College Life: September 2011

Thursday, September 29, 2011

NEW Article: 50 Ways to Destress in College

Thinking of ways to relax and destress in college seems so easy ... until you try to do so. Sometimes, breaking up the routine of your life can be more difficult than you might expect!

With that in mind, I just wrote a new article: 50 Ways to Destress in College. The suggestions listed can help break you out of your routine, provide something new when it comes to ways to relax, and, of course, help you reduce your stress.

If you have some great tips or tricks for how to destress in college, feel free to add them in the comments below, too.

View the original article here

Campus Highlight: Hillel at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County

(Each Monday during the academic year, I feature a "Campus Highlight": a unique, interesting, and noteworthy student organization, program, or initiative that demonstrates the amazing things college students do each and every day across the country.)

This week marks Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. It can be a hard time for Jewish students to be away from their families -- and a hard time for them to find a place to celebrate Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

While many campuses have Jewish organizations, like Hillel, that provide services and other resources for Jewish students during this time (and throughout the year), I wanted to highlight the Hillel at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County today. Their "Ten Days of Awesomeness" provides religious services as well as some pretty cool-looking (and free!) community programming. What a great way to start off the new year. L'Shanah Tovah!

View the original article here

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

What Is Time Management?

Everyone in college talks about time management. But exactly what is time management? What does it look like on a daily basis? And, since college is supposed to be an educational environment, let's ask the question on everyone's mind: what is a good definition of "time management" anyway?

"Time management" can be defined as a person's ability to keep things balanced in their life. It involves the setting of realistic expectations, a willingness to say "no," and a healthy perspective for the short-term and long-term horizon. Time management requires both discipline and flexibility. In a nutshell, "time management" could be described as a person's willingness and ability to prioritize things that are most important to them.

In college, of course, time management becomes increasingly challenging. There are tons of things all day, every day that are important and interesting. Time management in college, then, becomes a student's ability to prioritize the most important things -- and to let go of other things that may not be as critical.

View the original article here

Saturday, September 24, 2011

50 College Summer Ideas

50 Ways to Stay Entertained Over a College Summer

26. Take a knife class. Learning how to properly use a knife in the kitchen is both handy and impressive -- and yet very few people do it correctly. Taking a knife class at a local cooking school will be entertaining and super helpful as you learn to cook for yourself more and more.
27. Get a massage at a massage school. You're a student; you know how important it is to learn by doing. Find a local massage school and help another student learn his or her trade. Added bonus: massage-school massages are usually way cheaper than the regular ones and just as good.
28. Get a funky haircut. You may not even get a haircut while you're away at school. Why not use summer as a time to get a little funky with color or style?
29. Go to a museum. Go see some art, plants, science, history, or anything else you find interesting. And make sure to use your student ID for a discount.
30. Go through your old stuff and donate what you don't use or need. Do you have things for 2 lives: your college life and your pre-college life? Someone, somewhere will probably be grateful for all of those sweatshirts and t-shirts you're no longer using.
31. Try your hand at creative writing. You can try to write poems, a short story, or even music. You never know what you might come up with when you have the time and freedom to really let your mind explore!
32. Go to a play. It doesn't have to be Shakespeare but it should be fun. When's the last night you went to the theater -- not for a class -- anyway?
33. Go to a major sports game. Baseball, basketball, soccer -- it doesn't matter. Grab some friends and head to the stadium.
34. Go to a minor sports game. Things like minor league baseball games can be incredibly fun and much cheaper than the big leagues. See who's around your town and when you can watch 'em play.
35. Go to a film festival. Film festivals can be a great way to see new, independent films that you might not otherwise see, and summer is a great time to find a festival that focuses on the kinds of films you like.
36. Go to a concert. Who doesn't like a late-night, all-out, super-fun, big-name concert?
37. Take a bartending class. It's fun, it's handy, it's a great way to meet people with similar interests. What's not to like?
38. Act like a tourist in your own town. If you were in your town on vacation, what would you do? You might surprise yourself by finding new things to do and see.
39. Go for a bike ride. People seem to ride bikes less and less the older they get. But bike rides can be a fun way to get out and get some exercise.
40. Grab some kites, friends, burgers, beers, and a picnic table. With that combo, how can you go wrong?
41. Go to a water park. Summer is prime time for water park fun -- as long as you remember the suntan lotion.
42. Make your own fun "water park day." You don't have to have a water park near you to enjoy yourself. Grab some water balloons, a Slip 'n Slide, a kiddie pool (that can be used for lounging or even, when filled with ice, for storing drinks), some friends, and a hose.
43. Take a dance class. Feel awkward when you go out clubbing with friends? A dance class can help, even if it's something funky like swing or salsa.
44. Clean up your e-life. Super fun? Probably not. Will you feel better afterward? Most definitely. Dump your old facebook friends, clean up your laptop desktop, and delete old pictures you don't want -- or would hate to get in the wrong hands -- from your camera or phone. A clean e-slate is a great way to start your new year.
45. Host your own Iron Chef competition. Gather several friends and divide them into groups. Then, at a certain time one Saturday morning, e-mail out the secret ingredient. Everyone has to report back to, say, your house at 5:00. People will have fun and you'll have dinner on top of it.
46. Take a photography class. It can be a great way to have fun, meet people, get some skills, and see new parts of your town.
47. Organize an event at your church, temple, mosque, etc. If you're a little bored this summer, chances are others are, too. Organize something fun with people you have something in common with.
48. Go to a music festival. The weather's nice, the music's great, and the people are fun and interesting. Take advantage of summer music festivals while you can.
49. Go golfing. Never been? Golfing can be a great workout, a fun way to spend the day outside, and an important skill to learn if you're interested in going into the business field.
50. Head to an amusement park. It's a summer classic and can easily turn into one of the highlights of your summer.

View the original article here

Thinking About Halloween Already?

Halloween is coming up quicker than you might realize. And since Halloween is often one of the biggest events of the year on a college campus, you definitely don't want to be caught unprepared!

Fortunately, things like finding a costume and planning for a party can be easier than you might think -- with a little prep work, of course. Check out the links below for tricks and tips:

View the original article here

Friday, September 23, 2011

2011 College Halloween Costumes for Couples

Halloween by yourself is fun -- but Halloween with a fantastic partner can be even better. After all, when else do you get to dress up and be ridiculous for an entire night?

Of course, finding a good Halloween costume for both of you can be a challenge. Check out the list below for some fun and funky ideas.

6 College Halloween Costumes for Couples in 2011

1. Prince William and Kate Middleton. It wasn't called the "wedding of the century" for nothing. Spruce yourselves up for some fun -- and adopt a fake English accent if you're feeling particularly fancy.

2. Famous couples in the news. Fortunately, a quick glance of the 2011 gossip headlines can provide a lot of material for Halloween costume ideas. Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon were in the news for their twins. Kate Hudson found love with Muse frontman Matthew Bellamy. Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez made headlines because, well, they're dating. Beyonce and Jay-Z made headlines because, well, they're great musicians -- and expecting a baby. Other couples, like Jane Lynch and wife Dr. Lara Embry, Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore, and Patrick Harris and partner David Burtka, made headlines because they're funny, entertaining people who also just seem like nice, regular folks.

3. Couples who got married/are engaged. Dressing as a couple who got married in 2011 -- especially if their wedding was a bit over the top -- can be an easy way to find an instant and memorable Halloween costume. Consider dressing as Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries, Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth, Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo, or Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig. Don't forget your huge wedding ring, too, of course! (Added benefit: try heading to a thrift store to find a cheap dress/suit/accessories that could easily be substituted for wedding material.) If you feel like going the creepy route, you can also dress as 51-year-old actor Doug Anthony Hutchison and his 16-year-old bride/aspiring country singer Courtney Alexis Stodden.

4. Character couples from a certain era. Alright, so you like the couple idea but want to jazz it up a bit. Look to the past decades for some ideas, like Sonny and Cher, Madonna and Sean Penn, Paula Abdul and Emilio Estevez, John and Jackie Kennedy, Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise, or Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt. You can have some fun with celebrities while also getting a little crazy with costumes and hair.

5. Madonna and her current boyfriend-of-the-season. Although she was married to Guy Ritchie for several years, Madonna seems to make headlines with whatever young, handsome boyfriend she currently has. A quick Google search will help you figure out who her current beau is -- and how you both can dress up to look like the famous couple.

6. The Obamas. Barack and Michelle Obama are one of the best-recognized and most well-known couples in the world. Why not copy the outfits they wore for one of their famous events (try Inauguration Night for outfits everyone will recognize) and have a little fun acting presidential?

View the original article here

Campus Highlight: The University of Southern California Thornton Jazz Orchestra

(Each Monday during the academic year, I feature a "Campus Highlight": a unique, interesting, and noteworthy student organization, program, or initiative that demonstrates the amazing things college students do each and every day across the country.)

Last week, I was listening to KUSC on Internet radio and was so pleased to hear a discussion about the University of Southern California Thornton Jazz Orchestra. They have won numerous awards, including Top College Big Band at the Monterey Jazz Next Generation Festival in April of this year. As their website describes, the band is the "flagship of the jazz studies department" that "performs worldwide at jazz festivals, as well as for marquee television and live performing arts events." The "ensemble concentrates on the hard swinging style of the classic big bands."

It's no secret on this site that I love all the amazing things college students do every day, and it was such a treat to hear about such an impressive group of students from USC. Even though I now live far from Southern California, just hearing about this group's accomplishments and talents made my night last week. Keep up the great work, folks!

View the original article here

Laptop or Desktop?

The choice isn't if you need a computer in college, it's what kind will be best for you. Some students have laptops; some students have desktops. How can you tell what your best option is?

Laptops

Pros

Can bring it to class and use it for note-taking
Can take it to the library or a study group session
All of your information (notes, papers, research) will be in one place without much effort

Cons

Can be damaged easily if not protected
May not have as much memory as a desktop
Can be distracting in class (IM, anyone?)

Desktops

Pros

May have more power than a laptop
A bigger screen can prevent eye strain (especially if you're looking at it all weekend!)
Less likely to be stolen

Cons

Can't bring it to class
Takes up a lot of space in an already-cramped room
Hard to bring home over the weekend

View the original article here

Sunday, September 18, 2011

College Haunted House

Halloween on some campuses is one of the highlights of the year. Everyone dresses up, many folks are hosting parties, and some houses turn into creepier places than you ever thought possible. How can you make sure your haunted house is one to remember?

5 Great Haunted House Ideas

Make buckets of "mystery" (and gross) things for people to stick their hands in. You've probably seen this at other parties, and it's always a hit. Arrange bowls, usually hidden in a box or beneath a cloth napkin, where people can put their hands into the mix and try to figure out what's inside. These always seem gross! Some ideas:
- Mash bananas, leaving a few chunks. A great replica for "brains" (especially with the help of a drop or two of red food dye) that gets grosser and grosser as it browns during the night.
- Cooked rice in a bit of liquid. Make sure it's well-cooked, too; only then will it feel -- and look -- like maggots. Vanilla pudding (with extra milk added) or another semi-thick liquid works great.
- Spaghetti and sauce. This seems so simple, but how many people really know what it feels like to plunge your hand in a bowl full of wet, sticky, gummy noodles, covered in thin tomato sauce? Comparisons to snakes and worms are inevitable.
Go for a classic: have people hiding in closets and behind doors. Even if it's only 1 or 2 people throughout the night, your guests will be on edge just knowing that someone could jump out from anywhere at anytime.
Have someone sit near the front door -- dressed as a scarecrow or other scary creature, for example -- and jump at people as they approach. The stiller, the better, and not jumping at everyone who walks up will only increase the tension.
Have several people in the same, creepy, full-masked costume walking around the party, not talking. Think of how you'd feel if several folks were dressed as the killer in the movie Scream were slowly gliding around the room, not talking, and generally just being creepy. Having more than one makes it even weirder.
Have things suspended on strings that can move at a moment's notice. This could include something that you can make slid from a light toward a door, say, as people walk in. With a little creative planning (where's a physics major when you need 'em?!), you can create some great contraptions. This also works great if you're in a house with a staircase or balcony.

View the original article here

Asking for a Reference Letter

Asking for a letter of recommendation can be tricky. You may need one for graduate school, for a scholarship, or even for a job. But you're not sure whom to ask -- or how best to approach someone about writing a letter of recommendation.

By following the steps below, however, you should be able to set yourself up for getting a strong letter of recommendation from someone who can really speak to your strengths. (Because no one wants a weak letter of recommendation that was obviously put together at the last minute, right?)

Difficulty: Average

Time Required: 1-2 hours

Here's How:

Try to build a relationship early with a professor or other mentor. If you know you want to go to medical school, start getting to know a professor or two as soon as you can when you're in college. You may also want to consider working in an academic department, lab, or library where you can start building connections. The more you get to know someone, the better they can speak about your strengths.
When you do ask, ask in person using very specific language. Try asking: "Would you feel comfortable writing me a strong letter of recommendation for (insert position/school/etc.)?" You want to make sure you get a good letter, not just any letter. And, while you may be a little nervous asking this in person, consider which is worse: having a moment or two of awkwardness if the person says "no," or having a bad letter of recommendation accompany all your job or graduate school materials.
Follow up soon after (within a day or two) with details and the same language. Send an email or leave a voice mail, thanking your recommender for agreeing to write a strong letter of recommendation to ABC place by XYZ date. Additionally, send your recommender (via email or hard copy) materials they may need:
- A copy of your resume
- Pre-addressed and stamped envelopes for them to mail the letter(s) in
- Information on the program or job you are applying for
- Contact information for whom the letter needs to be sent/addressed to
- Deadline by which the materials need to be sent
Follow up before the deadline to make sure things are on track. Just like you, your recommender may sometimes wait until the last minute or forget about an upcoming deadline. Send a friendly email, leave a voice mail, or stop by in person and see if they need anything additional from you in order to get your letter sent on time. Doing so can be a great way to prevent any last-minute problems while also serving as a gentle reminder about the upcoming deadline.
Send a thank-you note. It may sound old-fashioned, but sending a thank-you note is a must. Writing letters of recommendation take a lot of time, and you should let your recommender know how grateful you are for their efforts.
Call the graduate school, job, scholarship fund, etc., to make sure your materials were received. Sometimes, the unexpected happens: things get lost in the mail, lost in an office, or mislabeled. Make sure your letter has arrived at its intended destination so that your materials can be processed as soon as possible.
One last note: don't expect to see your letter of recommendation. No matter how much you may want to see what your recommender wrote, just let it go. Any letter you include in an application packet should have a signature across the envelope seal; anything your recommender sent in on their own probably won't cross your desk either. Trust that your work has paid off and that your recommender wrote a great letter (which is what you asked for, right?) -- even if you never get to see it.

View the original article here

Make a Paper Longer

Need to make a paper longer but out of ideas? Forget fudging the margins and font or the legendary "period trick." These 6 ways will make your paper longer -- and better.

Difficulty: Average

Time Required: Varies

Here's How:

First and foremost, know that your professor most likely knows about all of the "easy" tricks -- and can spot 'em. Changing the font, changing the margins, doing the "period trick," and tons of other sneaky ways to make your paper longer have all been done before. Since you need to make your paper longer, not worse, skip the easy stuff and focus on the content.
Add additional quotations to support your examples. If your paper is good, you'll have examples to support your thesis. To make your paper even better (and longer), make sure you have at least one quotation from the text -- if not more -- to support your examples.
Add an additional example to each paragraph/argument/idea. If you can't add more quotations, add more examples to support your position.
Make sure each paragraph has a topic sentence, supporting evidence, and a concluding/transition sentence. Of course, each paragraph should have more than just these 3 sentences, but you might be surprised at how easily each can be left off -- and how much longer your paper can become if you go back through and insert missing items where needed.
Think about the arguments against your thesis -- and then make sure you've addressed those points. Sure, you may have good arguments for your position. But what would someone holding the opposite position say? And what would you say in response? Making sure those responses are already included in your paper is a great way to make sure you've covered all the bases -- and a great way to add some length if your paper is a little shorter than you'd like.
Confirm and reconfirm that you have a strong introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion. Although you may be focused on the body of your paper and the evidence supporting your position, having a strong intro, thesis, and conclusion are important, too. Making sure your paper starts with a bang (good intro), has a solid foundation to stand on (strong thesis), and leaves the reader convinced (rock star conclusion) is a great way to make sure your paper is all-around better (and longer!).

View the original article here

Identity Theft and College Students

I'm fortunate to live in a town (Boise, ID) that has an awesome local paper. Earlier this week, The Idaho Statesman ran an article covering something that many college students can easily overlook: identity theft.

Students worry more about having things like their laptop or cell phone stolen than about having their identity stolen. Unfortunately, however, identity theft can be much more difficult to recover from than other kinds of theft. As the article points out, there are several steps students can take to avoid becoming victims of fraud. They're definitely worth a glance!

View the original article here

Thursday, September 15, 2011

6 Benefits of a College Degree

A college degree takes a lot of hard work -- and often costs a lot of money. That kind of investment, however, is one that nearly always pays off.

You'll have higher lifetime earnings. Figures vary from several hundred thousand to a million dollars or more over your lifetime. Regardless of the details, however, you'll have more income.
You'll have knowledge to make more educated choices about everything from mortgage rates, your car loan, retirement plans, and investment options.
You'll have more lucrative career options. The difference in opportunities for someone with a college degree instead of just a high school diploma is quite significant. Add a graduate degree on top of that, and the sky's the limit.
You'll have doors open that may otherwise have been shut. With a college degree often come the training, experience, and networking that are inaccessible to people without experience in higher education. Earning a college degree now will provide you with the ability to at least get your foot in the door of many different -- and lucrative -- opportunities in the future.
You'll experience indirect financial benefits. While having a degree won't automatically improve your credit rating, for example, having a good job that you got because of your degree can increase your credit score.
You'll have access to jobs with better benefits. There's more to any job than just the take-home pay. Better-paying jobs, most of which require a college degree, can also offer better benefits, like retirement matching, health savings accounts, childcare stipends, tuition reimbursement, and commuting costs.

View the original article here

Should I Live On or Off Campus

Living on or off campus can drastically change your college experience. How can you figure out which is best for you? Take a few moments to figure out your needs and what has been most important to your academic success thus far. Then, using the information below, decide what makes the most sense for you based on your individual preferences.

Living On-Campus

Pros:

Stronger sense of community
Easier to make connections with people in your housing environment
Physically closer to campus than an off-campus apartment
Shorter commute time
Campuses usually have things going on 24 hours a day

Cons:

Room and board costs can sometimes be more than living off-campus
You're constantly surrounded only by students
You may feel like you can never "get away"
You have to share your bathroom and space with many, many people
You are more likely to be required to have a roommate

Living Off-Campus

Pros:

You may not need, or be required to have, a roommate
You may have more space
The set-up may better support your life and work outside of school (such as having a family or an off-campus job, for example)
You don't have to worry about your apartment building closing during summers or breaks
If you do need a roommate, you can pick someone other than another college student

Cons:

Longer commute
Parking on campus may be an issue (and costly)
You may feel disconnected from campus life
Costs may be higher (remember to consider utilities, parking, and commuting costs into your budget)
An apartment complex may not be as flexible to student needs (like when your loan check is late)

View the original article here

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Joining Intramural Teams

Many campuses have intramural sports teams - teams that aren't eligible for athletic scholarships, aren't as competitive as other sports on campus, and more or less take anyone who wants to join. But are they really worth the time and effort?

1. Intramurals are an amazing stress reliever.

Stressed about an upcoming exam? That group project? Your computer that just can't seem to print? Running around with a bunch of friends can do wonders for reducing your stress level.

2. They provide great exercise.

While most college students would like to go to the gym on a regular basis, few actually do. With a predetermined time already in your schedule, your workout is more likely to happen. In addition, you're less likely to miss your "workout" and the time will pass quicker than if you were alone in the gym.

3. They're a great way to meet people.

You may be getting used to seeing similar people in the courses for your major, in your residence hall, or at the events you go to on campus. Intramurals can be a great way to meet students that you may not otherwise even run into on campus.

4. There can be leadership opportunities.

Every team needs a captain, right? If you're looking to build your resume or test out your leadership skills, intramural teams can be a great place to start.

5. It's one of the few things you'll do just for fun.

Most things you'll do in college are very goal directed: produce a paper, plan an event, meet a deadline. Playing an intramural sport provides you with a great opportunity to head out and have some good, old-fashioned fun.

View the original article here

Campus Highlight: Alpha Phi Alpha

(Each Monday during the academic year, I feature a "Campus Highlight": a unique, interesting, and noteworthy student organization, program, or initiative that demonstrates the amazing things college students do each and every day across the country.)

For today's Campus Highlight, I'm featuring Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. They led the efforts to build the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial in Washington, D.C. With the help of their alumni, Alpha Phi Alpha was able to meet its goal and "commemorate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by leading a collaborative funding, design and construction process in the creation of a memorial to honor his national and international contributions to world peace through non-violent social change."

In addition to bringing such a valuable resource to the nation's capital and creating such a moving tribute to Dr. King, Alpha Phi Alpha demonstrates the power of what happens when people who met in college come together. Well done, Alpha Phi Alpha!

View the original article here

Time Management Skills

Everyone knows that good time management skills are important for students if you're going to do well in school. But what skills are needed for good time management?

The 5 skills listed below just might be the most important time management skills you'll learn during your time in school. Sure, they seem easy on the surface -- but executing them on a daily basis can be harder than it looks. If you're having trouble, just try one a week until they've all become habit.

The 5 Most Important Skills for Time Management for Students

1. The ability to say "no." Party this weekend? Cool club to join? Overnight trip on Saturday? Quick pizza with your roommates that turns into 3 hours of just hanging out? Helping that cutie you have a crush on with the chemistry homework? Learning to say "no" can often feel darned near impossible during your time in college -- but saying "yes" to everything can often be impossible, too. Learning how to say "no" is difficult but important for good time management.

2. Spacing things out. Translation: Don't procrastinate. Do you know you have an ugly midterm/paper/lab report/research project due in, say, one month? Don't wait until the last week to get started. Space things out a bit so you manage your time and workload in a steady flow instead of one gigantic wave.

3. Using social time wisely. College is amazing because there is always something fun going on that you want to be a part of. Unfortunately, college is also incredibly challenging for this exact same reason. Instead of feeling like you're missing out on something whenever you try to do your homework, work your on-campus job, etc., remind yourself that there will be something fun to go do once you're done. And then you won't have to feel guilty about enjoying yourself, since you'll be all caught up.

4. Prioritizing and reprioritizing -- constantly. No matter how on top of things you are, life just happens sometimes ... which means, of course, that you'll get sick, your computer will crash, your roommate will have some kind of drama, and you'll lose your cell phone. Good time management often requires the ability to prioritize and reprioritize and reprioritize again as things come up. And having good time management skills also means that, when things shift around, you'll be able to deal with it instead of suddenly finding yourself in a crisis.

5. Keeping your health/sleep/exercise in check. Sure, you have about 25 hours worth of work to do each day -- and that doesn't count the time required to sleep, eat, and exercise. Yet filling in those 3 little things can really make all the difference in your ability to manage your time well in school. Staying up a little too late here or there? Maybe not eating a healthy dinner every night of the week? Usually okay. Making those actions not just exceptions but patterns in your college life? Bad idea. In order to stay on your game, you have to be physically and mentally able to play your game. Practicing a little self-care can really go a long way to making sure you can take care of all you need to do with your limited time while in school.

View the original article here

Unusual College Jobs

Most college students work while they're in school. Luckily, there are some creative options you can explore that will make the experience more interesting and exciting than usual.

For the Funky

There is an interesting niche market for cigarette girls (and boys!) at large events. You can wear a funky outfit, sell classic candy and cigarettes, and schmooze your heart out at functions that often have interesting guests. It can be a funky alternative to flipping burgers on a Friday night.

For the Sports and Business Minded

Get a job -- any job -- with a professional team nearby. It can be making copies for the corporate folks at a minor league office; it can be working in a stadium over the summer; it can be in the Public Relations department of a company that owns a professional team. Regardless of the role, you can get your foot in the door and, hopefully, get yourself noticed for other positions.

For the Artist

Check out the local artists' scene, and local newspapers, for artists advertising for help. Many artists need help organizing the business side of what they do; working in that kind of role will expose you to the everyday details and logistics of an artist's life.

For the Aspiring Actor

Be an extra. Even if you don't live in Los Angeles, you should be able to find someone filming something, somewhere nearby. Working as an extra often requires long periods of time where nothing much is going on (for you, at least, although other people will be setting up props, adjusting the lighting, and the like). You can catch up on your homework or use the time to talk to other people on set.

For the Public Relations Student

Working as a secret shopper can be an interesting and unexpectedly fun gig. (Additionally, you often get to keep the groceries or other products your employer pays for you to buy.) Some companies hire secret shoppers to "work" undercover in their stores as shoppers, whereas other companies hire shoppers and send them out to different stores.

For the Performer

Take a job as a clown, magician, or holiday character. (Santa outfit, anyone?) These jobs often need you to work evenings and weekends, when families are out or hosting parties -- and when you're conveniently not in class. This can also be good work when you need an extra influx of cash but don't want to commit to a weekly schedule.

For the Partier

Be a bartender. You'll have to invest some funds in a class or two, but once you're certified you'll be good for quite a while. Bartending can be a great job while having the extra benefit of ensuring you'll always know what great options to provide when hosting your own event.

View the original article here

Saturday, September 10, 2011

A Word on Binge Drinking

If you're a first-year student, you've probably attended a campus party by now -- which means you've also probably witnessed some unhealthy drinking behaviors.

So what exactly is "binge drinking" anyway? According to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, binge drinking is a pattern of drinking that brings a person's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 grams percent or above. This typically happens:

When men consume 5 or more drinks in about 2 hours
When women consume 4 or more drinks in about 2 hours

You don't need a college degree to know that binge drinking usually results in poor decision making.

Whatever your plans are for the weekend, just be smart about them. You got into college because you have a good brain, right? Right! So use it -- even, and perhaps most especially, outside of the classroom.

View the original article here

TIMED Time Management System

Time management for students can often be one of the hardest -- and yet, most important -- skills to learn during your time in school. With so much going on, having good time management as a student can be critical for your success.

Knowing what good time management looks like, however, can be a challenge in and of itself. Using the acronym "TIMED," you can ask yourself if what you're doing at any given moment is indeed a productive use of your time -- or not.

The TIMED Time Management System for Students

T - Task Related? Ask yourself: Is what I'm doing task related? Does it relate to my homework? To something I know I need to get done? Or am I just doing something without an end goal or time limit?

I - Interesting? Is what I'm doing interesting? If someone walked in, would I stop what I was doing or keep doing it? For example, looking at graduate programs you're interested in online may not be task-related, but it can be interesting and, in the long run, helpful.

M - Matter? Does what I'm doing matter? For example, reading news online so you can find a topic for your political science paper matters. Reading news online about the latest celebrity pregnancy probably doesn't. If you went to bed having not done the thing you're doing right now, would you be any worse off?

E - Education-related? Is what I'm doing related to my education? Will it help me in a class? On a project? With a lab report? In a later class? Be able to better understand the material I'm reading in class this week?

D - Deadline-driven? Is what I'm doing related to a deadline? Do I need to get something done by a certain time today/tomorrow/this week -- and if so, does this help or hurt that deadline? Is the deadline being addressed in a positive way by what I'm doing right now?

The TIMED acronym is both easy to remember and a simple way to make your time management in school easier in general. With so much in your brain already, the TIMED system can help you stay on track, stay productive, and stay in school -- you know, so you'll always have the time to do the things you really want (besides that Shakespeare paper, of course).

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College Terms: S-Z

College Glossaries:

By term: A - H | I - R | S - Z

By subject: Academic Terms | Financial Aid Terms | Greek Alphabet | Residence Life Terms

College Terms: S - Z

Scholarship: Money being given to you for your studies. You usually do not need to pay scholarship monies back. Scholarships can come from your school, an organization, or a contest.
Service Learning: Service Learning is an approach to learning (i.e., classroom learning) that is often complemented by experiential learning (i.e., volunteering, immersion programs).
Teaching Assistant (TA): Often the same thing as a Graduate Student Instructor (GSI), a TA is often a graduate student who helps out in your classes. They made grade papers, lead seminar discussions, and sometimes teach classes.
Tenure: Tenure is something unique to higher education. A traditional path of someone who wants to teach at a college is to get their PhD, and then get a job as a professor on a campus. For the first six years or so that they are teaching, they are usually in a "tenure-track" position. This means that they are focusing on teaching, doing research, getting published, and contributing to the campus community. If all goes well, the professor is then granted tenure. Earning tenure is equivalent to ensuring one's job on a campus. If you have a tenured professor teaching your class, it means you have someone who has been at the school for a while and been judged, by a committee of their peers and the academic dean, to be an essential member of the faculty and campus community.
Tuition: The cost of your classes. Some schools charge tuition based on how many units you are taking, while others charge a base rate per semester as long as you stay within a certain range of units.
University: In contrast to a college, a university traditionally offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees and programs. (There are, of course, some exceptions to this rule.)
Visiting Professor: Just like the "professor" term mentioned above, a visiting professor usually has a PhD. However, a visiting professor is usually someone not normally associated with your college or university. He or she may only be there for one semester or one academic year, and is usually also doing research or other work. It's hard to gauge what a visiting professor will be like, since you usually can't check with other students about their experiences with someone who hasn't taught classes on campus before.
Work Award: Another name for work study.
Work Study: this is basically a "job" that you will have as part of your financial aid package. (Note, however, that you still need to go out and find a job yourself; this just provides funding for it.) Most students work on campus but some work study jobs can be set up off-campus. You are usually not allowed to make more money in your work study job than has been allocated in your financial aid package.

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College Terms: A-H

College Glossaries:

By term: A - H | I - R | S - Z

By subject: Academic Terms | Financial Aid Terms | Greek Alphabet | Residence Life Terms

College Terms: A - H

Academic Probation: If your grades fall below a certain level, your campus may place you on academic probation. This traditionally means that you need to raise your GPA or face the possibility of being removed from your school for academic reasons.
Adjunct Professor: A professor who is usually part-time or not on campus with a long-term contract (and, consequently, not eligible for tenure).
Alumna: Female graduate or former student.
Alumnae: Female graduates or former students.
Alumni: Male graduates or both male and female graduates.
Alumnus: Male graduate or former student.
Area Coordinator (AC): This person usually oversees an area of your residence hall, or an area of your campus. They have more responsibility, and may sometimes supervise, Resident Advisers (RAs).
Area Director (AD): This is usually just another title for an Area Coordinator (AC).
Board of Directors/Board of Trustees: Most colleges have a board that oversees all parts of the campus. Traditionally, the board hires (and possibly fires) a president; manages the college or university’s finances; and is responsible for all major policy decisions. Many college and university boards comprise alumni, faculty, staff, community leaders, and (sometimes) students.
Board of Regents: Similar to how a Board of Trustees oversees a single college or university, a Board of Regents traditionally oversees a state system of public colleges or universities.
College: In contrast to a university, a college traditionally only offers undergraduate degrees and programs. (There are, of course, some exceptions to this definition.)
Commencement: Usually another name for graduation.
Convocation: On some campuses, each year starts with a convocation ceremony where the new class is officially welcomed and the academic year formally begins.
Dean: A Dean is someone traditionally in charge of a major area of a college. For example, there may be a Dean of Students, a Dean of the Faculty, and a Dean of Arts & Sciences.
Discipline: On a college campus, a discipline is often synonymous with a major. It usually refers to a field of study. (Of course, if you are charged with violating campus or community rules, you may be required to have a disciplinary hearing…and that definition is more traditional!)
Discourse: A conversation, exchange of words, or dialogue, usually incorporating a wide range of views and opinions.
Faculty: The faculty, or a faculty member, is generally anyone who teaches at the college.
FAFSA: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This form is required for any student who wants to be considered for federal aid of any kind. Make sure you get your form in by the deadline!
Fees: Fees can be charged for anything from seeing a doctor in the campus health center to returning your library books late. Additionally, you may see something listed as "student fees," which cover some student services that the school provides and/or may be the basis for the student government budget.
Financial Aid: Anything related to the way you are paying for school. Loans, scholarships, grants, work awards, and any other resource you use are all considered part of your financial aid.
Graduate Assistant/Graduate Adviser (GA): A GA is often the same thing as a Graduate Student Instructor (GSI).
Graduate Instructor (GI): A GI is often the same thing as a Graduate Student Instructor (GSI).
Graduate Student Instructor (GSI): A GSI is often a graduate student who helps out in your classes. They made grade papers, lead seminar discussions, and sometimes teach classes.
Grants: Similar to scholarships in that you don't need to pay them back. Some grants may be connected to your course of study or allow you to do research while still having your financial needs taken care of. (For example, you may earn a grant to cover your room and board while you do summer research with a professor.)
Hall Coordinator (HC): A hall coordinator is typically in charge of your entire hall and oversees Resident Advisers (RAs).
Hall Council (HC): A Hall Council is a small governing body that serves as a student voice and helps make decisions and plan programs for your hall community; frequently the same thing as a Residence Council.
Hall Director (HD): Hall Directors are often the same things as Hall Coordinators (HCs).

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Feeling Stressed Yet?

The first week or two of college can be super fun -- fun and stressful. But once the newness of classes, roommates, professors, and being back on campus wears off, you might just be left with the stressful part.

Fortunately, there are a lot of ways you can make sure that you don't turn into a stressmonger during the semester. Check out the following articles for some handy tips and tricks:

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Monday, September 5, 2011

What to Do on a Long Weekend

Not sure what to do on a long weekend coming up? From Labor Day in the fall to Presidents' Day in the spring, long weekends are a wonderful break from the craziness of college. Unfortunately, however, they can often slip away quite quickly, somehow leaving you with more to do than before the weekend started and no idea of where your time went. So how can you make the most of your long weekends in college?

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: Varies

Here's How:

Aim for the 1-1-1 Plan. A basic idea that can make your weekend all you need and more: Spend 1 day on personal stuff, like doing laundry, going to the store, catching up on sleep, and exercising. Spend 1 day doing fun and social stuff, like doing something off campus during the day, hanging out at a Greek house, and attending a campus party. Spend 1 day doing homework. The best part? While doing the fun stuff, you don't have to feel guilty, since you'll already have done or scheduled in when to do the not-so-fun stuff.
Get off campus. You may need to head home to get some TLC. You may want to spend a romantic weekend away with your partner. Or you may just want to take a road trip with some friends to somewhere you've never been before. No matter where or why you go, though, you might be surprised at how much better and more energized you feel when you get back.
Start preparing for graduate school tests. Do you know you'll have to take the GRE? MCAT? LSAT? GMAT? No matter what test you have to take, you'll definitely have to study for it. Take the extra time you have over the long weekend to figure out a study plan -- and start on it.
Volunteer. Nothing helps keep things in perspective like volunteering. If you're feeling overwhelmed with your responsibilities in college, consider volunteering one morning of the long weekend. You'll undoubtedly get a new look on things while helping out those who are less fortunate.
Kick-start/Refocus on your health. Did you plan to live a little healthier this year in school? Have those resolutions fallen by the wayside? Consider using the long weekend as an opportunity to refocus on your health. Catch up on sleep, eat well, exercise, and figure out a few healthy ways to keep the momentum going for the rest of the semester.
Organize your college life. Does it sound lame? You betcha. Will you be glad you did it? Holy cow, yes. Crank up the music in your room and get to work. Clean up your living space, do your laundry, organize stuff for your classes, get your time management system in order, and overall get your college life in order. True, not many people like cleaning up stuff, but nearly everyone likes clean stuff. Just focus on how much better things will feel (and work! and look!) afterward.
Get a head start on your academics. In looking at your course syllabi, do you know you are going to be completely slammed at the end of the semester? Consider getting a little ahead of your class projects. True, you may not need or want to finish up your research project, but doing something simple like spending a few hours focusing on a topic means you can spend time later in the semester doing research on that topic instead of aimlessly trying to find one when you're stressed out.
Earn some extra cash. Most long weekends come with big sales at retail shops. Consider applying for a temporary position or, if you already work in retail, asking for extra hours over the long weekend so that you can have some extra cash in your pocket.
Spend time researching your future. Eliminate a little stress in your life (cue your parents' voices: "What are you going to do after graduation? What about this summer? Have you even thought about it yet?") by at least starting to look into what your options might be. You can look at short-term options -- what to do for Spring Break, what to do over the summer -- as well as long term options, like graduate school or job opportunities.
Get your resume and a cover letter together. No matter what you're doing this summer, chances are you'll need a resume. Whether you're applying for jobs, looking at internships, considering studying abroad, or getting materials ready for graduate school, your resume (and possibly a cover letter) will be an important part of the process. Put something together as best you can -- and then make sure to have someone at the campus career center look it over.

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Campus Highlight: Alzheimer's Foundation of America on Campus at the University of South Carolina

(Each Monday during the academic year, I feature a "Campus Highlight": a unique, interesting, and noteworthy student organization, program, or initiative that demonstrates the amazing things college students do each and every day across the country.)

For the first Campus Highlight of the 2011-2012 academic year, I'm featuring the Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) on Campus's first official chapter at the University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC). AFA on Campus "caters exclusively to students at colleges and universities across the country in an effort to engage them in awareness-raising activities and to groom tomorrow's leaders in the Alzheimer's community."

The AFA on Campus at the University of South Carolina was started by Elizabeth Owens of North Wales, PA after she lost her grandfather to Alzheimer's disease. What a wonderful way to honor her grandfather, raise awareness, and help engage her college community on an important issue. Keep up the great work, Ms. Owens!

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