December 29, 2013

Thinking About Future Career? First Think Internship

Have you yet decided on your major in college? That’s a big question, and one that you might already know the answer to, or it could be one that’s taking some development. Either way, if you have an idea of what you’ll major in and what you’d like to focus on, it’s never too early to begin thinking about an internship. You know what an internship is and why it’s important, but it’s equally key to remember that, like many other aspects related to college life, if you wait and wait, it will be too late!

Most college students do internships during the second half of their college careers. This is largely due to that fact that by then, you’ll have a better idea what you’re focusing on and will have your major locked in by that point. But if you’re ahead of the game and know what you’ll focus on now, by all means, start looking for internships. Many companies run internships throughout the year, meaning you don’t have to work as an intern only during summer break.

You’ve heard that internships are important as far as confirming that you actually like the field that you’re studying. That’s true. Yet even if you discover after an internship that you’d like to change paths, the nice part is that there’s really no such thing as bad experience when it comes to an internship. An internship, from a resume standpoint, will always beat working another stretch at that low-paying, dull summer job anyway. 

Some internships pay and some do not. If you need an internship to replace your regular summer job or part-time job, then by all means, seek out one that pays, as most do pay some. And if it’s a non-paying internship, check with your school to see if they can provide any scholarships or stipends for unpaid interns. But first and foremost, start checking into these processes right away. Most prospective employers won’t turn you down simply because you’re a year younger than most interns! If anything, it will show you have drive to go out there and get a head start.

Whether it’s deciding your major, choosing your classes, or thinking about your eventual career, like most aspects of college life, looking for an internship is one task that’s best not left procrastinated. If an internship cements your interest in a field or causes a change of heart, it’s a task that provides best results when conducted early.

December 23, 2013

Have A Reflective And Relaxing Winter Break!

Now that you’re between semesters, you’re out of school from anywhere to a couple weeks to more than a month! Feels good, doesn’t it? Sure does. The last thing you want to think about is school—but hold up there for a moment. 

Fortunately you’ve finished your first semester, so there’s no lingering homework or pesky reading assignments to take up your precious vacation time. Phew. Yet don’t put school completely out of your mind…

Now that you’re one semester down, use this time to reflect. That’s right. That’s all you have to do. Just give the whole college thing some thought and reevaluation. Think about how you did this first semester. What went well? What could be improved? One of the exciting things about college is that there are so many facets to it. School and classes alone provide much to ponder on, and then there’s dorm life and more. 

Pretty soon, those big final exams will be graded, meaning you’ll have your first-semester marks in, your first barometer check on how you’re doing academically. Hopefully those grades are looking up, and if they are, give yourself a pat on the back for a first semester well done. But if they weren’t as high as you hoped, now’s your chance to really figure out why. 

College life, whether you do all your homework or you hardly study, will keep you busy. But now that you’re away from classes for a few weeks, you have the time to reflect and actually implement change if you need to. So if those grades weren’t so hot, what was the reason? Did you place partying before studying on most nights? Was college harder than expected? Now’s your chance to make a diagnosis and turn things around for next semester.

Similarly, is there any patchwork needed on the dorm front? Hopefully you’re friends with your roommate, or have an at least amicable relationship. Even if things couldn’t have gone better that first semester, think about what you’d like to do for the rest of your college career. If, for example, you still haven’t found that club or extracurricular activity that you’re passionate about, do some research now that you have the time. You’re one semester down, but that’s also one semester less to get the most out of your college career. So while time’s readily available to really think about college, use it.

December 20, 2013

Dealing With A Bad Grade: Do More Than Just Study Harder Next Time

Even if you were a straight-A student throughout high school, chances are that you’ll receive at least a couple poor marks on college. Maybe your idea of a bad grade is a B, either way, college should test your limits, which occasionally means performing poorly on a test. When that occurs, it’s common to hear and believe that you can do better next time. While that’s true, there are more ways to face a bad grade than the belief that you’ll do better next time.

But before you go thinking about how you’ll improve the next time around, first, take a step back. What caused a low score on the test? If you didn’t study, then it doesn’t take much detective work to determine the cause. Sometimes, you’ll find that you do study and a poor grade still occurs. This is when it can be trickier to figure out what went wrong and how you’ll improve next time. Remember, some classes are difficult but none are impossible. It might take some extra work, but a good, or at least decent grade, should be achievable with any class.

So, let’s get to the source. There are enough factors that can contribute to a poor grade, and you already know the common ones: not enough sleep, not enough studying, not enough breakfast, not enough concentration in class, etc. Sometimes, though, you might need to reevaluate your approach. For example, perhaps you paid attention in class and took thorough notes. When it came to the textbook reading, you skimmed over most chapters but figured you’d be fine thanks to your thorough notes. Then on test day, half the questions are from the reading leaving you with a post-test case of bad-grade blues. Just be glad you were able to diagnose the cause.

Even if you studied a lot for a test, it will do you no good if you didn’t study the right material. Studying the right material, believe it or not, is a bit more complicated than just cracking open your textbook and note book and studying as much as you can. One of the most frustrating test-taking experiences you’ll encounter is when you study a lot, only to discover the material that you skimmed over comprises most of the test! Be sure to balance your studying. Don’t just study the material you found more digestible; treat all the material the same. After studying, try to quiz yourself as you go over material. You’ll find out the material you know well, and what needs more work. Although it’s obvious, spend some extra time on the material with which you’re less familiar.

Bad test grades don’t always result from not knowing the material; sometime it’s the format of the test that throws you off. From multiple choice questions, to written tests, to open-book tests (yes, those exist, and are tougher than you think), the format can be your strength or your downfall. Perhaps you like short-answer tests better. With those, sometimes there’s a bit more leeway, since multiple choice tests have only one right answer. Or, maybe that’s why you like multiple choice tests! Either way, to improve with the format that’s not your strength, when you’re quizzing yourself in preparation, imagine those questions from different angles. For example, if it’s a simple question of fact, such as when was the Declaration of Independence signed? that’d be a multiple choice question. Then think about a questions such as what factors lead to the Declaration of Independence being signed? OK, so that’d be one long essay question, but if you can answer both styles of questions, you’ll be prepared for whatever comes your way! Also, be sure to ask your instructor about the format of the test beforehand. Most will let you know.

You know what you need to succeed. Studying, sleep, and a good attitude. Don’t let those memories of a bad grade wear you down. Stay sharp and have some confidence the next time around.

December 13, 2013

Is College One Big Party After All?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrOcR_mDwDk&feature=c4-overview&list=UUz5gupyIvXos6KPU0U0_Qzg


If you watched the above video with Jeffrey, you know that there will be plenty of partying going on in college and that, if you take Jeffrey’s advice, you’ll have fun even without drinking excessively.

There are really no big secrets when it comes to partying in college. There are parties and there are students drinking on every campus. You’re also not two years old, but maybe you’re not twenty one either! If you’re not twenty one, you know that drinking isn’t permitted, but it still happens. We don’t recommend drinking underage, but if you do, no matter how old you are, drinking should be done responsibly; we don’t have to tell you that, you’ve heard that a million times.

But what does that entail? You can probably figure that out too. But, here are some additional pointers aside from what Jeffrey’s mentioned above. First off, there’s no need to party every night. Do you really have that much to celebrate? Trust us, there will be a party tomorrow night, and the next weekend, and the weekend after that. You’re not missing out by staying in a couple nights.

Also, if you do party almost every night and choose to drink that frequently, get ready for some consequences! There’s simply no way you can do as well in school with that volume of fiesta-ing. Even if you can keep grades up, you won’t learn as much as you can, which in a few years will be what really matters. Also, if you’re out late partying most nights, get ready for weight gain, lower nutrition levels, and increased fatigue. Being out late means plenty of late-night munchies, not enough sleep, and the consumption of empty calories like alcohol and late-night junk food.

If you do choose to drink, hopefully you’ll aim to take in only enough needed to relax and not so much that you’ll forget all events and just how much pizza you consumed. At some point, drinking becomes excessive and taking in more won’t help you have a better time, unless your idea of a good time is spending the night nauseously expelling all your consumed beverages. Think of how sick you’d have to be to throw up from being, well, sick. It’s not a natural or healthy state to be in, and too much drinking induces that!

It’s really quite simple. Be smart. Don’t drink too much, and do so in moderation. Or, pay the prices.

December 6, 2013

Fear Not, Liberal Arts Major. There Are Jobs In Your Future Too.

When you have to select your major, and you will have to eventually, too many students think of what they can’t do with a major compared to what they can do. You’ve undoubtedly heard the question, “What are you going to do with that?” when referring to your chosen degree. Fear not. Even if there’s no super clear answer to that immediately, you can do a lot more than you think, which is the beauty of a liberal arts degree.

If nothing else, a college degree will prove that you have the diligence and work ethic to complete a task that’s long and involves a lot of work! No matter what your degree may say, you'll at least have that part proven, which counts for more than you might think. As many times as you’ve heard the question of what you plan to do with your degree, you’ve also heard it said that all jobs require on-the-job training, and that it really doesn’t matter what you studied, as your at-work training will take precedence. This is also true, to an extent of course.

Even if many liberal arts degrees don’t offer work directly in your field of study, there are more fields of work than there are college majors, and guess what? Those skills such as diligence, hard work, and ability to think critically are important in every field, meaning you’ve graduated with more work-related skills and knowledge than you might have thought. Even if graduation is a long way’s away right now, it’s never too early to start thinking about post-college life.

In fact, you’re likely more restricted (which also isn’t necessarily a bad thing) by studying a more narrow field such as nursing or computer science. Most students who go to pharmacy school, for example, become pharmacists. But those students who are English majors, as another example, go on to work in a variety of fields and learn varying specialties. This career freedom can actually be very refreshing. Hopefully you’ll like the job you do after college, but if not and if you were a liberal arts major, you can try pursing another career path quite easily, which is a beneficial freedom.

If anything, the liberal arts degree can cause some anxiety because you’ll be less certain of the path you’ll take. Again, this isn’t a bad thing. At first, you can feel a bit lost graduating with a liberal arts degree. But once you begin working, you might find it an even greater asset later on. Many students study a specialized field and will likely end up working in that field for their entire careers! That’s a big commitment. Not knowing just what the future holds can be exciting if you take the right outlook. So the next time someone asks what you plan to do with your major, tell them you’ll do exactly what you want to do and enjoy the freedom you’ve been given.