APPSADEMIA

Appsademia or Anne. AP/IB veteran and adviceblr. Please take a look at my ask guidelines before asking questions.

[appsademia]

blogging burnout

Hey, everyone! 

I just finished my second week of college, and so far so good. I enjoy all my classes, my friends, and my newfound extracurriculars. On the other hand, I’m not enjoying Tumblr very much anymore.

Running a blog, especially one based on questions and answers, is time-consuming, not to mention mentally and emotionally exhausting. Don’t get me wrong, I love all of you. I love helping you. But at this point in my life, this blog isn’t helping me.

So I’m going to take a break. All my posts will still be here, at least for the next few months. Eventually, I’ll go through my archive and choose the best posts on Tumblr to move to my Wordpress blog. That way, you’ll have the best of the best college and studying advice in one convenient place.

I’m not sure what I’ll do with my YouTube channel yet. I might continue answering questions there. I might start filming more personal vlogs. Let me know what you’d like to see; I appreciate all your feedback.

Much love, appsademia

[study-hard-and-prosper]

Where I’ve Been and Where I’m Going

So this will be the final update on this studyblr, it was exciting and fun but I feel like it is my time to move on from this community.

So for a while I wasn’t ever posting because I wanted to step away from the Studyblr “Aesthetic Hivemind” that has always existed within the community (I feel as though @appsademia explained it best on their blog but generally I’m talking about the expensive aesthetic that the photos on studyblr usually have along with them). I said before that I was going to post exclusively masterposts and actually useful resources but I didn’t want to simply reblog a bunch of masterposts that all said the exact same things, I wanted to create my own content. Unfortunately I never had the time to be able to do so.

Fast Forward to today. I started this blog over a year ago to help me survive through my Senior Year after the struggles of my Sophomore and Junior Years. This community did help me get back on my feet to which I will always be in debt to everyone for, this community helped me gather the motivation I needed to pass all 5 of my AP exams this past May and to get accepted with top scholarships to my dream college, FSC. 

Despite everything though, I used studyblr as a motivation for me to get back on my feet, but now that I am flying forward with leaps and bounds, I don’t feel that I need the community anymore, nor do I have the time to our into being an advice blog for students in similar situations. I am doing a Double Major in Art History and Music, plus adding on clubs and living on campus I don’t have the ability to stay here. So with a heavy heart I am leaving this community.

If you would like to stay updated with my follow my other blog @otakuorchestra where I mostly post memes, but message me and see what I’m up to, I’d love to talk to every one of you guys. I will also not be deleting this blog, but unless I feel like I should I will no longer be responding to Inbox Questions to this blog.

I love all of you, keep making the world a great place to be in,

Nathan

[appsademia]

Sad to see you go, but thank you for your contributions and for the shoutout! It means a lot.

[appsademia]

hey appsademia can you make a video/give us some tips on how you managed to bring all your stuff and move in all the way from cali to oklahoma? thanks!

Yes! I’m actually thinking about making a series of videos talking about how I picked what to bring/buy for my move halfway across the country, and how I embraced a more minimalistic lifestyle because of it.

[scully]

[appsademia]

did you ever think about passing the collab channel idea to another blog and like u not really doing anything, but like the other person doing the bulk of the work, bc its a really good idea, but i totally understand that you're busy

Yeah, if anyone wants to do the collab channel thing, go for it! I definitely don’t claim ownership to the idea, and I’d love to work with anyone who’s willing.

[alriviera]

Pride and Prejudice Go

An app that shows you where there’s a young man in possession of a good fortune who must be in want of a wife

[yorubae-deactivated20170717]

Aunties will crash the servers before the app is even released.

[appsademia]

i remember you talking about the collab channel a little while back. is that still going to be a thing?

Unfortunately not. I severely underestimated how busy I would be this fall, and I barely have time to my manage my own channel, much less a collab channel. But I’m happy to film individual collabs with other YouTubers!

[appsademia]

hey, i read your tag where you said you wouldn't have been happy at MIT. could you explain why? I'm a senior, and its my first choice school

Hey, great question!

Academic life at MIT is often compared to “drinking water from a fire hose.” The pace and breadth of knowledge is intense and sometimes even overwhelming. Earlier in high school, I thought I would thrive in that sort of environment. I love a good challenge, and I perform better under pressure. But by the end of senior year, I was so burnt out on four years of AP and IB classes that I needed a break. (Not to mention that if everything goes as planned, I’ll end up at med school, which means four more intense years there.)

My current school, the University of Oklahoma, is the perfect balance for me. There’s some challenging curriculum (the Honors College), but also some regular, normally-paced classes. I can’t imagine how much I would have struggled had I gone to MIT. So in the end, I’m glad I didn’t get in.

[multismusa-deactivated20170218]

What she says: I’m fine.

What she means: I understand the Chronicles of Narnia was at its heart a fairytale with theological analogies for children. But why did Lewis never address how they had to adapted to life on Earth again. Why does no one talk about how the Pevensies had to grow up with a kingdom of responsibilities on their shoulders, only to return to Earth and be children. Take Lucy, she was youngest and perhaps she adapted more quickly-but she had the memories and mind of a grown woman in an adolescent body. Edmund literally found himself in Narnia, he went from a selfish boy to mature and experienced man. He found a purpose and identity through his experiences to come back as just Edmund, Peter’s younger brother. Did people wonder why the sullen, sour boy came back, carrying himself like a wisened king? Did his mother wonder why he and Peter suddenly got along so well, why they spent so much time together now? And Susan, the girl of logistics and reason came back with a difference in her. She learned how to be a diplomat and ambassador, Susan the Gentle had to live to endure not-so-gentle circumstances. She had the respect she wanted, only to be just another teen girl. And Peter, he entered the manhood and maturity he so wanted. He earned the responsibility and stripes he yearned for. He learned to command armies and conduct the menial tasks demanded of a king to rule a nation. But he came back, appearing to be just anther glory-hungry boy. Not to mention the PTSD they must have struggled with. Especially Edmund. How often did he wake up in a sweat, screaming a sibling or comrade’s name? His parents believe it’s the war, but it’s an entirely different one he has nightmares about. How often did he have trouble with flashbacks and mood swings? And how many times did he and Peter sit over a newspaper or near the radio listening to reports on the troops. How often did they pour over lost battles and debate better strategies. Did their parents ever wonder why they seemed to understand flight war so well? How long was it before they stopped discussing these things in front of people? Why does no one talk about this??? 

[cocoartistwrites]

Why am i fucking crying

[collegerefs]

Anonymous said to collegerefs: This gonna sound real sad lmao but can you write a post about making friends? I got to community college so everyone is doing their own thing & not very sociable.

This is an issue that many people deal with in college, even if they won’t admit to it. Sometimes making friends in college is just hard. Here are some tips to try to make the process a bit less difficult.

1. Talk to people on the first day of a new semester. 

If you don’t talk to people on the first day, you may feel too uncomfortable to try making friends a few weeks into the semester. Plus, it’s easy to strike up a conversation on the first day. Here are some potential things to say:

“Have you heard anything about this professor?” 

“Do you think this class will be hard?” 

“Do you know if the book for this class is required?” 

Once you have a conversation going, it’s not hard to talk to people on the second, third, and forth day. Typically students will sit in the same seat everyday, so try to talk to the people around you! You might make a new friend!

2. If you live on campus, try being friends with your roommate, if possible. They are a great connection to other new friends. 

You don’t have to be best friends with your roommate, but if you manage to be friends with them, then they are a great way to meet more new people! It’s so much easier to become friends with someone you have something in common with, and a great ice breaker is “You know my roommate!”

3. Take group work as an opportunity for friendship. 

Everyone hates group work. Everyone. But it’s also a great opportunity to make friends. Bond over the fact that everyone hates group work. Try to get together with your group outside of class. This is one of the easiest ways to make friends in college because you have to interact with your group, so you don’t have to worry about coming up with an ice breaker or awkwardly introducing yourself. 

4. Take to the internet.

Most universities have a Facebook group for each class of students. Just look up “[Your school] class of [year you’re graduating]” to find it. This helps especially if you’re a Freshman, because other students are often looking for people to get lunch with, explore the campus, etc. 

5. Get a job on or near campus. 

A lot of the friends you make in college are people that you work with. It’s remarkably easy to become friends with someone who you see each week. Talk to your coworkers and try to arrange a study session at the library! 

[mitstudents]

MIT is MIT entirely because of the people here. For maybe the first time in your life, all of your peers will be as smart as or smarter than you, and just as willing to work hard. In high school, you might have been defined by your nerdiness and intelligence. When suddenly everyone around you is just as nerdy and just as intelligent, you start to discover new layers of your personality and your relationships with other people. You stop defining yourself by your grades and start to strive to be a better, more interesting person in other ways.

—Lydia ‘14, Why I Chose MIT

MIT Admissions Blogs

[arabellesicardi]

Half of Dermatologists Say They Weren’t Trained to Spot Cancer on Black Skin

Racial disparities in health care start in med schools.

[chibird]

I always stumble on my words and have to repeat myself when I talk too fast, because I’m trying to compress my question into as little space as possible. I need to learn how to talk slower and not be afraid to take up space.

[thoodleoo]

my mind says college and a successful career but my heart says beautiful siren who lives in the ocean and lures men to their deaths

[appsademia]

send me questions for a Q&A video

[appsademia]

hello! i noticed that in your description it says you're a current ou freshman-- is that ohio university, if you don't mind me asking?

University of Oklahoma! :)

[c-athyna]

College Tip #2 - Overstudy if you can.

This tip is definitely something that I’ve seen a lot in the studyblr community, but that’s because it really helps, and it applies to students of any school level too!! ヾ(〃^∇^)ﾉ

I can’t even count on my hand how many times overstudying has saved me on tests, especially in college. I had a professor who NEVER put the content we discussed in our tests, and instead went for the next lessons. I learned my lesson after nearly flunking the first test to study as much as I could for the following lessons as well. 

If you can, make yourself some mock tests. This is understandably difficult if you’re pressed for time, but I promise it really helps! Sometimes trying to get into the mind of your professor helps predict what may come out on the test, and sometimes what happens is that the actual test is easier than how you’re reviewing yourself. Some of my tried-and-tested tips for mock tests include:

Identification. Pretty self-explanatory! Write down definitions and leave a blank before it for the answer. If there are cycles or processes, put down the number of stages & put blanks after to fill in later!

Almost-essays. What I mean is, ask yourself the “whys,” “hows,” and “what ifs” to certain events or processes. A lot of essay questions revolve around these things, at least in my experience. If the essays are much more objective with solid answers, identification will help with that. 

Compare & Contrast. This helps a whole lot with different, but similar, terms and events! Make a Venn diagram or table, identify two similar terms or events (ex. monarchy vs oligarchy or WW1 vs WW2), and list down facts about them that will differentiate them, as well as what they have in common. 

These aren’t the only methods you can use, but they are some of the more basic! If your professor has given you tests before, try and see the patterns he/she favors when it comes to giving them. Are there lots of true or false questions? Essays? Multiple choice? Knowing how your professor gives tests helps you study smart, but try not to limit yourself to just that! You never know when they’ll throw a curveballs. 

Overstudying also pays off for recitations, as overstudying can help you gain an edge in class discussions since you’ve read the material in advance. And even more so, overstudying helps give a boost of confidence. 

Emphasis on the if you can part though, because while being over-prepared is a very good thing, never push yourself too hard! Your mental, emotional, & physical health are most important! Burnout is never, ever a good thing, so take breaks if you need to. 

Ahhh test season is over, but I figured I’d still post this since it’s one of the things I’m much more familiar with as someone who’s been doing this since 3rd grade, though my thanks go to my mom for starting me off! I still hope it helps when the times comes!! ★~(◠ω◕✿)