How to Study Effectively

By: Riley Carter

College academics are like a rollercoaster. One week you may find that you have nothing to do and no tests to study for, and the next week you have 5 tests, a paper and a project all due within 2 consecutive days of each other. Here are some studying tips to help you become your most productive self: 

Be Organized

Tests and papers can seem like they come out of nowhere. Keep up with your homework every week, make sure to check Moodle or your planner for what’s coming soon to prepare yourself. 

Keep Your Room Clean

Different from mind organization, how organized your room is can dictate how well you study. Studies show that working in your room is most effective in a clean environment, free of distractions. 

Go to Office Hours

Whether the hours are for your Professor or your TA, go. Even if you don’t think you need to go, go. They will help with any questions you may have about the test material, the test format, or on what the most effective way to study is for that class specifically. 

Listen to a Specific Playlist 

Studies show that listening to a certain playlist when you sit down to study trains your brain to associate that music with working. It can help put your brain in the working mindset to achieve effective studying. 

Study in Spurts 

Don’t cram in three nonstop hours of studying till you take a break. Studies show that the best way to study is to use twenty-minute intervals for work then take a 5-10-minute break. Doing this allows your brain’s attention span to utilize it’s time wisely to study effectively. 

Feed. Your. Brain.

Many students, when cramming, forget to take care of themselves because they are so busy studying. Make sure that you consistently eat meals and drink water to provide the nutrients your body needs as well as your brain needs for optimal focus. 

Sleep, Sleep, Sleep! 

Another habit many college students have is skimping on their sleep. Make sure to set boundaries as to when you go to bed and wake up. Try to stick to at least 8 hours a night. It may be hard to put your books down, but sleep is more important! Sleep helps your brain to process what you learnt that day so the next day, you’re more likely to remember it! 

Set Small Goals. 

If you have 6 different things due in one week, it is very likely that you will be stressed. Look at the small picture, instead of the big one. Pick your hardest task and tackle that first. Then check it off your to-do list. Complete the second hardest task next, and so on and so forth. 

Focus on Your Notes

Your notes can make or break a good grade in a class. Dedicate time to organizing your notes in a manner that helps you to understand the material while making it easy for you to review them later. Every day, look over your notes just to reiterate to your brain what you learned that day. 

Keep Going

Sometimes, you’re going to make mistakes and fail. But that’s okay. You have to pick yourself up and keep working. Grit and determination are qualities that employers look for in candidates for internships. Start creating habits that help cultivate those skills and watch as the positive results roll in.

Interview Questions You Should be Prepared to Answer

By: Ziling Huang

I read an article on glassdoor.com that gives a few interview questions you should know for your interviews. I hope it will help with some upcoming career fairs.

Talk about yourself!

• Be confident!!!

• Don’t give too much of your accomplishments in the beginning. You want to keep it for later questions.

• Skip your personal history and give 2-3 sentences about your career path, and how you ended up in this job interview.

• You want to leave enough curiosity to the recruiter and be brief in the beginning.

Why do you want to work for (company name)?

• Be sure to know the company’s background/history.

• Know about your desired position and the company’s requirement.

• Express your enthusiasm for the job, and also maybe talk about your connection with this company.

How do you hear about this job?

• A great opportunity to show the recruiter about motivation and why you want to work in this company.

• If you have a personal connection at the company, this could be a good time to mention their names.

Why should we hire you?

• From this question, the recruiter is looking for your skills that you can bring to the team.

• If you have had work experience before, it’s a good time to mention the number of years, and your past position.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

• This question is a more profound question that asks your future career goals, be realistic.

• If you plan to work at this company for up to five years, you need to make sure this is the cultural environment you want to work for.

• If you don’t know your future career goals, you could say this job will lead me in the right direction.

There are more interview questions in detail on glassdoor.com. If you would like to know more, click on the following link:

https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/interview-questions-you-should-be-prepared-to-answer-this-month/

Budgeting Tips 101

By: Kajal Rohatgi

Almost every college student's biggest stressor is money. Whether it's paying off their student loans or just day to day pocket money, everyone is trying to save. Saving can be very hard sometimes. Here are a few tips on how to budget yourself for the rest of the semester that have not only worked for me, but for many other students as well.

1. Get rid of Netflix and get the deal with Spotify and Hulu for college students 

Netflix costs $9 every month, which adds up to over $100 every year for just shows and movies. In order to save money on not only TV and shows but also music, Spotify has a student discount deal that costs only $4.99 a month. With this $4.99 you get premium Spotify, Hulu, and SHOWTIME all for a low monthly fee of $5. Not only will you have saved $4 every month, but you will also have gained access to music, TV, and movies which you did not have before.

2. Wait until Black Friday to go shopping

As we enter November the holidays start to approach fast, which means money tends to leave your wallet even faster. However, this next tip is very helpful when thinking about saving during the holidays. Black Friday is typically when stores sell a lot of their products for discounted prices. So instead of waiting to buy your holiday gifts in December, buy them during Black Friday. This will definitely save you money as you will not be buying any item full price. This can also work when it comes to buying winter clothes. 

3. Thrifting and outlets

Instead of buying clothes at the mall, there are many alternatives that save a lot of money. First, shop at thrift stores as they have super cheap clothes that you can wear how you find them or can DIY them to make them fit your own style. Shopping at outlets can also help you save a lot of money if you don't want to purchase used clothes. Outlets are products big brands can’t sell very well at a regular price so they send them to an outlet to get rid of all the products they had made and reduce the price drastically. This is a great place to shop at if you like name brands but don’t usually like their prices. 

4. Sell old clothes you are getting rid of on PoshMark 

A way to make money while essentially putting in no effort, is to sell old clothes you were about to throw away. Poshmark is one of the top apps used to sell clothes ranging from new to old anywhere in the world, meaning someone is bound to buy some of your clothes. While on the topic of selling used items, selling old textbooks on amazon is also a great way to make back the money you had spent when buying them. Setting up these accounts are super easy and convenient making it so that anyone can start making money by simply doing nothing. 

5. Meal Plans 

If you live off campus or have a limited meal plan and don't want to spend too much money on food, prepare a big meal, like lasagna, on Sunday and eat it for dinner for the rest of the week. Eat fruits for breakfast and lunch on campus instead of going out for every meal. You will only need to spend money on buying a few groceries at the start of the week just to buy ingredients for the meal you are preparing. 

I hope these budgeting tips help you keep your bank account alive until the end of the semester!

Social Media & How it Affects Us

By: Rachel Hall

It’s 2019 and social media has been ingrained into our lives. There’s no denying it and at this point, no getting rid of it. So let’s talk about it.

Social media can be used for lots of great things, but as a girl in college I’ve found that it can lead to negative things as well. I think it’s important to talk about the ways that social media impacts us so that we can share our experiences and learn how to use it in a positive and beneficial way. Social media is a highlight reel. It showcases the best moments in our lives, the ones we want other people to see. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this, but it’s something we have to keep in mind when we scroll through Instagram, Twitter, and whatever else we use. Confusing real life with social media is a huge trap and it’s one of the most dangerous things about social media. It’s so easy to edit pictures, to filter reality, and make it seem as if we don’t have a care in the world all the time when we’re online. We tend to forget that other people do that too. Comparing our real lives to other people’s highlight reels can be mentally unhealthy, but it’s a habit we all fall into sometimes.

Social media can also be tough during recruiting season. Now that it’s so easy to search for someone online, it’s important to think about what we post and who can see it when applying and interviewing for jobs. It seems unfair that we can get judged based off of a single picture of ourselves online, but it’s a reality that comes with the presence of social media. 

Next time you open your phone and log on, here’s what I propose. Forget facetune and photoshop and any other fancy editing app you have. Remember that everyone is living a life outside of the internet where they can’t edit out their problems. Post a picture unedited, and don’t compare it to anyone else. Try not to judge people based on their profiles, because those are two separate things no matter how hard we try to forget that. Taking these small steps to be more true to yourself online will not only lead to a happier and more positive mindset but create a better community online for everyone else. 

Let’s all put some more unfiltered positivity into the world, both online and off.

Healthy Habits for College Students

By: Meaghan Maguire

The lifestyle of a college student can pretty much be summed up in one word: hectic. While juggling classes, extracurriculars, sports, job searches, and much more, your health can sometimes put on the back burner. Here are some manageable, healthy habits that will help make sure you are taking care of yourself during these busy times: 

1) Keep hydrated 

Health authorities recommend drinking half a gallon of water each day. While this may seem like a lot, carrying around in a reusable water bottle can help remind you to stop and take a drink. Reusable water bottles are portable, keeps the water ice cold and refreshing, and are environmentally friendly! Though if you decide to invest in a Hydro Flask, try not to drop it on hard surfaces unless you're trying to start an earthquake. 

2) Set aside time for exercise 

Regular exercise not only keeps you physically fit, but it is also beneficial for your mental health. Set aside time each day to move your body, whether this means taking a spin class at the rec center or choosing to walk to class instead of taking the bus. Exercise gives you a chance to clear your mind and do something for you. 

3) Don’t skip meals 

Amongst their busy schedules, students often sacrifice a meal to make time for other obligations. Food is essential in keeping your energy levels up, which actually makes you more productive. Utilize our award-winning dining halls and make sure you are eating regularly. If you don’t have time for a sit-down meal, pack nutritious snacks in your backpack to eat throughout the day. Two of my favorites are apples and peanut butter or carrots and hummus! 

4) Sleep!

Pulling an “all-nighter” is frequent in the chaotic life of a college student. Staying up all night to cram in last-minute studying for the big exam. What students don’t realize is that a good night's sleep is far more beneficial than those few extra hours of studying. Sleep deficiently can actually make it more difficult to retain and remember information. To avoid this set a mandatory bedtime for yourself and stick to it! 

5) Go get your flu shot 

UMass gives their students plenty of opportunities to get their flu shot at one of their flu vaccination clinics. Take a few minutes of your day now rather than risk being out sick for a week in the future. If needles scare you, bring a friend to hold your hand! They can get their shot too and will thank you later when they are healthy and happy. 

It is easy to forget to take care of yourself but following and establishing these habits can help. Your number one priority should be maintaining your physical and emotional health. Put the book down and drink some water, go for a walk, have a snack, or take a nap. Start remembering to put yourself first!