College Students Need to Learn Search Engine Optimization

BY JANE HURST

Whether you plan to go into marketing as a career or are simply trying to market yourself, as a college student you really do need to learn as much about SEO (search engine optimization) as you possibly can.

 

Why do you need to learn about SEO? Understanding SEO has a multitude of benefits, even if you don’t plan on becoming a marketing professional or starting your own business after you graduate. Read on to learn more.

 

Benefits of Knowing SEO

 

• Know the Search Engines – Do you know what it takes for a website to appear high on search engines? Obviously, you know that website owners want their sites to rank high on search engines (especially Google). Learning about SEO will show you why this is so essential and explain how it is done. The more you know, the easier it is to drive traffic to your website.
• Website Design Improvement – Learning about SEO also helps you create a better website, both in terms of UX (“user experience”), traffic and search engine ranking. Whether your website is for business or personal use, it’s in the best interest of you and your visitors to have a well-designed, organized and optimized site. Understanding SEO is an important first step to creating this.
• Have Optimized Content – The better and more optimized your content is, the more traffic you will attract to a website. When you have a good handle on how SEO works, you will be better positioned to create more compelling and better-optimized content that ranks higher on search engines and, consequently, gets more traffic (and customers). Take advantage of the guidelines offered by search engines and SEO professionals to help you produce the highest quality and most optimized content possible for your SEO content strategy.
• Understand Keywords – The more you know about keywords, the more you will be to use them to drive more traffic to your website. Keywords are among the most important fundamentals of any internet search, and there are certain keywords used more than others. By learning SEO, you will learn how to find the right keywords to target for your site.

How to Learn About SEO

The good news is that it’s not difficult to find SEO educational resources. You can find plenty of help online from Moz.com, Ahrefs.com, SEMRush.com and other well-known SEO marketing companies. You can also take a marketing course while you are in school, even if you are not a business major. But, there is a lot more to learning about and understanding SEO than just getting information online or in a classroom setting. You need to really be involved in the online community.

Now is the time to start actively participating in SEO-related forums, subscribe to online SEO-related newsletters and network with SEO professionals on campus and in the online community. The more you engage now, the easier it will be for you to understand just how SEO works, and how to use it to your advantage when you get out into the real world. So get online and dig into SEO so you can get the hands-on SEO education that you can never get from reading books on the subject or sitting in a classroom listening to a lecture.

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.

 

Choosing The Right Company to Work For

BY MELISSA BURNS

We all know that it’s not easy to choose the right company to work for, especially when you’re just starting out and making your first forays into the workforce. As I’m sure you’ve heard, there have been plenty of times when someone has charged ahead and taken a position at the first company that offers one, only to immediately regret their decision of signing that contract once the honeymoon period is over.

Something important to keep in mind before venturing out into the world is that being offered a job doesn’t mean that you have to take it. The smart way to go about it would be to do your research and find out exactly what kind of company you’re committing to.

So, what are some of the things to look out for in a company that could potentially employ you? Below is a list of tips that should help you find your way to the best fit for you.

Public image: One of the first things you need to do is to research the company’s public image to get at least an idea of what kind of business you would be committing yourself to. If you like the look of their communication efforts and marketing campaigns, you’re headed in the right direction.

Nose around for a bit on the company’s website; check out the mission and vision. Have a look at their social media pages and gather as much information as you can that’s available for the public.

You would be surprised at just how much you can learn about a company this way.

Work environment: This is a biggie that tends to fall through the cracks sometimes. You have to be sure to check into the work environment of the company. You will be spending most of your days at the office, after all, so it’s really important that the environment is somewhere you feel comfortable but challenged at the same time.

This, of course, means different things to different people, so you have to know which environments suits you best beforehand. Is it somewhere fast-paced where you go from one challenge to the next? Or do you prefer a quiet ambiance where you can do your best thinking?

A good way to find out what the work environment is like in a company is to observe the people working there as much as you are able. You will probably have the chance to do so during the interviewing process.

Wellness programs: Another great way to find out if a company is going to value you as their employee is if there are wellness programs put in place. If you’re not familiar with these programs, their purpose is to instill healthy behaviors in employees by offering incentives. These incentives vary from discounted gym memberships, paid time off, access to nutritionists, etc.

If a company has one of these programs, you know that they at least consider their employees’ welfare and health.

Career growth opportunity: Another really important thing to keep in mind when choosing the right company is whether they are more likely to promote their employees when looking to fill a position, or they search for someone outside of it.

This is something to keep in mind because when a company chooses to promote their employees, they will more than likely offer training courses and such to capacitate them. Meaning a lot of opportunities for growth.

Take aways

The best company to work for, in my experience, is the one that values you as an employee and doesn’t see you as just another cog in the machine. Of course, you have to make yourself valuable to the company as a working relationship is not a one-way street.

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

 

8 Ways to Reduce & Avoid Overwhelming College Student Loan Debt

BY LORRAINE McKINNEY

For many people, the best way to get ahead in life is to go to college or university and get a degree that will enable them to work in the field of their choice. But, there is one problem with this: many students end up with so much student loan debt that they can’t even start working on getting ahead until they get that debt paid off, which can take several years. Luckily, there are many ways that you can reduce your student debt load, and in some cases, avoid a lot of it all together. Here are eight things you can do to reduce or avoid a lot of student loan debt.

1. Only Borrow what You Need – A lot of students make the mistake of borrowing more than they actually need, so they have extra spending money. While this may seem like a great thing while you are in school, when you get out, you have to pay it back. Calculate your total costs, and only borrow that amount.
2. Save Your Fives – A lot of people take the change they have at the end of each day and put it in a jar to save for later. You can take this a step further and save all of your five dollar bills. You will be saving a lot more in the long run, and then you will have money that you can use to pay down your student loan debt after you graduate.
3. Leave the Country – You can work abroad, and often be exempt from paying taxes on pretty high incomes, up to around $100,000 per year. The money you can save on taxes can be used to help pay down your student loan debt, so you get it paid off quicker and you can start using your income for other things.
4. Make Bi Weekly Payments – “Instead of making monthly student loan payments, make a payment every other week. You will be making 26 half payments, which means that you will actually be making an extra payment each year. While this may not seem like much, every little bit counts when it comes to getting rid of your student loan debt,” suggests an expert from Finance.co.uk.
5. Look for Other Funding Sources – There is more than one way to skin a cat, and there is more than one way to pay for college. It is never too late to look for additional funding sources, including scholarships and bursaries, both of which you do not have to repay. Apply for every scholarship and bursary that you are eligible for, and you may be able to avoid a lot of student loan debt.
6. Be Frugal – Now is the time to start learning how to live frugally. An off-campus apartment may seem like a good idea, but think about how much more it is going to cost in the long run. Look for ways to save money, and you won’t be wasting as much of your student loan money (and maybe even have some left over to use towards the payments later).
7. Volunteer – Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community, and learn new skills. But, did you also know that it can help to pay off student loans? For instance, SponsorChange lets college grads donate their time and skills in exchange for student loan payments, which amounts to anywhere from $10 to $20 per hour.
8. Look at All of the Options – There are many different loan options available to students, and some are a lot better than others when it comes to repayment schedules, interest, etc. You might actually do better in the long run with a private loan rather than taking out a lot of student loans. Now is the time to start researching all of your financing options.

 

Lorraine McKinney is an academic tutor and elearning specialist. 

Dorm of the Future: Student Residences Can Change with IoT

BY DAVID GUTIERREZ

The Internet of Things is growing, and the things are becoming more interesting every day. These days an increasing number of smart home devices are already widely used in many modern apartments. Whether it is a smart light bulb, a thermostat, or a personal assistant that orders lunches for you, name a home appliance and you will probably find a smart analog for it.

If you rent an apartment or live in a student dorm, it can be harder to pick out devices that you can use in your accommodation. When you don’t own your home, there are different rules dictating you what modifications you can apply to adapt living spaces to your needs. However, this is no longer an issue.

What is a Dorm of the Future?

 IoT technologies in private houses have evolved from a concept to a widespread solution that is now used on campuses and in higher education.

Colleges and universities are already using smart lighting, HVAC systems, and other mechanical equipment to optimize facilities. College dorm security has been reinforced by connecting door locks, video surveillance and alarms to the remote control system. The Internet of Things makes it possible to control virtually everything, from student behavior to air quality in dorm rooms.

While colleges and universities are evaluating their existing infrastructure and gradually implementing IoT solutions into their educational process and student campuses, there are already several high-tech dorm rooms that demonstrate the benefits of smart living.

A Berkeley student, Derek Low shows off BRAD (Berkeley Ridiculously Automated Dorm), which he outfitted with motion detectors, curtains that open and close with the help of a smartphone app, and, of course, a “romantic mode” including a disco ball and music.

Twin beds, no privacy, and noise 24/7. This is life on campus. Arizona State University in Tempe has ruined this stereotype forever with winning Stanford and MIT as a most innovative school in higher education. Why is that?

Taking into account their forward thinking and implementation of smart dorm strategy, ASU is using the Internet of Things to provide quality education as well as comfortable living for all students.

Using the latest Amazon technologies for smart home appliances, the university is installing personal assistants in engineering dorms. They call them “Ask ASU” devices that will help resolve related issues. Moreover, all students will have the opportunity to build on the platform and suggest how to broaden the technology across the university. Moreover, the university has.

The university has set up so called virtual ‘beacons’ in classrooms to find out trends in student attendance, which allow administrators to identify students who might need any assistance with their studies. The university also wants to replace traditional IDs and provide students with wearables that will bring more security to the campuses.

While ASU has already adopted the IoT technologies, other universities are currently in the developing stage. Duke University has built a smart home that demonstrates what a campus should be in future. In this laboratory students can live with access to all the different smart home technologies, so they can come up with ideas and try to build a prototype to make life better.

Dorm life isn’t for everyone, but a wide range of smart devices can make it as comfortable as possible to live in campuses. There is still a lot of uncertainty about how many smart devices will be connected on any campus and how it will impact the student’s lives. However, the adoption of IoT in higher education has already begun and will bring a lot of changes with an array of automated systems.

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 You Should Integrate an Internship Into Your Degree

BY ANTON LUCANUS

 

During the summer holidays of my freshman year, I undertook a short 3-day internship doing communications work for Impressive Digital. Although I was only there for 3 days, I experienced rapid personal growth, both from professional and personal perspectives. Most importantly, I learnt that sitting an entire undergraduate degree without sitting at least one internship is a huge missed opportunity.

Internships are the new way of volunteering. They provide students with an opportunity to develop a strong understanding of what is expected of them in the field and whether they enjoy what occurs on a day-to-day basis. While some people do not believe internships are important, or there is not enough time during the day between studying and classes, there are some aspects that should be considered.

One topic is experience. It is great to have a degree or diploma, but to have one with experience is an asset that employers are starting to focus on. Why is this important? It comes down to the job market. With colleges and universities graduating higher amounts of students than ever before, taking part in an internship can be a big step towards long-term employment. Internships can increase the post graduate employment potential of students by 75%, which makes them well worth considering as an option.

What else can be learnt from an internship?

Relationship building. This goes beyond face-to -face interactions and is extended to the kinds of communication that are often forgotten about. An email, a phone call or even a message via social media all influence and contribute to the relationships that you build every day. Building a strong relationship with managers and co-workers during an internship is important and can have strong ripple effects. It is essential to begin long-term planning for your desired career during your college years. This includes maintaining contact after the internship has ended, regardless of its length. Strong communication can lead to future networking opportunities, full-time employment offers, and a coveted reference. An internship combined with a reference and a solid education is more likely to result in not just a job, but also a fulfilling career.

Work experience. Internships increase your ability to enter your chosen field with confidence. Participating in an internship helps in overcoming first day nerves and breaks down the barriers that exist between the education system and your dream entry-level position. Often a primary consideration for undertaking an internship is the opportunity to gain experience in the field without long-term commitment. This can be the greatest educator of all, and it’s a chance to determine if your education and chosen professional environment are a good fit.

Increasing future salary expectations. When applying for entry-level position, one of job seekers’ most pressing questions is: “What is a reasonable wage?” Being a fresh graduate can limit your potential wage. Internship experience not only enhances employability, but it also increases wage expectations. The experience of students who have been in the field, know the job, and have established relationships is unmatched by student without internship experience. As a result, those who have been through internships demand higher wages.

In closing, participating in an internship goes beyond learning. It is about establishing relationships that connect to future job potential and professional opportunities. Internships develop confidence through experience and build trust with future employers. This confidence can be carried into almost every aspect of life.

Many educational programs, including those at Stanford, offer internships or the ability for students to procure their own work experience and have a notation placed on their transcript. Considering everything above, as a student, it is worth seeking an internship that connects strongly with your character and personality and matches what an employer is seeking. Combining these factors will develop your skills, intellect, and global outlook in more ways than one.

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.

 

 

Marriage in College: Academic Success and Building a Family

BY SYLVIA KOHL

There are many couples that get together while in college – however, most of them have a rather fleeting nature and never get serious enough for long-term commitment. There is a small but notable percentage of those who take their relationship seriously enough to consider getting married without waiting. Is it a good idea? Let’s look at pros and cons.

Pros

1.      Financial support

Many colleges offer financial support to married couples who both attend college. While it is a certainly nice thing to have, even the most lavish support is hardly a good enough reason to consider marriage when taken separately.

2.      Shared experiences

Couples that get together later miss out on the significant events in each other’s lives, both good and bad. Getting married in college allows you to go through these experiences together, potentially strengthening the bonds.

3.      Long-term perspective

For most people, college is usually a fairly irresponsible time. You tend to have a good time without thinking much about where you are going to be 5, 10, 20 years from now. Getting married usually settles you down and helps you take a more long-term view on your life.

4.      Mutual support

One thing is certain – you are never going to be lonely. Somebody is always going to be beside you to support, listen to you and take up part of the responsibilities if you are going through a particularly rough spell.

Cons

1.      Extra responsibilities

Marriage means that a lot of your attention is going to be diverted to your spouse. Most people feel that in college they have their plate full enough with nothing but studies – add to that your marital responsibilities, and you will have a life in which you don’t have a minute to yourself.

2.      Immaturity

You may believe otherwise, but biologically humans don’t finish their basic cognitive development until well into their twenties. You are sure to see many of the decisions you make now as immature, ill-considered and just plain stupid. And marriage is a decision with consequences that may be very hard to compensate for.

3.      Parents’ disapproval

Almost certainly, both yours and your partner’s parents are going to disapprove, and it can be very hard to deal with, especially if you are dependent on them financially.

4.      Growing out of your relationship

The same person may be, in fact, two completely different people at 19 and 30. Your marriage may be alright for a couple of years, but after graduating you can suddenly discover that both you and your spouse are completely different from who you were when you got married – and no longer have anything in common. If your relationship is strong enough, getting married can wait until after graduation. If it isn’t, getting married is a bad decision at any age.

How to make It work

1.      Share responsibilities

It is important for any marriage, but doubly so for time-starved college students. Share responsibilities and make sure both of you understand who does what.

2.      Consult a family lawyer

It may sound like a rather cynical thing to say to a couple considering marriage, but knowing all the legal ramifications of getting married before the fact and having a skilled family lawyer familiar with your case at hand can be incredibly useful.

3.      Exercise discipline

Particularly in the financial sphere. Learn to budget. Avoid debt like plague. Prioritize your needs over wants. Make sure both of you agree to this solution.

Just like in many other areas, the answer to the question whether getting married in college is a good idea would be this: it depends on the situation, the people involved and many other factors.

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.

 

 

Why To Read For Pleasure At College

By Parinaz Samimi

You may never read a book again after college.

If this sounds like a relief, you’re not alone: 42% of college graduates never pick up a book again after finishing school. Reading a novel for simple pleasure falls by the wayside in the deluge of modern life; turning on the TV and turning off the brain is an unconscious decision for an increasing segment of the population.

If you’re still reading this, good for you — literally. The benefits of reading, whether you’re still in college or not, can affect everything from your social life to your professional aspirations to your personal health. To a student buried under piles of books and required texts, the thought of reading just for the sake of reading might seem crazy, but here are just seven ways that keeping up with words can give you an edge over the 42-percenters:

 

1. Brain Connectivity Let’s get the science out of the way first: in a study led by Dr. Gregory S. Berns of the Emory University Center for Neuropolicy, brain connectivity improvement caused by reading was registered in the left temporal cortex, an area associated with receptivity for language. “The neural changes that we found associated with physical sensation and movement systems suggest that reading a novel can transport you into the body of the protagonist,” says Dr. Berns. “The ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes improves theory of mind.”

 

2. Focus, Concentration and Memory

Internet surfing, Slack chatting, IRL interaction — all daily multitasking that splits your attention, ups your stress and stunts productivity. Logging off and reading a book for just 15-20 minutes before class or work can sharpen your focus, and the concentration needed to fully submerse yourself in a novel is an invaluable skill to retain. Likewise, keeping track of literary characters, plotlines and backgrounds strengthens memory muscles, as every new memory created forges new synapses and bolsters existing ones.

 

3. Analytical Skills

If you’ve read a mystery novel and solved the crime before finishing the book, you’ve exercised some diagnostic finesse that you probably didn’t even know you had (and we’ll get to fancy words like “diagnostic” and “finesse” in a moment). Analytical skills in visualizing, articulating, conceptualizing or problem-solving by making sound decisions based on available information can be reinforced through reading. According to Stanford University’s Joshua Landy, you can even gain “a new set of methods for becoming a better maker of arguments.”

 

4. Vocabulary

The more words you read, the more words you’ll know — if you weren’t familiar with the terms “diagnostic” and “finesse” a paragraph ago, you are now (if you looked them up, that is). Being articulate and well-spoken is an inestimable trait to possess, be it in the classroom, a job interview or even the most innocuous of social locus. Of course, not every situation calls for the overly ornate verbiage of these illustrative sentences, but they’re useful to have at the tip of your tongue. Or brain, if you will.

 

5. Writing

Want to be a better writer? Read better writers. Or even the worse ones, as cautionary examples of what to avoid. Ideally, though, you’ll gravitate toward worthy authors who will inspire you to write out your own ideas — or borrow some of theirs. (Every writer and artist does it, just be sure to revise and expand, not simply mimic.) There are many ways to spur creative thinking, but when it comes to writing, reading the style and cadence of an entertaining novelist is one of the ultimate inspirations.

 

6. Knowledge and New Interests

Gaining new knowledge from reading is kind of a given, right? Even reading the same book over again can reveal new angles and aspects you might not have caught the first time. New knowledge can also lead to new interests and hobbies: you might never have thought of picking up a musical instrument before you read that Jimi Hendrix biography, or considered becoming an economist before digging into “The Wealth of Nations.” And some hobbies can make you smarter, thus feeding your brain even more than reading alone.

 

7. Relaxation and Sleep

The most immediate, and arguably most valuable benefits of reading are decompressing, de-stressing and simply relaxing — even the most intense thriller is a calming reprieve from a long day of classes or hours at work. Quality relaxation lowers cortisol levels, which leads to quality sleep. You’ll want to stick with fiction, as non-fiction (such as business or current events books) tends to switch your brain into active mode, while a story can turn off the part of the brain that’s overly critical. Lesson: at bedtime, turn off Stephen Colbert and pick up Stephen King.

 

Reading makes your life, and your brain, better — it’s also free and easy, the magic words for any college student. There’s no downside to reading every day: don’t view it as an obligation and you’ll never fall out of one of the healthiest habits a person can have.

Parinaz Samimi is a certified yoga instructor and sleep and wellness expert. She is passionate about sharing her experiences to help inspire and empower others to cultivate happiness, health, and productivity. Having both a Masters in Public Health and one in Business Administration, she has taken great interest in sleep and well-being—specifically their relationship with and correlation to health and productivity. In her free time, she can be found traveling, exploring the outdoors, and enjoying a good book over a glass of Malbec.

4 Ways to Increase Your Lecture Retention

 

By: Elisabeth Jackson

With the internet at our disposal, you have access to a plethora of tools and resources to help you succeed in the classroom. As we head into the fall quarter, having a strategy for how you take information from each lecture will not only help your grade, but also help you retain information long after finals are over. Here are 4 solid techniques you can utilize to better your studying:

 

1. Capture what you don’t know, then revisit the information frequently

The way we retain information is by repeated exposure. You don’t need to record something that you already understand. Having a focused portion of your notes strictly on portions of the material you don’t know will help you maintain greater focus on memorizing that text.

 

2. Inherit a note-taking system

Yes, those Cornell notes you learned back in high school actually were of value. Note taking systems like Cornell, Mind Mapping, and The Sentence Method are structured to help create a structured flow to all the information that will be coming at you throughout the semester.  Creating organized notes will make compartmentalizing the information easier, causing the information to stick to your memory better.

 

3. Integrate notes from readings with lecture notes

Organize all your lecture notes with your reading notes into a central location. Whether this is a notebook or an online cloud, having ALL your notes in one location will help you study all the material you have gathered over the course of the semester, as opposed to trying to find pieces of information scattered across separate note sections. If you want to be able to study on the go, I strongly suggest integrating all your notes onto a note-taking portal like EverNote.

 

4. Record the lecture

We all learn in different capacities. Having an audio recording and transcript of the professor can help teach the content in a multimodal approach, and enhance the amount of material you retain. Audio transcripts allow you to go back and relisten to key points you may have missed, and help not only jog your memory, but give context to your written notes as well! You can do this either by recording and transcribing the lectures yourself, or, order a transcription through a professional.

Incorporating these techniques will help you retain more information into your brain after a lecture and ace those exams.

Elisabeth Jackson is a freelance content writer with a background in technology and marketing.Before she wrote for a living, she was a post-graduate mentor and advocate for college seniors. You can view more of her writings and work on her website justlizzi.com

10 Ways Students Can Build Good Credit To Borrow

BY EMMA BONNEY

 

Building a good credit score is important as it will determine a large part of your future. Therefore, it is best to start early. Even if you are a student you can start building your credit score and here is how.

Become an authorized user on your parents’ credit card

Before you take on the responsibility of your own credit card, you can start learning the ropes by becoming an authorized user on your parents’ card.

Get your own credit card

Once you are more responsible and stable, it is time to get yourself a credit card of your own. But you have to realize that this is an adult responsibility which you cannot mess up.

Choose your card wisely

Once you decide to go for a credit card, you will be flooded with different option to choose from. So, do your research well, compare and pick the right credit card for yourself.

Pay credit card balance every month

Do not pay the minimum amount that you absolutely have to pay but instead clear off the whole amount every month so that you do not carry a balance on the card. This will ensure that you do not have to pay additional late fines as records of those are detrimental to the development of a good credit score.

Pay your bills on time

Your other unpaid dues can also affect your credit scores as every single record is linked. Make sure you pay off your bills in time and not fall into a defaulters’ list. This is something you should avoid at all costs as it will hamper your credit scores.

Keep your information updated

Every time you move and your address changes, it is crucial to update the change immediately so that you still get your credit card bills on time and do not miss out on the payments. Late payments will not only mean that you have to pay your interest, along with the late fines, it also puts a strain on your credit scores.

Don’t apply for several credit cards

If you are looking forward to building a strong credit maintain one credit card carefully and in an utterly responsible fashion. The more credit cards you get, higher are your chances of messing up, and thus, incurring huge debts and subsequent higher payments which can lower your credit score.

Don’t cosign for your friends

Just like you would need the signature of an adult to obtain your first credit card, your friends and juniors would too. Sometimes they try to get it co-signed by a friend or a senior with a credit card so that they can avoid the whole hassle with parents but never agree to sign this because if your friend is irresponsible and incurs and debt, you will see that automatically bringing down your credit score, since your name is also associated with that person’s account.

Spend responsibly

There are always tons of Coupon codes and discounts offers which will help you spend less. Use them wisely instead of piling up a huge credit card bill. Just because you don’t have to pay now doesn’t mean you don’t have to pay at all.

Be careful with your identity

Be careful and keep your credit card, social security card and other valuable documents safe because an identity theft can completely mar your credit scores which will take forever to recover, if at all.

Your credit card is much more than a piece of plastic which helps you spend money whenever you want so to use it responsibly!

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

 

 

5 Ways to Make Your Room the Perfect Study Space

BY MONIQUE SERBU

As a college student, you’re likely living in tight quarters in a dorm or an apartment. Between squeezing in a minifridge and finding a spot for your personal belongings and school books, creating a study space might seem like an impossible task.

But you don’t need an elaborate office or spacious room to have the right study environment. With a few additions and a little creativity, you can create a study-ready space in the smallest of apartments or dorm rooms. Just try out these five tips for making your space study-ready for the school year and see the benefits for yourself.

 

1. Designate a Specific Study Space

 Avoid studying in bed or shifting around between different locations, and stick to a single spot in your room. This space could be a desk in a corner, for example. Only use this area for your schoolwork so you train your brain to get into a study mode each time you sit down and open your books. Whatever place you pick, make sure it’s a comfortable space where you can focus. Don’t set up your desk near a wall you share with a loud neighbor, either, so you won’t get distracted by noise.

 

2. Keep Your Desk Clutter-Free

 Clutter doesn’t just make for a messy space. It also impacts how your brain functions. Studies show that clutter limits your brain’s ability to process information, increases stress, and contributes to procrastination—the perfect recipe for poor grades. Keep your desk organized and clear of knick-knacks and papers. Have a small desk? No problem. Use drawers and under-the-bed organizers to store papers and binders, and keep your desk space open for your computer or laptop.

 

3. Don’t Skimp on the Necessities

 Even when you’re on a college budget, invest in the tools you need to succeed. These items include books, software for your classes, and a reliable internet connection. Slow internet can hinder your productivity and focus. For example, while you’re waiting for a source page to load, you may look at your text messages or Instagram feed, and suddenly it’s midnight and you still have five more pages to write for your term paper. You’ll get a lot more done in less time if you have quality internet.

 

4. Stick to Your Schedule

 A clock can encourage you to stay on a schedule and help you manage your study time. Use a clock on your desk to set aside chunks of time, such as thirty-minute sessions, to study and then take a break for ten minutes. Alternatively, a clock can be distracting for some, and it might serve as a stressful reminder of how much or little time you have left for studying. If this is the case, get rid of your clock, use a timer on your phone, and avoid looking at the countdown.

 

5. Create the Right Environment

 While studying isn’t the most enjoyable of tasks, the right environment can help you study more efficiently and feel more relaxed. Make sure you have pens, notebooks, and a calculator; pin up motivational posters or your favorite pictures; and use an Amazon Echo to play relaxing music. Even if you don’t have a green thumb, consider getting a houseplant to purify the air and promote increased feelings of calmness.

Follow these tips and devote an afternoon to creating your perfect study space, from organizing your files to planting a houseplant. Don’t be afraid to experiment and find what works best for you, whether it’s jazz music and bright lighting or white noise and a wall covered in posters. Not only will you create a relaxing environment but you’ll also set yourself up for success all semester

Monique is a recent transplant to Utah from the Windy City. Her educational background includes a BS in Marketing and Management as well as a MBA in Marketing Management. Now she’s testing the waters in freelance writing, and in her spare time she likes to spend time outdoors hiking in Utah’s beautiful terrain and hanging out with her Cocker Spaniel.

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