April 8, 2013

Spring Time!

Filed under: College Life, Seasonal Celebrations - Angelina
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Crystal Keefe Blogger Biography

 

 

 

 

Spring season has finally started and the graduation countdown has begun!

Shout-Out To High School Students:

This is the perfect time to be visiting the campuses of schools you may be going to next fall or to start exploring potential future schools. The spring is definitely the prettiest time for almost every school.  Piece of advice, if you visit the University of Delaware, try to avoid coming on a Tuesday because it ALWAYS rains on Tuesdays.  Any other day of the week you should be able to see the campus in all its glory with tree lined walkways, cobble stone paths, historic buildings, and great places to eat on Main Street.

Cherry Blossom Flower Plant at the University of Delaware in the Spring

Photo © City-Data

Shout-Out To College Students:

Feel free to start doing some reading or homework out on the lawn or at a table outside. Enjoy the sun and use the nice weather as a form of stress relief as the end of the year becomes a little hectic.

And college seniors, take this time to truly enjoy and soak in your college campus.  Lie out on the green, take a walk down Main Street, and convince your friends to do a celebratory bar crawl. Graduation is right around the corner, so take the time now to cherish these last moments of being a college student and make some unforgettable memories.

Male College Student Reading Outside By A Tree In The Spring

Photo © Nick in exsilio

Happy Spring! What is your favorite Spring-time activity?

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April 5, 2013

Choosing A College: Urban Or Rural?

Filed under: College Life, Education, Tips - Angelina
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Serena Piper Blogger Biography

 

 

 

 

In my last blog post, I talked about how to choose a college in the East or West coast. If you have got that down, now it’s time to start thinking by scale: urban or rural?

First, just to clarify, urban means areas with a high population density (50,000 or more), such as Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., or Philadelphia. Rural means anything outside of what would be called a city; the smaller towns.

From the time we’re little, we usually know which we prefer: a bustling city full of life and commotion, or a quiet, wide open space with room to breathe. Our parents usually decide where we live, though, and some of us never have the opportunity to travel and experience a different type of living. Determining the type of environment you want to live in is as important as determining which study method works for you. If you’re unhappy, it can affect your grades, and eventually career and internship opportunities.

So, before you decide on a college, consider these factors that go beyond the school itself:

1. Transportation

If you don’t have a car, public transportation may be necessary. Check to see what the school has to offer and how far things are for walking distance.

Bus Stop Transportation

Photo © Seattle Municipal Archives

2. Entertainment

When you live in the country, a trip into the city is just that, a trip. Museums, shopping, and concerts are all typically in the city. Entertainment can be harder (but not impossible) to find in a rural area.

Shopping Boutique Stores

Photo © dawn.v

3. Hobbies

You’ll find a huge range of outdoor activities in rural settings. Some smaller towns have a great sense of community involvement, which can be a comforting feeling, especially if you’re far from actual family.

Outdoor Basketball Hobby

Photo © mydogbeasley

4. Privacy and Safety

In the city, apartment windows often directly face another apartment’s windows. There’s no “view,” and consequently, no sense of privacy. Cities do also tend to have higher crime levels.

City Apartment Window View

Photo © Franki47

5. Internships

Most internships and jobs are in the city. It’s a trade-off; while you may not be able to have both the country life and a great internship, you can rest easy knowing you’ll be able to pick and choose later.

Girl in City Office Internship

Photo © Internshipeurope

It might be a good idea to make a list of what’s important to you in your choice of colleges. If you can, try to visit the area you’re considering before making the actual move.

Good luck!

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April 2, 2013

4 Tips To Set Your Mind At Ease

Filed under: College Life, Tips - Angelina
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Bailey Buckingham Blogger Biography

 

 

 

 

It’s easy to underestimate how stressful life can get, and that’s exactly what I did before this semester started. If you are like me and you have a job, sometimes it is hard to leave your work at work. I am now working full time, married, and going to school. I decided that I was going to work more and still be a student because I figured it wouldn’t change that much. I was totally wrong. I’ve found myself struggling to do homework, constantly thinking about work, and never doing laundry. It is such an easy cycle to get stuck in if you don’t take the time to plan out a strategy to pull yourself out. Here are some suggestions I have for you to ease your schedule.

1. Cut Back

For me, the first step was cutting back five hours of work. For some of you, I know that isn’t plausible, but for me that is what I needed to do. It made a big difference for my schedule. If you can’t cut back on hours, make yourself a designated time each week for you to have “me” time.

2. Shut It Down

Next, I stopped checking my e-mails after five o’clock every evening. It made me anxious when I read all of the group employee e-mails that are constantly sent throughout the night, so I decided I had to stop myself. There is nothing so important that should make me feel anxious even when I am sitting on my couch in my home.

3. Homework Time

Each day I give myself twenty minutes to get a little bit of homework done. It doesn’t allow me to get all of it done in one night, but it allows me to get enough done every night so that I don’t have to stress and do it all in one day.

4. Enjoy

The most important advice I can give is to enjoy what you have. It wasn’t until yesterday when my husband and I went to the park that I realized I haven’t been doing this. I was lying in the grass with my eyes closed listening to the birds and feeling the breeze and I realized that is what life is about.

“Rise up like the sun, labor till the work is done.” That’s a quote from the Killer’s song, “Be Still.” Listen to it below. It is a great song to make you realize life isn’t about your job, it’s about those moments when you get to breathe in the air and feel the breeze in your hair.

Remember to take moments to yourself to really enjoy life and let go of unnecessary stress.

 

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March 29, 2013

Choosing A College: East or West Coast?

Filed under: College Life, Education, Tips - Angelina
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Serena Piper Blogger Biography

 

 

 

 

It’s one of the biggest decisions you’ll make in your life: where to go to college. A lot of students-to-be simply choose the one conveniently located in their town, or at least in their state, to avoid out-of-state tuition costs, which can be pretty steep. However, if you’re considering attending a college outside of your state, there are several things you should keep in mind.

1. Cost

This is usually a big factor in the college decision, but don’t let the expense be the only factor. Remember, there are loans, grants, and scholarships available. Apply, apply, apply, and then, based on which types of aid you are offered, make your decision. Include transportation in costs too. Will you have to drive everywhere or is public transportation an option?

Money in a bag college costs

Photo © 401(K) 2013

2. Family

Is being close to your family important to you? If you tend to get homesick easily, consider choosing a college somewhat close to home. Some students like being able to drive home on the weekend, or being able to attend family gatherings.

Family Group Portrait

Photo © Gerry Slabaugh

3. Location

A lot of people would argue that people are friendlier on the West Coast than they are on the East Coast. The East Coast is generally stereotyped as being stuck up and for the “rich kids,” while the West Coast is stereotyped as almost too laid back. If you like to spend your time outdoors, a West Coast college is perfect for you with more wide-open spaces for more outdoor activities. Recreation on the East Coast usually means city activities.

United States Map of Locations

Photo © NASA Earth Observatory

4. Weather

For those wanting four seasons, consider a college in New England. Like the laid-back, comfortable climate? Consider down south. Also, there tend to be less serious natural disasters on the West Coast.

Weather Conditions Outside

Photo © DrVassilis

5. Safety

There is going to be crime anywhere you live, but some areas have a lower level of it. Also, some colleges are more on top of campus security than others. If that’s important to you, make sure to research it.

Campus Police Safety

Photo © hectorir

If possible, try to visit the colleges you’re considering before making a decision. Also, to save money, consider community college for the first two years and then transferring to a university. There are great colleges everywhere – spend the time finding the one that best fits your major, your budget, and your lifestyle.

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March 26, 2013

The Senior Slump

Filed under: College Life, Education, Post Grad and Career, Tips - Angelina
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Angelina Bossone Blogger Biography

 

 

 

 

It’s almost April, so this school year is almost at a close. Especially for us seniors, these last couple of months can leave us feeling unmotivated and excited (and also nervous) to graduate. It’s hard to focus on college when we have been focusing on school for so long and when we know the working world is around the corner. It is easy to fall into the “Senior Slump.”

As hard as it is to remain focused, remember that you want to go out with a bang and slacking off can really have an impact on your overall grade. I am even having a hard time with this issue myself. Here are some suggestions to avoid falling into this trap.

1. Awareness

Simply being aware of this issue and whether or not you are currently at risk, can help enough for you to help resist the urge to procrastinate or become disengaged. If you are being influenced by Senioritis, then the sooner you realize it, the sooner you can fight it.

Senioritis Senior Slump Unfocused

Photo © gtproductionsinc

2. Remember Your Goal

Remind yourself of what your goal is. It is easy to forget when you get stuck in routine. Most of us go to college to earn a degree in a field we want to pursue a career in. Keep your goal in mind and remember it is not too far off. This will help give you the motivation you need to succeed. You are in the home-stretch and if you work hard now, it will pay off later.

College Graduation Diploma Certificate

Photo © phillipie13

3. Attitude

It’s all about perspective. No one likes homework, studying, or exams – but what we will like is earning a degree, getting a job, and making money. If you change how you look at the situation, you will feel differently about school. Your current student life style may not be ideal, but make the best of the situation and remember to enjoy what you are doing and you will start to feel better automatically.

Happy College Student Studying Outside on a Park Bench Reading A Book

Photo © Konstantin Yolshin

Are you feeling the wrath of Senioritis?

How do you combat it? Tell us in a comment below!

 

Don’t let Senioritis get you!

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