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.