Category Archives: School

May19

Take A Study Break: This Is How You Do It!

Posted on by
Standard
Take A Study Break: This Is How You Do It!

I’m sure that many of us remember the pressure of studying for exams and I know that many of you will be doing just that right now. No matter if it’s university, college, or high school exams, they all bring with them the same pressure and tension.

It is so important to keep things in perspective at this time and to recognize signs of extreme stress in ourselves and in others. If things are really getting you down, then it is time to reach out and get the professional help that you need. If you just need some well-deserved rest and relaxation, turn-off the laptop, close up the books, and put the lids back on the highlighter pens for an afternoon or an evening. Here are some ideas on how you can relax after a major cram session:

Feed Your Body And Your Spirit:

When we are revising, we are all guilty of grabbing a snack here or there and all of our meals tend to be rushed because we feel under pressure to get back to our books. If we are sensible, those snacks will be something healthy such as fruit or nuts or we may crave the sugar rush of a candy bar (yum!). Taking some time to plan and prepare a lovely meal is good for your body and for your spirit. The process of focusing on a recipe and creating a meal calms our frazzled nerves and stress levels will fall.

Choose a meal that is quite complex and has several courses so that it requires your undivided attention. This is very therapeutic, as it stops your brain from jumping around from one thought to another. Make sure that it is packed with nutrients that your brain needs. Oily fish and dark green vegetables are perfect for a post study meal.

Lose Yourself In A Movie Night:

For the best movie night, you need to set the scene. Make yourself comfortable on the sofa, surrounded by all of the drinks and snacks that you could ever want (the more the merrier, I always say). If you have a cat or dog that you can plonk on your lap, it is even better – but they don’t always cooperate, do they? Now, pull up http://www.netflixupdate.com/4k-movies-on-netflix-list/ and put together a list of movies that will grab your attention and hold it for a few hours. You want all of the thoughts of exams, papers, and studying to be banished from your mind as you get lost in the plot. This will act like a spring-clean for your brain and give it time for all of your studies to settle into your long term memory. By the next day, you will be refreshed and ready for more.

Look After Your Body:

It is so easy to forget about our bodies when our brains are doing all of the work. You have to remember that if your body goes downhill, then your brain will too. Get outside, whatever the weather. Your body needs some sunlight to produce Vitamin D. When you get back in, do some gentle yoga or Pilates and then treat yourself to a long hot bath. Light some candles or incense, play some music, and take a little breather to clear your mind and relax.

Studying can be a total pain, but straight A’s for days will make your efforts totes worth it and your summer break well deserved!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

May19

What To Expect On Your Graduation Day – A Plan Of Action

Posted on by
Standard
What To Expect On Your Graduation Day – A Plan Of Action

Graduation day is a monumental moment day of your life; it’s the first true time you step out of a sheltered existence and become an adult. It’s an incredibly hectic, but exciting time. Friends and family are all gathered around you to tell you that they’re proud and making jokes about your gown. Some of them are no doubt holding back the tears. The administration and staff of the University are also there and energetically shaking hands on a job well done. But, all the buzz can produce stressful moments, so here is a guide to take you step by step, of what you can expect on the big day:

Organizing Your Gang: Graduation days can be like rock concerts. There’s a huge glob of people in the center and almost immediately when you turn up, you’re fighting not to get lost. You can get separated from your group if you haven’t planned in detail beforehand about where you’ll meet and where you guys will stay during the whole ceremony. So communicate effectively with your college friends and family. Make sure that everyone is together and in one place, so that it’s easy to find each other. Use landmarks such as a large tree, a building entrance, or lots of you could wear the same color hat or clothing.

During The Ceremony: When you’re on stage, be respectful that you’re sharing this moment with thousands of other students. You’ve probably seen videos of people acting silly at their graduation on social media. Don’t be that guy or gal; this is a moment of prestige. You worked hard. Remember the long nights of frantic studying, the upset stomach before an exam or deadline, remember how you worked part time to pay for your tuition? Exactly. Use this time to hang your head high and accept your rightful praise, but you’re in a hat and gown – not the court jester’s attire.

Take A Break: The graduation ceremony is going to be long, very long. Be sure that you and your group have something to eat and drink, like some high-carb snacks and natural sugars like fruit or a smoothie. Refrain from eating large amounts until after the ceremony, as you’ll be standing a lot and you don’t want to be the one who throws up from being too nervous or has to go to the bathroom just as your name is being called up. #embarrassing

The after party is where you can eat to your heart’s content. Graduation cakes are a fantastic way to buy a large food item that everyone can share and celebrate your success with. Although the cake will be large, thousands save at Kroger’s bakery, so it won’t put you out of pocket.

graddd1

Ayyyyy!

Take Pictures In Advance: Taking the perfect picture can be stressful when there’s so much going on around you. You want to look back at this time and be proud of that moment and subconsciously frowning or not looking into the lens can ruin the special day only all too late. Take pictures before the ceremony starts. Fix your gown and your frown at the same time, while there’s no pressure to imitate a ‘still-life’ painting. Then, you’ll have plenty of time to evaluate the pictures and retake some as necessary.

Graduation day is the best, but it can be incredibly stressful! Make a game plan beforehand, though, and you’ll be good to go!

Featured Image By: AKS

May9

Introverts Unite: Making Friends At College

Posted on by
Standard
Introverts Unite: Making Friends At College

One of the hardest things to overcome in life is the challenge of making new friends, which is what makes college so daunting for so many. It’s just an overwhelming concept. Everything about it can make even the most extroverted person’s hands sweat profusely (and no one likes sweaty hands!). It doesn’t matter whether you are just starting out, or you have a new set of classes this semester, etc.; it can be really scary.

Luckily for you, pretty much everyone is in the exact same boat, unless they have literally no anxiety about making new friends. They may look like they’re swanning around with all of the confidence of a young Sophia Loren but, instead, they are panicking just the same because college is scary. That’s why you should take the first friendship step! But, if you’re not exactly sure how to start, here’s a few ideas for you to explore:

Say ‘Hi’ Every Time You Sit Down: We don’t mean say ‘hi’ to yourself every time you sit down because that probably won’t help you make new friends. We mean, say ‘hi’ to the person next to you. Ask them how they’re doing, how their weekend was, what they think of the professor’s paisley patterned suit. It’ll be seven seconds of awkwardness that could blossom into a lifetime of BFFing.

Have A (Secret) New Friend Calendar: You don’t have to have an actual calendar for this, although it could be fun to look back on in the future. All we want you to do is to meet someone new every day. Set yourself that challenge and see what happens. It doesn’t matter where, it just matters that you do. Statistically, some of them are going to be immensely like-minded people and if not, there’s always tomorrow to try again!

Sign Up For A Team: When you think of a team, you are probably thinking of a sports team; like cheerleading or football. But it doesn’t have to be sports. It could be a debating team, a chess team, an acapella singing team. It could be anything that resembles a team because a team suggests more than one person. Even a study group could qualify as a team, minus the fancy jackets. So whatever it is that you are interested in, go for it. You may hate it, you may love it, but you could meet your best friend because of it.

Do Your Work In A Campus Coffee Shop: If you’re shocked that going to college means doing homework, then college probably isn’t for you. Anyways, when it comes to doing the work set after each class, you should do some part of it – planning, writing, or research – in one of the campus coffee shops. Why? Let’s put it this way, you are not going to meet anyone if you do all of your studying in your room. Coffee shops, however, offer the perfect chance to fall into a conversation with someone around you – especially if you both frequent the same place often.

Get A Job Somewhere: The nice thing about college campuses is that there is the chance to earn a little bit of cash. It could be working in one of said coffee shops, for the college newspaper, in the research lab, or whatever. The point is, a lot of jobs are a great place  for networking, which is just a business term for making friends. A job requires you to be somewhere at a specified time with the same people, so you are going to get to know them without having to step outside of your comfort zone to start up a chatter with a stranger. Clever.

Alright introverts, let’s unite! But in our own rooms with the door shut. JK. Get out there, take a deep breath, and make some new friends around your college campus. 😀

Featured Image By: Pexels

May4

Want to Help People? Here’s What to Study

Posted on by
Standard

Some people just have a huge heart. If you’re thinking of going to college, you might not know exactly what you want to do yet, but you do know that you want to help people. If helping others is what you want to do with your life, you have many options to play a part in improving the lives of other people. Some careers that will help others take place behind the scenes, perhaps as part of scientific research or even administration. Others involve much more interaction with people who need help and care and are much more hands-on. If you want to go into a caring profession or help others in any way that you can, here are some fields of study which you might want to consider:

Types of Study: Depending on what you think you might want to do with your life, you don’t necessarily need a degree. Some professions require you to have a college education, whereas others might ask that you have specific training or experience. You can study your chosen area of interest in different ways, too. Even if you want to get a bachelor’s degree, you can study it online instead of having to go on campus. Many people improve their education in their evenings and spare time while they work. You might decide to spend around four years doing a bachelor’s degree at college and, perhaps, even go on to postgraduate study. Or you could do a shorter associate’s degree for some subjects. There are lots of ways to study and to reach your desired career path, although some have paths that are more set in stone than others.

Getting a Nursing Degree: For many people, the first caring career that they think of is nursing. Nurses can do a huge range of jobs, from supporting doctors in hospitals and clinics to working in nursing homes or out in the community. This is a degree that can take you to many different places. To become a nurse, you have to get a degree in nursing, which could open you up to a wide range of specialisms. You need to be registered to practice, which proves that you have the qualifications that you need. During a nursing degree program, students will get to experience a range of patient care scenarios to prepare them for the work force. If you’re looking for a quicker route into the healthcare field, you might consider training to become a certified nursing assistant, which allows you to gain hands-on experience with patient care.

help

Such a flight attendant pose!

Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Doctor? If you’re considering working in a medical profession, you might also have considered becoming a doctor. Some people start thinking about it long before graduating high school, whereas others might not think about it until after they’ve completed their undergraduate education. Qualifying as a doctor takes grit, especially if you want to work in a high-pressure field like emergency medicine or surgery. Not everyone makes it, so it’s important to be sure about what you want to do before you start your medical degree. There’s no doubt that you’ll help lots of people as a doctor, but it also needs to be the right career choice for you.

Human Services: Not every caring profession involves working in a hospital or medical environment, or even working with sick or injured people. Many caring professions involve various supporting roles, which help to deliver services to the people who need them. This could be in areas such as social services, family support, veteran affairs, or elderly care. If you want to work in community outreach and help to connect people to services that they can benefit from, a degree in Health and Human Services could be right for you. This degree teaches you how to help people with a number of challenges in their life, from disabilities and illnesses to difficult home situations. It could lead to a career working with people of all ages, from children to the elderly.

help1

Wikimedia Image

Admin, Management, and Support: There are also lots of other roles in health care, caring, and social work that are more behind-the-scenes. There are careers in management, administration, and support that might appeal to people who don’t want to be as hands-on as a nurse or carer might be. It could still involve working with people who need help and doing a lot to improve people’s lives, though. Some specific fields of study to consider include Healthcare Management, Medical Billing and Coding, and Health Information Technology. Facilities like the Portobello Institute (or a similar learning institute in your local area) offer facilities management courses to get you started on your career path. These careers can still often require plenty of compassion, as you might be making decisions that affect people’s lives.

Studying Pure Science: What about being a scientist? It wouldn’t necessarily mean that you work directly with people who need help. However, it could mean that you do a lot to help the people who need it. Working in scientific research can give you opportunities to help people by furthering understanding of medical conditions and diseases and developing and testing medications and treatments. If you want to work in scientific research, you might consider a Biology degree. A science degree could also lead to working in laboratories, hospitals and medical clinics.

help2

SCIENCE!

Social Work: Outside of healthcare, one of the professions that many people who want to help others consider is social work. It can be a tough career, but there can be plenty of rewarding moments. People often think of working with children and families when they think of social work, but it can involve working with anyone who needs help. A social worker might help people with disabilities or perhaps people who have experienced an abusive relationship. They can work with elderly people or people experiencing health issues. A bachelor’s degree in Social Work is a necessary foundation, while some roles in schools or clinical work require a master’s degree. Like many caring roles, social workers also need to be licensed by their state.

As you can see, there are a lot of education requirements for social work but it is well worth it if this is your passion. Every lesson and lecture, every study session with Social Work Exam Strategies, and every essay written will get you one step closer to achieving your goal. Social work is a field that requires your complete dedication and if you can’t dedicate yourself to your studies, it might not be the best choice for you.

Education: Another way to help others is to assist them with their education. This could mean working with children, but there are lots of ways to begin a career in adult education. If you want to teach children or teenagers, there could be several different education paths which you can consider. High school teachers are often required to have a bachelor’s degree in the subject that they want to teach, perhaps with a minor in education or a qualification in a program that prepares them to teach. If you want to teach kindergarten or elementary, a bachelor’s degree and teacher education program would probably be necessary, as well. Some specialist education areas might include teaching English as a second language or teaching music, which you could do for both adults and children.

help3

Knowledge is power!

Counseling: When people need help, they don’t always need assistance with physical illnesses. Sometimes, they require help through talking therapies, whether it’s to help with a mental illness or just personal problems. Being a counselor or therapist is one option that you have if you want to help people work through their problems. Counselors can help people with their relationships, give school guidance, help with addictions, and much more. Although you can start off with a bachelor’s degree, many counselors also have a master’s degree and even a PhD.

Ministry: Some people want to help others in a more spiritual way. If you’re religious, you might consider some form of ministry. If this is something that interests you, entering the career might involve attending a specialist institution or school, such as a seminary. However, some people might begin by studying theology or even philosophy. If you want to offer religious leadership and guidance, it’s best to look into the structure and rules set out by the religious organization that you’re a member of. Different groups and churches may have their own ideas on what qualifies you to help others.

Law: If you want to help people, another area to consider is the law. There are many areas of law in which you could practice and several of them involve helping people to get justice. You might consider criminal law, in which you can also help people on matters such as accident claims and other civil matters. Of course, to be a lawyer, you need to go to law school. There are also other careers and roles that you might consider, though. For example, you could look into being a paralegal or a legal secretary. These still involve some legal knowledge, but you don’t have to study for as long.

help4

#justiceisserved

Emergency Services: If you think that you can handle a high-pressure and fast-paced job, you might consider a role in the emergency services. For several of these roles, you’re unlikely to need a college degree. You will have to complete the necessary training and education, though. You could consider roles such as an EMT, firefighter, or emergency call responder. Some people take on these jobs as full-time careers, while others do them while studying to help them pay for their education. It can also give valuable experience for future careers and opportunities.

People who like to help others can use their career to change people’s lives in many different ways. You can choose to study a variety of subjects at college or find other ways to get the skills that you need to positively impact someone.

Apr28

Overcome Your Fear Of Going To College

Posted on by
Standard
Overcome Your Fear Of Going To College

A lot of people fear starting college. After all, it might be the first time that you are away from your friends and family in eighteen plus years. And living with a bunch of strangers can be nerve wracking. However, there are lots of benefits to going to college. As well as getting a degree in your favorite subject, you will make friends for life. And you will pick up lots of new skills that you can take with you in the future. The pros definitely outweigh the cons, so here are some ways that you can overcome your fear of going to college:

Talk to People Who Have Graduated: It’s always a good idea when you are nervous about something to talk to someone who has done it before. And when it comes to going to college, you might have friends and family who have done it before you. They can give you tips and advice as well as ease any worries that you might have. If you don’t know anyone who has completed college in your inner circle, you can talk to people online about their college experiences. In fact, there are many blogs out there which talk frankly about college life. And reading these can give you a boost before you have to go to college on your own.

Make Friends With Roommates Before You Start: You should be assigned a room in a specific dorm before you start school. And once you know these details, you can look on the forums for your college, there is sure to be a lot of freshmen who will be talking about their rooms and you should be able to hunt down your roommates before you even start your classes. To lessen your fear of having to live with strangers, you can talk to them and get to know them before the big day. You might even want to arrange for a day out with them to get to know them better. And if you still feel fearful of living with strangers, keep some safety must-haves in your room. You can buy some items from sites similar to TBOTECH which will help if someone did try and come into your room. And always get a good lock so that you won’t be disturbed by drunk roommates!

Pexels Image

Take Some Home Comforts With You: It’s always unnerving being away from home for the first time. In fact, over 69% of students admitted to being homesick during their first year at college. But, there are some ways that you can make it easier. For one thing, you should take some home comforts with you. For example, an old favorite teddy would be great to help you feel more at home. And a blanket or favorite pair of PJs can also do the trick. You should also take some pictures from home which you can put on the wall. That way, you will feel like you are surrounded by your nearest and dearest even if you are the other side of the country!

A fuzzy blanket is a must!

And remember, there is always a college counselor that you can talk to if you are finding it hard to settle. They can support and reassure you while you get accustomed to the craziness that sometimes is college life.

Featured Image By: Flickr

Apr27

How Education Can Help You Get Fluent in the Language of a Business

Posted on by
Standard
How Education Can Help You Get Fluent in the Language of a Business

The language of a business is the models and practices in place within it. No, it doesn’t mean the employees literally speak a language created by the business (although, sometimes it might seem that way!). It means that each business has its own way of doing business and its own methods that it chooses to use to do so. And each business speaks its own language in the sense that they provide different things and expect different things in return. And, like with any language, it is possible to get fluent in a business’s language through taking courses.

Different businesses are like different cultures. Each one differs from the next, even when they are in the same market. But just because there’s such a variation in businesses and their languages, it doesn’t mean that you can’t get fluent in them. In this day and age there are a whole host of courses to take and degrees to earn. So, fear not, because you’re always going to be able to find one that helps you in the business that you work in. Gone are the days where you could only get a grasp of the language of business by obtaining a Business Management degree. Today, you can take any number of courses to help you better understand the business that you business in.

For instance, if yours is a business in the Geriatric Care Management sector, then you can get fluent in the language of dealing with your older customer base by earning a Gerontology degree. In doing so you can learn and understand the behavioral habits of the elderly. You can also garner a deeper understanding for their societal standing. In learning these things and becoming fluent in this particular language, you are setting yourself up for success in this sector.

Despite the variation in businesses today, there are still some overarching languages spoken. A language that is spoken in every business is accounting. It is an integral aspect of every business, as it determines how protected and sufficient it is in a financial sense. If you want to be a successful business owner, then it is imperative that you become as fluent in accounting as you are in your mother tongue. To do so, you can try earning an Accounting degree from the UAB Online School of Business. In taking such a venture, you are giving yourself the best opportunity to be fluent in this crucial area of business. Plus, because 100% of this degree is completed online, you need not let any of your important everyday business aspects slip while you take it.

Whether you major in the liberal arts and humanities or in the STEM fields there are skills from both sides of the divide that can be translated into the language of business. As a liberal graduate you stand yourself in good stead to be able to speak persuasively. As a STEM grad, you have the skills to be able to deal with tasks logically. When taking a degree, in order to get the right qualifications needed for your career path it is imperative that you choose the right one. But when you are taking a course in order to better your knowledge, you can find different skills and techniques in all sorts of different classes. It’s just about how you implement the knowledge that you’ve garnered when the time comes.

Featured Image By: Wikimedia

Apr25

Should You Major In Liberal Arts Or STEM?

Posted on by
Standard
Should You Major In Liberal Arts Or STEM?

There was a time, perhaps a couple of decades ago, where the liberal arts – a.k.a. the humanities, dealing with the study of literature, history, philosophy, art, and the like – and STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) worked together in harmony. These days, there seems to be a major divide between the two when it comes to college. At least, that’s what a lot of commentators and even politicians believe.

Back in 2014, Barack Obama called into question the usefulness of a liberal arts degree. He caught quite a bit of heat for suggesting that a degree in art history may not provide you with the job opportunities that an education in trade and manufacturing will. Oddly enough, this actually put him on common ground with the Republicans, who have long questioned the usefulness of degrees such as literature and anthropology!

stem1

He didn’t always please the liberals!

But how right are the critics of an education in liberal arts? Before people even get an opportunity to ask “How do you get a bachelor’s degree?”, they seem to be hounded by such a question. If you feel a bit torn and confused about the whole thing, here are a few points that you should keep in mind:

Manufacturing and Trade Aren’t Dead: So many people out there seem to think that we’ve moved past the need to have so many students doing STEM subjects because there isn’t much career potential in manufacturing and trade. Here’s the thing: Obama wasn’t actually so much criticizing liberal arts as he was criticizing this idea. The fact is, that these are still essential fields in our economies, and fulfilling and lucrative careers are still common in those fields. Don’t dismiss manufacturing and trade as dead fields because they are very much alive and kicking if you know where to look.

Liberal Arts Education Isn’t Just “Training for Starbucks”: An education in the humanities does not doom you to a dead-end job, the way that a lot of people tend to dismiss it. Having said that, there are certainly courses out there that are so steeped in postmodernist denials of reality or objective truth and so much closer to ideological indoctrination rather than education that job prospects after graduation are genuinely lackluster.

But, a degree in philosophy has been shown to get people into well-salaried positions. In fact, the average philosophy major earns more than the average accounting major. As for an English degree, so often mocked by humanities haters, it’s a massive boost for many careers due to the degree showing your ability to read and analyze deeply. Talent in theory and criticism is more useful in business and technology fields than you may think! You can also combine philosophy with technology with a NU London Philosophy and AI Masters degree. This offers the best of both worlds in creative thinking and analyzing the constant changes in our increasingly technological world.

stem2

Starbucks & studies!

And Remember: while Bill Gates has dismissed liberal arts degrees, Steve Jobs has pointed out that his company would never work it if hadn’t been a perfect marriage of STEM and liberal arts.

stem3

Take that, Bill Gates!

Remember Part 2: the value of a degree is both overestimated and underrated – it’s the former in a more general sense, but the latter when you take into account oft-disparaged subjects such as those you’ll find in the humanities. At the end of the day, higher education isn’t pointless, nor is it a waste of time – as long as you pursue your education with purpose, you’ll get something out of it.

Featured Image By: Wikimedia

Apr23

The Things I Wish I’d Known Before Starting College

Posted on by
Standard
The Things I Wish I’d Known Before Starting College

If you are going to be starting college in the fall, then you need to be prepared. There are so many fun things to look forward to, as well as busy times when the exams are on and you’re cramming super late into the night. One thing that anyone will tell you is that the time flies by so quickly. Four years and then you’re out into the ‘real’ world and onto the career path of your choice. So it is important to embrace that time and make the most of it. Here are some of the top things to take into consideration before starting college:

You’ll Never (EVER) Regret Staying In To Study: It can be tempting to just want to go out all of the time. There might be parties everywhere, movie nights, or sports games. But you can’t constantly go out, especially if you’re aiming for top grades (which you should be!). But the thing is, the parties are just parties. There will always be parties or events going on. But you do only get one shot at the test or exam. So if you feel like you should be studying, then you won’t regret it. Work hard, and then you can play even harder after you ace that test.

College Isn’t High School: In high school, people can be quite catty and mean. But you know what, when you hit the ripe old age of college age, it seems that people tend to care less about material stuff or appearances. It doesn’t matter how cool your new bag is or if you’ve got the latest laptop. No one will really care. You’re all there for the same purpose, and that is to get your college education. So you can make an effort with things like that or not. Don’t stress over it!

Work To Pay Off Your Loan: If you are going to college and are needing a loan to do so, then one of the biggest pieces of advice is to get a part-time job when you study. If you are able to take out the smallest loan possible and able to work as you study, it will help tremendously. No one wants to graduate with a load of debt hanging around their neck, right? Otherwise, you’ll need to look for things like debt consolidation for student loans when you finish. They can help as you start out on your career path. But they’re definitely not ideal.

Take Care of Your Health: Getting sick without your parents there to take care of you is the worst (for real). So take care of your health as much as you can. Taking a vitamin supplement is a good idea, as well as keeping hydrated with water. The latter also helps with hangovers, so there is another reason to drink plenty of water! Get rest, eat well, and do some exercise. Your body (and mind) will thank you for it. Especially when mom isn’t there to cook you chicken noodle soup!

College is an exciting time but it can also be an overwhelming wake up call. Be prepared for the twists and turns that your time at uni can take, and all will be well when you’re on your way to graduation! 🙂

Featured Image By: Flickr

Apr18

College Kid Essentials

Posted on by
Standard
College Kid Essentials

Whether you are packing up your cases for your first semester or your last one, there are some things that you just can’t do without when you head off to college. Some of these are practical, some are fun, and some are downright luxurious, but all are simply essential. Read on to find out what they are and then get back to studying:

A Decent Bag: One of the major rules of college is that you will spend half of your time lugging your laptop and a boat load of big thick textbooks around with you. That is why you need a bag like a sturdy backpack for heavy books and all of your lecture notes. If you think that you are going to be able to work it out Legally Blonde style with a trendy backpack, then you are just setting yourself up for a world of pain. I’m not saying don’t take a cute handbag or two (or ten), because you can always use them on your nights out. Just make sure that you have something a bit more sensible for the day time when you’re hauling all of your homework.

Shower Shoes: Okay, things are going to get a little gross here, but that’s what a dormitory bathroom is! Sharing bathrooms and showers is a hazard in college that most people cannot avoid. Yes, dodging dirty underwear left in there by mistake just might happen. But you just don’t know who has walked on the floor in their bare feet. That is why it is a genius idea to take some thongs with you to wear in the bathroom! Not today, athlete’s foot. Not today.

A Frying Pan: Did you know that you can pretty much cook all meals in a frying pan? Get one deep enough like a wok, and you can boil vegetables and make sauces in it, too. In fact, it’s the most useful piece of kitchen equipment that you should have apart from a tin opener and corkscrew! So make sure to pack yours when you head back for the first day of term.

ess

Pexels Image

Your Laptop: Obviously, the only time that you hand write anything at college these days is in exams, the rest of the time you will want to be taking notes and writing up your essays on your computer. For security and portability reasons it’s best to invest in a laptop. Then, you can take it home during the holidays as well as along to lectures. It really is the college essential that you can’t do without.

Pictures From Home: Obviously, you’ll have pics of your family on your phone and computer. But, it is always nice to have paper copies, as well. Get some prints of your favorite images done, so when homesickness hits, you can glance over and remember that you’ll be back with them soon. You can display them in a frame or with mini pegs on a string for a cute boho look.

ess1

^^^ Kind of like this!

A Scented Candle: Lastly, just because you are a student does not mean that you can’t have a little luxury in your life. Why not treat yourself to a nice scented candle. Not only will this relax you when you have a test or a deadline to study for, but it will also stop you from having to smell the scents of everyone else’s cooking in your accommodation. Which can be a total godsend!

ess2

And don’t forget coffee or tea for binge studying sessions!

Apr11

Picking the Perfect Major

Posted on by
Standard
Picking the Perfect Major

Picking your major is probably one of the most important decisions that you will make in your younger years because it will have a huge impact on your future career choices when you graduate. However, approximately 20-50 percent of freshmen start their first year in college not knowing what they want to do, which is why we’ve put together these top tips for picking the perfect major:

Think About Your Interests: Whether you’re still in High School and you’re wondering what you want to do with the rest of your life or you’re a parent looking to apply for this scholarship, so that you can improve your career prospects and provide for your family, the first step in choosing your major should be thinking about your interests. After all, most of us would rather do something that we love for the rest of our lives and it is much easier to study and engage with a subject when you genuinely enjoy it.

What Are You Good At? Of course, it also makes a lot of sense to reflect on the things that you’re good at. If you love art, but you really have no aptitude for creating it, you might be better off looking at the skills that you do have, such as a knack for solving math problems or programming computers. That being said, if you truly dream of being an artist, there’s nothing wrong with following your dreams, provided that you know what you are getting yourself into!

Look into Future Career Prospects: This is something that older students tend to be better at, perhaps because they have more life experience, but it is important for students of all ages to think about the courses that they are taking and what kind of jobs it could realistically lead them to. If you want to make lots of money, majoring in a sought after skill such as engineering, law, or medicine will probably serve you better than a degree in communications or art history. But, if you want to work in the media or become the curator of an art gallery, they’ll be great! It’s all about working out what you want, what skills are likely to be sought after in the future, and which major will best help you to get where you want to be after you graduate.

major2

Job Fair Palooza

Take an Introductory Course: If you have a few ideas for a major, but you’re not sure, one of the best ways to work out if a course is going to be the right fit is by taking an introductory course. Most colleges will allow you to try out a major by enrolling in one or more such courses, and many will even give you credit towards your education if you do enroll. This is probably the best way of working out what you do and don’t enjoy and whether you can handle a course or not.

The above tips should help you to work out which major is the perfect fit for you, but if you’re still struggling, make an appointment with an advisor, who will be able to talk you through your options and help you make the right choice for you, whatever that may be.

Featured Image By: Flickr