My First Semester

After almost completing a full semester in college as a full time student there have been many things I have learned. I have learned what study habits work best for me and which ones don’t, I have learned to ask questions when you need help, and I have learned many time management skills so I can fit work into my busy academic schedule. This semester has had many positive and negative experiences for me but overall it has gone better than I would have expected it to.

The hardest part about my first college semester was time management. I started a part time job right before classes began and I didn’t expect it to be as hard as it is to juggle my school and work schedules. I really had to learn to plan ahead and not put studying and assignments off to the last minute. I have also learned to use time wisely and if I get a break I make good use of it by working on assignments.

I also had to try different studying techniques to figure out what works best for me. I tried using my daily planner to write all my assignments down but I found myself forgetting to write it down and found it inconvenient and time consuming to use the planner. I eventually resorted to only using it when I became over loaded with work so I wouldn’t forget anything. I also found that breaking studying up into chunks the week before an exam really makes a big difference and takes a lot of stress off of your shoulders.

The most helpful thing I did this semester was using the student success center for my computer science labs and going to my professor’s office hours for my math classes when I was having issues. The instructors and tutors are very helpful, and I always understand the material when I leave. Without these two things my semester would have been a nightmare and I am thankful that I took full advantage of them.

I am looking forward to my future college career. I have improved my studying and time management skills, and have figured out what works best for me. I currently have the grades I was hoping for and I am looking forward to getting finals over with and going on break. Overall my semester was positive and the positives definitely outweighed the negatives.

To Seniors

Dear high school seniors,

            I want to write a letter to you to talk to you about some important things I have learned from experience so far in my first semester in college and what you should keep in mind during the college selection process. Picking the school and making sure you have a plan is one of the hardest parts of graduating high school. You need to be involved, apply for scholarships, apply to many different colleges, and trying to decide what you want to do with your life. Your senior year will be the busiest year of your high school career but the hard work will pay off.

            The biggest thing I wish I had done different while in high school was applying for more scholarships. They are very time consuming and it’s hard to find the motivation to do them on top of all the other things that you already have to do and worry about. But college is expensive and all the help you can get will make a difference. Look at it this way; you could possibly make 500 dollars for about an hour or two of work. That’s pretty good money!

            You also need to start getting involved and start actively finding a career so you can start figuring out what colleges are best for you. You can do this by job shadowing, and interviewing professionals in the field that you are interested in. Having a good idea of the career you want is important because you will need to research colleges that have a good program for you. You need to start applying to colleges early and not put it off to the last minute so you can put a decent amount of time into it. When you think you know what college you are going to apply you should visit the campus and see if it is comfortable and if you would feel at home there since you will be spending a lot most of your time there.

            Your last year you really need to focus on what you are interested in and work hard so your college applications stand out from everyone else’s. Work hard and complete as many scholarships as you can. You won’t win them all but some help is better than no help. Also be active with your career choices so you don’t have to waste time farther down the road changing majors.

            

Finals Week

            Finals week is probably the most stressful time of the semester for a college student, but it doesn’t have to be. Student put off their studying till the last minute and finds themselves overwhelmed with content from all their classes. Starting early on your finals studying can greatly reduce your stress level and is a much more effective study habit than cramming a couple nights before all your finals. Some more useful studying tips for finals week is reviewing old test, picking out key concepts, and spacing out your study time in chunks. Finals week is dreaded by nearly all college students, but if students eliminate cramming and know what to study their stress levels would probably drop significantly.

            Putting off studying for one test till the last minute is stressful enough, but putting off studying for 2-5 finals (depending on how many classes you are taking) is just insane. It is important to start studying at least 3 weeks before finals so you aren’t over loaded at the last minute with all this information that you are trying to cram into your head. Break your studying into chunks that make sense based on your classes. The more times you look at the information the better you will know it on the exam. Cramming is not the answer for finals. So if you haven’t thought about starting your finals studying it would be a good idea to start now.

            Knowing what to study is also the key to success on your finals. Go through your notes and information and pick out the main points of the section because odds are instructors are going to pick the larger key points of the course rather than the nity gritty. Reviewing old tests and quizzes is also an effective studying technique for your finals. Be sure to review the stuff you missed the most because odds are you are going to see the same question again on the final. If your instructor doesn’t allow you to keep your tests or quizzes go in during office hours and see if they would allow you to review your past tests from the course.

            Don’t be the student up all night drinking energy drinks all night trying to learn 15 weeks of information from all your classes in one night. Break up the information and start studying early for your finals. College is stressful but you can take a lot of pressure of yourself with these simple studying tips for your final exams.

Building Your Resume

          Going to college to get a major isn’t going to guarantee you a job. Employers look for a variety of things when deciding who is best fit for the job. Employers want someone who is willing to go above and beyond. It is important to start building your resume now so you can be competitive in today’s job market. A college major is only part of what should be on your resume. There are many other important items that need to be added including, internships, extra-curricular activities, and any prior job experience you may have.

            Of course your education is one of the most important parts of your resume. Employers want someone who is knowledgeable and succeeded in their academics. However they also want to see involvement outside of the class room. This could include, volunteering, leadership opportunities, clubs, and even athletics. They are not necessarily looking for a whole list of things you were involved in. They are looking for one or two clubs or activities that forced you to communicate with others and stay busy. Participating in extra activities outside of the classroom show work ethic and that you are willing to go beyond what is required of you.

            Employers also want to see that you have experience in the career you are applying for. Good ways to gain some experience are internships. Having internships on your resume show that you are truly interested and passionate about the career you are pursing. It also gives you hands on experience that you can’t get in the classroom alone. Internships can be both paid and volunteer work without pay. It is also a good idea to have some type of prior job experience on your resume. Employers want to be able to contact someone you used to work for and find out how you made either a positive or negative influence on the company. If you had a bad experience with your previous employer it could be a good idea to leave that off your resume if at all possible.

            Communication and being able to effectively present information to others is one of the most important things employers are looking for. These skills can be shown on your resume through social clubs and activities that you have participated in. Today’s job market is highly competitive, just having a college major might not be enough. So go above and beyond and push yourself so when you graduate you can be confident that you are best qualified for your desired career.

             

Creating Your Four Year Plan

             Planning ahead is a big part of being successful in college. Having a plan gives you an idea of where you should be and where you are headed. It is a good idea to start planning out your classes for the next four years. If you have already determined your major you should go ahead and start looking at what classes you will need to take in the next four years to ensure you meet the graduation requirements. Without a four year plan you may find yourself confused about what you should be taking, and might end up taking a class your senior year that you should have took your sophomore year. Creating your four-year plan can be a challenge. To make it easier students should seek help from an advisor and be sure to ask questions in the process.

            The first thing you need to do to figure out your four year plan is determine a major and any potential minors that you may be interested in. Once you determine a major it would be a good idea to go to the head of the department you are interested in and ask them about the major and about the different types of classes that you will be taking. Another useful tool that you will probably want to have handy is your school’s course catalog. The course catalog lists all the majors and minors that your college has to offer and tells you the required classes for the majors and minors. It also lists all the credit hours for each class and lists all required classes outside the major.

            When creating your four year plan be sure to take into account how many credit hours you are taking a semester. If you don’t have enough you may not graduate in the desired four years. If you take too many you may become over loaded with work and your grades may suffer as a result. It’s important to make sure you are scheduling a reasonable amount of credit hours to make sure you graduate on time while not being overloaded with work. You will also need to make sure that you are taking all the required classes for the major or minor and the required classes to graduate. As you create your four year plan is aware of the nature of the courses you are taking. For example, it would not be a good idea to take 3 chemistry classes at one time. You do not have to create your plan alone. It is a good idea to talk with your advisor and be sure to ask any questions about the classes you will be taking. Your advisor is the most important resource you can use, so take advantage of it.