Online Courses: earn a degree and expand knowledge

DAVID GUTIERREZ

Studying at a college is a great time to make friendships that last for a lifetime, to take a break from comfortable living with parents and what was usual and known and start calling university campus a second home for a few years.

However, the change of lifestyle is rarely the major reason why students apply to universities. Getting a degree as well as the knowledge that will be useful in future career are among the main reasons for such a decision.

Perhaps you are a person that seeks efficiency and have a desire to make use of every minute available. Or maybe you are already looking into master studies programs that could help you to advance in your field of study, but you want it to be compatible with the job you have or are planning to have by the time you finish your undergraduate degree. Or possibly you just want to expand your expertise in an area that is not related to your course of study and university that you are enrolled in is not offering it as an elective.

If any or all of the cases seem to be describing you, you might be interested in checking out possibilities of online education. Although most students prefer physical and social college environment, there are opportunities to study online courses that will award you with a degree, a certificate, or will simply provide knowledge in a discipline that you find fascinating.

Courses that do not provide a degree

There are many online schools and academies, such as Coursera, edX or Udemy where you are allowed to take online courses, even submit assignments, get grades and earn a certification. However, courses are usually not comprehensive and although after paying a small fee you will be able to receive a certificate that you finished the course and have knowledge in the field, that will not substitute bachelors, masters or doctorate degree.Still, this is a great opportunity if you are looking for a way to expand your CV and learn an additional marketable skill or simply to study something that has always interested you.

Courses that provide a college degree

In addition to that many universities provide an opportunity to study remotely and earn a bachelors or masters degree online. Most programs can be studied that way, an many universities are glad to provide such opportunity. Therefore, even if nearest universities are not offering a program you are interested in, you can find a way to study it in university, which might even be in different continent than your own.

In addition to that, studying online gives you an opportunity to earn a degree of a prestigious university in Australia, Europe or anywhere else in the world.

Free courses that do not provide official certification, but give you knowledge

Perhaps you just want to learn a new skill or language so that you could apply it in a project you are working on. Or maybe you just want to understand processes or ways to build arguments, write or learn better. There are ways to do that for free using online education. Although, many things can be learned simply watching Youtube videos, there are online systems that provide courses for free in order to promote their content. The websites of Coursera and Edx have quite a wide selection of courses that you have to pay only if you want to receive certification after completing the course.

In conclusion, there are opportunities to study and to even earn certification if necessary while traveling, working and trying to combine work and study and studying from the comfort of your home. The most important thing is to understand what you want, need and what will benefit you the most.

David Gutierrez has worked in the field of web design since 2005. Right now he started learning Java in order to get second occupation. His professional interests defined major topics of his articles. David writes about new web design software, recently discovered professional tricks and also monitors the latest updates of the web development.

Why College Students Should Make Time for Exercise

 BY: ANNABEL MONAGHAN

Most of us have read studies about the health risks we’re faced with today due to our sedentary life style. Lack of exercise and hours sitting in front of a screen mean that some of us find even menial day-to-day activities, like grocery shopping, a tiring effort.

When you’re young, it’s natural to not feel so concerned about your health, and college students are notorious for putting health on hold while they enjoy the freedom to eat, drink and do whatever they want. But, there are plenty of reasons why college is a perfect time to start making health conscious decisions.

The accessibility and affordability of healthcare after college is another important reason why students should make the time to incorporate healthy habits into their daily routines. Establishing these habits earlier in life is one way to help prevent many afflictions that plague us later in life. For those graduating without a job providing health benefits, and who no longer under their parent’s coverage, preventative healthcare becomes especially important.

It’s not only after graduation where establishing healthy habits can provide benefits either. Joining the campus gym could provide a boost to your grades. According to one study, published in the journal of the United States Sports Academy, students who regularly participated in physical activity had a higher over-all GPA than their more sedentary peers.

Science has long boasted about the benefit of regular exercise. It makes us smarter, helps us live longer and makes us feel good.

When you’ve got mountains of textbooks to read and assignments to write, it might seem like you’ll never find the time to work out, there are some strategies you can follow to stay active.

Consider combing your exercise with your studies.

Combining the two elements of your life can help give you more time. Signing up for a PE class as an elective for credit is a perfect choice If you want to earn an easy A for your efforts, and enjoy the atmosphere of social exercise. If you’re not too into the idea of taking dance class or signing up for hockey, then try sneaky tips like doing your class readings while you walk and run on the treadmill and get your cardio in. Or downloading audio lectures and listening to them while you head out for a jog. Take a break from writing your paper to do a mini-workout of 10 minutes. You’ll head back into it feeling refreshed, and when you add up all the hours you can spend working on a paper, you’re easily finding your thirty minutes of exercise that day.

Find ways to stay motivated and get help!

If you’re unsure how you should be working out, turn to technology. There are hundreds of apps available on smartphones which can do everything for you, from designing a workout routine, to tracking how well you’re meeting your goals. The internet is also full of blogs and communities that are a wealth of resources and support for the newcomer to fitness. Magazines like LifetoLiveit are full of tips and tricks to help maintain a healthy lifestyle, getting involved with these sorts of online info-sharing fitness communities can be a terrific way to maintain motivation toward your health goals.

Keep your goals realistic

It’s impossible to take exercise seriously if you don’t know what you want to get out of it. Figure out what you aim to achieve. Do you want to improve your general fitness and be able to run a mile without having to stop to catch your breath? Do you have weight loss goals you want to meet? Go into it knowing what exactly you want to get out of working out, and why, then plan out what you need to do to achieve it.

Useful Podcasts for College Students

BY LORRAINE McKINNEY

Many people don’t realize the value that can be found in podcasts, especially for students. There are so many opportunities to learn, and not just academics. You will find a number of podcasts that can help you get motivated, take better care of your health, train your brain, and a whole lot more. Some podcasts are geared specifically for students, and others that are more general are still important for students to check out. Today we are going to look at seven important podcasts for college students.

1. Tiny Leaps, Big Changes: Wellness, Inspiration, Self Help & Motivation for Your Daily Life

This audio podcast is one of the best self-help podcasts you will find, and it offers a wealth of information on a variety of topics. Find over 250 episodes that will give you advice you really need. Tiny Leaps, Big Changes is not just a self-help podcast. It is a wellness and motivational podcast that offers personal strategies, information about personal habits, and more.

2. The College Info Geek Podcast: Study Tips & Advice for Students

Here is a podcast that every college student should be listening too regularly. Thomas Frank and Martin Boehme offer great advice about things that students can do to improve their grades, and their overall college experience. They will help you learn how to be more productive, and how to build your own personal brand that is going to help you get your dream job after graduation.

3. TED Talks Daily

The great thing about this podcast is that it is about everything you could ever want to know about pretty much everything. Whether you are interested in zoology or music or artificial intelligence, you will hear some ideas that are really going to get you to thinking, from some of the leading thinkers in the world today. This podcast is also available in video format. Sell laptop products and upgrade to newer versions for better video viewing.

4. The Moth: True Stories Told Live

Listen to true stories, as told by those who lived them. These are people who have stories that are as engaging as they are informational, and you never know, you may learn a thing or two as you listen to the stories from around the globe. The podcast features stories from the Mainstage, StorySLAM, and community programs. There is also the Moth Radio Hour, which airs on more than 400 stations.

5. Stuff You Should Know

Have you ever checked out HowStuffWorks.com? If so, you will love Stuff You Should Know, the podcast from HowStuffWorks. You never know what Josh and Chuck are going to be talking about. It could be anything from how landfills work to how mosquitoes sting. A lot of the things you are studying could end up being topics, and you will get a lot of information that will help with your studies.

6. Rationally Speaking

This is the official podcast of New York City Skeptics. Julia Galef and guests take a look at the fine line between nonsense and reason, the likely and the not so likely, science and fake science, and more. This podcast was co-created with Massio Pigliucci, and it is produced by Benny Pollak. Recording is done right in Greenwich Village.

7. Good Job Brain

This is a free, weekly audio podcast that is a little bit offbeat news, and a little big quiz show. If you are looking for a podcast to really stimulate your brain, look no further than Good Job Brain. This is the ultimate podcast for trivia nuts, started by a group of people who wanted to be able to share their own love of trivia to the world.

Lorraine McKinney is an academic tutor and elearning specialist.

What to Expect from a Careers Fair

BY JANE HURST

Some of your best opportunities in college will come from careers fairs, and there are many different kinds that you can attend. Some may be general career fairs, some may be hosted by local employers, and others might be industry-specific. But, even though there are many different types of careers fairs, they all have two things in common: to give students a chance to connect with potential employers; and to give employers an opportunity to screen potential future employees. Today we are going to talk about what to expect from a careers fair, and how to be prepared.

Pre-Registration

Some careers fairs are open to anyone who wishes to attend. For others, you must pre-register prior to the event. This usually involves submitting a resume, and you can do the pre-registration online in most cases. It is actually a pre-screening tool for employers, and they will take notes about the applicants that they would like to meet. Pre-registration can get you noticed, and that is the first step in landing your dream job after college. Once you have registered, you can start learning about the fairs and the companies that will be in attendance.

Do Your Research

Before you attend any careers fair, it is important that you do your research. First, read the guides for each careers fair that you are attending, so you will know which companies are going to be there. Then, you can make a list of the companies that you are interested in learning more about, and do some research about those companies. Compile a list of questions that will show potential employers that you have done your homework.

Remember, there are right and wrong questions to ask at careers fairs. For starters, after your initial introductions, you can skip the small talk. Jump right into the meat of the conversation, and start discussing the company, why you are interested in working for them, etc. Ask your researched questions, and if there are things that you were unable to find out from the brochures, you may be able to get that information now. Do not ask how much you might be paid, what the company can do for you, etc.

Resumes

Make sure that you have plenty of copies of your resume to give to potential employers. If you are applying to a variety of companies, it is a good idea to tailor your resume to fit each different category, and have two resumes for each company that you are interested in. You will likely end up having several different resumes to hand out, and you need to know which skills to put on a resume for a variety of jobs. They will all be pretty much the same structurally, but they will have some different sections that pertain to the specific industries you are interested in.

Something else to consider is how potential employers are going to save read your resumes. Make sure that your resumes are scannable, so employers can easily scan them and save them into their databases. Even if they are not hiring now, they will have your resume for future reference.

Dress for Success

You may not actually be applying for jobs when you are at a job fair, but you don’t want to go in there looking like a slob either. You need to dress for success, and wear the proper attire for the various companies you are interested in learning more about. Remember, a careers fair is a potential employer’s first impression of you, so you need to make sure that their impression is a good one. Yes, you want to be comfortable, but you don’t want to appear so comfortable as to seem sloppy. This is your only opportunity to make a first impression.

Byline:

Jane Hurst has been working in education for over 5 years as a teacher. She loves sharing her knowledge with students, is fascinated about edtech and loves reading, a lot. Follow Jane on Twitter.

Appliances and Software Often Not Allowed In College Dorms

BY SYLVIA kOHL

If you think that what you bring to your dorm room is your own business, you are mistaken – many if not all dorms have sets of rules establishing the lists of things and even software that is prohibited from being used, kept or even just brought onto the dorm’s territory. Sometimes these things are quite legal and innocuous otherwise – which means that you should read your dorm’s regulations very carefully lest you get kicked out. Here are some unexpected items that most college dorms want to keep away:

1.    Cooking Appliances

Toasters, microwaves, electric frying pans, hotplates and suchlike – absolute majority of colleges prohibit their students from keeping and using all these unmistakably helpful devices. The reason is simple – although you may believe yourself to be careful and responsible, your college cannot be so sure, and all these items are first-rate fire hazards.

2.    Kodi Boxes

Now, the status of Kodi boxes is ambiguous – in their default state they don’t go against any kind of law and, theoretically, can safely be used for their purpose (as a tool for home theater setup). However, when it comes to add-ons that allow to use them for piracy, the situation becomes much more complicated. That is why some colleges ban the use of Kodi outright, without taking into account their potential lawful application – so make sure you’ve studied the rules of your particular college before installing one.

3.    Candles and Incense

Bad news for those of you willing to create a New Age atmosphere in your room – chances are, your college has a very strong stance against it. Or, rather, not the atmosphere but candles and incense that are often treated as its indispensable part. Again, they can be a potential fire hazard.

4.    Screws, Nails, Wallpaper and Double-Faced Adhesive Tape

Well, most likely you won’t be reprimanded for keeping these in your room, but don’t think about using these for redecorating it. Sorry, but you won’t be able to put a nail in the wall to hang your favorite picture – you are not allowed to damage the walls in any way, even if the damage in question is just a bit of paint accidentally peeled off. Other students are going to live in the same room after you, and you should leave it in the same state it had been when you moved in.

5.    Pets

Most colleges won’t allow you to keep pets in a dorm room. Exceptions may exist in some cases for fish (although you should check the allowed size for the fish tank, as they vary wildly) and certified service animals. If keeping one with you is important, this should be among the first things for you to check.

6.    Air Conditioners

In hotter climates, the idea of living without air conditioning can sound crazy, but it is as it is – the only way for you to have any kind of air conditioning in your dorm is for it to come pre-equipped with it. No college will allow you to install a personal one, although you normally won’t have problems with bringing a fan. Although they are much less efficient, they can still be of huge help when the heat becomes stifling.

These are the most typical normally legal things that are prohibited by colleges, but the list certainly doesn’t end here. Some dorms are more specific in their bans, some get outright weird (for example, the reason to ban cinder blocks from dorms isn’t immediately obvious, but it is a regulation that exists on many a college campus). So read the rules carefully and make sure you follow them!

Sylvia Kohl is an IT teacher with more than 8 years of professional experience. Her main spheres of interest are e-education and she convinced that learning process doesn’t stop after years in school and university.

7 Best Ways To Prepare For Final Exams

BY EMILY CARTER   2/1/18

Finals week can be a stressful time for many students; I know it was for me also.

So, understanding how to prepare for finals correctly is the key to preventing. All students would like to unwind by getting massages before finals (I sure would!).

However, All of us know this is not possible. There has to be a uniform approach to evaluate our performance, and it must happen at some point (hence, “finals”).

So, how else can we reduce tension and know that we are on the right path to excel?

1. Distributing learning over time typically benefits long-term retention over a brief period.
2. Say YES to cardio: Science says that “Only 20 minutes of cardio can enhance your memory”. Whether you are dancing, running or breaking up a sweat by walking, exercise will boost your energy level and reduce the effects of anxiety.
3. 3. Sometimes we eat breakfast the day of a significant test. Research indicates that “High-carb, high-fiber, slow-digesting foods like oatmeal are best (grain is more satisfying than cereals).” However, what you consume a week before the exam also matters a lot.
4. When school students were tested on focus and thinking speed, then given a five-day high fat, a low-carb diet heavy on meat, eggs, cream and cheese and analyzed again, their performance dropped.

When you study, your mind absorbs sugar, so have a five-minute break each hour to allow your body produce more fuel for your studying. Eating a healthful snack and is quite beneficial and can make a significant difference (almonds, fruit, and yogurt are also good options).

5. Alternate study spots: Spending all night at the library can be draining.

According to this New York Times, “The area where a person study enhances retention.” An experiment, psychologists found that students who studied a list of 40 language words in two distinct areas – one windowless and cluttered, another contemporary, with a view on a courtyard – did much better on a test than students who studied the words twice, in precisely the same

6. Learning Through Visuals: Your mind defaults to pictures for words, as it can. We recall images. We overlook words.  When we begin to read our mind, then it tries to translate letters into pictures.

Place a few notes together, and our brain must consider every individual message as a picture. Sooner or later, it reads mixed letters and believes of this photo, rather than the word. We learn nearly twice from images as compared to words or letters.

Visual Scientist Jaya Cross whose visual content on valentine’s day images went viral says, “We humans are sight creatures. Pictures translate across culture, education levels and age groups, the richness of the whole picture can be taken in at a glance.”

7. By creating a balanced research program and schedule, you’ll have the ability to analyze each subject entirely and ultimately enhance your test performance.

All-nighters impair memory. As a result; you may receive lower grades. But that is not all; you’d then be forced to wake up sooner than expected – and that is bad too. According to Dan Taylor, manager of a sleep-and-health-research laboratory at The University of North Texas, that this will interfere with rapid-eye-movement (REM).

(Quick tip: Review the most terrible notes right before going to bed the night before the exam.  It makes it easier to remember)

Emily Carter :Writer at TheEventier.  She is a web copywriter and content strategist and helps social good-driven brands rapidly grow their impact and income.

How To Get Federal and State Financial Aid For Low Income Students

BY TOM JAGER

Getting financial assistance for students is a confusing topic. You’ll have to do a lot, including strict deadlines and numerous requirements, in order to get the money you need for a college education. To make sure you did everything right, you have to do a thorough research and apply only for those grants and scholarships you are eligible for.

In this article, we’re going to help you make your research as effective as possible by providing the most important information about federal and state financial aid 2018.

What is Federal and State Financial Aid?

Financial aid for low-income students like grants and scholarships comes from the federal government and state government. Federal aid, for example, is the money awarded to a low-income student to help them pay for higher education expenses such as tuition and fees, books and supplies, transportation, and room and board. According to the U.S> Department of Education, there are a variety of federal grants available for students, including:

• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants for students who have exceptional financial need (up to $4,000 a year)
• Federal Pell Grants for low-income students (up to $5,920 for 2017-2018 award year)
• Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants for low-income students who are taking a class to become elementary or secondary school teachers (up to $3,736 a year).

In case you’re not eligible for federal aid (find the requirements below), you might receive money for education from your state. “Every state has at least one grant or scholarship available to its residents,” says John Caplan, an educator from write-my-essay-for-me.com. “Typically, the eligibility for this kind of financial aid is limited to students residing in this state or attending an in-state college.”

Who Gets Federal and State Aid?

Every student who meets pre-determined eligibility requirements can receive some kind of financial help from the federal government, regardless of age or income. The most common requirements are the following:

• S. citizenship (in some cases, eligible international student)
• A valid Social Security Number
• Prove the need for financial assistance (depends on your Expected Family Contribution and the cost of college attendance. Find out more here)
• Evidence of appropriate academic performance in school
• Registration with Selective Service (applies to males only)
• Evidence of qualification for obtaining a college education
• The certification agreement on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) (find the online copy of FAFSA here). Fill it in every year you’re in school in order to stay eligible.

Given a wide variety of state financial aid programs, you need to go to the website of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) and select your state to review available programs.

For example, by clicking on Texas on the map, one lands on a special site with the list of all federal and state aid programs available for Texas residents and other students.

Important Things to Remember

Deadlines

One of the critical things you need be aware of is deadlines. They can vary depending on state and program, but make sure you remember that the deadline for the federal financial aid application is June 30, 2019. The aforementioned FAFSA becomes available for students to fill in on October 1 and determines eligibility.

As for state programs, each state has a specific deadline. For example, the midnight of March 10 is the deadline for applications in Indiana while students in Iowa have to apply before July 1, 2018. To find out information about your own state, refer to the complete list of student financial aid deadlines by state from FastWeb.

How to Apply

Application is a bit complex process, so make sure you understand everything. The first step to getting federal aid is to complete the aforementioned FAFSA form at the Department of Education site. For example, if you want to attend college from July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2019, the form will become available for you on October 1, 2017. Be ready to provide the evidence of the real need for financial assistance, including some information about your income and taxes.

The second step to getting federal aid for education is to obtain a unique FSA ID (required for both students and parents). It is a mandatory requirement that allows you to submit the FAFSA form online and confirm your identity. Remember, this ID has the same legal powers as a written signature, so don’t share it with anyone.

The third step is getting the Student Aid Report (SAR). It could be presented to you in paper or online (depends on whether you provide an email address in your FAFSA form). SAR provides you with some basic information about your eligibility and contains the answers to the most common questions related to obtaining financial help.

SAR also includes your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which is a number used to determine your eligibility.

The final step is to contact the school you might attend to get all information on eligibility, available financial aid programs, and other information.

Tom Jager is professional blogger. He works at Proessaywriting. He has degree in Law and English literature. Tom has written numerous articles/online journals. You can reach him at G+  or  Facebook.

5 College Essay Clichés You Should Avoid

By Albina Welsh

According to Your Dictionary, clichés are overused expressions. Their continued use is trite. They do not add value to an academic essay or a personal statement. For your paper to be smooth, interesting and superb, avoid using essay clichés. This article identifies college essays clichés and explains how to avoid them.

Common essay clichés to avoid
To understand the common clichés to avoid, you need to identify different types of writing genres where you can find them. Examples of these genres are academic writing, application essays, book reviews, etc. Students are vulnerable to using different essay clichés to different types of writing genres. Therefore, you need to identify the genre of your text, before looking for the clichés that may make your essay to appear vague.

There are circumstances you may fail to identify these clichés. If you are faced with such a situation, get assignment help. Nonetheless, the following are some 5 college essay clichés that may make your academic paper lack credibility:
In other words: This is a cliché that is common in college academic papers. When using this cliché, you are in danger of repeating yourself.  This is a phrase that is used to provide a simpler explanation of a concept that is contained in the text. Overusing this phrase will make your paper boring. Furthermore, the sentence that contains the phrase will have an obscure meaning.                  
First and foremost: Overusing this phrase in your sentence will make you look lazy. A person reading your text containing this cliché will conclude that you are not creative. They will lose interest in reading it further. Professional writers know how to limit the use of such phrases.
As a matter of fact: This is an expletive phrase. These are phrases that do not add any meaning to your sentence. It is good to avoid this phrase because it dilutes the quality of your text, and the ideas contained in it. As a professional writer, I strongly discourage you from using this phrase. It will make your paper look unprofessional.

In light of this: According to the Collins English Dictionary, this is a phrase that has a number of synonyms. Examples of its synonyms are: considering and taking into account. You can use these identified alternative phrases in your paper. The use of these alternative phrases will prevent you from overusing the identified cliché.

It is an obvious fact: Try to avoid using this phrase when talking about issues that are obvious or factual. A good example is a sentence such as “It is an obvious fact the sun is a star”. The use of this phrase makes the sentence to be wordy and vague. Just write a simple and easy to understand a sentence like: “The sun is a star”.
Well, these are the most common college essay clichés you can find. For your paper to be flawless, smooth and interesting to read, avoid them. However, it is not enough to know them. Below are some of the ways you can avoid using them in your essay.

How to avoid the identified college essay clichés

To avoid the essay clichés, you need to follow these simple rules.
Identify the unique angle about the cliché: Identification of a unique angle is important because it helps to make an uncommon point about your cliché. This result in a fresh and creative sentence.          Also, be specific: Essay clichés can result in the creation of a wordy sentence or paper. To avoid them, you need to be specific when talking about issues or facts being addressed in your paper.
Do not forget to proofread your paper: When you proofread your paper, chances of identifying and removing essay clichés are high. This is a process you should not ignore. Ignoring this process will make you vulnerable to writing a paper that is full of grammatical mistakes.
Moreover, these papers will contain essay clichés that make it dull and lack originality.
Well, the above steps will make you produce a paper that is free from college essay clichés. Papers containing essay clichés are boring and difficult to read. Submitting such kind of papers to your professor is risky. He may judge you as a student who lacks writing creativity. This means low grades for you. Nevertheless, identification of a unique angle for the cliché, being specific and proofreading your work will guarantee you the production of an essay that is flawless and free from clichés. Ignore this advice at your own disadvantage.

Albina Welsh is an international student at UC Berkeley. She is an outgoing person with a lot of dreams. Albina loves to read and write short stories for UC Berkeley Odyssey Community.

 Poor Study Habits Negatively Impact Grades

BY ANTON LUCANUS

With the advent of new technologies and social media, students at college are finding it increasingly difficult to focus and study effectively. Top ranked colleges across the United States are becoming so competitive that in order to stay afloat and thrive in their chosen field of study, students must consistently outperform peers – and the key to doing so is maintaining a high level of academic performance. Poor study habits are the downfall of many a student, and with so many varying approaches to effective study, how on earth are you supposed to know which is the best?

Here are some negative study habits that will without doubt impact your academic performance in the long run, so we recommend you address them as quickly as possible.

Not taking care of your eyes

While eye strain has not yet been proven to lead to longer-term, chronic health issues, it can certainly make it more difficult to work comfortably and focus for long periods of time. There are some quick fixes to the issue, including ibuprofen and eye exercises every 20 minutes, but there are some longer-term habit changes that need to be in place to make sure you can achieve pain free, successful study periods.

According to Doron Kalinko, Co-Founder of SmartBuyGlasses, “when working on a computer for any length of time, students commonly find themselves experiencing symptoms of computer vision syndrome (CVS) including blurred vision, eye strain, neckaches, headaches and red eyes, a result of your monitor’s bright backlight, glare and the inability of your eyes to remain accurately focused on your screen.” Luckily, it’s easy to fix most of these things. Firstly, tweak your monitor so that it stands 20-30 inches away from your eyes and so that it is consistently at eye level. Secondly, switch off any harsh fluorescent lights and ensure natural light is flooding in from either side of your computer, rather than from behind it. And, perhaps most importantly, consider getting your eyes checked in order to rule out vision problems, and then invest in some customized glasses with computer lenses, designed specifically to filter out blue light being emitted from your computer and protect your eyes.

Multitasking

 Music. Television. Texting. Social media. These are perhaps the most dangerous temptations a student will face during allocated study time. Constant push notifications, alerts, text messages and incoming calls mean that unbroken focus on your studies is nearly impossible. Recent studies have shown that 38 percent of students are unable to last more than 10 minutes without checking their phone or social media account, and nearly three quarters of college students admit they are constantly engaging with some form of technology while studying. Another research study conducted by the University of Connecticut also (unfortunately) revealed that students who multitasked while studying had to study longer and had lower grades on average than peers who multitasked less often. This means that if you want to spend less time studying, you need to actually pay attention and study without checking your phone!

To eliminate the temptation of distractions altogether, it’s best to remove mobile phones, laptops and tablets from the room before studying, unless of course they are required for learning. If you need a laptop, it’s worth downloading an application designed to help students remain focused. SelfControl is one app that enables you to block access to any distracting websites, mail servers, or pop ups while studying. Or, try switching to the ‘focus view’ function within Microsoft Word, which enables you to view your documents in full screen and hide all other potentially distracting toolbars. Set yourself a goal to not check your phone until your study session is complete. Habits are tough to break, but if you follow these suggestions you will eventually find the temptation to be less and less.

 Poor posture

 How you sit while studying for prolonged periods of time can have a huge impact on your ability to concentrate as well as your longer-term health. The worst habits, which you’ll probably recognize, include sinking down in your seat (which strains the lower back), jutting out your chin (which can cause upper back pain), slouching to one side, and sitting on your wallet (which could potentially pinch the sciatic nerve and cause longer term damage to the spine).

The best posture you can adopt when you’re studying is one where your back is connected to the chair, your feet are flat on the floor, your keyboard is no more than an arm’s length away, and the monitor two to three inches above eye level. If you start a small, regular, exercise routine that focuses on core strength and stretching, you’ll improve your ability to sit up straight for prolonged periods – as well as keep you fit and healthy! Take intermittent breaks throughout study to stretch, and last, but certainly not least, avoid hunching over your keyboard. This will cause you to develop a rounded upper back and lead to spinal misalignment and stiffness in your shoulders, which will definitely prevent you from being able to study as long as you need to get the grades you want.

Cramming

 While most students believe that an all-nighter before an exam, fueled by caffeine and junk food, is the best approach to retaining information, studies show they could not be more wrong. Rather, an hour of study one day, a few the next, followed by another hour or two over the weekend in the lead-up to an exam is a far more effective means of improving later recall. Why is this? Simple. By cramming, you’re making a trade-off between sleep and study, but it turns out that sleep is actually a key contributor to academic achievement. UCLA professor of psychiatry Andrew J. Fuligni reports that sacrificing sleep for extra study time, whether it’s cramming for a test or working through a pile of homework, is in fact counterproductive, as you’re more likely to have more academic problems, not fewer, the following day.

In a study he jointly ran with a number of UCLA professors, it was found that study time became increasingly associated with more academic problems, because longer study hours generally meant fewer hours of sleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation, not getting sufficient sleep limits your ability to learn, listen, concentrate and solve problems. The solution? Get the prescribed 8 hours of sleep per night recommend for university aged students. Ensure you quit studying early enough each night to squeeze in 8 hours of pillow time, and no less. Plan your study calendar well in advance of an exam to ensure you have allocated sufficient hours to study, so as to avoid last minute cramming.

There are countless other negative study habits that, unfortunately, 21^st century students have fallen prone to. Consistently using one single strategy to study is a negative study habit to avoid. So are excessive consumption of caffeine and junk food to fuel long cram sessions, and sticking to the same working environment rather than mixing it up occasionally. Learning how to ‘study smart’ is vital if you wish to achieve great things, not only on campus but beyond it – in the working world – where negative work habits will not only impact your health but also your greater career prospects.

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 share the lessons learnt throughout his degree and to guide current students to achieve personal and educational fulfilment during college life.

How Students Can Protect Against Cybercrime

BY ANNABEL MONAGHAN

It was recently revealed that every wi-fi device is vulnerable to the unprecedent ‘Krack’ hacking attack. Krack allows an attacker within range of a Wi-Fi network to place multiple viruses within the networks, allowing them to read communication sent over the network. Including photos, passwords and even credit card numbers.

Education institutions like colleges and universities have networks where thousands of individual mobile devices connect every day, alongside classrooms full of hard-wired computers. This makes them prime targets for hackers phishing for data using a Krack attack.  It’s not just Krack making university networks a target for hackers either. The practice of regularly changing your password mandated by colleges and companies was considered best practice up until recently. When forced to change their password as often as every 90 days, most users end up adopting lazy practices. Reusing techniques in predictable ways that algorithms can detect, making them easier for hackers to crack.

The perception that young people are tech savvy and can ignore these threats is flawed. The number of scams out there which students can fall victim to are infinite. From phishing to doxing, even fraud and revenge porn. And all it takes is a weak social media password, out of date software, or even a misplaced phone or laptop. Small factors like these can lead to major security threats for anyone with access to the Internet, not only students. At the end of the day, it pays to do a little bit of research and be safe online.

According to research from Cisco, millennials are at a greater risk of falling victim to cybercrime than the over 50s! The good news is, it’s not hard to stay safe, and the tips the experts give to help you protect your home network, are the same steps you should be taking at school.

Install the latest Antivirus Software

Up-to-date antivirus software will stop malicious programs from being downloaded, block secret installations from malicious adverts on the web, and regularly scan the device to look for malware that might already installed. New viruses and hacks are being developed all the time, so the latest version of whatever you’re using is a must. Sometimes it does pay to fork out for the paid versions of antivirus software, especially if you need protection on devices like tablets or smartphones. Most companies offer student discounts, you can find some Symantec ones over on the coupon site Qetes.

Avoid saving passwords and payment details online

In 2016 the Opera browser hack meant the personal and financial data of millions of users personal were suddenly accessible to cybercriminals. It might seem convenient, but keeping your passwords and payment details saved online in google chrome or Firefox, is risky business. Be cautious of using your browser’s autofill option. Yes, it will store your credit card or PayPal information for future purchases. But it could also give hackers another route to stealing your data.

Limit your social media check-ins and be mindful of the information you share

The more information a hacker can obtain about you, the easier it is for them to impersonate you. Avoid checking in to locations like your home, or even public locations like your local coffee shop. Oversharing on social media also has the potential to put you at risk from other crimes, including home burglary and worse. It pays to keep some parts of your life private.