Time Management

Going into a new semester in college after a long break is very hard because you have take more time out of your day to put effort in your class work. While still maintaining your everyday life, this could be hard if you have a job due to the amount of things that you have to set time for. The following are a few things that students should ensure that they give themselves a proper amount of time to accomplish or spend time with.:

• Eating three meals a day
• Getting a good amount of sleep
• Having few hours on school work
• Full-time/Part-time job
• Spending time with Family/Friends

These are just a few personal suggestions. If you do not give yourself enough study time then you will not be prepared for class which will lead to not doing well in your classes. An important one out of this list is the proper amount of sleep to give your body. If you wear your body out and push it to the max then when you try to focus it will just shut down on you and nothing you do will seem coherent. The perfect way to set this up is to think about what you need and make a goal for yourself to put forth your effort in accomplishing that goal.

-Caleb Crawford

Study Abroad!!

Most big Universities have the opportunity to travel and study all over the country and this is through a program we call "Study Abroad." This program gives students the capability to travel to what could be their favorite country and spend weeks studying the arts, culture and architectural aspects to the country they visit. It does cost money to be able to do this program however it is much cheaper going through the University then trying to travel to that country on your own because some things are in a package plan that are already paid for when you pay that certain rate. The following link will take you to the page to see the different places you could travel to through studying abroad. http://iec.nku.edu/studyabroad/programs0/study-abroad.html

Here is an article that talks about the advantages of Studying Abroad, and how it can make you smarter. http://time.com/79937/how-studying-or-working-abroad-makes-you-smarter/
No matter where you go the amount of knowledge that you would gain will be unbelievable because you are learning a whole different aspect of life and how other cultures live their everyday life. This is one opportunity that students should save money for and try to find a country that they would always love to go and visit through this wonderful program.

-Caleb Crawford

$Prices for books$

It's not like high school anymore, the professors do not pass out your books to you the first week of classes. When joining college you have some more responsibility to take care of. To ensure you make good grades and maintain a high GPA it is highly recommended that you get the materials required for class. Textbooks are really expensive and take a lot from those students who may not have received much financial aid so it can be difficult at times to get those required books, however you can find cheaper books from different resources.

You can order your textbooks online from sites such as:

•  www.chegg.com
•  http://nku.bncollege.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/BNCBHomePage?storeId=65199&catalogId=10001&langId=-1  
• www.Bigwords.com

There is also an off campus bookstore near NKU that will let you rent or buy used/new textbooks that is a lot cheaper depending on the type of book you need. Coming from a personal experience using the off campus bookstore is more convenient than online resources due to being able to acquire the book right away instead of having to wait for it in the mail. Although most professors will say, "YOU NEED TO HAVE THE TEXTBOOK TO PASS THIS CLASS." That is false, some classes you can get buy without the textbook as long as you attend class regularly and take good notes. Now this isn't recommended but if you don't have the funds to buy the textbooks then you can wait it off a little.

Staying Awake!

Do you have early classes? Do you stay up late often? Ever find yourself trapped in a boring class dossing off? I am almost positive that every student at NKU has experienced some type of fatigue during class. As hard working college students, many of us stay up late completing assignments and homework. Staying up late and not getting enough sleep can effect your learning ability within the classrooms. This post will describe different tips for you to stay awake during class.

1. Drink Water- Taking frequent sips of cold water can help wake you up and feel more refreshed. It keeps you more attentive and it never hurts to drink too much! Because if you do drink too much, it would only make you go to the bathroom more, forcing you out of your seat and walk towards the restrooms.

2. Eat an Apple- Eating an apple is not only a great boost of energy but it keeps you moving to keep you awake. Eating an apple can also help a student keep their mind off of how tired they are.

3. Ask to go to the Bathroom- If given the chance to use the restroom, it gives you an opportunity get up out of your seat and walk around a bit. Walking around circulates your blood more easily than sitting in your seat. Keeps you from remaining in that sleepy sitting posture everyone can doze off in.

4. Take Notes- It never hurts to take notes! Taking notes not only helps you understand and remember the material but also helps you keep attentive during class. It is a great way to keep you focused and keeps you from day dreaming.

5. Sit in the Front- Sitting in the front of class allows you to hear the instructor more clearly. Also keeps you from not falling asleep in front of the teacher! Being towards the front of the class allows you to focus and keeps you from thinking about your tiredness.

6. Skip the Sugar- Eating a healthy breakfast before class helps you stay awake and allows your brain to function at its full potential. Eat a balanced breakfast to maintain energy throughout the day. Eating mass amounts of sugar will lead to a sugar crash during your classes.

7. Ask Questions- By asking questions you are clarifying what you don't understand and you maximize what you are getting from the lecture. It also proves to your instructor that you are attentive and involved with the lecture.

-Jonathan Hoey

The Scheduling Transition

Scheduling is upon us! It is about that time to meet with you adviser, plan your future, and schedule classes with those GOOD teachers. Here is the step-by-step play out of how to plan your Spring Semester:

1. Schedule a Meeting With Your Adviser- Email them and set up an appointment! The hold on your account to schedule classes needs to be taken off. This can only be done if you meet with your adviser.

2. Formulate a Plan- Create a 4 year plan and decide what courses you want to take in the future pertaining to your major! It helps if you know what courses you will take and know what goals you set for yourself.

3. Schedule Your Classes- Schedule your classes well! Fit it to your daily routine and sleep schedule. Do you like early morning classes or night classes?

4. Schedule Preferred Professors- Use Rate My Professor! Here is a link that directs your to a source where you can look at the quality of professors throughout the nation. The website judges teachers based on easiness, clarity, hotness, and grades. It provides many reviews about teachers and their teaching styles. I personally find this website extremely helpful in deciding what professors I want to take.

http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/

5. Finish out the Fall Semester- Grind out the last few weeks of this semester! Do not let your grades drop and study for all your exams!

Good luck NKU!

-Jonathan Hoey