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Saturday, September 4, 2010

Back To School

The much feared/anticipated event of the college student's life is either already here, or not too far away. Colleges all over the world are gearing up for the first semester (for most folks) of the 2010 year. I hope that everyone's ready for and at least somewhat excited about their new courses. As you approach first day, try to catch up on some of the sleep debt you may have accumulated throughout the summer. That way, you'll be as fresh as possible for your first couple of classes (it probably won't last long). If you want to play the odds in terms of getting high grades, sit in the very first row of the class. Research has shown that students sitting in even the second row of the classroom get lower grades than those in the first. Hopefully you're done with or working on all your textbook purchases, and hopefully those purchases aren't coming predominantly from the college bookstore (unless of course, your school is one of the few that doesn't rip students off). If you're dorming, I trust that you've kept in touch with your roommate and split the expenses of dorm supplies. Hopefully your roommate isn't one who purchases himself an individual TV for his/her eyes only (not unheard of). It will probably take a while to snap back into that scholarly spirit after a lazy summer, so give yourself adequate time to adjust to the new lifestyle. Remember to make some connections within your classes, both for friendship and for practicality's sake. Having a few phone numbers in every class will definitely come in handy at some point throughout the semester. Most of all, try to have yourself a good time this year. Love what you do, and you'll always do what you love. Best of luck this academic year. (P.S: There has been a new addition to The Academik lately, specifically a college database with useful links to all kinds of information about many universities. We don't have too many entries added yet, as it's still in the works, but we're excited to provide this new service and plan on expanding it extensively.)

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Commuting

For many, college is a time in which they can at last move out of the house and into a dorm, finally gaining their long awaited independence from Mom and Dad. For others, however, it isn't. As you probably know, some students choose to either live at home, or somewhere else off campus, and commute to school for classes. For these students, both new advantages and challenges arise. One thing commuters must learn to adjust to is a greater sense of time and organization than that which a student on campus would necessarily have. Campus students have the advantage of being relatively close to their classes, while commuters can live up to two or three hours away. This means they must use their allotted time more effectively. If your commute allows it, make sure you do something school related while you travel (if you can). This will buy you back some of the valuable time you waste moving from place to place. Commuters must also learn to plan their schedules around not only the average commuting time, but the abnormalities that could arise on the trip. Because they lose time traveling, commuters must adapt to being more efficient once they get home. They must make sure they're constantly aware of the time and how it's being spent. Since commuters usually cannot realistically go home if they forget something, they must be more responsible with what they bring along with them to school. Forgetting a paper at home can be catastrophic to a commuter. Depending on the commuter's route, there may also be safety precautions that he or she must take. If your college is in a bad neighborhood, you probably don't want to be leaving the campus too late. One resource that can be invaluable to a commuter is a dorming buddy whom he/she can count on to stay over a night or two. If you're a commuter, do yourself and cultivate one of these relationships. There will most certainly be times when you want to stick around for something on campus that is taking place late at night, and you probably won't want to commute home after it. As a commuter, it is important you use all your time spent on campus effectively. In between classes, make sure to make an attempt at getting some school work/studying done. A commuter also sometimes has a greater need for on campus facilities than dormers do. Make good use of the library (for reference and a quiet place to study), gym (if time permits), and computer labs (if you don't have a laptop, which, by the way, you definitely should as a commuter). If you're a commuter, you must also try harder to make social connections on campus. Extracurricular activities are crucial for commuters, because other than classes and parties, they'll be the only places you can comfortably connect with other people. Just remember, commuting doesn't have to be a negative aspect of the college experience.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Extracurriculars

Both college and high school would be vastly incomplete without something other than academics that students could get involved in. Extracurricular activities are an unquestionably important part of a complete educational experience. However, there is a right and a wrong way to incorporate them into your schooling career. You are probably already aware of most of the ways extracurriculars can go horribly wrong. Stacking way too many of them drains very large amounts of time out of your schedule, and as a result, your grades suffer. If you're not sure whether you're doing too many, compare your grades at the end of semester or marking period, to those you had in a previous section of time, and see if there are any markable differences. If so, drop a few activities, and try again, once again comparing results and adapting accordingly. Another way extracurriculars can be done incorrectly is doing them solely to add padding to your resume, and thus, performing poorly in them. When you have absolutely no interest in something, it will show subconsciously, whether you'd like it to or not. We like to provide realistic advice on this website, so I understand that a ton of students will do extracurriculars, regardless of desire level, to make themselves more valuable to colleges and graduate schools. However, at least try to make sure that you have some semblance of an interest in whatever the extracurricular happens to be. In this way, you'll not only be somewhat entertained, but as a result, you'll probably make a more meaningful contribution. Another way extracurriculars can go wrong is to not do any at all. A lot of students might carry the mindset of: "Why waste time on extracurriculars when I can devote those hours to studying, and getting a better GPA. Won't a higher GPA mean more to colleges than any extracurriculars will?" This is a valid concern, but do you think a higher GPA will mean more to colleges than absolutely NO extracurriculars will? Colleges will look at your records and see just what you have presented yourself as, that is, a straight up student who has no interests other than getting high grades. Is this the image of yourself you want colleges to perceive? Perhaps GPA points are worth more than extracurriculars in the long run, but a student who has no, or very few, activities on his record will definitely raise a few red flags in the admissions office. If managed carefully, extracurriculars are an excellent way of not only unloading some of the pressure of school, but discovering something about yourself, learning something new, meeting new people, and more practically, standing out amongst other students.

What Constitutes a ‘Good’ College?

With approximately 95 days, 11 hours, and 59 minutes left until Early Decision, you're probably scrambling from forum to forum figuring out which are those ‘Good’ colleges that you should apply to.  Well, what exactly makes a college ‘good? Is it the reputation?  Is it it's cost-effectiveness?  Or is it perhaps how well the investment of your money pays off?  Indubitably, these are all attributes of a decent college, and a combination of this sort, with the inclusion of other elements, certainly showcases that top school. But something is missing in this laundry list, something that is indispensable for the ideal learning experience – student: professor ratio. When applying to those colleges, especially the big name schools like MIT, Harvard, Princeton and Yale, make sure that the student-professor ratio is not 20:1 or anything higher!  One of the most crucial factors which leads to that rich learning experience is your relationship with your professor: it may sound ridiculous at first, but will he or she even know your name? At big name schools, there is sometimes a tendency for professors to be more concerned with their research than their students. Many professors fall victim to the ‘Publish or Perish’ ideology within the research schools, so sometimes you may not be  actually receiving that top dollar education that you're paying for.  For example, although the school will cost $50,000+ and boast about its faculty sponsored research, in reality, the undergraduate student will rarely contribute to any of that ‘research.’  In most cases, it will be either a graduate or a Ph.D. student.  The truth is, with the large student to professor ratio, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to work on prize-winning research and at the same time be grading, lecturing, and planning lessons.   Given the high ratio within these ‘Research’ Universities, the chances are high that you're paying just for the ‘name,’ or just for the research, but not to actually be a part of it. On the other hand, a low student-professor ratio allows you to get to know more about your professor; it opens the doors for internships/job opportunities, letters of recommendation, and most importantly, provides an enriched learning environment which ultimately teaches you to step through those doors of success.  A low ratio allows for a rich quality of education which not only presents you with a multitude of opportunities, but allows you to make the most of them.  Thus, for a school to be truly ‘good,’ it must not only possess that prestigious reputation, but must also live up to its expectations regarding the quality of education. If you are still unsure, sit in on a class and ask yourself if this is how you want to spend your next three or four years.  After all, it never hurts to visit a school you are deeply interested in. Do not forget that you can always ‘try it before you buy it'!-originally written by Stan

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Pursuing That College Career


Included in the title are four words that, when combined, elicit different responses from everyone, yet beg the same question – ‘How much money does this path yield?’ At first glance, this seems like a rational question; After all, many students graduate with a five or even six figure debt, and their loans sure don't pay themselves off either. So logically, everyone rushes to the engineering, medical, computer science, and even legal fields with their eyes set on that $65,000 median salary prize. However, how many of those individuals truly consider the security of the careers they pursue? I am not simply talking about basic job security, but rather, a kind of security which people tend to overlook during the gold rush frenzy after graduation – experience security. What I mean by experience security is being able to find a new job easily after losing an existing job, regardless of whether the company goes under, or you no longer wish to work for them; The question here is, essentially, how adaptable is your skill set? The key point to remember is that your experience has value. You may think of this in terms of an Experience Value curve, which represents how valuable one’s experience is to the company and market that he or she is associated with. Ideally, your value as a worker in the company should increase each day that you are employed. For instance, as mentioned before, many people inundate the engineering field with the idea that their jobs will be secure and their 60-65k starting salary will nullify their debt in a short period of time. However, many overlook the notion that the Experience Value curve is static for engineers after five or ten years. The cost of maintaining your skillset exceeds the cost of simply hiring a new graduate with an updated set of skills and, according to the employer, your experience value can be compensated for in just a short amount of time. Although engineers are in demand in today’s society, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the emphasis on the Experience Value curve is the reason. In fact, it can be quite the contrary. The demand is there because the experience is not valued, and workers are just quickly replaced like products on an assembly line. On the other hand, think about the medical field. Because disease and old age are ubiquitous, doctors will usually be in high demand. However, with each year in the practice, the doctor gains experience, whether it be in another area of medicine or about a new plethora of diseases. Such experience cannot be reduced to the level of pure economic finances, because what becomes valuable here is the experience he or she acquires over extended time, and not their years of medical schooling. In hindsight, the crucial thing to keep in mind when pursuing a career is how much experience is truly valued within that profession. Skills can always be replaced, but experience is priceless. -originally written by Stan

Friday, July 23, 2010

Major Pain

Deciding a major is undoubtedly one of the biggest decisions of the contemporary academic's life. This decision will directly or indirectly affect almost everything that happens to you from the moment you finally make it. Fortunately, in today's world, there are mountains of resources available to help you make the wisest choice possible. There are also a few important things to remember in order to keep your head out of the clouds while you pick your field of study. Picture two points in space, one representing passion, and the other representing practicality. Draw a line between these two points. The ideal decision will lie as close to the midpoint of that line as possible. For example, suppose you love to play a certain musical instrument, and because of that, you want to major in music. A decision like this would obviously fulfill the passion requirement, but what about the practicality? Determining the practicality of a major is more difficult than determining your passion for it, mainly because the answer lies outside of your mind. Practicality must be researched. A good place to start is figuring out which professions spring from your major, and the average salary of these professions. Another practicality factor to research is the future outlook of those professions. A career may look really promising now, but become a dead zone within the coming years. The Occupational Outlook Handbook from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is a solid reference for both of these bits of information. It also includes many other pragmatic considerations, such as job security, training, projections, etc. On the other end of the spectrum lies a scenario like this: You have absolutely no interest or desire to become a doctor, yet you go into a difficult pre-med program because it's what your parents always wanted, and you heard doctors make a lot of money. Such a choice will obviously lie a lot closer to the practicality endpoint of our decision line. However, before you make a selection like this, you must look inward honestly and ask yourself: "What am I ultimately looking to get out of this world?" If your answer is money, then you're probably making the right decision. However, most people would probably lean towards an answer resembling happiness. In this case, you should probably move yourself a little closer to the passion endpoint of the line. Whether money can buy happiness is still a point of contention for many people, but I can guarantee you that doing something you hate almost everyday of your life will not do any favors for your well being.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Standardized Testing

Perhaps nothing strikes more fear into students than the dreaded standardized test. Whether it is the unpredictability of the questions, the nervousness of doing well, or the sheer horror of having to take a four hour long test, standardized tests oftentimes represent a student’s most difficult academic obstacle. However, as with anything concerning education, standardized test taking is an acquired skill, which can be improved and perfected with hard work. The beauty of standardized tests is exactly that, they are standardized. The fact that they are designed to provide the same bench mark for assessing competency year after year means that there is a wealth of resources available at your disposal. The key, however, is correctly using what is available to you. If you go to your neighborhood Borders or Barnes and Nobles, you are sure to find several hundreds of books concerning taking standardized tests. The books can be roughly condensed into three categories: books which teach you the material on the test, books which provide sample tests, and finally books with reference material. The first step is to go through a book like the Princeton Review or Kaplan, which will teach you the required material on a test. It will also provide you the in and outs of testing, like when it is reasonable to guess, how to eliminate choices and so forth. A good idea is to go through two or more different books of this sort to guarantee you have a firm grasp of what is required. You can likewise supplement your studying with reference material like formula charts and vocabulary cards. Most students have a tendency of stopping here, however, the absolute best way to study for standardized tests is to take as many practice tests as possible. The benefits are numerous. Firstly, you become acquainted with the test’s format, and consequently, are able to pace yourself in the most efficient manner. Secondly, you are applying your knowledge of the material the same way you will come test day. This, in turn, will make you accustomed with all the different ways test makers can ask you the same problem in different words. Finally, taking full tests is the only way to build stamina. You will become fully able to apply yourself throughout a test, rather than deflating like a balloon with every passing hour. Although you can take tests provided by companies like Princeton Review, standardized test makers like College Board annually release official tests from previous years. It is likewise important you begin your studying as soon as possible, which may be several months before the actual test date. By following these simple methods you are guaranteed to have all the tools required to ace that next standardized test.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Group Studying

I've never been a fan of group studying. I tend to avoid it whenever possible, mainly because I'd rather do an effective study session by myself, and then hang out with my friends later without any stress. However, I understand that sometimes such situations cannot be avoided, and may even be beneficial. In what situations is group studying useful? Classes that are very note and lecture based (rather than textbook based) are particularly well suited to group study sessions, since students can compare their notes, and fill each other in on what they've missed. However, from personal experience, I can tell you that having more than three people in a study group almost always turns ugly. More than three people, especially if they're good friends, will not stay focused for long. In fact, even three people is pushing it. If you're going to participate in a group session, try to make the effort to have as little people as possible. When organizing a group study session, ask yourself seriously: Am I doing this in order to study for this test, or to hangout with my friends? There's nothing wrong with the latter. Just don't go thinking to yourself that this is the best way to go about studying, when deep down you know could have done a much better job by yourself. If you're actually serious about the studying, do yourself a favor and try to avoid the group sessions. There'll be plenty of future chances to hit on that girl two seats to the left of you. If you're going to group study anyway, take heed of a few pointers. Firstly, if no one else does, try to control the scene as best as you can without being annoying. If people start getting off topic, remind them politely what the purpose of this get together was. Secondly, make the most of having other people there with you, and ask questions about stuff you're unsure about. Not only will this help you out, but it'll help keep everyone else focused. Thirdly, try to keep group study sessions short and sweet. Everyone's attention span drifts after a while, and three people losing focus is worse than one. Long group study sessions degenerate three times faster than solo ones (Note: Not a proven fact) , so try to reap the benefits of two extra heads in as little time as possible. If done effectively, group sessions can be very helpful. If done incorrectly, they can be a massive and costly waste of time.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Planning Ahead

As a student, it is easy to make the mistake of living in the moment. Whether it be concentrating all your efforts on an upcoming test, or struggling to keep up with the week’s school work, we predictably tend to exert all our energy towards success in the present. However, it is equally important to never lose sight of your long term goals and make a conscious effort to plan for the future. Doing so will not only enrich your current studies by creating a sense of direction, but will likewise increase the rewards which lay in the future. The first step is to form a picture of where you see yourself in the next few years. If you are in high school, it helps to ask yourself what colleges you can see yourself attending or what subject matter you find interesting to study. Begin to research all the various types of requirements associated with applying to college, like standardized tests, essays, scholarships and so forth. If you are in college, experiment with different career paths to find which draw your interest. It would also be worthwhile to look at the job market and try to assess future prospects from intuition or from asking someone more knowledgeable in the field, like a professor. Not being able to create a crystal clear picture of where you will be in three or four years is perfectly normal and it shouldn’t discourage you. The idea is simply to gain a sense of direction. Deciding, for example, whether you are a liberal arts or technical science type of person really is a decision which should be made early on rather than the day before graduation. With a proper footing, the next step is to create a plan of action. Perhaps the most important method you can use is deciding which courses to take and when to take them. Since you already know the requirements for applying to a certain college or majoring in a specific degree from step one, make a sketch of all the classes you have to take, and get an idea of when you will take them. The absolute last thing you want happening is deciding to postpone taking a class for the spring semester, only to find out that the class is only offered in the fall (it happens more often than not). Also, take note of the prerequisites for all of your classes and make sure you overlap them properly. A delightful side effect would be some free spots in your schedule to take an elective class you find interesting, complete a particular extracurricular activity you like, or perhaps even minor in a certain subject. Remember to get a head start on studying for standardized tests rather than saving it for the week before, and try networking with every opportunity instead of waiting until you are in dire need of a connection.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Study Spots

Students often mistake time spent studying for progress made in studying. Just like in any endeavor, if you work for the sake of occupying time, then your results will be lackluster. There is a simple formula to refer to in order to calculate how much real studying you've gotten done. Success in studying is equal to time spent studying multiplied by the intensity of your focus. So, if you are studying with an intensity of focus near 0, then the real amount of studying you will have completed will also be not too far from 0. A lack of intensity of focus is frequently what keeps students from realizing their academic potential. Too often do I see students spend enormous amounts of time studying, yet have little to show for it. This is not only demonstrates poor studying skills, but also kills self-esteem. These students are deceiving themselves - they convince themselves that they are doing their best, but are not able to succeed. These students blame a lack of intelligence on their part for their failure when really it's a lack of study skills that inhibits their progress. The problem often lies in where the studying is attempted. Your dorm room is probably one of the worst place you could possibly study.   The only thing your dorm room has going for it is convenience.  With all of the distractions present both inside and outside your room (such as your friends, an array of distracting technology, and a roommate), it's no wonder that students spend many hours studying in their dorm room and are disappointed when they receive their exam grade. Even if you have minor success with studying in your dorm room, you should realize that you can cut the time you spend studying into a fraction of what it currently is. In order to truly become effective at studying you must find a study spot that allows you to maximize your intensity of focus (and thus your productivity) while you study. Naturally a good place for this is the library. However, a study spot can be anywhere that is relatively quiet, secluded, and free of distractions. If you enjoy studying outside then finding a secluded table or bench somewhere can be just as effective as the library. Find a spot that you can mark as your own - somewhere that your brain will soon classify as a place for serious work. Once you you start doing this you should see an instant boost in both the quantity and quality of your work. Feel free to experiment with different locations until you find one that fits you.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Studying the Tests

A lot of students nowadays don't seem to understand, or are even aware, that there's a fundamental difference between learning in school, and succeeding in school. This difference is key because it is an excellent guideline to how you should approach almost everything in school that will count for a grade. Suppose you have a biology test tomorrow. Would the optimal approach be to sit down and start reading the biology textbook from page 1? Assuming your goal is to gain as much learning as possible, that would probably be a good place to start. However, the successful student must think more practically. This student understands that doing well on tests is more about studying the test than studying the material. Half the battle of doing well on tests is to find out as much as humanly possible about what exactly your instructor will be examining you on. You can spend literally days studying and still fail a test because you did not focus your efforts in the proper places. Be "that guy" and ask the professor as many questions as you feel are essential. If you feel embarrassed, ask him after class. He might get annoyed, but he'll also begin to understand that you really care about your performance, and that'll pay important dividends when he decides your final grade(also, he'll actually learn your name). Make sure to listen to other students' questions as well, for even the greatest mind cannot do the work of a few. Lectures are also invaluable resources for possible exam questions. Listen for what your instructor emphasizes multiple times, as this is almost a guarantee that that topic will show up as a question in some form or another. Once you have compiled all this information, only then is it time to begin the studying process. Remember, you are not trying to learn the material; you are trying to learn the test. Study almost exclusively from the information you collected. Also, remember that it's never too late to collect or update your test database. Keep your ears open. The professor may suddenly decide to take something off the test, or add an additional topic. It is up to you and only you to notice these things. Making a lot of friends in the class makes this step (and life in general) a lot easier. Also, try to trust your gut. If the professor didn't mention specifically that something was going to be on the test, but something in your gut just tells you it will be, go ahead and review it. It's all about predicting the test questions. Sure, some people might think that what I'm saying here is an insult to the teachers and their teaching method, but this strategy is not an attempt to insult anybody. It is simply playing the game using the rules the system has set up for you. That's life, and we have to do our best to adapt and thrive in it.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Challenge Yourself

"Professor assigns too much homework" or "Too much studying required for tests" - these are just some of the not-so-insightful comments you might come across while browsing RateMyProfessor. College students frequently forget that one of the most rewarding components of a college education is a healthy dose of challenge. They become so caught up researching what class will be an "easy A" that they end up shortchanging themselves on their own education. Students spend the better part of their high school years fretting about getting into a prestigious school, but once they are actually attending they fail to realize their academic potential. Students frequently equate challenge with struggle because they assume that when they are forced to pull an all-nighter they are being challenged and vice versa. As Serge pointed out in his recent article, all-nighters are not the key to succeeding in the classroom, especially not difficult ones. A challenging course is one in which thoughtful reflection is a prerequisite for success, and in which a good grade is far from guaranteed. When registering for classes for next semester, instead of researching which professors are easy graders and which aren’t instead draw your focus on which professors will make you work for your grade. Don't think that you and your friends will benefit equally from the same course. Challenge exists on a personal level, and those who seek it should not have much difficulty finding it. Challenge can be found in any school and in virtually any department. For anyone who thinks that challenge is limited to strictly technical courses realize that for every difficult technical class offered by your school there is bound to be a humanities class that is just as difficult. Challenge doesn't imply that success in the classroom is inhibited - it means that success has to be earned through a combination of hard work and smart study practices. So do yourself a favor: take at least one truly challenging course every semester until you graduate. The work ethic and motivation you will develop will last far longer and be far more valuable than the semester of work you have put into the class. The beauty of challenging courses is that with each one you conquer you will feel a noticeable difference in your own abilities. Challenging courses will provide the much-needed exercise to keep your brain in tip-top shape.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Managing Time

We have all had moments when it seemed as though we were given a very large assignment without enough time to complete it. Coincidentally, these moments tend to occur the night before that large assignment is due— which of course was assigned three months earlier. Instances like these emphasize the importance of learning how to manage one's time, especially as we grow into more demanding academic responsibilities. Before I get into ways to better control your time, I think it is important to note what I believe is the source of the problem. I commonly find that people attempt to apply the same study and time management habits in college as they did in high school. While this seems like a good idea at first, what most incoming college freshmen don't realize is that the workload is ten times greater. The circumstances are obviously different, and accordingly demand a different sense of how one treats work, particularly because time management evolves along with us. The key to learning how to take control of completing whatever assignments you may have is a sense of personal commitment. Of course, this is not a very simple thing to achieve, particularly because it is contrary to the way we normally view assignments. What usually motivates us to complete an assignment is the very ominous and looming due date which in our minds indicates the absolute latest we can complete something. However, once you come to the realization that you yourself can take a more proactive stance in determining when and how you will work, you will immediately notice differences. One method you can try is to give yourself a personal deadline for an assignment which is a few days or week, depending on the magnitude of the assignment, before the actual due date. Clearly mark the dates on a calendar (Google Calendar works wonders here) and give an honest and conscious effort to achieve your goal, but if it occurs that the work is too much to handle it is absolutely fine, I guarantee that the quality and amount of work you will have completed will be many fold greater than normal. Of course, since you do not have extrinsic motivators like a teacher to scold you, or points deducted from your grade, the only thing that will enable you to achieve your goal is commitment. If you follow this simple mentality, you will note only come to manage your time far more efficiently, but will also notice that you will become less dependent on others to tell you how and when things should be done.

All-Nighters

Ah, all-nighters. Those much fabled and much maligned nights of the year (or weeks of the year, depending on who you are) that almost every serious student has been through. But is this ever increasing trend really a wise decision? I have two opinions, and the one that I adopt depends heavily on my personal situation the night before the test. More specifically, the only time that I truly believe an all-nighter will help rather than hamper your grade, is when you are convinced you have a very sub par and inadequate understanding of the material. This usually occurs when you haven't studied or paid attention in class at all, or very little, right up until the test. Think critically and decide honestly if this describes you the day before your examination. However, when you've already studied extensively, and are thoroughly confident that you'll be able to answer most of, if not all, the questions the professor will throw at you, then there really is absolutely no reason for you to stay up the entire night. Well, you might be wondering, what kind of crazy person even does that? Well, then, you'd be surprised. Some students are so paranoid about their grades that they believe they have to study every single minute up until the big day, to the point that they're almost paralyzed with guilt if they don't. Chances are you know one of these people (or are one yourself) The result? Poorer performance. Don't get me wrong. It's certainly possible to pull an all-nighter and add a few points to your test grade. But are those additional few points worth feeling like crap the entire next day, throwing off your circadian rhythm, and putting your body into sleep debt? If that's not convincing enough for you, know that your sleep deprivation will make you pay less attention during other classes, thereby indirectly hindering your performance on your next test, and leaving you with more work to do later during study days. Remember, just because all your friends are pulling all- nighters, that doesn't mean you should. Your decision should depend entirely on careful introspection (as with anything else). When deciding, remember to prioritize. For example, your train of thought should be different depending on whether the next day you have a midterm, as opposed to, let's say, a quiz that'll be dropped anyway for being your lowest grade. A general rule of thumb? All-nighters should be reserved for desperation situations only.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Read a Book

Well, it's summer break here right now, and most of us are are fortunate enough to have some time off from school to pursue our other interests (or simply to relax). Unfortunately, for many students, these summers can become not only the most exciting part of the year, but also a step backwards in terms of our ability to cope with the upcoming school season. I understand that you're worn out, tired from months of mental load and test taking, and ready to do everything you couldn't do while school was in session (like sleep). However, I want to stress to you the importance of making an effort to keep your brain in collegiate shape throughout the summer. One of the easiest and most convenient ways to do this is to simply read a book. Read a substantial book. If you need guidance as to what to read, research some classic books and start there (you'll find many). If you're going to read, you might as well do it right and read something other than some frothy and vapid airplane distraction. If you're really opposed to reading a book, then read the news. If you don't want to read the news, read some websites and articles. Read this blog. Read anything as long as it interests you and challenges you intellectually. As with weight-lifting, only when you exert yourself above your comfort level for a period of time will you start to see some gains. Not straining yourself intellectually all summer is akin to an athlete taking the entire summer off and expecting to come back and perform just as well in his sport of choice. Sure he'll get back to optimum capacity eventually, and so will you, but how many tests will you have to take before you get there? Reading during the summer will keep your mind sharp and will make it that much easier to get back into study and testing mode once school starts. I'm not saying spend all your free time with your nose in a book. Cut some time out of your T.V. watching and spend it reading instead. Read on the bus or train. Read to help you go to sleep. If you find reading boring, you're either reading the wrong book, or are simply unadjusted to the type of thinking that reading requires (or both). Give it time and you'll begin to tolerate, and hopefully even enjoy reading. If all other inspiration fails, think of it as an investment towards your intelligence and education.

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