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The Campus Companion Advice Corner #1: Hookups, Relationships, and Science Experiments

Kimberley — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 22:55:17 +0000

#collegerelationships

In need of advice? The Campus Companion Advice Corner is there to be your brutally honest friend, give you some good advice, even hold your hand. We’ve got your back.

Submit anonymously by clicking here.

I’m interested in this guy who only wants to hook up with me and not have a real relationship. I’m super attracted to him to the point of distraction, but I don’t know what to do about our different expectations. Should I wait it out?

Your question brings up an even deeper one: when is it time to DTR (define the relationship)? Of course, most things take their course and eventually lead into relationships. But, if you’re really concerned about your different expectations so much that it’s taking away from the time you spend together, then go ahead and ask him! Don’t compromise your beliefs in relationships simply because you want to make it work- in the long run you’ll feel most likely feel unhappy and used. It may seem awkward and weird, but it’s definitely important to understand both your and your partner’s intentions long before it spirals out of control. Good luck and stay calm! If it’s meant to be, it will definitely work out.

How do people think of research topics for science?

Oftentimes, college students are assigned research topics for whatever research they are participating. But it that’s not the case for you and you have no constraints, find a topic that interests you! Alright, that sounded super cheesy. If you’re truly struggling to come up with an idea for research, think about any major gaps in knowledge in your specific field. For example- why are people so attracted to cats on the internet? Curiosity and necessity are great drivers of research and ingenuity! You’re going to be spending a lot of time researching, working, and experimenting- so choose wisely!

How can I get a boyfriend, not just a douche-y hook-up?

So, I take it you’re a relationship sort of person! There’s no harm or shame in that. First off, take a few steps back and evaluate where you’ve been spending your social time. If you’ve been hoping to find the partner of your dreams at a frat party….perhaps try a different venue. The hook-up culture is most common at the average rager, party, concert and whatever else involves alcohol and grinding. If you’re looking for a boyfriend, try your other extracurricular activities or classes- you already have something in common and you’re meeting out of the context of a dance floor! If all else fails, follow the old adage: you often meet the most important people when you’re not looking!

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How to Win at Course Registration

Sara Tahir — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 12:09:32 +0000

It’s April, which means that there is only about a month and a half left of school. While Spring Fever is starting to hit and exam anxiety is starting to creep, there’s still the all-important course registration period to contend with. A seemingly mindless task that doesn’t involve much more than clicking a bunch of fields on a course registration page, it’s actually a critical exercise that does require some thought and planning. But, there is a way to minimize the burden of selecting your classes for next semester and buying yourself at least a summer to get your shit together.

Talk to TAs/People Who’ve Taken the Class Before

Talking to a professor about a class you’re interested in taking next semester is not the way to go, because all that is going to happen is that the prof is going to parrot a response that vaguely sounds like the course description. If you want to get a real feel for a given class, make it point to seek out someone (responsible) who took the class and give you a balanced response about the demands of class without boasting about how s/he left everything to the last minute, didn’t read anything and still got an A. You’ll also get a better idea of the balancing act that the class involves, because quite frankly, your professors often have unrealistic expectations that your sole focus is on their one class.

TAs are another valuable source of information to consider, especially since they are either undergrads or grad students who have a unique insight into the inner workings of a professor’s twisted mind. They do the grading, they know the prof’s pet interests and peculiarities, and they are the ones who lead discussion sections. Doing a little research now can save you a lot of trauma when you’re trying to check out a million classes come fall shopping period.

Check Your Prereqs

This is such a simple thing to do, but then again, perhaps it’s so basic that people forget. A great way to limit the field of uncertainty for the fall semester is to check off any major requirements or prereqs you’ll need for future semesters. In fact, you could end up killing two birds with one stone if you plan to take a prereq in the fall for a more interesting and advanced class in the spring. Some forward thinking can only help.

Pre-register for Limited Enrollment Classes

So you know how course registration begins at a precise time in the wee hours of the morning (well, okay 7 AM, which is the crack of dawn by college standards)? Well, set the alarm if you’re eyeing any classes with a limited enrollment. Quite frankly, it’s more difficult to beg yourself into a class with a slew of other wait-listers in the fall than it is to pre-register and drop the class the spring before. Every college has gunners, and you can bet at 7:00:30 they will have finished pre-registered for all the classes you waited until noon to sign-up for and have blocked you out completely.

Class-Specific Registration Advice

Entering Sophomore Year

1. Don’t overload. Just because you’ve got a year of college under your belt and got As in all of your first-year classes, doesn’t mean you’re equipped to handle 4 reading/writing-intensive classes plus macroeconomics (my mistake). Try to keep a balanced course-load so all you’re doing in the fall isn’t studying.

2. Deepen your interests. Take at least one or two classes in the area you’ll probably major in and start experimenting with some of the more advanced classes. Start paving your way to completing concentration requirements…or at least Stats which is basically a requirement for all college majors.

3. Think ahead to study abroad. If you might want to go abroad your junior spring, register for a language course if you’re desired program needs it. It doesn’t matter if you’re starting from scratch…if you keep up the language for 3 consecutive semesters, you should be ready to take on a program in another country with a language requirement.

4. Keep on exploring. Don’t totally devote your sophomore fall to completing your major. Continue exploring topics the way you were as a freshman and push yourself to take classes that actually interest you.

Entering Junior Year

1. Seminar City. Because you’re entering the seminar phase of your college education, you better make sure you wake up to pre-register otherwise you’ll be in a pretty dire circumstance of begging your way into classes come fall.

2. Standardized Test Year. Start to think about when you’re going to take the GREs/LSATs/MCATs/GMATs. You may want to consider keeping one of your junior semesters light so you can prep for these tests in the summer before the craziness of senior year and application season starts.

3. Plan ahead. If you’re going to be heading abroad in the spring and know you’re not taking any classes abroad for your major, you may want to seriously consider getting a few key requirements out of the way, so you’re not completely screwed when you come back your senior year.

Entering Senior Year

1. Last Huff. Use your senior fall to wrap up any lingering course requirements. By the time you reach the spring, you won’t have the energy to do work anymore. Plus, your thesis will ruin your life.

2. Practical Matters. Some souls will be going directly into the work force after graduation, and for them it’s imperative to take some kind of practical life skills class…from economics to accounting to persuasive communication to Management of Industrial and Non-Profit Organizations (Shout out to Brown ENGN0900). To some of the places you’ll be throwing job applications at, it might be a good idea to look as though you can somewhat function in the real world even though you’ve been immersing yourself in Kabuki Theater for the last 3 years.

3. Last Hurrah. Now is the time to take anything that sounds remotely interesting to you. Do something fun, whether it’s starting a new language or testing out African dance.

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The Campus Companion Advice Corner

Kimberley — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 14:08:56 +0000

Real advice, straight from campus.

Got a question? We’ve got an answer.

Tired of hearing about what your college experience might be like? Have some burning questions that you’re embarrassed to ask about? Look no further! The Advice Corner allows you to submit your questions anonymously to college students who have gone through anything and everything you could possibly think of. From college applications to black out nights to acing exams and graduation- we’ve done it. Submit your anonymous questions by clicking here.

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The Perks of Staying on Campus this Summer

Kimberley — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 14:43:23 +0000

It’s the go-to question everyone asks at the end of the semester: What are you doing this summer? Seemingly everyone is bragging about their departure from campus, whether they have a super competitive internship, an extremely rewarding camp counseling job, or daily dates with Netflix. So, is staying on campus this summer really that bad? Consider this:

Research Opportunities

What do professors do in the summer? Research! Most professors are avidly searching for research assistants to do jobs related to their own endeavors. While the job might not be paid, you will have the ability to put all the theoretical knowledge you learned in class to work. Even though this job seems to apply only to science concentrators, don’t be fooled! History majors can do historical research like going through old documents and recording notes! English majors might edit writing for the summer. Ask your professors what they’re up to this summer and you might find yourself working on a cure for cancer.

Colleges around the country (and the world) are making discoveries as we speak! Be a part of something huge!

Summer Credits

Failed Orgo 1 this semester? Missing some credits? Want to get ahead? Take a summer class at your college! You’ll be living in a space that you’re already familiar with and getting ahead of the curve (or repairing some mistakes from your past semesters). I’m personally seeking a college class this summer so that I don’t lose my Arabic skills over two month summer break. If you take enough summer classes, you might even rack up enough credits to graduate a semester or two early! You’re essentially paying money now that you won’t have to in the future- an investment of sorts.

Take your studies wherever you want! You might even graduate early.

Explore the college neighborhood

Staying on campus might sound like a continuation of stress from your last semester. Think again! Most colleges do not allow you to take as many classes during the summer, which frees up time to explore all of the wonderful restaurants, neighborhoods, or natural habitats around your school. Who knows what you might find when you have more time to devote to adventures and exploration in your own college town.

Your college town might offer a lot more than you know! Explore.

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I Learned The Hard Way So You Don’t Have To (Study Tips From A Senior)

Christina Phillips — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 12:19:42 +0000

I came into college from a large public school that, while providing some AP classes, did nothing to prepare me for classwork. I never studied earlier than the night before an exam (more often, I made flashcards on the way to school and studied them between classes) and I spent most class periods pretending to pay attention while playing hangman in my notebook with friends.

The transition from high school to college-level coursework is simple for some (you lucky bastards who went to a school that actually challenged you) and impossible for others (me). I never learned how to actually “study” for exam, when to start on a paper, how to cite sources, or even how to properly read a textbook (I still don’t really know how to do that). After almost four years of trying numerous study methods, here are my tips for succeeding in college.

Understand your strengths (and admit to things you suck at)

This is something that took me three and half years to do. I’m serious. I always knew writing was my strength, and that I would rather write a paper than study for a test any day. I liked anatomy in high school (because I love gross stuff like dissecting cats and hunting down bugs) and decided majoring in biology would give me better career prospects and make my life more “meaningful.” I was going to save the world (or something like that).

The only problem is…I suck at science. I freely admit this. I am terrible at memorizing, I hate looking at graphs, microscopes give me headaches, measuring annoys me, and anything that I can’t see with the naked eye boggles my mind. None of these charming personality traits are conducive with a scientist.

Studying biology for four years was fascinating, but in the way that watching a Lady Gaga video is fascinating: you don’t really ever understand what’s going on, but it looks pretty cool. Now that I’m graduating, I admit my science background has prepared me to handle the type of immersion writing I want to do for a career, has changed my perspective on the world, and has filled my head with a ton of useful facts to spout off to my friends (and this blog). But it wasn’t fun. I spent most of college feeling like a complete idiot because I was trying so hard to be good at something I’m not. I wasn’t writing.

Admit your weaknesses when you discover them. Accept your inability to spell or that algebra gives you migraines. These weaknesses will help you succeed, because you will be forced to deal with them. Once I admitted I wasn’t good at memorizing concepts and applying them on tests, I was able to find people and techniques to overcome that. I still struggle with my biology courses more than many of my peers in my major, but I recognize that because it doesn’t come naturally, I have to commit a lot more time to my studying to succeed. And there is no shame in that.

Start with the hardest stuff first

We all like to be comfortable. If you say you don’t, I’m calling BS. We like to be in familiar territory at least some of the time, and when it comes to classwork, this can be a big problem. When you are studying for a test, there are always bits of information you understand better than others, either because it’s easier or because it’s more interesting to you. I’ve noticed that these are the things I tend to focus on, the things I’ll repeat and look over more, because they give me an ego boost. The harder stuff I continually put off, telling myself I’ll turn to it once I have a good grasp on everything else.

No. Don’t do this. If you do, you will get 60’s on your tests. It sucks, but sit down and find the material causing you the most dread, whether it’s the introduction for your paper or that weird equation in calc class. Learn this stuff first. That way, when you do, you can relieve yourself by reviewing the easier work. I guarantee you will study longer, because you’ll be so happy to move onto easier things, you won’t mind doing them (as much).

Teach it to someone else

I’ve heard from many professors and fellow classmates that if you know something well, you can teach it to someone else. I can attest to this simply from writing this blog. I have my non-science savvy friends read over my scientific posts, and if they can understand what I’m trying to say, I know I’ve succeeded. And then, whenever someone asks me a question about something I’ve written about, I find I can easily retrieve it from my memory without having to go back and refresh. I still remember how Adderall affects the body even after writing my very first post here about it last fall.

If you can’t find a poor soul to torture with your homework, try teaching it to an empty room. Go to a classroom, write it out on the board, and talk out loud. You are forced to hear yourself speak, and can more easily identify the areas that need work. Besides, you can’t fall asleep as easily if you stand up while studying.

Don’t compare yourself with other people

Every time someone asks me how I did on a test, I want to knock him over the head with my textbook. It is no one else’s business what you got on a test, and its none of your business how that person did either. Stop it. School trains us to compete with each other, to compare GPAs like guys sizing each other up in the locker room, and the only thing it does is give you an ego or make you feel like a piece of shit. Set your own goals for your grades. In my organic chemistry class, I was gunning for a 60 on every test. Yeah, that is barely passing (even for a scaled-up class like chemistry) but it meant that I understood more than half the material. Organic chemistry was a total bitch for me, and I adjusted accordingly.

Did anyone else know my standards? Certainly not the girls I heard complaining about getting 80s. And you know what? I refused to let myself feel stupid for getting a 70 on a quiz. In fact, I celebrated. And by not telling other people, I didn’t give them the right to judge me either.

Everyone wins.

We all have different ways of studying, and that is okay. Some people need to write things over and over. Others need to mutter to themselves. Some (crazy) people only need to look at a page to remember it. Don’t be afraid to play around with different studying techniques, and ask others what works for them. You might find a new way to study. And don’t get frustrated if you bomb a test or can’t write a coherent paper if your life depended on it. We have all been there (yeah, even that kid in your class who always screws up the curve. He either sucks at another subject, or has no social life).

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The 5 Phases of an All-Nighter

Sara Tahir — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 20:28:32 +0000

All-nighters are comically messy affairs. In the moment they can be adrenalin-producing and high anxiety inducing, but in retrospect they form some of your fondest college memories. The number of bonding sessions I had with people in libraries over our shared “omg, I’ve ruined my academic semester,” as well as the number of absurdities encountered at 2 AM…from naked donut runs to $1 bets…are often some of my best anecdotes about college right up there with Spring Weekend and Study Abroad.

So, yes, all-nighters are massively painful exercises in ensuring that you don’t receive an Incomplete or No Credit on your college transcript. But, they’re also a ton of fun…in a twisted sort of way.

Phase 1: Last Meal on Earth

The all-nighter begins with an extremely lavish meal. Whether you hold court at the dining hall with a slew of friends a la Last Supper or you go to the sandwich shop to get the pricey lobster roll, you do your meal before the all-nighter right. You even get the super creamy dessert and YOLO! whip cream on top of your very fat latte. Basically, you use gluttony to treat your body right and fuel your exploits into academic purgatory. It’s also a farewell of sorts because chances are that you won’t see your friends for at least 2 days (all-nighter + massive sleep recovery period + catchup for other classes).

Phase 2: Getting Cozy

At 7 pm, you head off to find a place to put down roots for the night. Often times what occurs is that you’ll feel uncomfortable in one place and then shift around to another library or an abandoned classroom. If you do settle on a place before 7:30, you’ll spend at least an hour checking Facebook, wandering around talking to friends or people in your class, and finding ways to procrastinate. You tell yourself you’re waiting for your coffee to kick in, but really you’re scared as shit to embark on a potentially academically deadly endeavor.

Phase 3: Burst of Productivity

From 9 – 10 pm, the library starts to clear out (unless it’s finals) or you start to realize that you’re never going to finish if you don’t start NOW. You’re mind starts to clear and you hit a bit of a rhythm for a couple of hours. Hey, this paper isn’t going to be so bad after all–hey, there’s not actually as much material to study as I thought. Life will feel pretty damn good, and you actually think you have a reasonable shot at getting an A. There’s light at the end of the tunnel.

Phase 4: Pity Party O’Clock

You take a break, go to the bathroom, and return only to find that you’ve hit a wall with the paper/studying and you’re tired as fuck. It’s around 12:30-1 AM, and while you’re maybe 2/3 to 3/4 of the way done, the mental block you’re experiencing could very well undo all that it is that you’ve been working towards. You get frustrated and so start walking it off until you run into a friend or at least a good acquaintance. Both of you are in extremely shitty shape, so you sit and start to talk about everything from how screwed you are to your life’s ambitions to your relationship woes to your theories on church and religion to the best place to eat off-campus to housing options for next year. Really, you get to learn a lot abou the other person during Pity Party O’Clock, so although you may be miserable about whatever it is you’re working on, relish the real human connection that you’re making here.

Phase 5: Sleep Drunk

It’s 2:30 AM and you recognize that you can’t keep putting off that last bit of work you have to do. You suck it up and give it your best effort, but at this point, you’re hoping you can scrape by with at least a C. Whereas it only took you 3-4 hours to complete the bulk of your work, it’s taking you anywhere from 5-6 hours to finish up the last piece. Part of the reason for the efficiency slump is that you’re tired out of your mind to the point where you are inebriated. All of your body reactions are slow and any attempts at wit or sarcasm from you fellow cohorts go straight over your head. Coffee doesn’t do shit for you…except make your stomach feel like shit. You labor on until the wee hours of the morning, when you finally finish only to stand at the reference desk and suffer a heart attack when the printer decides to stop running at 7 AM. At 9 AM you do the walk of shame to class to drop of your paper or take your exam.

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How to Pass Classes Without Being Addicted to Coffee

Sara Tahir — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 17:16:30 +0000

Coffee. The word is pretty much synonymous with college. Walking across the green to class, it’s virtually impossible to see anyone without a travel mug. Lining up at Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts is totally worth it over eating in the 30 minutes you have between classes. Before pulling an all-nighter in the library, it’s standard procedure to brew a tar-like blend to sustain you through your academic odyssey. Coffee is your life-force. It makes you who you are in college…strong enough to withstand sleep deprivation and absurdities galore.

Yet, given the unnatural amount that most college students consume, your coffee addiction could very well be killing you. According to the Mayo Clinic, the ideal amount of coffee is 200-300 mgs (2-4 cups…real cups, not thermoses). Anything more than that over a long period of time can lead to gastrointestinal issues, ulcers, anxiety, and insomnia (not the kind you were hoping for to get your paper done).

But, aside from the health risks, there are other reasons to cut the coffee out. 1) It’s pretty expensive, particularly if you’re making pit stops at Starbucks for Macchiatos. 2) The crash you experience post-breaking the seal is miserable and only makes you want to make a stronger cup. 3) It’s bad for your complexion, teeth, and breath. 4) It fucks up your tastebuds.

You might say it’s all worth it just to maintain your academic and social functionality, but what if there is another way…one that also doesn’t require the use of energy drinks or Ritalin?

Believe it or not, it is possible to exist in this world as a human being without coffee. My first year out of college when I was living in China, I had to totally forgo coffee because it was a rarity and difficult as fuck to find cheap. For me, giving up coffee was a big deal, particularly since I’d been consuming it on a regular basis since the age of 13 (and the reason why I’m only 5’4″). I’m not going to lie, I had some major headaches my first week off of coffee, and I had to supplement my intake of green tea with some Tylenol. But, honestly, once I got over that hurdle, it was a breeze and I could rest easy at night knowing that I wasn’t shelling out 80 yuan for a cup of coffee.

Also, for once I didn’t feel as though my life would end without consuming a cup of coffee. It was kind of scary how totally dependent on coffee I had become while in college, and it felt truly liberating to realize that I was the same reasonably intelligent and sociable person without that cup of coffee.

It might be a huge ordeal to quit coffee mid-semester, but remember, coffee in moderation is actually great for you. The key is making sure to stay the middle course. Try using some of these tricks to help keep you within that 2-4 cup range, so coffee won’t ruin your life:

1. Tea Time

After 2 PM, cut yourself off from the coffee and switch over to black tea. It’ll give you a similar boost, and it’s also so much better for you (fewer calories, more antioxidants, won’t corrode your stomach) and so much cheaper. Plus, you can easily transport it in your pocket, so if you start feeling the sleepies midway through a 3 pm lecture, you can always duck out for a cup of water, brew, and imbibe.

2. Exercise

Yes, counter-intuitive in some ways because if you have a real workout that pushes you, you’re going to feel a little tired and achey afterwards. But, to quote the iconic Elle Woods, “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t shoot their husbands.” That’s right, you can reach a point where exercise can replace your need for coffee to curb any murderous tendencies. Have you ever noticed how effortlessly you can accomplishing things when you’re in a good mood. Well, regular exercise will give you that natural high and build your stamina on top of it. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that it’s a great way to physically hash out any anxiety or stress you have while also keeping you looking good.

3. Put Your Contacts In

This is a weird one, but I swear it works. There’s something about putting two circular discs in your eyes that makes them open up and alert to the world around you. All of the colors are brighter and the lines are sharper. It’s like switching your TV from Low-Def to Hi-Def.

4. Carrot Juice

Carrot juice has long been touted as the key to good eyesight, bones and teeth, and liver, as well as helping to reduce the chances of getting many types of cancer, including breast and skin cancer. But, believe it or not, carrot juice is a great natural substitute for caffeine products because within seconds of taking a few gulps, your eyes open up almost immediately. Although I can’t vouch for the taste (personally, I detest it), at least you’re drinking something extremely healthy that’s also helping you to curb the caffeine addiction.

5. Napping

This is so key. Allowing yourself to sleep when you’re tired is probably the cheapest and easiest way to get you off of coffee. You don’t need to be awake until 3 AM every single night to get your work done. It’s all about efficiency and quite frankly, you’re probably doing your best working within a 3 hour time-frame. So why try to trudge through 8 hours of mediocre work, battling the sleepies with massive amounts of coffee, when you can nap for at least 2 of those hours and get all of your work done in 3 highly productive hours? Napping is also a great way to break up any writer’s block you have because you wake up with a fresh start. Consider it over that cup of coffee that only gets you half the way there.

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How You Know You’re Ready for Grad School

Sara Tahir — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 13:50:40 +0000

This is it. You’re in your senior spring semester or perhaps a post-grad who was duking it out in the real world. You took the GREs, laid the groundwork with a potential advisor, visited a couple of schools, and spent the fall honing your personal statement to the point of perfection. You filled out every mundane question about personal information, sprinted to the registrar’s office to get your transcript requests forms in, and hounded your professor about whether or not they got their recommendations in on time. You’ve spent a fairly large chunk of money on application fees and sacrificed hours of sleep obsessing over things you may have forgotten to do. And at the end of it all, you’re rewarded with that beautiful email with the title “Admission Decision Rendered” and a body that congratulates and welcomes you to the Graduate School at whatever institution.

This. is. IT. You did all of the work and put it in all that effort, and now you’re in! But, having an admissions committee decide that you’re a qualified candidate for their program doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re fully prepared to take on grad school. It’s unfortunate that the effort required to apply and be admitted grad school doesn’t equate to success at grad school. But, there are a few surefire signs that will help you know if you’re ready for the challenge:

1. The Application Process Didn’t Wear You Out

If the application process was insanely stressful and you hated every moment of it, you better check yourself before you wreck yourself. Applying to programs represents only a small modicum of effort compared to the amount of work you have to do in grad school. While you’re probably not going to be taking as many classes as you did as an undergrad, you will be spending a lot of time doing independent research that will require a great deal of self-discipline on your part to get it done. If writing a proposal or personal statement as part of your application process was the bane of your existence, you may want to reconsider grad school right at this moment and ask for a deferral. Just because you got in does not mean you have to attend right away.

2. You’re Dork-Excited to Study More

If you’re having/had the time of your life writing your thesis and you wake up at 7 AM every morning energized because you’re about to spend most of your day dwelling in the library stacks, you are more than ready for grad school. If you still salivate over course catalogues and experience that eager anticipation that was a hallmark during summer vacation before school restarted, you are more than ready for grad school. If you’re still going strong your senior spring and haven’t even remotely suffered from senioritis, you are more than ready for grad school. Pack those bags, sir or madam.

3. You Have a Legitimate Reason for Pursuing a Particular Program

This is key. As tempting as it may be to dodge a shitty job market by going to grad school for a couple of years, your lack of focus and purpose is going to be the death of you. Seriously, you will be bored out of your mind if you go to grad school just to kill some time. Plus, you’re wasting time you could spend doing something more interesting or even productive.

Yes, it’s scary as hell not having a clear career trajectory or path after college. Believe me, I know. I’ve been there. But, don’t go to grad school just because you’re afraid to take risks out in the real world and hate the fact that everyone around you seems to know what they’re doing.

A “legitimate reason” for going to grad school: to get further specialization in a given field, significant salary bump that comes from an advanced degree, strong interest in entering academia, required for a particular profession (lawyer, doctor, dentist, etc.), genuine intellectual interest, etc.

4. You’ve Got Financial Backing

Is the program covering your tuition cost? Do you have financial aid? Can you get a grant to fund your research? Is your undergrad debt under control? How much are your parents willing to cover? Will you be able to make enough money to pay back your loans relatively quickly? Don’t neglect these questions.

5. You Understand that Grad School is Different from Undergrad and are Okay With It

This is something you might be able to understand as a concept, but fully embracing and accepting it is a completely different story. Let me paint you two pictures. The one is as an undergrad–it’s conceivable to go out 4 days a week, skip all of your classes, show up for the final, and still get an A. You can do the reading or not and be as disorganized as conceivably possible, and it won’t really drastically affect your academic career. The other is as a grad student–you treat your studies as a 9 to 5 job, spend the bulk of your time researching, have to stay organized otherwise your advisor and cohorts will berate you for it, and grades are either meaningless or non-existent. You can’t just show up at the end of the semester. You have to be chipping away at it for semesters at a time and ultimately, you are accountable for everything that does (or does not) happen. If you fully get the gravity of the difference, then step up, but don’t kid yourself if you’re not okay with grad school not being College Part II.

The post How You Know You’re Ready for Grad School appeared first on The Campus Companion.

An Intern’s Guide to Finding Summer Housing

Kimberley — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 01:06:53 +0000

So you’ve got your dream summer internship. Now’s the time to put your plans into motion and figure out the most pressing question of all: Where are you going to live? If you’re on the crunch to find cheap housing fast, here are some viable, economical options:

This could be you with your new apartment! Except, well, you’re not Carrie Bradshaw.

Local Colleges/Universities

Pros: Dorm housing, Potential meal plan, Lower costs than during the semester

Cons: Living on a college campus (again), Potentially expensive, Random roommates

Every major (and even minor) city in the U.S. has at least one college. Since most schools don’t have as many students during the summer as they do during the fall and winter semester, dorms are available in the summer to people in summer semester or people just wanting a room for internship purposes. At the end of the day, schools are looking to fill up as many dorms as they can (because they make serious money). On the flipside, living in a dorm has similar amenities to what you’re already used to: from the old communal bathroom to the perk of having a laundry room only a few floors away. Use your location to your advantage and explore what potential universities or colleges can offer you housing.

Staying in New York City? Try Columbia University housing!

Subletting

Pros: No dorm rules, No meal plan, “Living on your own”

Cons: Signing a lease, Greater responsibility, Expensive without roommates, Bills

The adult option: subletting an apartment. If you’re ready to sign a lease and take on the responsibility of your own apartment, then go for it! Apartments allow for more privacy, less rules, and more independence. If you go in to a lease with friends, chances are the costs of living on your own will be less than that of a dorm. While subletting involves greater responsibility in terms of taking care of an actual house, paying rent, budgeting for bills, and being generally independent, it’s a great learning experience for the real world. Sooner or later, you’re going to have to sign a lease and be responsible. Why not give it a shot now?

Welcome to the adult world! Starring you!

City-specific

Pros: Staying in the city you’re working in, Close to work

Cons: Most expensive option, Same as subletting

Put in a quick Google search for internship housing for any specific city, and chances are you’ll find intern-only housing. While I can’t guarantee that these options are the most economical, the point is that these options are available if you’re looking for housing far from home, in cities without family or viable university options. If you’re looking to cut costs, look for people at your school that are going to be in the same city! Roommates cut costs at the expense of losing some living space…not a bad trade off. Here’s some ideas provided courtesy of my own google searching.

Interning on the hill? You could live on the hill too! (or pretty close)

Near to home? Stay home!

Pros: No costs other than commuting, Home cooked food, Showering without flip-flops, Comfort

Cons: Commuting costs, Living with parents

Planning on commuting to your internship and staying at home? Props to you for using your location to your advantage. Landing an internship near to home means enjoying the comforts of your mom’s cooking without racking up thousands of dollars in rent and dorm fees, particularly if you’re at an unpaid internship. On the other hand, commuting can be expensive when considering gas, trains, and any other transportation needed to arrive to your internship on time every day.

What’s that? Oh right it’s your house!

The post An Intern’s Guide to Finding Summer Housing appeared first on The Campus Companion.

Visiting Friends at College: An Etiquette Guide

Kimberley — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 14:38:52 +0000

So you’re heading off to visit a friend at another college. Time to party it up with a whole new crowd! But wait, do you know where you’re sleeping yet? Are you bringing a towel? Is there a communal bathroom? If you haven’t realized it yet, leaving your campus for another one can be stressful between what to pack and where to go. Keep these tips in mind, and you’re sure to be a great friend and an even better guest.

Your weekend could be this!

Understand your sleeping arrangements: Be one with the floor

Visiting your best girl friend? Maybe you’ll share a bed….a twin XL bed made for the bodies of house elves. Make sure you have some idea of where you’re sleeping so you’re not calling the bare linoleum floor your abode for a few nights. Need a blanket? Bring a blanket. If you’re the type of person who can’t sleep unless your body is on a 40000-thread count sheet, then be ready to be uncomfortable. College kids everywhere are just as broke as you and don’t necessarily have extra beds just lying around (or maybe they do!). Point is, ask where you’re sleeping and plan ahead.

Know where you’re sleeping. This could be you.

Bring Your Shower Flip-Flops–DO NOT FORGET

Don’t even ask ahead. Just do it. Dorm showers everywhere are GROSS. You can get diseases in any shower used by twenty people. Bring your shower supplies to the greatest extent that you can, but definitely do not neglect the shower shoes. No further explanation.

These will actually keep you from becoming diseased.

Don’t get lost

If you’re planning on going hard and taking advantage of a *totally awesome and new* party culture, then definitely charge your phone and acquire some understanding of how to get back to your host if needed. I’m going to out on a limb here, but chances are if you’re intoxicated/tipsy/drunk, your sense of direction probably will decline. Don’t lose track of your friend through the night. Buddy system all the way! Maybe leave a trail of breadcrumbs…

Stick to your buddy and you’ll make it home alright.

Do not hookup with your host’s roommate

NO. NO. NO. You may hit it off really with them, and it may be tempting. Still, don’t be that girl or guy that tries to get some immediately after hitting the new campus. Your friend might hate you forever, and if you visit again, it will inevitably be awkward. Make some friends! Have a dance floor make out! Just don’t cross the line with people that are a big part of your host friend’s life. Reeking havoc over the course of a day or weekend definitely does not make you a good guest.

Be respectful, man

Your parents raised you to be a good person. Don’t be a bad guest, i.e. pee in your friend’s closet, use their toothbrush, disappear for the entire time your there, etc. You’re taking up their time, meal credits, and (already nonexistent) dorm space. Be kind, and you just might be invited back for a second visit.

The post Visiting Friends at College: An Etiquette Guide appeared first on The Campus Companion.