments.

There you have it! Five great study tips to help keep you on track. Keep these tips in mind to get more done in less time. Now that’s smart!

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For more than 20 years, My College Guide has provided information to help students discover the best college degree and career for them. Get information on how a degree at a distance learning college can help you find the right career for you!

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Traits of a Successful Distance Learner or Is Online College Right For You?

Tuesday, October 26th, 2010

If you’ve been wondering if online learning is right for you: you aren’t alone! It’s a convenient choice for busy adults wanting to earn an online bachelor’s degree and a viable option for students with health concerns who can’t attend a traditional college. However, distance  learning doesn’t mean “easy” – here are a few things to keep in mind as you weigh whether or not online college will work for you.

In online classes, your fingers will do all the walking.

derekGavey / Derek Gavey

Independent – Chalk it up as one more reason why high school is different from college, in that college professors don’t really do a lot of hand-holding when it comes to getting your work done and turned in. Some won’t ever mention due dates (they will be on the semester’s syllabus) – which closely resembles the way online college works.

Internet Connection – This might sound like a no-brainer, but if you don’t have either a stable internet connection or any internet connection at all: forget it! There are no excuses in college and being unable to turn in your assignment because your internet went down again or because you couldn’t make it to the library’s computer just won’t cut it. The speed of your internet connection is important too – if it takes hours to upload or download the smallest document, you might want to upgrade your internet. In fact, some online college programs have computer system requirements!

Organized – There’s a lot of work involved in online college, probably much more than you are planning on. To keep it all straight, you are going to need to be able to stay organized, to get done what needs to get done, and to stay on top of upcoming deadlines all at the same time. Your organizational ability will keep you from falling behind.

Typing Speed – Okay, so no one will tell you that you need to be a speedy typist to enroll in college classes online, but it definitely helps! If you type one letter at a time, you may want to consider learning how to type before you enroll. It will save you plenty of grief in the long run!

Books, books, and more books! Online doesn't mean there won't be work.

greenasian / Chrystal Parsons

Time Management – As an online learner, it’s a likely assumption that you’ve got more going on than just college classes, like a career, health, and/or family concerns. Knowing how to manage your time and having or improving study habits will play a big role in your online success! You will have limited time to get things done and possessing the ability to figure out what needs to be done first (and do it efficiently) will go a long way in reducing your stress (and improving your grade).

Motivated – Can you hit the books (or ebooks) without someone reminding you that you need to? If procrastination is a word frequently used to describe you, you may have trouble in an online environment. With no one telling you what to do or how to do it, you’ll need to find ways to stay motivated on your own.

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Posted in Choosing a College, College Classes, College Life, Online Tools | 2 Comments »

Bad Study Habits Keeping You Down? Tips to Improve The Way You Study

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

At the risk of sounding like your mother – well, we know how important it is to develop good study habits sooner rather than later!  From Google Chrome Extensions to Firefox Browser Add-ons, we’ve already shared ways that technology can help you increase your productivity.  We’ve got tips to help you improve your study habits so when the college workload hits you like a ton of bricks…you’ll be ready!

alaskaval/Val

Nap time? Everyone has that time of day where work seems impossible. Your energy lags, your attention span is missing in action, and motivation is out the window.  Try to figure out when you feel the most alert and schedule your important college related activities and study time accordingly.

Time Savers. Are you always rushing to make morning classes?  Stop while you’re ahead! Figure out in advance what you’re going to wear. Gather together snacks, keys, your wallet, purse, cell phone, and laptop.  Get everything organized and ready for the day.

Jot it down! College professors will be heaping on the homework.  Assignments, study groups, or dinner with friends?  Don’t rely on your memory – write it down! Whether you use a planner, small calendar, your laptop, or a notebook, get used to writing down everything you need to do and you’ll save yourself plenty of headaches and missed deadlines in the long run!

Decisions, Decisions. It’s called time management.  What are the most important items on your to-do list?  While it might be tempting to hang out everyday with your friends, those essays won’t write themselves (unfortunately).  Learn how to juggle your college homework with studying, friends, and campus activities early on before it becomes a problem.

Got Stress? Get into the homework groove and out of the procrastination rut.  Wouldn’t it be nice having a paper done days before it’s due – instead of mere hours?  When you feel overwhelmed – take a break! Use 15 minutes to do anything but schoolwork and come back to it feeling a little refreshed, energized, and ready to dig back in!

Have any tips you would like to share?  Please, add them in the comments section below.

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Posted in College Life, Fun Stuff, Preparing for College | 2 Comments »