So, as I said last week, this week I’m going to be focusing on taking exams.  College exams are a whole different ball game than high school tests.  Depending on what type of scheduling your high school had, they can be longer in length.  But the biggest change (at least for me) is the amount of material that is covered on each exam.  So here are some tips on what to do on the day of the exam.

1. Eat a good breakfast.

This is the most basic rule in the books.  Eating a healthy breakfast before an exam can help you concentrate better.  It will keep your memory up to speed so you can remember everything on which you are being tested, and it will keep you from feeling drowsy during the exam.  Things high in protein (eggs, nuts, etc.) are great breakfast foods, and you should try to eat fruit with your breakfast as well.  Avoid foods that are high in sugar and white flour, as they are very counterproductive when taking your exam.

2. Review right before your exam.

This doesn’t work for everyone.  Some people really like to have their minds clear before they take their exam.  For me, though, it is really helpful to review the materials that I am most unsure of right before the exam.  I usually get there early enough that I can find a seat and look over these things before my exam starts.  That way, that information is fresh in my brain.

3.  Pace yourself.

Once the exam starts, it is important to pace yourself.  College exams tend to have a longer time limit than the ones you took in high school, and it can often be hard to know how much you should have done by what time.  Don’t spend too much time on any one question.  If you don’t know the answer, move on and come back to it.  You have time in most cases.

4. Double check everything.

It is so important to check for mistakes.  No matter how confident you are in your performance, you never know which question you might have forgotten to put an answer (or the right answer) for.  If you have time, check everything.  A lot of students just want to do the exam and get out.  But I guarantee that they are often the ones making the silly mistakes.

One of the biggest differences for me between high school and college was the exams.  In high school, I would have at least 3 or 4 tests during each quarter.  Add up all the homework and quizzes, and you have a ton of grades in the grade book.  That gives a lot of room to make up for a few bad grades.  In college, though, you’re lucky if you have more than 3 exams during the semester.  That’s a lot more information jam packed into a single hour of exam time.  Here are some tips on studying for these huge exams.

1. Be sure to take good notes during class.

This isn’t something that you can do the night before your exam, but taking good notes is crucial when it comes to studying.  I recommend making outlines.  It is the easiest way to take clear, yet concise notes.  This also makes it easier when you get to my next point.

2. Make flash cards.

I know that this isn’t something that works for everyone.  But for me, writing things is one of the easiest ways for me to remembering information for an exam.  A few days before my exam, I will sit down with  my outline of notes from class.  I will go through every single line of notes and write a note card for everything that is important.  I do this for things that I have trouble remembering, but I also make a card for the things I think I’ll have no problem remembering.  Exams have so much information, and they can really turn your mind into a jumbled mess.  If you don’t review even the simplest of information, it can oftentimes get lost and slip your mind.

3.  Put in the time and effort.

Studying for exams is one of the most frustrating things.  It often feels like you’re not retaining any of the information that you are reviewing, and I know I always wonder what the point is.  I can promise you, though, that you are retaining more information than you think.  Believe me.  You are.  I would recommend starting to study a few days before the exam.  This gives your brain more time to process things, and it ensures that you will have more time to review information over and over again until you can remember and apply it. If you’re not willing to work hard and take the time you need to, come test day, you’re most likely going to struggle.

Tune in next week for tips on actually taking exams!

I know I’ve posted a couple of things about this before, but I figured that it’s a topic that can always be revisited.  I don’t know about you, but I feel worse than I ever have before, physically.  I know this is an exaggeration, but I feel like I’ve gained the Freshman 50-not the Freshman 15.  And every time I turn around, I think of another thing that I have to do.…so maybe this post is for me more than it is for anyone else.

1. Try something new.

This is something I did tonight.  I went to a yoga class for the first time in my life.  Sure, I’ve done yoga in my living room with one of those nice videos of people doing yoga on a beach in Hawaii.  But this was totally different.  The best part about the experience was that I was pushed to do better because I was surrounded by people who seemed like they’ve been doing yoga their entire lives.  I understand that that’s not for everyone-but there’s no reason that you can’t try something new!  If you always use the treadmill, give the elliptical a try!  And if you don’t do anything at all (I fit right into this category), just do something!

2.  Sometimes,  it’s the little things.

Now that spring is finally here, it’s much easier to go out and do something.  I say that it’s often the little things because something as simple as going on a walk can make you feel so much better.  It can clear your mind and loosen your body.  We are often in such a hurry when we’re walking to class that I think we forget that that time can be used to just relax.  So, if like me, you struggle with that, take a walk at night! Take a quick break from your homework, even if it’s just walking around the block!  Sure, that won’t make you lose weight quickly, but it will help you to stay in shape, and it will do wonders for your mental state!

It’s getting to be that time of year again.  For me, choosing my courses for the next semester is one of the most stressful parts of college.  In high school, I had very little selection…the real question was whether I should take honors or AP classes versus regular ones.  But with so many choices, choosing courses can be extremely difficult and stressful for many people.  Here are some tips to help you out!

1. Do your research.

Take the time before you schedule to go through your options.  Make a list of all the possible courses so that when it comes to that race for the last spot in the math class you wanted, you are ready to type in the numbers.  Know what classes you want, what times they are, and where you can go to find them on the course catalog.  This will be really helpful when it comes to scheduling

2. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

You have an advisor for a reason.  They’re there to help you.  Schedule an appointment with them the week or so before you schedule, and they can give you some really great insight into what you might want to take.  My advisor sat down with me last semester, and we planned out what types of courses I should be taking every semester until graduation.  They are a great resource when it comes to this type of thing, so don’t be afraid to ask for their help!

3. Take classes you’ll actually enjoy.

I understand that we all have to take classes we don’t want to.  But there’s also a lot of room for choosing something we’ll enjoy.  You don’t always have to take a class that you know will be an easy A.  Even if you take a really tough class, you will be more likely to do well in it if it is something you really enjoy learning about.  You’re stuck with these class for an entire semester, so why not at least enjoy it?

Spring break is a very new concept to me.  I mean, obviously I have heard all about it in TV and movies and from some of my older friends, but it’s something I had never experienced until this year.  My high school never really had a spring break, and even if we had, I think it’s a lot different in college.  So whether you go to Florida or just go home, here are some tips for making the most of your week off.

1. Don’t let it stress you out.

The concept of being stressed out about spring break may seem quite of contradictory, but I saw a lot of my friends freaking out about it.  A lot of people I know have been thinking about spring break all year-where they’re going to go, what they’re going to do, and who they’re going to go with.  Oh, and you know that friend that everyone loved at the beginning of the semester?  Well, now everyone’s mad at her, but she still wants to go to the beach with everyone else.  While these things might be a big deal, this is your week to kick back and relax!  So don’t let spring break plans stress you out!  And hey, if your plans fall through, you can always go home and sleep all week!

2.  Get your work done early.

If your schedules are anything like mine, you probably had at least a little bit of homework that you had over break.  Don’t make my mistake:  do your homework as soon as you can.  Just get it out of the way so that you can relax the rest of the week.  I left all of mine until the last minute, so when I came back to school, I had to spend my night typing essays instead of catching up with friends.  That can be a really crappy way to end your spring break.

3.  Catch up.

Catch up on everything.  Catch up on sleep…on Netflix…on homework…on reading…catch up with your friends.  If you don’t have any big plans, do something that you haven’t been able to do because of all of the work you’ve done at school.  Just do something you love!

Procrastination has been one of my biggest issues in school since I was in middle school.  For some reason, though, this year I have been really great about it!  I don’t know how it hit me, but I suddenly want to get everything done weeks ahead of time.  It’s the weirdest feeling.  I know that doesn’t happen for everyone, though…in fact, I don’t even know why it happened to me.  But here are some really great tips on keeping up with your school work and avoiding the dreaded p-word.

1. Keep track of what is due when.

This is one of the simplest things that can help you stay on top of your school work.  Make a calendar of when your assignments are due, and keep it somewhere where you will see it often.  I just keep 5 sticky notes (one for each day of the school week) so that I know what I have to have done each day.  It gives me a lot of relief to be able to cross one of my assignments off the list.  I think part of my problem was that I used to use an agenda-not that there is anything wrong with that.  It just didn’t work for me because I never really saw it unless I took it out of my backpack.  With my sticky notes, I have a constant reminder of what I need to do.

2. Think about all the free time you will have.

Now, I’m sure that, at this point, a lot of you are saying, “Hey! I have lots of time to do whatever I want while I’m procrastinating!”  This might be true, but, at least for me, I would always have those assignments hanging over my shoulders.  In that case, I could never really enjoy what I am doing, whether that is hanging out with friends or just watching Netflix on my own.  It feels so much better to just get it over with and be able to enjoy your time later without that assignment in the back of your mind.

3.  Just do it.

Enough said.

One of the biggest changes for a lot of incoming college freshmen is having a roommate.  If you are sharing a room with another person for the first time (or even if this isn’t new to you), you are bound to run into some awkward situations.  And no, I am not just talking about the infamous “sexiling.”  I’m talking about anything that might cause some weirdness between the two of you.  Here are some tips on avoiding this awkwardness…or at least keeping it to a minimum.

1. Talk.

If you know that an awkward situation might arise, the best thing to do is talk about it.  Inform your roommate of your plans, no matter what.  If you’re having a friend stay over one night, tell your roommate.  That way, there’s not that awkward moment when they see some stranger sleeping on your floor.  This is especially true if this is a person of the opposite sex.  And that is all I’m going to say about that.  Be smart, and talk it out.  Or at least warn them.

2. Be willing to laugh about it.

If something awkward does occur between you and your roommate, be willing to laugh it off.  Be a good sport about it.  You might be angry, embarrassed, or frustrated at first, but it’s important to laugh.   While many situations are awkward and embarrassing at first, those are some of the best and most memorable memories you will ever make.

3.  Remember that it will go away eventually.

If you come to a situation that is just too awkward to laugh about, just keep in mind that it won’t last forever.  This is great advice for any embarrassing or awkward situation.  People will forget.  More awkward things will happen to other people.  It happens to everyone.  Shake it off, and move on.  It’s really not the end of the world.

I’d love to hear about any awkward roommate situations that you’ve all had!  I’ve certainly had quite a few myself…

So I just realized as I was looking through my old posts that I never wrote a blog post on how to get involved when you’re at college!  In high school, so much was handed to you, but on a huge college campus, you have to do a lot more work to get involved in things, let alone staying involved in them.  With that in mind, here are some tips on both!  (On a side note, I apologize to those of you who are already in college-this is definitely more useful for readers who are soon to be college students!)

1. Open your eyes.

There is so much to do all over every college campus.  No, things you are interested in might not jump out to you right away, so keep your eyes open!  Check out bulletin boards and signs that are up all over your campus-there’s bound to be something there that will interest you!  And look out for involvement fairs or similar things to help you find your niche!

2. Find out what you are passionate about.

College is the time when you are supposed to be able to figure things out for yourself.  And this doesn’t always just mean figuring out your major!  So you are a engineering major-you can still be in an a cappella group if you want to be!  It might be helpful to sign up for a bunch of clubs, go to their meetings, and figure out which of them you are interested in and have time for!  I never thought I would be playing club racquetball, but here I am!  I’m singing in choir and playing in an orchestra, neither of which have anything to do with my major.  So be open to new things, and be willing to have a couple of failures before you find what you really love!

3. Take advantage of every opportunity you can.

This is one of the most important things you can take away from this.  Just because you don’t think you’ll find something interesting doesn’t mean you won’t.  And just because you are scared to try something new, even if it sounds really cool, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it!  Take advantage of everything that life throws at you!  There’s no harm in trying something and hating it!  So be bold, and be yourself! You’ll figure it out!

Do you remember all of those tips I gave you at the beginning of last semester on making new friends?  Well, making friends is only the beginning.  Having a lasting and worthwhile friendship is something really special…but it doesn’t come without its struggles.  You have to put in the work to keep those friendships.  So, here are some tips on just how you can do this.

1.  Keep in touch.

This is the main point I wanted to focus on this week.  As I mentioned in my post last week, it can often be really hard to keep in touch with your friends that you made last semester.  This is especially true if you met those friends in classes that you had last semester.  New schedules can be hard to keep track of and coordinate, especially if you don’t see each other on a daily basis.  Putting in the effort to keep in touch can be difficult and time-consuming…but, I guarantee that all of the hard work will pay off in the end.

2. Don’t be afraid to reach out.

This is another really important point.  Don’t ever be afraid to be the first one to text the other to ask to get together.  You might have the idea that “if they’re free to hang out, they’ll let me know,” but oftentimes, it turns out that the other person is thinking the same thing about you.  So don’t be afraid to reach out to the other person.  It can’t hurt!

3. Make it a point to care.

This can be one of the most important parts of friendship.  When your friends know that you care enough to reach out to them when they are busy, it can be one of the best feelings in the world.  People who make sure that their friends know they care about them are the people that I would want to be friends with.  There’s something to be said for friends who will always reach out to you at both your happiest and your worst times.  So be that kind of  friend.

The topic of this blog is pretty self-explanatory.  The first week of your second semester of  freshman year can be pretty overwhelming if you aren’t prepared for it.  You’re probably taking harder classes than last semester, and you haven’t had a three month long break like you did before fall semester.  Plus, it’s winter.  Yuck.  That’s enough to bring down anyone’s mood.  So, here are some tips for surviving those first few weeks back.

1. Start the semester out right.

This can be really hard because of all of the previously mentioned reasons.  If you’re anything like me, you will probably have zero motivation to do any schoolwork.  Do you remember all that work ethic you had the first semester? Yeah, well that’s gone.  The goal is to try to find it again, though.  Starting the semester out right is so important because it can really set the stage for the rest of the year.  If you start out with bad grades, it can feel really daunting to try to get them back up.  So get in the habit of doing it right from the start.  It’ll make it easier later on in the semester.

2. Try new things.

Remember those involvement fairs that were held at the beginning of the year?  The ones you forced yourself to go to because you have been told over and over again to get involved?  Well, they most likely have them again this semester.  So if you didn’t enjoy the things you did last semester, there’s plenty of time to start over.  You still have 7 semesters left of your undergraduate career, so find something you really love.  I  joined the racquetball club this semester, and I am loving it.  New is exciting!

3. Keep in touch.

It can be really hard to keep friends throughout your college career because, unlike high school, you don’t have your classes with the same people every semester.  So you go to your first week of classes and see completely new faces.  Get to know them!  But, at the same time, keep in touch with the friends you made last semester.  Just because you don’t have a class together this semester doesn’t mean you can’t be lifelong friends.  So make the effort to keep in touch with them.  Even if it’s just getting together for lunch every couple of weeks.  You never know what exciting opportunities and friendships may come out of that!

Hopefully these tips will help make the start of your second semester of college a little bit easier!  Good luck, and remember that spring (and spring break) will be here before you know it! (: