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#college advice
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Advice to College Students (From someone who's trying to apply for a master's program)
Note that these are in no particular order and from my own particular experience. I will add if I think of more.
TAKE NOTES ON EVERYTHING, ESPECIALLY IF YOU FIND IT COOL: your brain will tell you 'I'll remember that fact, it's so neat!' Your brain is a BITCH. You will not remember SHIT. Take ALL the notes. If you can record your classes, even better!
Write down who your professors are for each class. Make a big document. All the years. Write them. Write down their vibes and if you like them. Write down what sort of assignments they gave. Because I'm over here trying desperately to remember which professors I had multiple classes with so I can beg them for recommendations.
Save your assignments. Even if they're horribly cringey. You can use this to gauge how far you've come. I know it hurts your soul. I have fanfic from when I was 12. Do it anyway.
When they tell you the grad school shit, pay attention. Even if you don't plan to go back to school. Because I didn't listen and now I have changed my mind and I have no recollection of that section of school.
Networking. Gather contacts from your classmates. If for no other reason than because you think they're intimidating and you don't want your LinkedIn to look depressing. They're probably just as intimidated by you. And if not, you can pretend they are.
College is not high school. Next to no one has friends at first. Everyone is a disaster. Talk to people. You might not find Your People in your first friend group. That's fine. There are people there somewhere that can make life less awful. The worst they can say is no, you can't be friends with us (and most people aren't that bitchy). The universe is big and no one is judging you harder than you are.
It's not that friends Can't Live Together, it's that people have different organization styles and needs for survival and sometimes those Do Not Mesh. If you're going to live with someone, make sure that you have talked about things.
Everything can go on a resume if you word it right. Editing a friend's paper? Congrats, you have editing and tutoring experience. Playing DND on weekends? Cooperation and teambuilding to work towards a common goal, sometimes in the face of creative differences (your friends want to Fight Everything and you want to Stay Alive (or reversed)). EVERYTHING CAN GO ON A RESUME.
There are so many resources on campus. Use them, for the love of god because then you're going to be an adultier adult and realize that there is not a med center right across the campus.
Find what motivates you. Mine is spite, I am applying to grad school to get out of retail and to spite 2 specific supervisors. Cling to that when you want to drop out and quit.
There is not a specific route to take in college. Or out of college. Listen to yourself rather than everyone's advice (I am aware that this is ironic to be on an advice post).
If you think you can wake up at 9 after like 4 hours of sleep, that is the devil talking to you. Go to bed.
On the same note. I am aware that you woke up at like 5 for high school. You will not want to exist before noon. 8 am classes are not illegal, but they should be.
Take care of yourself. You're paying a shit ton of money to be there, you can take an hour to eat the food. Plus, if you take care of yourself, then you will work better.
There will be weird shit happening all over. Just roll with it. Unless it's hurting someone or has the potential to hurt someone (my one friend got stalked).
You are not required to stay somewhere social if it's creeping you the fuck out or if you aren't comfy. I think I went to a single party in my entire college life and I hid in the corner with their illegal kitten the whole time.
Speaking of illegal kittens. If you know someone has an illegal kitten, no the fuck you do not. There probably will be at least one. And you do not know about it.
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college-ravings · 7 months
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Just finished a hellish week in my life studying for 2 quizzes and 1 exam. I think that one of the worst feelings in the world is studying until you drop, then finding out you got points off on a quiz because of a silly mistake.
Point is: I need to sleep more 😭
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girlbot666 · 1 year
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advice for university students who have a hard time getting work done aka the things that my ADHD-having ass needed 3 fucking semesters to learn :
1. go to class. GO TO CLASS. yes, even if the lectures are recorded. yes, even if you have other work you really need to do right now. you will fall behind if you don't and it will suck. next time you have class you will think, "I can't go to class today because I still haven't caught up with the material from the previous class" and then you'll do that several times and then you'll haven fallen really far behind and it will really suck. when you show up to class, keeping up with assignments will just naturally follow.
2. do not try to get work done in your room. it will not happen. no matter how much you don't want to leave, you have to do it, you have to leave. go to a library, or a cafe, or even just a different room in your house/dorm if you don't want to change out of your pjs (and even if you're one of those people who *can* get studying done in your room [couldn't be me], separating the environments you work in and relax in will feel so much better, i promise!).
3. go to office hours. if it's one of those STEM class office/peer tutoring hours where lots of people are being helped at once, it's especially important that you go. the material is designed to be challenging and you're not expected to be able to do it on your own. it's also a great way to hold yourself accountable to getting the work done on time. literally just put on some noise-cancelling headphones and work on stuff there until you have a question.
4. start on your big assignments EARLY. working on one essay or project and almost nothing else for 2 days straight leads to burnout. start at least 2 weeks in advance, and work on it everyday for just an hour, maybe 2. setting time-based goals is key here. it makes the assignment feel less intimidating. it's easy to convince yourself to work on it even if you don't want to because, hey, it's only an hour. once you start getting bored or frustrated, it's not too hard to power through, since it's only an hour. and if you're getting super distracted and really struggling to focus you can switch gears to something else guilt-free, and then return to it tomorrow with fresh eyes and a fresh mind.
5. inevitably, you'll fuck up. you'll do poorly on a test, you'll miss an assignment, you'll not understand things you're learning in class, you'll get nervous during a presentation. some days, you might not even fuck up necessarily, you'll just feel bad. when it happens, take a step back. acknowledge and honor your emotions. you might feel sad or disappointed or ashamed. treat yourself with kindness and compassion. try not to judge yourself, recognize that your feelings are natural and normal. take care of yourself like you would take care of a friend who was in your position. do some easy assignments, then wrap up work early. eat something, talk to someone or journal about it, do some cleaning, take a shower, and go to bed early. maybe it feels like you shouldn't because you have too much work to do, but trust that addressing your heavy emotions is more productive than just powering through. personally, if i don't do this, the feeling of shame lingers in my subconscious and i spiral for several days. like, don't get out of bed or eat or do any work kind of spiraling. perhaps the consequences are not as material for you. regardless, honoring your emotions and treating yourself with compassion is a life-long skill that is always worth practicing. your mental health will thank you for it.
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being-addie · 11 months
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Being well-educated is the dream. Do not give up your career young. This world is cutthroat and the only way to survive is to have money. Learn. Grow. Conquer. Earn.
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femmefatalevibe · 7 months
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hello, gorgeous. im starting college soon and im on my way to become a femme fatale, so i have two questions for you
1. how can i incorporate the femme fatale way of being into academia?
2. what things/brands are affordable for a college student? i’d love to wear high-quality clothes like the ones you recommend, but i can’t afford them. are there any other products/services that i could add to my routine for a cheap price?
thank you so much in advance xx
Hi love! Congratulations on starting this new chapter of your life <3
Here are my thoughts:
1. how can i incorporate the femme fatale way of being into academia?
Understand the importance and power of:
Knowing how to learn, study, and get in the practice of regularly acquiring new information
Understanding how to work through concepts, set goals, and clearly communicate your thoughts to better articulate a concept or build a case/argument
Becoming a better writer, reader, and remaining focused/prioritized when it comes to your tasks and to-do list
Learning how to absorb information and apply this knowledge to different situations/areas of life through these acquired skill sets/methodology
Developing important self-presentation skills through presentations, written/verbal communication/networking
Refining your aptitude for pattern recognition, gaining more insight into human nature/what makes people tick, and learning how to persuade/seduce others through your words/insights
2. what things/brands are affordable for a college student? i’d love to wear high-quality clothes like the ones you recommend, but i can’t afford them. are there any other products/services that i could add to my routine for a cheap price?
Totally get it! Budgets are particularly tight for many college students.
For a service option, I would say I recommend Rent The Runway (I believe it's around $100/month for 10ish items rotated throughout the month).
For more affordable alternatives, I would say your best bet is to dig deep into the sale sections of department stores/The Outnet and similar e-commerce sites by utilizing all the filters you need (budget, size, colors, item type, etc.).
If you're searching for more affordable brands generally, I would say some of the highest quality affordable brands available are:
Express: The "Body Contour" line has amazing basics and I love their Editor High-Waisted Flare Trousers (these might be too professional for what you need right now), but I've heard they have very solid denim and shirting options, too!
Oak & Fort (I prefer them to Everlane/Abercrombie TBH)
Quince (for washable silks, cashmere and basics for $40-$70)
4th & Reckless (a lot of their items are on sale for $25-$50!)
Because of Alice (Outlet) – mostly under $70
Pixie Market (sale items are often around $50-70)
Banana Republic (especially the sale section)
Everlane/Abercrombie have their gems – some of the trouser/outerwear quality is iffy, though
Lioness/DISSH
Frankie Shop (in-house brand – on sale it's similar to Mango prices)
Maniere de Voir (mostly under/around $100, TOP quality for the price)
Shoprumored
Mango/COS (better than other fast fashion choices, IMO)
Hope this helps xx
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merridelicious · 9 months
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I’m moving into college in 3 weeks have you got any tips :0
yes!! quite a few actually. :) *for mutuals outside of the u.s., this advice is based on a U.S. American university experience, so some of it may not apply to you.
PLEASE SEND ASKS if you have specific questions, and I’ll either speak from my own experience or give information from other friends in university rn!!
packing:
You don’t need to bring ALL your stuff. (Really, it’s okay. Also, you have limited space.)
A quick Google search of “college packing list 2023” will yield many results. It’s up to you to decide what “essentials” are actually essential, but suffice it to say, think about the things you use on a daily basis and then think about what you don’t have at home that you’ll need in student housing.
Apartment or dorm, unless you’re really lucky—you’ll be sharing living space & appliances with other people. Yes, that includes showers. If you can get toiletries cheaper locally than in the location of your university, save yourself the time and money. Shower shoes are an absolute must, because those showers can get disgusting.
If you have a meal plan that lasts the entire year, you don’t really need to pack a bunch of food (or go grocery shopping a ton during the school year) but it can be nice to have dry goods & snacks on hand. (I keep rice, macaroni & cheese, crackers, & some type of dried fruit around, if nothing else. Whatever tastes strike your fancy, feel free to add/substitute.) If you’re cooking all your own food, you’re going to need at least a cooking pot, frying pan, spatula, dish sponges, and dish soap, as well as some resealable food storage containers and cheap cups and bowls (I got most of that at Target. They tend to have back-to-school sales and bowls & cups go for less than a dollar each.)
Laundry is going to be a pain in the ass, unless again, you luck out and have a washer and dryer in-unit. Ditto for dishes (unless your space comes with a dishwasher). Do yourself a favor & get a huge bin of Tide pods, pack of laundry sheets, & at least two paper towel rolls so you don’t have to run out every week to replenish cleaning supplies. (I personally despise having dish towels to wash, so if you don’t mind them take the paper towel advice with a grain of salt.)
My dorm was weird and had a sink in it. If you’re responsible for cleaning your own sink it will get nasty quickly. Either take turns with your roommate(s)/housemate(s), or figure out who the designated sink cleaner is.
friends/socializing:
Your first friend group in college will likely not be your last, nor will it last. This group is usually composed of people close in proximity to you aka convenience friends. You might realize three or four months in that these are not your people and you don’t like hanging out with them. This is perfectly normal and okay! You’ll find people who you do vibe with. I encourage you not to limit making friends to your specific university, although if you go to a small one like I do that can be tough.
Universities often have events with free stuff, including free food. Take advantage of these events if & when you can. They’re usually very laid back, and if you’re not in the mood to stick around, you can grab food and then dip.
Orientation events & icebreakers within your first week are to be expected. Try to remember a fun fact about yourself (which is what you usually get asked, along with your intended major, name, pronouns—sometimes, & hometown).
Your RA(s) aren’t cops, but they also aren’t your friends. They’re required to report sketchy shit that happens. My RAs had a rule that if they didn’t hear, see, or smell anything suspicious, it was like nothing happened, but try to get a feel for what yours look out for.
It is more than okay to need/want therapy. You’ve just gone through a massive change in your life and you did it mostly, if not all, by yourself. Your university counseling services (if applicable) are generally not the best place to go for therapy, though. This is especially true if you’re worried about your privacy. I don’t think I’ve heard of student discounts for therapy, but some therapists have this policy called sliding scale where you pay what you can. Find a person you can talk openly with and who is experienced with your mental health concerns/practices the right kind of therapy for you. (CBT, DBT, & EMDR are a few examples.)
dating, love, etc.
First and foremost, if this section doesn’t apply to you because you don’t participate or aren’t ready to in college, please feel free to skip!
If you’re still here, obviously I am not the expert on your love life—you are. That being said, without getting too personal, here are some things I’ve picked up through trial and error.
If you’re starting college, and haven’t yet dated anyone, it’s okay to feel behind. What isn’t okay is being patronized or taken advantage of for your lack of experience. I wish I could say it’s just common sense, but it’s crucial to figure out what your boundaries, limits, & standards are before getting into an intimate situation with somebody. (I myself learned this the hard way.)
simply put: It is okay to be picky! (Read that again.) Or not—what works for one person won’t work for everyone. Some people date & hook up just for fun, especially during college when a lot of changes are happening, and that suits them fine. Some people want stronger, longer connections, and that works for them. Some people focus on friends over partners and refrain from the entire dating & hookup scene. All are valid and healthy. (As long as you stay safe, sane, & consensual, and get tested.)
school stuff:
Please do yourself a favor and don’t schedule 8am classes five days a week. I don’t care if you could do it in high school—chances are you’re going to need to wake up way beforehand to get ready OR your roommate will do something ridiculous in the middle of the night that will wake you up. In this more than likely event, you won’t want to wake up and go straight to class. If you’re not a STEM major, this advice is easier than if you are (and if the first applies, my condolences and much love).
You need sleep no matter what—if that means midday naps, go for it. I don’t recommend skipping class to nap unless it’s an emergency though.
Re skipping class: some professors take attendance and your grade can suffer if you don’t attend. Aside from mental health days, skipping class for fun can be a slippery slope at some universities. (At some, Cs get degrees and grades don’t matter as much, especially if you aren’t looking to go down the postgrad path.)
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socstudies · 7 months
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18-09-2023
im so scared of bears like i literally can't explain it and i don't even live in a country where there are wild bears but i really am scared of them??? and whenever i think about them i feel like there's a memory at the tip of my brain that i've forgotten but idk why??? i've never seen a wild bear before ???? also classes start in two weeks woo
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bixiebeet · 3 months
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Question for the fandom: what do you think the Ghostbusters wrote about in their college/grad school admissions essays?
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Getting back on track after a slump
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Life is non-linear as it turns out. Sometimes you're doing great and then all of a sudden you're completely thrown off and are struggling to get up.
It happens to pretty much everyone, and even though you can't really prevent a slump from happening, you can use this advice to help you get back on track
Make a list of what you have to do Sit down, make yourself some tea or coffee and just start writing what you need to do. Missed a deadline with that unfinished paper? Write it down, add a sub-bullet to ask for an extension/send an email explaining your circumstances to your professor/teacher (they're also human, chances are if you notify and explain the situation to them, they will do their best to help you).
Break down those tasks into sub-tasks. By simplifying and breaking down your tasks into smaller chunks you're not only making it easier to do them, but you're also helping yourself get rid of some anxieties or fears since that task now looks much easier and more manageable to accomplish.
Update or create a new routine. Whether your routine contributed towards this slump or not, its always good to update your routine as you grow and change. What may have worked then may not necessarily be appropriate or helpful now. We humans are creatures of change, it's only natural that we outgrow our past.
Take it slow when easing back into your routine. Going too fast can actually be counter-productive, because you should be naturally aligning yourself with it and not forcing yourself into something you're not completely ready to follow. Trying to overcompensate generally isn't a good idea, as putting extra pressure on yourself especially when you're just trying to get everything sorted may not end very well.
Write down your goals and dreams to help you get motivated. It may seem difficult and at times pointless to try and get back on track, and reminding yourself about your goals and aims can definitely encourage you to take the steps to getting back on track or starting over.
Talk to someone about what you're feeling and going through. Your school or uni have counselors and people who can help you get through this if you require help. You don't necessarily have to jump straight into it, just start with a friendly email briefly explaining the situation and go from there.
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college-hacks · 2 years
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Ok guys I know some of us are commuters to college and some travel fairly long distances so here's some tips!!
First things first is that you need a good backpack that has lots of room and is sturdy to last you a few years
You are an hour or two away from home so carry some medications like ibuprofen, pepto pills, allergy pills, etc I personally use a round pill organizer with compartments that screw together so it doesn't take up much room
Also a small first aid kit with some bandaids of different sizes, triple antibiotic ointment, the pill thing, pads/tampons if u have periods, a brace for any joint u have issues with (if applicable), etc
I try to bring my own snacks so I'm not stuck paying vending machine or fast food prices for a bag of chips
Carry everything you could need for class. I have my laptop, charger, a 5 subject notebook so I don't accidentally bring the wrong notebook on the wrong day, a pencil case with black pens, colored pens, highlighters (love the erasable ones), 1 or 2 sharpies, etc
I also carry ear buds, a phone charger + brick, mini stapler, tape, and anything else I might need for the classes I am taking
Give yourself about 15-30 extra minutes to get there, especially during construction season because u never know what construction could pop up
Buy the parking pass, I know it's expensive but good luck finding parking outside campus parking lots
Or don't, one of my friends said if she gets caught once a week and pays for the ticket it's still less than the parking pass but that's ur own risk
Make sure your textbooks are in your backpack before you leave. You do NOT want to be an hour away from home and find out your reading your textbook in class and it's sitting on your desk
Bring a mask even if your campus doesn't require one. When the person next to you is coughing all class you will probably want one and you can't just slip out for 10 minutes to walk to your dorm
That's all I have for now but I'm sure I'll think of more because I'm writing this on my lunch break :) have fun at college this summer/fall
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yinlotus · 1 year
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once again my undiagnosed adhd and autism is kicking my butt.
i still can’t figure out what i should major in. and my break from school is unfortunately being cut short because of my parents (i was hoping to have a full gap year but they want me back in school next month 😵‍💫 which is insane because they're not being helpful. and without a diagnosis will anything really change just because i took 3-5 months off?)
i have to go to community college because my gpa absolutely crashed so much that most universities probably wouldn't accept me right now. and my local school has pathways to transfer to a regular 4 year uni with a major in those pathways
anyways i can’t tell if i want to do an anthropology or physics pathway (two completely unrelated topics, i know)
i like them both but i don't know if i like them because of my hyperfixations or because i actually want to do it.. how do i differentiate that?
examples:
i majored in game design for a year. in reality i didn’t actually like 3d design/vfx, it turns out that animated things is a major visual stim for me. (narrative design is still something i enjoy but writing is definitely a hobby over a main career to me. no thoughts on programming: i don't dislike it but i also don't particularly love it. its just something i'm good at, it can be fun at times)
i also majored in astrophysics for a year. i liked it.. but the fact that all i could do was look at data through a computer and not actually research planets physically put me off from it — the idea of having a career where my work doesn’t actually do much in my own lifetime isn't something i enjoy
now do i want to do anthropology because i'd enjoy it or do i just like a slightly below surface level version... would i even enjoy the work environment? Is this a topic that i just like because as an AuDHDer, it's fascinating to learn as much as possible about the human experience
do i want to do physics because it's a hyperfixation or do i genuinely like this long term?
hhhhhhhh y'all i am struggling
could anyone in these two majors or graduates please tell me some pros and cons + the experience of them?
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orbitalsockets · 2 years
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Twenty Tips for People Starting College, From Someone Who’s About to Graduate
1. Don’t pack everything. No, I’m serious, you don’t need eleven towels, pack like two or three at most. Whatever you end up bringing with you is going to end up being way too much stuff for a tiny dorm and it’s overwhelming. Take essentials, stuff you use every day, stock up on some snacks and easy to make foods and call it a day. Aunt Barbara’s quilt that you haven’t looked at since third grade can stay behind. 
2. Nobody is looking at you. In class, at on campus dining facilities, in the library, wherever, they are not looking at you. They’re more worried about their bio lab that they’re late for or their giant essay that’s due Friday that they haven’t started than your bad hair day. 
3. If someone IS watching you, or following you, have campus police on speed dial. Call them, alert them, and go to the nearest building that’s open and full of people. 
4. Carry a tazer. They say you’re not supposed to and it’s against the rules and whatever, but even professors told me straight up to make sure I had one. Not everyone is trustworthy and if you have late classes, you need to be safe. 
5. Put your schedule on your homescreen. You can find photo widgets that let you add photos to your homescreen without changing your background. It makes it super easy to pull up your schedule and locations so you’re not standing in the middle of campus flipping through your gallery like a lost tourist. 
6. If you put your ID on a lanyard, don’t wear it around your neck. I don’t know why, but it totally outs you as a freshman and it’s embarrassing. Carry it in a bag or in your pocket. 
7. Don’t worry about how much you’re eating. Seriously. You’re adjusting to a huge new change in your life, it’s cool if now that you’re on your own you eat extra cookies with dinner. Also, nobody in the dining hall cares if you get a second plate of pasta - they probably did too. 
8. If you see anyone stealing food from a place that doesn’t allow carry out, mind your own business. 
9. Your professors are more than likely willing to work with you. You will most likely have some dick heads, but most of them are willing to accommodate if shit happens. 
10. In contrary to number nine, if you have a chronic illness, fight for accommodations immediately and DO NOT STOP. Professors with strict attendance policies will screw your grades faster than you’ve ever seen. If you find out you have a chronic illness while in college, set up a support system and advocate for yourself until you feel like you’re going insane. It’s going to be rough, no matter what their diversity statement says. 
11. If crazy protesters come to campus, go heckle them and have some fun. I’ve had friends tell me it looks childish, but honestly one of my favorite memories of college was heckling a religious guy who was calling students whores while I was dressed as a wizard and holding the Satanic bible. 
12. If crazy protesters come to campus, DO NOT TOUCH THEM. They are not allowed to touch you, and you cannot touch them or it’s assault. If you have anger issues and are easily pissed off by whatever the protesters are there for, stay home. 
13. Literally nobody puts headings on their papers. Like, nobody. The people that do look like overachievers by the time you’re a senior. Just 12 font, Times New Roman, double space, and you’re solid. 
14. C’s get degrees. Do not kill yourself over one or two bad grades, you will still graduate. Jobs don’t give a shit what your GPA was, they care that you have the degree and are qualified to do the job. Perfection is not plausible for 99% of people and that’s okay. 
15. If you’re going to a bar for the first time and you’ve never drank, drink s l o w l y. See how you feel after one - If you’re okay, go ahead and have another. Don’t try to keep up with the heavy drinkers you’re with, or you will end up in the hospital. 
16. If you want to try drugs, research the drug first. ESPECIALLY if you’re on any medications. Research the effects, bad effects of it, what a normal dose is, what it should look like, and if you can, buy a tester. If they’re weird about testing the drugs, those drugs are more than likely fake and cut with shit that will kill you. 
17. If you do drugs or drink and have a bad reaction, go to the hospital. The hospital workers are aware that they’re in a college town, they know how to treat you and how to help, and they will not call the police. Their goal is to help you, not get you in trouble. If someone else has a bad experience, regardless of what everyone else tells you, CALL AN AMBULANCE. You will not go to jail, but you will - for manslaughter, I might add - if you let that person die. 
18. Buy a loud noise making key chain. There’s some that shriek, others make a siren sound, they’re like $10 on Amazon. If you go out alone and someone is making you uncomfortable, turn it on and let it blare until they leave. Stay with people after that to make sure they don’t follow you home. The streets will more than likely be busy until the early hours of the morning, so people will hear it and look. 
19. Citation Machine does indeed work for citations. It’s not perfect, but most professors see that it’s the gist of the citation and let it slide. In four years I have not once been marked off for my citations and I have used Citation Machine every time. 
20. Academia is incredibly ableist and classist. If you feel out of place because you have a disability/chronic illness, mental health issues, neurodivergencies or grew up poor, it’s because of the ingrained ableism and classism in higher education. You deserve to be there, even if you can’t relate to what academia has considered to be what a perfect student looks like. 
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college-ravings · 7 months
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I often dream of being a math/physics girlie ✨
(cries in limited time+she’s doing chemistry but it’s the aesthetic that matters 😭)
Source: pinterest
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studyingchemeng · 1 year
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Hey, do you have any tips to regularly motivate yourself to study?
I often get overwhelmed by the homework and forget about the textbook readings and preparation.
Hi anon,
sorry for taking so long to answer and thanks for the question.
1) get a study buddy. find a person with similar academic goals to you even if you don't study the same thing and set a time and a place regularly, were you just go to actually study and hold eachother accountable. my friend and I meet every saturday and go to the library or a study cafe for five hours. we are different majors so we can't really help one another but it's about accountability.
2) habits, routines >> motivation. I am the biggest procrastinator and motivation doesn't work for me. I have created systems that force me to study. Like the study friend or going to a study group meeting, going to the library after class without going home in between cause if I go home I now I'm just going to watch tv and not study at all. you can also try virtual study groups if it's more accessible to you although I've never tried with strangers before.
3) plan everything. plan ahead from the moment you get the syllable as far as you can. organize time for smaller tasks every day or every other day if you can. make the schedule as realistic and as flexible as you can.
4) a little bit every day. textbook readings don't usually get done cause a.our asses are on fire from hw b. they don't have a deadline c. are huge . So break it down in smaller chunks. let's say you have to get through 800 pages. from the stem prospective I try to skim through 10 to 20 pages each time and get the general gist.
5) 5% is better than 0. even if you do nothing but read one page or solve one practice problem a day it's still something.
6) find old exams. if most of your classes have exams in the end and not projects lime mine, try to find as many older exam questions as possible. if the professor is the same they usually have a similar style of exams each year. this way you know what kind of exam you are studying for and can focus on the material that actually matters so you don't get overwhelmed as much.
7) make friends with upperclassmen. they've been already through this and usually have pretty good advice and tricks. I like to bribe them with coffee or food and they'll even give you the work they've done for the class before, this way you get a better understanding of what you have to do for the class. they are also a good motivation or reminder cause they are the proof that you can pass this class.
8) it's going to be ok. school and uni suck sometimes but you can get through it. if it gets too overwhelming academically see if you have the option for a tutor or sth similar and don't be too proud to ask for help, we've all been there.
Hope this helps!!! If anyone has more questions my dms and asks are open!!!
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being-addie · 1 year
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How to have a productive study session.
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When your finals are in 2 days, and you've definitely NOT studied enough, it's normal to panic. You sit down to study and get a solid 30 minutes of calculus done, then jump down the rabbit hole called YouTube. Soon enough the dread creeps up because you're still not done.
As a girl who doesn't attend school regularly due to coaching classes I go to (I'll expand on this later), it's pretty easy to forget to study for exams and projects.
But there's nothing better than getting 98% on that exam. So I'm writing this as someone who's been scoring straight As all my life. Here's how to have a productive study session:
Note: This isn't a guide for romanticising studies. This is meant for a serious, productive session. I will, however, be making a guide to help romanticise studies because I've found it helps a lot.
Before you study
Identify what your distractions are: Let's be real, almost everyone has their phone on hand during study sessions. Put your phone on Do Not Disturb and keep it in a corner of the room. Add a few selected contacts that can reach you while your phone is on DND. If you can turn off notifications entirely, do that.
Taking measures: After I keep my phone away, my brain turns to the next thing it could be distracted by. My laptop and tablet. Put those devices in focus mode, so you won't be tempted to use any other apps and use a Chrome extension like StayFocused or WasteNoTime to not get sidetracked.
Resources: Make sure you have all your material on hand. Video lectures, notes, guides, your formula sheet, and flash cards. Keep everything on hand so you won't have to rifle through papers to find that reference sheet.
Your space: Clean your desk. Keep only the things you need. Your pens and pencils, chargers, annotation material and water bottle. If you want, light a candle. Do not clutter it unnecessarily. Your desk is a sacred space. Treat it that way.
When you sit down
The checklist: Do you have all the material required? Electronics, chargers, a snack and a drink? Water bottle? Extra pen? If you have everything beforehand, you'll be less likely to lose focus because you forgot to charge your headphones.
Make a plan: I cannot stress this enough. You'll sit down and just start studying, and next thing you know, it's 7pm and all you've done is watch videos on celebrity drama. Make a goddamn plan. Write down a realistic number of chapters you can complete and then STICK TO IT.
Begin: Reread and review your notes. I usually like to rewrite my notes in neater handwriting, because my handwriting in class is appalling. To really solidify information, I recommend the 'Blurting' method. Read a paragraph, then close the book and say what you understood out loud. Reread to see what you missed and take note. I did this for my history exam and got a 100%. This shit works for a reason. Use the Pomodoro technique to maximise productivity. Set an alarm for 25 minutes, and do intensive study. Once that's done, take a 5-minute break. Return and repeat.
IMPORTANT
Take a break: Ah yes, if you don't get up every 40 minutes or so for a break, eventually whatever you're studying will start looking like garbage and you'll be back to square one. GET UP. Walk around. STRETCH. You've been looking like a croissant🥐. Eat something. Rehydrate.
Forgive yourself: If you couldn't hit your target, don't be harsh on yourself. Find out the cause: Were you distracted? Did something unavoidable come up? Then try to make sure it doesn't happen again.
Study buddy: This is a double-edged sword. Studying with a friend can either increase your productivity by a massive amount, or it can help you get absolutely zero work done. When revising with a friend, make sure you study with someone who has the same goals as you and won't get distracted by things.
It's 2023, procrastination is cancelled. Go drink some water, eat a granola bar and finish that assignment you've been delaying. Be the person who finishes all their work, on time and perfectly. You can do it.
<3
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femmefatalevibe · 7 months
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How can I keep up my physical appearance and my grades (I’m in college) while struggling with mental health issues?
Ugh, this is tough – I know! I would say just try to do the small things that make the biggest difference daily:
Drink plenty of water
Brush your teeth 2x/day
Wash + moisturize your face 2x/day
Shower daily/keep a regular hairwashing schedule
Brush your hair daily
Sleep for 7-8 hours nightly (or mostly at least)
Incorporate fruits & veggies into your diet at least daily
Have lip balm, floss picks, and hand cream available for regular use
Moisturize your skin at least once a day
Hope this helps xx
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