It has reached that time of the semester. The time where everyone is counting down to spring break and wishing their semester away. Here are some motivational quotes to help you get through the rest of the semester:
So, keep going, you are one step closer to achieving your goals and dreams.
All photos were provided by Canva.
Studying is not the most fun activity to engage in. It is, however, extremely important as a college student. Since it isn’t fun it can be hard to focus while studying making it pointless. Here are a few tips on how to form good study habits:
Take Good Notes
Taking good notes isn’t exactly easy for most. Try to take notes on the key points in class and the textbook/readings. You don’t want to take notes on information that you are not going to need. If you aren’t sure you understood what the main points were in a lecture, then go and see your professor during their office hours. You can always ask to record the lecture, but you will need the professor’s permission first.
Keep Organized
Keep some sort of a planner or calendar to make time management easier. By doing this you can keep track of your classes, extra activities, and work schedule. Then just add in your homework and you are all set.
Another tip you can follow is putting sticky notes into your textbooks. This will make it easier to go back later and see the key points you took from that page.
Turn OFF your electronics
I know this may be hard, especially since for most of your homework nowadays you need your laptop but trust me it is better without the distractions. When it comes to your laptop, make a rule that you won’t go on any distracting websites such as social media and/or streaming sites. I have distracted myself many times by listening to music or telling myself one more episode of a tv show.
As for your cell phone, turn it off. You won’t need it to do your homework.
Don’t Cram for Tests
It can be tempting to put off studying until the very last minute, but it doesn’t help you. Try studying a little bit each day. This will help you not to be overwhelmed as well as help you retain the information.
Find the Perfect Spot for you
Everyone has a different preference about where to study. Some want it quiet with as few people as possible. Some prefer the hustle and bustle of a coffee shop. Some like to have music playing while they study, some need it absolutely quiet. Try and find the best study spot for you by trying a few different spots.
And Finally Take a Break
You do not need to sit for hours studying. In fact, it is best to take a break here and there to clear your head and not get overwhelmed. Personally, I watch an episode or two of a TV show I have already seen. This makes it easier to keep myself from getting distracted. If I were to watch a new TV show that has me hooked I may not go back to my studying.
It is time to starting making plans about what type of room you want for the next school year. It is almost room selection time and you want to be prepared. If you are unsure how room selection occurs here are some tutorials:
Same Room is for those who wish to remain in the room they are currently in. Just remember that to participate in this room selection you cannot request a roommate.
This one is not an actual room selection. This is how you would request the people you would like to room with. After this you will want to request a room during Open Room Selection.
Open Room Selection With Roommate Matching
If you have your roommates already selected then you are going to follow these instructions.
Open Room Selection Without Roommate Matching
Open Room Selection is when you can select any room that is available. The link above is Open Room Selection when you did not request a roommate.
Room Selection Dates
When asked about time management a lot of people think it means to plan their day down to the last minute. This ends up stressing them out because you can’t plan out your day like that and then they end up not doing anything. This leads to even more stress and you end up rushing to finish everything. Does time management really mean this though?
Hear are a few definitions of time management:
Not one of these definitions say that we need to have to have our lives completely planned out. That is impossible to do because events or ideas change how our days go. What is important about time management is not procrastinating until the last minute. Then if something does occur that changes your schedule you won’t be as stressed.
Another issue people face when it comes to time management is that, some days, there are a lot of things that need to get done around the same time. I faced this problem the first week of the semester. Not only did I have classes to attend and do homework for, but I also had two booths at Org. Outbreak to run as well as prepare for the first meetings of said organizations. It caused me to feel sick from the stress.
One way to avoid this is knowing when you need to say “no”. I should have told one of the organizations I am a part of that I couldn’t run the booth instead of taking both on. I also should have asked for help when I knew it was going to be to much for me to handle. You shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help from others.
Just remember to take care of yourself and by utilizing time management it makes it easier to do so. It is also a good idea to make a weekly plan instead of waiting till the day of to form a schedule. This will allow you to move things around if needed and will prevent you from taking too much on.
Back when it was my first semester of college, I learned a valuable lesson. A lesson I have come to realize not many college students have learned is how to send a proper email to your professor. This also goes with any authority figure like your boss or a potential employer. Many don’t include important information or they make the email informal. This is not the way to go when you are trying to sound professional.
Here are a few things to remember when sending an email:
Keep your email professional!
Don’t treat the email the way you would talk to your friend. When emailing an authority figure you want to give the best impression! Be polite and respectful, this will help give whoever is receiving your email the best impression of you.
You want to begin your email by addressing your professor by title and name. An example would be “Dear Dr. Smith.” If they go by “Professor” then call them that.
End the email with your name / signature. It is important that you don’t forget to tell them who is emailing. I have heard professors say that students have emailed them and forgotten to mention their name. They can’t respond if they don’t know who they are emailing.
Keep your email clear and concise!
Make your email easy to understand. If they can’t figure out what you are trying to say or ask you might not get the answers or response you need.
Don’t forget to mention what class you are from! Most professors have many classes they teach, so they are going to have a harder time remembering which students are from which class. Include the title of the course and time or the course number.
Check your spelling and grammar before you send!
I am guilty of this as well. You never want to just send the email without looking it over for misspellings or grammar mistakes. This will not go over well with your professors.
Never leave the subject box empty!
You always want to include what the email is about in a few words. If you were sending an email about trying to find a time to meet the professor you could say “Appointment Possibilities.”
Do not waste their time!
Your professors have other classes to teach as well as other responsibilities. You do not want to send ask questions that you can answer for yourself. Make sure you honestly can’t find the answer yourself before contacting your professor. If you can’t find the answer then you ask. Don’t forget they have office hours for a reason.
Do not make demands!
If you need something then request it, do not make demands. Make sure you give them enough time to respond to you. It is important to always be respectful and polite. Make sure that you are not emailing them about something that you could use their office hours for. If you are looking for more tips on how to send a proper email check out:
How to Email a Professor
Emailing a professor should be straightforward. You send emails all the time! But emailing a professor is different from email a friend or family member. Professional email etiquette is not something that is often taught which makes sending that first email all the more stressful.
My name is Stephanie Wenger and I am the Marketing Intern for the Department of Housing and Residential Programs. I am an English BA major with a minor in History.
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I am already struggling with my stress. Between School, work, and extra activities I am starting to get burnt-out already. There are so many sites out there that tell you how to lessen your stress but a lot of them are not realistic when it comes to college students. So I decided to form my own list of how to reduce stress.
Lessen your caffeine intake!
I know, this sounds impossible. I tend to drink a lot of coffee in the mornings, but it is a stimulant and will increase your stress. Now most people will say to avoid caffeine all together, but as college students who have to get up early or stay up late, it’s not always possible to do so. I have reduced my caffeine intake to one cup of coffee a day.
Try to fit physical activity into your routine!
While you may not be able to find time to go to the gym everyday, try to make it there a couple of times per week. Stressful situations increase your level of stress hormones, so, taking time to exercise is a great way to lessen your stress. If you don’t want to go to the gym go for a long walk or run.
Get More Sleep!
This is probably the hardest one for me. As a college students it is hard to get to bed at a reasonable time and depending on work / school schedules you may need to get up early. Don’t procrastinate till the night before on homework. This will allow you to get to bed at a reasonable time. Studies also show that using devices before bed isn’t a good idea. They stimulate your brain making it harder to go to sleep. Check out this link for more information:
How and Why Using Electronic Devices at Night Can Interfere With Sleep
This content was created by the National Sleep Foundation Ninety percent of people in the U.S. admit to using a technological device during the hour before turning in, and children often use electronic media to help them relax at night.
Find a relaxation technique that works for you!
Yoga could help you relax, but this isn’t true for everyone. Try out a few relaxation techniques and see what is best for you. If you need help with finding different techniques then try this website:
Six relaxation techniques to reduce stress – Harvard Health
We all face stressful situations throughout our lives, ranging from minor annoyances like traffic jams to more serious worries, such as a loved one’s grave illness. No matter what the cause, stress floods your body with hormones. Your heart pounds, y…
Talk to someone!
Millersville University offers counseling! If you don’t feel comfortable going to a someone you don’t know then try talking to a parent and / or friend.
Saying ‘No’ and managing your time!
Another habit I am guilty of is not being able to say no to people. So, instead of saying ‘no’ I end up having a million things to do! This makes it harder to manage your time. If you really can’t do something then you need to speak up. Some will understand, others will not, but you need to put yourself first.
Lastly, if you are sick, REST!
It is hard to miss class and work, but if you are sick then take some time to rest. If you feel like it is impossible to miss your class or work then don’t go to that party, club meeting, or whatever extra thing you have going. It will help you in the long run.
It is important to take care of yourself! You can’t do everything and if you try, you will definitely get burned out.
My name is Stephanie Wenger and I am the Marketing Intern for the Department of Housing and Residential Programs. I am an English BA major with a minor in History.
Come one, come all! It’s time to start thinking about where you want to live during the 2020-2021 school year. If you are unsure of how to prepare for room selection then join us for the Room Selection Info Session! Here you can get tutorials and help from the Department of Housing and Residential Programs as well as the RAs in the room selection process. If you need a few pointers for how to prepare then stop on by.
Even if you don’t think you need help you can still join us! We will be having games, treats and a photo booth for all those who come. Who knows maybe you will think of questions while spending time hearing about the room selection process or other people’s questions.
There will be some big prizes such as, entering to win a $200 waiver on your housing deposit or Early Room Selection!
The Room Selection Info Session will be from 6 pm – 8 pm on February 5th. It will be held in South Village’s Great Room.
We hope to see you all there!
When you think about your classes and work schedule, it can be intimidating. You may not want to do anything else, but it is important to find people who have similar interests as you. By joining an organization you open yourself up to so many great opportunities. Here is why you should join an organization:
To Make Friends
This is one of the most commonly known reasons for joining an organization while in college. It is hard to make friends and form solid relationships while in class. By joining an organization you can meet people with similar interests as you.
To Build Your Resume
By being apart of an organization you can show future employers your skills and interest. It is even better if you can work your way up to being a leader in an organization.
To Develop Soft Skills
This one goes with building your resume. By being involved in an organization you can develop people skills. You will be working with others which looks good to employers. If you become a leader in an organization it can also showcase your leadership skills.
To Learn More About Yourself
By joining an organization you can learn more about your goals as well as your strengths and weaknesses. This could help you work on improving your weaknesses.
To Gain Networking Opportunities
It may not occur to you now, but the friend you make in an organization could help you find a job in the future. When looking for leads on jobs you typically ask around. Having people you know from an organization can be helpful because you know they have similar interests meaning at least some of the leads will be useful.
To Get A Break
College can be stressful! You need to find a way to get away from the school stuff and just have fun. By joining an organization you will be giving your brain a break from the academics and focusing on your interests.
If you are unsure of what clubs are out there, then come to Org Outbreak on January 23rd! It runs from 11:30-1:30 in the Student Memorial Center.
Spring 2020 Semester has finally arrived! Hope everyone has gotten settled in for a brand new semester/year. This can be a difficult time of the semester for some, what with getting settled back into Residence Halls, getting back into a routine, and new classes/professors. It can be a bit overwhelming but it is not impossible.
Here are a few ways of getting back into routines and Residence Hall life:
Print out your class schedule
It is important to know your class schedule. Having a print out of your classes will definitely help you the first couple of weeks, at least until you have it memorized.
Consistency
Once classes and work start, it is important to find consistency within your schedule. This may have seemed easier in high school when you had a strict schedule everyday, but once you figure out your classes and work schedules it can be easy in college as well. Balancing your priorities will make it possible to find consistency in your college routine.
Look over your syllabus before class
This may not be possible for every class. Some professors prefer to give you a printed copy on the first day. If you can get the syllabus early, though, it would be a good idea to take a look at it before the first day.
Have a planner ready
A commonly used phrase among college students is “I will remember that later.” We all say this yet most of the time we forget. It is a good idea to get some sort of a planner for the semester. If you are in need of one then stop by the school store.
Set your alarms
After being home for a while and getting out of your routines, it is easy to forget to set an alarm in the morning. Don’t forget to set an alarm because you do not want to be late on the first day of classes!
Try to get ahead of your work
There is nothing like getting behind the first couple of weeks of school. This will not only cause you stress but can also foretell what the rest of your semester will look like. If you get ahead of your work it will make the first couple of weeks smoother and help you for the rest of the semester.
All these tips are great but don’t forget to eat healthy, exercise, and get plenty of sleep. If you keep yourself healthy there is a good chance you will be better prepared for class and work.
I want to wish you all a great start to your semester! I know you will all do well this semester!
With the start of the semester right around the corner, it is important to start planing out your semester. You don’t want to fall behind and forget anything important. So, here are some of the important dates to keep in mind when it comes to the Spring Semester:
January 2020
February 2020
March 2020
April 2020
May 2020
Now this list isn’t all the important dates when it comes to the semester, but for those of you who are planning on staying in the residence halls for the 2020-2021 school year this is the perfect list of dates. To find more dates of important times you can use this link:
Spring 2020 Academic Calendar
JAN 21 Classes begin Late registration online Drop/add period begins online JAN 29 W grade period begins. If course starts or ends outside of the regular Spring 2020 term (1/21-5/9), the withdrawal deadline will differ. Please contact the Registrar’s Office for more information.
Don’t forget to put these and any other important dates into your planers! It will really help you plan ahead.