Education Articles from College Matching Service

College life is often viewed as a critical turning point in the lives of students. Students across the world look forward to this time in their lives with a lot of excitement coupled with apprehension. Though the life of the students in one country may be in stark contrast to those in another country, there is one aspect that is common to students in all countries and at all times. Here is raised the indispensable issue of note-taking.

For most students, taking down lecture notes is an uninteresting activity; something to be avoided at all costs. However, class notes are indispensable when preparing for exams. Diligent class notes are a great help for distilling key concepts and in last-minute reviews before the exams. They help build the mind for reflection as well. Therefore it becomes necessary to acquire the art of taking down effective notes. Some key points that will help you take good notes are:

1. Record the date, topic/ title and the speaker’s name. Also number your pages

2. Sit in a place from where you can see and hear the speaker clearly. Avoid noisy partners and distractions

3. As an introduction, provide general information about the topic in discussion. State the speaker’s purpose

4. Mark important ideas, terms, concepts and critical information. Underline them or highlight them using asterisk or boxes

5. Write down anything written on the board by the speaker. These are obviously significant ideas, ones that are emphasized and bound to be repeated. Make a note of new words and ideas

6. When the speaker alludes to the text, make a mention of the page numbers in your notes

7. If you are unable to keep up with the speaker, jot down key words and phrases. Leave space for the information that you have missed. You can always check later with the speaker or your classmates to help fill in the gaps

8. Build an attitude of participation. Listen attentively and take careful notes. Keep a record of your ideas relating to the topic in discussion and also make of note of any queries. Ask questions and get your doubts clarified. The speaker will always be ready to help you out

To make effective use of the notes, students must review the notes regularly, read them aloud repeating the key concepts and reflect. These combined will help connect class ideas to the notes and other readings and aid the learning process.

If you are a book lover and miss your high school friends to discuss the one you have recently read, you are not alone. There may be many other students at your college who fall under this category. Thereby, you can conveniently find a few such students and start your own book club. These types of clubs come in many forms and shape. Depending on your preference you can either include all sorts of books or focus on a specific genre.

However, if you are coordinating a book club for the first time, try to keep things a bit loose initially. Besides, you will also have to decide how frequently you will meet and a meeting place for conducting your first meeting. Once these decisions are finalized, start recruiting and pulling your group members together.

The following are some tips on how to start your book club:

• Ask your existing friends and acquaintances if they are interested in joining you or if they know other students with similar interest.

• You can contact the Alumni Association of your high school and find out if any of them are in your college and are interested in discussing books and literature.

• You can also pin up invitation at the college notice board.

• Visit your college’s student forum and post invitation and messages about your book club.

• Contact with your college library and figure out if you can publicize your new book club in their free bulletin board.

• While choosing books, you can either allow each member to take a turn or leave it up to the group as a whole.

• Try to select a discussion leader for each book and allow every member to take a turn. However, the leader needs to keep the discussion rolling as well as bring up new questions and relevant points.

Last but not the least, enjoy yourself. Do not focus too much on organizational details, rather try to enjoy the opportunity to read and discuss the books of your interest.

When you are entering a Sorority or Fraternity you need to become friends with the old members. The best way to get introduced and break the ice is to bring in gifts with you. A popular one among the gifts is a paddle. It is regarded as a symbol of entering into a Sorority or Fraternity. So, when you are entering into a Sorority or Fraternity, get a good paddle. Following are the tips that you need to follow while making a paddle.

a) Buying the right kind of paddle: When you are going to buy a paddle you would find that there are lots available in the market. Choose the right one from the various sizes and shapes that are available. General rule is smaller paddles are for girls and bigger paddles are for boys. Also if you want to spray paint it after buying do not go for a finished one. If you want to paint it with a brush then take both finished and unfinished would do.

b) Painting the paddle: Before you start painting keep in mind to buy the right color. However, the colors vary if you are spray painting the paddle. Before you start painting, put the paddle on a newspaper. This will ensure that you do not paint anything else that comes on your way. While you use the spray paint ensure that the spray is evenly spread. If you are not painting any part you cover it up with a duck tape.

c) Letters to be used: It is always better to use stick on letters over the paddles. These letters have adhesive on their backs and come in various shapes and sizes. Choose according to the size of the paddle. You can color these letters with paint markers. These markers come in various colors and therefore choose carefully so that it matches the color of your organization.

d) Personal message: Do not paint the back of the paddle. Instead you write your personal message at the back of the paddle.

These are the basic steps of making a paddle for gift.

Sorority and fraternity are the two divisions of the females and males in colleges and universities. The system of dividing genders originated in Greece. Although chambered, the houses act as a second family to the philandering college students. Since a lot of voluntary activities are done, one cannot stay away from them. This makes them more dutiful and develops their character.

The Greek system in Universities:

The long held social systems in Greek University Campuses are known as Sororities and Fraternities. This is therefore a system which has been devised by the Greeks; but gradually the system made its impact in different places.

Sororities for females and Fraternities for males:

Sororities are generally for females, and Fraternities generally for males – some “sororities” are actually “female fraternities” as defined by their charter. The difference is negligible today although in the past there were differences.

Rampant Sexism in Greek System:

In the Greek system, sexism is quite rampant. According to the report, unofficial attitude which fraternities take toward women is extremely misogynistic. This can be exemplified: as in some groups, people, especially males, pledges for “tagging” female guests; they are labeled either as off limits to other members. There are also some instances of institutional sexism.

Sorority: Titled as bawdy house:

There are many schools which have labeled the sorority houses as “bawdy house”. This is because in the sorority house, all the members are female and live under an ordered title much to the agony of the fraternity house.

Drug and Fraternity :

Although drug is banned in most of the sorority and fraternity houses, in some of the fraternity houses, the practice is till in vogue. Thus in some fraternity houses, taking drug and alcohol is a common practice.

Rush to get chance in Sorority/ Fraternity:

You need to rush in order to get a chance into sorority or fraternity. The next thing that you should do is pledge. After that you shall be finally accepted as a member of that group.

Legacy System in Sorority and Fraternity;

A legacy system is still in vogue in some sorority and fraternity houses. If you have your near relative, like father, mother, sister or brother in any of the houses, then you can get ready entry. This is despised by many members of the house, and they do not honor this system.

Sororities and Fraternities are elitist still:

At present, both the sororities and fraternities are elitist people. Since they gave a Greek foundation, they have a strong sense of snobbery and selectivity in them.

North America and Sorority, Fraternity:

In North America, the primary purpose of this division is development of character and imparting leadership ability. Thus it is employed for a social cause.

Parties are great ways to enjoy your life when you are in college. But it is not so easy to immediately know when the next party is happening as soon as you are in college. For this, you need to keep in mind some tips. In this article you will find the tips that you can follow if you want to get into any college party.

1) Get involved in every activity of the college: Try to be a part of almost all the activities in the college. This will help you be in touch with the people who are regulars in college parties. You should be friendly to everyone because you never know who can help you get into a party. A fraternity or a sorority is a obvious choice for joining if they are present in your college. If not then go and join any club or any other organization. The more you mix, more are the chances of getting invitations for going to college parties.

2) Do not get in a college party in big groups: It is always better that you and your friends break up into small groups for getting in to college parties. If you are in a big group, chances are that you might not have the opportunity of getting in.

3) Carry in your own alcohol: It is a smart thing to do because of mainly two reasons. One is that there is a chance of anyone fixing you a drink laced with drugs. Another reason is no one can think that you are too cheap a person who does not want to buy his or her own drinks.

4) Wear the right kind of shoes: It is important to choose your footwear carefully before going to a college party. Parties might be held in dirty basements, then wear those footwear which would not get ruined after a beer party. Do not spoil your expensive shoes.

Follow these tips and you will be a regular in college parties.

Most of the students are very enthusiastic about living independently in a college dormitory. Though there are many advantages of living in a dormitory, you will need to adapt some skills to cope up with diverse situations and live with strangers in harmony.

The following are some guidelines you need to follow to survive your dorm life.

Dealing with your roommate:

In order to make your college days comfortable you need to develop a good relationship with your room mate. Thereby avoid doing such things or behaving in a way that you will find annoying. These are some of the tips for dealing with your room mate:

• Be courteous and try to understand your room mate’s requirements.
• Keep the noise down and clean your part of the room regularly.
• Putting the lights on till late night regularly is indeed annoying. In case there is an emergency ask permission from your room mate.
• Be open to your room mate and tell them directly if you are having trouble with any of their habits.
• Decide some home rules and schedules together with your room mate.

How to confront:

Use tactful conversation to sough out the problems you are having with regards to your room mate’s attitude or habits. You need to respect the other’s viewpoint as well. The other confrontation tactics include:

• Tell the specific problem to your room mate politely and try to find out a solution together.
• Keep in mind that your room mate is also paying and thus have equal rights to get a fair treatment from you.
• Be open enough for any future comments or compromise.
• Report directly to the dormitory supervisor in case the problem continues even after a polite confrontation.

How to ascertain your territory:

Be considerate about the living space of your room. Since you have to share an already small space, put your possessions only in the part of the room that belongs to you. Divide the room evenly and if possible share certain things to avoid doubling. If you want to create boundaries be polite. You can use mats or carpets to indicate your part of the room.

Even if you are not a member of the Student Senate of your organization, you may know the role and function of a Student Senate. Usually a Student senate is the governing body of your university. Their primary purpose is to formulate newer agendas and policies for the smooth functioning of the organization. They work mainly for the social, educational and psychological aspects when they formulate policies for the organization.

Basically a senate body comprise of a vice president, a speaker, voting and non voting members. These members are the administrating authority and the students. With this set up, the entire Student Senate works for the betterment of an organization

The day to day work of the body operates in a planned manner. They conduct meetings to discuss on different subject matters. There are different committees who are in charge of different aspects in the Student Senate. The role of the Student Senate can be better understood if you know about the advantages of the Student Senate.

Advantages of a Student Senate

1. Betterment of the organization

The Senate body works for the development of the organization. Their purpose is to frame policies or make agendas for the development of the organization. They keep framing policies with an aim to develop the organization as a whole.

2. Newer and updated policies

The organization frame better strategies for the betterment of the students. They operate aiming at psychological, social and educational development of the students.

3. Organized planning:

As every Student Senate is an organized body, they function in a planned manner. This way they do better planning. And if a planned agenda can be implemented in a planned manner, it should always be successful.

4. Betterment of the society:

The Student Senate of a particular organization aims at the overall development of Students, who are the future generations of the society. So this way if the Student Senate can produce quality students (the future generation) it is an advantage for the society at large.

College is a very enjoyable part of life. This might be the time when you decide on your course of study that is supposed to be your stepping stone into the real world. But this should also be the time when you learn more about yourself and make new friends. It is important that you have friends during your college life, because these friends will be your social support system if you would need anything. To be able to make friends, just follow these simple tips:

BE FRIENDLY

Smile at people around you. Talk to your seatmates in class and other people around the campus. One smile can take you a long way.

JOIN DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS

Check the different campus degrees and learn more about the different organizations. Choose at least one organization that would be best for your needs. A good organization is one that would be able to teach you something that would be helpful for your future career path. They should have goals and ideals that fit what you want for your future. Meeting people from these organizations would get you friends that have similar ideas and goals.

JOIN STUDY GROUPS

Join study groups or try to organize a study group. This works well especially for classes that many would have a hard time in. Two heads are better than one. So while you are making friends, you actually get to know more about the subjects that are your waterloo.

ATTEND SCHOOL EVENTS

Be updated on the latest school events and attend those which catch your interest. Chances are you will meet people with similar interests and it would be easier to bond with people this way. It does not matter if you are taking a masters degree or a bachelors degree. Feel free to attend these events to familiarize yourself with your school’s crowd.

For more tips on making friends, you can check out this book at http://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671027034/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1225728893&sr=8-1

When you make the decision to go to an online college, it’s not always easy to have a space for yourself, especially if you have a family or a small home. It may be that there’s a work area around there, but then your kids or relatives keep bugging you around and such. Here are some guidelines that will assist you on deciding how to design and set-up a home office area just for online learning!

Find some space. If possible, try to dedicate a whole room to your new library or home office. Otherwise, it may be easier just creating a dual-purpose room like a guest room and home office, or setting up a home office area within an unused portion of the house (like the attic or basement). Make sure your room has a door that closes; this will help cut down on noise and interruptions (like the people passing by behind your back). By identifying a specific area or room as your home office, it sends a clear message: “When I am in here, it is because I am studying.”

Pick a quiet location. Road traffic is noisy, so try to pick a room that does not have a window facing a main thoroughfare. The kitchen is also a hotspot for noise: clanging dishes and pans; cupboards swinging shut; the refrigerator door being opened and shut. You may not notice small or repetitive noises now, but when you are reviewing for an exam or drafting a 15-page paper, these little distractions can have a big impact on your concentration.

Some people think that studying at home is easy, but when it comes down to actually studying, they find that their workspace for online classes is just so uncomfortable. Below are some solutions:

Make it comfortable. Consider your working style: do you want to feel energized and upbeat when you are studying or would you prefer a feeling of tranquility and reflection? If you want a feeling of stimulation or activity, paint the walls with warm yellows or chose red drapes for your window dressing. If you want serenity and calm: soothing, cool blue tones or deep, rich greens. If you want classic simplicity in your workspace, stick to taupe, grays and even chocolate browns. Do you like to stretch out while you take notes? Add some throw pillows or a beanbag. Don’t be afraid to add some personality, but make sure that everything will help you stay productive. Too many pillows and you may find yourself curled up next to your laptop, asleep!

Choose appropriate furnishings and equipment. To optimize your space, list all the items that must go into your home office. By doing this, you can plan the best layout for your room. Depending on the size of the space, you may need to take some measurements to ensure that everything will fit and that you won’t feel crowded or uncomfortable. Think about what you may need:

• A desk and chair
• Desktop or laptop computer with an Internet connection.
• Printer, scanner, and/or fax
• Shelves for your books, binders, print-outs, and reference materials
• Filing cabinet(s)
• Floor lamps or desk lamps
• A bulletin/memo board to keep track of notes and other bits of information

Caution! Don’t place your computer in an area that receives direct sunlight or gets too warm. Electronics are temperature sensitive, so make sure the room receives adequate air circulation and that the sun can’t damage your equipment.