Tag Archives: classes

June 4, 2013

Summer School

Filed under: Education, Seasonal Celebrations, Tips - Angelina
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Bailey Buckingham Blogger Biography

 

 

 

 

I have done summer school every semester since I began college. Over the years I have found a few ways to not only keep myself motivated, but I’ve also found how I can still have an amazing summer in the midst of classes. These are just a few tips that work for me that some of my friends have tried recently too.

1. Choose Classes Wisely

I typically don’t like early morning classes because I hate waking up. However, during the summer you have to make a decision, would you rather wake up and be done with class earlier? Or, would you rather sleep in and go to class later in the day? Every person will answer that differently, but you have to remember that this isn’t a normal semester, so your plans should be based off of your summer schedule.

Girl sitting outside on bench with laptop and books studying for summer and online courses

Photo © Helping Psychology

2. Pick A Flexible Job

Don’t pick up a summer job and make that your number one priority before summer school. Yes, money is something we all need, and it’s also really great to work during the summer – but don’t forget you are spending money to take these classes, so make it worth it! Try to pick a job that is going to allow you to have the time you need to focus on school. The semester is shorter, but with just as much work with less time to do it, so you have to make sure you’re able to keep up.

Guy Lifeguard On Duty Summer Job By The Pool

Photo © Swim Jobs

3. Keep Motivated

If you take a class you are good at and enjoy, it is easier to stay motivated. I have noticed that when I used to take summer classes in a subject that I struggle with (like math or science), I had a much harder time staying focused. Classes for my major and general education, I didn’t have as much of an issue with and I ended up getting much better grades. Don’t pick your toughest classes just because the semester is shorter, that absolutely does not mean the class will be easier!

Summer Class Reading On The Beach

Photo © Life’d

Taking summer courses is not for everyone, but it has definitely been something that I am glad I’ve done. Whether you want the afternoon for fun, or you want to sleep until noon, figure out what works best for your summer schedule and make it happen!

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February 22, 2012

5 Classes That Should Be Offered in College

Filed under: College Life, Education - BookRenter Team
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By guest blogger Serena Piper
Journalism major at the University of Oregon. Editor-in-Chief of Her Campus Oregon. Magazine, freelance blogger, future world traveler. In her spare time, she likes to read as many books as she can, go for long drives, and peruse news websites. Hopes to one day write for National Geographic.

When registering for new classes each term, do you ever come up with a list of classes you wish were offered? I know I wish my college offered Egyptology. I’ve spent the past week talking with a bunch of people about the classes they wish they could take at school. A lot of them were caught off guard by the question, but let’s face it: in between math problems, English essays, and our jobs, we don’t really have a lot of time to daydream about better and more interesting classes. It was interesting to me to hear what my friends would like to take a class on. They were great ideas and, who would’ve thought, classes I would enjoy too!

Here’s what people told me they’d like to learn about in college:

How to Catch Some Zzz’s
“A class that would teach me how to actually get eight hours of sleep each night would be so worth it,” sophomore Carly Davy said. “And if I actually got to sleep during the class, even better!”

Get Organized
Leave it to the girls to speak up about a class that teaches organizational skills. Of course, this might come in handy for the guys, too! “I would want someone to teach me how to organize my closet and my dresser so that it doesn’t look as cluttered,” Alandra Bailey said. Bailey says Pinterest has been her only inspiration to try and organize it herself. Hey, if HGTV makes money off teaching us how to organize our homes, why can’t colleges?

Fashion Trends
One student said they’d like to study fashion trends and why exactly they are a trend. In the February issue of Real Simple Magazine, one article talked about how geometric shapes is a popular trend on the runways right now. I’m all about dressing fashionably, but I don’t think anyone likes math enough to wear it! Maybe this class would teach us the dos and dont’s of fashion? Like What Not to Wear, classroom version.

Pick a country, any country. Photo by David Holt.

Pick a Country, Any Country
“I would like to take a class that assigns each student a country to study the entire term,” junior Megan Bauer said. Now this would be one fun way for the world to learn about other countries, not to mention completely easy! Who says physical fitness classes have to be the only easy classes?

The Art of Seduction!
Americans aren’t the only ones who would be lined up to take this class.  “I think that seducing people is part of our lives, and it’s nice to be the one getting seduced,” says Pelayo Perez, a junior from Gijon, Spain. College isn’t just a time to be “serious” about your future; it’s also a time to explore your interests, as far as they may reach. I wonder how many people would enroll in a class that teaches the basics of seducing someone?

What would you like to take a class on? As always, the sky is the limit!

And check out Online College’s list of the 15 Strangest College Courses in America.

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December 10, 2011

How Seniors Can Enjoy Their Last Semester of College

Filed under: College Life - BookRenter Team
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By BookRenter IT Intern Jason Kuang
Jason is a senior at San Jose State University majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in Management Information Systems. Loves science and technology, music and camping in the wilderness. Currently searching for the ultimate meaning of life through various philosophical views. Has lots of interests but not sure there is enough time in the world to pursue all of them.

by Amy Fleming

The fall semester is coming to an end in a few weeks. It is about this time that seniors really have to start thinking about what classes they need to take and even (dare I say) life after college. Yes! That’s right. The time-consuming, dreadful task of enrolling in classes is not a spontaneous activity. You have to sit down and really focus on how to balance classes, work and family, making sure they all piece together in your schedule smoothly. On top of that, now you have to figure out what you want to do after you graduate! That’s a lot to think about.

Sigh no more! Relax and take a deep breath. Truth be told, with only one semester to go, everything is happening all at once. Gearing up for the next chapter of our lives after four years of living in the “college bubble” can be a little daunting and overwhelming. I don’t know about you though, but I am ready to bring this change into my life!

Here are some tips to help you make the most of your final semester:

  1. Take a course you’ve always thought about taking but haven’t yet – Enroll in that course you’ve always wanted to take. Many universities offer classes like wine appreciation, photography, and even archery. Use your last semester to experience something different. Who knows? You might end up liking it and making a new hobby out of it.
  2. It is never too late to join a club and meet new people – Don’t just stay at home, coasting through your last semester. Get involved in a club or cause that is important to you. Remember, the network of people that you meet in college may go a long way once you are in the real world.
  3. Never let yourself slow down – Just because next semester is the last, don’t let that be a reason to slack off. Exams and projects are still important, especially if you are planning to go to graduate school (either immediately after college or after a few years off). Don’t let that GPA fall now that you’ve gotten so close to the finish line. Plan well and finish strong!

by inktastic

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October 20, 2011

Studying Alone vs. Studying in Groups

Filed under: College Life - BookRenter Team
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by Guest Blogger Laura H.

Studying alone and studying in a group both have their advantages and disadvantages. But what are the pros and cons of each?

The biggest downside to studying alone is that, well, you’re alone. A huge advantage of studying in a group is there are people around to push you through bouts of boredom or lack of inspiration when writing essays. Groups can also help you through particularly long nights of studying. If I know I have to study for more than 3 hours on one paper or test, I usually prefer to study in a group. That way, I am  able to ask those my classmates for help if I need it.

When studying, one should take at least a 5 or 10 minute break every hour. Use this time to stretch, watch a funny video on YouTube or go on a walk. It may be tempting to skip the study break and work for hours on end, but the small break every hour enables you to maintain purposeful focus for longer periods of time. Physically, your body needs a break as well; your brain will retain clarity with the break from the computer screen, and your back won’t tighten up from hours in the chair.

by Steven S.

While sitting with others can be helpful, studying alone is more advantageous when you have a very specific, deliberate task ahead of you and can’t afford to be interrupted. If, for example, you have a reading quiz in your 8 a.m. class and it’s 10 pm the night before, studying alone can help you focus on what you are reading..

Overall, the homework assignment or project may dictate with whom you work. It’s up to you to decide what’s best for your particular situation.

We value the diverse voices and fresh ideas that our guest bloggers bring to BookRenter. However, the ideas and opinions expressed in guest posts are strictly those of the post’s author and don’t necessarily reflect the ideas or opinions of BookRenter. The information in guest posts is often drawn from a variety of sources, and we count on our guest authors to verify and fact-check the content they post. BookRenter  makes no claims, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of guest post content or the suitability of the content for a specific purpose.

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September 8, 2011

Acing the First Day of School

Filed under: College Life - BookRenter Team
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Say goodbye to those first day jitters

by Guest Blogger Kelsey Bradshaw

The first day of school is one of the best days of the entire school year. You get to catch up with friends, and most of the actual school part is just going over the syllabus.

However, this day carries a lot of responsibility along with its festivities. It’s the day for you to make a great first impression on potential new friends and even teachers. So how do you prepare for this day of total and complete judgment from everyone you meet? No pressure…

Between enjoying the last of summer and getting your beauty sleep, check online to see if any of your professors have posted a syllabus yet. It’s always a good idea to read over them ahead of time to get a general idea of what the class is going to be like, or to see if you have any assignments or need special materials on the first day of class. Once you have your reading list, get shopping! The week classes start, the bookstores will be overflowing with stressed-out students scrambling to get their book shopping done at the last minute. Don’t be one of them – shop and rent your textbooks ASAP!

by MyTudut

Now that you’ve read your syllabus and rented your books, it’s time to buy the basic school supplies like pencils, pens, and notebooks. Pack these in your bag the night before to avoid them being forgotten in the morning. One time, I was so worried about what I was going to wear that I completely spaced bringing any form of writing utensil to class–which wouldn’t have been so bad, except it was to a writing class. Oops.

Once you actually make it to class, sit by people that look friendly and strike up a conversation before class begins (because you’re early like a good student, right?!). Even if you’re not nearly caffeinated enough to deal with being back at school again, just fake your confidence until it’s real. Smile lots, act like you’re everybody’s best friend, and be a model student who totallllly didn’t forget to do the summer reading. And don’t forget to raise your hand at least once, especially in huge lecture hall classes, so you’ll be more memorable and stick out a little from the masses.

Last of all, remember that it’s only the first day, and while first impressions are important, they’re not permanent. You’ll have the rest of the semester to hit it off with your new classmates, so just relax and enjoy being back at school.

Good luck on your first day!

We value the diverse voices and fresh ideas that our guest bloggers bring to BookRenter.com. However, the ideas and opinions expressed in guest posts are strictly those of the post’s author and don’t necessarily reflect the ideas or opinions of BookRenter.Com. The information in guest posts is often drawn from a variety of sources, and we count on our guest authors to verify and fact-check the content they post. BookRenter.Com makes no claims, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of guest post content or the suitability of the content for a specific purpose.

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