o.a.a

won't you look up at the sky and see that everything's alright | a total loser who likes dan & phil and writing |

[psychologyhermione]

What I learnt from my first month at uni

Hi everyone, welcome to day three of my week of masterposts to celebrate my 4000+ follower milestone. Today I will be sharing some things I learnt from my experience of attending university. I made this list after my first month at uni and hopefully you can get something out of it. Enjoy : )

If you learn best by watching lectures at home rather then at uni then don’t feel bad about that. Everyone is different and different things work for different people. I prefer watching them at home because I like to be able to pause the recording and take notes or clarify information by going back. Either way just make sure you somehow listen to your lecture!

parking away from campus (somewhere safe, I can’t stress this enough!) feels like a pain on that 20 minute walk each day, but it’s the only time you know you will exercise, unless you find the time and motivation to schedule it in, so be grateful for that.

Tutorials feel like an utter waste of time. And yea a lot of them are, especially if you, like me, work best by yourself using study techniques you know best. However, try to attend all tutorials, you might just get a bit of good advice or learn something that is not on the PowerPoint slide.

You don’t need to bring a laptop to Uni to be productive. In any spare time I have on campus, I go to the library and I’ve found ways of being productive that don’t include legging around my laptop and breaking my back. I prefer to bring my notes and flash cards and revise over them using my revision technique I’ve grown to love. You may look around and be the only one without a laptop but that doesn’t mean you aren’t working as hard.

Focus on you, not forming new friends. This isn’t high school anymore, you aren’t a loner if you don’t have a friend in that one class or all your classes. Personally, making friends triggers my anxiety a lot and my university has a way of stressing the point of making friends but I think they have missed the mark, instead they should be focusing on making students practice self-care and compassion, not forcing them to make friends so they don’t ‘drop out’.

Make time to see your high school friends! I love seeing mine, it’s just like the way it was before. Talk to them about how they are finding the transition to uni, you’ll be surprised how many of them can relate to your experiences. 

Don’t get addicted to campus coffee, you’re a Uni student not a billionaire, you don’t have money to be buying a $5 coffee a day, just make it at home for the love of god.

Don’t buy a handbag! Please, if you have any ounce of self-compassion please by a backpack! I bought a $100 handbag because it was large enough for my laptop and used it once before it threw out my back! Please don’t waste your money like I did, just use a backpack, you won’t be unstylish for it and your back will thank you.

Bring and umbrella and jumper everywhere! Uni has its own climate basically and lecture theatres are freezing.

Plan your time table so that you have 1 day not at Uni and 1 day that you can miss if needed. This is a life saver for when you’re sick or have a ton of work to do. 

Make sure you know what is and what is not compulsory so you don’t end up like me and getting an angry message from your tutor for missing a compulsory tutorial and then having them not like you for the rest of the class.

Wear comfy clothes and don’t worry about makeup! No one cares what you look like at all and at the end of the day you want to be comfy in the many hours of lectures and walking around campus.

Make flash cards after the class! Don’t be like me and have the stress of doing them in your Easter break, just spend the half hour and make them the day of, it will help solidify the information and save you the trouble later. 

Hack: don’t read the whole textbook chapter, especially when short on time. Just find chapter reviews/summaries online, they are a life saver and tell you all the key concepts without all the extra information that you don’t really need.

I hope these tips help you and if not that they were at least entertaining, remember this is all just from my personal experience, you may disagree with what I have said and that’s totally cool, different things work for different people.

Have a wonderful and productive day and I will see you tomorrow for day four of masterposts : )

[namek-deactivated20190919]

today you, tomorrow me.

[thenamesjocelyn]

[jatel0-deactivated20150421]

For The Masses:

http://gen.lib.rus.ec

http://textbooknova.com

http://en.bookfi.org/

http://www.gutenberg.org

http://ebookee.org

http://www.manybooks.net

http://www.giuciao.com

http://www.feedurbrain.com

http://oll.libertyfund.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=380

http://www.alleng.ru/ 

http://www.eknigu.com/ 

http://ishare.iask.sina.com.cn/

http://2020ok.com/

http://www.freebookspot.es/Default.aspx

http://www.freeetextbooks.com/

http://onebigtorrent.org/

http://www.downeu.me/ebook/

http://forums.mvgroup.org

http://theaudiobookbay.com/

More Here

[keomoto-deactivated20141214]

no one coulda reblogged this a month ago when i spent 500

[kreativegeenius]

momentsbymarcus

[trappunzelll]

Look at KB coming through

[kimreesesdaughter]

Every time you see this, reblog it. There is always someone in college that will see this.

[collegecoward]

I just used Library Genesis (the first link) and found a book I need! Be sure not to click on any advertisements (some are meant to look like download links and trick you), and be safe with the files you download!

[academiceve]

How to be a “Bad Ass” at University

Find things to be excited about because your attitude will dictate your experience.

Plan a nice outfit for the first day of school. It doesn’t have to be very fancy, just something you will feel good wearing. The way you dress can improve your confidence. 

Get a planner. It’s helpful to have a book dedicated to school work and extracurriculars so that you stay on top of your game.

Write down your instructors/professors/teachers names, e-mails and office hours ASAP. You never know when you will need to contact them.  

Please be nice to your instructors/professors/teachers. Reach out and connect with them so that you have a professional relationship with them, as you never know when you will need extra credit or a recommendation letter.

Once you receive all of your syllabi, write all of your assignments/deadlines down in your planner/bullet journal/calendar. 

Start studying and put effort into doing work on day one. You will thank yourself during finals week.

Don’t listen to your peers about what was on the test/exam if they get to take them before you. Do your own thing.

Don’t focus on how many hours your peers spend studying. Everyone completes work and studies at their own pace, there is no hour limit that you need to achieve to receive that A+. 

Don’t procrastinate a study session by planning what you’re going to study. A simple to-do list will work fine. 

Attend talks, conferences, events on campus to fully immerse yourself in university life. Sometimes professors are willing to give extra credit for attending talks/conferences (as long as it is related to their class).

Have a song that gives you hype. Whether you’re waiting for a big presentation or you’re nervous on the first day of school. I always listen to “Sorry” by Beyonce. 

Please do your own work and don’t plagiarise as it can ruin academic careers.

Please don’t share your work with other students in case they might plagiarise from you. Even if you think they’re your friend, it’s better to not share your work. 

Reflect and remember how lucky you are to be getting an education. School isn’t a punishment, its an opportunity for you to create a kick-ass foundation for the rest of your life.

Save your coin and make your morning coffee/tea at home. Invest in a travel to-go cup, I always use my Starbucks one. 

People will leave you alone when you have your earphones in. 

Have a couple of spots for studying on campus, where you can sit down and focus to do work in between lectures. I would have a couple of favourite spots in my uni’s library were I could study free from distractions. 

Don’t compare yourself to other students. We’re all on our own paths; therefore, the most important person you need to focus on is you! 

Visit my blog or follow me on Instagram from time to time for some study inspiration. You can contact me via my inbox on Tumblr or Instagram DM’s. 

This was as fun to make as my College Truths list from a couple of years ago, so I hope you enjoy it! Please remember that this is just my personal opinion and that you can adapt these to your school/lifestyle. 

[aimstudies-deactivated20210303]

here’s the truth about textbooks

i keep seeing posts out there saying that you need to read the textbook to succeed in class. NO. you do not need to read the textbook. at least not for many, if not most, of your classes. first of all, it’s impractical. profs can assign up to 2-3 a week, and if you’re taking around 4-5 classes, that’s a WHOLE LOT of reading. if you have time to do so, go ahead, but a lot of students don’t have that much time on their hands. so i’m suggesting that you DON’T need to read every single chapter your prof assigns. what you DO need to do is to get smarter at selecting what and when to read, as well as scanning the text effectively.

when TO read the textbook

when your profs tell you that they will not be teaching from the textbook but that the exams will cover material and/or questions from the textbook

when the material is difficult, tricky, or lengthy and you need clarification, further explanation, or examples

when you miss a class

when you HAVE TIME to prepare for lectures in advance

when you feel that you actually learn and retain information better by reading the textbook

when NOT to read the textbook

when your profs teach from the textbook pretty much line by line

when your profs tell you that they will not be assessing you based on information from the text, but from their lectures

a strong implication of this is if your profs require lecture attendance

when you feel that reading the textbook does not help you learn or retain information

when you are constantly confused by the textbook (esp when it comes to calculation-based stem classes like math or cs)

when you have absolutely no time whatsoever to read pages after pages of bad academic puns

what you can do INSTEAD of reading the textbook

look at the course syllabus/schedule to see what you will learn in lecture. have an idea of what material you’ll be covering, then do the following steps.

check the course website/resources and ask yourself: what do you have to work with? are there lecture slides? lecture notes from previous semesters? online links or readings?

if one of the above exists, read the lecture slides/notes. they are usually much less text-intensive and get straight to the point. you can zip through them pretty quickly. you will at least have a basic understanding of the material that will be introduced in class.

google terms and concepts that you don’t understand from just reading the lecture slides. again, the idea is to get you to have a basic understanding of the material and not become an expert. this will help you avoid getting lost during the lecture.

if you’re still a little confused, read selected sections from the textbook that deal with the topic you need more help with. please don’t read the entire thing.

if there are no lecture slides or external resources to help you out, scan the textbook effectively.

how to SCAN textbooks effectively

read the chapter title and section headings

read the highlighted, bolded, or italicized terms and concepts, as well as their respective definitions in the content itself, the margins, and/or the index at the back

google the terms and concepts if you’re still confused

examine any charts, graphs, or flowcharts

examples and example questions can be helpful, so pay attention to those

at the end of each chapter there should be a brief summary or main idea section. read those and do the practical problems if possible.

[anxiousstudying-deactivated2019]

college scheduling tips

-AVOID 8 AM CLASSES. 8 am in college is so much worse than 8 am in high school. i used to wake up at 6:30 in hs no problem and now waking up before 8:30 is really hard. some people are better or worse with 8 am’s but they still suck. 

-that being said, sometimes you gotta take an 8 am if it’s a class that you need and it’s only offered certain times in certain quarters/semesters. but if it’s not required and it’s not a time-sensitive class, avoid 8 am’s

-if you get stuck with an 8 am do one of 2 things depending on what works best for you:

-cluster all your classes in the morning that day so you don’t end up having your first class at 8 am and your last at 6 pm. you might have to wake up early, but then then you could be done by 1 pm

-OR do that 8 am and try to schedule a huge gap so you can nap or rest after the 8 am then be ready for the rest of your classes

-cluster your classes. this tip is more circumstance-dependent.

-if you live off campus you might wanna cluster your classes as close together as you can get (with reasonable time in between for a meal break if necessary) so that you don’t have to be on campus all day. however, I know some people like spending all day on campus, treating it like a job, spending free time in the library or somewhere on campus.

-if you live on campus clustering is still a good idea, but if your dorm is close to classes and it’s convenient to go back and forth, then clustering may not be necessary.  i prefer to only have classes taking up a small chunk of my day; clustering my classes allows me more large spaces of free time which lets me work more hours and have longer chunks of studying

-take harder classes when you’ll have more energy. if you can, try to get those important, difficult classes that require a lot of focus at better times (for most people this would be the middle of the day), whenever you think you’ll be more alert and have more energy. easy blow off classes can be saved for the dreaded time slots (early morning, night time, whenever you will hate being in class most). these are the classes that either don’t require your attendance or lecture doesn’t matter much bc it just rehashes readings or it’s a common sense class (lots of lower division social justice oriented classes fall in this category)

[lampurple]

Actual good first-time college student advice:

Wear jeans/pants that “breathe” and bring a sweater, even if it’s scorching hot out, until you know which building blasts the AC to 60 degrees F and which feels like a sauna

Backpacks with thick straps are your friend!  Messenger bags are cool and all but if you’re commuting with a lot of stuff, symmetrically styled backpacks are better for your back

You are your own person and you can walk out whenever you need to or want to, so long as you’re not disrupting the class.  Meaning you can go to the bathroom without permission, take a breather if you’re anxious, answer an important phone call, etc.

If you don’t like the class on the first day, if you can- DROP THAT CLASS AND TAKE ANOTHER ONE!  It’ll only get worse from there!

If you can, take a class outside your major; it’s a good break from your expected studies.

You are in charge of your schedule.  Your adviser and guidance counselor is there to ‘advise and guide’ but if you don’t like certain classes and you can substitute for others, that’s your choice.

Consequently, if you are changing anything drastic in your plan, talk with your adviser and instructors.

Pay attention to your credit hours and grades.  Never leave this to the last week of school, you will be sorry and stressed beyond belief!

Unless it’s a lab book or otherwise specified, go to the class for a week or so before buying an expensive textbook.  Some classes, while having it on their required list, do not actually use the textbook a whole lot and you might find some of it scanned online.  Rent if you can or buy used online (schools actually don’t give discounts).  Use your best judgement on what you think you need.

Tell the people who go up to you selling or advertising things you are not interested in that you are in a rush to class and don’t have time to listen to them.  It’s less rude and they’ll leave you alone.

The smaller the class, the better it is to have some sort of acquaintanceship with a couple classmates.  They might save your ass if you are absent one day or need to study.  And talking with them makes the time go by faster without it being so insufferable.

You don’t need to join a club or sport, but internships are cool and useful!

If you can afford it, take a day off once or twice each semester if you’re too exhausted.  Just be aware of what you missed and if it was worth missing!

Your health is the most important, this goes for mental health too!!  Note: College-age/upper teens is when mental disorders like depression and anxiety are most commonly diagnosed.  Most schools have therapy services, especially during exam time.  Look into it if you need to!

Communicate with your professor if you are having trouble with something.  Anything.

Eat and stay hydrated.  Bring a water bottle and snack to class.

All-nighters will happen but never go over 36 hours without sleep.

It’s going to be hard and there will be times you might think about giving up.  This WILL happen.  You just have to make sure what you’re doing isn’t making you absolutely miserable and/or there is something rewarding and positive to look forward to at the end!

[Disclaimer: this is a U.S. version and written based on my experiences; it’s important to keep these points in mind, but know that nothing is ever 100% accurate as each university and college runs differently to some degree.  The intention of this post is to make aware of the big potential circumstances one might run into and what to do.  It’s by no means a complete list and it’s important to get advice from multiple sources as well!  Thanks for reading and I hoped I helped at least a few people!  c:]

[studyelement]

Doing well is much easier said than done. The best tip I have is to just do the work. It’s going to suck, but there’s no secret other than doing the work. Though, there are ways to make doing the work easier!

I. Time Management

Have a planner to gain a general idea of your week.

Schedule your time for studying but also schedule time for breaks.

Every morning I check what needs to be done for the day.

I treat college as a 9-5 job with a lunch break. This may not work for everyone, but this thinking allows me to be done by 5, and I usually finish everything for the day by that time.

Take a break after you finish an assignment. Allow yourself to feel proud for finishing and give yourself a reward.

Break up projects into smaller parts, this is incredibly important. It’s easier to do an outline, then a few paragraphs rather than doing an entire essay at once.

It’s not time well used if you don’t focus on the task at hand. If you’re having trouble, get rid of distractions using apps that limit phone/internet usage.

Don’t waste time on techniques that don’t work for you. I don’t rewrite notes, it doesn’t help me study. Instead I do extra textbook problems or I watch a video on the topic. 

Sometimes it’s hard to motivate yourself to do the work, to study. Then just do a single problem, a single page or paragraph. Usually starting is the hardest part.

II. Studying & Learning

Be present during class by asking questions and answering problems.

Use phone-locking apps like Forest if you need to to stay focused on the class.

Skim lecture notes ahead of time. You don’t need to take notes on them, the professor will tell you what’s important.

It’s ok if your notes aren’t pretty as long as they’re functional.

Practice problems until you can’t get them wrong.

Try to teach the material to someone else. This will show holes in your understanding. Pretend to teach if you don’t have a friend in the same class.

If you need, study in the library. Honestly, studying at my desk in my dorm has worked just fine for me though.

Do the homework, there’s no way around it. This is probably the biggest tip here. Do the work.

Actually do the homework, don’t just copy answers. Understand the answers. You can’t copy on a test.

Speaking of tests, do as many practice tests as you can find. Once the real test comes around, you won’t be as nervous and it should feel familiar.

Nice pens and notebooks aren’t required. However, spend a dollar and get a pen that writes well enough that you’re not wasting time during class getting it to work. (I’ve been through this)

Do the extra credit. There’s no reason not to, and your grade will thank you.

Go to tutoring, not everyone knows everything. You might even make a new friend since most tutors at my school are also students!

Realistically, you don’t need to do every reading assignment as long as you know what your professor tests on. If you don’t have the time, its fine to only skim the assignment.

Make study groups. If you don’t have a friend in the class, it’s as easy as asking “want to work on the homework together?” In my experience, most people are happy to work with you.

Go to your professors office hours if you need help. Your professors are a valuable resource.

Ask your friends for feedback, I do this all the time.

III. Treat Yourself

Sleep and eat well. Coffee is not a breakfast.

Please, don’t force yourself to cram a subject overnight. This is where time management comes into play.

An over-stressed student is a bad student, but a little bit of stress is healthy.

Find what motivates you. Personally, I wish to become a researcher so I work hard towards that goal to get into a good grad. school.

You don’t have to join a club. I’m not in one, and my social life is just fine since I spend time playing games with friends at night.

But join a club if you want, even for a single day. You might meet some friends.

Really do whatever you want with regards to your social life. Do what’s comfortable for you.

If you need it, colleges have a therapist that you can make an appointment with.

[lettersfromhav]

college advice from someone who’s been on both sides of it

So I’m finishing up my Ph.D. and preparing to depart for the real world (no, just kidding, I’m going to be in school forever, only in a different capacity) and I thought I’d put together a list of some college tips to share with you all. I graduated with my B.A. in 2012, magna cum laude, with 2 majors, 1 honours thesis, 2 on-campus jobs, and 3 music things. Since then, I’ve gone to grad school and also taught six semesters of first-year seminars. Now I’m going on the job market for teaching positions. All of this means that I’ve seen both sides of the college experience, as a student and as an instructor. There are a lot of great & useful college advice posts going around studyblr this time of here, and I wanted to add my own. I hope it’s useful. So here we go, with a “read more” because it’s long (sorry if you’re on mobile):

academics

find your classrooms ahead of time (profs’ offices too)

figure out how long it will take you to walk between places

figure out where your best seat will be & claim it

say hi to the people next to you, learn their names

take notes in class

take advantage of extra credit

try your best not to fall asleep in class (and if you do fall asleep, apologise to the prof afterwards)

bring your glasses if you need them, don’t be stubborn about it

check out the library, wander in the stacks, talk to the librarians

figure out how & where to print

buy used books/textbooks, or rent them, but be careful with ebooks (some profs don’t allow them)

plan breaks into your class schedule, or block everything together, whichever works best for you

work out the pros & cons of 8am classes and/or night classes

plan ahead – have a planner, put things in it, do them

fake deadlines are a thing (write down earlier deadlines, trick yourself into meeting them, bask in satisfaction)

grades won’t be what they were in high school

keep in mind GPA values: a 3.5 will see you graduating with honours

be nice to the departmental administrative staff, thank them for helping you (even with small things)

office hours versus emailing profs: both will get your questions answered (probably) but if you can go and talk in person, do it

profs & TAs are people too, they have lives, they have bad days

if something comes up, talk to your prof, be honest but don’t overshare, just show them you’re trying

on that note, try

Keep reading

[adulttalk]

How to Balance Work and School

These are the things I do (or attempt to do most of the time) to manage my time between working 35 hours a week and attending 6 classes a week.

1. Have all of your classes during one point in the day, back to back. I do all of mine in the morning and go to work after. You can do all in the morning, all in the afternoon, etc. The key is to try to have them as close together as possible.

2. Spread your classes throughout the week. Don’t take five classes on Monday and only two for the rest of the week. Try to keep the days as even as possible. I have three classes every day except for Thursday.

3. Make sure your job is willing to work with your school schedule. Make it known that school is your first priority.

4. Remember to put in your request off forms for big projects, tests, final exams, and essays at least a week and a half before you need the time off. This allows your employer to get your position covered and gives you a greater chance of getting that time you need off.

5. Don’t work outrageously early/late if necessary. I get off at 6 every day except for Saturday and I go in about ten minutes after my classes end every day. This allows for me to have time at the end of the day to work on whatever it is I need to do and still get plenty of rest and relaxation.

6. Don’t waste your time. If you’ve gotten out of class early and you have another hour before your next class, use the time to study or work on homework, projects, or essays. The key to balancing college and work is squeezing everything you can out of free time (by free time I mean unexpected times where you’re not busy, not allotted free time you’ve set out for yourself, see below).

7. Keep a planner, a bullet journal, or use your phone. Whatever your method, keep track of when homework, assignments, projects, essays, and finals are taking place. You can’t time manage without knowing when things are due. Plan your week around your calendar.

8. Remember to also take care of your space. Clean your room, do your laundry, organize your books. Not only will you have a clean living area but you’ll also feel less anxious and stressed when your space isn’t a wreck.

9. Prep-pack your backpack, lunches, and snacks the night before classes. Also have your outfit or a general idea of your outfit picked out if you like doing so. If you’re like me and just throw on something comfy like jeans a shirt, then go for it.

10. Have a day (or if you’re like me and all you can get is a half-day that works too) built into your week where you’re just relaxing and spending time on you. You can’t balance work and school if you’re not feeling yourself. Make sure you’re sleeping enough hours, drinking plenty of water (not just caffeine), and eating as healthily as possible. And throw in some exercising if you’ve got time and you enjoy it.

[fangirlinginleatherboots]

if you’re an adult that works with kids of any age do me two quick favors:

learn the symptoms of adhd and autism and their presentation in all genders. you dont have to be an expert, just know a bit about it beyond popular knowledge.

learn to recognize signs a kid is being abused in any way. beyond bruises and black eyes. learn to recognize the fearful apologies and hesitation. do some research.

do me these two favors and save tens of lives.

that’s no exageration either. after teaching my mom basics about mental disorders, she started spotting neurodivergent kids in her classrooms and helped them get help. almost every child she’s helped has been diagnosed with the disorder she predicted and none of them would have been diagnosed at a young age without her help. knowing this stuff matters.

learn. save lives. don’t make kids grow up in fear of their symptoms and family.

[alicethinks]

Hi, everyone! In celebration of reaching 2,000 followers (oh my gosh ahhh) and college decisions (congratulations to everyone!!), I’m beginning my “University Year One” series. Although this is written from my experience of an American college with a pre-professional focus, I hope this is helpful for anyone starting university!

PART 1: ACADEMICS

STUDY HABITS

If you’re like me and cruised through high school without studying very well, you will struggle in college. College is so, so much harder than high school. Be prepared to be rocked by your first midterms; personally, my academic standards for myself have been lowered greatly. “Easy A” is no longer a term I use. I had an incredibly tough time adjusting to the pace of the quarter system, and my lack of study skills made things worse. Research different ways to study (check out my study tips tag), and see what works for you. Personally, I like to switch locations every two days or so, I can’t study with more than one person, and I can listen to music only when I’m studying quantitative subjects.

STAYING ON TOP OF THINGS

My university is under the quarter system, which means that everything goes SO QUICKLY. I have midterms practically every week, and deadlines can easily slip through the cracks. No matter what you use, a planner is essential. Have a calendar, or multiple ones, that you can look over and see when everything is due or when your exams are. Check out my bullet journal tag for inspiration.

REGISTERING FOR CLASS

This depends on your school’s process, but this is based on mine! Although it is important to choose a variety of classes so you don’t go out of your mind from only qualitative/quantitative subjects, make sure that you’re also fulfilling credit requirements. Remember that you are in charge of your schedule now: you don’t have to take 8 AMs anymore, and you can load up all your classes on a few days while being completely free on others. See what kind of schedule and class times work for you. For example, I like to have all my classes one after the other so I don’t have awkward time gaps that I just waste, and I don’t like more than 3 classes a day.  If you really want a class and it’s being filled up before your registration time, one trick I use is that I ask an upperclassman friend to hold a spot in the class for me, then we arrange a time for him to drop and me to add the class. 

TEXTBOOKS

Yes, these are expensive. There will usually be a Facebook group for students selling their old textbooks, so use that, look through second-hand bookstores, see if your school bookstore does rentals, and search for free PDFs online. DO NOT, DO NOT TORRENT FILES USING YOUR SCHOOL WIFI. Go to a local coffeeshop and use their wifi to torrent textbooks. Find torrent sites here.

GOING TO CLASS

Dress in layers, because auditoriums, dorms, and classrooms are often vastly different temperatures. Choose a backpack that is sturdy, won’t hurt your shoulders, and stores a lot; Jansport, Herschel, and North Face are college student favorites. Always have water, a snack, and chargers. Try to plan your day ahead of time, so you don’t have to go back and forth from classes to your room to the library in order to grab a textbook or notebook.

TAKING NOTES

Honestly, don’t listen to the whole “omg taking notes by hand is way better than by laptop!!” Note-taking preference differs for everyone, and one method is not superior to another. Often, professors talk and move topics so quickly that it’s hard to follow by hand; if I take notes by hand, I can barely read what I wrote later. If needed, ask your professors if you can record lectures. As long as you have a method that is organized and efficient, you’re fine. Don’t revise your notes over and over again to get that “studyblr aesthetic”; YOU DON’T HAVE THE TIME. Check my note tips tag for help.

SKIPPING CLASS OR DISCUSSION?

With complete independence, I had a really hard time not skipping class my first quarter of college. But, please, go to class. Or at least 75% of the classes. Here is a handy guide to skipping class, but for the most part, it’s usually better to not skip. Discussions are also super important. Some may be optional, but it’s best to go to all the ones you can. TAs often give questions very similar to the ones on exams, and it never hurts to have extra help or practice problems. Office hours are very helpful, too, and getting to know your professors will pay off when you need an extra boost at the end of term or if you need a letter of rec.

THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUR GPA, PRE-PROFESSIONALS

Your GPA will definitely matter when it comes to getting into pre-professional organizations, finding internships, and getting jobs. Prioritize school over everything except your health. Most internships require a 3.5 or higher, so don’t think that your GPA isn’t that important once you get into university!! Make a LinkedIn profile, and always have a resume and professional clothes handy. This post is very helpful when writing a resume, and here is a  guide on how to write it.

EXTRACURRICULARS

Join organizations that you have an actual interest in, not things that you think will help you get a job in the future. If you’re truly passionate about a club, chances are, you will rise through the ranks and show real leadership and work. I joined an entrepreneurship organization, thinking it would look good on my resume, but I quit within a few months because it bored me so much. That being said, find older students in organizations who can act as mentors. Many of them can refer you to internships and job opportunities, and they will give you relevant and helpful advice on classes and school in general. 

FINALS

Start prepping for finals two or three weeks ahead of time. Don’t take reading/dead week for granted; if you space out and use your time well, you won’t end up cramming in the library in the last two days like everyone else. Either avoid the library, or stake out a claim early in the day, because during finals week, the library will be FULL of people you’ve never seen there before (sideeyes). Sleep > cramming, so get a full night’s rest. Bring water, extra pencils/pens, extra batteries for your calculator, and a watch. Check my exam tips tag for help. 

[hotmessacademics]

Things I learned during my first weekend at college

Your parents will hover like crazy and try to help you unpack when you move in. They mean well, but if you’re overwhelmed don’t be afraid to kick them out for a bit. 

Don’t ask your RA what bars to hit up in town (like one girl from my floor actually did)

Check your e-mail five times a day, your professors might be sending out syllabi or other helpful/important stuff ahead of time. 

You will cry at least once while buying textbooks from the campus bookstore that you couldn’t find used on Chegg (sidenote: use Chegg) 

Your dining hall probably has pizza available for every meal. Don’t eat pizza for every meal. 

Even if you hated salads your entire life, you will learn to love them so that, you know, you don’t eat pizza for every meal. 

Check your dining hall hours online. Some of them close between meals. 

Leave your door open or do random Internet browsing in the floor lounge if you want to meet more people. 

At least one of your posters will constantly fall down no matter how many 3M command strips you use.

A lot of campus events are lame. A lot of them are not. Go to as many of them as you can anyways to meet more people.

If you need time to yourself, take it. You’ll make friends eventually without having to hang out with them constantly. 

Don’t expect to become BFFs with everyone you meet, and don’t expect to become best friends over your first weekend. 

If you’re standing if a long period of time, bend/relax your knees every so often. If you keep them locked, you might trigger a nerve in your body that causes you to pass out (this may or may not have happened to me on my second day, oops) 

Drink water.

Carry an umbrella if there is the slightest chance of rain. Carry one even if there isn’t, just in case. 

Carry a sweater or hoodie always. 

Pokemon Go is lit on college campuses; every single building is a gym or pokestop and there are lures everywhere. Plus, your eggs hatch in no time because you’re walking everywhere. 

It’s okay to eat alone in a dining hall; either no one will care or someone will sit at your table and strike up a conversation.

If you really, really don’t want to eat alone, literally just knock on someone’s door in your hall. If they don’t want to go with you, try someone else. Chances are, someone else might be hungry, too or at least willing to walk over with you. 

Come up with a roommate agreement. Decide when you’re cleaning, sharing policy, guest policy, light and noise preferences, etc. 

If there is a massive involvement fair on campus, research some clubs online so you know what to look for. Otherwise you’ll be overwhelmed in two seconds. 

Join a group chat with people on your floor or in the same area of study as you, it’s super helpful for general information.

Ask everyone you talk to to add you on Snapchat. 

Simple things like taking out the trash or doing laundry will suddenly feel very overwhelming. 

You learn a lot of stuff from being in college for only three days and not even taking any classes. 

[gabryellastudies-deactivated202]

15 academic things I’ve learned in the first month of college

1. it’s really easy to get behind on your textbook reading, and it’s really easy to not catch back up, just read it 

2. sometimes you will start to nod off in class and your notes become illegible, when this happens, voice record the lecture on your phone, but do not do this all the time 

3. do not skip class to study for another class, it will just come to bite you in the butt later 

4. online assignments are really hard to keep up with, therefore having some type of journal, agenda, or list is crucial 

5. you either benefit from studying with other people or you get absolutely nothing done, figure this out as soon as possible 

6. a quiz in high school may have meant 5-10 questions, but in college a lot of the times it’s just one 

7. reading your notes right after class allows you to review quickly what you learned, so you don’t immediately forget 

8. you cannot study the day before an exam and get the results you want, it doesn’t work like that 

9. making friends in your classes is crucial especially if your notes aren’t as detailed as needed or you want a study partner 

10. do not waste time between classes, it is usually the most productive parts of my day and most of the time prevents me from staying up all night doing homework 

11. keep your laptop with you all the time, along with anything you might even plan on studying 

12. learn how you like to take notes, and learn it quickly, drop/add week is the best time for this 

13. do not underestimate a class or it will no doubt overwhelm you 

14. GO TO OFFICE HOURS 

15. remember that your academic goals are self-defined and that you need not compete or compare to others 

-gab 

AND go dawgs! sic ‘em! 

[studenting]

hi guys!! i just wrapped up my first semester in college (thank the Lord), so i thought i should share some of the things i’ve learned with you.

make friends during the first few weeks!! 

participate in all the “welcome week” activities. step outside of your comfort zone and be willing to talk to anyone and everyone—everyone else is in the same position as you. find friends who have similar values as you. do not become too close with anyone who will influence you to do things that you do not want to do. befriend the people you sit next to in class—maybe they can become a study buddy. establish your friendships early on. from personal experience, it is harder to befriend people who have already formed their own friend groups. 

join clubs!!

join them early on in the semester.

join clubs that are specific to your major! not only will you meet people with similar interests and career goals, but you will also receive important information (opportunities, research programs, etc.) and get more hands-on experience.

if you are on a pre-professional track, join a club based on your program. i’m currently in the pre-dental health society club at my school!

join any club that interests you, but try not to join clubs that frequently overlap—it is better to attend clubs faithfully than sporadically. 

if you’re a person of faith, join a (or several) campus ministry/group to get connected with people who share your same faith. a majority of my friendships have come from doing this and it’s like having a second family. if you’re a christian, join cru!! cru is awesome!!!!

scheduling

only take 8 am’s if you are disciplined enough to go to sleep at a reasonable time and to wake up at or before 7 am. 

try to end your school day relatively early so that you have the rest of the day to do any studying that you have to do, while you’re still awake and alert. 

try to avoid night classes as they are very long and will probably interfere with a billion other things you want to do. 

if you are scheduling back-to-back classes, make sure you have enough time to get from one class to the other. 

coursework

exams are so important in college. there is homework, though, but it usually only accounts for a small percentage of your grade. you should still complete it. all of it. try to accumulate as many points as you can from homework and other assignments in case you don’t perform as well as you wish on the exams.

time-management is SOOO important!!

learn when to say no to social events. you can still do fun things, but know when you should refrain from it. 

managing time wisely significantly lowers academic-related stress.

create a skeletal schedule for your week–add your classes, when you want to wake up/go to sleep, any club meetings that you have, what time’s a good time for lunch, etc. 

determine what times work best in your schedule to dedicate to studying. 

schedule your free time so that 1. you have something to look forward to and are less likely to get distracted, and, 2. you can take a break from everything and feel refreshed.

dealing with professors

respect them (obviously). 

form good relationships with your professors, but, for the love of God, do not be a kiss up. they can tell when you are or aren’t being genuine. 

visit them during office hours for any questions you may have. make it known to them that you do care about what you’re learning and that you’re not only trying to get an A. 

reminders!!

sometimes you will try so hard and your grade will still not reflect the effort you put in.

learning > grades

grades do not always reflect intelligence. sometimes, a lower grade could be a result of something else, such as poor time-management.

your GPA does not define you.

you are here to learn.

rest!!

you can do this!!

i love you!!

disclaimer: this post is based on my experiences and things i have heard from people who i have interacted with. this advice might not apply to everyone who reads it. artwork by: paul antonson

i will be adding to this! just wanted to get some of it posted! feel free to message me with specific college-related questions and feel free to message/reply/reblog with any advice you think i should add. :)

love, melissa (@studenting) 

[future-nostalgias]

okay it only took me 5 semesters to figure this out, so here it is. if you’re only gonna read five things read these five:

start shit early. like as soon as you get the assignment. you’re going to have to do it at some point.

go to your professors’ office hours, email your professors, bug the hell out of them.

feel free to compare answers with friends, but do the work yourself first.

limit your extracurricular activities.

don’t half ass anything!*

*ok you can half ass some things but make sure you choose them wisely.

background and further explanation:

yo I’m a junior and this semester I took 4.5 credits: physics (mechanics), physical chemistry, health economics and public policy, biochemistry research for credit, and physics lab. this was the first time my pchem professor had taught the course, so of course no one really knew what was going on most of the time. my physics class was actually a really big class divided into 4 sections taught by 3 professors, so of course none of the admin and exam prep material was ever distributed on time. that’s where tips 1 and 2 really come in handy!

1. start working early! the way I see it is you can either do the work when you’re not stressed, or you can do it when you’re really fuckin stressed. I started my weekly physics problem sets as soon as possible so I could ask my professors questions and check answers with classmates 2-3 days before they were due. I also tried my pchem psets as early as possible so that I would be prepared with questions when I went to section (where my TA basically did the entire pset with us). true, I could have just copied down the answers even if I hadn’t already attempted the pset, but I would have been 100% lost instead of just 60% lost. I had one 8 page paper and one 15 page research report this semester, and I definitely wish I had started those earlier since they were assigned at the beginning of the semester. but that’s life, and that’s what I’m going to aim to do next semester. 

2. go to office hours, review sessions, section, study hall, any opportunity that your professors are giving you to ask questions and engage with the material! go see your professor, especially at the beginning of the semester when things aren’t terribly hectic or difficult. you’ll start off the course with a solid foundation and demonstrate interest to your professor, who will keep that in mind when it comes time to curve grades in the end. if there’s one thing that pchem taught me, it’s that professors often take effort into account. so go see them, go over homeworks and tests with them, and participate in class. they’ll be happy to help you understand the material.

also, attend review sessions! my physics class was taught by 3 different professors and it turned out that one of them (not mine) was going over lots of questions similar to the exam questions in her review sessions, so going to all of her sessions helped a lot. I also realized halfway through the semester that she was going over a lot of the homework questions in her class, and she posted all of her lecture notes online, so I started looking at those before doing the homework.

3. do all your homework to the best of your ability first, then consult your notes and textbooks, then collaborate with classmates. you aren’t going to be able to talk through a problem on the final exam with a friend, so doing problems yourself throughout the semester will get you in the mindset of solving these problems on your own. plus, I find that whenever I’m trying to work through a pset with friends, it takes 3 times as long as it would have taken me to do it myself then check discrepancies with them because we somehow always end up talking about different birth control methods. 

4. be selective with how you spend your time. figure out what’s really important to you and prioritize that. for me, that was academics, one service group, one publication, exercising regularly, seeing friends at meals, and attending major events like crush, formal, the harvard-yale game… maybe one party a week if I wasn’t feeling like a grandma. this ain’t high school anymore, you don’t need to be president of 10 different clubs. this is not to discourage you from doing what you genuinely love to do — just make sure you’re doing it because it’s important to you, not because you think recruiters care about that kind of thing. do 1-2 extracurriculars max to boost your resume, but don’t make yourself miserable. if I hadn’t had the extra time to do work at my leisure/go to office hours/decompress, I would have been a hell of a lot more stressed.

5. don’t half ass anything! in an ideal world, you would have exactly the right amount of time to complete all your work to the best of your ability, handle all your responsibilities, have a social life, and sleep. but most of the time we all know there’s no way that’s happening. so just know what’s most important or most urgent and do that shit first and skim/try your best/ask for forgiveness if you slack a bit on the non-essentials. professors and other students are usually very understanding, but you have to let them know when you need some extra time. be transparent, they aren’t mind readers.

these strategies helped me pull straight A’s this semester, and I hope they can help you get the grades you want while leaving room for everything else that’s important to you. I don’t advocate trying to get A’s at the expense of your health and sanity. but I know that most students are capable of doing better than they are right now if they just plan ahead, kick their procrastination habit, and seek help from their professors. 

other tips:

write down all major deadlines into your calendar at the beginning of the semester

tackle the semester in chunks — e.g. first wave of exams, second wave of exams, finals

finals deserve their own explanation, that shit was brutal and required CAREFUL SCHEDULING

tbh I really didn’t party as much this semester and that also helped

also during midterms, I didn’t go to my research lab sometimes and my PI was nice enough to understand 

plan your social calendar around a couple (big or small) events you can look forward to each week so you don’t drain hours hanging out with people every night

if you want to socialize a little every day, plan discrete times to do so! I make dinnertime my time to decompress and talk to friends for about an hour. going to the gym, walking to class, or getting coffee also work. just be careful about studying together, aka gossiping about fuckboys and birth control.

really random but I broke my sugar habit over the summer and found myself eating/craving less sugar this semester which also helped me stay healthier and less stressed (I have a history of gaining weight every damn fall semester due to stress or winter depression or plentiful desserts, who knows) 

the big picture:

some of the most important things you can leave college with are a good GPA, a group of true friends, and a set of personal core values… 

…but with that being said, it’s even more important to maintain an optimistic and healthy perspective through it all. FUCKIN UP IS TOTALLY FINE. NOT THE END OF THE WORLD. NOT GOING TO STOP YOU FROM DOING WHAT YOU WANT TO DO AND BECOMING WHO YOU WANT TO BE. I BELIEVE IN YOU!

[greenwords]

College Advice for Incoming Freshmen

It’s that time of year again and everyone’s slowly getting back into school. And now you’re getting your classes and freaking out about how different everything’s going to be from high school. Here’s a list of things that might quell your concerns:

It’s not that different from high school. Seriously.

it’s basically high school 2.0, you get to choose what times you want to show up and what classes you want to take and you can even drop a class if you don’t like it!

on that note, I know you can skip class now, but try not to do it often. take mental health days when you need to, but in general, go to class. some professors will drop your grade if you miss more than 3 times a semester

Don’t take any classes before 9 or 10 am if you can help it.

You’ll think you can because you’ve been through high school, but seriously, sleeping in for just another hour or two feels SO good it’s crazy

DO NOT BUY ANY BOOKS BEFORE CLASSES START

I know it’s tempting, especially if you were one of the proactive, smart kids in high school, but there are so many reasons not to get the book in the summer. For example: 

you get the wrong version even though you checked several times before getting it

you won’t actually need it for the class and it’s just a formality

or it’s a suggested book that your professor says is good for additional reading

you might need the online version for homework but you buy the physical book because you didn’t know

your professor might actually suggest a cheaper option! 

I know some people get anxious waiting until school starts to buy all the supplies, but it’ll save you in the long run

I SPENT AN UNNECESSARY $80 MY FIRST SEMESTER because I thought I could get a physical book when I needed the new ebook

also on that note: don’t BUY the book if you can help it ALWAYS RENT

renting is SO much cheaper, you could buy the book for like $120 but find it on chegg.com or something similar for like $30

sometimes you will have to buy it new (like if you need an online homework code specific to you) but wait until the professor tells you to!!!

I like using chegg.com for renting books, you can even rent workbooks if you need them (just don’t write in them please, I’ve already gotten two workbooks with missing or filled out pages)

try to always do your homework, but it’s alright if you miss a few assignments here and there, usually only tests and papers matter for your grade

learn how to say no to people. I signed so many petitions and gave my number out to so many people that I really didn’t want to because I couldn’t bring myself to say no to them

make friends and get people’s phone numbers in each class! it helps a lot if you missed a class or were unclear on the homework if you have a friend to ask before talking to the professor! they can be scary sometimes lol

MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE YOURSELF ENOUGH TIME FOR MEALS

my friend made her schedule with all back-to-back classes her first semester and didn’t have time for lunch!!!

related to that: be prepared for long days

my school gives first-years priority, so they generally get all the classes they want, but after first semester, your classes will be ALL over the place

I had a friend who was at school Mondays from 7:30 am to 7 pm. Not fun. Would not recommend. Plan wisely.

And you don’t have to get involved in clubs if you don’t want to. I only made two acquaintances/friends after a whole year, but I’m alright with that.

it takes time to make (and keep!!) friends in college, because you aren’t all on the same schedules. but don’t worry, it’ll happen it just takes a while

eating alone is completely normal, btw

in high school, it seems like a big deal and you feel like everyone’s watching you because you’re alone, but in college, everyone eats alone because everyone has different, weird schedules.

So watch a show on Netflix or listen to a podcast during your breaks and don’t worry about what people are thinking about you, because I promise, you’re not on their mind at all

This got long, I apologize, but I wished I had this kind of advice when I started school last year. 

TL;DR: Rent books, don’t buy. You might not make friends right away. Try to attend all your classes. Don’t take early classes. Don’t feel pressured to join a club if you don’t want to. And don’t stress, it’s honestly not too different from high school, I swear.