Guest Post: Madison Hewerdine is an author who writes about health insurance attorneys and has a passion for dancing.
Picking out your college classes can sometime be just as stressful and hectic as picking from the many different health insurance attorneys. You have to first figure out which classes you are required to take, these are normally called general classes. The general classes are required but you still have to figure out the timing to fit them into your schedule. You then have to figure out what classes you want to take each semester for your major and minor. Only after you have finished these can you figure out the classes you want to take for fun or for extra help.
Here are some tips to help you as you’re figuring out your class schedule:
- Use the required classes as a base. As you are going through trying to pick out your classes, pick out and map out the classes you are required to take first. These include your generals and the classes you need for your major.
- Map out a four year plan. Before you sign up for classes you should map out a four year plan. Then each year after you originally map it out you modify it each semester you sign up for classes. You modify it to make sure it is accurate in what you are required to take and what you have already taken.
- Make a list and prioritize. Make a list of the classes you want to take and put it next to your list of required classes. Prioritize the classes or rank them according to what classes are most important. After this you will be able to figure out where you can make sacrifices as far as your classes and scheduling goes.
- Ask around. Once you have figured out what classes you need and want to take you have to figure out the scheduling and the teachers. Sometimes you will not be able to pick a teacher or a time that you want but you should try to make it work the best you can. However, when you can choose your teachers and the times of classes, ask around. Ask others about the teachers you have and what they think about them.
- Go to class. Go to more classes than you need the first day. You will get to see all the different classes and teachers and be able to choose better what you want for yourself. After you decide, you can drop the classes you don’t want to keep.
As the U.S.’s largest independent city and home to some of the world’s biggest and most successful companies, Baltimore is a city of great opportunity. However, it’s also a city with some serious competition, and if you want to make more money, business school is an invaluable step on the way to financial success.
Here are just five of the ways that business school can help you excel in your career:
1. Enhanced resume – It almost goes without saying, but any candidate with a reputable business school on his or her resume is going to stand out against someone who doesn’t. Not only can it help you get the job when vying against other candidates, but this credential and the experience you gain by participating in the program can help you qualify for higher level jobs, many of which start at a higher pay rate.
2. Connections – Perhaps one of the best parts of business school is the connections and relationships you build while you’re there. The friends and acquaintances you meet while in school can often result in opportunities both when you graduate and years down the road.
3. Practice – Even if you’ve already been in the business world, school can give you invaluable training in dealing with situations you may not have encountered in your previous experience. You’ll learn how to solve problems faster and more efficiently, and you’ll be prepared for anything that could come your way. It can also give you a deeper understanding of other departments and fields in business so you can work more effectively with coworkers and other associates.
4. Higher pay – As one would imagine, more highly qualified candidates start jobs with larger salaries. But, did you know that many businesses will give current employees a raise too if they complete an educational course? Even if your company doesn’t volunteer this perk, going to business school gives you leverage in your next evaluation so you can bargain for a bigger salary increase.
5. Ability to move up – Many companies hold certain positions only for candidates with certain degrees. If you’re just starting at a company, graduating business school shows that you will be able to move up in the company so you can be put on that track. If you’re already working, business school can give you the boost you need to get that big promotion.
From international corporations like Under Armour to national sports teams like the Orioles to the hundreds of bustling local Baltimore businesses, the opportunity is there. The question you have to ask yourself is simply, “How are you going to take advantage of it?” For many people, the answer is business school in Baltimore.
If you are one of the few college students who are aiming for excellence in their classes then you should be aware that it doesn’t include procrastination and in addition you must do the following –
- Always show up to your classes. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you can learn all by yourself. Professors often go over the study materials the next day after giving it the day before. You fail to learn major things if you don’t attend classes specifically topics and ideas you have not quite grasped yet.
- Look at your instructor’s office hours as your window of opportunity. Many professors are given with office hours to assist students with problems or clarify questions about the study material given. This is your chance of having a tutorial-like discussion with him or her.
- Always read textbooks. It is bothersome but if you are aiming to excel in your class then you must face this challenge once and for all. Reading textbooks allows you to be ahead of the game and enables you to maximize the learning time you have in class.
Finally, do not forget to take down notes because even when you can’t afford to buy textbooks you can still maximize your learning experience by taking advantage of the information you get from class. It helps you to slowly understand difficult concept which will give you leverage when the examination time comes around. Your notes are the number one weapon you can wield during crunch time.
The mere fact that you’re taking down notes means you wanted to retain the information you wrote down. With that said, you should know exactly what you need to write down otherwise you’ll end up with too much garbage in the information you tried to acquire.
- Identify what’s new to you. There is no point writing down something that you already know. Why will you write down the information you’ve known from the heart?
- Determine whether your professor will most likely use the information later. Focus on things that directly demonstrate the lesson you’re studying including pertinent names, places and dates.
- Tricky information. We are well aware that our professors always try to trigger our logical mind by setting out traps and tricky questions in their examination. More often than not, the answers to these traps are given out during their lectures – not in the book. If you are particularly keen about observing such habits then it will be easier for you to crack it down.
- Side comments. Sometimes, side comments are ignored or considered unnecessary. However, most practical questions and answers can be found on side comments whether during lectures or books.
- Doubts. Your doubts and questions are the best source of useful information especially when you are faced with a tough exam ahead. There is not a single student in existence without questions about a certain lesson. If you have doubts, write it down and verify it in your research later on.
There is no easier way to face college than to plunge into it headlong.
Most students worry about making the best out of their semester which is usually gauge by the lessons you have learned throughout. But a more important thing is – how?
Organization This is usually self-explanatory for college students who have a hard time coping with time management and even studying. But here are some practical things you can follow –
•Take notes – “A dull pencil is better than a sharp mind.” This is usually one of the greatest adages that you can follow about studying and learning. There are things that your sharp mind tends to miss later on but when you write everything down on your notebook or post-it papers you enhance your chance at remember it later on.
•Agenda list – It is important that you make a regular weekly list of itinerary. Your agenda should give you sense of direction and purpose making everything better every day.
•Real time inbox – This is a figurative term which simply refers to a permanent place in your room or apartment where you study. This is where you will place all your notes, books and assignment papers.
•Get to know your professors – Search engines usually give you short biography on your teachers. Alternatively and more accurately, you can search about them in your school library. Learn about their research interests and knowledge.
•Study partner/mentor – The secret to success is not about being alone but being able to find someone who can understand your habits and study style.
“In life, you take the exam first before you learn but in college you learn first before taking the exam.”
There are two primary skills that you need to practice and learn about namely –
- Time management
- Deduction
Time Management
When you are taking a written exam, the first thing you need to do is to allocate an enough time for you to complete the total items of the exam. This is what proper time management is all about. If you don’t allocate enough time for each of the item, you wouldn’t have enough time to think. The best things that you can do include –
Sort out the Exam Questions
There are three categories by which you can divide the sets of questions during an exam but even though this takes time the end result is usually worth it. The three categories include –
- Questions you know well (easy questions)
- Questions you know better (moderately hard)
- Questions you know nothing about (hard questions)
If you go through the examination items, answer the easy questions first since they usually don’t take too much time followed by the moderately hard questions. More importantly, allot more time on the hard questions since they would usually take time to answer.
Do not leave any items blank especially on items that you know nothing about. Sometimes, the best guess is the best answer rather than leaving the space blank.
Deduction
The power of deduction is usually related to answering questions especially in the moderately hard and hard questions. By using this skill, you will be able to arrive at an answer that most people would call “educated guess.” Deduction merely takes off two erroneous answers basing on factors.
Generally, it is not good for the eyes to read while on the road. Well, I beg to differ – most of the time we spend at least 30 minutes walking to get to our classes.
Thirty minutes can make a big difference in your learning experience. Here’s how to be productive while commuting –
- Listen to audio books, podcasts and class recordings – It has been proven that listening can significantly improve your knowledge base. It helps you discover the things you might have missed before.
- Always keep flash cards with you all the time – Flash cards are easy to read and it doesn’t even take 30 minutes to cover everything.
- List your priorities for the day – You can list on a piece of paper your itineraries for the day so that it is easier for you to stay on track.
- Proofread your papers – You can scan your papers and check for grammatical, spelling and sentence construction errors.
- Scan class notes – Reading while you are on the move is a big no-no thus it is better to scan your notes or probably take a peek on highlighted texts.
- Return calls and text messages – If you missed some calls and messages, the great time to respond or take a call is during your commute.
Finally, learning how to relax through breathing techniques while you are commuting is a great way to become productive.
