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Tips for Getting Through Anxiety

hackcollegeanxiety

Anxiety is something we all deal with. Unfortunately, the end of high school and the beginning of college are usually when people start developing occasional anxiety symptoms. Here is a wonderful article from Hack College on dealing with anxiety.

Put The Electronics Away

That bright screen, all those graphics, the thought of all the homework, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube – NO.

That’s too much.

Put your laptop and phone away and give your mind a break. Sometimes you just can’t focus when you’re staring at a screen.

Take A Second

Close your eyes and take a deep breath.

The more you think about the panic attack you’re trying to avoid, the more anxiety you’ll experience. It’s one of those vicious cycles that are incredibly hard to break.

Take your mind off of it by…

Doodling

Go the old fashioned route.

Grab pen and paper and start doodling. Focus on your hand moving across the paper.

This is my go-to trick when I’m in the middle of class and it gets too loud or all of my obligations start running through my head, threatening to completely overwhelm me.

It gives me a moment to check out and focus on my sanity and myself.

Prioritize

To-do lists are lifesavers.

I cannot tell you the amount of times that making a to-do list and planning when I’ll get to check everything off really calmed me down.

Sometimes, all it takes is realizing you do have time to handle everything on your plate—then the stress dissipates.

Go For A Walk

Nothing can mess you up more than sitting in one spot for too long.

Get up and take a walk. Even if you’re in the middle of class. Go to the bathroom for a minute—take the time you need. You’re not going to learn anything with your mind racing anyway.

Don’t Take A Nap

Resist it.

Believe me, when I’m in the middle of trying to keep myself from having an anxiety attack, all I can think about is taking a nap.

Though rest and distraction are helpful, using naps as a crutch isn’t a great habit to get into. Frequent naps can disrupt sleep patterns, and getting consistent sleep is important whether you’re facing anxiety, depression or generalized stress.

Plus, if your anxiety sticks around, you’ll be taking naps more and more often and for longer periods of time.

Instead of going down this road, try something else to take your mind off of things.

More: Getting Through Anxiety

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Crucial Questions to Ask Your Potential Roommate

With college starting soon, we wanted to provide our students with helpful information to set them up for success. The following article is from USA Today College and asks questions you should ask of your new roommate:

Here are a few questions you should ask a potential roommate so you don’t end up living a nightmare:

1. WHICH CHORES DON’T YOU MIND DOING?

Directly asking a potential roomie how often they clean leaves some room for fabrication, so a better approach might be to ask them which chores they hate the least. Then, you can compromise, and while you’re sweeping your shared room one week, they’ll be cleaning out the bathroom sink!

2. DO YOU SMOKE?

If you’re living in the dorms on-campus, smoking probably won’t be your biggest issue as the majority of campuses have a strict policy against smoking indoors. But the last thing you want is to run into a conflict where your RA is reporting your room after suspecting someone was smoking in there. If you learn your potential roomie does smoke, make sure you come to agreeable terms in advance. If you’re staying in an apartment, figure out the apartment’s smoking policies and go from there.

3. WHAT TIME DO YOU USUALLY GO TO BED?

After a long night of studying, the last thing you want is to come back to your dorm to find your roommate watching a movie without headphones until 2 a.m. On the other hand, living in the dark is no fun for anyone. If you know you typically stay up a little later to finish your work, it might not be wise to room with someone who goes to sleep at 10 p.m. on the dot every night!

4. WHAT TIME DO YOU USUALLY WAKE UP?

Try to compare your schedules for the semester in advance. Conflicting schedules are a recipe for friction between roommates and being jolted awake by the sound of a blow dryer at 7 a.m. is no fun for anyone.

5. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT OVERNIGHT GUESTS?

Proposing this question in this format is ideal because it gives you a chance to hear your roommate’s response first. Keep in mind you are sharing a living space and no one wants to feel uncomfortable in his or her own room. Be courteous to your roommate when it comes to having overnight guests.

6.DO YOU LIKE THE ROOM WARMER OR COLDER?

This might seem like a no-brainer, but it won’t be when you wake up at 3 a.m. freezing after your roomie lowered the thermostat by three degrees… again.

7. WHAT’S YOUR BIGGEST PET PEEVE?

It’s beneficial to learn what your roommate isn’t fond of in advance, especially if that pet peeve is something you do every day.

 

For the full article: here

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Advice for Incoming Freshman

Freshman year of college can be a pretty overwhelming experience for the first few weeks. From dorm meetings with your RA to learning how to navigate the campus, here’s some advice from Huffington Post College to help you get through your freshman year, specifically your first semester.

 

1. Be open to meeting all different types of people! 
You’re going to find yourself in one huge sea full of different religions, political views, lifestyles, beliefs and races. They’re all there for the same reasons you are. You might even meet your new BFFL.

2. Consider getting involved in extracurricular activities.
It’s the quickest way to make friends. Find others who share your interests, and keep you socially active. It can also result in potential networking with alumni.

More here

 

What advice would you give incoming freshman? Let us know on our discussion board.

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College Series: What To Pack

It’s back to school month – that means we’re providing you with articles each week to help you get ready for college. Our first of our College Series is ‘What To Pack.’ As the school year approaches it means one thing; packing. Packing is a pain, plain and simple. Some people pack way too much (every childhood photo and memento), while others don’t pack nearly enough (no towels = no fun).

Check out our list of what to pack from Health/Beauty to electronics:

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These are a small list of things we believe you  need to bring to class. Other things, such as ‘EXTRAS’ might include:

  1. Brita Water
  2. Clorox wipes
  3. Flashlight
  4. Bicycle & helmet
  5. Board games
  6. Movies
  7. Rubber door stop
  8. Can opener

 

Did we forget something? Let us know what you pack in our discussion board.

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Keeping In Touch With Your Friends Over The Summer

With summer half way over, you might already be longing to be back at College or missing your friends. Keeping up with your college friends during the summer can be a good way to recreate all of those crazy and fun things you did last year. So here are some different and relatively simple ways to keep in touch with friends:

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Online

Skype/Facetime Set up an account, day and time to video chat. Skype is a great way to talk with your friends face-to-face and tell your story and let your friend know how you’re doing rather than through text. For those who have iPhones, FaceTime is equivalent to skyping and doesn’t require a computer. Make sure the person you are Facetiming has an iPhone otherwise you won’t be able to communicate.

Group Facebook Messages Create a message between you and some of your close friends is an easy way to stay in touch. You can share stories with and ask questions at the same time, rather than individually posting on their walls or messaging each one individually. As summer comes to a close, it’s also a great way to start planning things you’ll need for your apartment or any adventures you and your friends will be doing once your back on campus.

 

Face-to-Face

 

Did you say road trip? — If your friend is within driving distance, plan a long weekend to visit. Although this may be costly (or nearly impossible in some cases), it’s definitely worth the time to carve out a road trip with your best friends over the summer. Even though we all get caught up with our summer plans, it’s definitely worth it to spend some good travelling time.  If your friend lives too far away, plan to meet them halfway (pick a city somewhere in between that you both can find things to do).

 

Alternatives

 

Mail That’s right, snail mail. Send a letter or post card can be a simple and great way to remind your friends that you are thinking about them. Besides, who doesn’t like getting things in the mail.

Phone  Start up games on your smart phone that let you and a friend play together. It can be something so simple as Words With Friends. The point is to have fun and remind your friends of your existence.

Phone Call —  Picking up the phone and call a friend to check in is so much more personal and will ultimately make your bond stronger than just stalking them on social media. Yes, liking their pictures reminds them that you exist, but there is no feeling like getting a surprise phone call from a great friend. Take the extra minute once in a while to make a phone call. Even if your friend doesn’t answer, leave a funny voicemail, a recap of how you’ve been and let them know you’d like to hear from them.

 

What have you done to keep in touch with your friends this summer? Let us know here

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Perks of Online Summer Classes

With summer in full swing, there are probably a lot more things you would be doing right now than a summer class. Some schools are still accepting registrations for later summer sessions. I took multiple summer classes each summer to make the course load during the school year lighter. One summer I took 3 classes; two online, and one at a college back home in addition to a summer job. This means you can still enjoy your break while loading up on credits towards your degree. Before you say no, think about the perks of taking a summer class online.

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▪ Fit’s your schedule – Since the course is provided online, you don’t need to be in the classroom at any specific time. Having flexibility in your schedule enables you to work at a time that’s best for you.

▪ Fits your location – One upside to living in a digital age is that learning is more versatile than ever before. As long as you have an internet connection, you can take your lessons any place you want. This is a great opportunity for those that live remotely or those that travel and want to earn a degree.

▪ Pace – Since the course outline is laid out for you at the start of the class (what’s due, tests/homework each week) you can plan ahead allowing you to pace yourself and work accordingly. You can work on your course anytime you like.  Make sure you manage your time to ensure you finish what’s assigned and due each week.

▪ Freedom of attendance – In the online classroom, instructors generally structure the classroom fairly loosely. If there’s a discussion prompt, for example, it’s likely you’ll get a few days to respond rather than being “in class” at a certain time every day. You can still have a summer break with time to hang with friends.

▪ Credits can transfer – Do some research and see if your school has a transfer credit evaluation tool. This tool allows you to enter courses you have taken or plan to take at another institution and view if it’s transferable to your school.

Cheaper – It sounds cliché but taking a summer class is sometimes cheaper than taking it during the school year. In addition to having no cost of living while at home, you can eliminate transportation expenses, as opposed to taking it at a nearby community college.

What do you think about online summer classes or have you taken summer classes? Continue the discussion here

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Top Tips From Seniors To Incoming Freshmen

College is the time to try new things, meet new people, and make new experiences. The things is, it can all fall apart if you don’t have a clear idea of what you are getting into. We asked graduating seniors what advice they would give incoming freshmen. Be sure to make the best of your college experience with these tips from graduating college seniors.

College grad -cap & gown pondering

“Make new friends.”
“Learn how to balance and prioritize” – keep up with your school assignments because it’s easy to get behind and tough to catch up.
“Get involved in school activities and attend big events like football games.”
“Stay healthy by exercising, eating right, and getting enough sleep.”
“Set up a plan for keeping in touch with your family; take control and communicate regularly. “
“Don’t be afraid if you don’t join a club your first semester but be sure to go to club showcase so you can learn about all the clubs/sororities/fraternities that the college has to offer.”
“Remember, you aren’t alone” – There are thousands of incoming freshmen that are going through this with you, and even more who have already survived freshmen year. Take comfort in that.
“Your teachers are there to help you” – Don’t be afraid to ask for help. We’ve all been there before.
“Upperclassmen really aren’t so bad” – They were in your shoes only a year or so back. They understand how you feel and you can always go to them if you have questions about your major or about certain classes.
“Do your homework” – Sure, it seems like ‘busy work’ but it’s only making you better.
“Naps are an amazing thing.”
“Everyone has a freshman roommate story, be it good or bad.”
“Be yourself.”
▪ “Be patient if everything isn’t perfect right away; it will work out if you give it time.”
“Having a part-time job can be a good way to meet people and earn your own spending money.”
“Make sure you do your laundry.”
“You can’t live off Ramen Noodles and Mac N’ Cheese.”
“Smile!”

 

Jon’s Top Tip for Incoming Freshmen:

“Most importantly, take advantage of the next four years of your life. Have fun, make friends, memories, and experiences. Four years will fly by so make sure you make the most of it. To quote “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.””

 

What tips would you give incoming freshmen? Continue the discussion and let us know what tips you would give freshmen.

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Social Media Recap: April

Another edition of this month’s best links is coming your way. Find out the prons and cons to living on campus, what it takes to have a killer interview and what tips we have for finals in this month’s Social Media Recap!

Blogs:

  1. Career Fairs: Everything You Need To Know
  2. Interviews: Everything You Need To Know
  3. 8 Pros and Cons of Living On Campus in College
  4. Final Exams: Big Final Four Tips  – written by College Success & YOU: Achieving Your Goals authors Malcolm and Sue.
  5. 4 Great Study Strategies to Tackle Finals

Links worth reading:

  1. 6 Signs a Job is Right For You
  2. How to show your personality in an interview (but stay professional)
  3. 23 Science-Backed Study Tips to Ace a Test
  4. 4 Reasons your college GPA won’t matter once you graduate
  5. Skipping College Means Missing Out On At Least $800,000 Over A Lifetime, Study Finds
  6. 15 Things your commencement Speaker Won’t Tell You About Life After College

Last week we stumbled upon this HILARIOUS video. For some, finals week were last week and for others, they haven’t started yet. This video, a parody of ‘Do You Want To Build A Snowman’ highlights the struggle we all face while studying for finals.

 

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4 Great Study Strategies to Tackle Finals

Finals week, the last hurdle before summer/graduation has finally arrived. Don’t worry though, you’re almost finished and either soon to be graduating or at home relaxing for a few months. Here are our four study strategies which can be used to tackle late-night study sessions and to make finals week a breeze.

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Set a specific, Achievable Goal – For example, write the following phrase: “I will do nothing else until I ____.”

This specific, achievable goal helps you stick with what you are setting out to complete and allows for you to visually see what you want to get done before you can relax or catch up on Netflix.

Make a schedule

You have a goal for studying this evening after dinner? Great! Make a schedule of how much time you are going to spend on studying, writing your essay or making notecards. For example, this structure might work for you:

  • ●  40 minutes: Complete a task. This might be re-reading a chapter, going over problems, running through that 100 stack of flash cards or finalizing your essay. Try to stick to a one or two tasks in this time period so you don’t overdo it. Also, don’t cheat and check the internet. You got this!
  • ●  5 minutes:  Aww yeah! Check your phone/social media! Get your tweet on.  Be sure to set your timer for this and don’t exceed the allotted time.
  •   4 minutes: Step away from your work desk to get a snack/drink. Get a quick stretch in and make it a ‘break.’
  •   Repeat as needed – I find sticking within an hour limits you to what you wish to get done. If you take the above structure you set yourself to a pattern that sets you up for success.

 

Find a study buddy

Pick a friend who’s equally committed to studying and getting work that isn’t afraid to seriously work and be studying for a couple hours. This person should be motivate your own work session and help you stay focused.  For finals, said buddies can help you with essays, reviewing note-cards or asking you questions from your study guide. Additionally, study buddies help you

Find the right study environment

This can be your special area in the library (for me it was in the corner window of the library), a quiet place in the coffee shop with minimal background noise, or your bedroom (your study materials are easily at hand). Wherever it may be, make sure it’s good for you so that you can study and focus at the task at hand.

What are your study strategies to tackle finals? Let us know by discussing it on our blog

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Final Exams: Big Final Four Tips

From Malcolm & Sue Kahn, authors of College Success & YOU: Achieving Your Goals:

To become a team competing in a final four competition, the players must carefully prepare to win their final games.  Just like the players on such a team (for example, the University of Connecticut Huskies—the 2014 NCAA champions), you can plan a winning performance for your final exams.  Here are our big final four tips:

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1.  Teams that win tournaments engage in planning by scheduling strategy meetings and practices to analyze ways to win against their opponents.  Successful students plan for finals by applying principles of time management.  This means completing all assignments and required reading for each class early enough that you can begin actual study about a week before your scheduled final exam.  Implement a study plan for each exam, questioning yourself along the way to be sure you understand the material.

2.  Players watch films of their opponents to learn what to expect in a big game.  Similarly, students can pay careful attention to any information professors provide about what to expect on the final exam.  Learn from your previous tests the kinds of questions your professor prefers to use—are the questions usually from the textbook, from lectures, from outside readings?  If you can, review your previous tests from the professor to see what questions you missed, and determine what you can do to improve for the final.

3.  To achieve victory, players must be at their peak on the day of the big competition.  Students taking final exams must also be at their peak on final exam day.  You can complete your last review the night before the final exam and schedule a good night’s sleep.  Don’t expect to learn anything new on exam day; just skim over your material to trigger your recall.  Getting yourself psyched without becoming too nervous will enhance your concentration as you answer exam questions.

4.  During competition, players must “read” their opponents’ offensive and defensive moves and respond appropriately.  During final exams, students must read both exam directions and questions very carefully.  Quickly preread through the entire test before beginning, noting how many points a section of an exam is worth and allotting time for that section accordingly.  For objective tests, read all of the answer choices before making your decision.  For essay tests, carefully read the essay question and write a precise, organized answer.

 

Thanks for the helpful tips, Malcolm and Sue! How do you best prepare for finals? Let us know! Join the discussion

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