Prepmedians Blog

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  • First Day of Classes: College Edition

    First Day of Classes: College Edition

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    Okay Prepster, you aren’t in high school anymore! No one is there 24/7 to coddle you or hold your hand and guide you through every decision you must make. Studying for exams isn’t as easy as subscribing to Prepmedians and watching videos with all the content you need to know on the exam. Your professors have expectations and if you don’t meet them, well, that’s on you.🤷

    Professors expect you to be more responsible and independent than your high school teachers presumed. Therefore, follow these tips to ensure that you perform at your optimal level and make the most of your classes and professors.

    Promptness and Punctuality

    Make a good first impression by not strolling in late to class. Pleeaaasssseeee do yourself a favor and make the effort to be punctual for the first day of class. Set three, six, nine, etc. alarms if that’s what it takes to get you out of bed, especially if you have an early morning class which unfortunately, are sometimes unavoidable. Therefore, make sure you are getting enough sleep. Check out Chris’ article “Sleep Deprivation in College” to learn the causes and consequences of sleep deprivation.

    Try to head to class early with at least ten minutes to spare. This way you can guarantee that you’ll have a seat in case other students had the same idea. At my school, students that aren’t even enrolled in a class still show because they want to get in if someone intends on dropping the course. If you’re too early, occupy yourself by reading or grabbing a quick cup of coffee. However, being late draws attention to you as you enter and I would not recommend making an enemy of your professor on the first day. My parents have always told me that if you’re early you’re on time, if you’re on time you’re late, and if you’re late you’re not needed anymore. So, be prompt and arrive early!

    Seating

    I’m not going to lie, seating yourself depends on several external factors…
    1. Do you fall asleep easily? If the answer is yes, then you should probably sit in the front of the class. This will hopefully push you to stay awake so you don’t knock out in front of your professor… Yikes!
    2. Are you talkative with friends? If the answer is yes, then you should probably sit near someone you don’t know or sit in a row by yourself. As hard as it may be, you should be paying attention in class anyways. No tea, no shade, just facts!
    3. Is your sight or hearing limited? If so, then sitting towards the front of the class should help.
    4. What does your schedule look like? If you have another class right after one ends, it’s best you sit near the door so that it is easier for you to exit the building.

    Preparation

    When it comes to school supplies, just bring the basics for the first day of classes. This includes: pens, pencils, binder or folder, loose-leaf paper or a notebook, and highlighters. On the first day, you should be receiving a syllabus for each class. This is why it’s necessary to have a folder or binder to put your syllabus and handouts in.

    However, just because the first day of class is typically “Syllabus Day”, does not mean that it is not important. And stating so could not be further from the truth. Use the first day to feel out the professor as they go through an overview of the course and the course policies. This information is vital, so make it a point to be prepared in class to make your first day count!

    Besides your exam days, the first day of class is one of the most important days of the course. So, be prepared, focused, and most importantly, present.

  • How to Stop Procrastinating

    How to Stop Procrastinating

    1. Work in Time Blocks

    Few are able to do work for extensive periods of time. That’s why on the SAT or ACT, the testmakers give you breaks in the middle to help clear your mind so you can focus on the upcoming task. Working in time blocks adopts a similar mentality. Set a timer for an amount of time that allows you to accomplish tasks while still being bearable. When doing homework or studying, I like to take a small 5-10 minute break where I’ll go on social media or talk with friends every hour to an hour and a half as a refresher and to help focus on the next time block.

    2. Listen to Music

    Putting on headphones can help you focus and drown out the surrounding noises and distractions. You don’t necessarily have to listen to anything – just the act of having headphones on can put you in your own world and sends a message to people who see you to not disturb you. I like to listen to music while studying because the song oftentimes helps me retain information since I associate the information with the song I’m listening to. Check out our suggestions on some music to listen to while studying. Note that not all music is helpful when studying and can oftentimes result in less efficient studying.

    3. Make Sure You’re Getting Enough Sleep

    One of the most common excuses of procrastination is that you’re too tired. You stay in bed all day instead of doing anything productive. This is in large part because you didn’t get enough sleep and aren’t energized to get anything done. Make sure you’re getting the amount of sleep you need and that you’re sleeping environment is conducive to a good night’s sleep – lights are off, a quiet environment, electronics off, etc.

    4. Take a 20 Minute Nap

    This can oftentimes be an excuse to procrastinate but taking a short nap can help improve your mood and increase your productivity. At Google, they have napping pods in their offices to help their employees feel energized – a testament to how effective napping can be to one’s productivity. Obviously, you can’t go overboard with napping, but a short 20 minute nap is the perfect balance between feeling energized and not feeling too groggy.

    5. Exercise and Do Other Commitments Earlier in the Day

    Exercising or errands can oftentimes be a nice refresher from doing work, but generally, people use these as excuses for procrastination. “I can’t study now because I have to go workout.” Once you’ve done your workout, you’re going to need to shower, and even then, you might feel too tired to study. Exercising early in the day gets your blood pumping and introduces endorphins, or happy hormones. This will help you feel more motivated later on the day when you’re studying or doing any other task.

    6. Figure Out Why You’re Procrastinating

    Everyone procrastinates for a different reason but figuring out why you do and overcoming it is extremely helpful. For me, a common reason is that I’ll notice that the due date isn’t for a while, or I have plenty of time to accomplish a task so I’ll leave things to the last minute. But if you think about it, spending a couple of hours on a project the week before it’s due isn’t a big deal, but those couple of hours saved on the project can be the difference between an all-nighter or a good night’s sleep the night before the project is due.

    Next Steps

    Everyone procrastinates to some capacity but limiting how much you procrastinate is the difference between getting your work done or not. Limiting procrastination only requires small lifestyle changes, but these small lifestyle changes can make a big difference.

    Are you in high school and procrastinating on test prep for the SAT/ACT? Check out Prepmedians. We teach SAT/ACT test prep through sketch comedy and music so you’ll look forward to prepping for the SAT or ACT instead of dreading it. We also divide our lessons into 15-20 minute blocks so it’s easier to schedule test prep time.

  • Open Admission (4-year) Colleges

    Open Admission (4-year) Colleges

    Open admission colleges are public or private [independent, liberal arts, religious, etc.] that offer admission to all students provided that they have a high school diploma or GED. Yes, that means they have a 100% acceptance rate. However, many open admission colleges still require placement tests, so study for the ACT and SAT using Prepmedians because learning is worth laughing for!

    Benefits

    With lower admission requirements, it is probably easier to display proficiency (through GPA) in more demanding subjects. Why? Because you’re not competing against as many gifted students as you would be at a selective school. This means that you’ll be able to maintain a higher GPA, and we all know that a higher college GPA increases your chances of getting admitted to professional or graduate schools and jobs after graduation.

    Furthermore, the overall face-value cost of open admission colleges are significantly lower than those of more selective institutions. I’m serious, look it up if you’re skeptical because I’m trying to keep this article short. So, if finances seem to be an issue for you to continue your education, consider an open admission college. Unless you’re planning to attend a selective college that has really good financial aid. And I mean REALLY good!

    Open admission colleges offer a more diverse pool of students. For example, there are older students that decided to go back to school and pursue a degree, and part-time students (with a full-time job or a family they’re providing for). If there’s anything I learned from college so far, it’s that part of my education from this experience is outside of the classroom. I am constantly learning from people of various backgrounds and perspectives on life. Check out my article “Building Social Skills” to learn the tips and tricks needed to succeed in interacting socially with others.

    List of Open Admission (4-year) Colleges

    State City School Public or Private
    AL Orange Beach Columbia Southern University Private
    AL Florence Heritage Christian University Private
    CA San Francisco Academy of Art University Private
    CA San Diego Coleman University Private
    CA San Dimas Life Pacific College Private
    CA La Jolla National University Private
    CA Fremont Northwestern Polytechnic University Private
    CT Cromwell Holy Apostles College and Seminary Private
    DC Washington University of the Potomac Private
    ID Boise Boise Bible College Private
    ID Lewiston Lewis-Clark State College Public
    KY Pikeville University of Pikeville Private
    MA Boston Boston Architectural College Private
    MD Adelphi University of Maryland University College Public
    MI Auburn Hills Baker College of Auburn Hills Private
    MI Cadillac Baker College of Cadillac Private
    MI Clinton Township Baker College of Clinton Township Private
    MI Flint Baker College of Flint Private
    MI Jackson Baker College of Jackson Private
    MI Muskegon Baker College of Muskegon Private
    MI Owosso Baker of College of Owosso Private
    MI Port Huron Baker of College of Port Huron Private
    MN St. Paul Metropolitan State University Public
    MO St. Joseph Missouri Western State University Public
    MO St. Louis Harris-Stowe State University Public
    NE Wayne Wayne State College Public
    NH Concord Granite State College Public
    NM Las Vegas New Mexico Highlands University Public
    NM Santa Fe Santa Fe University of Art and Design Private
    NM Silver City Western New Mexico University Public
    NY Brooklyn Medgar Evers College Public
    OH Ironton Ohio University Southern Public
    OK Lawton Cameron University Public
    OK Goodwell Oklahoma Panhandle State University Public
    TX Arlington Arlington Baptist College Private
    TX Fort Worth Fisher More College Private
    TX El Paso University of Texas at El Paso Public
    TX Hawkins Jarvis Christian College Private
    UT St. George Dixie State College Public
    UT Orem Utah Valley University Public
    UT Ogden Weber State University Public
    WA Bellevue City University of Seattle Private

    Remember…

    Research the colleges to make sure you attend the college that is best for you because at the end of the day, you’re the one attending the school.

  • Expectations vs. Reality of College Admissions

    Expectations vs. Reality of College Admissions

    As you begin to consider your college application process, you are going to be hearing a lot of details from those who have gone before you, and gathering a lot of information from various sources. Some of this information will not be accurate or helpful to you as you map out your plan for your admissions journey. You may have some preconceived notions about what the college admissions process is going to be like, and it’s important to understand the difference between your expectations of getting into a top college and the reality.

    Expectation:

    Good grades and high test scores are all that matters to get into a top college.

    Reality:

    Good grades and high test scores are certainly important. They identify you as a serious scholar and as someone who can handle the workload of a rigorous academic schedule. However, your extracurricular activities and personal interests are also of critical importance when applying to college. It is these activities that will set you apart from other applicants, and demonstrate that you have been able to achieve a balance between your academic workload and the other interests you want to pursue in life.

    Expectation:

    It is important to be involved in as many extracurricular activities as possible in order to stand out as a top candidate to get into the college of my choice.

    Reality:

    It is true that extracurricular activities are an important part of your high school experience and will be considered seriously by college admissions officers, but quantity does not measure up to quality when it comes to your life outside the classroom. Admissions officers will not be looking simply at the number of clubs, teams and societies you joined. They will be considering if you made an impact. It’s important to show a record of achievement, not just participation. Consider your interests and spend your time where your passions lie. Love music? Audition for a county or state level ensemble. Love computers and video games? Consider leading a game building or coding club. If you go where your interests take you, you will enjoy yourself and find success in those areas. And leadership outside the classroom will make you stand out to a college admissions officer.

    Expectation:

    There is only one college that is right for me, and if I don’t get accepted there, I would never find a college that fits me.

    Reality:

    There are literally hundreds of great colleges and universities to choose from, and many of them would be thrilled to have you as their student. All you need to do is be made aware of what is out there, and choose a small group that would be right for you, based on your achievements, abilities and budget. All these colleges have their own mix of characteristics and stand out in their own way. You will be able to find the right set of colleges by researching about all colleges and not just the ones you have been familiar with. Who knows? You might end up finding a college that is a hidden treasure you’ve never seen before.

    Expectation:

    Studying for test prep has to be hard and boring.

    Reality:

    Prepmedians teaches ACT/SAT content through sketch comedy and music. Using an entertaining means of studying and reviewing for standardized tests would make the process way less boring and hard. Instead it would allow you to enjoy and laugh through the preparation process.

  • How to Make the Most Out of a College Visit

    How to Make the Most Out of a College Visit

    Visiting colleges can be a fun, although time consuming, part of the selection process. Considering the many aspects that go into getting into your top-choice school, it is a step that should not be skipped. Although there is typically a standard process for a college visit, taking the time to get a real look at a school can be very worthwhile. Here are some ways to make the most of a college visit:

    Look Around the Neighborhood

    This community will be your home for the next four years, so you want to make sure it is a place that both feels safe and has all your needs. Will you have a car on campus? Many schools do not allow them in early years, making it important that you can walk or catch public transportation to places you may need to go.

    Talk to Current Students

    These are the people who are currently living where you are thinking about attending. Take a few moments to see what they have to say about classes, campus life, activities, and anything else that is important to you.

    Sit In On a Class

    Most schools will allow you to sit in on a class to give you an idea of teaching style, class size, etc. Choosing a subject in the major are considering is ideal, but a general class is good if you are not yet sure. Stay after to meet the professor and ask any questions you have.

    Take Photos/Notes

    It may seem simple, but many college visits will blend together if you visit more than a few schools. Snap some photos and take some notes so you can remind yourself of the environment when the time comes for you to make the final decision.

    Tour the School on Your Own

    Most visits include a standard tour that is meant to sell you on the campus. After this, take the time to walk around on your own and explore parts of campus you may not have seen on the scripted tour. If athletics are important to you, take time to check out the gym and fields where you may spend some of your free time.

    Sleepover

    If your plan includes living in the dorms, spending the night in one is a valuable experience. This allows you to actually understand what it feels like to live on campus in a room that may be a lot smaller than what you are used to! Overnight visits are typically easily scheduled through the admissions office. Or if you know older students attending the same college, you could stay with them overnight. That would allow you to know how a normal college life feels like and share their experiences.

    Try the Dining Hall Food

    Eat lunch in the dining hall, the place you will probably eat a lot of you meals in the first few years. Some schools have considerably better food than others and may pay more attention to dietary restrictions. It won’t be Michelin rated, but it will definitely be an experience!

    Grab a Student Newspaper

    Pick up a student newspaper while on campus which gives you an idea of activities as well as the issues that students care about at the school. It also gives you a different perspective that you may not have received during the structured tour.

    Make sure you understand that college is more than studying – it is a lifestyle change. College can be one of the most exciting and impactful experiences in a person’s life and taking the time to choose wisely can impact down the road. These tips will help you think about all of the aspects that go into a college experience.

  • Key to Studying Successfully

    Key to Studying Successfully

    Get Rid of Distractions

    Studying can’t be accomplished if there are distractions around you. I suggest unplugging and finding a workspace where you can concentrate. Turn off your phone or set it aside in order to avoid picking it up and losing valuable study time. If you need the internet for research, try using apps like Anti-Social and FocusWriter to keep you from logging on to social media. It seems impossible to go without checking Instagram or Twitter every 10 minutes, but knowing the math formulas during your test is worth it!

    Don’t Wait Till the Last Minute

    You’ve heard this a million times, but it will save you from unnecessary stress in the long run. It’s not unusual for us to get busy and leave things until the last possible second, but studying in advance will ensure that you know the material better, you don’t cram too much all at once, and you won’t have a heart attack looking at how much you put off before your test.

    Use All Your Resources

    There are millions of study materials available that enough students don’t take advantage of. There are a lot of practice tests available to make yourself familiar and comfortable before the tests. Prepmedians is an entertaining and engaging platform that provides you with condensed review in the form of music and sketch comedy! This way you would not need to distract yourself from studying and look up memes to have a quick laugh. Rather you can do both at the same time!

    Listen to Music

    There’s so much music out there that pairs well with any type of studying. Listen to upbeat music if you want to keep yourself awake enough to review notes, or maybe listen to calming classical music in order to focus on reading. Some common study grind songs are “Angels” by Khalid; “Doo Wop (That Thing)” by Lauryn Hill; “True Colors” by the Weeknd; “Sad!” By XXXTentacion; “Unknown Brother” by the Black Keys; “Beautiful Girls” by Sean Kingston; and “Sound & Color” by Alabama Shakes. Listening to any kind of song that you like would help you not get distracted while studying.

    Learning is Worth Laughing For!

    Studying has a reputation for being painfully dull, so do anything you can to make the experience more bearable. Study with a partner or ask someone to quiz you on the material. Try studying with snacks. Or try studying for 30-minute intervals then reward yourself with a 10-minute Netflix break!

  • How to Tackle “Weed-Out” Classes and Other Difficult College Classes

    How to Tackle “Weed-Out” Classes and Other Difficult College Classes

    What is a “Weed-Out” Class?

    For those unfamiliar, a “weed-out” class is a specific class in a major (generally intro or lower level courses) that your college makes harder than normal to discourage students from continuing with the major. Although this may not seem fair, the thinking behind these courses is to separate the students who are genuinely interested in the course and those who aren’t. When students start to progress through their respective major and take harder classes and more advanced electives, then those who aren’t interested in the subject will struggle greatly. For instance, my college makes general chemistry the “weed-out” class for the chemistry major because if you decide to continue on with the major, then you’ll take harder courses like organic chemistry, which you’ll greatly struggle in. By having these weed-out courses, colleges allow students to get out of majors that they won’t like/will struggle in early.

    Tips:

    ## Stay Organized
    Staying organized is important in every class you take, but when you encounter especially hard classes in college, staying extra organized is really important. Staying organized will make your brain feel more organized. Also, harder college courses require notes and organization in order to do well. By staying organized, you won’t have to comb through a bunch of material when you’re studying. I recommend using notebooks, folders, binders, and flashcards to organize your notes. A really useful website that I use to study definitions is Quizlet.

    Read/Practice the Material Daily

    There are some courses when you can get by just studying the night before a test, and you are still able to do well. However, hard college courses will require you to look over the material on a daily basis. There’s a reason why you almost always have homework everyday. This isn’t a huge commitment: looking over your notes for 30 minutes a day is really all you need. This will not only help you perform better in these difficult classes but also will help reduce your stress come exam time since you’ll already have a good understanding of the material.

    Make the Material Interesting – Even If It Isn’t

    Times flies by when you’re having fun. This saying is even applicable to studying. Part of the reason why you’ll struggle with difficult college courses is because you just aren’t interested in the material. By not being interested in the material, you’re less motivated to study. In addition, you also won’t study as intently as if you were interested in the material. I didn’t enjoy the material in my financial accounting class, but I imagined how investors would use the balance sheets that accountants created to determine a company’s financial stability.

    Next Steps

    Every major has a difficult course. They’ll require a lot of effort on your part, and even then, you aren’t guaranteed an A. Don’t get discouraged if your class seems impossible. No professor or college wants you to fail so by putting in some effort and applying the right strategies, you can get through these hard college classes and ace them!

    Are you in high school and you feel stressed from the SAT/ACT is impossible? Check out Prepmedians. We teach SAT/ACT test prep through sketch comedy and music so even in such a stressful time like the college application process, you’ll be able to laugh. We also divide our lessons into 15-20 minute blocks so it’s easier to schedule test prep time.

  • 6 Ways to Improve Studying

    6 Ways to Improve Studying

    1. Create a Schedule

    Imagine going into a football game, and your coach tells you to score and not let the other team score. You’d probably quizzically look at your coach and ask how to score and not let the other team score. In sports and other parts of our lives, we always have a gameplan or a blueprint to success, yet when we study, we often don’t take a step back to plan our studying out, and instead, just dive right into studying.

    Before studying, you should schedule your study time. It doesn’t have to be that detailed, but something like studying the math section on the ACT/SAT for 1 hour and the reading and writing section for another hour can go a long way. In fact, I’ve found that keeping a flexible schedule is optimal since you might overestimate how much time you need to study for a subject so you can portion that extra time into another subject. Through taking a step back and creating a schedule, you’re ensuring that you don’t linger on one subject for too long.

    2. Choose an Appropriate Time to Study

    Everyone has different preferences on when they like to study. Some people prefer waking up early in the morning and studying. Others like studying in between classes. And most would say they like studying at night when they have finished all their extracurricular activities and other requirements for the day. It’s important to figure out when is your optimal time to study so you can plan classes, extracurricular activities, or other requriements around that time.

    3. Find the Right Study Environment

    Finding the right study spot is essential to studying. Everyone has their own preferences but generally, quiet is best for focus and productivity. However, I’ve found that too quiet is not good for me. I choose to stray away from the quiet section in my school’s library because I need a little life and noise to keep me energized, and I feel that it’s so cutthroat there that a small noise like tapping your pencil on your desk would result in death stares from across the room.

    I prefer to study in study rooms with a few friends because it allows the best of both worlds – peace and quiet while offering a little noise to keep the atmosphere animated. It’s important to find multiple spots to study because come crunch week, your favorite study spot might get taken. Unless you’re willing to wake up as early as when buildings open, you aren’t guaranteed any study spot.

    4. Take Breaks

    Taking breaks is important to studying. Your brain can only process so much before it starts to overfry. In our stress blog, we talk about how studying for long durations without breaks leads to ineffective studying. When planning your study sessions, you should account for breaks. Breaks can be as small as a 5 minute break to look at your phone or as large as an hour to go out to eat with friends. Breaks keep our brains from overheating and help optimize our studying time. However, you have to keep yourself accountable from taking too many breaks.

    5. Have a Study Partner

    Having a study partner is important because you’re able to bounce questions, ideas, and answers off of each other. It doesn’t matter if you’re more proficient in the material than your study partner because the best way to see if you know the material is to see if you can teach it to someone else. I’ve also found that having a study partner motivates you to study, even if your study partner is studying a different subject. Their presence and energy next to you inclines you to study and vice-versa. Not to mention, it’s easier and more enjoyable to coordinate breaks when you have company.

    6. Use Office Hours, TA Hours, and Any Other Available Resource

    Imagine this: it’s winter in Maine. You have a review session soon, but it’s currently snowing heavily, it’s a 10 minute walk, and the temperature is in the single digits Fahrenheit. Do you go to the review session?

    I’ll be the first to say that it would depend on my mood. I’ve skipped review sessions, TA hours, or other resources for something as small as a 10 minute walk, and many others have as well. But not going just leaves a resource on the table. Skipping the review session is like going to college with only one pair of clothes: you’re forcing yourself to wear that same pair everyday.

    I’ve done a single practice test as preparation for a test, and eventually, instead of fully learning the material, you’re going to remember the answers and the steps to the answers for that practice test. Using every available resource challenges you and results in the most effective studying.

    Next Steps

    There are many factors that result in effective studying so don’t be discouraged from unsatisfactory results. Take a step back and instead of diving right into studying, focus on how to optimize your study sessions. By doing this, I’m sure you’ll be able to achieve any goal you set for yourself!

    Having a hard time studying for the SAT/ACT? Use Prepmedians! We teach SAT/ACT test prep through sketch comedy and music so you’ll be fully engaged when preparing for the SAT/ACT. We also divide our lessons into 15-20 minute blocks so it’s easier to schedule prep time.

  • College-To-Do-List

    College-To-Do-List

    Below you will find a list of things you should do to prepare for the college application process and college starting your junior year of high school.

    List of Colleges

    If you haven’t started already, you need to do so NEOWWWW. Like, right now. I’m dead serious. Start narrowing down the colleges you are going to apply to early because there are a number of factors that go into choosing this list. This will give you time to revise and make adjustments to your list given that a lot of things are subject to change before your senior year of high school, including your college goals or career path. Plus, this will force you to do some introspection to figure out the kind of career you want to pursue and where you want to spend the next few years working towards that goal.

    Standardized Testing

    I’m sure most, if not all, students can agree that the most dreadful part of your junior year of high school is standardized testing. For most, the ACT and the SAT act as the required entrance exams for college-bound teens. As stressful as these exams can be, reduce stress by finding a fun and entertaining test prep program like Prepmedians to help you ace the exams.

    There are two main benefits to taking these exams your junior year:
    1. By your junior year, you will have learned most of the material tested on the exam (even though Prepmedians would be a strong refresher for you).
    2. This gives you plenty of time to make a second, third, fourth, etc. attempt if you don’t do so well the first time around. Check out my article Should I Retake the ACT/SAT? to help you make your decision.

    Waiting until senior year to take the tests puts you at risk of inadequate preparation and limited opportunities to take the exam before college applications are due. Minimize stress by not waiting until the last minute.

    Grades

    Your GPA is important, we all know that, but even if you don’t have straight A’s there’s still hope and a lot of it. Some colleges may not care about a perfect 4.0 GPA as much as they care about a gradual or exponential upward trend in your grades. This shows that you’re improving and adjusting over time while gaining more knowledge. However, this does not mean that you can take a break because your junior year grades are probably scrutinized more than any other year. Therefore, the grind never stops; so, you must buckle down and hone in on your studies.

    Extracurriculars

    The extracurricular activities you’re involved in contribute to what sets you apart from other applicants in the college application process. This allows schools to get a glimpse into who you are as a person, so join clubs, organizations, sports, etc. that you are passionate about. It’s not about having the most clubs listed on your resume, but elevating to a meaningful leadership role for being a longstanding, active member. Show that you have some influence and authority in these clubs.

    Scholarships

    Once you hit your junior year of high school, scholarships become readily available for you to apply to. Check your school’s guidance counseling office or speak with a counselor to find scholarship opportunities on a local, state, and national level. Find scholarships that are a good fit for who you are as a person and what you want to do. I hate to break it to you, but most college students go broke at some point during their college career, so any amount of money to pay off tuition and loans goes a long way.

    Getting ready for college can be stressful and nerve-racking, but it’s also exciting because of everything that you’ll be gaining from the experience (knowledge, relationships, independence, etc.) Simply follow this guide and you’ll be off to a great start in your college journey!

  • How to Choose Your College Courses

    How to Choose Your College Courses

    What Are Your Passions/What Are You Interested In?

    We all go to college with the hopes that we can get a degree that will set us up for a future career, but what you study doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be pigeonholed into that area for the rest of your life. Obviously, if you’re hoping to become a doctor and you don’t study pre-med or some sort of Biology, your dream will be very hard, but I’ve found from finance talks and conferences, you don’t have to be an economics or business major to get into finance. So if you’re unsure which courses to enroll in, choose courses in subject areas that you liked in high school or you think might be interesting.

    You’re a freshman. Most schools don’t require you to declare your major until the end of your sophomore year. Use this time to experiment and see which subject areas you are genuinely interested in. Do note that you should look ahead at requirements for majors to plan out and see which courses you will end up taking in the future.

    Choose Courses that Fulfill Requirements Early

    Most colleges have a variety of requirements in different subject areas that students must fulfill by the time they graduate, and if you ask any college student, most will say that they are not fond of these requirements. For the English majors, they don’t know why they have to take science classes. For the STEM majors, they don’t get why they need to take an art class.

    Whether you end up enjoying these requirements or not, it’s best to take them as soon as possible for two reasons. First, you might end up enjoying one of your required courses and find that you want to pursue that subject area as a major. Because you took the class so early in your college career, you have the time to declare that subject area as your major and pursue learning that subject. Second, it’s best to get your requirements done early so you’re able to take more in-depth classes later in your college career. Most interesting courses across all majors are known in a category called electives, and in order to be eligible to enroll into electives, you must first take some required courses where you’ll learn about the fundamentals of that subject area. Taking some of your general requirements early will allow you to take more electives since by the time you’re able to enroll in these electives, you won’t have to worry about fulfilling your general requirements.

    Note: This is also true for major requirements. Although, you might find some of the courses you are required to take for your major more interesting than the courses you have to take for your general requirements.

    Choose Courses That You’ll Do Well In

    This isn’t to say take all the “easy A” classes, but your grades in college do matter. Your grades show future employers and graduate schools whether or not you are able to learn and perform tasks. This tip is more to guide you in smaller decisions like if you need to fulfill a science requirement and you know you have no interest in science, should you take Biology, which you aced in high school, or Chemistry, which you struggled with in high school.

    This tip can also expand into bigger decisions like what major you will choose. Most people enjoy subject areas that they excel in so if you had plans on becoming an economics major, but you’ve done well in your environmental science classes, then you should consider pursuing an environmental science major.

    Use Add/Drop Week

    Reading course descriptions can only get you so far. Reading course descriptions is like reading someone’s Tinder bio and then deciding that you want to date them for a semester. It can only tell you so much; you’re basically going in blind. If you were forced to make a semester-long commitment, wouldn’t you rather go on a date first?

    Add/Drop week is that first date. Sure, that one week of classes might not accurately portray how the semester will go, especially since it’s syllabus week, but at least you’ll be able to get a feel for the class environment, how the teacher is, and what specifically you’ll learn throughout the semester. This is crucial in deciding which courses to take because even if the course sounds like something you’ll be interested in, maybe the teaching style that semester doesn’t suit your learning needs. Small things like that can really make or break one’s learning experience so it’s best to test the waters before fully committing to something.

    What’s Next?

    College can be a stressful time for many students since although these are some of the 4 most free years of your life, they’re also the 4 years you’ll be judged on before you enter the “adult world.” It can be intimidating picking courses that might decide what you will be doing for the rest of your life, but when choosing your college courses, you just need to have the right approach.