Things Every College Student MUST Have

These days, EVERYTHING we do is online or with a computer. With that said, it is important to be somewhat tech savvy with reliable equipment.  These are a couple items a college student CANNOT go without:

Flash Drive: A USB flash drive is important to store all collections of your music, photos, videos, documents, and all other media content.  You never know when/if your computer will crash so having a backup file of any assignments, projects, pictures, etc., will definitely come in handy!  I use an 8 GB USB flash drive and haven't had a problem with storage and I've had it for 3 years (and use it frequently).  I would recommend the 8 GB SanDisk USB Flash Drive for $5.99 at Best Buy.  It is compatible with a PC and a Mac and for a reasonable price! To select a different memory storage size available at Best Buy, click here.

Laptop: A laptop will be primarily used for note-taking, assignments, research, and personal entertainment (photo, video, social media, etc.) while you are in school. A few considerations are necessary when choosing a laptop:

• Durability
• Portability
• Battery Life
• Preference of operating system

So the real question here is... Mac or PC?

Macs are stylish, durable, powerful, compact, and becoming very popular among many college students (myself included...I love it more than I love most people).  However, if you are used to Windows it will definitely take a while to get used to.  Most users enjoy it for its artistic and instinctive nature of an operating system.  Though it has it's  perks, you should expect to pay up to 15-20% more for an Apple Mac than you would a PC, but it is totally worth it.  I would recommend the 13' Apple Macbook Pro for $1499 from the Apple website. 

PCs are also a good option.  Though they are a little more flimsy than a Mac, most are compatible with a Windows OS (which most people are familiar with already) and for a decent price! Personally, I am most comfortable with a Dell computer, as they have been reliable in my home in the past.  I would recommend the '15.6 Dell Inspiron for $349.99 from the Dell website. Great deal for a reliable computer! 

Chegg.com Review

Trying to come up with close to $500 a semester for textbooks adds up quick, especially when we want to use that money for booze and junk food!  However, Chegg.com is a solution to this problem.  Chegg is a textbook rental website for students. They offer incredibly cheap prices for required textbooks for our classes (usually less than half of the listed price to purchase the book).  In particular, my Visual Basic 2010 How to Program textbook was listed at $131 and I got it for almost $30 (screenshot below).  Now, if that's not a good deal...I don't know what is!

Some features of Chegg.com:

• 21-Day satisfaction guarantee, 14-Day for eTextbook
• Option to sell textbooks back for cash or Chegg credit
• 24/7 Expert study help
• Reviews and ratings from other students
• Course reviews and planner

Not only is the price a perk, but using the website is easy.  All you need to do is copy and paste the ISBN number into the textbox.

In comparison to BookRenter.com, another book rental website, I was more satisfied with Chegg's service. My problem with BookRenter was their return service.  I had returned a book on time that had gotten lost in the mail (which happens!) and their customer service department failed to document my calls when they told me they had taken care of it (meaning I would no longer be getting overdue fees).

With all that said, Chegg.com is a great place for us broke college kids to save some serious money! 

10 Study Tips

Developing good study habits can be challenging. Here are some ways to get the most out of studying:

1. Go to the library- Find an alternative study space away from home.  It is an effective way to retain information and helps to motivate yourself to get something accomplished.
2. Study with a group- Get together with your classmates and study. Compare notes and help each other understand the information.
3. Start in advance- As hard as it is to get motivated to study for something you know is a ways away, it will make learning and retaining information much easier.  Review homework once it has been graded or fill out a study guide as you're learning a subject. 
4. Reward yourself- Reward yourself with a break from studying, or even a glass of wine! It's important to take a break from studying to regain some brain power.
5. Get some sleep!- A tired mind is a slow mind.  Don't stay up later than you would normally to study, or you'll be in a funk that is hard to get out of!
6. Ask for help- Don't hesitate to meet with your professor or the teaching assistant for help.  Send and email or make an appointment if there is any confusion on class material.
7. Make a study guide- Whether it's making notecards, filling out a study guide, or looking over notes...drill yourself!
8. Go to class- Get your butt to class, it will do nothing but help with your understanding of the material..and in some cases you get attendance point.  Take advantage!
9. Learn general concepts first- Understand key points before you go into more detail.  Baby steps.
10. Review material right after learning it- Do practice problems when you get home from class, refresh your memory!

Getting Involved

Getting involved in college is certainly hard to get motivated to do.  However, a degree isn't enough anymore.  A resume with nothing to show for doesn't appeal to employers.  Not only that, but it helps us to connect with the community and find our passions and strengths.  Here are some ways to get involved on campus:

Join a Club/Organization: Find a club or organization that fits your interests.  Most colleges offer clubs varying from interest-related groups, to activity-based groups, to political or social groups.  This is a good way to branch out and do what you enjoy doing.  If none of the available clubs fit your interests, start your own club!  You'd be surprised at how many people would like to join.  I mean, my school has a "Hot Sauce Tasting" club, so I assure you there is something out there for you!

Volunteer: Consider campus-related volunteer opportunities to give back to the community.  It is a great way to meet new people and feel good about yourself at the same time!

Intramural Sports: Get together with a group of your friends and join an intramural sports league.  These usually range from competitive to non-competitive as well as strictly boys, strictly girls, and coed teams.  Helps you to stay in [somewhat] decent shape and its a lot of fun! I would suggest coed volleyball, its a blast!

Attend Campus Events: Take advantage of campus events like internship fairs, career fairs, social events, speakers, etc.  Great way to network and become a part of your school.

Remember, you only get what you give!