Please, promise me, put your head to your pillow tonight as the moon rises; And, know this:

Not everyone will like you; Not everyone will support you. Not everyone is gonna care about you. And, that’s ok. You weren’t put here for them.
People come. People go. But a precious few, hold on to.
Fight… And, never stop fighting for yourself. You owe yourself that. There is only 1 you. And, beyond love itself, you are the most precious thing you own.
You will not win every battle. You will fall. You will even fail. Accept that as a reality of life. But, life isn’t about winning battles. It isn’t about failures. It’s about the compromise and acceptance from within.
You have the shining light. You have the obsidian dark. Find Balance. For both want to come out and play. And, both are valid in their right.
Never generalize. Never say “all” unless the sum of ALL equates your statement. Conversely, to state the sum of ALL minus a few is still ALL, then your argument is thus invalid, illogical, and the premise of your internal fear, anger and hatred. This, inturn, will lead to suffering. Karma will act on it. It will not discriminate. Never inflicte your negativity on to others without accepting the consequences hence back.
Your physical, mental, and emotional health is no excuse for negative actions. Always Rock it & Own it.
Remove toxic people from you life. The sweetest rose still has thorns.
Learn to love your body. As hard as it may sound sometimes, you are beautiful. Never forget that.
Never give into fear, anger and hate. Never allow the toxicity of other people to ruin who you are, what you have become and who you are growing to be.
Stand up for your friends in the public eye and against the common. If not, or you can’t or won’t then you were never friends from the start.
Take care of your body. There is no right way. There is only your way.
Get to know your parents as equals. You never know when they will be gone for good.
Don’t run from your past. Embrace it as wisdom. For your past has made you who you are today.
Most importantly, you are loved. And you don’t even have to know it mentally, or hear it verbally, or feel it physically or emotionally. Have faith. Take a leap. Spiritually, you will know.

““Many people cannot allow themselves the time to sit and do nothing but breathe. They consider it to be uneconomical or a luxury. People say “time is money.” But time is much more than money. Time is life. The simple practice of sitting quietly on a regular basis can be profoundly healing. Stopping and sitting is a good way to focus on mindful breathing and nothing else.”

— Thich Nhat Hanh

mello-my-name-iz reblogged

butterychaoticduck

So you suddenly feel anxious

maybe you’re having a panic attack, maybe you’re dissociating or maybe you’re just stressing.

here is something i found really helps in those moments:

Move from the place you are in right now, take a step back and find a more comfortable position
be patient, and be mindful that it will not go away with the snap of a finger. this is a wave, and you have to ride it
close your eyes, focus first on your breath, and the beatings of your heart. count to 10 very slowly
now open your eyes, don’t let the fear stop you, take ten seconds to notice the world around you, name the first things that you see, or just try to memorize where it is and how it looks
now close your eyes again, Count to 10 and slowly breathe, let your thoughts flow and don’t cling on to them, they will still be on your mind, but they have to flow freely
open your eyes again, look at the same object that your saw before, notice it is still on the same place, nobody moved it, it is the same color.
notice more things around you, notice how everything is ok, and you are not going through an extreme situation, count another slow 10
Close your eyes again and keep repeating this, keep noticing and naming more things, notice the sounds, the smells and the textures around you. Ground yourself in the reality of the moment.

After a while of doing this you will probably eventually have ridden the wave into a more calm state. Don’t be fooled, the waves can and will come again. but it’s all about learning how to grab a surfboard and ride them. It’s about taking comfort in the spaces of time they are not there, and get busy, get active, so you can regain, in time, the opportunity to a good life that was given to you.

mello-my-name-iz reblogged

wizdomly

“Breathe. You’re going to be okay. Breathe and remember that you’ve been in this place before. You’ve been this uncomfortable and anxious and scared, and you’ve survived. Breathe and know that you can survive this too. These feelings can’t break you. They’re painful and debilitating, but you can sit with them and eventually, they will pass. Maybe not immediately, but sometime soon, they are going to fade and when they do, you’ll look back at this moment and laugh for having doubted your resilience. I know it feels unbearable right now, but keep breathing, again and again. This will pass. I promise it will pass.”

— Daniell Koepke (via @wizdomly)

mello-my-name-iz reblogged

hotmessacademics

97lo

College Tips

From someone who was in your position last year.

For academics

Morning classes? Maybe. Take it from someone who had to wake up for a 7:45AM class for two out of the three terms of my first year; they were the worst parts of my day and incredibly stressful because I would end up sleeping through them when I was particularly sleep-deprived. However, they were nice in that they kind of made me a little more self-disciplined; I had to finish my work by midnight cause I would be dead the next morning if I wasn’t. If you’re a night owl, try to schedule classes post 9AM; your life will just be a lot less miserable.
Make sure you have a break for lunch. I usually try to have an hour of downtime between classes early afternoon, so that I can fit in the gym and lunch. My reasoning is that you’re probably not going to be very productive during that hour unless you have immediate work due the next period, so just use it to take care of yourself. Eat, exercise, and take a moment to breathe between lectures.
Don’t do all the readings. This sounds bad, but I have taken (so many) reading intensive courses where I would have 200 pages due the next day. This is impossible to do if I want to be a healthy human being. A lot of the times, professors will have a main idea they want you to take away from a reading and will just add a lot of supplemental material. If your reading material is particularly dry, it’s going to be the worst and most time-consuming struggle to get through because your eyes will glaze over and you’ll find yourself rereading the same sentence over and over to fully comprehend what it means. Instead of doing that, first grasp what the main idea is by reading the headers, find the key details associated with the idea that links it to other main topics of the course, and store a few examples of what’s been mentioned. All of this can be done by a mixture of skimming and looking at chapter summaries and specifically reading a few paragraphs.
Use SparkNotes. Use CliffNotes. Watch the movie version, the miniseries, whatever it is. Use Khan Academy, Crash Course, WHATEVER. You might be thinking, “This is college! There’s no way for easy cop-outs!” And yes, you’re partially right. If you’re in a literature course, you should absolutely read the material you’re given; however, sometimes, it’s not possible or even necessary to read everything. I had a class that consisted of three papers, to be written on three different novels - two of the papers were assigned to specific books, but the last one was a free-for-all. There were eight novels total that we had to get through. It just wasn’t smart to sit there and read all eight novels with equal intensity. Yes, read all eight if you can, but if you need to supplement your reading with SparkNotes or the movie version or whatever, do it.
Participate in discussion. How much you talk matters in college. If you’re a shy wallflower, talk to your professor about your inability to speak up in class, because if you sit there and let other students reign over the discussion, that’s your participation grade going down the drain. I learned this the hard way in my first two classes - my final grades were significantly lower because I just couldn’t speak up in class. Professors are usually nice and can understand when you’re introverted, but becoming part of the discussion isn’t just good for your grade; you’ll be able to contribute your perspective to a dialogue about a subject that you’re most likely interested it. Isn’t that what college is all about?
Preview + review. In specific regard to classes, use the readings + assignments to predict what the professor will lecture on for the next class. Obviously, just doing the work will help you preview; however, keeping conscious note of what you’re doing will help you identify questions and topics of interest that you can talk about during the actual class. This all ties into the previous three points of reading smart and participating. After the lecture, try to resist the temptation to just relax your brain completely and do something else. Stay in the “lecture” mode for a few more minutes and go over what you just did in class. This will cement the information and help you SO MUCH when it comes time to cram for midterms and finals.
You’ve probably heard it a thousand times, but GO TO OFFICE HOURS. Professors love it when you come talk to them; they get to know your name and put a face to your tests and assignments and also talk your ear off about the subject they love. Of course, don’t just force yourself to go there and stand awkwardly in the doorway without a question just because you heard you need to. Times you should go: first week of class, when you can drop by and casually say, “I just wanted to introduce myself!” Most likely, the professor will want to chat with your about what your expectations are for the course and what you want to do with your life. And then you should go whenever you have an issue with your homework. Go before midterms and finals with all of the questions that pile up while you cram. Score brownie points and get better help on something you might be confused about. Win-win.
There’s probably going to be an interlude of time between classes and your extracurricular meetings + dinner. USE THAT TIME TO FINISH WORK. A lot of stuff happens in the evenings that make you tired and ready to curl up in bed after you come back to your dorm/home. If you buckle down and concentrate during those few hours before meetings and dinner, you will feel sooooo much better for the rest of your day.
Go to class. This should be self-explanatory. But seriously, go. Do you find the class useless? Still go. The professor will remember you, even if it’s a 150-person class.
Take good notes during class. Also self-explanatory. If you find that your notes don’t feel sufficient because your professor is the type of person to go all over the place in their lecture and you zone out, compare notes with someone in the class. Compare notes with multiple people in the class. Record the lecture if you have to (but ask the professor beforehand! Because intellectual property rights exist and that’s actually really important!!!!). Make study groups where you compare notes and listen to recorded lectures together. Do what you have to to make sure you got the most out of the actual class sessions - and then supplement it with your readings and outside research. I know a lot of people say that writing things down with a pen and paper help retain information more than typing things down - but honestly, this is just a personal preference. If you prefer typing things down, go ahead. If you prefer handwriting, go ahead. However, if you do decide to use a computer, please make sure you aren’t surfing the web when you should be paying attention. I know I’m guilty.
Sit in the T-Zone. This zone is basically the first row and the aisle seats. The professor looks at this area the most during lectures, and this is where he’ll see you the most. Even if you don’t like sitting in the first row, grab an aisle seat so the professor can see that you’re actually engaged in the class. Also, you’ll fall asleep less if the professor sees you.

For extracurriculars

Don’t do everything. It’ll feel like everyone is doing everything and you should be doing more, but that’s really not the case. It’s a given that this isn’t high school, so no one expects you to have five clubs and two sports on your application - and also, this doesn’t actually help you on your resume unless you come away from the activity with a skill that makes you more valuable as an employee/human being. Stick to things that you actually really like and feel that you can grow in - and then really stick to it, so you can say you actually did things instead of being a half-hearted member.
Try to assess what you can take away from an activity if you do end up joining. Have specific ideas about your role in the club/extracurricular and what you’re contributing and taking away, mainly because you’ll be expected to talk about this in the future if you have it in your resume.
Get started on applications early. Surprise surprise, applications do not end with college apps - that’s only the beginning. You have to apply to literally everything in college, from clubs to internships to study abroad programs. What I like to do with a lot of my applications is have specific answers ready; a lot of applications will ask similarly generic questions about your abilities and goals. Considering you’re in college, I’m also going to take for granted that a lot of the activities you’re applying for have a similar theme, so that should make the job easier. Save your answers so you can use them the next time you have to fill out an application; all you have to do then is restructure them a little so that they fit with the specific question being asked.
Before submitting an application, go and talk to a person face to face about it. You’re naturally going to have questions about a program if you’ve decided to apply to it. Instead of just stewing over them alone and then submitting an application, go see the person in charge. This helps SO MUCH in the long run, because they’ll have a face in their mind when they finally read your application. Most likely, the meeting you have with them will include not just your questions, but also facts about yourself that they’ll ask naturally. This helps. This helps you get in, this helps them stay impressed.
Make a resume. Do you have a LinkedIn? Go make one - and go make an actual resume. Resumes are kind of a pain in the ass, but they’re completely necessary and will be useful for you if you want to keep track of all the stuff you do over the years. There are so many resources for you to make resumes on the internet AND most likely at your school. Find the Career Services at your school; they can offer comments on your resume and will provide actual, personal help.
KEEP UP WITH EMAILS. This is so important because adults get SO annoyed with non-responsive college students. Emails are weird because they’re simultaneously really easy to do (just type out a few short polite sentences!) and also really hard because of the implications behind them. However, adults send a million a day, so your email probably doesn’t have the same gravity to the head honcho/mentor/adult you are emailing as it does for you. Don’t stress too much about it, and just send. Nothing gets down if you don’t email first, and nothing gets done if you don’t respond. Adults are especially impressed if you’re a fast responder - again, this helps with brownie points.
Get friendly with the adults. Please, for the love of God, interact with adults who are mentoring your club, your boss at work, or wherever else they might be. They are not there to judge you, you are still in an institution of learning where your capability is still seen as relatively low and nothing more is expected of you. That means adults aren’t going to expect you to be amazing and talented, which means you can literally just show up and open your mouth, and that’ll be enough to impress them. So DO THAT. Talk to adults, smile and say hello when you see them, get them interested in you and who you are. These people have these jobs for a reason - don’t just be another anonymous face that passes by. It helps so much when adults have a good impression of you.

mello-my-name-iz reblogged

dearpanda

Advice for incoming college freshmen

I’ve been seeing a lot of posts like these lately, and I thought I’d contribute based on my own experience:

• Go to your college’s first-year orientation. These events are usually free and offer a campus tour, ice breakers, music, free food and/or shirts, and sessions explaining the roles of your college’s services and how they’re there to help you. Orientation is great because you get to go out and really walk through the campus and talk to people that go there, whether they commute or dorm. You won’t need to feel awkward because there will be tons of incoming freshmen that are in the same boat as you, new to the college experience.

• Make your schedule accordingly. Make sure that when you register for classes, you qualify to take them. Some classes require pre-requisites before you are able to take them. Sometimes freshmen are allowed to take upper-level classes, but you often need permission to do so. And make sure that the classes you take fulfill your degree requirements/gen-eds.

• With this being said, try not to have any long gaps between classes. They might seem like a good idea, but unless you know you’ll really be able to focus and get work done, don’t do it. Gaps make it really easy to get lazy and not want to do anything for the rest of the day.

• AVOID 8AM CLASSES. Whether you dorm or commute, it will be too hard to function so early in the morning. Only take an 8am if you really need to (ex. all of the other lecture/lab sections were closed and you need to fulfill a requirement). Just cause you did it in high school, doesn’t mean you’ll be able to do it in college.

• If you are trying to register for a class and it is already filled, but you really want to take it, ask for special permission. In some colleges, you are required to ask a certain professor or head of a department for a special permission number that will allow you to gain entry in the class.

• Avoid 3hr-long classes (unless it’s something like a science lab). These are usually lectures that meet once a week, and feel like a drag when you show up.

• Don’t buy all of your books from your college bookstore. As the Tumblr community has spread around different places to find your books, it is evident that college textbooks are overpriced. Try to find an e-book version, buy from someone who has already taken the class, or download free PDFs.

• Do your reading. Whether or not you’re taking a basic 100-level course or users from ratemyprofessors said that the class was easy, you will need to do your reading. It will help you keep up and overall get a better grade.

• Take notes. There is a lot of information to take in, a lot to study, and not that much time. Write shortened notes that you’ll be able to understand, and rewrite/type them later to study from.

• Get help early. If you find yourself struggling in any of your classes in the beginning of the semester, don’t be afraid to ask questions. This goes for professors, teaching assistants, and peers. If your college offers tutoring services, go! It’s part of your tuition. You might as well put it to use. A little extra push never hurt anybody.

• Stay organized. Invest in a planner. You will be given a syllabus during “syllabus week,” but that doesn’t mean you won’t lose track of time. A planner will help you see important due dates in a clear, laid-out way.

• Invest in a laptop or a tablet that you can work with. You will need certain programs like Microsoft Office to get through college. You should also be able to check online for new assignments that are posted on your school’s server (ex. blackboard) and check your school email for any important updates/notices.

• Prioritize. Find a way to balance sleep, class, work, eating, exercising, and having a social life. It’s college. You need to stay alive for it to have a real experience.

• Go to the library. The library is a great place to settle down and really get work/studying done. This quiet environment really encourages productivity.

• Exercise and eat healthy. The “freshman 15” is a real thing. Sometimes it ends up as the “freshman 30.” Don’t let it happen. College campuses offer a variety of food to eat and it makes it hard for students to have self-control. Living a healthy lifestyle will give you better results physically and academically. You don’t have to be strict with every meal or lift 250lbs in every gym session. Everybody’s body is different, everyone’s ideal body image is different. Do your best to feel healthy, have glowing skin, and bring a better you. Being healthy does keep your heart and brain happy, and sooner or later it’ll show through your mood and mentality.

• If you commute, try to pack meals and bring them to school. Not that many professors care if you eat during their lectures, just make sure that you do your work and pay attention while you do it. Bringing food from home not only keeps your stomach happy throughout the day, but your wallet as well.

• Talk to advisors. They’ll help you with the classes you’re taking and guide you towards declaring your major, as well as help you figure out if you’re in the right direction.

• If your college offers health services like checkups, immunizations, and counseling, don’t be afraid to go. It may seem like a grown-up decision (it kind of is, college is that transition from teenager to adult), but don’t be afraid to get help. Sometimes it gets hard and you can’t just talk to a friend or a parent. They are there to help you, I promise.

• Look for job opportunities. College is a great way to start building your resume. Often times you’ll be faced with an internship. Whether or not it is paid, it is experience, and it is appreciated. Try to find a job on-campus or nearby, and have a work schedule that you can balance with school. Sometimes jobs through the university will be offered just because you have a high GPA, or you did outstanding in a specific course. It is a lot of commitment, but it pays off.

• Don’t waste your money on Starbucks. Going to Starbucks for a grande coffee everyday is seriously one of the quickest ways to go broke and have nothing in your pocket. Those $5 that you spend daily do add up. Avoid going to Starbucks for a coffee unless you are really desperate. Otherwise, bring hot coffee/tea from home to keep you alert throughout the day. You’ll save so much money and be happy that you did. Because college is expensive.

• Look around for scholarships and grants. Sometimes whatever amount of financial aid you’re given through the FAFSA and your college isn’t enough. It’s okay to apply for scholarships (that usually require an essay) throughout the year. Sometimes keeping your grades up throughout college adds to the financial aid you’re given as well. Paying less for college tuition is the goal.

• Take advantage of your student discounts. A lot of places offer 15% off retail purchases with student ID. Sometimes you can get lucky and get a discount off of your food, too.

• Go to free/discounted events that your school is hosting. You deserve to have some fun.

• Make friends! This is a given. But you’ll be able to enjoy college more with people you like. Talk to people in your classes, check out the clubs, organizations, frats and sororities and see what kind of group is right for you.

• There will be alcohol, and there will be drugs. It’s college. It’s inevitable. Be careful and know your tolerance levels. Always go to parties with a friend or a few, and make sure someone reliable and (preferably) sober will be able to take care of you and take you home/get you help if something happens to you. Better safe than sorry.

• Put yourself out there and HAVE FUN. What’s a college experience without it?

But overall, college is what YOU make it. Happy college and good luck!

mello-my-name-iz reblogged

lampurple

tukut

college tips

- do not take 8 am classes

- dont take 3 hr classes that only meet once a week

- sleep

- when u write an essay pick out the quotes/examples u want and write the essay around it

- email ur teachers and meet with ur advisors regularly

- quizlet

- TRIPLE CHECK YOUR ALARMS

- bring tupperware to the dining hall to smuggle out extra food

- dont wear your lanyard around your neck

- try to group your classes together in back-to-back time blocks. you wont want to go back to class once you get home

- STAY ON TOP OF YOUR HOMEWORK EVEN IF THERE ARE OPEN DUE DATES

- when walking on the sidewalk keep all the way to the right especially if your pace is slow

- yes, sometimes we can hear the music through your earbuds. we really don’t care or mind

- try not to eat a whole bunch after 10PM, especially fatty foods like pizza or lots of pop. you’ll get stomach aches in the morning

- nerd clubs are 100% okay and there are tons of students who share your interests with you, you just have to look

- take out the fucking trash

-if you’re in a completely silent library, be courteous of others and don’t blare your music through your earbuds PLEASE

-always sit by plug outlets

-enjoy your time off

-keep a log of all passwords and usernames for online homework (YOU WILL HAVE ONLINE HOMEWORK)

-get a planner

-geT A PLANNER

-GET A PLANNER

-USE the planner

-ps 8ams aren’t that bad if it’s not every day

mello-my-name-iz reblogged

lampurple

bone-weary-blog

40 tips for incoming college freshmen

“I’ll sign up for morning class because I tookclasses in the morning in high school.” NO DON’T DO THAT YOU’RE GOING TO WANTTO KILL YOURSELF
If you can,try to spread your schedule so it’s 9-5. It’ll get you used to functioning atthose hours.
Go to seminars. Pick up on some random shit. Impress people with random shit. But don’t be cocky.
There’s literally no popularity so you really don’t have to fucking deal with cliques or anything just find your group and branch out and go from there.
If you’re drinking:
POUR YOUR OWN DRINK I CANNOT EMPHASIZE THIS ENOUGH
Have a cup of water (or a bit of Gatorade) between every drink. You’ll never get a hangover.
Don’t be fucking loud. Everyone hates the loud drunk and you’ll get the cops called on you and that’s bad shit.
Don’t mix your liquor with other liquor and oh my God don’t mix it with anything else like drugs that’s just asking for a crisis.
If your buddy is in a really bad place call 911. Don’t be that douchebag who thinks that someone can sleep it off.
DO EXTRA CREDIT FOR THE LOVE OF FUCKING GOD NOT EVERY PROFESSOR OFFERS EXTRA CREDIT DO THE FUCKING EXTRA CREDIT.
College is for expanding your mind. Talk to friends about their majors. Attend their events or art shows. Talk to someone you met about their religion. Take an English class on Lord of the Rings. Learn things you wouldn’t normally learn in high school.
Love might come. It might not. Don’t worry about it and it won’t be a problem. You’re young.
Don’t be the douchebag who plays acoustic guitar in the lounge.
Have fun because you’re spending a fuckton of money to be there but do your homework.
There’s a general rule of college that if you were sitting in that seat for over two weeks, that is your seat. Not many if any professors have seating arrangements but switching seats will fuck everyone up.
Get there early and stay late. As soon as you get home you will not want to do shit. Stay on campus and do some homework while you’re in the environment.
SIT UP FRONT. The best way to start understanding something is to listen to someone talk about it and you can’t do that from the back of the class trying to listen over everyone whispering to each other. LISTENING WILL MAKE HOMEWORK SO MUCH EASIER.
Be childish, but be respectful. Have a massive snowball fight across campus, but don’t aim for anyone not taking part.
SHUT THE FUCK UP IN THE LIBRARY. Some people work there, some people sleep there. It is a quiet space.
Don’t be afraid to talk to professors. They are not there to flunk you. They would rather you pass than not.
IF YOU NEED TUTORING GET TUTORING DON’T WAIT UNTIL YOU’VE DUG YOURSELF INTO YOUR GRAVE.
Get involved. It will help you make friends, give you new skills to learn, and even help you get a leg up in the work place if you know the right people.
Take time for yourself—buy a planner, figure out when your best study hours are, figure out WHERE you study best, and figure out how much time you need to complete an assignment—AND THEN make sure to pencil in an hour for video games, some time to watch a TV show, or time to just lay on your floor and blow bubbles. Whatever you like. Don’t forget about YOU.
SLEEP. EAT. DRINK WATER. Don’t die. Caffeine =/= sleep. I cannot emphasize that this much.
COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR INSTRUCTORS! If you’re sick, shoot an e-mail and say “Hey, I’m sick today. Can I set up a time to talk to you about what I missed?” If you’ve got a good opportunity (scholarships, to go to another country, to check out a cool lecture, etc.) let your prof know ahead of time. If you just need time to work on projects, all it takes is an e-mail. We understand. I gave a student a free skip day because he e-mailed me and said “Hey, look, I have two massive tests and a project due and I need the time to study.” And THAT IS OKAY
Before signing up for classes, look on “ratemyprofessor.com” and see if the teachers at your campus are included. There may be two or more teachers for the same course, and you want to try and pick the good/easy one. Who your professor is can have a great affect on what grade you make, even for the “same” class.
Look for a facebook group for your “graduating class” set up, which is a good way to make friends and find people with similar interests (particularly for introverts).
Look for a facebook group for your “graduating class” set up, which is a good way to make friends and find people with similar interests (particularly for introverts).
If no one else does it, make a google doc of the exam reviews and post it on the class facebook page. That way everyone contributes to the review. 200 brains are most definitely better than 1.
During lectures, unless Internet is required, TURN IT OFF. If it’s on, you WILL end up on tumblr or some other site, and you will miss important shit.
For the love of God, pay attention to your syllabus. Sometimes assignments are listed there, and that’s the only place it’ll be mentioned. Also, if it says to do a reading by a specific date, DO THE READING BY THAT DATE. Otherwise you will get behind, and you will have 200+ pages of textbooks to read in one night before the test, and you will cry.
Yes you actually need to do the readings. Yes it is a lot. Yes it will suck. Do it anyways.
If you are used to getting all A’s, do not cry when you get a B. Take it from someone who killed herself for two years to maintain a 4.0, it feels like the end of the world when your GPA drops, but it’s not. You’ll be okay. Just breathe and do your best. Your best is good enough.
Try to make sure you leave an open hour around midday so that you have time to get food in you. A lot of people forget to do this. If you have to have back to back classes, check your syllabus or with your teacher—some midday classes allow you to bring in a drink and a snack. Some will even allow you a full meal.
If you can get an online/pdf copy of the book without busting the bank, DO IT. Sometimes there are even annotated versions online. This can make notetaking a shitton easier, because you can highlight printed-out versions of the book and they won’t dock you on the money back. Sometimes professors move through their lecture too fast for you to write stuff down. Shrugging off that old ‘don’t ruin your books’ rule you had in high school may be your only hope.
UNLESS YOU NEED THEM OR REALLY WANT TO KEEP THEM TRY TO SELL BACK YOUR BOOKS—maybe even offer them online to incoming students. You won’t get nearly the worth of them but someone after you will thank you a million times over for providing a used copy. If you take good notes, you can sometimes buy/sell those as well. A lot of professors teach literally the same class every time.
IF YOUR PROFESSOR PUTS NOTES ONLINE GET THEM. GET THEM NOW. TRUST ME. YOU WANT THOSE NOTES. Bring them in with you if it’s possible to get them before class.
Keep change on hand. Always.
The Best Way To Make Friends:
Bring a printer with you to college and offer to print people’s stuff for half of what the school does or for free if you can afford it.
Carry around small candies with you and offer them to people while waiting outside of class. If you are the ‘candy person’ this gives you an in for starting conversations.
Buy a jumbo pack of chalk and find an open sidewalk on a free day. Write the words ‘Come draw with me?’ and begin doodling.
Have a pack of cards.
If you go onto campus and you can’t find what you’re looking for, and you are afraid to go up to someone and ask, find an open, well-populated area, hold your schedule/map in hand, and walk in circles for a few minutes, looking up and around in obvious confusion. Other students know this body language well. Someone will stop and point you in the right direction. (if you are worried that the person’s directions are a joke or faulty, wait for them to leave and take up the stance again; if the directions match-up the second time, they’re legit; do not allow a person to ‘show you the way’ unless EVERY STEP is along an obvious walkway, just in case)
For those of you who fear assault, most campuses aren’t much for small blades or mace. Carry a pocket air horn or a hand bag of those little pop-rock fireworks unless you can get a concealed weapons permit.
Make friends with transfer kids. Chances are, they won’t be able to live in the dorms and it’ll be ten times harder for them to meet people since they have to drive to and from campus. It’s also fun hearing about their experiences before the college you both go to.
Make friends with an older student. I’m talking about students who have families and full-time jobs. You can learn a lot from them, and they honestly have the best stories. They’re often the smartest and the most dedicated, so they make great study buddies.
Your teachers are people! Joke around with them, talk to them a bit during break. Make sure they at least recognize you as “that dude with the god-awful puns during break”. In my experience, professors are even more willing to bend over backwards to help the students they know. (But also, in general? They want you to learn! If there’s a way they can easily help, there’s a really good possibility they’ll do it!

Just cleaned up this post ≧◡≦

otakumusician

this type of stuff makes me less anxious about starting school up next spring ;A; thank you

mello-my-name-iz reblogged

thils-studyblr

10 Things to keep in your schoolbag everyday

I made a part two for this list because of all the feedback I got. You can find it here

As I’m stocking up on what I’ll need to buy for school starting in 2 months, I decided to make a small list of my personal essentials, that may be useful for you guys too.

1. Your wallet (with your student card, ID and some change). Not only is having your ID essential, but having some change on you can be useful is you need some food or a drink from the vending machine if you didn’t bring enough.

2. An umbrella. If you live in a country/place where it rains often enough for this to be an essential (so not once a year). I always have an umbrella in one of the sidepockets of my bag (which are meant for water bottles, but I have a pocket size umbrella)

3. Mints. NEVER go talk to your professor with a bad breath. Did you just eat something smelly? Grab the mints from your bag, have one, and go talk to your teacher with a fresh minty breath.

4. Lip balm. You don’t want to have cracking/dry lips at school. A lot of people get distracted from their dry lips, start biting them or pulling at them. So to prevent yourself from getting distracted, take care of those suckers.

5. Chargers (+ powerbank). You don’t want to run out of battery in the middle of the school day. Take your laptop charger, a powerbank, and a usb-phone cable with you. You can charge your phone from the powerbank or your laptop, and your laptop anywhere with an outlet. (Don’t carry around your phone charger’s block if you don’t have to)

6. Earphones. Sometimes people talk really loud in the hall or the cafeteria, while you just want to read or study. It’s best to block out their voices with some instrumental music (you can easily find study playlists on Spotify)

7. Water bottle. Don’t just rely on coffee or plastic cups. Having a bottle of water with you that you can refill will help you save money (by not having to buy drinks) and is better for the environment.

8. Basic stationary. 2 pens, 2 pencils, 1 eraser, 1 highlighter, a pair of scissors and a roll of sticky tape. You never know what you’d need, but the bare necessities should always be in your pencil case. (Keeping an extra pen in your wallet is also great in case you forget your pencil case)

9. Extra paper (or an thin extra notebook). You never know when you’ll need to write something down or draft something. (I like to keep drafts out of my notebooks)

10. Deodorant. The worst thing is being sweaty at school. Just get a travel size deodorant and put it in your bag with the mints and lip balm. Even if you don’t need it, someone else might. (Spray is best cause it’s more hygienic if you were to share)

~~Bonus~~: 11. Blotting Paper. Get rid of the oiliness of your skin without removing make-up by patting down with some blotting paper. It absorbs the oils without wiping of any foundation

GIF by pnkemoji

Not really a masterpost, just a list, but this is my late masterpost monday post. Real masterposts will be back next monday!

Part two: click here

mello-my-name-iz reblogged

College Life 101

Alrighty folks, here are some nifty tips on how I survived (and could have better survived) college:

As soon as you have your schedule, email your professors. Everyone. Especially if you have questions about the course, if you’re going to miss, etc. also make sure you do it from your school email, many professors will not check an email if it isn’t from a school address.
On move in day, bring a door stop. moving in is so much easier when you don’t need someone to hold the door for everything.
Shoe racks and command strips/hooks will be your best friend. Use the racks for misc. things like utensils, seasonings, Keurig mixes, hot chocolate, etc.
Bring a whiteboard/corkboard. Write down your classes and anything you need to get done for those classes and make sure that you keep it updated. On the cork side post up papers with important numbers, a map of campus, and other things you get.
SIGN UP FOR ACTIVITIES (ESPECIALLY IF YOU’RE ON A SMALL CAMPUS) otherwise you’re not going to have a fun experience. Even if it’s just something you THINK you may have a slight interest in, try it!
Go to one or two sporting events, just for the hell of it
Put important dates in your phone calendar or even a planner. Somewhere you will be reminded of them. Times and dates are critical.
Eat. and eat well.
Use chegg, upper classmen, or other resources for textbooks before you buy them. Campus bookstores are astronomically expensive and it can be a lot cheaper going somewhere else. I use Chegg and they also send you free tide pods, coffee samples, etc.
Bring medicine that you’ve used in the last two years, even if you haven’t used it in a while just to be safe.
If you’re gonna do laundry on the weekends Friday and Saturday nights OR Sunday mornings are prime time. Be prepared for staying up late or getting up early to do laundry
PUT. A TIMER. ON. YOUR. LAUNDRY. Seriously, when you have to share a laundry room there is nothing more annoying than someone who won’t move their laundry out for other people.
On a related note DO NOT THROW OTHER PEOPLE’S LAUNDRY ON THE FLOOR. Fold it up, leave it on the dryers or w/e with a little note. Don’t be an asshole.
Keep extra pads and tampons around everywhere you go. Help yourself and/or ya menstruating friends out.
Bring a phone/laptop charger with you throughout the day. I know I personally have some long breaks between my classes where I do homework and w/e
Use Google docs for your assignments, or other programs that back up your work to the cloud. My laptop broke halfway through the semester and the only thing that saved me was Google Docs because my school uses gmail
Download Groupme. Right now. Do it. It’s a great way to create group chats, keep them in one place, and keep them backed up somewhere, you’re gonna have some for group projects, your dorm, any programs, etc.
Bring a three hole punch, scissors, glue, tape, notecards, and binders. Also get pocketed folders for any important research papers you may need to turn in.
ALSO DRY ERASE MARKERS ARE A LIFE SAVER. bring them around for studying in empty classrooms it’s v helpful
COLOR CODE YOUR BINDERS/NOTE BOOKS/STICKY NOTES. Your binder for one class and all its accessories should be one colors. Color organize your notes. (If you’re colorblind, use patterns or something simple for you.)
Try typing up your notes after classes, save them to your laptop and whatever online thing you use. Sometimes you’ll need your notes and you either won’t have your notebook, laptop, or both and it can be very important to keep your notes accessible.
Make use of tutoring services or other students/friends that are good in your classes. C’s get degrees and if people can help you understand it better then WOO
Try not to miss too many classes, but if you do make sure you contact your professors about it (or someone in that class.)
Sleep is v important, but can also be too good so set alarms at least a half hour before your classes to get ready and go.

Take deep breaths. Make friends. Take no shit, do no harm.

((These are based off of my personal experiences, feel free to add on if you think of something))

mello-my-name-iz reblogged

naomiwithanovel

some tips for incoming college freshmen, based on the mistakes i made during my first year

✎ don’t get in the habit of skipping class for no reason. really. it might seem harmless (especially if attendance isn’t required) but it will most likely end up affecting you negatively. just go to class.

✎ try to be as organized as possible. organization can’t harm you and there are so many potential benefits to keeping your school and personal life in order.

✎ don’t be afraid to enjoy yourself. honestly, what’s the point if school is only ever miserable. there are so many ways to enjoy your experience at college, so take a break from your studies every once in a while. otherwise, you might find yourself hating school.

✎ that being said, don’t spend too much time socializing and partying. or, at least, don’t choose it over your school work altogether. you don’t want the social aspect of college to overpower the academic aspect. after all, you are most likely paying a lot of money to study there, and ignoring your studies will only harm you. find a balance.

✎ even if your classes don’t start until 2 in the afternoon, wake up at a reasonable time. it might be difficult if you’re used to sleeping in very late, but the morning is the perfect time to get some things done, and sleeping in until 10 minutes before your class does waste a lot of time. plus, you’ll probably do better in class if you didn’t just wake up.

✎ naps are good though! as long as you don’t nap during the whole day, napping is very beneficial.

✎ don’t get too involved in drama with other people. if your friend group becomes draining and exhausting because of drama, recognize that it might be better for you to take a step back.

✎ don’t get caught up in the idea of having the perfect “college experience.” do what you want to do, not what everyone else does or what you believe you’re supposed to do. there are different types of college experiences, and you don’t have to, for example, join a sorority/fraternity, go to parties, get drunk/high, etc. just because you think you’re supposed to as a college student.

✎ try to participate in class. i failed at this miserably because of my fear of talking to people lol, but it is best to be more involved in class discussions if you can. this is especially important when participation is part of your grade.

✎ if you have a roommate, don’t expect to be best friends with them. you can, but it’s not always best. in my experience, it tends to work best if you’re friendly with them, but you also have different groups of people you hang out with. this is based on preference though.

✎ get off of campus sometimes! depending on where you live, there may be a bunch of things you can do in your town with friends. you don’t want to always feel stuck at your school. that being said, there are probably a lot of things to do on campus too.

✎ if you have a source of income, try to be reasonable with your spending. you should definitely save some money for emergencies. and the money you do spend should be spent reasonably. this isn’t to say you should never spend money on things that you enjoy, but you definitely should have some sort of budget, or you might find yourself wasting all of your money on 2am trips to denny’s (if you’re me, that is).

✎ sometimes you may need to be alone. don’t feel bad telling your friends ‘no’ every once in a while. you may find it easiest to work alone, or you might just wanna relax without the pressure of being with other people. that’s okay! find a place on campus where you can be away from everyone sometimes.

edit: i have made a part two of this post which you can find here

mello-my-name-iz reblogged

genuinestudies-blog

I’m now entering my third semester of my second year college, and I think I’ve gathered enough experience in college to give relevant tips to incoming freshmen or just regular old college students. I’m not an expert in getting all As, not getting those 4.0s in every subject, but I have maintained my place as a Dean’s Lister since my first sem freshmen year, so I think I do have an idea on what I’m talking about. Feel free to take my advice! (or not).

homework/projects 1. seriously, once you get information on your homework/project, start them immediately. DO NOT wait till last minute to complete them because you will regret it. Do them as soon as the professor assigns it to you so you won’t spend the next few weeks stressing out on the amount of homework you have.

2. start creative projects first. unless you can pull creativity out of your hat whenever you need it, I highly suggest you start creative projects as soon as you get them because trust me when I say you do not want to be decorating/designing shit when the due date is tomorrow.

3. do your best in every assignment; trust me, the points will count at the end of the semester.

4. do extra credit work and treat it as priority work; excess points are cushion points.

5. group projects suck but here’s a good rule to keep in mind: if you’re the leader, delegate those tasks (read up on division of labor). if you’re a group member, do the delegated task as best as you can. know your goal as a group; are you guys in it to get to know each other and build rapport? then the output won’t matter as much and focus on helping and getting to know each other. Is the output the most important part? Then be real with each other; if you can’t do this task, then don’t do it & instead give it to someone else. Some may not even get any work at all, because what matters is the output.

friends/other people/professors 1. keep your circle small. your friends are there to guide you, support you and tell you when you’re wrong. find the crowd you vibe with the most because trust me, the right friends are medicine to all college problems

2. those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind. keep that in mind, my dear.

3. love the professor? do your best in their class. hate the professor? do your best in their class. it doesn’t matter whether you hate the prof or not; they still hold your grade at the end of the semester. if you really can’t stand them, just think of it as training your ability to be humble (and not punch someone).

4. talk to your professors. they’re not as bad as you think they are.

5. seriously, go to their consultation hours when you think you’re failing.

class/notes 1. TAKE NOTES. cannot emphasize this enough. don’t rely on anyone to take your notes for you; it’s your education, it’s time you take responsibility for it.

2. sit in front of class if you believe you’ll get distracted if you sit in the back.

3. talk to your seatmate! you’ll need them when you get sick and can’t come to class.

4. again, TAKE NOTES. don’t photograph the slide. write that shit down, or type it if you don’t want to write. bottom line, don’t picture it.

5. revise, revise, revise. if you want to understand the material, a good way to go about it is to revise your notes in a way YOU can understand.

having fun/relationships 1. have fun! i was too stressed when I was a freshman all because I focused too much on getting 4.0s. It’s possible to get 4.0s and still have fun! having fun doesn’t need to be about drinking (although if it is, then stay safe doing it!) it could be reading a book or hanging out with your friends, whatever works for you and keeps your mind off school for awhile.

2. it’s okay to have crushes! they could be your inspiration (but don’t let them be your distraction)

3. talk to that cute guy you’ve been classmates with ever since February who you can’t stop looking at. you’ve got nothing to lose.

4. relationships are a good source of support, love and care but pls don’t forget your friends.

5. learn how to have fun, and college will be easier.

Reminder: having fun does not equal to slacking off.

I guess that’s it! If you guys want more tips/advice/academic or college realted, I can write more or you can just hit up my ask!

mello-my-name-iz reblogged

medicinewithcoffee

Tips to study in one week or less

Exams and finals are fast approaching for many people and we’ve all been in a place where we have too much to study and too little time to do it. I am an avid procrastinator so more often than not, I let all material build up in my desk and then I stress out to go over everything before the exam! Fear no more! I have the perfect formula for you!

Stop procrastinating! Going through productivity/study tips youtube videos or studyblrs is not going to do the work for you. Stop obsessing about it, leave your phone out of your study space and organize everything you have to do.
Make a list with all the chapters/topics you have to study. That way you can have a notion of everything you should know. Once you get over them, you can cross them out and feel productive enough to keep going. Trust me, that feeling is one of the best when you are studying!
Study smart, not hard — Understand what are the most important ones and focus on those. If you have little time, there is no way you can go over every material (if it’s too much like usually happens in college/uni) and also, no professor will question everything with the same detail in the exam.
Distribute the amount of material for the amount of days you have — leave at least 2 out. It’s important to organize the material during the amount of time you have so you don’t get too lazy in one day and then stress too much over the many things you have to study on another. Evaluate well what might take longer or not and if it doesn’t work as planned, adjust your plan in the end of the study day. The last two days before the exam are important to leave free for revisions and exam preparation.
In those last 2 days, test yourself. It can be previous exams from previous years (they’re the best option), tests online, quizzes with a friend. Exams from previous years are my favourite option - professors aren’t very original so it’s highly possibly that they will repeat questions. The line of questions are also very similar and even if there aren’t many repeated, at least you already know the basis. Tests online similar to what your professors use are also a good option as well as quiz a friend and vice versa, however, this last option might take longer and not work in little time. If you work well with a study buddy, testing each other would be beneficial for both.
REVIEW ONLY what you’re less prepared for, what you did wrong in the tests, what professors ask the most. If you don’t have enough time, you don’t want to waste it reviewing what you already know. If you know, you know. Believe and trust yourself!!
Don’t stress yourself, it will be alright. Stressing over little time can be a good pressure and motivator but too much can do the opposite effect and that’s not your intention. Find a balance, use your study breaks well enough to rest and relax so you won’t be too overwhelmed in the middle of an afternoon and do nothing the rest of the day.
GET A GOOD NIGHT SLEEP THE NIGHT BEFORE. You can wake up earlier to review but make sure you have at least 7 hours of sleep that night. Sleeping well the night before the exam is essencial for your brain to process everything you’ve studied. It will also allow your brain to be fresh and ready to work by the time you take the exam. If you are too tired from an all nighter, your brain will be tired and not work as quick and efficient as you need it.
Trust yourself. It doesn’t matter the amount of time you had, you still know the material. If you believe in yourself, you’re halfway passed!! You have to remind yourself that you did the best you could with the time you had. As long as you know that, you’ll feel so much lighter and the exam will go so much better. And if it doesn’t, you won’t feel guilty because you know you gave your best. In college/university, we never know everything or get out of an exam feeling like we scored the best grade ever.

mello-my-name-iz reblogged

tiny-personal-university-thing

How I Went From Academic Probation to the Dean’s List in One Semester

Introduction

So if you haven’t read it and want to understand the full story, I recommend reading this post right here (x) Long story short, while yes, I did have very poor physical and mental health that contributed to my academic probation, I also could have been more organized and overall a better student, and maybe I would have not had the best grades - but still maintained “good standing.” My first two semesters were rough. Then I took two semesters off. When I came back this semester, I was determined to succeed and essentially, I learned how to be the best college student I could be. Albeit, this was also after I regained control over my health. Nonetheless, let’s get into it!

I took some time off from school

First of all, what helped me the most was taking two semesters off. I won’t lie to any of you. I took this time to see pain management doctors, receive treatment for my 6 bulged discs that contributed to my chronic pain, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and re-learned how to live my life, I got my anxiety disorder under control, and I worked 40+ hours a week serving and bartending to become more financially independent - which helped my anxiety. During this time I also learned to be honest with my support system (advisors, close friends, and family), which also contributed to my success this semester.

I forced myself to use a planner religiously (for about a month) until it became an unbreakable habit

I forced myself to use a planner religiously (about a month) until it became an unbreakable habit. Planners are the biggest tool when becoming more organized. During syllabus week, I took my dad’s advice and wrote down every due date, even if it was TBA. This allowed me to be “ahead of the curve.” I am not taken by surprise by any assignments now.
Using my planner, I create artificial due dates for myself that are a day or two before the actual, posted due date. This ensures that my assignments are turned in early, or if something goes wrong in submitting them (if online) then I can make my professor/instructor aware of the issue beforehand so that something can be done. Write: “Have X turned in by today!”
Do your best to also not only stay “on top of” assignments, but also ahead of them. It is better to work ahead and have nothing to do (or due) for the remainder of the week than to be overwhelmed by copious amounts of work and studying.

I took pride in my work

I took pride in my work/notes, and set out to create work/notes that would impress peers (if they saw my work) or impress my professor upon grading my assignments. I specifically set out to “wow” people with what I was creating. This lead me to the studyblr community specifically with my notes.

I emailed my professors literally all the time

I emailed my professors consistently. Even if I had a question that could have waited until the next class - I emailed my professors. They were able to learn my names, and my grades are awesome because of it.

I participated in class

I participated in class. Not only do I sit in the front of the class because I can’t see (ya girl isn’t good about wearing her glasses) but I also do this because professors “teach to the T” This basically means that professors teach mostly to students who sit in the front row, and students that sit down the aisles. So imagine a classroom, and imagine which desks would make a T-shape. That’s where you want to sit. I also make sure to contribute to class discussions. When you sit up front, you are less inclined to be on your phone or doing miscellaneous things on your laptop. Your eyes will be drawn to your professor, you will feel more compelled to answer their questions, and you will pay better attention. With this being said, I was always the student that had to sit in front because I can’t see, but I was also always the teacher’s pet.

I purchased cool/cute study supplies that made me want to study

Buy materials that make you want to take notes with them. I really like Five Star notebooks. I also really like taking notes with Crayola SuperTips. Create notes that are easy for you to review later.
Which brings me to my next tip: actually review those notes later.

Tried and true study apps like Quizlet saved my semester

I utilize study-apps like Quizlet. I know that there are many out there; however, I prefer the tried and true method of good ole Quizlet.

Pay your advisor a visit. They do not judge you!

I make appointments to see my advisors regularly. Advisors can help you if anything begins to go awry. I also made an appointment with the same advisors, so that I didn’t have to re-explain my situation. They never judged me. They can provide you with materials and resources for any issue you’re having. I am always blown away every time I meet with my advisors because they know their jobs so well.

I sat my butt down and did my work

I didn’t exactly “time block” study time because that doesn’t really work for me. However, when I had time after work or whenever - I sat down at my desk and made time for assignments. I highly recommend the Pomodoro Technique. You set a timer for 15-25 minutes, focus on your work during that time, and then take a 5-10 minute break before continuing. Usually, you will find that you either just want to go ahead and finish up or that you definitely needed a break.
I created a study space that I love. It is really miscellaneous and not at all what you see on the majority of studyblrs, but it works for me. I love my desk!

Buy some expos and a white board in addition to using your planner

I use a white board in addition to my planner to write down upcoming dates for the next week/entire month. I use a different color for each class as well as miscellaneous things I need to get done. When I have completed something, I just erase it.

Treat yo self

I congratulated myself for little victories. 96 on a test? Ice cream for you tonight, babes.

Figure yourself out as a scholar

I learned how and where I studied best. My two spots are in the library or at my desk in my room. I also seem to study best with someone else around me, like when my boyfriend is playing his video games - that is the perfect time for me to study. Do you study best with zero distractions, or do you like to work with some music on? Do you like background noise from the TV or completely silent? Are you a night owl or a morning bird? Figure out those things first. You can’t force yourself to study at a time when it doesn’t work for you. For example, I am a night owl so I know that evening - night is the best time for me to get to work.
I learned what ritual worked best for me. Having a cup of coffee while I do my make up, and then ensuring that I was out at the bus stop at least 5 minutes before the bus was scheduled to come, and making sure that I got on the bus that came no later than 30 minutes before my class. Know your routine. What routine works for you?

The obvious

Go to class. Easiest one. Attendance policies can be brutal. Get to know yours. Sometimes professors also say things in class that gives those who attended the upper hand in some way.
I started this studyblr! Knowing I wanted to create content here kept me driven to take notes when I didn’t always want to.

I was honest with myself

I was honest with myself for my short comings. AP classes in high school were beneficial in many ways, but they really taught me how to underachieve my way to success. I hardly ever studied for anything and bs’ed so many essays, but it worked and I got really good grades. That doesn’t really work in college.

Non-curriculum based

I learned to say no.
I learned to cut people who did not fully support me out of my life.
I cleaned my apartment and room every weekend. It’s much easier to study when everything is clean.
I made time to go to the grocery store every week. It’s much easier to learn and function when you are well fed.
I did my best to get some sleep. Your brain needs rest to function its best.

I know it hurts, but check those grades frequently. It isn’t like a credit score, it won’t lower every time you check it

I checked all of my grades at least once a week. I know it can be anxiety-inducing, but you have to know where you are in your classes, especially when April rolls around and you might realize you need to put in a little more work.

I became a point whore

I became a point whore. I took advantage of every extra credit opportunity. Every single one.

The golden rule

I made up a golden rule: Do not cram for any exam. To do this, I always started studying once my professor mentioned the test OUTSIDE of the syllabus. If you have dropped the ball and the test is a week out - create a study plan.

Believe in yourself

Lastly, I believed in myself. You cannot do this if you do not believe that you can.

Remember that you can do anything you set your mind to. Start shouldering the burden now by forging good habits. Be honest with yourself. Lastly - dreams don’t work unless you do. I had a lot going on with my health that lead to my grades being terri - yeah they were terrible. But I still was honest about my shortcomings.

Happy studying, realistic students!

mello-my-name-iz reblogged

justsomeantifas

Tips To Make Your College Experience Cheaper

Textbook websites

List of websites where you can find free ebooks, specified by subject.
Slugbooks.com (to compare textbook prices)
Thriftbooks.com
Bigwords.com (price comparison)
Chegg.com
Abebooks.com (offers textbook editions, like unbound ones, that are cheaper than retailers)
directtextbooks.com
studentbooktrades.com
Bookrenter.com (shipping is free, as well as the shipping back to the warehouse)
gutenberg.org (free e-books)
campusbooks.com
textbooks.com
Allbookstores.com (searching shows the lowest price for a book)
textbookrecycling.com
bookscouter.com (find the highest buy back site for a book)
ecampus.com
bookbyte.com
bookdepository.com (Good for English majors, discounted books shipped around the world)
gen.lib.rus.ec (free digital copies of books)
HERE is a huge list of textbook PDFs.

Textbook tips

ALWAYS check to see if textbook websites have online coupons. Check outside websites like RetailMeNot.com but also sign up for their email listing. They often send you a coupon for just signing up and will continually send you other coupon deals.
Amazon has good deals on books sometimes and they offer college students temporary free membership. Here’s a link explaining some of the details.
Amazon and other retailers, like Barnes and Noble also offer textbook rental. You get the book for a certain amount of time (30 days, 60 days, 90 days, etc., then mail it back to them.) Much cheaper than buying.
Some professors put textbooks on reserve in the library so you can check them out for an hour or two instead of actually buying them.
If your class textbooks are at the library and you need them for longer than allowed, you can always photocopy them.
Look for Facebook pages/groups with your school name and year, people are always posting online to get rid of their textbooks.
If your books are older/literature type books they are often available as e-books for free or easy to find at used bookstore or thrift stores.
Ask your professor after hours if you can borrow and make copies of the class textbook.
Many colleges use the Link+ library sharing program or something similar. If the textbook you need isn’t offered in the library, another school within the program can deliver the book for free. Ask you school’s librarians about it.
If you have a class that requires a “reader,” which is just a bunch of articles, you can usually find them at the school library or online.
Keep your textbooks in the best condition possible, so they sell for higher when you no longer need them.
If you can access your class list and the emails of your classmates early, ask if anyone would like to share a textbook. Split the price and share it or just ask to copy the chapters needed.

General tips

If you get financial aid, set it up to deposit into your own checking account because FAFSA ATMs are frustrating.
Check out the dollar stores for some college supplies. They have pens, notebooks, planners, etc.
Find upperclassmen who are moving out of their dorms/apartments, they often sell/give away items they are no longer going to be using.
Find out if your department offers free printing to undergrads. If yours doesn’t, find a friend whose department does.
Pretty much every school offers a MS Office license to students for free. It may not be well advertised but make sure to find out before paying for the programs on your own.
Bulk supply stores are usually cheaper.
Use your phone’s planner and alerts for assignments.
If you need energy boosts, it’s definitely cheaper to brew your own coffee and tea, then use a travel mug. But if you need to go to places like Starbucks, sign up for the Starbucks card so you can get free refills on certain items and get discounts for members only.
Find out what free courses your school offers and go to them instead of paying for a tutor.
At many universities there are conferences and talks almost daily, which often offer free lunches and dinners.
Some colleges offer free cab services so make sure to look into that.
Most school health care places give out free condoms and they are often given out at events too.
Besides math, older editions of textbooks are usually just fine and much cheaper.
Thrift stores are great if you need items for your dorm or apartment, they have appliances and offer testing areas in a section of the store.
Specific to Seattle: There’s a place called Seattle ReCreative and you can get school supplies for extremely cheap.
Check when stores offer back to school sales and get supplies then for cheaper than usual.
Get your syllabus as soon as possible so you can photocopy all the needed pages in textbooks.
Look for websites that offer similar information in the textbook, sometimes it’s explained better online, gives examples, or just generally better worded.
Buy school supplies during tax-free weekend.
Apply for as many local scholarships as possible and do it every year in college, not just freshman year.
Ask absolutely every place you go if they offer student discounts. Many places don’t advertise this, but will offer some kind of discount if you show your student ID.
Find out if your school has assistance options for lower income students.
HERE is a list of food budget tips, recipes, and websites to help.
Some classes have extra fees for whatever reason, for example they will charge more if certain equipment will be used. If it’s not a course you need, sometimes it’s better to find cheaper elective classes.
Consider community college to save money, and then transfer to a 4 year school. Or attend community college classes during the summer but make sure to always check if the credits transfer.
If you need to use a credit card, try to get on with cash back rewards. Also check which banks offer perks for students, like free checking or a no-free policy for low minimum balances.
Check out your college newspaper and signs around campus. You will often find information about free events or find coupons with discounts on near by businesses.
School supplies that don’t sell at stores like Walmart and Target are extremely discounted during the last week of August.
Always check if stores price check.

mello-my-name-iz reblogged

Tips for Students

mello-my-name-iz reblogged

letsget-downtobusiness

6 Things I Learned From Studying For Exams in College

If you skip a topic or don’t study it thoroughly enough because you think it won’t be on the exam, it will be. Study that in particular so you won’t be surprised when it shows up as the first question. Unless your professor explicitly states that it won’t be on the exam, don’t skip any topics.
Put aside the content you’re comfortable and familiar with and start studying the things you don’t know. It’s hard and time consuming but that’s where the actual learning happens.
Start studying at least 4 days in advance. I always regret not starting earlier when I’m at the library 24 hours before the exam and not even close to being done. When I’m having trouble focusing, I’ll sit there and imagine myself an hour before the exam scrambling to finish up a topic, wishing that I had these extra few minutes, hours, or days that I have now. Take advantage of the time you have right now.
Changing up my location helps a lot when I’m studying. If I study in the same corner at the library, eventually my brain will start associating that spot with everything I do in that chair, including wasting time. For me, new location + new material = focus. A few location ideas: a quiet corner in the library, a noisy floor in the library, at your desk at home, a room with a view of the outdoors from high up, a bench/table outside, a cafe or brunch place.
Stay on top of studying and homework from day 1, not after syllabus week and not a month into the semester. When you submit a homework assignment, make it a point to 100% understand everything you just handed in. Homework is assigned for a reason; they’re meant as practice exercises for the material you learned and exams often mimic them. Once you hand in homework, you should know and understand the material. This saves you time when it’s finals week and you have old and new material to study.
Well before the exam, make a list of topics you don’t understand and get your questions answered. There have been so many times where I didn’t fully understand something and thought, “It’s okay, they’re probably not going to ask that,” and it shows up on the exam. When you get your question answered, branch out and ask things like, “What if it weren’t this particular situation/these particular numbers but a different one instead. How would you work through it this time?” (physics/math) or “What caused that/what came after that as a result?” (history). Try to understand all possible scenarios if you can.