Advice

Procrastination Rehab

by ashleytwigg on February 8, 2012

This is college. Unfortunately, we all are not “hunkering down” to get our homework or papers done as soon as they are assigned. For many, procrastination is more than just a desperate action- it’s a perfected artform. Working under pressure or against the clock works for some people, but even the best procrastinators have failed once or twice and didn’t manage to pull it all off. Here are some tips to avoid procrastinatination (so you won’t be stuck cramming & missing out on the good stuff).

Make Lists:

I know this makes you feel old, but lists can be very effective. At the beginning of each week, write down everything that is going to be due at some point that week. This way, as of Monday, you are fully aware of the things you must get done. Not only will this help you prioritize, but it will also (hopefully) motivate you.

It Worked as a Kid:

I don’t see the harm in a little self-made reward system. College isn’t easy. Sometimes we have black cloud, twenty-page papers that take oevr our lives. If you’re seriously lacking motivation, make your own! Tell yourself if you complete the assignment, you will treat yourself to manicure or a dinner out with friends. It may seem cheesy, but if you get the work done you’ll have extra time. With that extra time why not spend it on some personal pampering?

Don’t Live in Denial:

I spent the majority of last semester talking loudly over my friend anytime she would mention our final paper. I chose to deny the fact that I would actually have to do it until the time came where I had no other choice but to… TERRIBLE idea. Instead of working on the paper a little at a time, I waited until I was mid-anxiety attack to realize “hey, I should probably start that.”

So, instead of ignoring them (or pretending they aren’t real) try to start ahead of time. Put in a little work here and there and you will be surprised how much you get done. Professors will be impressed if a question comes up along the way because they’ll know how much an overachiever you are for already starting.

Big Project Breakdowns:

Instead of the project leading you to a mental breakdown, you yourself can break down the project ahead of time. Realize the steps that you will need to take along the way to get it done. Ask yourself questions like:

  • Do I need to research anything?
  • Do I need to read an entire book?
  • Do I have to attend any events?

If you break down what needs to be done, you can tackle things one at a time instead of being overwhelmed by everything that is expected of you.

You Got It:

Projects, papers, and final assignments are enough to make you dread an entire semester, but just remember that you WILL make it through. Although, I’m definitely guilty of putting things off, it certainly is a much better feeling knowing you’re ahead of the game instead of ten steps behind. Put in a little extra effort in the beginning and you can be one of “those” people bragging at the end of the semester that your already “ALL DONE!”

 

How do you prevent procrastinating? What are your tactics on getting everything done? Do you think you can be successful procrastinating in college?

 

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Getting into that Class you SHOULD have Registered for

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by emilieflagg on January 23, 2012

Need an extra course this semester, maybe a  prerequisite class? Could it have been that there was a flaw in the registration process, AKA InfoBear registration FAILED to meet your needs? Last semester, a fellow student/friend of mine suggested to just simply “ask the professor if I could get in.” That smarty pants of a friend! I got in, but I didn’t do it without thinking before I acted.  Make sure to do that. Some ideas:

Do you have the “Gift of Gab?”

Do you have a way with words? And if not, do you have a TV so you can watch Frasier and imitate words that are so proper they’ll knock the socks off of any professor you’re trying to charm? Just kidding, you don’t have to watch Frasier and you don’t need to know big words. Actually, big words often sound forced and awkward if they aren’t any of those you use on a daily basis.

Key Words are what you need to know when informing the professor that their class is “critical” “crucial” etc. to your “college career.” These words spark an air of preciseness, assertiveness, and- if you’re lucky- you might even flatter the professor because their class is “crucial” to your “college career.” Politicians are famous for using key words. Love politicians or hate them; the strategy often works.

No Whining

What are you, five?

Don’t worry, I’m only speaking in tune to the hypothetical situation of you whining to a college professor, so don’t take that personally (unless you do decide to whine, in which case do take it personally).  For real: if you walk into the professor’s class/office with your head down while acting like you’re the only student to ever try to break into a class with no vacancy, then there’s a likely chance that the professor will LAUGH IN YOUR FACE.  Not only will you look pathetic, but you won’t succeed. Why? Because this is college, not kindergarten.  So keep your composure and all ready your chances of getting into the course go up.

I know I just said it wasn’t kindergarten, but you can still play pretend.

Professors prefer mature college students who really want to learn , so even if you don’t care in the slightest about the subject matter, pretend you do.  Pretend with all your might that you want to know everything there is to know about mitochondria, for example, and all its other weird and hard-to-spell counter parts. FAKE your enthusiasm! It can do wonders; take it from me.  I mean, who needs to know where is and what is Zanzibar, or how many miles to Chicago or… whoops I lost my own attention. Yet I can easily pretend this sort of stuff is my life’s calling if it’s a necessary vehicle to get to my goal. Learn this.

And in the end, think of it this way: What have you got to lose in trying? It’s a learning experience, and I bet a small portion of why you decided to go to college was just that- to learn.

Did you get into all the classes you wanted/needed? Did you have any conflict with InfoBear?

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IDK, my BFF Siri

by Michelle_Belle6 on November 2, 2011

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The iPhone 4S has made its debut in the tech world, but the true star of the new iPhone show is Siri. This digital personal assistant application is designed to be the state-of-the-art voice recognition app, but, as Steve Jobs’ last legacy, many are asking one question: does it work? Read about Siri before you buy or upgrade to the new iPhone 4S.

Advantages of Siri:

“Finish homework, email professor, buy groceries”

Voice transcription is by far the biggest perk of Siri. A microphone allows you to dictate tweets, texts, notes and emails. Driving is a lot easier when you don’t have to worry about dialing a number. And, if you don’t have a pen or notepad, Siri is nice to have around.

Kids Siri says the darnedest things

While it’s great to have Siri for checking emails, she also provides entertainment. She is quite the conversationalist. Ask her your burning questions about life and wait for a unique and offbeat response. Steven Colbert opened his show, asking Siri to write for him. He faces many failed attempts…but at least he has fun trying.


Disadvantages of Siri:

I’m from Bahston:

New iPhone 4S users are blowing up Apple message boards and customer support phone lines. Unfortunately, Siri is ready to respond to your questions, but only if you speak English, French, or German. Gizmodo.com reports that “the further someone’s voice is from a neutral accent, such as a Southern accent, a Boston accent or a heavy Midwestern accent, the more Siri might get confused.”

Siri is too trusting

Those who designed the new iPhone left behind a security glitch. When the phone is locked, anyone can access Siri- meaning that someone could possibly break into your phone. There is a simple fix for this problem by visiting the phone settings. However, not all users may be aware of this security issue when setting up their phones.

The Outcome:

After hearing about the pros and cons, you are probably still wondering if you should buy. The answer to this question is simple. The iPhone 4S is has newer technology, but the iPhone 4 is not worth getting rid of just yet. Since there are a few hiccups with Siri…why not wait until Apple refines these problems?

Do you have the iPhone 4S? How do you feel about Siri? Are AI assistants the future?

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