Making the best of college
Making the best of college: majors, study abroad, internships, jobs, roommates, study tips, thesis writing, and more. For high school graduates and university students.
Much as you may dread it, you do, in fact, have to study for the GRE. Applying to grad school almost always comes at a messy, inconvenient life moment. You're stressed out and handling dozens of other projects and goals... but still. You have to learn the test. You need to know the basic skills. You need to take a practice test. And here's how to do that.
PS I bombed the first time I took the GRE. So for the record, you're not alone.
Read MoreGood notes can make or break your finals prep and essay writing. In today's guest post, Miles shares his excellent multi-tiered system for taking notes on books--starting with writing in the margins, then moving on to dictating thoughts and copying out passages.
I'm really impressed and inspired by the idea, and hope to integrate it into my reading as well!
Read MoreJenna was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome during her sophomore year in high school. She struggled with energy, concentration, and being perceived as 'lazy' instead of sick. She shares her experience finishing high school and going on to school at Rutgers, and the study and health strategies she developed to eventually own her student experience and take control of her health.
Read MoreIt's easy to get overwhelmed by assigned readings for college classes, and to feel like you'll never remember all of it anyway... so why bother?
Detailed note taking can save enormous amounts of work later on. If you know an assigned book in depth, and can quickly find quotes to support your ideas or arguments, you will be well on your way to having a useful source document both for your current class and for future assignments.
This is my process for taking notes in assigned books. It's made a huge difference in my studies, and I bet it works for you too!
Read MoreCo-writing, if done right, means that both parties play to their strengths and ultimately do less work. It's also something that is a common exercise in the non-academic "real world." Most group projects in school do not resemble a work setting in the slightest—you will rarely be called upon to join a group of four colleagues in presenting on something you know very little about. However, you will often have to turn in a final product, written or otherwise, resulting from collaboration and compromise. In fact, many jobs rely almost completely on this model.
Read MoreAn undergraduate thesis is the culmination of a college experience, and if you have the opportunity (or obligation) to write one, you will probably approach it with a mix of anxiety and anticipation. It is your chance to write something that is almost entirely self-directed: it will bring together the information and skills that you have learned thus far on your academic journey and set you free to pursue a specific research topic of your choice.
Read MoreTo do this kind of work, we have to be able to look after ourselves and our emotions. Every person will have a different way of coping, and a different set of triggers, challenges, and specific responses to what they learn. This is far from an exhaustive list, but it’s a starting place: how to cope with doing depressing research as an academic.
Read MoreEven if you’ve been asked to give corrections, remember your friend's delicate emotions. Critique in a spirit of encouragement and giving. If you’re not mindful of this, you risk the writer thinking that you’re being hypercritical instead of helpful. Be gentle, particularly with first-time editing.
Read MoreChoose a peer editor who is intellectually invested and capable of providing useful feedback relevant to your writing topic. Find someone with knowledge and writing skills equal or superior to your own...
Read MoreEach person’s thesis experience is unique, and depends on their area of focus and the style of their research. A lab-based chemistry thesis project will look vastly different than a thesis based on the translation of a body of foreign-language poetry. While the details, methodology, and timeline are unique to the individual, however, there are some broad steps that have to happen in the process, and that’s what I outline here.
Read MoreThe syllabus is your friend. It tells you exactly what you need to do to be prepared for class, learn what’s valuable, and get a good grade. A well-written syllabus leaves no mysteries to course structure or requirements. It’s all there, on a piece of paper, and you will probably go through an exhaustive discussion on that first day. Pay attention.
Read MoreThe five-paragraph essay is the foundational structure for all academic writing in the US tradition. I learned this structure in high school, but didn’t appreciate it until well into college, when I was using the same approach to tackle 20+ page essays. It’s simple, effective, and makes the point you’re trying to convey.
Read MoreCoursework in college demands an enormous amount of reading. Almost regardless of your major, you will be expected to read and comprehend substantial piles of information, articles, books, essays, reports, research, interviews, and novels. There were times when my reading load seemed completely impossible—sometimes hundreds of pages of complicated reading assigned per class, per week.
You can’t do it all. But you can make it seem like you did.
Read MoreWorking with a study buddy revolutionized my ability to get things done in college. There’s an element of collaboration which is helpful, and also the social pressure to actually get work done, since your friend is there and also working away. When working with a friend I am more inspired and more creative, less grumpy or put-upon, and more willing to just put my head down and work away, since I know a break was coming.
Read MoreHere are some basic essay preparation tips, brought to you by lo, these many years of liberal arts education.
Tip No. 1: Read the Sullabus
Read MoreAdvice for college and university students. Roommates, majors, study abroad, travel, essay writing, study tips, admissions, professors, internships, and mentoring. Make college an amazing experience.
Professional photography and storytelling services for nonprofits
