6 Test Taking Tips That Can Improve Your Grades

BY BRANDON JARMAN

Tests are a necessary evil in today’s education system. Your professors need to know if you

truly understand the content they have taught you, or your university requires professors to

standardize their learning curriculum. That still doesn’t make taking tests any easier, but there

are some study and test-taking strategies you can implement to improve your performance.

Here are six things you can do to improve your test scores.

“Hack” Your Professor

Your professor isn’t going to give you all of the questions that are going to be on the test, but

there are some “hacking” strategies you can do to find out what types of questions are going to

be on your next exam.

 

1. Ask yourself, “What does my professor talk about the most?”. If your professor is

spending a lot of time talking about one subject, they will likely include questions about it on the test. The next time your professor is spending 20+ minutes on one slide—take some notes.

 

2. Do not hesitate to ask your professor the exact formatting of the test. Schedule an

appointment with them to chat about any questions that may arise.

Avoid Common Testing Mistakes

Sometimes you can get so caught up studying for the big test, you can forget the simple things. Remembering your pencil, scantron, or calculator may seem like an obvious suggestion, but there are common test taking mistakes that can add another layer of stress on exam day. It’s important that you prepare yourself as best as you can so that you can succeed.

Here are some simple suggestions to help you avoid common test taking mistakes:

 

1. Read all of the directions laid out on the exam.
2. Get plenty of sleep the night before the test.
3. Make sure your scantron is filled out properly. If applicable, make sure the essay portion of your exam is readable.
4. Start with the easy questions and then come back to the hard ones.
5. Scope your test. Skim through the whole exam so you can prepare yourself mentally for what is to come. This can also help you manage your time more efficiently.
6. Make sure to eat a substantial meal before you take your exam. Being hungry or dehydrated before your test can affect your performance

If you take care of the little things, big results can follow. Make sure to plan ahead so that the best version of you shows up on exam day.

Utilize the TA

A teacher’s assistant can help you prepare for an upcoming test.

To best utilize them, try the following:

 

1. Attend their test review sessions as frequently as possible. They have most likely reviewed the exam and they can cover key topics you may have misunderstood. They’ve also been in your shoes before, so there is no need to feel intimidated.  Remember: They are there to help.

 

2. Ask your TA the best bulletproof methods to study for an upcoming test. Most likely,

they have taken the exact course you are struggling with. They can perhaps shed some light on

a few study tips that your professor has unintentionally neglected to share with the class.

Know The Summary Questions

Just because you finished reading a chapter doesn’t mean you’re done studying.  Typically, the very last page after the chapter is done will include some questions to highlight key concepts of the chapter. Answer each question that they provide, citing page numbers and including quotations from the chapter. Lastly, make sure to look over the answered summary questions and save them along with your other study materials.

Take Care Of Yourself

What causes student burnout? Lack of regard for physical and emotional health is one of the main culprits. It is a common misconception for students to think that “self-care” equates to procrastination. However, self-care is a necessary study tool.

How you take care of yourself is up to you, but experts recommend the following self-care practices:

 

1.) Meditation

2.) Exercise

3.) Proper Nutrition

4.) Cleaning your living space

There are many ways to accomplish the list above, so it’s important that you find ways to incorporate self-care practices that fit your specific needs and lifestyle.

Diversify Your Studying

According to a recent Harvard study, “Research has shown that studying a range of subjects in one sitting actually leads to higher retention than focusing on one area of study.” Overloading your brain with one subject can actually be damaging. It’s important that you switch up what you’re studying so that you can stay engaged with your academic work. It’ll save you time and energy both in the short and long-term.

In the end, nothing beats hard work and intellectual curiosity. But, you can go the extra mile to improve your test scores and grades. Adopting productive habits will improve your life and make you a more balanced individual.

Brandon Jarman

Digital Journalist

Portfolio: https://brandonjarman.contently.com/

 

Connectivity Will Transform the College Classroom

BY LESLIE WILDER

The digital revolution is underway and it is having an impact on every aspect of life. It is changing the way in which we interact, work and in particular, the way that we learn. The classroom is changing, the way in which students learn is changing and the way in which lessons are taught is changing. Effectively, everything is changing because of the technology we have at our disposal.

Just ten years ago, the classroom was a different place to what it is today but the changes are still happening because technology is still evolving. Connectivity in the classroom can be looked at in many different ways such as the use of new technology to enhance learning such as Virtual Reality or even having the ability to communicate with teachers using technology such as a peak push to talk.

Driving this ever-changing landscape within the classroom is the internet. It makes it possible to learn anywhere and it makes it possible to collaborate with other, regardless of where they are located.

Online Learning

This is by no means a new idea but it still has a lot to offer the classroom. At this moment in time, lessons are still straddling the old traditional ways of teaching and a new way of teaching through online learning. However, with so many courses and learning materials available online, it could mean that classrooms are going to move away from the traditional methods used for decades. This is streamlining the learning process and is helping teachers and pupils to get the most from their time in the classroom.

The Cloud is Crucial

Teaching is moving towards the cloud and that is turning lessons into a more efficient experience for all. A common problem in schools is the speed at which pupils can access software and materials because often, the hardware is slow and outdated. As classrooms move to the cloud, it means that schools will no longer need to have local servers or software because everything will be stored in the cloud. All they will need to benefit from this is a fast internet connection.

Teachers will then be able to utilise the cloud in order to distribute work to pupils and then also collect it back in and mark it. Students will then have the ability to access their grades and any feedback that their teacher provides them with. All of this can be done via computers, smartphones or tablets. This is creating a more streamlined classroom and that in turn enables students and teachers to work harmoniously in a way that has never been seen before.

Devices Turn Any Location into a Classroom

Traditionally, lessons have been taught in a single classroom, where children and teachers spend their time but this new level of connectivity gives teachers more scope to expand the learning environment. As students have access to smartphones and tablets that are either provided by the school or brought from home, it connects the whole school. Therefore, lessons can be taken outdoors and that in itself makes it possible to keep teachers and students connected. This ability to take the classroom anywhere will make it possible to enhance get the most from the learning experience.

 Textbooks are a Thing of the Past

Textbooks are still used in the classroom but there is no real need for them any longer. As connectivity improves, pupils will be able to learn through devices that are connected, whereby they can access digital books and interactive boards. This online learning will prepare pupils for a whole new world beyond the boundaries of school. It will provide them with access to a broader range of learning materials that will enable them to excel in new ways.

Lessons Structure will Change

Historically, pupils have been fed information from their teachers but this is no longer the situation. Technology and enhanced connectivity will change the way in which lessons are structured. Pupils will become independent learners because the introduction of touch screens, interactive technology and tablets change the way in which the teacher interacts with pupils. This provides pupils with some element of control over how they find information and how they share that with teachers. This almost turns teaching on its head because improved connectivity will alter the way in which pupils understand and find information.

The Introduction of Virtual Reality

This new and exciting technology could make it possible for pupils to learn in a whole new environment. Their experience will change, enabling them to bring lessons to life in a way that connects them with their teachers. They can immerse themselves into lessons, move through different environments all of which could be lead by the teacher or pupils. This kind of learning and connectivity is new but it will enhance teaching and learning in ways that have never been seen before.

The connected world has already become a smaller place but the learning environment and experience is changing, all because of connectivity. It is still relatively new but there is no doubt that pupils and teachers can benefit from a new way of working together to improve the way in which the whole process is delivered and absorbed.

Leslie a creative writer & blogger, who is residing in Nashville the capital of U.S. state of Tennessee, I’m also a self-proclaimed happiness junkie, and someone you would generally consider confident and well balanced.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5 Important Facts about F1 Visa International Students Must Know

BY MELISSA BURNS

Getting an F1 visa is a necessary step for any international student willing to live and study in the United States. It may not be exactly easy, and many would-be students believe getting one is a multi-stage adventure like an African safari; but in fact, it is all fairly straightforward. To succeed you merely have to know certain facts beforehand – and in this article, we will tell you the most important things about F1 visa you should know.

1.    There is a distinct list of prerequisites for getting it

The United States is very particular about what they want from those applying for an F1 visa. You must:

• Be an official resident of a foreign country;
• Have no intention of staying in the United States after graduation. F1 is a student visa, and your goal should be studied and then return to your home country;
• Have definite ties with your home country (family members, job offers, bank accounts, and other assets) that you are unlikely to abandon;
• Attend a language-training program or an academic institution;
• Be enrolled as a full-time student of a school approved by USICE (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement) to accept international students;
• Have sufficient finances to complete your education (study and living expenses), as your employment opportunities will be limited.

2.    You can leave the United States for a period of time

After getting your F1 visa, you aren’t obliged to stay in the United States for the entire approved period of time. You have a right to travel abroad and then return to the USA after a leave of no more than 5 months. If your original F1 visa expires during this period, you have to obtain another one.

3.    You can transfer to a different school

You aren’t obliged to spend your entire studying time in the initially approved school. You have the right to notify your current school and transfer your SEVIS record to another school of your choice. The only thing to look out for is that you have to obtain an I-20 form from your new school and submit it within 15 days of the transfer date.

4.    F1 visa doesn’t preclude you from working in the USA

However, this is a tricky issue. As F1 is a student visa, your work opportunities are going to be severely limited – at least legal ones. Officially, you are mostly allowed to work on the territory of a campus of a college you at which you study for up to 20 hours a week, which certainly doesn’t amount to much. You may also consider training programs that give international students an opportunity to work. As this is a very subtle issue that can have you kicked out of the country if not handled carefully, make sure to contact your foreign student advisor before looking for a job.

5.    F1 visa allows you to stay for as long as you study

F1 visa offers you a “duration of status” stay in the United States – meaning that you can legally stay in the country for as long as you study in the school you’ve applied to. After you complete your academic program and graduate, you will have 60 days to leave the country. If you want to stay longer, you have to change your visa status, re-enroll in a higher-level program or transfer to a new school.

As you may see, things aren’t as bad as many believe them to be. As long as you follow the rules, getting an F1 visa isn’t particularly difficult, and it opens up a lot of doors in front of you.

Melissa Burns graduated from the faculty of Journalism of Iowa State University. Nowadays she is an entrepreneur and independent journalist. Follow her @melissaaburns or contact at burns.melissaa@gmail.com

   

 

 

 

 

 

How to Deal with Mental Health Issues at College

BY ANTON LUCANUS

 

The college years are supposed to be the best of your life. They symbolize the peak of one’s education – and experimentation– as well as a time for making the best of friends, cultivating one’s personality, hobbies and interests, all while learning about the world independently, quite possibly for the first time ever.

But all too often, the college years are marked by stress, anxiety, deadlines, social pressures, experimentation with drugs and substances, and as a result – mental health issues. Anxiety and depression are on the rise among university students worldwide, but especially in the United States. Recent studies by the National Alliance on Mental Illness revealed that in the past 12 months over 11% of college students have been diagnosed or treated for anxiety, and, shockingly, more than 10% treated for depression. And it’s no wonder: rapidly rising study costs, increasingly competitive job markets, and even more competitive university admission processes, are putting more pressure on students than ever to succeed. No longer can students saunter into a first-class degree, drink and party their way through university, and land a secure job at the end of it all.

Students are struggling to cope with the academic pressures of university life in particular: with almost six in 10 university students citing this as the key cause of their anxiety, followed by feelings of isolation (44%), difficulty balancing work and study (37%), financial difficulties (36%) and the pressures of living independently (22%).  Gender plays a serious part in it too, with females in particular struggling to cope with the demands of university with 91% claiming to be struggling with mental health issues compared to just over 80% of male students.

Clearing – the practice of applying for a course if you’re not holding an offer from a university or college, if that particular course still has places – is now a mainstream route into gaining a university place but has been linked to anxiety and feelings of isolation in students who choose to pursue this path, according to one article by The Guardian.

So, how should university students cope with growing academic, financial and social pressures experienced on campus and inside lecture halls?

For a start, maintaining a healthy and balanced diet is seriously underrated. Herbal teas, high quality fats in the form of avocado and fish, warm milk and protein in the form of lean meats have all been linked to healthier bodies – and minds – and so it is important to ensure you are getting a balanced diet whenever possible. This will not only lighten your mood, but also possibly your bathroom scales, which can only ever be a good thing for one’s mental health, right?

This doesn’t mean sticking to a diet of fruit and veggies though – dark chocolate has been proven to have healing qualities in terms of stress reduction, and carbs have also been found to increase the body’s levels of serotonin, a chemical that can boost one’s mood and reduce stress.

 

Mindful movement is another way of reducing stress. A new Penn State University study reports that by combining meditation and exercise, the mental health benefits are much stronger. By being conscious of your mindfulness while focusing on another activity – exercise – people are able to become far more aware of their state, and practice meditation accordingly. Practicing this on a daily basis with have benefits on not only your state of mind, but also your physically overall health. So, sign up to a yoga class today – it will do you a world of good.

This is one that may appeal particularly to animal lovers, but pets have also been proven to reduce symptoms of anxiety. While on-campus liability for pets was once an issue, the number of pet therapy programs available to universities worldwide today is staggering. Once college counsellors and administrators realized the untapped value of pets as a vital tool in the treatment of a variety of medical conditions and disorders, ‘pet therapy programs’ became a real thing, and today they can be seen in hospitals, care homes, and treatment centers as well as universities. Patients suffering emotional and behavioral disorders, depression, autism, substance abuse, and dementia can benefit from pet therapy, and so it is worth checking out your university student service center to see whether they offer a similar type of therapy.

 

This next one may be obvious, but don’t ever be afraid to turn to specialist university counselling services or a private specialist such as Naya Clinics. At university campuses right around the world, these dedicated teams work hard every day to provide advice and guidance to students experiencing anxiety and other mental health problems. Should students require more specialist care, including psychiatric services, these teams can even connect you to the appropriate providers to ensure you are looked after every step of the way.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, know that you’re not alone – you are one of the majority of university students feeling overwhelmed with the pressures of modern day student life. Laugh, learn, cry, talk, let it out. The worst possible thing you can do is bundle up your angst and feelings inside. Speak to your friends, first and foremost, as they too may be feeling similar pressures and knowing this may help you to realize you are not alone.

Byline – Anton Lucanus is the Director of Neliti. During his college years, he maintained a perfect GPA, was published in a top cancer journal, and received many of his country’s most prestigious undergraduate scholarships. Anton writes for The College Puzzle as a means to guide current students to achieve personal and academic goals.

 

How to Stay Balanced During Exam Weeks

BY ELIZA MORRISON NIMMICH

Exam anxiety is quite common for most students, especially during finals week. Research shows that a little anxiety can improve your performance by boosting the release of adrenalin which enhances how you respond to challenging situations. However, extreme anxiety can hinder performance when it comes to showcasing your academic and cognitive abilities.

Fortunately, there are various ways you can manage your exam stress levels to promote alertness and set yourself up for better performance. Some key pointers are listed below:

1. Indulge in physical activities
   Regular exercise is an excellent way to manage your stress. Getting involved in physical activities facilitates the release of endorphins which help to enhance your mood. It also assists in boosting your energy levels and distracting your mind from your upcoming exam(s). Such activities include taking a walk, bike riding, going to a yoga class, some hardcore cardio, among others.
2. Have someone to talk to
   Do you experience intense panic before the exam? It would benefit you to speak to your tutors, parent or classmates. It gets easier if you share your worries with your peers, who can help you to keep the exam in perspective. If that doesn’t help, try talking to your school’s guidance counselor.
3. Relaxation training
   Proper relaxation techniques are useful in relieving tension and helping you prepare for your exams. Such practices include deep breathing and meditation, and they are geared towards mindfulness. Through meditation, a student can focus on the current situation and acknowledge their anxiety and physical reactions. They can visualize themselves sitting for the exam and learn to control the stress prior to the actual exam day. Also taking a few deep breaths during the exam can help you control your anxiety and concentrate on the questions in front of you.
4. Avoid procrastinated cramming
   Most students tend to wait until the last minute, mostly the night before their finals exam day to study for the test. This is not advised since you are more likely to get overwhelmed by the multitude of topics you are required to cover and the lack of time you have. Ideally, develop a consistent study routine several weeks before the exam. Try spending more time studying for the test to give you adequate time to ask questions, apply your knowledge to practice questions, and get clarifications where necessary. The more prepared you are, the lesser the likelihood of getting panic attacks.
5. Get a good night’s sleep
   Getting plenty of rest is essential to boost your concentration and thinking. You understand better when you study with a fresh mind. Several hours of panicked, last-minute cramming the night before the exam may seem helpful, but it serves you no good. Commit to having a scaled balance between sleep and study during the exam week. Teenagers should have at least 8 to 10 hours of sleep. 8-hour sleep is OK for adult learners.
6. Eat a balanced diet
   Hunger is known to worsen anxiety. It also starves your brain of the essential nutrients that are required to boost your concentration levels. Avoid consuming foods that contain high amounts of sugar, fat, carbohydrates, and caffeine. They are unhealthy, and they will only make you irritable, hyperactive and moody.
7. Take a break from social media
   Social media can be the antithesis of productivity. It is distracting and can thus leading to divided attention. If you study with a phone beside you, you are likely to waste a considerable amount of your study time texting, waiting for emails, or checking social media. Consider turning off your social media during study hours if not for the entire exam week. Switch to Do Not Disturb Once you’ve finished your studying, you can reward yourself by going on your phone and spending time on social media.

   About the Author:

Eliza is a co-founder of Tutor the People. She works mostly advising students on their academic and professional pursuits, and matching students one on one for MCAT prep, GRE tutoring, CPA prep, LSAT test prep, and GMAT tutoring.

Get Enough Sleep: A key to College Success

BY EMMA BONNEY

Getting into college is not really hard. If you do well in high school and on the SAT, there is nothing to worry about. Being accepted into a university has gotten considerably easier by the years, so the likelihood is that you will get that big envelope in the mail. College in itself is hard. You have to stay on top of homework assignments, learn by yourself from the textbook, and work on nights and weekends to offset the cost of tuition and other expenses. The outcome is that you barely have time to get rest.

Generally speaking, students get between 6 and 6.9 hours of sleep per night, which is not enough. Stanford University’s Department for the Diagnosis and Treatment for Sleep Disorders says that the amount of sleep that is necessary for college students is 8 hours. Just like people from America, college students are sleeping less. More often than not, rest is sacrificed for other priorities. Students stay up all night, even before important exams. This is the worst thing that they can do.

Why should college students take sleep seriously?

Sleeping well is crucial for the health, helping with tissue repair, immune system function, and development. And that is not all. Recent studies have demonstrated that sleep is essential to academic success. Put simply, it is not just something to do in your spare time. On the contrary, it is an active, influential activity is required for motor and cognitive function. Unfortunately, sleep is rarely viewed as a priority in college.

Spending all night studying might come in handy if all you have to do is learn a list by heart, but it will not help you if you need to deal with complex information. When it comes to subjects like math or foreign languages, it is necessary to use the executive functions – in other words, the skills that are involved in planning, taking notice, and multitasking. Sleep is devoted to body and mind restoration, so it should not come as a surprise that after getting a good night’s sleep, you feel awake and alert. The best way to maximize performance when you are a student is to get a good night’s rest.

The impact of sleep deprivation on college students

You cannot get away with just 6 hours of sleep and neither can you catch up on lost sleep on the weekends. Sleep loss can lead to many conditions, such as memory issues, mood swings, trouble thinking and focusing, weakened immunity, high blood pressure, and risk for diabetes. What is more, you will showcase daytime sleepiness as a result of the sleep deprivation. It is true that it is difficult to juggle education, career, and relationships, but you cannot afford not to get a good night’s rest.

College students are prone to developing mental health issues. America, in particular, is going through a crisis. The immense levels of stress, in addition to the psychopathology of the time, contribute to the problem. Those studying at university or another place of higher education often succumb to depression or anxiety. These people suffer bouts of depression or anxiety because they do not have enough sleep. It is not the mental illness that leads to a disruption of the sleeping pattern. It is the disruption to the sleeping pattern that leads to disorders in a person’s behavior or thinking. In plain English, sleep deprivation is not a symptom, but a causative agent.

How college students can get enough sleep

1.     Be adequately prepared in the bedroom

When you are in college, you should make sure to get enough rest. Think about changing your mattress, especially if you are tossing and turning all night long. The right kind of mattress will reduce the pressure points on your body and enable you to rest. Finding the best mattresses is not about searching for the most expensive product. The high price tag only helps sell the product. Focus on practicality. Choose a firm or soft mattress. It does not really matter, as long as you spend more time horizontally. Searching for the perfect mattress is well worth the effort. As mentioned earlier, sleep efficiency and academic performance are closely connected.

2.     Adjust your sleep schedule

The human brain is very active during the REM (rapid eye movement) stage of sleep. Top researchers at the University of Ottawa discovered that the brains of students dreaming were able to make new connections. In order to get deep sleep, you have to make an effort and adjust your sleep schedule. Figure out what is your ideal waking time. If you have classes early in the morning, you will want to wake up an hour or two before departure. Maintaining a regular schedule is important. This means that you cannot oversleep during the weekend. Equally important is to pick a bedtime. You may have many important things to do, but you should not let them interfere with your life.

3.     Stick to a healthy diet

Eating healthy can help you sleep more and be more productive. A diet that is low in fiber and high in saturated fats will prevent you from experiencing deep sleep at night. What should you be eating, anyway? Kiwi, foods rich in fiber, fish yogurt, and whole grains. These are only a few examples. It is essential to try to eat a healthy diet that is based on fresh fruits, vegetables, and dairy. Consider how you feel after consuming healthy foods. If you feel well during your waking hours, it is impossible to feel bad during the night.

No excuses for justifying the lack of sleep

College students sleep whenever they get the chance and they wonder why they are so tired all the time and do not get the grades that they want. There is nobody to blame but yourself for not getting enough sleep. It is true that college life is hard. Yes, but it is worth it in the end. Do not let your grades slip for a good night’s rest. Stop making excuses and go to bed.

 

Emma Bonney is a successful blogger whose articles aim to help readers with self-development, Women’s Empowerment, Education, entrepreneurship and content management.

7 Tips for Saving Money While Attending College

BY SARAH KEARNS

It feels like everything costs a ton of money. Students notoriously don’t have a ton of money to spend. Getting an education is both expensive and time consuming, leaving little free time to work a well paying job and keeping costs high in every other area of life. The sharing economy is a saving grace for many students who need to have their needs met in an unconventional way.

1. Make Money Driving

If you have a car, you can use that car to make money. Join an app based ride sharing service, or sign up to deliveries (like for food) if you’d rather not lug passengers around. You can turn your availability on when you have time, and turn it off when you don’t. It’s a manageable side hustle, especially when you live near a university and many students don’t have the time to stop for food or the means to own a car.

2. Rent Cars for Cheap

Apps like Maven and Turo allow people who don’t have cars but don’t want to utilize cab style ride sharing services to eliminate the middle men and directly rent cars from members of their community. You pay a fee and take the car. It’s relatively inexpensive for anyone over the age of 25, where younger students may have to pay a tad bit more. These apps make it easier to rent a car you can use to drive home and stay with your family for the weekend.

3. Monetize Your Parking Spot

If you have more parking spots than you need, someone else might want to make use of the spare. If you live in or near a big city or a short ride from an airport, people will be willing to lease your parking spot from you. Try listing it on a community sharing site like Parkhound. This is an easy way to make money – all you have to do is lend out a slab of concrete you don’t have much use for.

4. Get Free Textbooks

Textbooks are a huge expensive for so many students. A lot of the time, they’re almost as much as a months’ rent and you’ll only need to use them two or three times. Open Textbook Library utilizes the power of the sharing economy to provide digital access to current textbooks that contain the information students need to study and pass their classes. Even if you don’t use the sharing economy for anything else, Open Textbook Library is a lifesaver.

5. Get Your Furniture for Cheap

Furnishing a dorm room or an apartment can be expensive – especially if you opt for all new furniture. Even lesser quality furniture from big box stores is still more expensive than buying secondhand high quality furniture. Check online community marketplaces for free or cheap furniture. You might even find someone who wants to trade – maybe they’re going from one mattress size to another and you can swap bedframes.

6. Exchange Tutoring

There is something of a natural sharing economy that takes place inside most educational institutions. Sometimes, students publicly express it. Other times, it happens through circumstance. You’re really great at math and terrible with literature. Someone else is a literary genius with some serious math comprehension problems. Sit down and teach each other. It’s a one for one exchange where everyone gets the help they need.

7. Dog Walking Apps

Dog walking apps are sharing economy based, and they make student’s lives better in an unpredictable way. By singing up as a dog walker, you’re getting three benefits. You’re making money, you’re getting exercise, and you’re interacting with dogs. Most students can’t keep dogs, so they miss out on the benefits of owning one. Studies show that dogs reduce stress in college students. You win from every angle when you join the sharing economy as a dogwalker.

The sharing economy is here to stay, and it helps young people earn or save money in countless ways. Even with the schedule of a busy student, there’s always a way to make the most of what the sharing economy has to offer.

Sarah Kearns is a hard working mother of three daughters. She is a Senior Communications Manager for BizDb, an online resource with information about businesses in the UK. She loves cooking, reading history books and writing about green living.

 

 

6 Ways to Hone Your Writing Skills While Still in College

BY SERENA DORF

Introduction

According to a survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, good writing skills are of paramount importance.  The survey results indicate that 80 percent of employers listed good literary capabilities as one of the most important candidate attributes. This means that simply having a College degree won’t get a job applicant any closer to landing a job without strong writing capabilities. Therefore, students should place an additional effort in mastering the art of crafting compelling textual content. For all of those that need some extra help in developing their writing skills, here are 6 easy ways to sharpen up your pen.

Readers make good writers

Spend a lot of time reading various types of content like poems, news, blogs, novels, etc. Not only will reading extend your vocabulary and give you the chance to improve your spelling, it can also help you develop your own style. Furthermore, reading different types of content reveals techniques regarding sentence structure, tone, and wording. You will be able to separate informative writing style from entertaining or promotional materials, which will allow you to use that insight for your own written assignments.

Follow the protocol

Writing is a process and as such it is best managed when separated into different stages. The first stage is Prewriting and it includes gathering research material, creating an outline, and arranging the content before you start writing. The second stage involves writing down your thoughts, modifying the text, and writing it all again and again until you are satisfied. The second stage repeats several times and each time you finish writing, Revision, the third stage kicks in to let you know if you should move on or start drafting again. The final stage is editing, and this is where you fix all the spelling issues, grammar, wording, etc.

Know when to stop

Sometimes it’s difficult to start writing or move on to the next topic that your writing assignment should cover. Writer’s block happens even to the most prominent of writers and it’s nothing to be afraid of. The experts from EssayOnTime recommend that in such cases you should take a pause, go out and spends some time just clearing your thoughts before you head back to work.

Lose distractions

Some people can’t work unless they eliminate all the distractions that keep them away from focusing. Find a place where you’ll be on your own without a smartphone or anything else to turn you away from your task. When you’re alone with your work it will be easier to concentrate and create a valuable textual content.

Use writing tools

There are dozens of useful online and offline tools that you could use in order to improve your writing skills. Proofreading tools like Hemingwayapp or Grammarly will help you fix any writing mistakes and allow you to improve the readability of your content. In time you will learn to fix those mistakes yourself.

Audience feedback

Have some friends or siblings read your work and provide some constructive feedback. It will help you see those issues that perhaps you weren’t able to see by yourself. Moreover, they could create a spark that would fire up your inspiration further.

Conclusion

It takes a lot of time and effort to master any skill, the same goes with writing. The important part is to keep improving your abilities no matter the pace of your progress. Writing is an essential part of everyday life which nobody should neglect.

Serena Dorf is an enthusiastic content writer in Los Angeles. She is thirsty for knowledge and is always on the lookout for amazing writing tips to share with her readers. In her free time, she is reading classic American literature and learning Swedish. Feel free to connect with her on Twitter.

 

Future Employers Want more Than Good Grades

BY MIKKIE MILLS

There’s no denying the importance of receiving good grades in school. Prior to graduation, most students worry what their future employers will think about their grades. However, once they’ve found a stable job, many students are surprised to learn that their employers don’t care what grades they received in school.

The Truth About Employers and Grades

The understanding that the best jobs go to students with the highest grades begins in undergraduate and graduate school. Many students feel that if they haven’t achieved a higher than average GPA, they’ll be stuck with a less than average career. However, the truth is a little more multifaceted than that. Read on to understand the connection between good grades and getting a great job.

 

1. Employers Look for Good Grades and Sharp Skills

Yes, it’s a good idea to shoot for the best grades possible, but it’s also important to note the immediate distinction between a degreed applicant and someone without a degree. The grades you receive determine your class standing and overall academic performance, but in most cases, having a degree is enough for employers. The degree is what sets you apart and what many employers use as the standard for their new hires. Your degree will be able to prove to employees that you spent your time learning what you needed to know in order to effectively do your job.

Moreover, your degree speaks to the experience you gained in school, ensuring that you have honed your time management practices, analytical skills, and communication skills. If you find that you are lacking in one or more of these skills, now is your chance to supplement your degree with essential negotiation training. Many schools and community centers offer certifications in these important life skills and are an excellent opportunity for you to bolster your resume.

 

2. Companies Want Their New Hires to be Well-Rounded

The workplace and school are very different environments. While you may have gone above and beyond in school, you’ll soon find that what your employers expect of you is much different than what your former professors expected. It’s true that higher grades point to a students proficiency at taking tests, studying, and completing school-related projects, but this doesn’t hold the same relevance in the working world.

Yes, employers may initially use grades to filter out the right applicants, but it isn’t the only way employers choose their new hires. Many employers realize that the most viable candidate isn’t always someone whose only strength is in achieving high grades. So while it is important to continue to strive for better grades, you should make it a point to take every opportunity to become a more well-rounded individual. Try volunteering your time, traveling, and learning new skills to ensure you are more than a one-dimensional applicant to employers.

 

3. Employers Want Applicants with Work Experience

In addition to focusing on growing your skillset and partaking in extracurricular activities, now is the opportune time to gain real-life experience. Search for internships and work-study programs that you can easily fit into your schedule. Graduates that have on-the-job experience to bolster their resume are more likely to get the jobs they want, without necessarily having to have top-tier grades.

Ideally, you’ll be able to find an internship that is within your major. By putting the lessons you’re learning in the classroom to use in the real world, you’ll quickly get a taste of what life will be like after you graduate. Moreover, working as an intern allows you to network and build connections that you can later use to help find a job after graduation. For many graduates, their college internships do turn into their next career opportunity.

Ultimately, students need to focus on both their grades and their goals for the future. While it’s true that a bad grade here or there won’t prevent you from getting your dream job, it is equally as important for you to stay focused and dedicated to developing into a well-rounded student and future employee. Keep these three things in mind as you continue to work hard in school.

Mikkie is a freelance writer from Chicago. She has a passion for advanced learning, reading, and health and fitness. She is also a mother of two who loves sharing her ideas on education, learning, health, fitness and yoga. When she’s not writing, she’s chasing the little ones around or can be found at the local climbing gym or doing yoga.

 

5 Best Ways to Learn Java for Students

By JOHN SELAWSKY

“Everybody in this country should learn to program a computer, because it teaches you how to think.” When Steve Jobs said it years ago, he proved to be a true visionary once again.

Well, it’s hard to argue with that! Programming is thriving these days more than ever, and the trend is only expected to grow. According to code.org in the US, there will be 1.4 million jobs in computer sciences over the next 10 years. Programming skills will soon become a standard requirement for a higher level professional in any industry, just as the PC user skills are nowadays.

So even if you are not an IT student, but rather a future scientist, sales manager or marketing strategist, getting comfortable with coding is just a great idea.

First, choose a language. Java is a good choice because it is the most popular and widely applicable one. If you are in doubt, please take a look at TIOBE or PYPL programming language ratings…or just ask one of your developer friends. Besides, Java is easy to learn.

The next question is what is the proper way to learn Java. All sorts of programming courses and universities, academies, tutorials and books are readily available both online and offline. How to pick those that work best for you? Programming is all about practice. Team up with a tutor willing to set practical tasks for you and provide feedback, and you are well on your way. Interactive online courses are a good alternative, and here is a list of our select few:

 

• CodeGym is a Java Core course 80% based on practice. CodeGym is divided into 40 levels. Each level includes about 15-30 practical tasks, 10-20 Java lectures and some motivation articles to cheer students up.

This site is really useful for beginners and intermediate Java Students. You go through the course and collect the “dark matter”, by solving the exercises. You level up your character while boosting your Java skills.

CodeGym comes with an advanced code verification system. Think of it as a tutor who is there for you to check your exercises and offer recommendations if anything goes wrong. The validator is lightning fast: it only takes seconds to get your code checked.

The lectures are fun, sprinkled with humor and with amusing characters guiding you through the course. It is built around an interactive story of the GalaxyRush spaceship where a young robot Amigo (you) is learning how to code with the help from his teachers.

 

• CodeCademy is an online interactive platform that offers coding classes in 12 different programming languages including Java. Their basic Java course fits absolute beginners and has many practical exercises with a high quality code validation.

 

On CodeCademy you’ve got short theory explanation and instructions on the left side of the page and a coding task on the right. Write the code, push “Run” and in a moment you will get the answer and comments about your solution.

 

CodeCademy has only one Java course for now. It is a good one if you want to try Java.

 

 

• Coursera. The world’s largest educational online platform with hundreds of Java courses available. Worth checking: Java Programming: Solving Problems with Software and other courses by the Duke University for beginners and University of California courses for intermediate students. These will have you covered on the major intermediate topics in software development.

 

• Udacity also provides a basics Java Programming course to learn Syntax and Functions. It’s free and aimed at absolute beginners in programming. Like CodeCademy, it covers the main Java concepts such as methods, conditions, and loops, plus an intro to the workings of IDE IntelliJ IDEA.

 

• CodinGame. Working through the CodinGame problems is an enjoyable way to improve your programming skills. This site targets people who already know the basics of programming language (Java and 22 others) and also has hardcore challenges for expert developers.

CodinGame has the browser-based IDE that lets you code and compile in the same window and you can see the game changing in real time in your screen’s left corner. It is not a traditional practical online course. Even more: it is not an online course at all but challenge exercises tied to real games. After solving them you get visual feedback, a small change in this game.

Bio – John Selawsky, a senior Java developer and Java tutor at Learning Tree International programming courses. His idols are Steve Jobs, Elon Musk and Steve Wozniak. John believes that the future lies in the development of technologies that are changing the world.