Brain Food

You can get a FREE variety box of snacks here: http://www.graze.com/us/p/RKL3MTPKU

(Yes, this is 100% free and no commitment.)

It is a proven fact that your brain needs food in order to think and learn. Eating a snack while you're studying, writing papers, and listening to long lectures will help you stay alert and retain more information.

As a busy college student myself, I want convenience. But I also want healthy snacks that help me feel satisfied and energized. That is why I love Graze and their delicious snack varieties.

They have hundreds of snacks, whether you're craving something sweet, salty, savory, crunchy, chewy. They also have gluten-free, vegan, and other options.

Feed your brain and it will work better for you!

These are two of my favorite snacks: Honeycomb Flapjack and Honey-drizzled Cashews. YUM!

Powerpoint Perfection!

At some point in your college experience you will likely be expected to create a PowerPoint presentation.  I'm sure you've ALL sat through a boring presentation before... but YOURS doesn't have to be!!! 

Flickr: Maria Johnson

DO I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION???

There are some amazing people who are changing the way we do PowerPoints. If you follow their tips, your audience will stay awake, learn something, and you might even have a little fun!

Here's some advice from "Don't Be a Powerpoint Felon" by Nick Smith:

• ONE idea per slide
• Eliminate unnecessary text
• Use BIG images

Remember, vision is the strongest sense! So, you're going to use a lot more slides and a lot of pictures, which will help your audience pay attention.


Also check out "Your Speech is Toxic" by Chiara Ojeda. Notice her use of pictures and how she communicates her message.

• Understand your audience
• One picture with one clear idea
• Prepare and practice
• Empathize with your audience
• Grow your skills
• Remember to show attribution (you must give credit to who the picture belongs to -- for example, see photo above)

Study Time: Tricks of the Trade

Flickr: CollegeDegrees360

Studying is a must in college and everyone learns differently. Here are a few tips that can help you find what works for you:

• Use your senses. The more senses you use to study the more you'll remember. (Listen, read, talk out loud, tell, show, watch, etc.) 

• Get comfortable! Dress comfortably. Make sure the room temperature is just right. Get enough sleep. Make sure you have eaten and bring nutritious snacks and water.      

• Create a study environment. Find someplace without distractions -- either your dorm room, the library, sitting in your parked car, a park bench, etc. Some people find music helps drown out distractions and keeps them focused. Just make sure the type of music you choose and the volume level lends itself to helping you concentrate.

• Take notes in class. You won't be able to write down every word, so focus on definitions, key words, and phrases. Develop abbreviations and symbols. Find out if your instructor posts the lecture online in advance. If so, print the lecture and then use it to add notes during class.

• Review your notes. Even better, recopy them by hand or type them up after class. Doing this will help you digest the information. (This has really been helpful for me personally.) Use your notes as you read your textbook to supplement each other. 

• Record the lecture. Then listen to it again later. Play it in your car. Listen to it while you work out, walking around on campus, or waiting for your laundry.

• Share. We retain more information when we take what we have learned and share it with someone. Tell your classmates, study group, roommates, professor, friends, and family what you learned in class and from the textbook. You can also read to yourself out loud.

• Test yourself. Many textbooks have a publisher's website with flash cards, practice tests, and study guides.

• Organize your time. Actually schedule study time on your calendar. Don't procrastinate! Plan to study before going out to social activities, not afterward. You won't feel like doing it later and will be too tired. 

• Take frequent breaks! Every hour, get up and walk around for a few minutes. (Set an alarm if you have to!) Take some deep breaths. Look out a window and rest your eyes from the screen and books. This will actually increase oxygen flow to the brain, which helps you learn and think better. So, if you've been studying a long time or writing a paper and feel stuck, go take a walk and get some exercise. The ideas will start to flow! (See Dr. John Medina's "Brain Rules.")

• Reward yourself. After you've studied, the rest of the day is yours! Go have fun. Plan something to look forward to. Watch a movie, go to a football game, or hang out with your friends.

Study smart!

Federal Income Taxes and College Students

Flickr: agrilifetoday

I'm not a tax expert (nor do I claim to be one), but there are a few things college students need to know about filing their income taxes. Answers to common questions for students can be found on the IRS's website.

If you filed a FAFSA in 2013 for student financial aid and make less than $51,000 you can get free tax help through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA). For more information, go to: http://1.usa.gov/Xy2TTR.

Otherwise, you may consider using a tax preparation software or service, because it can get complicated. However, don't let this deter you from doing the extra work, because it can really pay off!

Forms You're Going to Need:

• You will probably want to file a 1040 form (the long one) rather than the short 1040EZ form, because you can get credits or deductions for going to school that will make your taxes less and your refund more!
• You'll also need form 8863 for Education Credits (American Opportunity and Lifetime Learning Credits).
• Form 8917 is used for the Tuition and Fees Deduction.
• You can download IRS forms and instructions at: http://www.irs.gov/Forms-&-Pubs

Forms You Might Receive:

• Your college(s) will send you a 1098-T form by the end of January, which you need for your taxes. Some schools let you print it from your student account, while other schools require you to notify the school how and where you want to receive it. 
• If you have student loans and are already paying them back, you should receive a form 1098-E, because the interest is deductible on your taxes. (Follow the instructions for Line 33 to figure your student loan interest deduction.)
• You will be sent a 1099-Q form if you have a Coverdell Education Savings Account (ESA), formerly known as an "education IRA," or are in a Qualified Tuition Program (QTP).
• If you worked, your employer will send you a W-2 form. If you received unemployment, you will get a 1099-G form. If you made other types of income or interest, you'll be sent a form.

Choose Wisely:

As a student, you may qualify for either the American Opportunity Credit, the Lifetime Learning Credit, or a Tuition and Fees Deduction. However, you can only choose ONE, so make sure you explore each option and pick the one that helps you out the most. 

• Follow the instructions on form 8917 (see Line 34) for the Tuition & Fees Deduction.
• Follow form 8863 for the amount to include on Line 49 and Line 66. 
• Remember... if you take the American Opportunity Credit or Lifetime Learning Credit, you cannot also take the Tuition & Fees Deduction -- so, Line 34 would be $0 (zero). But, if you do take the Tuition & Fees Deduction instead of one of the credits, then Line 49 and 66 would both be $0 (zero).

Other Things That Can Affect Your Taxes/Refund:

• Be sure to include the cost of tuition, books, and enrollment fees -- even if they were covered by scholarships or grants.
• Can you be claimed as a dependent by your parents or not?
• Is this your first year of college or not?
• Are you enrolled full-time, half-time, or less than half-time? 
• Have you earned a bachelor's degree or not?
• Have you already received the American Opportunity or Hope Credit in years past?  

• Be Tax Smart!

Make Friends With Your Teachers

Flickr: ghs 1963 photos

As you make your way through college, I suggest you genuinely work to form a positive relationship with your teachers. Get to know them and help them get to know you, your interests, and goals. This relationship will be useful when you are struggling with an assignment or a concept, because you will feel more comfortable asking your teacher for help, which, in turn, reinforces the relationship.

Keep in touch with your teachers after you have moved on and into other classes, especially teachers in your career field. Let them know what classes you are taking, what grades you are getting, and your progress towards your goals.

When the time comes when you need a letter of reference for a scholarship, graduate school, internship, or a job -- you will have developed a handful of teachers ready to support and recommend you. Remember to always follow up with a nice thank you card! And don't forget to let them know about your accomplishments, graduation, and new career.

College Safety Tips

Personal safety isn't something most college students think about, but YOU should!

When I went off to college, my mom sent me a magazine article warning about some of the dangers students face. I remember how it told the story of a female college student who was walking upstairs to her apartment complex carrying groceries. A charming young man appeared behind her, saying "Let me help you" and he took her bags. The female student assumed he must live in the complex. They proceeded to her apartment, where he brought her groceries inside, and then he raped her.

It is important for students to know what dangers exist and never let their guard down. Here are some college safety tips:

1. Lock your apartment door. This will help prevent theft and sexual assault. I had a roommate who refused to lock the door. If this happens to you, install a keyed lock on your bedroom door. Also, you can buy a door alarm with a keypad that you can program with a code. Then, if someone enters your apartment and doesn't immediately enter the code, the alarm will sound and alert you. It certainly should not be your first line of defense, but it may scare an attacker off and awaken you so you can call the police. Inexpensive door alarms are available at Walmart, hardware stores, or on Amazon.com. Search for "door alarm" or "door alarm with keypad." I use the GE door alarm.

2. Don't prop open your dorm door. It may seem inconvenient at times, but keep your door shut and locked when you are asleep, alone, or away from your room, even if it is just to go to the bathroom.

3. Don't help intruders inside. Many dorms require you to swipe your ID badge to enter. If someone tries to follow you inside, without swiping their card, and you hold the door for them -- you may have just helped an intruder. You can read about some of these incidences here. Get to know your neighbors and report suspicious people right away. Never give your key to others to borrow.

4. Close your blinds/drapes when changing your clothes. Even from inside an upper floor, people can see you from below or from a building across the way. Do a test at night. Have your roommate walk around in the room with the lights on and the blinds shut, while you go outside and look in. Adjust the blinds with the slats up and then down. Notice how directing the blinds can prevent you from seeing in. Also observe whether you can see through the drapes. Consider using both blinds and drapes for added privacy.

5. Secure your windows. When the windows are closed, use a dowel, bar, brace, or lock to prevent them from being opened. Window alarms are also helpful. When you want your windows open, window locks and alarms can also be used.

6. Protect your items and your identity. Keep your backpack zipped closed during class and at the library. Do not keep your phone, laptop, books, backpack, or money in plain site in your car. Always take them with you or put them in your trunk, if you must. Don't put your name on your dorm room door or mailbox. Don't use public WiFi to access online banking. Report your missing keys or ID badge immediately. Make sure to keep a record of your bike's serial number and use a heavy-duty U-lock. Install tracking software and use a lock on your phone and laptop. Keep records of the serial numbers for your electronics.      

7. Be safe on campus. Know where the emergency phones are located. Use the buddy system, especially at night. Walk with purpose and use eye contact. Keep the phone number for campus security in your cell phone. Use the campus security escort service at night. Remove your headphones and ear buds so that you can hear your surroundings. Do not accept rides from strangers or casual acquaintances. Do not enter an elevator alone with a stranger. (You can always pretend you forgot something and get off or walk away.) Have your keys ready and in your hand when approaching your car or your room.    

8. Be aware at parties. Don't drink anything that someone else prepared for you. Only drink from a can or bottle that you opened yourself or which you watched someone pour. Keep an eye on your drink, as someone may try to add drugs or other substances to it. If you leave your drink unattended, get another one. Specific information about date rape drugs can be found here. Also, remember that alcohol interferes with your judgement and you may not notice dangerous situations or people before it's too late.

9. Communicate. Make sure your family, friends, or roommates know your schedule. Leave a note or tell someone where you are going and who you are with. Let someone know if you are going to be on a date, at a party, hiking, jogging, or out alone. Make sure there is someone you can call if you need help. 

10. Trust your instincts. If you feel unsafe about a person or a situation --  get away and get help. Remember that anyone can visit a college campus. Never assume that a stranger is a student, faulty member, or resident. Immediately report any abuse, crime, peeping tom, obscene or threatening phone calls, etc. Do not feel ashamed. Do not minimize or try to justify what happened. It is not uncommon for people to feel unsure about reporting an incident, but you should always report it.

Be safe out there!

Accreditation Beware!

Imagine this...

Annie just completed a 9 month long Medical Assisting program that cost her $15,000 in tuition. She goes to apply for an exam and certificate, only to be DENIED! She is told that the school she attended didn't have the right accreditation.

Tom completed a bachelor's degree through an online college. However, when he applies to a master's program at a state college, they won't accept his credits/degree because the online school has the wrong accreditation. How did this happen to Annie and Tom?  

What is Accreditation? 

Schools voluntarily become accredited to gain desired credentials. They are accredited by a third-party and must conform to certain standards and curriculum.

Why Should I Care?

There are many types of accreditation. Just because a school says it is "accredited" on their website, doesn't mean it really is, or that it has the right kind of accreditation. Before you choose a college or a program, make sure to do some research on their credentials to save yourself a lot of heartache!


How to Check Accreditation:

Let's take a look at Annie again. Medical Assistants are licensed nationally through the AAMA. On their website it says that: "Graduates of medical assisting programs accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES are eligible to take the Certification Exam." It then provides a way to search for an approved program. Annie could have used this to find an accredited school. She could also verify this information by checking with other schools.

For Tom, he should have looked into the online school's accreditation to make sure his credits/degree would transfer later. Let's imagine he decides to get his master's degree in counseling in Idaho. By going to the state licensing board's website (click here), he would see approved schools and would be able to discuss his undergraduate plans in advance and know what accreditation they accept.

Finally, there's Holly. She wants to be a Radiology Technician. When she searched for schools online there were a variety of choices. Holly does the right thing and goes online to her state's licensing board (click here) for medical imaging and finds a list of accredited schools. Now she can pursue her education knowing that she made the right choice.

I hope you found these tips helpful. Good luck!