Foolproof steps to accomplishment. Coming from a student that worked two part-time jobs while taking a full course load of 18 credits: college is tough. You're busy worrying about your future post-graduation while juggling all of your classes, internships, jobs, family, friends, and everything else that life piles on top of you. The good news is that with focus, success is possible! Make your boss happy, spend time with the people that matter, and watch those As roll in. Balance with Baby Steps: To truly succeed at managing your busy schedule, start with building on what you can handle. Having trouble memorizing terms for that big test? Go slowly and take them two or three at a time. Overwhelmed at your job or internship? Prioritize your work -- get the most important assignments out of the way first before beginning the next. Do your friends suggest going out on your study day? Reschedule that movie night for the weekend after your midterm. Make time. Stick to Simple Studying: Why study harder than you have to? Use tricks like mnemonic devices, word association, or drawings as study aids. When preparing for your next big exam, whether it be for English or Engineering, work through the material in chunks. Before you move on to the next piece of material, make sure you understand the fundamentals (at the very least) of the previous information. Work Within Your Limits: One of the worst things you can do for yourself when you already have a full schedule is to make your life even busier. A good rule of thumb is to make sure you do what's expected of you and only take on additional work that can be completed within reason. If you know you have assignments to finish, don't volunteer for that extra shift. Go above and beyond when you're able, but don't stretch yourself so thin that there aren't enough hours in the day to accomplish everything. Can't wait for more tips on navigating your budding adult life? Check back here at College Quest for more! WRITTEN BY Samantha Storms Hofstra University Despite her last name, this senior journalism and publishing student doesn't have dreams of becoming a weather forecaster upon graduation from Hofstra University. She is currently exploring her love of language as a Media Editorial Intern for the psychology team at Macmillan Learning. A true Pittsburgher through and through, Samantha enjoys knitting, listening to eighties pop, and searching for the best pho spots. ... View more

What do you really know? We've all seen the countless TV shows and movies that depict college as either magical or as a life-sentence in prison. Although sometimes the latter is true, most of the time real-life college is completely different from what is shown on TV. Keep reading to find out what are myths and what is real: You are stuck with whatever major you chose in your college applications: MYTH Colleges don't expect all freshmen to know exactly what they want their future careers to be so changing your major is more common than sticking with your original major which is why all colleges require you to take general education courses to help you discover a new interest or major. Everyone gains the "freshman 15": MYTH I get it, free food everywhere and no elder to tell you to put down the 18th cupcake, but most campuses offer healthy alternatives which are sometimes better than eating the same ramen for the fifth day in a row. Professors don't care about their students: MYTH College professors in movies are depicted as cruel, bitter monsters that enjoy failing students. You'll most likely find more professors that want to make a difference in their student's lives through education and want to network with for future career opportunities. Textbooks will break your bank: MYTH If you buy textbooks from the bookstore, then you probably will break your bank account. Renting books is a cost-saving solution and easier than selling back your books at the end of the semester. Check out Macmillan's Student Store to find out about how you can save a fortune on textbooks! Dorm Life is awful: MYTH/TRUTH Certain aspects of dorm life can be challenging like 3 a.m. fire alarms, noisy neighbors, and communal bathrooms. Most dorms have "quiet hours" during the week to study or sleep so don't worry about noisy dorm parties 24/7. College is where you'll meet your forever friends: TRUTH Meeting your lifelong friends is one of the only things that the media gets right about college life. Whether it be your freshman year or your senior year, you'll make some of the best memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. There are certain things that the media does get right: college is where you find your true identity and make lasting memories. WRITTEN BY Rebecca Connolly Hofstra University Rebecca is a senior marketing major at Hofstra University. Originally from Colchester, Connecticut, she loves exploring New York City and finding all the best food. You can usually find her anywhere that serves pizza, buffalo wings, or chocolate milkshakes while panicking over her post-graduation future. ... View more

A message from those who made it. Dear Stressed Out Student, I am writing to you today to help you get through that point in every semester when it seems that all your professors plot together to give you an exam, project, and assignments due in the same week in every single class. Luckily, there are some ways to prevent getting overly stressed out during this inevitable week of pure horror. Organize Using an app like myHomework Student Planner will help you organize all scheduled assignments and exams. Organizing tasks most likely will help you feel like your workload is under-control and less stressful to think about. Prioritize My advice is to prioritize all the big-ticket items first (term papers, group projects, final exam prep) and leave the small-valued assignments to the end. Prioritizing helps remove the need to rush to finish something that has a heavy weight on your final grade by devoting your time and energy to the more important tasks. Plan Ahead Busy the weekend before a big exam? Plan ahead some time to study before your weekend plans so you aren't cramming the night before. Space out your study time over the course of a week to allow a proper understanding of the material. Allow yourself breaks Taking breaks from any task is valuable in retaining focus, as found in a 2008 study on retention rates. Giving yourself 15 to 30 minutes breaks will help you stay focused for longer periods of time. Use this time to eat, nap, or exercise to free your mind. Don't overstudy You may feel the need to overstudy but it could have negative effects on your studying ability. Overstudying can cause you to easily lose focus, increase in anxiety, and the inability to sleep due to an overactive brain from stress. Once you feel like you have a deep understanding of the topic, stop studying, and take a break. Don't procrastinate Not procrastinating is easier said than done, but it's the easiest way to prevent stress. Give yourself personal deadlines of when you want something due and then reward yourself with candy, take-out, or an extended nap. It took me 3 full academic years and a few sleepless nights to figure out that not leaving all papers and tests to the day before is an effective way to do well in college. Don't be like me; start being productive early to get into the right kind of habits. Sincerely, The Ones Who Barely Made It Out Alive WRITTEN BY Rebecca Connolly Hofstra University Rebecca is a senior marketing major at Hofstra University. Originally from Colchester, Connecticut, she loves exploring New York City and finding all the best food. You can usually find her anywhere that serves pizza, buffalo wings, or chocolate milkshakes while panicking over her post-graduation future. ... View more

You're not in a classroom, but the work's still piling up. Recently, I was skimming an article on the dangers of cheating services for online classes (What can I say? I like to know what my students might be doing...), and the author gave some alternatives to abusing online classes for people who tended to stress about them. That got me thinking: Are students aware that there is help available to them? Do they know that there are other options besides resorting to cheating in an online class? Many students feel as if there is no other option; they are too stressed with deadlines, life factors, and unrealistic goals to consider the options available to them in helping them succeed throughout their college career. As a TA, observing college freshmen has become a full-time hobby for me, and the reason is not just professional. As I watch these younger students struggle with their new-found freedom and coursework, I'm reminded of all the practical information that they should receive during their first year in higher education. I've never been one for abstract thinking; to me, there needs to be a practical purpose behind everything we do in college. When students begin to advance in their educational journey, online classes become an increasingly popular way to continue college classwork while seemingly taking the "easy" road. While you don't have to be in a physical classroom, online classes, however, can still be stressful. The simple lack of teacher-student interaction can put certain students at a disadvantage, especially if the student does better in a physical classroom. Cheating in an online class can seem like a gigantic help if the student sees no other way of being successful in the class. Being the practical person that I am, I've compiled a list of things students might do instead of resorting to the act that will haunt them for the rest of their college careers. Ask a professor/instructor for advice. Students are painfully unaware at times of just how much they should ask for help/advice when it comes to the online college classroom. Most are afraid of looking incompetent and risk getting the help they need. Here's a secret, however: Professors are here to help you. The majority of them want you to ask questions and to feel comfortable seeking help. Don't understand a discussion group? Ask for help. Can't figure out where to post an assignment? Ask for help. Not 100% sure what the professor is wanting from a certain paper? Ask for help. Nine times out of ten, they'll be incredibly glad that you asked. An effort is extremely appreciated in higher education. Make sure you absolutely have to have this particular online course. Many students make the mistake of taking an online class so it'll be "easier" on them. In a way, it's completely understandable. I've done that myself. However, I've never backed myself into a corner when it comes to the assignments. I know my limit and I don't exceed it. Too many students sign up for an online class and are blown away by the sheer amount of reading or writing. This makes them stressed, puts them behind, and can ultimately lead to cheating in some form or fashion. If you don't need this particular class, don't sign up for it. Know your limits and what you are capable of at this point in your education. Don't be afraid to drop the class. This particular piece of advice could scare some students away. Drop a class? I would never! Hear me out: Instead of struggling and stressing and cheating to stay afloat, just drop the class. Recognize that this isn't the best situation for you. So many students struggle with when to finish college; they are so worried about a specific timeline for their life that they can resort to things that hurt them in the long run. Personally, it took me 14 years to complete my undergraduate degree. I had a kid, worked in the real world for a bit, and then was able to finish. One great thing I learning from the experience? There's no need to rush. I'd rather give 100% and do my very best work than rush myself through the biggest undertaking of my life. While there are other ways to help students navigate the online education waters, these tips are just a few of the ways that students can take a deep breath and hopefully put some thought into their educational decisions. If you are interested in the previously mentioned article on the dangers of cheating in online classes, see https://www.usnews.com/education/online-learning-lessons/articles/2017-01-27/4-dangers-of-cheating-services-for-online-courses. WRITTEN BY Lee Hall University of North Alabama Lee Hall graduated from the University of North Alabama with a degree in English and then decided to pursue a Masters in British Literature. She currently lives in Florence, Alabama but tries to talk her husband daily into moving to Scotland to get her PhD. She is raising an awesome 10-year-old son, along with two cats and two dogs who make her question her sanity. ... View more

Helpful tips and tricks for finals week. Got a big exam coming up but struggle with study skills? Have trouble keeping focus while taking your exam? Do nerves creep up before or during your exam? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then congratulations, welcome to the life of a hardworking student! Life as a student can come with its pain points, but check out a few of our study hacks that are sure to get your synapses sparking, nerves crushed, and your exams aced. Gum and Candy For the Win Don't put it under the desks folks, cause this minty savior could boost you a whole letter grade! Chewing gum or sucking on a piece of candy/cough drop can help alleviate your nerves during a test and stimulate your brain while taking your exam. This is scientifically proven; do some research! Your hippocampus will thank you for it. Jog, Dance, Swim, Leap! Work your brain by working your body! Take about 15 minutes to warm your body up by doing some form of stretches or exercises before your exam. Whether you jog, dance, yoga, swim, jump rope, the choice is yours. Getting your blood pumping will help wake you up and get your brain focused and ready for that big exam! Puzzle Me This Great for the early exams, solving puzzles such as Sudoku help center your focus and wake your brain up, especially if you're not a morning person. Mental exercise is just as important as physical. Put it in Song! Get your vocal cords ready. There are scientific studies that show there is a direct relationship between music and memory. Playing music in the background or coming up with songs, jingles, or rhymes can help you remember fun facts like "in 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue" or how many elements are in the periodic table. Bonus points if you teach your classmates your song. Repetition is key in any form of practice! WRITTEN BY Alyssa Del-Valle Macmillan Learning With a BA in Communications and Music and a "Mouseters" in all things Disney, when not writing fabulous articles this native New Yorker is either making up songs in her head about her daily interactions, practicing voice overs for the next hair care commercial, or munching on Doritos she couldn't resist grabbing at her local bodega. The purple bag is hard to resist. ... View more

Put an end to the procrastination. Managing all of your college classes can be a full-time job, but most college students have to balance their classes with extracurriculars as well. Spending time outside the classroom is a huge part of the college experience. Whether those experiences happen while playing on a sports field, in the chatter of a newsroom, or backstage of a play, it's important to make time for extracurriculars during college, but the question is how exactly can you make that time? Here are three tips for how best to manage your time and balance your coursework with your other activities: Start a calendar Take a moment at the beginning of the semester to sit down with all of your syllabi and your calendar. Get all of your midterms, papers, and major assignment due dates down off the bat. Be sure to add other big dates in there too, like game days or debate weekends. Now is the time to plan ahead - if any weeks look really busy, make sure to get started on things early. Get your readings and problem sets done ahead of time and stay ahead of the ball. Avoid the scroll More often than not, the first thing people do when they sit down to study is to check their social media. Before you know it, you've spent half an hour not getting work done. Planning out when you'll get assignments done is a crucial part of time management in college, but that only works if things go according to plan. Whether you're just getting started or taking a short break, avoid getting pulled into the never-ending scroll of social media.  Use your resources Everyone has classes they struggle with. If you know you have trouble finishing a class's problem sets, understanding the lecture, or tackling a research paper, don't be shy about asking for help. Take advantage of office hours or TA study sessions. The time you take to get your questions answered will be well worth the investment. You'll be able to complete your assignments more quickly and with a lot less frustration. For more student-related articles, check College Quest often. There will be updates throughout the term! WRITTEN BY Isabel McCullough Isabel is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Library and Information Science at Syracuse University in an effort to combine her love of books and old things. When not navigating life as a full-time grad student, Isabel enjoys baking, reading, and acquiring random fun facts. (The average size of a newborn polar bear cub is 2 pounds.) ... View more

What if we told you it actually helps with learning? As a recent graduate, I remember all too well the shivers we would get as students when professors muttered the word "test" or "quiz". If you wanted to hear a symphony of groans, add in the word now and a sea of furrowed brows and hand slams would fill the room. Tests get a bad rap in the academic world nowadays. With test anxiety being shed to light, academia has become aware of the negative effects it can have on students. Some students dislike testing because it makes them question their intelligence with every wrong answer. Others get stage fright, and can't perform under the pressure, time constraints, etc. Not everyone's IQ is defined by a mere test by any means, and some professors have shied away from administering them. For some students, an examination apocalypse would be a dream, but what if I told you that testing could actually be a good thing? It's all about the execution. According to the Scientific American article, Researchers Find That Frequent Tests Can Boost Learning through the psychological process of retrieval practice, the repetitious nature of test-taking actually aids students in retaining knowledge longer-term as opposed to traditional teaching methods (Paul). Retrieval practice, formally known as "the testing effect" argues against the "reading the material and being tested on it later" method, but rather encourages students to learn through the frequent state of testing. Now while consistent testing sounds intense, many do not realize the brain empowered blessings this poses. Studies have shown that when testing a student on the material even before they have had their lecture can improve knowledge retention rates even beyond the final exam. LearningCurve and iClicker are excellent examples of just that. LearningCurve allows students to answer multiple-choice and short answer questions before the actual lecture, making students read the material and answer basic questions on what they read. To continue the testing repetition, using iClicker's REEF Polling can continue the testing habit in a group setting. If more students get in the habit of answering questions based on the material, when it is time to take the official exam, they are more likely to excel and score higher. Paul, Annie Murphy. "Researchers Find That Frequent Tests Can Boost Learning." Scientific American. N.p., 08 July 2015. Web. 24 May 2017. WRITTEN BY Alyssa Del-Valle Macmillan Learning With a BA in Communications and Music and a "Mouseters" in all things Disney, when not writing fabulous articles this native New Yorker is either making up songs in her head about her daily interactions, practicing voice overs for the next hair care commercial, or munching on Doritos she couldn't resist grabbing at her local bodega. The purple bag is hard to resist. ... View more