Dealing With Homesickness

Most college freshmen will battle homesickness at some point in their first year. While college is full of fun and great memories, you're bound to miss home at some point. Luckily, there are some great places to turn when homesickness creeps in on you:

• Resident Assistants (RAs). Every floor has one and they're responsible for keeping a general level of law and order on the floor. All RAs have lived in the dorms at least once and know exactly how you feel. They might be able to give you some reassuring words to help you through it.
• Inter Cultural Aids (ICAs). I think other universities have these too but at Michigan State they're called ICAs. They are responsible for two floors of people and are there to help students adjust to college life. I was pretty good friends with a ton of ICAs; they are always super approachable.
• Residence Hall Directors (RHDs). RHDs are in charge of the whole residence hall. They handle everything from gatherings to discipline issues. If you're having problems, they will be able to offer some good advice.
• Counseling Centers. I'm not sure about other universities, but Michigan State offers free counseling for all students at the Student Center. It's completely confidential and all the counselors are ready to help. 

I found the best cure for homesickness was to talk about it with someone else. I ended up going to the counseling center and they helped me a ton. They told me what I felt was normal and they showed me how to keep it under control.

Thanks for reading!

~Anthony

Quick Tips for College Laundry

When it comes to laundry, the struggle is real. There's so much to do in a day that laundry can really become a hinderance. When it came to laundry, I was a firm believer in putting all the clothes in one washer and one dryer so I may not be the best person for tips on how to do laundry, but when it comes to when to do laundry and laundry room etiquette, I'm an expert. Here are some ways to make doing laundry a tad easier:

• Do laundry at odd hours. No, Saturday and Sunday at 10am is not an odd hour. Remember there can be up to 1000 people living in your residence hall and everyone has laundry to do. If you go at weird times of the day, there will be few people there. You will have to find an odd hour that fits best with your schedule. I found that weekdays around noon were usually not crowded. My friend did his laundry at night around 10pm and he said it was never crowded.
• Be mindful of others. If there's a bunch of people trying to do laundry,  try not to take up a bunch of washers and dryers. If you do, there might be a few disgusted glares coming your way.
• Get you stuff out on time. No one likes it when the timer on a dryer goes off and it takes the user 20 minutes to waltz downstairs and get their stuff. If a person is taking forever, I'll usually take their stuff out and place it on a table, however others will throw your stuff on the floor!
• Clean out the lint in your dryer. Seriously though, our dorm had a dryer fire because people wouldn't do this.

Following these tips will make college laundry a little bit simpler.

Thanks for reading!

~Anthony

Training for College: Room Cleanliness

Keeping my room clean during school turned out to be more of a challenge than I thought. Dorm rooms get messy really fast! There's tons of things to dust off and trash to pick up. Also, you owe it to your roommate to keep your things in line (or some wars might break out). Here are some easy tips to keep the mice out while at school:

• Plan it out. Cleaning is like studying: you have to do it. Planning out a time of day to clean will help you keep your room in order.
• Divide and conquer. Split the work with your roommate. Make agreements on when to clean and keep each other accountable for it!
• Clean regularly. The more you clean, the less messy your room will be. If you clean your bathroom once every two weeks versus once a week, you may find it slightly more disgusting.
• Take out the trash out! This was my biggest struggle. My roommate and I loved to play chicken with the trashcan. It was usually overflowing by the time one of us finally emptied it! If you can get this down, you will have the cleanest room on campus!
• Throw things out. If you don't need it, throw it away. Dorm rooms are small and they can clutter up really fast.

Happy cleaning!

~Anthony

Training for College: Learning the Library

The library may prove to be your best friend once you start hitting the books. It is a vast bank of knowledge at your disposal. One catch: it may not be the easiest thing to navigate. Libraries can get very confusing if you don't know what you're doing. Here are some quick tips to make using your campus library easier:

• Ask for help. Every library should have a couple librarians on staff during normal hours. At Michigan State, there's a pretty full library staff until around 10pm. These people are paid to help you find books and help you with various assignments, such as research essays. They are also trained on how to go about research writing. 
• Go online. I can't speak for other schools, but I know Michigan State's libraries have an online resource students can use to locate books in the library and find various online encyclopedias. I highly recommend learning how to do use an online resource if you live far from the library, especially when the book you need is also available as an ebook!
• Pay attention. Always be attentive. The library has signs and other tools posted everywhere. There are signs marking quiet zones, bulletins describing upcoming events around campus, and various other resources to help you study
• Know the hours. Most university libraries are open 24 hours a day on campus, but there are some exceptions. At Michigan State, the library is open 24 hours a day, 6 days a week (They close on Saturday at 6pm to clean). 
• Know if there's food nearby. Sometimes you may get the munchies while you're studying. If your library has food in close proximity, you won't lose much study time while you get snacks. If there is no food by the library, remember that many places deliver!
• Know what resources your library offers. Libraries are full of high tech resources you can use at your disposal. For example, Michigan State's main library has various computers, meeting rooms, two sided color printers, and help rooms available. The more you know about your library, the better you can use it.

The library will prove to a be ton of help throughout your college years. Whether you use it as a meeting place for a group project or a place to study alone, knowing your library will give you an advantage.

Thanks for reading!

~Anthony

Be Safe In College: Going to and Leaving the Party

In order to experience everything a university can offer, you have to give the nightlife a try. One of the coolest things about going to Michigan State is how alive the school is when the sun sets. Every night there's something going on. Whether it's an off campus party, a post-game celebration, or an on campus event, Michigan State never fails to deliver on things to do. If you're planning on going out for the evening, follow these tips to keep you and your friends safe:

• Plan out how to get to your destination. Is it walking distance or do you need to drive there? Always have a plan. If you're walking it's always better to walk with someone else. College is mostly a safe place, but there's are always those few instances where someone gets attacked or mugged. Avoid the risk, always walk with someone. You can also call a taxi. I know East Lansing has a vast amount of taxi services. If you repeatedly use the same driver they will be more willing to cut you deals or service you first. Lastly, you can drive yourself or have a buddy give you a ride. Just make sure whoever is driving isn't under the influence of anything. 
• Plan out how to get home. Again, can you walk? This time really evaluate your answer. Usually you end up leaving the party "feeling" a little different and you're walking at a later time. I've seen some people try and stumble home and they either get lost or scooped up by the police. Again, just be safe. Even if you're nerding out at the library and are walking home late, walking with someone is always a good idea. At Michigan State, there's a table at the library that belongs to "Safe Walk" or "Spartan Walk" (I can't remember the name exactly). They have a table of volunteers that will walk you back to your dorm building. 

Be safe on the streets and always use common sense!  

Thanks for reading!

~Anthony

Cutting Down on College Costs: Buying Textbooks

Next to tuition itself, textbooks will be a pretty substantial expenditure during your college career. Buying textbooks to support a 14 credit class schedule can get expensive. Luckily, there are ways to curb textbook costs so they don't engulf the majority of your budget.

• Rent. Renting your books is a way cheaper method of getting textbooks. Many textbook stores rent out books to be used for the semester. When renting books, make sure you have them back on time or else the store will end up charging you for the full price of the book (at Michigan State, all rented books are due the last day of finals).
• Buy used. If you're like me and don't have a credit card, buying used is your next best option. Used books may be more worn out than new books but they are often way cheaper. At first glance they may seem overpriced but wouldn't you rather pay $150 for used than $400 for the new book? Another positive to buying used is you own the book. If you own the book, you can make notes in the book for referencing later. However, this may damage the resale value.
• Share books. If you and your friend are in the same class, you may be able to buy a book together and share it. Just coordinate when to switch it between yourself and a few friends. Also, you might be able to buy a textbook from a friend who had the class last semester. I heard from a friend that MSU has a textbook exchange group on Facebook that helps students give books to each other.
• Buy Online. Many online stores, such as Amazon, will have the textbooks for cheaper than the stores around campus. However, some books have an online component that is necessary for the class (My Spanish class was like this!) and Amazon didn't offer it. So be very careful when buying some of your books from online.

These three tips will assist you in curbing your college textbook costs.

Thanks for reading!

~Anthony

Methods of Studying for College

Unlike high school, most of your time in college will be spent studying (or at least should be spent studying). While most professors don't assign homework, they expect you to be putting some sort of work into the class outside of meeting times. This means that you're going to have to invest time into finding your own way to master the material. I have a few ways that will help:

• Practice. This is especially useful in math classes. The "practice" method involves completing problems that are similar to the ones of the test. There are tons of resources you can use to get practice problems. Your textbook should be full of them. If you are budgeting and didn't buy the textbook, there are often websites full of them. Some professors also have old exams that they will happily share with you and the rest of the class.
• Rewrite. This method applies to pretty much any class. The "rewrite" method involves rewriting the notes you have. You may either rewrite them or retype them. When you recopy your notes, you give your brain another opportunity to learn the material. Studies show that rewriting notes helps retain information. Also, this is the method that I used to study for tests in my Intro to Criminal Justice class. Also, you might have to reorganize and rewrite your notes if your professor's lectures are unorganized.
• Outline. This can also be used whenever a class has a ton of out-of-class readings to do. "Outlining" is the method of taking an important reading and writing out notes that sum it up in your own words. When you put things someone else says in your own words, it shows that you understand it enough to explain it. You may want to try breaking up and analyzing the most important parts of your readings. It gives you a quick reference guide to the reading, which could come in handy for studying.

Hope these methods help. Happy studying!

Thanks for reading!

~Anthony

A Quick Guide on How to Talk to Your Professor

Sooner or later, you're going to need to reach out to a professor to get help with a class. When talking to a professor, keep in mind that all of them have PhDs and have worked a long time to attain them. If you talk to your professors the right way, they will be more ready and willing to help you. Here are some quick tips for talking to professors the right way:

• Emails. Always address the email as Dear Dr.___________, or Dear Professor___________. This shows them that you are a respectful student and they'll be more than happy to write back. Also, remember to always write your name and contact email at the bottom of your letter. This way the professors will have some way of getting back to you.
• Also, many professors won't respond to emails that are incorrectly addressed.
• Class time. Unless the professor says otherwise, save all your questions until the end of class. Many professors have a certain amount of information they need to get through before the class is over and they can't waste time answering individual questions along the way. Also, it shows a great deal of respect to them if you are able to save your questions for the end of class.
• Office hours. Always plan out what you're going to ask. I always like to jot the questions I have on a piece of paper or in the Notes tab in my phone, that way they're easily accessible. In hindsight, I would try to use paper because some professors might think it's rude for you to be on your phone.
• Show your attempts. If you are struggling with something, show your work to the professor. This proves that instead of blindly asking questions when you're stumped, you make attempts at understanding the material.
• Visit frequently. Especially if you're working on a project; if you visit your professors throughout the project and ask for their input, you'll probably get a better grade. Professors will pick up on your effort and if you make the changes they suggest, they'll see that too and your grade will reflect it.

If you follow these tips, most professors will notice and reward you for it. Sadly, some professors are a little stuck up and even these won't win them over. My advice would be to always give these tips a try. Many professors don't have students show up to their office hours. If you show up and show the professor how much work you put into their class, they should be pretty inclined to help you.

Thanks for reading!

~Anthony

Training for College: The Resume

A resume is a brief summary of what you have done in your professional career up to the most recent point. It can include current and past jobs, volunteer opportunities, study abroad programs, and organizations which you belong to. Now you might say, "I'm just a freshman, why do I need a resume?" While it may not be easy to get an internship at 18 or 19 years old and with just a semester of school under your belt, building a resume early has some positive aspects:

• More time to improve it. If you start resume building early, you have more time to perfect it. Take advantage of resume bootcamps and other resume building activities.
• Being able to drop your name. While getting the internship of a lifetime may be hard to do your first try, having a couple resumes on deck to drop at a career or internship fair will greatly help your chances of finding an internship.
• Even if you're just a freshman, make sure to always go to internship/career fairs. Yes, they are mostly looking for upperclassmen with a little more knowledge and experience under their belt; however, these places can be great learning opportunities. When I went to my first career fair, I took my internship coordinator's advice and asked each station what they look for in an internship candidate and what can I do to make myself more marketable to their program.
• Some classes take time out of their schedule for resume building. If you already have a resume, you are no longer starting from square one and you can use this time to improve on what you have.
• Get your story straight. In just my freshman year, I've learned three different ways on how to construct a resume. For example, my internship coordinator told me to include a brief summary of what a company I worked for did, while two other resume experts told me it wasn't a good idea to include that. Makes building a resume a bit difficult, right? The earlier you start, the more time you have to find the style that best works for you and your career choice.

Here are some reasons that building a resume early is the way to go! Your resume may not come out perfect the first time, but the earlier you start building it the better it'll be in the end.

Thanks for reading!

~Anthony

People that Will Save Your Lives in College: The Advisor

Advisors are like the road maps of college education. They plan out your road to success. You tell them what you want to be and they get you there. Advisors prevent mistakes such as taking classes you don't need. When meeting with your advisor, keep these tips handy:

• Come prepared. Before meeting with your advisor, know exactly what you want to talk about. Whether it be classes, scheduling help, or a study abroad; your advisor meets with many other students and doesn't have the time to try and figure out why you came in.
• See your advisor often. My advisors say to see them at least once a semester. Meeting with your advisor often will help you become familiar to them. If your advisor recognizes you, they will be able to help you more.
• Always plan ahead. For example, trying to meet with your advisor to discuss possible classes for next year a week before registration happens may not be the best idea. Always plan out your meetings ahead of time. Remember your advisor also works for other students.
• See the advisor for your major if possible. Many colleges have specific advisors working for a field of study. I would highly recommend seeing one of these advisors over a general advisor. These advisors have more of an insight on classes relating to your major and will be able to help you plan out your college years more accordingly.

Advisors plan your route to success. Take advantage of them!

Thanks for reading!

~Anthony

Taking Notes: Computer vs. Notebook

When it comes to taking notes during class, many college students bring their computers. Computers save paper and make your notes legible if you struggle with handwriting like me. However, some students stick to the old notepad to take their notes. There are pros and cons to using each:

• The Computer:
• Pros:
• Easily shareable. You can email your notes to a friend and they can send theirs to you in the event that you miss/skip class.
• Easier to prepare for class. Some professors post their lecture notes before class. My professor for Intro to Criminal Justice used to post her notes before class. I would always copy the notes onto a Google Doc and I would add in my own notes under each heading she was discussing.
• Universally readable. If you're blessed with horrible handwriting like me. Computers make your notes readable to all.
• Cons:
• Distractions. Yes, computers have the power to open up games and social media. Both of these can prove to be very distracting.
• Technical problems. Your computer can randomly restart, run out of battery, or just crash that day. These problems can easily stop your note taking in its tracks.
• Pen and Paper:
• Pros:
• Better for retaining information. There have been studies showing that students who write out their notes tend to remember the information better.
• No technical problems. Unless you run out of paper or your pen dies out, writing out your notes will always work.
• Cons:
• Environment. Using a pen and paper kill trees.
• Harder to share with people. You can't just email them to others in the class. You're probably best off letting them take a picture of your notes.

I hope this miniature pros and cons list will help you pick the best note taking platform for you. Good luck and happy note taking!

Thanks for reading!

~Anthony

How to Survive a College Class

College is the proverbial big leagues of education, classes here are very different than high school;  they demand way more on your part. Here's a quick list of pointers to help you get through your classes this fall:

• Show Up. Getting to class is half the battle. People that arrive to class generally do better than those who don't. And if the professor sees you as a familiar face, he or she may be more willing to give you extensions on assignments.
• Stay Awake! Many professors will lecture the complete class time. As they ramble on and on you may feel your eyes slowly start to close and before you know it, you're asleep. As you sleep, you miss out on what the professor says. You could miss valuable information such as what will be on the next exam or if the the next class is cancelled!
• Know Yourself. If you know you're going to struggle with paying attention, maybe sitting in the back of the room with your friends isn't the best idea.
• Ask Questions. If it is a standard classroom, the professor may allow you to ask questions in class. However, for lecture based classes, many professors will not take the time out of their lecture to answer individual questions. It's best to make a note of what confuses you and visit their office hours to get the answer.
• Meet the People in Your Class. It's a great way to make study buddies and friends! Also, you can make a study group. Usually at least one of you guys will understand the chapter and be able to help the others get it.

Getting through a college class takes a ton of work! But if you put in a the right amount of effort, there's no way you'll be disappointed with how you did.

Thanks for reading!

~Anthony

What Is The Best Way To Navigate Campus?

Sadly, there isn't a straight forward answer to this question. There are many different ways to get around campus: some people bike, while others use their own two feet. Everyone has their own way that works best for them. I'll present a few of the most popular ways I've seen people get around campus and also the way I get from place to place:

• Campus Buses. If the university is big enough, it may have its own bussing service. For Michigan State, this is the good old trusty CATA Bus. CATA has routes that run all over campus and to some parts off campus; it will be able to get you to wherever you're going. Some CATA routes run periodically throughout the day while others not so much. CATA bus rides are $0.60 each and they sell semester passes for $50. 
• Positives to the bus:
• Weather proof. buses runs all day everyday regardless of the weather outside.
• Relatively quick.  While you may have to wait at the bus stop, it's always faster to take the bus.
• Negatives to the bus:
• Tons of preplanning. It takes some time to become "bus-savvy." With tons of different bus routes and different departing times, mastering the bus takes some time. I'm pretty sure CATA has a route planner on their website. You pick a starting point and an ending point and let CATA show you how to get there. Some people don't like the website and instead have a route map taped to the wall in their room.
• Crowded. Buses can be very crowded at times. Especially on the most popular routes.
• Biking. They say the best way to see campus is on two wheels. Bikes are fast ways to get around campus. They aren't as fast as the buses, but they'll get you where you're going in a pretty short time. Bikes are also one of the most popular ways people get around campus. Some streets on campus even have side lanes created for bikes.
• Positives to biking:
• Quick travel. Biking allows you to get to your destination in a pretty short time.
• Negatives to biking:
• Rendered useless in crowds. If you come up on a crowd of people getting out of class, you're probably going to have to hop off your bike and walk it until you escape the horde of people.
• Easy to steal. Every time you go to class, you leave your bike outside and unattended. I had my bike stolen within 5 days of being on campus. If you do want a bike on campus, be sure to bring one you can afford to lose and buy a U-lock. The chain locks (what I had) are easy to cut.
• Not good in the rain/snow.
• Skateboarding/Longboarding. This is my favorite way to navigate campus. I took up longboarding as my primary means of transportation. I never saw a longboard before I came to campus, but after riding one for the first time, I knew it was perfect for me.
• Positives to boarding:
• Great leg workout. Every time you push off, you're essentially doing a lunge. 
• Longboards look really cool. Many longboards have really cool designs on them as well as different shapes and sizes.
• Negatives to boarding:
• Slower way to travel. Sadly, longboards don't get up to bike or bus speed.
• Very weather sensitive. Longboards are only good when the weather is dry. Mixing longboards with rain and snow isn't a good idea.

These are somethe most used ways I've seen people go from place to place while on campus. If you don't think these are for you, there's always walking. Walking is by far the most popular way to get around campus. I also see the occasional rollerblader every now and then.

Thanks for reading!

~Anthony

I Need Help! Where Do I Find It?

Anyone who has been to college had at least one class that was a struggle. These classes are often degree requirements, making them impossible to avoid. These classes will test your intelligence and sanity in ways you never deemed possible. When you find that one class that is harder than the rest, here are some resources that can help alleviate the pain:

• Professors. They teach the class, making them the experts on the subject. All college professors have office hours during the week. Plan out a time to visit and ask them the questions you have. Most of the time, they are pretty willing to help, but there's always the few that aren't much help at all.
• TA's. TA stands for teaching assistant and trust me, they can be saviors. If your class is large enough, chances are you have a TA as well as your professor. TA's can be a blessing. They are college students like you and in many cases they are able to present the information in a more user-friendly way. Like a professor, a TA also has office hours.
• The Internet. This will probably be your first solution. The internet is full of answers. Also, there are many sites, like Koofers, that contain lecture notes and practice tests for your specific class. Koofers also does professor ratings! Be sure to check it out when making your class schedule! 
• WARNING: GOOGLE TRANSLATE DOESN'T WORK AS A SOURCE IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING IN A LANGUAGE CLASS
• Fellow Students. Start paying attention to not only what is taught in class, but also who is in it. Be on the lookout for students who repeatedly answer the professor's questions; chances are they're pretty smart. See if they'll study with you or give you a couple pointers to make the course work easier.

Most people have that one class that proves to be way harder than the rest. When this class comes up for you, take a look at these resources and it will help make the struggle a little more bearable.

Thanks for reading!

~Anthony

What Can Music Do For You?

Music is going to prove to be your best friend in college. As I walk along the streets of Michigan State, it seems that everyone has their music on. While walking through a crowded sidewalk with your tunes on full blast may not be the greatest idea, listening to music in college does have its benefits:

• Concentrating. Music is great for drowning out the noises surrounding you while you're trying to study. True story; my floor mate uses classical music to study. He says it works great for tuning out the chaos going on around him and it gives him a sense of "peace and quiet." I'm more of a hard rock and metal fan when I study, but that's just me lol.
• Stress Relief. Music can also help you destress if you have a lot on your plate. Just let the music fill your head,  it's like taking a miniature vacation from school.

Music can be your best friend on campus but it can also be your enemy. If you have your music blocks out everything around you while walking to class, there can be some horrible consequences. If you are walking and a biker comes up behind you and says, "passing on the left" and you don't hear him and start to turn, there can be a terrible collision. This occurrence is rare, but don't say I didn't warn you! Another thing to keep in mind, if you always have your headphones in you may miss out on meeting some pretty cool people!

Thanks for reading! I hope college preparation is going well!

~Anthony