September 27th, 2007 Josh
Many of us are involved on campus, in a charity project, club sport, entertainment group, or any other type of student organization. Odds are if you find yourself on this blog you are ambitious and like to take command of your life, which means you might be interested in one day heading up that student org you just joined. The following 5 steps will help make sure that you are able to rise to the top and leave your mark on campus.
1. Find your passion
Being a student leader takes work and time. If you are not passionate about what you are doing, you won’t enjoy this time. And further, if you aren’t passionate about what you are doing, you’ll likely half ass it. You need to find your passion. What issues keep you up at night? What wrongs do you see that you want to right? What do you want to spend the rest of your life doing? If you can answer these questions, find a group of other like minded people. If that group doesn’t exist yet, start it yourself.
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Posted in School Tips | 4 Comments »
September 17th, 2007 Josh
Recently, I heard from a friend that the best way to prevent a hangover is to eat a bunch of potato chips before going out. While certainly not the healthiest method, after a few weekends of experimentation I’ve found it works pretty well!
Potato chips aren’t the only part of the formula though. In this post I will cover why eating potato chips may work, and other tips to prevent hangovers you can combine with the potato tip trick to result in a happy morning.
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Posted in Better Living | 2 Comments »
September 17th, 2007 Josh
If you have finished reading to the bottom of any posts recently (which I hope you all do!) then you’ll notice a new feature here at Make College Better.
I’ve added a widget called Blog Rush to my blog (on the bottom of the left sidebar) that offers related links to other posts on the blogosphere. I hope this will be a way you can find more content that you’ll enjoy on other writers’ blogs.
If you’re a blogger and would like to add blog rush to your blog, it can be a great way to expose new people to your content. Just click any of the links in this post!
Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
September 14th, 2007 Josh
I’ve been reading a lot recently about the Moleskine line of notebooks. Known for their quality and their sleek design, these notebooks are sweeping the nation.
Wanting to see what all the hype was about, I’ve decided to run a little experiment. I have recently purchased three Moleskine notebooks. The project will run like this, I am going to carry a Moleskine wherever I go and use it in as many ways as possible. Then, after each week or so I will report back to my lovely readers here on how useful the Moleskine is.
Moleskine’s have a supposedly ‘legendary’ history, which is described on a little insert that comes with every notebook Moleskine sells: Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
September 7th, 2007 Josh
Lifehacker has put together an awesome collection of tools to help you manage the chaos that defines college. The list includes everything from facebook apps to the Google scholar search.
This list is packed with the kind of productivity increasing, life organizing, satisfaction providing tools that we all love.
Check it out:
Top 10 Back to School Tools for the Organized Student [Lifehacker]
Posted in Computers / Internet, Productivity, Better Living | No Comments »
September 5th, 2007 Josh
People always say it is the ‘little things’ in life that make you happier. Well, here are 7 of them that take only a few minutes to do and will certainly brighten your day. Go ahead, smile.
1. Listen to a few songs from your favorite old Disney movie
Everyone has fond memories of their favorite Disney cartoons. Personally, I like Aladdin, The Lion King, and Beauty and the Beast. After a long day a little ‘Circle of Life’ or ‘Gaston’ will pick me right back up.
Don’t already have the mp3s of these classics? Check out my guide to finding mp3s with Google.
2. Do someone else an unexpected favor
You always feel good after doing something nice for someone you care about, or even a perfect stranger. In this case, your motivation is a bit selfish - but hey, it’s a win-win situation.
3. Call your grandma
Those we love can make us feel happy with only the sound of their voice. Give your grandmother a ring, or any other relative of your choosing. It will make them happy to know you were thinking of them, and you can share a recent accomplishment or story and feel good about it. No one is more proud than our grandma’s.
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Posted in Better Living | 4 Comments »
September 4th, 2007 Josh
One of my favorite blogs, ZenHabits.net, has posted an excellent article written by guest writer and fellow student Scott Young.
The post is every college student’s dream, how to learn more and get better grades while spending less time studying. The article introduces this idea by stating “Time spent studying does not equal learning.” In other words, it isn’t just how long you study but rather how you study that matters.
A sampling from the post:
Holistic Learning
Smart people don’t just learn better. They learn differently. While many students get caught up in memorizing facts, intelligent learners know to seek the bigger picture and connect the facts together. This form of learning I call holistic learning.
Sound too good to be true? After reading the post I don’t think so, but check it out yourself with the link below:
How to Learn More and Study Less [zenhabits.net]
Posted in Studying, School Tips | 1 Comment »
September 3rd, 2007 Josh
Sleep is a vital part of our lives. While a good night’s sleep can leave you relaxed, energized, and ready to start the day, a bad night of sleep can leave you miserable.
We’ve all been there - you lay in bed for hours, knowing that if you don’t fall asleep soon you will have an awful day. And then, an hour before class or that big meeting, you finally do fall asleep - only to be awoken an hour later by your alarm to start what will surely be a long, long day.
The good news is that this scenario can be avoided. Following the steps in this guide will help you have a good night of sleep, and a great day. Everyday.
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Posted in Health, Better Living | 5 Comments »
August 31st, 2007 Josh
Well, for most us here at the University of Michigan school is starting just around the corner. For many others, school has already begun.
With this in mind, I’ve decided to write out some tips and ideas for the much anticipated, or much dreaded, first day of class.
- Be Organized Have your books together, folders at the ready, and schedule printed before the morning of the first day of class. This will allow you to feel relaxed and prepared as you enter your first class. Forgetting something to write on - or never making to class in the first place because you forgot the room number - are common first day stresses that can be avoided.
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August 25th, 2007 Josh
Some of the best advice I ever received was to sit in the front row of large lectures. Doing so has countless advantages, and I think it is a great way to stay interested in lecture material and even boost your grades. The upgrade to the front row is, in addition to being a change in your physical location, a change in your mental state.
Some of the benefits of this easy change include:
- It is easier to pay attention You will be less likely to fall asleep, chat with your friend, or do the crossword in your school paper if you are right in front of the professor. Consequently, you will take more complete notes and more fully understand the lecture.
- Better comprehension If you are in the front row of your lecture hall, it will be easier to understand your professor and the lecture material. It will likely be easier to hear. Perhaps more importantly, you can pick up on body language and changes in inflection that are lost on the best row. These subtle clues can be excellent indicators of what is important - and what will be on the test.
- More personal Being in the front row helps you feel like you are in a more intimate setting with the professor. He or she may even start to recognize you, making it easier to head to office hours for extra help or feel comfortable asking a question after lecture.
- Better grades Combining all the above benefits, you can easily see how your GPA will be benefited by sitting in the front way. What an easy way to boost your grades!
Reflecting on the benefits of sitting in the front row, I’ve realized that this attitude of putting yourself in a position to succeed works for not only class, but for life in general.
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