One way or another, your time in college is going to have a significant impact on your life. Apart from the fact that you’ll spend quite some time of your formative years there, the relationships which you form will likely be some of the most important throughout your life. Even a cursory look at some of the most popular and successful companies will reveal that quite a number of them were founded by collegiate friends during or after school.
If you’re currently in college or going soon, one of the best things you can do to maximize your time there is to deliberately network as much as you can and expand your circle of connections. Even though it might appear intimidating at first, here are a few tips to get it done effectively and conveniently, even if you’re not too much of a sanguine person:
Join Clubs and Groups Along Your Interests
In college, you’ll have an array of options to choose from when it comes to organizations to join and participate in. You can join the general ones such as the Greek clubs and others like JCI or AIESEC, but you can also join those that have more specific purposes such as debate clubs, health clubs, finance or others.
When you join those clubs, you’ll get the benefit of making connections with your peers who have similar interests as you do, increasing the likelihood that you’ll be able to start something with them or meet them in the future. Furthermore, those clubs often interact with professionals in their respective fields, so you’ll be able to meet AND connect with them too.
Get a Mentor
Introductions are very important nowadays. There is a much higher chance that someone you want to get in touch with will respond positively when you’ve been referred by a colleague or friend of theirs than if it’s a completely cold outreach. With a mentor, you’ll be able to tap into his or her own network and get them to facilitate your contact with other professionals.
In choosing your mentor, avoid the temptation to approach the biggest, most prominent person in your field just because you think they’ll be most beneficial to you. In reality, mid-level professionals will likely be most beneficial since they’ll be able to spend more time mentoring you.
Take Your Part-time Jobs and Internships Seriously
You might think that they are not “real jobs” but they could turn out to be crucial to your career subsequently. Those jobs will be your first few chances to prove your skills and professionalism as a sedation dentist in Calgary, for instance, and if you excel in them, it’ll increase the likelihood of a job offer from the same company or a referral to another place.
Before starting out at any job or internship, try to reach out to people who have worked there before to get their opinions and guidance. That will help to shorten your learning curve and make it easier to impress your colleagues and superiors.
Interact with All the Professors You Can
You won’t be taught by every single professor in your college, faculty or department, but that doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from all or most of them. Strike up conversations with professors on their areas of expertise and help them out whenever there’s an opportunity to. You’ll find it easy to ask them for help when you need them.
Whether it’s to give advice on an idea you have or to invest in your startup, professors have been known to go the extra mile for students they particularly like and believe in. Positioning yourself well will make it easier for you to benefit when the time comes.
Attend Relevant Events
Conferences, symposia and other events are ideal places to meet with like-minded people across various professional levels. Most students don’t bother, so you’ll likely have an edge and stand out just by making the effort to attend.
Not all events are created equal though, so you’ll have to take the time to research each potential event and determine whether it’ll be worth it. Prioritize those that you’ll have someone to introduce you at, since that will make your networking much more efficient.
Kimberly Evans is a writer, traveler and Internet chatter. She covers stories about businesses and lives that inspire her. Email: KimberlyEvansPen@gmail.com
As a student, whether you’re in college or high school, there’s a lot of pressure on you to succeed in your academics and graduate with flying colors. At the same time though, there are a multitude of activities that you’ll have to devote some time to since they also form crucial parts of your overall education and character development, even though they’re technically extra-curricular.
Combining those two aspects can be challenging for many students. The difference between smart students who get the best grades and those who do badly often boils down to the ability to balance things properly. Thankfully, there are some time-tested habits that can be inculcated by any student, and which will lead to a boost in academic performance. Here are a few of them you can begin to implement without much fuss: 1. Create a Timetable and Stick to It
When you have a timetable in place detailing what periods of time you’ll spend studying in the course of the week and what exactly you’ll be studying, it’ll help you to keep you organized since you’ll have enough time to plan your schedule in such a way that those periods are always free, as opposed to having to squeeze in time to study on an impromptu basis.
In addition, you’ll be able to structure your schedule such that you’re well prepared for upcoming classes and tests without needing to sideline other activities. The key element is consistency though, and you’ll have to exert a lot of self-control to see that you stick to the timetable. 2. Keep Distractions Away While You Study
Like most other students, your phone is likely to be a crucial component of your life, along with your laptop and other tech gadgets. That’s understandable and definitely not a bad thing, though it’ll become so if you are unable to focus on your books because you’re distracted by those gadgets.
Smart students are intentional about keeping distractions away, whether it’s by keeping them in a separate room from where they’re studying or anywhere it’ll be difficult to reach on a whim. The point is to keep them out of sight and out of mind for the period during which you’ll be studying so take any steps that work well for you. 3. Get a Study Group
Iron sharpeneth iron is popular saying, and it’s a very true one. Having a study group and making it a habit to meet regularly for discussions on the subjects you’re taking will help you in several ways.
First, it’ll help you become proficient in all your courses since your group is likely to be made up of people with strengths in different areas. In addition, you’ll be able to ask questions and get in-depth explanations on thorny areas that you’re finding difficult to understand, such as legal options in different situations, if you’re a law student. Lastly, the group will help to keep you accountable with regards to your study schedule since you’ll need to read to be able to discuss effectively at the meetings. 4. Eat Healthy and Exercise
Even though they might look like two entirely different things, your health is a crucial determinant of how well you’ll be able to study. Eating junk food constantly will make you less energetic and being constantly tired is not a good way to study.
Exercising regularly will help a lot too. Apart from keeping you fit, it’ll also help you to develop the discipline to maintain a routine that you can then apply to your studies as well. You’ll feel much more comfortable too, thus making for better studying. For instance, you’ll certainly find it easier to study even the most complicated mathematical equations after getting your dental implants in Calgary, compared to having to deal with aching tooth. 5. Develop Your Note-taking skills
Taking good notes is essential to keep track of a lot of information across all the courses you’re taking. If you keep your notes comprehensive and well organized, you’ll be able to find any information you need without too much trouble, as opposed to a haphazard collection of scribblings that you cannot make head or tail of.
Learn to use outlines, bullet-points and other methods to keep your notes clear. This habit will also help you think more clearly, write better and you could even start a blog and make a career out of it. For more convenience, you can simply record your classes and then take your time to form your notes later when you’re not rushing to keep track of what is being said.
Susan Parker is a writer and tech geek. She volunteers for local environmental conservation programs and writes stories online about things that inspire her. Email: SusanWritesWell@gmail.com
Students have to pay for books, housing, tuition, and other fees while attending college. You can get a break, though, with your .edu address. Many companies offer discounts and other promotions to students with a .edu address. Here is a list of ten discounts you can receive with your student email address.
Amazon Prime
You can receive Amazon Prime at a discount with your .edu address. Amazon Prime starts with a free six month trial and then you will pay a discounted rate. Amazon prime includes two day free shipping, access to online videos and television shows, and access to streaming music. Use the free shipping to stock your dorm room with cool electronics and other fun items.
New York Times
They offer student rates as long as you hold your .edu address. You can get unlimited access to their online accounts including apps, archives, and puzzles. They also offer home delivery for a slight price increase. Keep up with the latest news from around the world, a world class crossword puzzle, and other interactive accessories.
The Wall Street Journal
You can receive unlimited access to WSJ.com with a discounted rate. The website includes articles, podcasts, and newsletters. They also offer a benefits program with unique events, offers, and experiences. Business majors should realize what a great investment this is. Impress your professors with this discounted app.
Top Shop
Students receive a 10% year round discount when you sign up online at their website. Students should not forget about coupons. They are a great way to save money. You can find coupons online at Couponsmonk and other online websites. So look your best while attending classes.
Spotify
Spotify is offering a two for one deal with Hulu. Students can get both apps for less than a regular Spotify subscription. So you will be able to keep up with your shows and tunes during your downtime.
Pottery Barn
This site offers 15% off a onetime purchase with a valid student email. You can fill your dorm room with accessories, sheets, and blankets. They also offer bedding bundles and free shipping.
Overstock
Overstock offers you a Club O membership for free. This includes free shipping, 5% rewards dollars, extra rewards, and dining discounts. Furnish your dorm room with with quality, inexpensive furniture and accessories.
Dell Computers
Dell offers students a $100 promotional gift card off of purchases from $499 and up. They also offer a price match guarantee and a loyalty program. In the loyalty program students can get up to 6% back and free shipping. You just need a .edu address to sign up for this offer. You can keep up to date with the latest electronics.
Sam’s Club
Students receive a $15 gift card when you use your .edu address to purchase a Sam’s Club membership. You can stock up on your dorm necessities.
Moo
Student receive 15% off business cards and other merchandise on their website. Moo offers business cards, stickers, postcards, and flyers. So if you are getting ready to graduate and go out into the job market, be prepared with business cards you can hand out to future employers.
These are just ten of the many offers available to students with their .edu address. Look around the web for other exciting discounts for electronics, food, clothing, and more. Most local museums and movie theaters offer student discounts. You can also receive a discount on food and travel. Do your research and save some money in the near future.
Lorraine McKinney is an academic tutor and elearning specialist.
Whether you’re new to college or struggling with the decision in your junior year, the process of choosing a major is one that everyone wrestles with. Most people are unsure about what they want to do for a living when they’re at the beginning of their careers. But choosing a major doesn’t have to feel like the “wrong” decision will doom you to a life of poverty or unhappiness—even if family, friends, or mentors are pushing you toward the path they think is best.
Your interests, your preferred location, your financial goals, and your desired lifestyle can all help you decide what to study. And no matter what major you choose, the process of learning new skills and forming new areas of expertise will stick with you, giving you the flexibility to shift your focus as you move forward in your career. Here are some tips and considerations to help you make a the right decision for you and find your path to success.
Step 1: Stay Open-Minded
When you’re first choosing a major, it’s important to stay open-minded. Many people start their college journey with a hasty decision, often based on careers with higher pay. That may partially account for why studies have shown that 33% of students seeking a bachelor’s degree ended up switching majors.
In the early stages of your college career, it’s important to keep your options open. Most colleges have an “exploratory” track that lets you try out courses from different majors. By experiencing more courses, you can eliminate majors that aren’t a good fit for your interests.
Step 2: Ask Questions
It’s hard to get an accurate picture of a career path without experience. Talking with people in a given field can yield valuable insight into aspects of that career that aren’t obvious from the outside.
Ask your professors and your peers about their interest in their chosen subject and see if their reasons for focusing on that field match your own aspirations, interests, values, and life goals. Talking with people that you admire can give you some insight into how you might replicate their career decisions in your own life.
Step 3: Consider Your Financial Goals
If you’re like most people, you’ll be taking on debt while you’re in college. Your financial ambitions don’t have to dictate every aspect of your choice of major, but it’s important to be realistic. Choosing a major that matches your lifestyle ambitions and your expected debt can make it easier to achieve your long-term goals once you graduate.
Some majors lend themselves to careers with financial freedom, while others may be a little more challenging. Feelings of personal fulfillment might outweigh the draw of a high salary, depending on the work you develop a passion for. In other words, deciding on a major should include some consideration of salary, but it isn’t the only factor that matters.
Step 4: Focus on Your Interests
Passions take time to develop. An interest is a better lead to follow when choosing your major, according to Nathan Gebhard, coauthor of Roadmap: The Get-It-Together Guide for Figuring Out What to Do With Your Life. “There’s no epiphany; it’s a collection of small decisions that move you step by tiny step,” says Gebhard.
Pursuing a major to appease a family member or reach a certain salary goal won’t give you the drive and motivation to thrive. It takes curiosity, interest, and a personal connection to keep you engaged enough to succeed. If you want to find the career you’re truly passionate about, start with your interests and let them grow naturally over time.
Step 5: (Possibly) Change Your Mind
Ask almost anyone—the place most people end up is far different from where they started. Susan Wojcicki, the CEO of Youtube, holds majors in history, literature, business, and economics. Choosing a major that doesn’t match your eventual career isn’t time wasted; the collection of your experiences makes you unique, and every meander in the path you take adds another aspect to your life that forms your identity.
The Final Decision
No matter what major you settle on, the course of your life will be determined by the things you create, the people you influence, and the contributions you make to the world. Follow these steps, and you’ll be ready to choose a major and start down the path toward the career you want.
Alex Haslam graduated from the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah in 2017. Today she is a freelance writer who focuses on consumer technology, entertainment, and higher education.
Cuts to advertised tuition come in the face of an enrollment drop and consumer backlash
by MATT KRUPNICK, Excerpted From HECHINGER REPORT
Tuition is being cut by about $25,000 this year to attract more students to Mills College in Oakland, California, one of several colleges and universities freezing or reducing tuition this fall in the face of an enrollment decline and consumer backlash. Photo: John S Lander/LightRocket via Getty Images
It may have been one of the biggest back-to-school sales ever: a 36 percent drop in the advertised cost of a college education.
That’s what awaited students this fall at Mills College, one of a growing number of higher-education institutions that have started freezing or dropping their prices in the face of a years-long enrollment decline and heightened price sensitivity.
The 1,300-student private college in Oakland, California, which like many private colleges has been having trouble attracting students, dropped its sticker price from $45,000 to $29,000 a year.
It’s an increasingly common example of market forces finally coming to bear on college costs, which have consistently grown much faster than prices for other goods and services thanks to a steady supply of students. In the 10 years ending in 2016, college tuition and fees rose 63 percent, or three times the rate of everything else tracked by the Consumer Price Index, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report
Today, however, because of a decline in the number of 18- to 24-year-olds and an improving economy that is sucking people straight into the workforce, colleges have 2.9 million fewer customers than they did at the last peak, in 2011, according to the National Student Clearinghouse, which tracks this.
Related: Eligible for financial aid, nearly a million students never get it
Meanwhile, almost seven in 10 parents said in a survey that they had eliminated colleges from consideration for their children because of the cost. In another survey, only 44 percent of Americans said private, nonprofit universities and colleges are worth what they charge.
More colleges are realizing there’s no point having high sticker prices if they’re discouraging prospective applicants and few students are actually paying them, said Sandy Baum, an independent higher-education consultant and retired economics professor.
“It’s very much a strategic decision,” Baum said. “They’re looking at, will we get more applicants if we lower our sticker price? It works for some of them and it really doesn’t work out for others.”
More and more are giving it a try.
Drew University, Sweet Briar College, Birmingham-Southern College, Benedict College and the University of Sioux Falls all reduced their advertised tuition starting this year. Old Dominion University is lowering the price of undergraduate tuition for active-duty military service members. Champlain College cut tuition in half for students in its online program, part of a strategy to increase enrollment.
Related: Can ‘work colleges’ in cities become a low-cost, high-value model for the future?
The University of Colorado at Boulder is eliminating millions of dollars in student fees. Several public universities are among those responding to a declining supply of students by freezing or reducing their prices. Photo: Andrew Burton/Getty Images
Concerned about Illinois high school graduates leaving for colleges in other states, the University of Illinois system is in the fourth year of a tuition freeze. The University of Colorado has cut fees. Five South Dakota universities are offering lower in-state tuition this fall to freshmen and transfer students from Nebraska; the University of Nebraska at Kearney will extend the deal next year to residents of Colorado and Kansas. The University of Missouri-Kansas City, meanwhile, is offering lower resident tuition to students from Kansas and other midwestern states.
Some of the seeming price drops are sleight of hand. Most students don’t pay the advertised price for college, but, after receiving discounts and financial aid, end up owing a lower “net price.” At private colleges, that comes to about half as much, said Lucie Lapovsky, a pricing consultant. And as the stream of students has dried up, those discounts have been getting deeper.
Colleges like Mills are simply changing their advertised prices to something closer to the average of what students actually pay, though Mills says most students will still see their costs decline.
Related: With enrollment sliding, liberal arts colleges struggle to make a case for themselves
Study groups are a well-loved strategy for achieving better grades on difficult exams, but it can be challenging putting one together. A good study group requires the right mix of motivated people with the right balance of skills. With these tips, you’ll be able to collaborate effectively and tackle even the most difficult subject.
Do Study Groups Work?
Every study group will have its own unique dynamic, but the technique of collaborating when studying for exams can be useful, provided students are using best practices in group composition. At the very least, a study group creates an environment of productivity, which canincrease your retention and motivate you to study more.
A study group is only as good as its members. The key to building a successful group is to find other students who are as motivated as you are to succeed in the class. These seven tips will help you put together the perfect group before your next big test.
Find Your Study Buddies
The first step for making an effective study group is to find classmates who are also interested in teaming up. First, find out if there is already an established study group in your class. If there isn’t, you can get the ball rolling by asking the people around you if they’d like to participate. You can also use class communication systems (for example, if you have an online message board), to ask if anyone wants to join. Not everyone in the class needs to be a part of your group; even one or two people can be enough to benefit from.
Talk to Your Professor
Your instructor is the best place to start when strategizing your study session. They may have invaluable tips for studying and synthesizing the course material. In some cases, your professor may be willing to help compose materials like study guides or practice exams to guide your group.
Choose Your Location
A productive space is crucial for a well-functioning study group. Libraries, student lounges, and other shared workspaces can help each member of your group channel their most productive attitude. A dorm room or home can work if the space is quiet and free of distractions.
Choose Group Roles
You and your study partners all have skills and knowledge you can bring to the table. If you’re working on a group project or a big test,assigning group roles can be a great way to split the workload and maximize your efficiency. Some useful roles include a group leader, a scribe, an editor, and a time manager (depending on the task at hand).
Use Collaborative Study Methods
Depending on the material, it’s often beneficial to study collaboratively. Partner up with your study-mates and practice answering questions, or quiz each other on flash cards. If you’re writing a big final paper, a paired editing workshop can help improve your writing skills. It won’t always be easy to work together, but even if you need to study quietly for a bit, it can be easier if others around you are working quietly as well. Plan out your study methods before the session to help make this process smoother.
Avoid Conflict
Somedisagreements are inevitable in any group, especially if everyone is stressed about a big exam. Try and address any issues directly and openly to make sure everyone in your group feels like their concerns are heard. Compromising can help your group form a stronger bond, which will help you navigate the challenges of your course.
Reward Yourselves
Staying motivated to meet as a study group can sometimes be difficult, but planning sessions around social events or activities can be a great reward for the group. If your group is made of sports fans, set aside time to study first so you can all reward yourselves bywatching the big game right after you finish. Or if your group is more into movies, plan aStar Wars marathon schedule to keep everyone looking forward to the next study session.
Conclusion
Having a productive study space to work in can make all the difference in your final grade, and a successful study group can often carry over after the semester ends. If your classmates are in the same major as you, it’s possible that you’ll have other classes in common in the future. At the very least, you and your new friends will have your best shot at surviving the next big chemistry exam.
Alex Haslam graduated from the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah in 2017. Today she is a freelance writer who focuses on consumer technology, entertainment, and higher education.
While graduation is a time of celebration, many students also struggle with confusion and uncertainty. Which are the following steps they should take for their formal education or career? Many are still clueless about how to approach their lives and careers after this period of their lives
To make their lives easier and offer a little guidance, below are some tips that will help college students properly prepare for their graduation and future career.
Visit Your School’s Career Service Office
After graduation, many students think of their career; what jobs should they seek and how to prepare for interviews to boost their employment chances. Besides guidance, the Career Office at your Uni will be able to help you find a part-time job or even an internship, depending on your degree specialization. Besides, the counsellors here will be able to help you with your cover letter, resume, portfolio and whatever other documentation is necessary for your first job.
With the counselor’s help, make sure to prepare your resume with a full history of your experience, the projects you participated in and skills you obtained through all your formal education years.
Make sure to adapt all cover letters for each job that you apply for. This will make it look professional and that you put the necessary efforts into it. However, the Career Office will be able to help you prepare the base of your cover letter. From that, you will be able to add or subtract other information, depending on the position you apply for.
Get your References
For a bright future career, you should get the right references from the right people. In most of the cases, a great reference makes the big difference between getting a job or not. If you were brilliant at a certain course, ask the course professor to write you a recommendation. If you followed an internship, ask your internship supervisor for one.
Prepare for Graduate School
If you don’t want to start searching for a job right away and you would rather focus on your formal education, make sure to search for the perfect school for your own needs. If you found one, have you properly prepared for all the admission tests? If not, you should start searching for some GMAT Prep courses, as well as GRE. Depending you’re the school of your choice, there might be necessary some other graduate level exams.
Know How Much You Owe in Student Debts
In most of the cases, the first payment of your student loan is after graduation, within six months. You should start figuring out right now how much you owe your debtor so you won’t have any surprises. And most importantly, don’t ignore your loan debtor’s correspondence.
Some of these pieces of advice will help undergraduate students accommodate better to the context after your graduation. Make sure to find a mentor as well. They will help you with pieces of advice and help you choose a viable career path for your own abilities and skills.
Emma Bonney is a successful blogger whose articles aim to help readers with self-development, Women’s Empowerment, Education, entrepreneurship and content management.
The smartphone is a hallmark of the age of technology, introducing Millennials to limitless information at the push of a button. As American singer and songwriter, Carrie Underwood, said, “My cell phone is my best friend. It’s my lifeline to the outside world.”
Earlier generations did not have the same freedom with phones as the Millennials. Too much freedom can have its perils, though. As US Senator Kamala Harris has said, “These days, children can text on their cell phone all night long, and no one else is seeing that phone. You don’t know who is calling that child.”
However, there is a positive side to widespread cell phone usage; something parents realized when kids go off to college. Far away from parental control and exuberant in navigating their newly-acquired freedom, college kids shed inhibitions and forget to be responsible. This is a parent’s worst nightmare and they can spend sleepless nights wondering if their kids are safe.
It is a sobering thought for college kids how quickly anticipated fun can turn into disaster. Researchers have found that 1825 college students in the US between the ages of 18 and 24 die from alcohol-related unintentional injuries every year, including motor vehicle crashes. Also, each year, 696,000 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 become the assault victims of their intoxicated peers. Furthermore, every year, around 97,000 students between 18 and 24 become victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape.
However, all is not lost, thanks to mobile phones. There are different ways that parents can still get to know what their kids are up to while away at college through various digital tools. For instance, a particular smartphone app alerts a dad if his son is texting while driving. Phone technology goes beyond concerned parents: many businesses utilize call tracking software to gather valuable data on incoming customer calls. With Millennials and Gen Z remaining obsessed with their smartphones, companies have developed apps for parents to tracks their kids’ physical whereabouts and monitor their driving speed.
Some college kids are good at staying in touch and are committed to letting their parents have some peace of mind. For instance, they may call or text on a Sunday morning after late-night partying on Saturday. But there are other college kids who are not conscientious about communicating with parents. In such instances, parents are compelled to get in the driver seat to keep a check on their kids’ movements.
Furthermore, with the high cost of college, parents are concerned about kids doing well in school and graduating on time. There are mobile apps available that allow parents to track how their kid in college is faring, as well as the regularity of their attendance. USA Today, quoting the University of Texas in Austin, says that students who graduate on time will spend 40% less on college fees than students who graduate in six years.
However, many parents will still grit their teeth and wait patiently for kids to contact them, not wanting to be resented or be seen as “helicopter” parents. One mother, Randi Olin, founder of Motherwell, a website that tell all sides of the parenting story, says, “So I wait for her to come to me, and believe that these unexpected, authentic snippets—a quick call on the way back from the gym, a late night text telling me about sorority rush, a brief FaceTime call on the walk back from the library—far outweigh any round-the-clock location tracker.”
One grandmother said, “My theory is, you’ve got to be in the game to help them know what’s wrong and what’s right. Keeping them from it is not going to work. You can either be out there with them in the game — or they’ll be out there without you.”
Lady Bird Johnson, wife of the 36th President of the United States, Lyndon B. Johnson, said, “Encourage and support your kids because children are apt to live up to what you believe of them.”
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.
It is no secret that SEO is the key to success in this age and times of the Internet. Search Engine Optimization, popularly abbreviated as SEO, determines one’s ranking on a search engine results. But unfortunately, most academic institutions, be it regular colleges and universities or even majority of technical classes, do not teach SEO as a part of their curriculum. A strong knowledge of SEO building activities aimed to improve the search engine rankings is an essential job skill today. While there are some jobs which exclusively need candidates with SEO skills, most others prefer candidates who have a strong knowledge of SEO. But if your college is not teaching you, here’s how you can study and master these skills to become an SEO expert on your own.
Utilise the power of internet
It is extremely unfortunate but most of college education simply doesn’t include adequate knowledge and understanding of SEO. Even those courses which deal with SEO are mostly not very detailed and simply include the basic definitions without going into intricate details. In these current times when SEO building is an absolutely essential skill you as a student need to proactively utilise the resources that the internet has to offer. Do ample research on SEO in your free time. Make the best use of your college Wi-Fi to become a master of search engine ranking and optimisation by the time you graduate from college.
Do your keyword research
Once you understand what SEO does and how you can work on building ranking, it is time to do you research on SEO building activities and keywords. There are several helpful blogs which can help you improve your SEO skills and knowledge. When it comes to keywords this is where most of the hard work goes. You need to understand that keywords are essential, be it for linking or general SEO improvement. The more you do your research, the more will you understand what kind of keywords you need to employ. With the right keywords you can actually do so much when it comes to improving search engine rankings.
Start blogging
Blogging can offer you an insight into SEO building by providing you a firsthand experience into the search engine rankings. Make the best of college to learn an essential job skill by blogging on topics that you like. This serves two purposes for your future. Firstly, it gives you essential and valuable SEO lessons which you can employ in your job, startup and other endeavours. It also gives you a blog which you can later monetise into a viable career over time.
Join an internship
There are a number of excellent digital marketing and SEO firms such as JuxtDigital which you can choose to go for an internship in. It is actively helping companies to optimise their search engine ranks. Therefore, you can learn SEO building techniques and trade secrets hands on. An internship is a great way to teach yourself essential skills, while gaining some work experience in the process as well.
A thorough knowledge of SEO and various activities which improve search engine rankings has become a nonnegotiable skill in the job market. It gives you an extra edge when you are looking for employment after college. Make the best use of your college years to improve your SEO skills.
By line for Linda Anderson
I’m a writer and musician residing in Boise, ID in the United States, although I spent a small amount of time (about three years) living in the UK growing up, due to my father’s occupation. I graduated from the College of Idaho with a bachelor’s Degree in Business and a focus in marketing in 2014.
A few years’ back, a Latina College student attending Suffolk University, Boston, used the word ‘hence’ in a college paper, and was thus accused of plagiarism. Her teacher underlined the word and demanded the student “go back and indicate where (she) cut and paste”, emphasizing that the word “was not (her) language”.
The student was baffled, hurt and outraged that her last name and minority status had immediately instilled a set of biases in her professor, biases that led her to accuse the Latina student of having ‘stolen’ words that were not representative of her ‘native’ language.
This soon became an example of plagiarism-paranoia-gone-wrong – and the university and professor are now kicking themselves over the resultant public relations crisis they have found themselves in. But in this dangerous territory we are now entering into following the advent of the internet and due to the increasingly online nature of the contemporary classroom, where should colleges and universities draw the line?
It goes without saying that serious mechanisms must be in place to ensure that students who cheat or plagiarize are not advantaged – and that they do not get away with it. It is now common practice for professors and course instructors to use plagiarism detection sites such as Turnitin.com or plagiarism.com to check all submitted pieces of work by students, and systems are in place that ensure students account for all ‘borrowed’ information or thoughts of others through citation and referencing.
And most students generally understand that academic achievements are 100 percent premised on integrity, honesty, respect, accountability, and responsibility. The academic rules of conduct enforced by universities worldwide are generally intended to foster behaviors consistent with a civil setting, meaning that students will need to comply with such regulations both during university – and beyond it – if they wish to become active, respected, contributing members of society.
Yet, it was noted during a 2003 journalism convention that 70 percent of college graduates admitted to plagiarizing at least once during their college career. In more recent years, it was found that Britain’s universities were experiencing a “plagiarism epidemic” after an investigation revealed almost 50,000 students had been caught cheating over the previous three years. International students were accused of being the worst offenders and were more than four times likely to cheat that other university students.
“Nowadays, these records can become permanent on the internet,” said Alistair Vigier, CEO of Clearway Law. “One lazy mistake can have devastating ramification, in terms of employment for years to come.”
So, how does one survive in the academic arena in such a difficult context? How does one reference to the extent required in a degree program, and embrace all the internet has to offer information-wise, without entering into the muddy waters of academic misconduct?
Some students have – despite their best intentions – been falsely accused of academic misconduct, leading them to ultimately fail their course. Rutgers student Amanda Serpico and her family resorted to hiring a family lawyer to help them appeal to her university, which claimed Turnitin.com had flagged her final essay as plagiarized and therefore failed her.
But there are many foolproof ways to avoid plagiarism. Here are some top tips for avoiding potential accusations of misconduct:
It’s obvious, but always cite your sources. Ensure you double check your bibliography before submitting an assessment, making sure you have included all the correct information required in a citation – and in the correct order, too. Auto-citing programs come with their faults, it’s better to do this part manually.
Try to avoid inaccurate authorship: ensure you have cited the author of the exact edition of version of the book you have taken an idea or text from. It’s possible to commit this form of plagiarism when someone else edits a manuscript, and often students are caught out by this.
Avoid data fabrication or data falsification: this refers to manipulating research data to give a false impression, or to support your overall argument. Students do this by removing inconvenient results or adding data points.
Use Turnitin.com or other plagiarism checker sites yourself to check over your work before submitting. Many platforms offer free services to students if they wish to submit documents under a certain size, otherwise most universities offer an opportunity for students to check at least once before submitting each assignment.
Always review your work: Once you’ve finished your essay, check it. And check it again. And again. And then have your friend check it again. Ensure that every chunk of information or thought is not attributable to another source or person – and if it is, ensure it is correctly cited.
Understand the different type of plagiarism: really, this should be your first step. There is direct plagiarism, mosaic plagiarism, accidental or self-plagiarism.
Become an efficient note-taker. Write down all referencing details of anything you read, watch or listen to that impacts your thoughts on a subject. Be methodical and accurate.
As Jean Cocteau once said, “The world worships the original.” For your own sake above all else, become an independent thinker, capable of your own independent thought, and use others’ thoughts merely to support your own. If you take this approach not only will you breeze through university but you will graduate a capable, eloquent, independent academic – a graduate of integrity.
Annabel Monaghan is a writer with a passion for education and edtech. She writes education and career articles for The College Puzzle with the aim of providing useful information for students and young professionals. If you have any questions, please feel free to email her at annabelmonaghanwriter@gmail.com.
