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Study tips for students

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students studying

College can be a shock to high school students. The new sense of freedom alone can be overwhelming, which is why strong study habits are best learned now. Without reinforcement, it’s easy to botch time management and amplify poor study habits through the age-old adage of “idle hands.”

In college your son or daughter will have much more freedom over where and how they study. The decision to go to college should not be taken lightly either. With tuition prices rising, it’s important to reinforce the behaviors that will lead to a bright future. Following are some study tips for students:

Identify Learning Goals

Look objectively with your teen at a report card and identify areas that need improvement. It can be difficult to keep patience with an “F” on a report card. That stress is only amplified on your son or daughter. Instead, ask them how they feel about those subjects and get them to understand that getting help is not a bad thing.

Discuss college majors to get a feel for what your child wants to do in school. Review job placements and form a realistic picture of the future. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is a great place to search for potential careers, with data on expected growth and potential earnings per year.

Gamify Study Methods

Create achievable goals with realistic rewards. Reward an hour of study with a walk outside, or points toward something larger. Divide study sessions into “checkpoints” where students must read for a certain amount of time before taking small breaks.

Games are great about rewarding the player for doing something right, so create rewards that help them along the way. Buying books from iBooks, Kindle or Nook is like feeding candy to the brain. Reward students with high quality notebooks for hitting goals. Use these rewards to create a sense of pride in your teen’s accomplishments.

Seek Outside Tutoring

Reinforce high aptitude with advanced tutoring, or help your teen better grasp topics they find challenging. Look for one-on-one tutoring with college preparatory instructors like Huntington learning tutors; sessions are often conducted in a distraction free environment outside of school or home. Sessions like these can help prepare for specific college testing, or personal essay writing and general college applications.

Tutoring also reinforces strong study habits and can help students move from a “B” to an “A.” Teaching good research habits is another benefit that you might not get in school. Learning where and how to acquire information dramatically cuts down on study time and allows a student to retain more valuable knowledge.

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Rising college costs = student loan debt

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student loan debtRising college costs put the student loan debt at an all time high. Paying for college is one of the greatest challenges when it comes to securing a college education for your children. While it seems that getting accepted into a college is the biggest hurdle, once they have received the acceptance letter, you can stop worrying about that and start worrying about how to pay for it. With tuition costs rising every year (nearly 500 percent in the last 60 years), most families find it difficult to cover college expenses. Financial assistance from the college is available to a lucky few, as are private and federal grants and scholarships. However, the vast majority of students will end up taking out student loans in order to pay for their education.

Picking which loan to take out is key. A loan, regardless of what kind, is something that will need to be repaid—which means your children will be in debt before they even start working. So, before you start applying for any and all student loans, find out more about the reality of the debt management post-graduation. This infographic clearly lays out the past, present and future of student loans and consider how it would impact your children’s financial outlook.

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Students and stress

 

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students and stressStudents and stress seem to go hand in hand. It goes without saying that students today are under a great deal of pressure to achieve, which creates stress; especially with the college application process becoming more and more competitive. Once students graduate from college, the stress of job hunting is added to the pressure to succeed. According to the American College Health Association’s health assessment survey in 2012, 86.8% of students felt they were overwhelmed with what they had to do. The survey sited some alarming statistics:

  • 46.5% of students felt hopeless.
  • 86.1% felt like they were exhausted.
  • 57.3% felt very lonely.
  • 61.0% felt very sad.
  • 31.3% felt so depressed that they found it difficult to function.
  • 7.1% seriously thought about committing suicide.
  • 1.2% attempted suicide.
  • 5.5% intentionally bruised, burned, cut or physically hurt themselves.

With school starting in the fall, seniors especially will begin to feel the pressure and the looming deadlines ahead of them. Standardized tests and college applications weigh heavy on them, along with striving to keep their grades up and their social life consistent. Becoming overly stressed will weigh on them emotionally and physically.

What can you do as a parent to alleviate some of the stress?

Don’t put added pressure on them and expect them to do things they are simply unable to do. For instance, don’t encourage them to go to a college just because it’s your choice. Or ask them to apply to colleges that aren’t good fits. Ease their stress by helping them to stay organized and take some the tedious tasks, like keeping track of deadlines, away from them. Remind them but don’t harass, nag or badger them in any way. You can also make sure that they make time for family and friends, which will help them decompress and relax.

 

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The college application personal statement

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college application personal statementPart of the college application is the personal statement. Basically, colleges ask you to tell them a little about yourself in a short statement. It seems easy in theory but difficult when you begin to craft it. Since the college application personal statement is the first thing colleges read, you want to make a good fresh impression.

What do you want to say about yourself? How will you communicate in a few short sentences who you really are? These are just a few questions you should ask yourself before crafting the statement. Taking a few minutes to brainstorm and get your thoughts down on paper will help you write a memorable personal statement.

Here are some brainstorming tips to help with the college application personal statement.

 

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10 student networking tips-BlogHer style

 

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student networking

This past week I attended a conference in Chicago specifically for bloggers—BlogHer 2013. It was my first blogger conference and to say the least, I was petrified. I don’t consider myself an extrovert and meeting new people and connecting with them on a professional level has never been easy for me. But I packed my nerve and hid away my fears and went to my first conference session. Over the next few days I learned some things about networking: some I knew, some I didn’t know. And it occurred to me that these new found realizations could apply to the college admissions process and even as students enter college. Following are 10 student networking tips that I learned at Blogher:

1. Remember that there are others feeling just as insecure as you do.

When you enter an unknown situation and you feel like you are all alone, remember that there are others feeling the same way you do. They will most likely be sitting alone, walking alone, or not speaking to anyone. Keep your eyes open for those signs and pay attention to others around you. This applies to relationships in high school and college.

2. Don’t be afraid to make the first move.

If you see someone standing or sitting alone, walk up to them and say, “Can I join you?” You will be surprised how relieved and welcoming they will be. The first day in high school or college can be a bit scary, especially if you don’t know anyone. Take a chance and approach those who seem like they are in the same boat.

3. Know what you want to say before you say it.

When meeting with an admissions officer or college recruiter, know what you want to say before you say it. Be prepared to define who you are and what you want from your college experience. Know what you are looking for and communicate it clearly.

4. Sell yourself but don’t be obnoxious.

Nobody likes a braggart. Be able to talk about yourself without spewing out a list of accomplishments and/or name dropping. Let your personality shine through and just be yourself.

5. Listen, listen, listen.

Don’t talk over anyone. If they are speaking to you, let them finish. Ask questions and pay attention to their responses. Pay attention to what they are saying and pick up on conversation topics. Most importantly, act interested.

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tech gadgets, technology, Uncategorized

Safeguarding your college laptop against viruses

 

college laptopIn general, a computer virus is a piece of malicious software that infects and causes damage, changes, or copies files on your computer or other software. Hackers create viruses for different purposes including stealing credit card information, intellectual property, login details used by site visitors, as well as spying on unsuspecting laptop users. According to a report published by Kaspersky Lab, the company’s antivirus software detected more than three billion attacks from infected files. If you use your laptop to surf the Internet, you run the risk of downloading malicious software unknowingly. Read on to learn how to safeguard your college laptop from malicious software.

The Email Threat

Email is one of the most widely used forms of Internet communication. However, cyber criminals have turned email into a tool for spreading computer viruses. The rule of thumb is to avoid opening unsolicited email attachments or links. Even if the email seems to come from a trusted source, be careful when opening it. For example, you might get an email that says you need to verify your bank account details by clicking open a given link.

It is advisable not to open that link straight from your email. Instead, open another browser tab and use it to visit your bank’s website. Most banks have teams of representatives ready to answer client queries via web chat, phone, or instant messaging. Find out if the information in the email is genuine.

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admissions, college guidance, college majors

ROTC in college

 

college rotcThe Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) prepares college students for a career in the military by offering them field training. Students who take ROTC classes also have to complete their college coursework like other students. Admittedly, juggling grueling ROTC field training and the demands of schoolwork can be quite challenging. However, the rewards of overcoming such challenges are enormous. For instance, with the ever-increasing cost of college education, ROTC offers students some much-needed financial assistance besides equipping them with numerous important lifelong skills. Some of the other benefits of ROTC in college include the following:

College Scholarships

Students who enroll in ROTC programs stand a chance of receiving financial aid that they can use to pay for their college tuition expenses. In some cases, the ROTC offers full scholarships that cover tuition costs, living expenses and stipends for personal expenses. In view of this, students interested in military careers who qualify for ROTC can pay for their education and avoid debt.  However, because the ROTC offers scholarships based on merit, students who receive these scholarships have to maintain excellent academic scores for the entire duration of their course.

Guarantee Promising Careers

Upon graduation, college students who are part of the ROTC program can begin their military careers as second lieutenants immediately.  Depending on the skills different graduates have, they can easily rise through the military ranking system and start enjoying the benefits of a successful military career. Additionally, even in the rare cases where ROTC members decide not to pursue careers in the military after graduation, the skills they develop while they were members of the ROTC may make it easier for them to find employment in other sectors.

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college health

College Immunizations

 

college immunizationsHeading off to college can be stressful for any student. For some, it is leaving home for the first time. For others, it is traveling across the country for the first time, maybe even entering a new country for the first time.  Between leaving home and meeting new people, the last thing that a new college student should worry about is their healthcare. Knowing exactly what is needed before school and how to get healthcare while you are away is important. The following is basic health care information for college students regarding college immunizations.

Recommended Immunizations

The first important thing to know is what immunizations you will need before entering college and where you can get them. The college immunizations an entering freshman will need depends on their medical history. Every situation can be different. It depends what immunizations the student has already had. One vaccination that most college students will not typically have when entering college is the meningitis vaccine. Students who may have had it in high school are ones who may have been exposed to someone with the disease. If not, chances are that you have not had the immunization. Students living in a dorm, in close quarters, will be required to have this vaccine.

Hepatitis B is a serious infection, which can be transferred through sexual activity. This disease can cause long term liver issues including liver failure. Many colleges require students be vaccinated against this disease. The third vaccine that most colleges and universities require is the DPT vaccine. It stands for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. This is a vaccine that most students would not have been given in their childhood or early teens.

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college guidance, college majors

Should your college-bound teen consider a legal career?

 

legal careerWith law school applicants at a 30-year low, there has never been a better time to pursue a legal career.  Some top law schools are now accepting students that they would have overlooked in the past.  This does not change the fact that tuition prices are at all-time highs, which has been a deterrent to many prospective students.  The idea that law school graduates will not be able to find a lucrative job after graduation has stopped many prospective students as well.  Statistically speaking, though, employment for lawyers is expected to grow by 11% between 2006 and 2016.

The Demand For Lawyers

The demand for lawyers will continue to rise, due to growth in population and an increase in business activity.  These factors will lead to more legal transactions, criminal cases and civil disputes; therefore, corporate lawyers, criminal lawyers and civil lawyers are all expected to rise in their level of demand.

With the advent of universal health care in the United States, the need for legal professionals specializing in health care law will rise drastically.  Another consequence of universal health care will be a demand for lawyers specializing in elderly law.  With universal health care the longevity of the United States population is expected to increase.

Continued research into alternative energy will create a demand in environmental, intellectual property and corporate law, because they will be necessary for further progress.  Other forms of technology will also be in need of experienced intellectual property and corporate lawyers.  Disputes between who developed new products and technology will always keep intellectual property lawyers in high demand.

Furthermore, the increased affordability of legal clinics will lead to middle-class clients to seek legal consultation more often.  Hence, lawyers specializing in family, civil, criminal and personal injury will be more readily sought after.

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college guidance, parenting

Understanding your teen’s learning behaviors

 

learning behaviorsMost people know that no two people are alike, especially when it comes to education and learning. After realizing the differences in people scientists began to create groups to determine certain things about people, such as their specific learning behaviors. Learning behaviors are generally grouped into three categories, visual, kinesthetic, and auditory. When testing individuals for their particular learning method, the results will fall into one or more of the categories.

Visual Learners

People who are tested as being a visual learner will rely heavily upon their ability to make visual contact with learning materials. They are likely to prefer seeing what they are being taught; they will generally take endless deeply detailed notes, prefer mellow environments to learn in and may often visualize the material they are trying to learn. A visual learner is also likely to prefer colorful presentations and illustrations. This type of learner is also likely to be obsessed with neatness and cleanliness.

Kinesthetic Learners

Individuals that fall under the kinesthetic learning group are people who prefer to be able to move around. This person will likely use their hands to make gestures while speaking; they will also prefer obtaining an education through courses that require them to move around, such as art, cooking, and other similar courses. The kinesthetic learner will feel the need to take short breaks while learning. This type of learner will often invent reasons to be active if put under pressure. The kinesthetic learner is also a person that enjoys experiencing educational material versus seeing or hearing it.

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