College Tidbits Blog

Guest Blogger: Aundrea Rogers

Picture this… You are halfway through the semester and you have been struggling with a class from the very beginning. Every test you get back has a grade lower than the last.

You are now to the point where it is too late to pull up that grade before the semester ends and you are on the brink of failing the class.

At this point you probably wish that you could turn back the hands of time to find a way to fix the trap that so many college students fall into.

What I can say to this is you should have gotten yourself a tutor.

College students too often have the mindset that a tutor is for those who are not as smart as others or have gotten themselves into trouble with a class halfway through the semester and need a quick way to bring up a grade. Both of these mindsets are myths. I got a tutor for reasons other than these.

Here’s my story:

I started off the semester knowing I had to take a very challenging Economics course. I had heard many negative things about the course including how much material was covered in only one semester and how tough that material was.

Since Economics was a totally new subject to me I knew I would need a little extra help. I walked over to the Student Success Center on campus the week after classes started and signed up for a tutor.

I went to my tutor two times a week and we went over the notes and material my professor covered in class and I even got explanations of the things we learned that helped me understand better. In addition to my tutoring sessions, I looked over my notes a few times a week and read the textbook to stay on top of what was going on in class.

Every test I got back was either an A or a B+ and I ended up with an A- out of a class that so many people around me received C’s or lower in. I owe my success to not only my efforts in studying but also to the tutoring that I received.

What I can tell fellow college students is do NOT wait until you are already doing poorly to get a tutor or go ask for help. If you wait until it is too late to get that extra help there is a good chance you will not be able to pull up that bad grade in time. A bad grade will surely hurt your GPA and you will be disappointed, especially if you know that grade could have been prevented. Seeking help early gives you a better chance at receiving a good grade as long as you put forth effort and do not rely on your tutor to do everything for you.

Having a tutor however does not mean you should pay less attention in class or not read over class material. A tutor is there for EXTRA help and a reference in addition to your own efforts.

Tutoring is a resource that all colleges and universities offer, so my advice to college students is to utilize this very important resource to make your college career as successful as it can be.

When I was in college, I was a “cram” all-star: during mid-terms and finals weeks, you’d find me with a cup of coffee permanently attached to my hand for yet another all-nighter, scouring my notes and textbooks.

Today, students have a vast universe of tech-driven tools at their disposal to help them study and keep organized which may help to make sleep deprivation a thing of the past!

With everything that’s out there, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. I’ve compiled what I think are the best offerings available, along with a little wisdom I picked up during my time as a student. Have a great semester!

·       Leverage the Web - Join social learning sites such as Course Hero (www.coursehero.com <http://www.coursehero.com/> ) and Koofers ( www.koofers.com <http://www.koofers.com/> ) to share the knowledge and learn from other students. Also, check out #textbooktuesday, a day for sharing study tips, by following @textbooks on Twitter!

·       Study Groups Go Virtual - There’s no doubt that study groups are a great way of sharing information and getting to know new people. Instead of trudging across campus to the assigned meeting spot, try using Google Docs to conduct your study groups online. Multiple users can edit documents in real time, meaning that note sharing is made seamless. Did we mention it’s free? And don’t forget Facebook - it makes it easy to find and friend classmates, expanding your network of study partners and note sharing reach.

·       Blackboards go mobile- Many colleges and universities are listed on Blackboard, and more and more professors are using the platform to interact with students inside and outside of the classroom. The site just announced the launch of a Smart Phone app, making those interactions even easier.

·       Taking notes - Because many professors don’t allow laptops in the classroom, you’re stuck taking notes by hand - but even that can be done more efficiently. Try the 2/6 method, which refers to the way you divide the space on your notepaper. Make two columns and use the red border line on the left as the marker for the “2″ line - where you highlight the most important points, and the rest of the page as the “6″ column, where you take your notes. This way you’re organized from the get-go, and when studying for exams you make sure you’re focused on the points your professor stressed the most during lectures.

·       Brain Food - Your brain is powered by proper nutrition. Medical researchers agree that omega-3 fatty acids are essential for proper brain function. Cafeteria not serving salmon? Walnuts are one of the best natural sources of omega-3’s, and supplements are widely available and affordable. Easy recipe - drain off those microwave noodles and add some crushed walnuts and red pepper flakes (gourmet!) or mix some chopped walnuts into the peanut bar jar for your “peanut butter fingers special”.

·       Have fun - Don’t let yourself get too stressed - take time to have fun, even while studying. “Study breaks” are healthy, keep you focused and help avoid burnout. Whatever your favorite form of dorm fun - even Facebook stalking or sending a “still studying” Tweet - just keep it legal and you can call it part of good study habits.

-JT Thome, Textbooks.com <http://www.textbooks.com/>
Textbooks.com <http://www.textbooks.com/> has the cheapest prices on the planet’s biggest selection of hand-inspected used textbooks. For more information - or to save on your college textbooks today - visit www.Textbooks.com <http://www.textbooks.com/>

This article was published by Thomas E. Betz, director, Student Legal Service at the University of Illinois.  It provides some very no nonsense information about keeping your college student(s) safe and smart while they are on spring break

Excerpts:
It is that time of year again when college students seek warmer climates. There are at least four S-words to describe the purpose of spring break in no particular order of priority: Sun, Sand, Sex and Surf. We at Student Legal Service would like to add one more S-word … SAFETY.

Most students have a great time wherever they go, but every year we learn about tragedies, emergencies and injuries suffered by spring breakers. A few commonsense precautions can prevent most problems… Read the Full article titled: Tips to stay out of hot legal water over spring break

Key points:
* Traveling to Mexico
* Too much alcohol and too little sense
* They are just toy cops, they won’t arrest a student just having fun
* While you are in the sun, the crooks are at your apartment