Posts published in March, 2017
9 Tips For Improving Your College Writing Skills
BY MARCUS DANIELSON
Writing is an underappreciated skill that will probably be more useful in your career than you realize. College is the best time to sharpen your writing skills, so here are ten ways you can improve the way you write your assignments and dissertations.
- Focus on the topic
The best writers know how to focus on the topic and tie in different thoughts and ideas to make their point. If you’re writing an essay on fashion journalism, for example, you could use your knowledge about internet marketing and the cotton industry to make a clear and concise point about the way journalism has evolved over the years.
- Keep it simple
Keep your write-ups short and simple. Every assignment you get in college will probably come with a word count limit. While some writers struggle to meet the word count, others go way over the limit. The key to writing well is to stay as close to the word count as possible. Make your pieces relevant and informational without getting boring.
- Find a writing spot
Silence is key. While people can work and study in a noisy environment, almost no one can write in it. You need to find the college library or a quiet spot on campus to write your important pieces.
- Talk to the audience
Always keep the reader in mind while you’re writing. It helps to use the professor’s own lecture notes while writing an assigned essay, because it helps you tailor the piece for them.
- Proofread
No matter how good a writer you think you are, you always need to proofread your work. Even a quick glance over the finished draft will help you weed out a few silly mistakes. Use an online grammar checker and a plagiarism checker to make sure the work is error-free and completely original.
- Get someone else to proofread
Proofreading yourself is fine, but it’s rarely enough. Get someone else to look at your work and they’ll find problems you would have missed completely.
- Master Google research
Google is bound to be your best friend at college. Every piece of data or authoritative source you find will come through an in depth online search. Learn how to use Google effectively and you’ll end up with better data and information than your peers.
- Style Guides
MLA or APA styles are going to take a lot of time to master, but your college probably prefers one over the other for all your work. You need to go over the specific style guide your college requests to make sure the format is correct.
- Practice
Like math, writing is a skill that develops over time. A ton of practice and regular writing can help you churn out quality work by the end of the semester.
These nine tips can help you boost your writing skills and deliver top-notch assignments throughout the semester. But writing is a skill that will help you throughout your career. So, take the time to master it now.
Bio: Marcus Danielson is a traveler and world-citizen,who believes in the power of education and enjoys spreading it. He also takes pleasure in reading, watching old movies, and taking pictures.
8 Ways To Choose The Best College Courses
BY KATE LARSON
There’s no doubt college is going to be completely different experience from high school. Not only are there hundreds of different courses to choose from, but you’re expected to pick them all by yourself. Planning and covering all the fields you find interesting could get tedious. So, here are eight simple tips that could help you select the best courses:
- Consider all options
Again, there’s a lot of options in college and the only way to break them down is through a process of elimination. Start by eliminating courses that you’re either ineligible for or not interested in. Then pick the ones you’re most passionate about and create a ranked list.
- Create a schedule
You might be interested in a number of different classes, but you don’t want any of the classes to clash. Aim for about four or five courses throughout the semester and pick the ones that are spread out over the week. This leaves you with enough of time to get rest and catch up with notes.
- Speak to an adviser
Colleges always have an adviser on hand to help you out. If you’re confused about the courses or setting the schedule, speak to the college adviser. They can’t answer everything but at least they can guide you through the process and make things a little bit easier.
- Check eligibility
Whether you’re studying advanced calculus or environmental journalism, you need to meet the criteria to be accepted onto the course. Your educational background and scores will help you eliminate a ton of courses and narrow the focus down to the ones that suit you best.
- Strike the right balance
If you’re over enthusiastic, you may be tempted to jump into challenging courses head-first. Difficult courses will take up too much of your time later in the semester and could make you feel burned out. Instead, try to strike the right balance. Start slowly, work your way up, and pick classes that require different types of assignments so you can multitask.
- College credits
AP or IB programs could have helped you gain some college credits in high school. These useful credits can help you meet the core requirements in certain fields, which will make picking a class much easier.
- Work on your writing skills
Take at least one writing class during the semester. Writing is an incredibly underappreciated skill that’s just as valuable in the corporate world as it is in academia. Regardless of the course you pick, writing is a crucial skill you’ll always need.
- Plan ahead
The earlier you register the more likely you are to get a seat in the classes you really want. Plan ahead and sign up for classes as early as possible.
Picking the perfect courses and classes in college is not easy. You’re probably too young to make this crucial decisions without a few mistakes. But follow these eight tips and focus on your passion to figure out where you fit in.
Bio: Kate Larson is a college student and aspiring blogger, who takes care about the environment and personal well-being. She enjoys travelling and reading, as well as writing novels.
5 Free Online Resources to Help Students Combat Anxiety
BY KIMBERLY EVANS
Anxiety is the most common mental health challenge facing college students. As anyone who suffers from the panic, fear, and helpless feelings associated with the various forms of anxiety knows, it can be crippling.
There is still an unjustified stigma associated with anxiety and mental health challenges in general, but there is help to be found online.
These 5 free online resources offer you the help you or a friend may need.
Research websites
As a college student, you are going to spend a lot of your time, researching, and learning new concepts.
If you feel like you are suffering from anxiety, or perhaps that a friend might be in trouble, then this broad, detailed website is a good place to start your research.
It covers the root of anxiety, different types of anxiety and multiple self-help techniques designed to help you overcome that overwhelming panic.
Training program
MoodGym is a free resource that is ideal if you are looking for ways to learn about depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges that the modern student must face.
As the name suggests, this website is designed as a training room to help you learn techniques and strengthen elements of your own psyche to overcome your “negative” feelings.
This is an ideal starting point if you are aware that you do suffer from anxiety and are looking for ways to overcome your challenges on your own.
Apps
There are loads of benefits associated with downloading an anxiety treatment and support app like This Way Up.
Focused specifically on social phobias and social anxiety, this app is like having an anxiety specialist in your pocket. You can access help at any time and people will never know – they will just assume you’re looking at something on your phone.
This easy-to-use, simple program offers a blend of comics and classroom type lessons – just like the lectures you already attend.
eBooks
There are thousands of free eBooks available that are written on almost any topic from business development to pest control and, of course, overcoming anxiety.
Written mostly in the self-help style, these are great resources to help you digest your fears and figure out what is holding you back.
Another great benefit of this type of eBook is that they offer you mobility – you don’t have to book time with a therapist to discuss anything. Instead, simply add a chapter to your daily reading and you’ll start feeling better because you understand what’s happening.
Forums
If you do feel like sharing your feelings anonymously within a forum, then find one that is suited to your needs. These are all free and will allow you to express yourself without the pressure of interaction.
Access help
The important thing to remember if you are feeling anxious is that you are not alone. Thousands of students have the same fears and phobias that you do.
Use the resources above and find something that works for you – the Internet is a big place and it’s full of people who are trained and ready to help you find yourself again.
Kimberly Evans is a writer, traveler and Internet chatter. She writes for The Huffington Post and covers stories about businesses and lives that inspire her.
