Bullying In College? Does It Exist?

Bullying has been a topic that’s received new-found attention due to its severity and the fact that it’s now become widespread not only in hallways, but online as well. We can all remember those middle school days, when we’d see all sorts of bullying tactics in the cafeteria, hallways, or anywhere around school. But what about in college? Are bullies still out there? Well, that depends. Fortunately, by the time everyone’s college aged, maturity has caught up to most.

One of the best things about college is that you’ll meet people from all backgrounds, including, yes, those who used to be bullies! Most of these so-called tough guys or girls have mellowed out by now, but one of the benefits of college is that if you meet anyone like this this, you can just avoid that person! You won’t be stuck seeing that person in all your classes, and whether you’re in a bigger or smaller school, there will be other people, better people, to hangout with.

Aside from the fact that you’re much younger in middle school than in college, perhaps another reason for the more rampant bullying during younger school years revolves around the structure of classes. You’re in almost all the same classes with all the same people, all the time. In college, as you can guess, you’ll often be in a class with someone, and never see him or her again in another class. Back in middle school, everyone knows each other well, and in college you’ll constantly be meeting new people. So-called bullies don’t have time to get to know their targets, meaning bullying itself won’t develop as easily.

The bottom line is, bullying was better left to the tween world that’s now nearly a decade past. In college, people have finally grown up more in this regard, and have hopefully learned from past errors. Still, in all honesty, you might very well encounter some less-than-friendly fellow students. Yet the process of making new friends and meeting new people involves some sifting. So when you meet such a person, simply don’t hangout with him or her. Of all the freedoms college provides, deciding who’s worth your time is another refreshing choice.

So if you’re a bookworm who’d rather study than get crazy on the weekends, you’re in the right place! Trust us, if you go to the library late at night for some extra studying, there will be plenty of other people “hanging out” there (and by that we mean they’ll be studying too). Plus, bookworms aren’t bullied in college; they’re viewed as the responsible students who are diligent enough to get the most out of their education.

Tips For Tackling Those Textbooks In College

College textbooks can really be a handful. From having to pay for them, to having to carry them, to having to actually read them, you’ll be getting to know those textbooks pretty well. Yet if all they’re doing is weighing down your backpack, then what did you spend all that money for? Or, maybe you didn’t spend much money, as you’re well aware there are

ways to get around the high costs of new textbooks.

Since it’s the first dilemma you’ll face while dealing with textbooks, those high prices don’t look like they’ll be changing anytime soon … or will they? Many textbooks are now available in e-editions, and your school or school bookstore probably knows which works might be available in e-edtion. If you have a tablet, an e-edition can be much more practical than a heavy book, and the cost is usually less. There are drawbacks, though, such as not being able to highlight text.

You’ll also never have to buy a new textbook if you don’t want to. So many sites and even area bookstores around your campus sell used textbooks. They’re cheaper but can be maybe a bit rougher around the edges. Some books will also be pre-highlighted, yet if that bothers you, try and ignore it and instead use highlighter tape, a different color, or simply underline text you find important. By reviewing the other parts of a text that a former student found important, though, you’ll have the advantage of taking emphasis of something you might have missed!

Also, you can try renting your textbooks from your school or from a bookstore around campus. While not offered on all campuses, it’s another great way to save money, since many textbooks you honestly probably won’t revisit once a course is over. And now that you’ve got the book, it’s no secret, you’ll have to read it! Don’t spend a lot of money on a book only to never open it!

Textbook reading isn’t exciting, but it’s a great way to familiarize yourself with material before going to a lecture, or it also provides a nice review of material after a lecture. By doing your reading, you can only help yourself better learn and understand material. You might also be a learner who learns better through reading than by listening. If that’s the case, that textbook reading will be imperative!

Textbooks, no matter how straightforward or scientific the topic, do provide some great examples and analogies in their writing. Such examples often make complex material more understandable, but if you never read it, it will do you no good! The bottom line is, do your reading. Even if you can’t read every page that’s assigned (and we won’t tell your teacher!), ignoring your textbook is wasting a valuable resource, and that’s the last word.

In Pursuit Of Discipline And Patience: College Teaches You These Arts

One of the biggest reasons you’ll go to school and earn a degree has to do with character building. Sure, it sounds a bit cheesy, but a college degree reflects character, in addition to academic success and achievement. How so? Well, if nothing else, that degree will show that you’re able to commit to something long and tedious, and that you have the discipline and diligence to stay with a long project. That

project is, of course, your degree.

You might be the first to admit that you’re not a patient person; believe it or not, college can help turn that around. If you’re ready to give up or pull your hair out every time you’re confused or every time that an answer won’t be immediately apparent, you’re in for a long four years. College teaches patience, and it’s a universal lesson, no matter which major you pursue. If you think about it, the whole layout of college relies on patience: it’ll take four years to finish, and that’s, well, a long time!

The process of learning is itself an exercise in patience. Going to class, taking notes, studying those notes, doing textbook reading, and then studying some more—there are lots of processes involved! And guess what? It takes time! No one ever said practicing patience was fun, but, the results will pay off, and any rewards you receive after patience was required will be that much sweeter.

As it goes hand in hand with patience, college will also require diligence. Simply completing college is a diligent task. Then again, most milestones, such as a college graduation, will require diligence! Yet again, it’s a good thing, in some regard, if a task takes time to complete. You’ll quickly see that some tasks (such as earning your college degree) take time, and, in truth, it’s only worth pursuing such a task if the reward is worth it. College ultimately forces you to see something through from beginning to end, yet it’s worth it in the end!

The trait and skill of diligence is also worth honing and recognizing in college, as it will be useful throughout your pursuit of your chosen career. When you graduate college, you can’t expect to become the CEO of a successful company immediately after you don your cap and gown. It can take time, even a lifetime! Yet, you know that success will take time, as any reward that’s worth it often does. So while the traits of patience and diligence won’t appear on your degree, they’re inherent within any major, and they’re well worth practicing while in college.

All That Pressure: How To Deal

College life involves plenty of pressure. You’re well aware of that. Amid tests, deadlines, keeping up grades, making new friends, and making sure you’re on the right career path, how do you deal with it? You’re well aware you can and should take time to unwind, and we don’t need to tell you how to do that. But if you take a few different views on college life, you’ll see it’s not so bad after all.

One of the best things about college is all the choices you’ll have. Actually, that can be one of the worst things, too, but only if you adopt a negative viewpoint. You’ll get to decide what school you attend, what you’ll study, and even what you’ll do and have for dinner each night. In this regard, even when you do encounter pressure such as difficult classes or even the pressure surrounding joining a new club and hopefully fitting in, just remember that you get to choose. You won’t be forced into anything, and you can always make the choice to relieve pressure. For example, if it’s a big test coming up and you didn’t do so great the first time around, take the time to study and get help if needed. It’s true you’ll feel pressured during that next test, but you can make the choice to be better prepared.

Another great feature about college life is that you’ll almost always have more time to do what you want to do. Pressure often arises when you might wonder if you did what you want to do, both socially and even as far as classwork. While it’s true that you’ll be given plenty of time to decide your major, for example, you can always take classes on different subjects that interest you. And no club or social group will turn you down even if you’re a senior! Take advantage of everything that college has to offer, as even feeling regretful can cause pressure.

You might have also heard it said that college life is still not the real world. While, that’s true in one sense, it also means that in fact, those real-world pressures won’t be bearing down on you. It isn’t selfish to say that your college years are all about you. At your worst or your best, you have only to live up to your own expectations. There’s only as much pressure there as you place on yourself (and, well, some from your parents too). So don’t overpressure yourself. Save that for the “real world,” right?

As Expensive As A College Education Can Be, It’s Worth More Than You Think!

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The simple fact is, college is expensive. Even if you have some scholarship money, you won’t receive an education for anything less than numbers with several zeros on their end. It can be a bit scary to think about, especially when the question if the payoff is worth it constantly arises. And if you think you may pursue a major that leads to jobs and careers that frankly aren’t as lucrative as others, perhaps you’ve had your doubts.

Yet looking at college and asking if it’s worth it, is a very broad question. If you will be taking on student loans for years after you graduate and if you don’t wind up making a million your first year out of school, it by no means signifies that that degree wasn’t worth it. The truth is, the question of worth shouldn’t always be thought of as a monetary question. When you go to college, the experiences you’ll receive have a priceless value. Believe it or not, you’re going to school for other reasons than to pursue a major and study a lot.

It’s often the case that you’ll really discover what you want to do—career wise—while you’re in college. And you might even meet the love of your life! You’ll certainly make new friends; some will even be lifelong friends. How can you put a price on those things? Going to college is itself as much of a social experience as it is a learning experience. While it’s true you have to put your time and do your studying to get the most out of it, all of the other experiences can’t be discredited, especially when searching for worth.

From the persistent monetary standpoint, a college degree will also give you greater lifetime income potential, even if you’re not quite retirement ready a few years out of school. It’s a statistical fact, but one that can’t be disregarded. Yet if you also end up pursuing a career you truly enjoy, and hopefully you will, then, if a college degree was required, your payoff can be measured by more than money. Spending decades doing something you don’t like and not receiving much money for it hardly sounds like an enjoyable combination.

So keep in mind, the value of college can take a broad scope. It does cost a lot of money, but what you get out of it will be more than just a chance to make all of that money back. And if nothing else, you just might feel better about having to pay those big tuition bills knowing that worth can be measured by more than money.