No Money for Tutor? 5 Alternatives Which Will Cost You Nothing

BY ALAINE GORDON

Times are hard and it is not always easy to dive deep into your pockets and spend money on a paid tutor. Students are not rich and can most of the time not afford these kinds of services.

If you are in need of some help in any type of subject, but at the same time you do not have the money to spend, here are 5 ways to learn without having to spend a dime.

• Study Groups

If you haven’t thought of this already, then this idea could be of great help to both you and your friends. Study groups are a great way of socializing and getting to know what you and your friends know best and what you need to focus more on.

Create a common chat and let your friends know that you would like to start a study group on various subjects. The group can consist of however many people you like and the common goal is to better understand the subject.

For the people that already are good at this subject, repeating and explaining it to others can be a great way to make sure they own it and for the ones that are not so good, it can be a way to learn and better understand it.

• Khan Academy

Khan academy is one of the best online tutoring services that offers free courses on a plethora of different topics from math to biology to arts and humanities. It is not only meant for learners but also for teachers and parents too. It is also available in many languages!

You can find courses on subjects for all ages and education levels and the only thing you have to do to learn is watch the free videos they offer that explain the subject and help you learn easily and effectively. When you are done with that part, there are some very nicely made tests that you can take to make sure that whatever you heard you learnt it too.

• Course Teaching Assistants

Course Teaching Assistants or otherwise known as T.A.s are a great asset of many subjects that students rarely use. These are either undergraduate students who have passed your subject with an excellent grade or graduate students who are either taking a masters or PhD program in the same field as your studies.

These people are in contact with your professor and it is very common that you find their contact information online on the course’s outline. You can get in touch with them for free and ask them for help and guidance on the subject that you find difficult.

On top of that, the Teaching Assistants can also most of the time be the people who help your professors grade your assignments, so you might want to keep them close not only to help you better understand that said subject but also to ask for help with any essay writing problems and exams.

• Youtube

Many people do not know this, but Youtube can actually be of great help when it comes to helping you with a subject. You can find a lot of different instructional videos on many different subjects and the best part is that if you can’t easily understand how one person is explaining something, you can easily find another one.

The only problem with Youtube though is that you can’t always know if what you’re learning is right. People on the internet can claim to be whatever they like and on a website like Youtube, where anyone can upload a video, you can’t be certain of the quality.

The best way to make this work is to ask someone who has knowledge on the subject to take a look at the video that you believe is the best. It will only take them a couple minutes and you will be able to study and learn without spending anything.

5) Udemy

Udemy much like Khan Academy is an online service that provides plenty of online courses on a variety of different subjects. Demy is also available in many languages and also offers the assistance of instructors. The only difference between them is that Khan Academy is completely free.

On the other hand, Udemy mainly provides paid services. Do not worry though, as there is a good variety of free online courses provided by them in order to help you get a taste of their services. You can use this to your advantage and get some knowledge on the topics that you need.

Udemy is possibly providing a larger variety of topics than Khan Academy, but their courses are mostly targeting professionals than just overall learning for people of all ages. In any case, give the website a try and search for what you need to learn; you might be able to dive deeper into the subject and have a better understanding of it in the end.

No Need to Spend to Learn

If you are on a tight budget, these are just some of the ways you can find to get help with your difficult college subjects. There is no need for you to spend money on tutors to learn since there is such a large abundance of free knowledge online.

Get to trying the methods mentioned before and try seeing what works best for you. In the end, you are bound to find a way that will help you learn effectively.

Alaine Gordon is young and talented content manager. She has been writing professionally since 2010 about almost everything, starting from psychology and to the finance. Alaine Gordon graduated from the University of Colorado with B.A. in Journalism, 2011. She is open-minded, creative person who loves to make the people smile. Her credo is ‘Life is a fun enterprise’. In her free time she loves traveling, reading science fiction and knitting. Her huge dream is to visit every single country in the world.

 

5 Things You’ll Learn in College and Remember

 

Sage Singleton

Everyone knows that college is great for academics, but there are life lessons learned in school that will impact you far longer than a textbook. These are just a few of the life lessons you’ll learn in college and treasure forever.

 

1. Just Be Nice

Now is the best time to start building relationships with others in your field of study. As focused as you are on your current classes, you also face the added stress of figuring out what you’re going to do the day after graduation. And in an increasingly competitive workforce, an impressive GPA and well-written resume will get you only so far. That’s why it’s so important to make connections during your time at school.

In college, you’ll learn to never underestimate the power of a thank-you note or a no-strings-attached favor. A simple letter expressing appreciation to a professor may result in a recommendation for an internship. And when you help out a classmate in need, they will often be more than happy to return the favor, which could be valuable in the workforce. Plus, it’s just nice to be nice.

 

2. You Will Change as a Person—and That’s a Good Thing

When you’re early in your college years, it’s easy to feel like you’ve got everything planned out—the religion and political party with which you affiliate, the foods and music you like, and the career you want may all seem set in stone. But it’s likely at least some of that will change. Your political or religious views may evolve, or you may take a photography class and suddenly rethink that medical career for which you were destined.

The truth is you may never entirely know who you are, and that’s okay. Change is good, and in college you’ll realize that sticking stubbornly to your guns won’t get you very far. Those class debates don’t just help you build book smarts; they also open your mind to new perspectives.

 

3. The World Isn’t So Scary After All

One of the most significant adjustments in college is living on your own and being an independent adult. But as exhilarating as it is to live without a curfew, you’ll also suddenly be faced with laundry duty and feeding yourself on top of your coursework.

All that new responsibility can be overwhelming when you’re a freshman, but every year you’ll get a better handle on your responsibilities. You’ll figure out how to navigate your way around town and how to stay safe on campus. You’ll learn when to reach out to your support system and how to make a doctor’s appointment. Come graduation, you’ll feel ready to do everything that seemed impossible or confusing just a few years prior.

 

4. You’re Your Biggest Critic

Remember in high school when a wardrobe malfunction or a wrong answer in class seemed like the end of the world? In college, you’ll finally realize that no one cares about that as much as you do. You are your biggest critic, and understanding this will take an immense weight off your shoulders.

In fact, realizing this will make life after college easier, too, as you’ll learn to not sweat the small stuff. Bad haircut? Hair grows back. Tripped in front of a crowd? No one will remember the next day. This gives you time to focus on more important matters in life, like building your career and surrounding yourself with people who love you for you, bad haircut and all.

 

5. Your Only Destiny Is the One You Create

In high school, it’s easy to feel like your life is the result of other people’s decisions. Your parents created you, they sign your field trip permission slips, and they decide what you eat for dinner. In college, though, you’ll quickly learn that you are in the driver’s seat of your life. It’s up to you to register for classes in time, stock up on groceries, decide on a major, and choose between that unpaid internship and a trip to Europe for summer break.

Not much in life is predetermined, which can be incredibly freeing. You have the opportunity to decide who you will become. Knowing this will serve as an empowering reminder whenever you face a big decision in life.

College is a life-altering experience. In just four years, you’ll expand your horizons, discover new passions and interests, and learn a few things about life you may not have discovered otherwise.

Byline

Sage Singleton is a freelance writer with a passion for literature and words. She enjoys writing articles that will inspire, educate, and influence readers. She loves that words have the power to create change and make a positive impact in the world. Some of her work has been featured on sites like MSN, Huffington Post, Bustle, Paste and Babble. In her free time she loves traveling, reading, and learning French.

8 Tips for Commuting College Students

BY JANE HURST

Sure, there are many benefits to commuting to college from home versus living on campus — cost savings, bigger living space, more freedom, to name a few. But commuters also face their own set of problems, ranging from transportation hassles to feelings of isolation.

Here are some tips that can help make commuting a lot easier.

Get an On-Campus Job: There several benefits to getting a job right on campus, or at least close to campus. For one thing, you will make money to pay for your transportation costs. You will also meet new people, and you might even get some freebies or discounts, such as meals if you work in the dining hall. What’s more, writes Valencia Higuera in Money Crashers, “gaining work experience while in college puts you ahead of the competition.”

Use Public Transportation: Depending on where you live, you can opt to take the bus or a ride-sharing service. The only problem with this is that, even with a student discount, the costs of public transportation can really add up. It can also add a lot of extra time to your day, depending on transit schedules.

Find a Carpool: If you own a car, consider organizing a carpool with other students who live nearby. With carpooling, not only do you save money and get to take a break from driving, you also get to socialize with other students on the way to and home from classes.

Find Parking: “One of the biggest hurdles for students who drive to campus is finding convenient and affordable parking,” says Joel Ohman, CEO of CarInsuranceComparison.com, a company that helps students and others compare auto insurance online. “Spend time researching the safest and least expensive places to park on campus. Also investigate nearby off-campus parking.”

Bring Your Own Snacks: It is not always feasible to drive home for lunch or dinner every day, and buying meals if you are not on a school meal plan can get quite expensive. It is a good idea to bring along your own healthy snacks. Keep your car well stocked with treats like nuts, granola bars, bottled water, etc., so you’re fueled and hydrated — essential for staying productive at school.

Use Common Spaces: Instead of going home to take a nap and relax between classes, use one of the common spaces such as a lounge or rec center. You can use school showers in the gym to freshen up, and you can have your lunch or dinner at one of the common areas. Staying on campus as much as possible also helps you feel closer to the campus community.

Bring a Change of Clothes: If you plan on going to work or out for an evening after classes, it is a lot easier to change on campus than to go all the way home first. So, make sure that you keep a change of clothes in your car, in a friend’s dorm room, or other accessible place. That way, you’ll be prepared to leave directly from campus and save yourself a time-wasting trip home.

Get Involved: This is your chance to really get the most out of your college experience. Take advantage of your time between classes by getting involved in campus activities. Treat campus as your “home away from home” instead of always heading back to your apartment or house to recharge. Consider joining a club, attending a meeting, trying out for a team, etc. When you’re commuting, it takes a little more effort to integrate into the campus community. But it pays off in the long run. For tips on getting more involved on campus, check out Stanford’s “get involved” guide.

 

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.

3 Things To Know About Federal Student Loans!

BY LIANA DAREN

Student loans are a lifesaver for many struggling students. However, paying them off could be a long and frustrating process. Federal loans are usually the most popular choice since they have better terms and lower interest rates than other kinds.

Before applying for such a loan, however, it is recommended that one understand them well. Read on for some much-needed discussion on federal loans that all students should know of:

1. Three Types Of Federal Loans

To start off, the American government doesn’t just offer one single kind if federal loan. It actually offers no less than three of them. These are known as Stafford Loans, Perkins Loans, and PLUS Loans.

Stafford loans are the most common type and are open for any and all students to apply for. Perkins loans, on the other hand, are only for students who are dependent on a low income and are qualified somehow. PLUS loans are reserved for graduate students, those pursuing a professional degree, or for parents who have children in school.

Each of these programs has its own interest rates, borrowing terms, and eligibility criteria. However, they are all fixed-rate loans, which may benefit either party at certain times. However, a fixed rate is generally good news for a student, since changing interest rates could wreak havoc with one’s future plans.

Plus, there is always the guarantee of government protection when one can’t afford to study further. You may also be pleased to know that there are several ways of going for repayment one you’re done with school. In case you simply cannot make a payment here and there, there is also an option for postponing them.

If you’re still in school, you may want to go for a subsidized loan. This way, you could start paying off the loan by working part-time even before graduating. If you make even a few payments without interest, you’d be well on your way towards full repayment once you get your diploma. Of course, in order to qualify for one, you would have to prove that you have a low income, or are dependent on one.

2. For Everyone

While there are certain restrictions on the kinds of loans provided, federal loans are mostly open to everyone who wishes to apply. Simply put, you are eligible for an unsubsidized Stafford loan if you are a resident of the United States.

Independent undergraduates can receive up to fifty-seven thousand dollars if they get such a loan. Those seeking a graduate or professional degree could get around $138,000. The signature and consent of the student are enough in such cases, and they wouldn’t need anyone to cosign or have their credit checked. This is why many students greatly prefer to apply for federal loans rather than privately approach banks.

3. There Are Yearly Limits

Many students may not realize the existence of aggregate limits when it comes to their feral student loans. Stafford loans have a limit of $5,500 for a college freshman year, $6,500 for sophomores, and $7,500 for juniors and seniors. There may also be $4000 added to these amounts. This breakup is for the dependent undergraduates.

For independent students, the limits are higher but still there. Of course, one would have to do some research and find out just how much they are allowed per year. This may not be able to cover all the schooling needs of a student, but the idea is that parents or relatives would add the amount needed.

Wrap-Up…

Paying off a loan is not so hard if you have done your research beforehand. Be sure to calculate just how much you would need and what kind of loan would be best for you. Putting in a bit of effort just might make an easier financial future for you.

Author Bio

Liana Daren is the author of this blog. Apart from being a blogger, she is also an educator and students approach him for getting university coursework help. In addition to being a veteran blogger, she is a also a student counselor who aims to help students in every aspect of their lives. She is particularly good at writing articles about career development, academic life, and student’s affairs.

 

 

Freshmen Syndrome: 10 Tips to Avoid Common Mistakes

BY DAVID GUTIERREZ

Being a freshman is a new and exciting chapter in your life. New environment brings new opportunities. And those increase the number of choices you have to make. However, the wider range of what is available makes right decisions harder.

Choices are increasingly more often paired with consequences, out of which some are capable of destroying your future life and career, without properly starting it in the first place. Here is the advice that could help you avoid that.

 

1. Pair studying with fun

Although, as a student, your main role is to grow intellectually and to develop as a professional and expert in your field of study. Your college years are limited, and you should not spend all of your time in the library. Remember to have fun. Positive emotions can actually boost your effectiveness and will make you enjoy your studies more.

2. Sleep enough

Many freshmen students give up most of their sleeping hours to do other things. However, having enough sleep boosts mental performance. It is estimated that to be effective, an average university student should sleep 8 hours per night. So don’t forget that sometimes sleep can be more beneficial than pulling an all-nighter.

 

3. Get to know people who think differently

As you start your academic life, you will undoubtedly meet people who come from different cultural, social and ethnic backgrounds. Resist the temptation to avoid those people. Try to learn about them and from them. This way you will expand your worldview and will see a more realistic picture of the world. Don’t think you only have to be with people who think the way you do.

 

4. Try out new things

Do what you have never done. Through this, you might discover new hobbies or hidden talents. Or maybe you will find things that you don’t like and will never want to do again. Take opportunities to experiment and learn new things about yourself.

 

5. Remember, that you don’t have to try everything

Although it is a good thing to try out new and different things, some are just not worth it. Be wise with your freedom and think if you want to help solve problems or become a victim of something like the opioid epidemic by exercising your freedom to use substances, which often become more available once in college.

 

6. Build intentional relationships with people

Some of the people you will meet in university might become your business partners, your employees or employers; some will become your friends for the rest of your life. So don’t take people lightly and invest in relationships with them.

 

7. Plan your time well

Procrastination is the greatest enemy of every student. So make a good use of tools like Google calendar to schedule your time, so you wouldn’t miss assignment deadlines and would reduce the stress of having to write all papers night.

8. Try to get the most out of every opportunity

Be active, look for opportunities to use your skills and talents practically. Take part in competitions and projects to get your name out there and to gain experience. Also if your classes will seem boring, look for at least one thing that you could take from it to develop yourself.

 

9. Stay physically active

Physical exercises have been proven to increase academic performance. Therefore, try to add some type of physical activity into your routine to boost your success as a university student and also to increase your emotional stability and life quality in a wider sense.

 

10.              Do not forget why you started

With all the exciting things happening around the campus it is easy to forget yourself and focus on anything, but studying. So keep in mind that you didn’t come to university just to party, but also to graduate with a specific education in mind.

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.

 

 

 

 

A Few Devices/gadget That Can Improve Dorm Life

BY SYLVIA KOHL

Living a dorm life is an extraordinary experience. Of course, this kind of life comes with many advantages and some disadvantages. For instance, students can finally see how it looks like to be separated from parents. They can also hang out with their friends more frequently and study when they want. Some students might complain that there is lack of privacy, and many of them are not fans of community bathrooms, but the truth is that the vast majority of students like dorm life. The best part is that there are a few devices/gadgets that can help students improve dorm life. We will use this article to highlight a few of them.

Headphones

This is a must for almost every dorm dweller. It doesn’t matter whether you are at the library or in your dorm room, headphones can help you. It is sometimes impossible to get the required peace to study. In other cases, you just want to listen to music without bothering everyone around. Using headphones, especially ones that can isolate noise is the smartest decision you can make. Sony has some great headphones at a reasonable price.

Headphone amplifier

Sometimes the performance of the headphones you have is not the best. In situations like this, you will need a good headphone amplifier like Xduoo XD-05. With this specific model, you can establish a connection with different devices through a different type of connectors including optical, coaxial, USB and Aux. This inexpensive product is perfect for high impedance phones too.

Streaming stick

There are a few streaming sticks out there, but Roku is the most popular one. Living a dorm life can be quite fun too especially when you watch movies and TV shows with your friends. With the help of Roku streaming stick, you will get a chance to use many different applications like Hulu, Netflix, VUDU, Amazon Instant Video and Google Play. Roku has a very simple interface too.

Smart speaker

Form streaming songs to getting information, smart speakers like Amazon Echo can help you as a student. You can also hear the latest news and find other useful information. The best part is that Amazon Echo won’t cost you much and you can interconnect it with other devices of this kind throughout the dormitory.

Smart light

That’s right; you can use smart lights in your dorm room now. Lights like LIFX come in many different colors and shades. You can use these colors to create a different atmosphere in your room – an atmosphere for studying and an atmosphere for hanging out with your friends. The best part is that you can control it with the help of your smartphone.

These are just some of the gadgets and devices that can significantly improve your dorm life.

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Study Spot of One’s Own For College Success

Anthony Masterton

In A Room of One’s Own, Virginia Woolf writes that “a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction.” The same might be said of college students and study spaces. Libraries are excellent study hubs, but sometimes it’s essential to break away from the crowds and find your own nook or cranny where your brain can just be itself. Studies show that a well-designed office space can increase productivity. Transform your dorm room or apartment space or desk into a place where you feel welcomed, at home, and within reach of any resources you need to accomplish your best work.

First of all, this study space shouldn’t be your bed. Your bed should only be for sleeping; otherwise, it can actually trick your brain into not sleeping there. Most dorm rooms come with a desk set, so really take advantage of spot. If you’re in an apartment, dedicate a corner of your bedroom to being your dedicated study and creative space. Use design and technology to inspire yourself. As design company Dacor says, “seamlessly integrating performance, technology, and design to advance appliances beyond mere form and function, [will] to inspire people to come together and create unforgettable moments”–even when it comes to studying.

Keep a welcoming atmosphere

Keeping the interior decor of a space up-to-date shows that you care about the well-being and maintenance of you. Self-care is essential in a high-stress atmosphere like college, so treat yourself to a well-cared for desk or study corner that is decorated and organized the way you want.

Before you begin decorating, decide what kind of feel you want. It’s important to take into consideration the space you’re in, your budget, and what the whole team wants. You may want to go for a modern, industrial theme, or perhaps something elegant and classic, or even something that reflects the academic environment–like posters of famous books, businesspeople, or political movements.

Lighting is a key ingredient. Poor lighting can cause headaches and eye strain. If your office space has windows, keep those blinds open! Natural light is essential for our health (it helps us sleep better) and good for the mind. If you don’t have this option, look for light that mimics natural sunlight. This is a much cheerier and less stress-inducing choice than harsh fluorescent bulbs.

Since you will probably spend a lot of time in a chair or on the sofa studying, it’s important to make sure that this furniture supports you (but doesn’t induce you to fall asleep). Furniture plays a role in health as well as aesthetics. While you may not be able to afford your own ergonomic chair (but if you can, it will make a great health investment), you can support your back with cushions, both to soften a hard chair and remind you to sit up straight if you’re on a couch or in a recliner.

Don’t forget plants! Not only do they simply make the space more fresh and welcoming, they also improve the air quality, and studies suggest that they increase productivity.

Keep resources and technology top-of-the-line

Just as important as a good-looking space is a high-functioning space. If you can afford it, aim for updated technology that best supports your field of study. Even if you have an older computer, keep it updated with the latest software–at least the programs that are essential to you, such as a word processor, a database or a music or photo editor.

Online retailers often offer student accounts or discounts, such as Amazon Student. Take advantage of these accounts; if you’re ordering lots and books online, they will save you money in the long run.

Have a plan for storing and backing up your work. You might employ a USB drive, but you also probably make use of cloud storage sites. If you’re going to trust your work to the cloud, remember, that cloud space is maintained by a third-party, and you are putting your work into their hands. Do some research to make sure your cloud storage company is reputable and has security measures in place, such as CASB security, which ensures compliance, threat protection, and data security.

If you can welcome yourself, maintain solid furniture, and keep your technology up-to-par, you can develop your own “office,” so to speak. Having a dedicated study space will help you make the most out of your college experience.

Anthony Masterton is a young entrepreneur trying to break through in the Tech world. When he’s not working on growing his young startup, he writes about everything from tech advancements to his own experiences as a young CEO. A self starter, he likes to help others learn from his own successes and failures, as it’s always easiest to learn from experience.

 

 

Where to find discounts for college students

BY ANTON LUCANUS

Ask adults and they would be unanimous that student days were the best part of their lives. Pop the same question to current students and the responses may not be as optimistic. A university is undoubtedly a place for gaining knowledge and even experiencing the wilder side of life at times, but many students get bogged down by more mundane matters such as money. There are legendary tales of how students gorge on food and entertainment in the first week of the month, only to be condemned to a life of penury in the remaining part of the month.

Life may not be such a pain if students judiciously manage their finances. Student discounts are a major perk of being a student. Students can stick τo their monthly budget and yet manage to steal some fun by capitalizing on student discounts available on discount offers sites (i.e Wikigains, Lodlois, etc) and offline.

Whether you are looking to make a major purchase such as a computer or merely have an outing with friends, a student id card opens the doors to a wealth of student discounts.

Retail outlets pamper students with excellent discounts in an effort to catch them young as loyal brand customers. Many concert venues, bowling alleys and theaters also slash the prices for students—it is just a matter of asking around for the latest deals. Levi’s offers 15% reduction and clothing retailer Express also discounts 15% on online and in-store purchases.

Being a student does not mean the end of traveling. Public transport buses such as Greyhound handhold students with lucrative discounts.

The giants of the computer industry also ensure that students do not lose out on technology due to financial constraints. Apple gives a discount of up to $200 on a new Mac and $20 off on an iPad. Microsoft and HP are also not far behind in showering discounts on students.

Reading papers is never out of fashion despite the explosion of information on the internet. Leading papers offer special discounts for their student subscribers. The Wall Street Journal offers a semester rate of just $1 a week for both print delivery and digital access and the New York Times allows online access for $1 a week.

There is no excuse for not calling home as cellular services are willing to loosen their purse strings for the student customers. T-Mobile offers a $50 credit on phone bills, while Verizon waves off up to up to 20% of the monthly bills.

Museums, theaters, music venues and art galleries in town also lay the red carpet for students with hefty discounts, albeit on fixed days and pre-determined timings. Bay Area theaters such as Berkeley Repertory Theater, American Conservatory Theater, Aurora Theater Company and Magic Theatre offer attractive discounts exclusively for students.

Do not allow financial travails rob you, dear student, of the simple joys of university life. Let discounts usher you into a world of enriching experiences.

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.

 

 

Social Media Tips To Increase Your College Admission  Chances

 

BY PAMELA CURRIER

Today, many students are applying to colleges online, and there are many differences between this and applying through the mail. For one thing, because online applications are so much quicker and easier, students are applying to more schools, thus increasing their chances of being accepted into their schools of choice. But, there is a lot more to it than filling out an application. If you are getting ready to apply to colleges online, here are some tips that are going to help increase your chances of acceptance.

• Post Only Good Information
  You are putting yourself out there, and you need to be able to show admissions officers that you are the type of student they are looking for. Don’t post photos and videos from drunken parties. Avoid posts that portray you as a bully or as having salacious behavior. While you don’t need to pretend you are something you are not, it is important to be able to convey a somewhat wholesome image. Look at it this way. If you wouldn’t want your grandparents to see it, you don’t want college admissions officers to see it either.
• Keep Info Consistent
  It is important to make sure that all of your social media profiles are updated regularly, and that the information on these pages match the information that you put on your college applications. If your application says one thing but your social media profiles say something else, you are going to greatly reduce your chances of being accepted into many colleges.
• Have a Website
  You can really give them an insight to who you are and where you are heading when you have a personal website. This is where you can really highlight your brand and show how truly unique you are. Having your own website shows that you are a creative thinker, and that you are articulate. “When you have your own URL and website, you have a fast way for college recruiters and admissions officers to find out more about you. It also makes it easier to find you when they search for you on Google,” says Dima Midon, search engine expert at TrafficBox.
• Have a Good Photo
  While your appearance shouldn’t make any difference, it often does, and if you do not have a professional profile photo across all social platforms, including Snapchat, your chances of acceptance could drop.  Don’t just get dressed up and take a selfie. Spend the extra money and hire a professional photographer to take your profile photo. It is well worth it if it is going to help you get into one of the colleges you have chosen to apply to.
• Untag and Unfollow
  It isn’t just your posts that admissions officers are checking out. If your friends have tagged you in posts that are inappropriate, you need to get right in there and untag yourself. It may even be necessary to unfollow certain friends. This doesn’t mean that you have to unfriend them. When you unfollow someone, you are still friends, but their posts do not appear on your pages. This is important in order to avoid inappropriate photos and content.
• Start a Blog
  College recruiters want to know more about you than just your academic history. They want to know who you are, what you believe in, what you are passionate about, etc. Start writing articles about the things that interest you, and set up your own blog page. You can put your blog right on your website or social media, or join a blogging community. If you don’t know how to start, take some of your best essays and post them as blogs. You will be showing your communication skills, and blogs are searchable, especially when you use SEO.

 

Pamela Currier helps recent grads land the jobs of their dreams, she is a career coach and educator.

 

6 Life Lessons Students Can Learn from Gaming

BY EMMA BONNEY

Video games have become an important part of every child’s life these days. Starting from the rudimentary video games of the 90s to the high-end games of today, gaming has changed radically over the years with the advent of new technology. But one thing has remained constant over the years, and that is the immense impact that gaming has on the mind. Gaming can enrich one with important life skills.

Planning and strategy

The most important thing about almost all games is the importance of strategy that is necessary move through the obstacles. Not only does this improve the agility and functionality of the brain, it helps one navigate through real life in a much more efficient and smarter way. People who have experience of playing video games are often more equipped to fight and overcome the challenges in their personal and professional lives with a certain level of strategy.

The value of patience

Most games have certain factors like energy, game money, power ups etc which come at regular intervals or at least have to be earned over time. This can be insanely frustrating, but absolutely essential for one to advance through the various levels and challenges in the game. Therefore, the player learns an essential life value of patience

Accepting defeat

Failure might or might not be the pillar of success but it sure, isn’t an easy thing to experience. Winning and losing are both important parts of gaming, which makes it much easier for a gamer to accept defeat gracefully and fight for success. Not only does it help cushion the disappointment and sadness that is commonly associated with losing, it also helps the person develop the strength and zeal to carry on.

Perseverance

Perseverance is probably the most important thing one needs to have, in order to progress to a higher level in a game. The initial levels start fun and easy but the real fun is progressing in the game, slaying the obstacles. But it takes immense time, effort, dedication and the strength to continue despite the difficulty each stage poses. Once one learns the valuable lesson on how sweet success takes after all that struggle, it inspires them to persevere and work harder and never to stop before the goal is achieved.

The importance of timing

Timing is extremely crucial in a video game. If one does not take the right action or hit the right buttons on time, the game will change drastically. Thus, it teaches one to be agile in the face of changes that life might come up with. A Gamer learns to take life and its challenges head on, with an unflinching attitude because he or she is well acquainted with the value on acting on time. Thus, it also helps one learn to grab the right opportunity at the right moment.

Intuitive prediction

Gamers are seen to develop a natural tendency to predict correctly, which can be attributed to the honing of the intuitive skills of the player. With the right kind of gaming portal like real bookies, this intuition can be turned into a fun game of prediction. With the necessary skills, one can even make a bit of money by betting online on sports in the right forums. Done right, this is completely legal and can help a student get some extra bucks for college money or even a working person with some additional funds for saving up.

Video games teach some of the most important values in life which helps in a wholesome holistic growth of a person as an individual.

A bit about myself:

Emma Bonney is a successful blogger whose articles aim to help readers with

self-development, Women’s Empowerment, Education, entrepreneurship and

content management.