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  • Staying Healthy During Exam Season

    Staying Healthy During Exam Season

    Exam season is easily one of the most stressful times of the year for students. For some, it might even be the worst.  Now image how bad the season would be if you were sick! To prevent this, it’s important that you’re taking the necessary steps to cater to your health. Below are some tips to help you survive that dreaded time of year. And even if exam season has passed for you (thank goodness), just keep these tips in mind for the next time around.

    When it comes to exam season, sleep is almost always the first thing that goes out the window for students. It doesn’t have to be this way! If you set your schedule up properly, you can find yourself catching a full night’s worth of sleep every day! The key to this is studying in advance. Far too many students begin studying for two or three days before the actual exam. Because of this, they find themselves pulling consecutive all-nighters. If you begin studying about a week in advance, you can spread your notes across more days and you’ll have with a few more hours each day to allocate to sleep! Also, don’t be afraid to take a nap once in a while. If you find yourself dozing off every other minute, you’re probably not retaining any information. In this case, you might as well just take a quick nap to re-charge yourself.

    Believe it or not, a lot of students actually refuse to sleep at all because they fear sleeping in for an exam and missing it! Although it’s a valid concern, it’s definitely not healthy. Instead of pulling an all-nighter out of fear, set several alarms or ask a friend to set an alarm then give you a wake up call! This works especially well if you’ve got a roommate.

    Your brain is like a giant battery that needs to be recharged often enough to keep it functioning properly. With all the craziness of exam week, many students forget to eat properly, opting for highly caffeinated beverages and chocolate bars instead. Not only is this unhealthy, but it will also work out for the worst in the end. Your body and your brain will be running low on energy which will ultimately reduce the amount of time that you can stay alert and retain information. To give yourself the energy that you need, take some time out of studying to have a well-balanced meal. In fact, you should set a daily schedule for eating so that you make sure you’re on the right track. It’s far too easy to get lost in the notes and readings that you have to do and forget about your healthy

    One of the most important things that students forget to do is cater to their mental health. With hours of endless studying on the schedule, it’s easy to find yourself feeling down. If this is the case for you, take a few minutes every now and then to treat yourself!  Spending a few minutes with some friends or doing a bit of exercise will make you feel far more energized. You’ll be able to get back to your studies with a refreshed mind and perhaps a smile on your face too!

     

  • What is a PhD?

    What is a PhD?

    When you meet people who are called “doctor,” you expect them to be able to help cure illnesses and fix broken bones. Sometimes, however, doctors can be researchers, fundraisers or consultants. These people are not medical doctors but instead have doctorates (PhDs) in a field such as literature, philosophy, chemistry or business.

    In many cases, a PhD or doctorate is the highest level of education that people can get. Students start by studying for three or four years to get a Bachelor’s degree. If they want to go on to further education, they take another year or two to get a Master’s degree. Usually, this degree involves writing a long paper called a thesis. Many people stop their studies at this point, but sometimes they continue on to get a doctorate or PhD.

    Basically, the two degrees are the same. Both of them require the student to take classes and to do research on a subject that they choose. When they finish their research they write a long essay called a dissertation. Usually, dissertations for PhD degrees tend to focus on theory but dissertations for doctorates tend to be more practical. A PhD dissertation, for example, might be about the theory of how languages are related to each other. A doctoral dissertation might be about how the theories of language relate to teaching English to speakers of other languages.

    When do people need to get a PhD or doctorate? It depends on where they are working and what they want to do with their careers. Because of the theoretical focus of most PhD programs, the connection with specific jobs is not always clear. However, many PhD graduates can find work in research or teaching. In many universities, professors are required to have PhDs or doctorates in order to get a job. A PhD is also very useful for researchers since it helps them develop the skills they need to do their work and to record and write about the results.

    Before you decide to get a PhD or a doctorate, you need to decide if the degree is right for you. Are you ready for years of studying after high school? For many people, getting Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD degrees takes ten years or more. University courses can be expensive, and all of those years of study can leave people in debt. Job opportunities can also be limited, especially in university teaching positions. However, options are also open in many other fields. Graduates of PhD and doctoral programs work in government departments, business, finance, community development, education and technology.

     

  • Would You Benefit from a Tutor?

    Would You Benefit from a Tutor?

    Many students will experience difficulties with academic subjects at some point during their academic career, but all universities provide some type of resources to help during those times.

    Professors are probably the best people to ask when you need some clarification about something, but they usually have limited office hours. In that case, your school’s resource centre is your best bet to finding more accessible help. Hiring a tutor through your school also means a higher likelihood that the person is a reputable tutor and could even be offered at a subsidized cost to you.

    You can find a tutor outside of your school, but consider taking the extra time to ensure the person you hire is in fact knowledgeable in the field and understands the tutee/tutor relationship in order to be worth the money you are paying.

    “I think it depends on how much help one needs as a tutee. If one is lagging behind in a class and wanting to catch up, then tutoring will be helpful as it re-teaches the material; but if one needs tutoring for a specialized personal need or wants to excel in an area, then tutoring is only useful if the tutor is competent and one-on-one, and most tutors are not competent enough for that”, said Virginia Zhao, 4th year UBC student.

    “To that effect, I don’t find tutoring helpful in most situations. When I need help, instead of asking for a tutor, I ask for ‘higher authorities’ such as teachers [and] professors…they are more helpful and efficient than peers” continued Zhao.

    For more specialized purposes, such as wanting to start building a foundation for a particular career while still in school, you might consider working with a mentor. Mentors – whether you work with them in your job or at school – have proven to expand knowledge, help narrow down focus and improve decision-making in their mentees.

    Colleges and universities might have mentorship programs in place where students are carefully matched to their mentors to ensure both parties will gain value from the experience. If a student is even more certain about what they want to do when they finish post-secondary they should consider becoming members of the related associations and join programs where mentorship is available.

    “My mentor was easy to get along with and was very helpful in refining my technical skills” Marko Martic, IT Diploma graduate from BCIT, said. “I Kept in touch with my mentor even after I was done my program and he introduced me to a network of people in my field that eventually helped me find my job”.

    “Maybe one day I’ll have the opportunity to be a mentor and help someone like my mentor helped me – there are always mentees looking for mentors and more people will see the benefits once they get into it” Martic said.

  • Studying Actually Works!

    Studying Actually Works!

    It seems like a no-brainer, but when I was in high school I never took the time to actually study effectively. As I got older, I knew I had to take things a lot more seriously and I was going to have to study.

    As you prepare to enter junior high or high school, you might be wondering about tests and exams. How exactly are you supposed to plan for them, especially if you’ve heard horror stories from your older siblings about exam time?

    To be truly honest, studying really is not difficult – and it works! The first time I got back a test in high school with a 100%  grade after I took the time to study effectively, I knew that I had been overreacting about the stress of studying. All that it really takes is time management, good notes and planning.  The following are some tips for effective studying – from an ex-procrastinator:

    1. Take Notes: Though this may seem like an obvious point, a lot of students do not take effective notes. Make sure to pay attention and link back certain class discussions or topics to pages in your text for further reference. That way you can get a full picture of the subject at hand. I also write my notes as if I am trying to explain that day’s class to someone else.
    2. Read Over Your Notes: I never understood the concept of this in high school, put it really does help sink in all the information you learned. It’s good to either go over the previous day’s notes before class starts, or to go over notes right after the class ends.
    3. Ask Questions and Make Note of the Answers: Don’t be afraid to approach the teacher during or after class to get more insight on your lesson of the day.

    Don’t worry – you’ll be a pro in no time!

  • Note Taking: Not as Scary as You Might Think!

    Note Taking: Not as Scary as You Might Think!

    Taking notes is a formidable task for students in high school and college. There is a lot of information to take in daily from each class, and that amounts to a lot of writing. But fear not, young student! With the following tips, you will soon have bountifully overflowing notebooks filled with all sorts of useful knowledge. First things first, however: why take notes at all when there are textbooks available?

    There is a huge difference between writing a sentence and reading it. For instance, you finished reading that sentence in likely a quarter to a third of the time it took for me to write it. If I had written it by hand, the gap would be even larger. When you write out your notes as opposed to just reading them in a textbook, it is like eating with chopsticks instead of a fork. This is because you are eating more slowly and giving yourself time to digest every bite. When you pay attention to the things you’re writing and think about them more, you’ll have achieved what every student strives for: retention of information. Retention is when you keep something in your memory. Instead of just passing through your mind in that moment, you will remember it later. But taking notes is boring, right? You might think so, but it does not have to be.

    Depending on how you prefer to learn, you can make your notes as detailed as you want. However, they should be understandable to you. Styles range from writing down keywords under main points to drawing and labelling pictures. When you are in class, try out a few different methods. Do you like your pages neat and organized with headings for every point? Perhaps you like to have your sub-points all aligned neatly down the page for easy reading. Or maybe you prefer a mind map, with the central idea in the middle with each concept in an offshoot of its own. As long as it is understandable and gets the important points of what you are learning across, then those notes work for you.

    The next logical step, then, is using the notes you have created. They have already been of benefit to you with regard to recalling information, as already discussed. However, you will likely take a lot of notes between tests and there is no way you will remember everything simply because you wrote it down. If your notes meet the above criteria of being understandable and containing the knowledge you will need to do well on your exam, they will be easier to study because you created them yourself. Because of this, you are much more likely to succeed when you take and use notes in class.

    So don’t be afraid of taking notes. With a little organization and practice, they will be of great used to you. Try it out for yourself to see just how easy it can be.

  • Study What You Love

    Study What You Love

    At any level of education, it is important for students to take courses that are interesting and enjoyable. This is especially true in the first year or two of college. Many students enter college with no idea what they want to do after they receive their diploma, and that’s okay! The purpose of going to college is of course to achieve a degree, but also to explore your identity and discover what your passions are. General education courses in college are designed to allow students to dip their feet into different subjects in order to test the waters. Taking these basic courses could turn interests into passions, or help students to discover passions they never even knew they had.

    As an example, if you excelled in English and writing in high school, but are unsure on how to apply those skills in college, a basic creative writing course could be beneficial. You may find you have a knack for fiction writing or poetry. Sometimes required general education courses are seen as a nuisance, but you just might find that random course on your schedule to be your new favorite subject. If you have never studied psychology before, and find yourself fascinated by the way the mind works, that random class could lead to a rewarding career path.

    Colleges that require a variety of general education courses, or introductory courses, produce graduates with a broad spectrum of knowledge. These days, employers are looking for well-rounded employees who can adapt to different situations and challenges. Graduates are more likely to succeed in the real world if they have been introduced to several different subjects in college. Adding diversity to your schedule will allow you to meet different people and learn new things. It may also lead to interest in on-campus organizations, and allow you to be more involved at your school, which always looks good on a resume. Not only will taking enjoyable classes lead to career discovery and success, but you will be happier too. You will look forward to going to class, and you will be more eager to learn new material.

    If nothing else, taking interesting and enjoyable courses is important to finding the correct career path for you. For a student, the best possible outcome of graduating with a degree is to find themselves with not only a job but a career they love. College is a lot of work, so the reward of a good career is well deserved. There is nothing worse than rolling out of bed in the morning and groaning at the thought of going to work. If you study what you love and pursue your passions, you will end up with a fulfilling career and a happy life.

  • Study More Effectively with Art

    Study More Effectively with Art

    It is a daunting task to study for a multi-chapter unit test. Besides the final exam, those are the tests that every high school student dreads – no matter how good their grades are. Many students have their own tried-and-true methods of study, while many others are still searching for the right method for them. Have you ever thought about using art when you study to help you remember things?

    When I was in grade eleven, one of my teachers had us make study guides. They were to include everything we needed to remember for each unit test. We were allowed to put whatever we wanted on it, as long as it fit on one side of a piece of paper. The first one I ever made was a work of art: it was probably the most colourful non-art assignment I’ve ever turned in.

    I came to realize that with that method of study, I was remembering more than ever. Suddenly, memorizing pages of vocabulary, trying to remember the parts of a diagram, and writing out textbook definitions word for word seemed boring. Limited to the space of one page, I quickly had to learn to condense information.

    I eventually came up with a system in three parts: replacing words and phrases with symbols, using illustrations to replace paragraphs, and colour coding the parts that I did wind up writing.

    Use a set of symbols that are meaningful to you. Not only will it be less boring when you are reviewing your notes, but the extra brain power you use to remember what the symbols mean will help you to recall that information in the future. The more complicated, but definitely more fun, part is the illustrating.

    Do not let a lack of faith in your artistic abilities stop you. No matter how well you can draw, even if it is just stick figures, you can use illustrations effectively. After all, they are there for your benefit. As long as you understand the concept, you have done what you have set out to do. If a few arrows and a vaguely-drawn map of North America help you to remember where vital battles took place? Excellent. A few scribbled lines and some swirls to show how ocean currents work? Wonderful! When you draw it out yourself, you are far more likely to retain the information you have put down than if you had stared at it on the page of a textbook.

    Next comes highlighting. Since you will need some words in your notes, why not come up with a colour-coding system? In my study guide, I would put a small legend on the side containing not only the above-mentioned symbols, but also what each colour meant.

    Try using a different colour for headings and subheadings, vocabulary words and definitions, and concepts you have difficulty remembering. Everything will be a lot easier to find when you know what colour to look for.

    Try it out sometime. Use it for the next big test you have. You might discover some hidden talents, and maybe even find studying enjoyable. You may realize that merely creating the study sheet is enough and never refer to it again. Maybe that unit test won’t be so daunting after all.

  • Study Techniques

    Study Techniques

    It’s been a long, tiring Tuesday. Finally the bell rings and you’re set “free,” only to return home to that ever-growing pile of homework that’s waiting for you on your bedroom floor. You know – that pile of assignments that are all due tomorrow, just before the big cumulative math exam. Your mind is exhausted and you don’t want to drink any more disgusting coffee that will surely give your hands the uncontrollable shakes. You wonder how you’ll ever be able to focus into the wee hours of the night.

    Perhaps you could try a study method called the Pomodoro Technique – so named for the tomato timer that helps you balance the amount of time that you spend studying with the amount of time you stop for a break.

    Though it may seem counterintuitive to allow yourself extra breaks in such a “last-minute” crunch, some people who use the technique claim that regular breaks are exactly what you need to improve productivity and concentration.

    Here’s how it works:

    1. Decide on the task to be done. Take one assignment out of your pile of homework and prepare to attack it mentally!
    2. Work on the task for 25 minutes. This is where the timer could come in handy. Proponents of the Pomodoro Technique say the ticking of the timer actually helps you to focus because it makes your desire to complete the task physically present. Similarly, the act of winding the timer up confirms your determination to complete the task.
    3. Break for 3 to 5 minutes. After 25 minutes, the timer will ring to announce a break. Stand up, stretch, do some jumping jacks, breathe deeply, take a bathroom break, have a glass of water, etc.
    4. Then rewind that timer and get back to work for another 25 minutes.
    5. Every four 25-minute phases, (which, including the breaks, will add up to about two hours) you should take a slightly longer break (15-30 minutes) before you start studying again.

    Try to practice the study technique, or your own alternative variation, before you’re buried alive in assignments!

  • Practicing Time Management

    Practicing Time Management

    Time management is a problem for many people because there are so many distractions in our day-to-day lives that can interfere with whatever goals we have to accomplish that day, week or year. Often we can have a to-do list, but none of the items end up getting done because we get caught up in doing everything but what we are supposed to be doing. Sometimes, when there is too much to do, we feel especially challenged to make the most of our time. When we are short on time and have a lot to do, we must learn to prioritize.

    This means cutting off some of the less important things and focusing our energy on accomplishing what is the most important. Making lists that order your tasks from most important to least important is a really good trick that can save time and keep you on track. The worst scenario, when short on time, is wasting your energy worrying about everything that you have to do. What you want to do is get down to work as soon as possible, as soon as you are finished drawing out what it is that you are needing to get done.

    If, for example, you have 5 assignments that need to get done, focusing on the assignment that is due next week is more important than focusing on the assignment that is due in two months. You may want to create a short list of the tasks that you want to get done and order them by nearest date to farthest date. Think about how long it will take you to accomplish each one of the tasks, and jot this down next to the due date. Create a schedule for when you will start working on the task and how much time you will devote to it. By doing this, you are assuring that you will not forget about one project in favor of focusing on another or getting distracted entirely.

    If you are really crunched for time, you may also want to include what grade you are expecting to get on each one of the assignments so that you can put a little more time and care into the ones that will mean more to get a good mark on. In this way you will not be wasting your time doing too much research on an assignment for which a good grade will not mean much to you, or for which the overall weighting of the assignment is minimal.

    One last way of practicing good time management is to avoid procrastinating. Often, if we have a lot to do, we may be tempted to do anything but what it is that we are supposed to be doing. This is a natural tendency and we all do it at some point. The important thing to remember is that facing your challenge head on will actually facilitate the task and make it that much easier to complete. By making a list and prioritizing what is the most important (and the least important), we face the challenge head on and avoid procrastinating.

  • Getting Organized

    Getting Organized

    As we face another semester, the importance of getting organized is hugely evident. Whether you’re in Grade 9 or Grade 12, you are going to want to be sure that you know at least 4 pieces of information going in to this semester:

    1. What classes are you taking this semester? This question is really important for being able to prepare mentally for what is coming. If you know that you have five intensive classes, you are going to want to be sure to organize your social and extracurricular activities so that you have enough time to do homework. If you are also going to be working, you will want to be sure that you have organized your schedule to accommodate the extra stress of the difficult classes. This works the opposite way as well – if you have a lighter school schedule, you can pack more extracurricular and volunteer activities in to your schedule.

    2. Do you have all of the school supplies that you will need for the level of classes that you will be taking?
    Depending on what your semester has in store for you, you will need to make sure that you have at least the basics when it comes to school supplies, and you can wait until the first week of school to pick up any specialty supplies that you may need for an art or math class.

    3. Do you have a study spot that will be useful to you once the semester starts?
    Clearing off the holiday clutter from your desk will help you to start getting into “school mode”. You want to be somewhat mentally prepared for going back to school after the holiday break so that when your first assignment is due, you are ready to succeed. Feng Shui is the Japanese art of meditation and stress relief that says that having a calm environment helps to create calm in one’s mind. This is a useful tip to employ for your study area; try to keep it clean and organized so that your mind is less distracted when you need to focus.

    4. What are your rewards and landmarks along the way that will help you to keep going?
    School days can be tiring, especially if you are loaded down with courses that are heavy or difficult. You are still going to need to take some time off and make sure you allow time to have fun. Maybe your family is planning a vacation for spring break, or maybe you’ll go on a weekend shopping trip with friends. Whatever it is that you are looking forward to, be sure that you have those dates firmly implanted in your mind.When you are starting to feel stressed out, you will be able to persist because you know that you have something good to look forward to. If you don’t have anything planned, then plan something now!