Some great study tips for new (and old) students October 29, 2009
Posted by admin in : college students advice, college students tips, study tips , add a commentBy Corey Bobco, University of Texas
You’ve been on the college scene for a few weeks, having the time of your life and wondering what all the university hype is about. So far, all you’ve had to do for your grades’ sake is skim some course readings and listen to a few professors babble in the lecture hall. But then … BAM! After an enlightening series of classes one fine Monday, you realize you’ve got a biology exam and two 1,000-word essays on Homer and Joyce due — all by the end of the week.
Uh-huh. This scenario is all too common, even among seasoned students.
Sure, you can survive it, even if it means pulling a few all-nighters. But if you always let everything pile up until crunch time, your grades will eventually suffer. And so will you.
So how can you avoid epic battles with tests and deadlines so you don’t become a scholastic casualty? Stop stressing. Now. You can tackle time management and stay organized so your course work doesn’t get the better of you. Here’s how:
• Stay on top of things! May sound like a no-brainer, but no kidding: If you don’t want schoolwork to pile up, you need to actively be aware of when it’s due. Pick up a portable planner — or if you’re computer-oriented, try an app like Google Calendar, which also conveniently syncs with your Gmail account — and copy the entire semester’s worth of assignments, exams and due dates into it from each class’s syllabus. And while we’re on the subject, be sure to carefully read all your syllabi. You may find sneaky stuff hidden in there, like “one full letter-grade drop for every unexcused absence” (true story). It’s better to know sooner rather than later.
• Got notes? When you’re trying to figure out what’s crucial to know for a test or how to arrange course content into a viable essay, having good notes can be a real lifesaver, so pick up a few loose-leaf notebooks for jotting down info. We don’t recommend taking notes on your laptop — you risk getting distracted by the Internet and missing most of what’s said. Besides, paper provides a much more harmless way of keeping you entertained during idle moments (i.e., doodling).
• Beating writer’s block When it comes to writing essays, getting those first couple of sentences down — or even just making an outline — can be a challenge, especially if it’s your first assignment. David Uskovich, a writing consultant at the University of Texas-Austin’s writing center stresses the importance of research: “It can put you in conversation with the material you’re trying to cover, which will help you make some connections so you’ll have something to start from when you actually sit down to write the paper.”
Freelance writer Lauren Brown, whose first young-adult novel is due out in the fall of 2010, offers this useful tip: “When I was in college at University of South Florida and had a paper due, there was nothing worse than staring at a blank computer screen and feeling like I had no thoughts in my head. The secret is to slowly condition your brain to start flowing by simply taking a few minutes to write via stream of consciousness. Just write down anything that comes to mind, even if you literally keep writing over and over, ‘Nothing is coming to mind.’ Eventually, your brain will warm up and more fluid sentences will emerge. After maybe 15 minutes or so of doing this, try again to start your paper. You’ll notice that you feel a bit more focused, way more relaxed, a little more creative and a lot less overwhelmed. Anytime you get stuck, just take a break and repeat this exercise.”
• Outwit exams College tests come in many shapes and sizes, but as a general rule, liberal arts classes usually stick to short-answer and essay-oriented exams, while math and sciences often lean toward a multiple-choice format. For essay exams, it helps to find out beforehand from your professor or T.A. what the test will cover. It never hurts to ask them point-blank a couple of days before the test.
Third-year UT-Austin biology major Ben Cox points out that you can sometimes find many multiple-choice test questions from homework of previous years: “Math and science professors often take the basic idea of homework questions, even optional homework, and tweak only a few figures, leaving the concepts tested by the question intact.”
If you can get your hands on exams from previous semesters, these can also be helpful. Just ask around to find out who’s taken the class before you, or find out if your professor posts old exams on the course Web site. (Note: As long as you’re not memorizing answers, we don’t count this as cheating, but check out your school’s policy to avoid things like, duh, expulsion.)
“While the questions and even content might vary some from year to year, knowing the way your professors format their tests will do wonders for your preparedness,” says Cox.
So there you have it. Just by being organized and putting forth the effort to adequately prep for tests and assignments, you’ll be able to get more z’s … and more A’s — which is sure to put you on good terms with the parentals. And that always comes in handy, of course, whenever you want an “extra something.”
This post was copied from realcollegeguide.com
blog top list buttons October 27, 2009
Posted by admin in : Uncategorized , add a comment
Some great tips on how to get a good GPA October 26, 2009
Posted by admin in : college advice, good GPA, good grades , 1 comment so farBy David Replogle, University of Virginia
Dean Wormer lines up five of Faber College’s finest in his office for a little chat about their GPAs near the close of Animal House, and you know it’s going to be good. After making his way through four horrendous report cards, he finally stops on seven-year student Bluto Blutarsky, played by the late John Belushi.
“Mr. Blutarsky … 0.0,” Wormer says with a sneer. Too bad for Bluto, GPA is one of those dreaded acronyms that sticks long after college ends. It’s a number that matters to hiring managers and grad school recruiters. So it’d better be in good shape. Here are five simple ways to keep your grades higher than the boys’ from Delta Tau Chi.
THE PROB: You’re a Pro at Procrastination
Whether you were the type who made flashcards for every high school test or the one who somehow managed to score good grades without ever cracking a book, the playing field is leveled in college. With midterms, finals and a couple of big papers due, the stars will eventually align, and you’ll end up having every big assignment crammed into a span of 48 hours.
THE SOLUTION: Pace Yourself
Avoid getting slammed with work overload, by making the most of your limited study time. First of all, get off on the right foot by actually reading your syllabi! Cover to cover. The only thing worse than trudging through an academic week from hell is being surprised by one, so record every class’s major deadlines on one shared calendar. Ole Miss University junior Angela Leis offers up another piece of advice when figuring out how to keep everything from piling up at once: “Study a little bit every night. That way, you’ll have time to actually go out and enjoy yourself.” Toga party at Delta House anyone?
THE PROB: You Don’t Stand out
You’re afraid to approach a professor after class? Get over that. Office hours aren’t only for questions about a grade or the syllabus. If you need help, you should ask. It’s important that you’re in good standing with your professors so they think positively of you … especially when they’re doling out precious class participation grades.
THE SOLUTION: Kiss Some Butt
Stopping by a professor’s study with a sincere comment about how much you liked the last class is a good start. Building a rapport opens up the possibility for a potential advisor, and in the future, reference letters for grad school and jobs. But a lot of times, especially in big lecture-style classes, your fate rests in the hands of teachers’ assistants. If that’s the case, go out of your way to approach them. They’re usually young and willing to help, and can offer insight about what would be a good topic for a paper or response on a test. (They would know since they often grade them!) Make a goal of introducing yourself to at least one professor and one T.A. each semester.
THE PROB: The Social Life Rules!
Between classes, meetings, sports, more classes and more meetings, it’s easy to want to really cut loose when it comes to your nightlife — which often spills into the a.m. Sure, college is a time to experiment and throw yourself into stuff you’ll never experience again, but no wonder you’re exhausted. Partying too hard can suck the energy right out of you … and your GPA.
THE SOLUTION: Don’t Be a Superhero
Hannah Richardson, a junior at Bates College, says, “Finding a balance between doing work and having fun is important, but you also need to find some time to relax. Do something selfish every once in a while.” Try to spend at least half an hour away from the grind each day. Take a quick nap, write in a journal or wail into that Rock Band mike. Maybe hit some golf balls on the quad. Fore!
THE PROB: You Neglect Your Bod
A healthy body equals a healthy mind. But unfortunately, both can take a beating in the college environment. Reading until the wee hours may seem intellectually stimulating, but it saps you of much-needed sleep. That’s not good brain food. Oh, and speaking of food, the cafeteria usually offers some pretty tantalizing but not-so-healthful menu options. And that week or two away from the gym? Um, not so smart either.
THE SOLUTION: Do a Balancing Act
Be a triple threat! A lot of powerful research has proven that sleep, diet and exercise affect the way our brains function. So treat your body well by snoozing eight hours every night, eating healthfully and being physically active. That way, you’ll get to class, be motivated to study and get good grades.
THE PROB: You Think School Is a Drag
You think college is a bore, so you find yourself skipping classes or skimping on reading … or both? Not a good idea. Even if an instructor doesn’t count attendance toward your grade, you’re likely to miss some valuable lesson time if you cut out. And flaking on required reading is really only cheating yourself. You’re there to get an education, remember? But that definitely doesn’t mean it has to be a total snore.
THE SOLUTION: Take What You Want
Look through your directory for courses that sound intriguing, because being into a subject matter is huge when trying to bump up that GPA. “Take classes you like and that you’re interested in,” says University of Virginia junior Sloane Beaver. “Then you will actually be motivated to study.” And if not? You may just end up with that 0.0 after all.
This post was copied from realcollegeguide.com
some facts about sororities and fraternities October 22, 2009
Posted by admin in : Greek life, Sororities, Sororities and fraternities, fraternities , add a commentBy Lauren Joffe, New York University
Deciding if you should go Greek isn’t as easy as alpha beta gamma. It’s a commitment that affects relationships, schoolwork and even your wallet. And while most states have anti-hazing laws, many fraternities and sororities have found ways to get around these, so you might be hazed to some degree if you go through the pledging process.
But aside from worrying about a drink-till-you-drop challenge, you should consider other factors before you, um, rush into a decision. University of Maryland junior Brett Becke says, “At UMD, it doesn’t matter if you rush or not, but most people will because they feel it’s the best — and only way — to fit in.”
Let’s break it down .…
The Pros
Quality bud-bonding Going Greek is great for forging friendships. Beyond your basic social circle (kids on your floor and friends of friends), it’s awkward to just walk up to someone on the quad and say, “Hey, wanna hang out?” Through rushing and pledging, you can zone in on students you click with while filtering out those you perceive as flakes.
Points in heaven University of North Carolina Wilmington junior Ocean Gildee, a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma, points out what she sees as a Greek myth: “People think it’s like the TV show Greek and that we party all the time. But at UNCW, we’re only allowed one social per month. It’s really restricted, so we use our time in other ways, which is usually about meeting community service requirements.
“Every year, we adopt a highway and participate in a cleanup effort. We also raise money to build play atriums in hospitals for terminally ill kids. Right now we’re planning a rock-a-thon, where we rock in chairs all day in front of the student center. We’re having a band, hula-hoop contests, raffles. Students don’t usually have money, so we’ll get donations from sponsors. In the spring, we’re having an event called Moonball, which is glow-in-the-dark volleyball at night, and we’re charging a $10 entry fee to raise money for our scholarship fund.”
Social stability So while it might not be all keg-offs and toga parties, Greek life provides a consistently solid social life. If you’re somewhat antisocial and need a shove in that direction or if your school is in a remote area with little to do off campus, pledging is a way to be sure your weekends are packed. Says Nicole DeAngelis, a junior at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa.: “If you want a social life at Lehigh but aren’t on a sports team, you rush. There’s nothing else to do!”
Leadership opps If you’re thinking Animal House-like mayhem, think again. Each group is tightly run by an executive board, resembling a high school student council, with president, social chair and treasurer positions. The exec board decides how to allocate dues, which houses to socialize with and what to do when a member breaks a house rule. Each prestigious position in the Greek system is greatly sought after and difficult to attain. If you get elected into one, you’ll have something substantial to plug into your resume.
Swanky space Many fraternities and sororities offer the option of living in digs that are usually more roomy and posh than dorms. “Many are like mansions, and some sororities even have personal chefs,” says Gildee. “At UNCW, Sigma Sigma Sigma has a suite, which is basically the floor of an apartment building with 10 rooms. There’s a common area and full-sized kitchen. Each girl gets her own bedroom, and while they still have to share bathrooms, there are less students sharing. As soon as you’re accepted, you can move into sorority housing, and it costs the same as living in a dorm.”
The Cons
Swanky space While it’s nice to have options, some fraternities and sororities require that you live in their housing. This limits access to friendships and activities outside of the house and may even give off an air of exclusivity.
Social isolation Even if you don’t live in sorority/fraternity housing, you may feel isolated from the rest of campus because Greek organizations often only socialize with other specific groups. This has the potential to throw you into the nasty world of cliques.
Too-great expectations It may seem like joining a sorority or fraternity ensures that you meet others with similar interests, hobbies and aspirations. In some cases, that’s true. Says Mike Meyer, a UNCW junior and Phi Gamma Delta pledge: “When I looked at the schedule of events during recruitment, some included Monday night football, wing night, cigar tasting. I was not interested. When I saw laser tag and dollar tacos, I knew that was the one for me!”
But this doesn’t guarantee you’ll hit it off with everyone in your group. Says Gildee: “Even though a lot of them have stuff in common, girls in my sorority don’t always get along.”
Academics Your grades could take a hit. With a light course load, you’re probably in the clear. However, if you’re pre-med, watch your back … or more accurately, books. Many groups keep you up late, night after night, doing “bonding” activities. Be cautious about letting that A slip to a C.
“Actually, the all-sorority average GPA is higher than the all-women’s average at UNCW,” notes Gildee. “All the sororities require study hours, designated times when we all go somewhere on campus, like the library, to study and do homework. It’s a good way to see your sisters while being productive at the same time. Last year, the girls living in the Sigma suite had the highest GPAs in our sorority.”
Finances Beware of hefty dues that could sneakily suck the life out of your savings account. Dues can reach up to $800 per semester — a whopping $1,600 a year! And while dues are supposed to include social events, you may have to fork over even more cash for something like a hotel room for an out-of-town formal. And if you’re thinking of studying abroad or taking a semester-long break, you’ll still have to pay lighter membership dues while off campus.
“Some do all-inclusive dues; others don’t,” says Gildee. “Mine are relatively cheap, and half that goes toward nationals. They put some into an account for housing, and our dues cover minimum requirements for philanthropy. But not included are T-shirts, for example. Semi-formals and formals are sometimes included, sometimes not.” Since dues vary, research what each org charges to be certain it’s something you can afford.
The Decision
To Greek or not to Greek? That is the question. Jordan Young, junior at Syracuse University, opted against it: “It didn’t seem worth it, because I had friends. Why force myself into a group if I already have one?” Like Jordan, if you have a posse of pals, you might not feel the need to rush and that’s OK.
On the flip side, we’d suggest signing up for recruitment to get a feel for what’s out there. Mingling with some brothers and sisters will help you get the inside scoop. Besides committing a few weeknights or weekend days, there are no strings attached to rushing and it will help you reach a decision. No regrets.
This post was copied from realcollegeguide.com
latest price war between Amazon and Wal-Mart October 20, 2009
Posted by admin in : cheap best sellers, cheap books, cheaper books, price war , 1 comment so farWell… it seems as though Wal0mart has found its latest victim for a price war, Amazon books!
recently Wal-Mart has engaged in a direct price war with Amazon to see who can sell best sellers at the lowest prices. (Please look below for an NPR article on this breaking story!)
What are your thoughts on this? Do you think that this will help or harm consumers? What about the publishing industry?
Taking a page from its original playbook, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. launched a full-fledged price war with Amazon.com Inc. and a nation of book retailers, lowering online prices on certain highly anticipated hardback titles to $9.
The volley of discounts, which began Thursday when the retailer listed prices for some upcoming hardcover releases such as Dean Koontz’ “Breathless” and Stephen King’s “Under the Dome” at $10, was answered with a similar price cut by Amazon, the largest online bookseller. Then the two competitors lowered the prices even further to $9.
The book discounts, the latest in a series of aggressive online maneuvers by the world’s largest retailer, could position the company to do to the online marketplace what Walmart stores did to local merchants decades ago.
“While it’s the largest retailer in the United States, it’s not the dominant online retailer in the United States,” said Albert Greco, professor of marketing at New York City’s Fordham University. “And this appears to be an attempt to increase its position in the online space.”
The price war also is foreboding news to the large chain bookstores Borders Group Inc. and Barnes & Noble Inc., which have been squeezed by Amazon.com’s discounting and a decline in their music business.
In the past seven weeks, Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart has racheted up the competition in several retail arenas, beginning with an Amazon.com-like announcement in late August that it would allow outside retailers to sell nearly 1 million items — from baby products to sports memorabilia — through its Walmart.com site.
Next came news that the low-price specialist would fill 90-day supplies of some 300 generic prescriptions by mail for as little as $10 and was launching its own cell phone plan.
And just this week, the company said it would begin selling health and beauty products online.
But it was the announcement about books — the base from which Seattle-based Amazon.com built itself into a powerhouse — that created the biggest stir.
The discounts, which also include Sarah Palin’s “Going Rogue” and John Grisham’s “Ford County,” are a cut of 60 percent or more from cover prices, which means the two competitors are likely selling the titles at a loss.
Hardcover releases, which typically have a suggested retail price of at least $25, are generally sold to merchants with a wholesale price that’s a 47 percent discount.
That means Grisham’s book, priced at $24, costs most retailers about $12.72. It’s not clear whether Wal-Mart, which some experts say sells as many as 1,400 titles in stores, might have negotiated a better price than that.
The company said the $9 prices won’t be available in stores.
Walmart.com spokeswoman Amy Lester said its latest efforts to beef up its online discounts are part of the company’s overall strategy to sell products at the lowest prices.
Wal-Mart has built its strategy on using its size and massive buying power to undercut competitors. But it sells enough products in enough categories to make up any losses on individual items it uses to bring people into its stores.
Wal-Mart is also cutting prices in half for 200 current best-sellers, including Dan Brown’s “The Lost Symbol” and Kathryn Stockett’s “The Help” in the new program called “America’s Reading List.”
Experts said selling certain books for such a low price could entice customers to browse other more profitable titles, or even other merchandise, from the company’s Web site.
“Let’s say you lose money on one item, you’re making money on other items,” said BMO Capital Markets analyst Wayne Hood.
There’s no telling how long this week’s price cuts will last, but experts said the two — which are increasingly competitors with each other in selling everything from batteries and books to dog food and diapers — could continue to duel.
The price cuts come at a time when Amazon.com and other sellers have been charging just $9.99 for e-books, a price that publishers worry is unrealistically low. The reductions also make it increasingly hard for independent sellers, which can’t afford such large discounts, to compete for the most popular books.
So long the biggest threat to independent booksellers, Borders and Barnes & Noble saw their stock prices drop Friday, down as much as 4.7 percent and 6.8 percent, respectively, before recovering somewhat.
“They can’t bring (prices) that low,” said Michael Norris, a senior analyst with Simba Information. “As a whole, it’s very hard for traditional bookstores, large or small, to compete with this kind of nonsense.”