Manage your time in college with these 4 tips

Well, it’s that time – time to head back to campus. Whether you’re heading there for the first time or the fourth, you need to keep in mind that managing your time is one of the best skills you can have. Our friends at USA Today College calculate that if you sleep about six hours a day and you spend about 16 hours a week in class, that will give you 110 hours  to do everything else with – study, eat, have fun, do laundry, workout. So … how do you manage all of that time? USA Today College has four suggestions:

Schedule classes early
What, you say? Why get up for an 8 o’clock class? Well, it forces you to get out of bed at a reasonable time instead of sleeping until 10:30 in the morning to make an 11 o’clock class, which will give you more time to get things done.

Study between classes
It’s easy to waste time in between classes, but if you have an hour or two go to the library and put those hours to work for you.

Study after class before eating dinner
It’s tempting to veg out after class by watching ESPN or bad TV reruns or browsing sites online. Don’t fall into that trap. Use this time wisely by studying before you head to the dining hall.

Make sure you focus when you study
If not, you’re just wasting your time. Find a quiet place to study, disconnect from all media and really concentrate.

Mary Coller, who is the director of our Academic Advising Center, also offers several suggestions on how you can effectively manage your time:

If you manage your time well you might just start or keep seeing your name on the dean’s list. And that makes it all worth it don’t you think?

You need to read these books before college

As high school students, we all had to read certain books for our classes, including “A Tale of Two Cities,”  by Charles Dickens, “Candide,” by Voltaire and “1984,”  by George Orwell.

But there are many other books out there worth reading before you get to college. Our friends at Hack College have a list of five they think you should tackle before you reach your college campus.

“I am Charlotte Simmons” by Thomas Wolfe, which is about a young woman who is in her first year of college at a fictional university.

“Anna Karenina” by Leo Tolstoy, a book filled with passion, excitement, depression and spirituality, a manic roller coaster that may represent some of what you will experience in college.

“Lean In” by Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s chief operating officer, which addresses gender equality in the workplace and helps us to lean into our lives with zest.

“Uncle Tom’s Cabin” by Harriet Beecher Stowe, which deals with racism and prejudicial behaviors and teaches us to curtail judgment of our own and other races.

“The Giver” by Lois Lowry, which deals with a world where there is no poverty, crime, sickness, unemployment but has a hidden hypocrisy and reminds us of what is important in life.

Happy Reading.

Bring this, don’t bring that to college

You’re on your way to college soon, and you may wondering what you should and shouldn’t bring. So, we’re here to help you. We don’t want you to be stuck with a lot of stuff that you don’t need or with a whole bunch of the wrong stuff.

John Iadarola and Lisa Ferguson from TYT University suggest you don’t bring:

• New textbooks. Choose used ones instead.
• Top-of-the-line laptop or desktop if you’re going to use it just for writing papers.
• A printer, since many schools provide printing services to its students.
• Credit card, unless you can control your spending and rack up too much debt.

Watch them explain their choices:

As for what to bring, check your school’s website, which should list some of the things you should (and shouldn’t) bring to campus.

If you’ve been through this already and have some of your own suggestions, let us know so we can share them.

Here are some great discounts for college students

Unless you’re Donald Trump – or his son or daughter – money is probably pretty tight while your son or daughter (or you) are on campus. That’s the bad news. But the good news is there are great discounts you can take advantage of to save a little coin.

The Christian Science Monitor has some great suggestions on how you can save some money. Take advantage of:

Student discounts on technology
Dell offers students a $200 gift card when they purchase select laptops more than $699.99.  Apple offers students and their parents up to $400 off new iDevices.  Also, Apple’s up-cycle program allows you to trade in your older machines and iPods to get a gift card toward the purchase of another product. Many colleges also offer students free software.

Travel deals
Studying abroad may seem like an expensive extravagance. However, the experience of visiting and meeting people from another country will be invaluable.  Look online, and you’ll find many travel deals. Remember, too, that your school may offer scholarships and financial aid to help you pay for your study-abroad experience.

Clothing discounts
Let’s face it – you can’t expect a professor to take you seriously if you’re always wearing sweats to class. There are many retailers that offer students discounts, including J.Crew, Club Monaco, Ann Taylor, The Limited, Steve Madden and Target, which offer discounts for students up to 20 percent off. Keep in mind, too, that retailers in the town where your college is located may also be willing to offer students discounts.

Cheap eats
There will be times when you may not want to eat in the campus dining hall. But be smart. Check to see if the local area has a Sam’s Club or a B.J.’s Wholesale Club where you can buy items in bulk and save. No, you probably won’t eat 12 cans of chicken noodle soup yourself, but you can split the cost with your roommate and save.

Student discount cards
Student Advantage  cards can save you between 10 to 20 percent on travel, national brands and even some restaurants. And don’t forget to check with the folks at your school for additional discounts. On our campus, some local businesses offer student discounts if they show their school ID.

These are the best general education classes

If you’re getting ready to start or have been in college, then you know you have lots of courses to choose from. There are the courses you have to take for your major and the general education courses you have to take to fulfill the requirements of your degree.

What are the best general education courses to take? We asked our graduating seniors and got a wide range of answers that covers the entire academic spectrum.

• Human biology
• Drugs and Society
• Political Science
• Aerobics
• Digital Photography
• Fly Fishing
• Music 101
• Ethnic and Tourist Arts
• Biodiversity
• Native American Indian Art
• Introduction to Psychology
• History
• Bowling
• Public Speaking
• Music in Film
• Fundamentals of Ice Skating
• Anatomy
• Math
• Drawing
• Environmental Chemistry
• Stagecraft
• Introduction to Chinese

Got any to add to the list? Let us know.

5 things you should know about college

We hate to be the one to mention this, but summer is coming to a quick close. And that means school will be starting again.

If you’re heading to (or back to) college, USA Today College  has a list of five things you should know before you walk onto (or back onto) campus:

You don’t have to live in a house that really should be condemned.
Just because you’re a college student, that doesn’t mean you have to live in a crummy house off campus. After all, you deserve better. Take some extra time to find something clean and safe.

It’s OK to try different activities. 
Don’t fall into the trap of participating in those activities tied only to your major or your future career path. Do you like to sing? Join a singing group on campus. Do you enjoy or what to try out white-water rafting? There may be an outdoor club on your campus that plans those trips. Just don’t limit yourself.

Don’t discount the Greeks.
How do you know you will (or won’t) like to join a fraternity or sorority until you at least get some information about them? Keep an open mind. Some people make lifelong friends this way.

Don’t choose a major too quickly.
If you know what you’re going to major in or are confident it’s the right one, good for you. But – and this is a big but – that doesn’t mean you can’t explore other academic areas.  Maybe you’ll find a second program you like. Maybe you’ll find something you want to minor in. And if you’re not sure of a major, that’s OK. Most schools have resources that can help you decide what’s best for you.

Studying abroad may be one of the greatest experiences of your college career. 
Many students don’t consider studying abroad because of the added expense. But, there are many scholarships out there to help you, and you’ll meet people and discover things that will stick with you for a long, long time.

Remember, college is time to have fun, learn new things and discover. Good luck.

Things freshmen need to know about college

If you’re heading to college this fall, you’re probably a little nervous. It’s OK. Everyone was a little apprehensive. You’re leaving the comfortable confines of high school and entering a whole new world.

Don’t fret. We have some suggestions to help you make that transition.

Lisa Ferguson and John Iadarola from TYT University offer these suggestions.

• Beware of people who think they’re smarter than everybody else.
• Strike a balance between talking too much in class and not talking at all. And don’t ask too many questions or give your opinion on every single thing.
• Hard work is more important than talent.
• Remember to make good choices so you can fit in both in class and in social settings.

Or, you can watch and learn even more.

Lisa and John also offer this advice on what bad habits you need to break before you get to college:

• Your life isn’t over if you walk into class late. Just go in and take your seat.
• Don’t act like you’re the coolest kid around ‘cause that’s just annoying.
• Don’t make excuses for late or missing work. Your professor has probably heard every possible fake excuse there is.
• Don’t shout out snide comments during class to try and get your classmates to laugh.

Watch and Lisa and John explain each of these.

Good luck. You’ll be great.

Starting college this fall? Keep these things in mind

If you’re starting college this fall, your mind is probably spinning with everything you’ll have to deal with: Taking college courses that will be harder than the ones you had in high school. Being away from home. Making new friends. Learning to live with a roommate. Figuring out what to major in.

Don’t stress out too much or over think it. That’s some advice from Ze Frank, who is the  executive vice president of video at BuzzFeed  and also an online performance artist and public speaker.

• Be generous
• Be kind
• Tell someone what you like about them
• Get to know a lot of people
• Don’t get too lost in figuring out what college means
• Do things with your body like exercise and sports
• Don’t ask too much of new relationships
• Come in as yourself
• Don’t drink too much

But, you can see and hear him for yourself.

It’ll be seven minutes worth your time.

As Frank says, you’re a world maker. You have so any possibilities of creating a world. Don’t forget that.

And good luck.