Have you download the free ebook on motivation already? Download ‘Nine ways to get motivated for college’ from Stefan Knapen now!

This is a guest post by Alexis Montgomery. Do you also want to send in a guest post? See the contact page

How many of you had your parents tell you that you could grow up to be whatever you wanted? At the age of three, I apparently wanted to dress in a chicken costume for a living, which for some reason my parents encouraged (were they hoping I’d have an exciting career as a sports mascot, or a lucrative position selling wings for KFC?). Hopefully, you set your sights a bit higher. While it was nice of mom and dad to offer encouragement, they couldn’t possibly have seen what the state of the world (or more importantly, the economy) would be like when you approached graduation. Many of you probably dreamed of becoming a teacher, a veterinarian, or a firefighter. But now that you’re facing the cold, hard reality of an economic recession, your dreams may seem a little unrealistic. Luckily, there are several fields that are set to grow over the next few years, and a degree in one of them may ensure a bright future.

A career in medicine might be your best bet. If your childhood fantasies included helping others, you may have found a winner. Earning a degree as a nurse, a medical assistant, or even a doctor could afford you the opportunity to enter your profession immediately after graduation, as jobs in these areas look to be on the rise in the next decade (thanks to health care reform and its offer of insurance to more Americans). And with several options for schooling and degree programs, almost everyone can find a niche they’re comfortable in.

Engineering is another area that is always in need of qualified individuals (note, there may be a lot of schooling involved). The options are almost limitless when it comes to specialization (a few broad areas of engineering are mechanical, aerospace, computer, and civil) so almost anyone can find an area of interest. These jobs also tend to be highly specialized, which means better-than-decent salaries. If you’re technically savvy and have an eye for the bigger picture, you should consider an occupation in this field.

While formerly in-demand positions for web/graphic designers are now facing a flood of applicants, not all careers in computing are on the decline. Internet marketing is one field that is wide open for those who have the drive to run their own business. With a background in marketing, a basic understanding of SEO, and the desire to continue to learn in a quickly-changing internet landscape, you could be on your way to a fun and exciting occupation that can earn you a lot of money…if you’re willing to put in the time and effort.

Another field of computing that continues to be fruitful is Information Technology (IT). All companies, large and small, will at one time or another need help running a myriad of computer systems, servers, and back-up facilities. Having professionals on-site and on-call is often a necessity in the fast-paced world of corporate business (although a freelance position may be more lucrative and flexible over time if you can hold out to build up a good clientele). Additional training in creative pursuits (like computer graphics or web design) can also be a big help as a recent trend has emerged in which companies under the gun to cut costs are laying off designers and passing their duties on to the IT department.

Finance is also an area that looks to enjoy future growth. The internet offers many opportunities in the area of ecommerce and many companies are looking to hire individuals who have a focus on either international finance or financial analysis. So a head for numbers and good communication skills could guarantee gainful employment.

None of us grew up with visions of medical billing dancing through our heads, but all of us dreamed of a house, a car, and whether or not we knew it at the time, financial stability. Even if you don’t end up reaching solvency by the path you chose as a child, it’s better to go for the gold than to end up looking at the field of your dreams from afar.

Alexis Montgomery is a content writer for Online Colleges, where you can browse through various online degree programs to find a college that suits your needs.

Have you download the free ebook on motivation already? Download ‘Nine ways to get motivated for college’ from Stefan Knapen now!

This guest post is contributed by Alvina Lopez, who writes on the topics of accredited online colleges. She welcomes your comments at her email: alvina.lopez@gmail.com

Okay, no one wants to be in this position—you were given an assignment or research paper weeks, maybe even months ago and you decided since the deadline was so far out off into the horizon, it could wait. Before you know it, it’s midnight, you’ve got maybe 18 hours till deadline, and you haven’t even started. In a perfect world, this scenario would never even occur. But when I was in college, it happened all the time. I think I’d experienced maybe 30 or more excruciating all-nighters over a three and a half year period. The first was the toughest, and after a few more, it wasn’t all that soul-draining as it used to be. But don’t get me wrong, every sleep-deprived night still sucked in a very big way. In the end, however, I made it out alive, and with good grades on top of that.

So if you do end up saving something for the very last night, which will happen inevitably, here’s how I managed and how you can manage, too.

• Stock up on caffeine products. This may seem fairly obvious, but your body simply is not used to missing out on sleep and actively working on a task simultaneously. Pick your poison, as the saying goes. Whether its coffee, energy drinks, or even tea, make sure you approach the wee hours of the night prepared. But be forewarned: don’t ingest these products too quickly, simply because an unintended side-effect is the caffeine crash. You’ll get a rush of energy that may impair your ability to focus anyway, and then you’ll feel incredibly sleepy. I’d usually start with one cup of coffee per hour, and then transition to green tea later in the morning.
• Take breaks. You can’t feasibly stay up all night without taking a few breaks. Since I used to smoke (I’m not advocating smoking by the way; it’s a terribly self-destructive habit and you should quit as soon as possible if you do) I’d set goals for myself, like write a page, take a smoke break. You can take other kinds of breaks too, like ten or fifteen minutes of Internet surfing for every hour of solid work you accomplish.
• Try to take an interest in what you’re doing. When approaching an all-nighter successfully, it’s all about attitude. The worst, slowest, most painful all-nighters I ever experienced were those in which I had already made up my mind that my paper or project was boring and pointless. Don’t do that, whatever you do. If you have the choice of picking topics for your assignment, make sure you choose something you feel will sustain your interest for an entire night. If you can’t pick the general topic, then when doing your research, make sure that you find sources that approach a boring topic from an interesting perspective. Trust me—your level of interest makes a HUGE difference.
• A friend who’s in a similar situation can sometimes help. If you’ve got a buddy to join you when things get tough, then all the better. You can motivate each other.

These are basically the only four things I did to help me make it through the night. As heart wrenching as it is to sacrifice a night of much-needed sleep, it isn’t impossible, and it will build your strength, your intellectual stamina, and even your character. Good luck!

Have you download the free ebook on motivation already? Download ‘Nine ways to get motivated for college’ from Stefan Knapen now!

This guest post is contributed by Anna Miller, who writes on the topic of online degrees . She welcomes your comments at her email id: anna.miller009@gmail.com

I’m no longer a student, but I’ve been one for a little more than two decades. With two graduate programs under my belt, I’ve been through the grind of studying and exams more times than I care to remember. And in all these years, I’ve learned that there’s more to cramming for exams than meets the eye. For example, I’m one of the large number of people who never remember something if they learn it just once. Rather, they need to do a few more revisions before the subject registers enough in the brain to recall during exams. But besides this obvious method, there are other tricks to remembering what you study:

• Combine your efforts: There are some subjects that are better remembered when you combine your efforts with friends who have taken the same course. When you discuss your answers and engage in debates as to how you reached them and why you need to answer certain questions in certain ways, you tend to remember the subject more clearly and comprehensively. It’s also a fun way to study as opposed to cramming on your own.
• Teach your friends: I’ve found that if I teach someone something, I never forget it. That’s because I need to understand the subject or topic completely before I’m able to explain it clearly to someone else. Also, the act of getting them to learn the subject embeds it more deeply in your memory. So even if it’s years later, you find that you recall the topic with relative ease because you’ve been a teacher for a while.
• Start early: The best way to study for exams (and the least followed option as far as I know) is to start early – when you learn a little every day, it’s easy to put together the bits and pieces at the end and make them a coherent whole. Also, when you avoid leaving the studying to the last minute, you prevent the stress, tension and ill-health associated with cramming and staying up late.
• Take the practical route: When you do something practically, it’s easier to remember the theory. This holds good for scientific principles, mathematics and other subjects where you can practice what you learn. It’s like cooking – when you make a recipe often enough, it’s easy to remember it without having to refer to the cookbook every time.
• Write it down: And finally, one of the most effective ways to remember what you’ve learned is to jot down notes as you study. When you write down stuff like formulae and important points, your brain remembers it twice as well. Also, it’s easier to revise by just going through what you’ve written instead of having to read through your entire set of notes again.

Studying and learning is a personal aspect, one that is different for different people; so try out what works best for you before you adopt it on a regular basis.

Have you download the free ebook on motivation already? Download ‘Nine ways to get motivated for college’ from Stefan Knapen now!

This is a guest post by Niels Gouman Niels is a professional lifehacker from the Netherlands. Want to know more about Niels? Check out his website: NielsGouman.nl, or follow @NielsGouman on Twitter. Do you want to do a guest post? Visit the contact page!

In this post I’d like to explain to you why you should use mindmapping. Back in the day when I was going to school mindmapping seriously saved my ass, well at least it did at the times I actually studied. I didn’t study much at school, and I quit my last school after about 2 months. School just isn’t my thing, I disagree with too many things. But tricks like these did help me to get proper grades whilst studying as little as possible.

What is a MindMap?

From my experience I’ve noticed that reading lines, paragraphs, books, and repeating that over and over until you remember it, just isn’t working. This way of studying takes up one hell of alot of time, whilst not giving much result. Apparently this is because your brain just doens’t work that way. Your brain likes to make connections.

For example: You’re into this sport (doesn’t really matter which one), and all of the sudden a rule changes. Now, because you know so much of this sport (hey, you’re really into it!) you can very quickly understand this new rule, and apply it properly. Compared to somebody who isn’t into that sport, you will be amazingly much faster to learn.

This also explains why teaching is the best way to learn. Teaching forces you to think diffrent about stuff you already know, enabling your brain to make new connections.

So what is a mindmap? Well simply put a mindmap is a drawing of these connections. Just a quick video to show you how you can use it:

Why would you want that?

Sounds great and all, this mindmapping thing, but why would you want to waste my time making mindmaps while you might as well just study your notes? Fairly simple actually, you can easely earn back the time you’re spending on making a mindmap, by enabling you to study so much faster. After seeing a mindmap (almost) everything is obvious, you see and understand the associations you made and easely remember what the subject was about.

Also, when you’ve made a mindmap, the next time you need a quick refresh on the subject you’ll be done within seconds. No need to read a lot of text, hoping you’ll remember it. Now with mindmaps you instantly see the associations, it will visualise the subject, and your brain will almost instantly remember everything about the subject, since this is what your brain is good at.

How am I going to make one?

So you’re convinced, mindmaps are awesome! Now what? Well you’ve got to go and make a couple of them, but how?

The guy in the video explains it pretty good, make sure you’ve watched it. Do a couple of Google Image searches for mindmaps, so you can see the results. So now you’ve got a pretty good idea how one of those things should end up, but how to make one yourself?

It’s pretty simple actually. To start just write down the subject that you should be studying for, write it in the middle of your page. Once you’ve done that just write down a couple of keywords around it, and draw lines from the subject to the keywords. Next you write down important notes for the keywords, and connect with lines again. This last stap should actually make it pretty clear already, optionally you can make a pretty drawing next to it, to visualise it even more.

Last (optional) step is one of my favorites which almost everybody forgets. Think of as many examples as possible. Don’t connect these with more lines, that would make it messy and destroy the instant understanding. Add a number next to a word and write the example on the back of your paper. This will make you think a bit more about the subject. By writing down examples your brain can make even more connections to remember the subject by. And on the off chance that you forgot and don’t understand your mindmap you can just read the examples to understand what you meant.

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• How To Convert Text To Mind Map (slideshare.net)

Have you download the free ebook on motivation already? Download ‘Nine ways to get motivated for college’ from Stefan Knapen now!

This is a guest post by Andrea from collegecareerlife.net. Want to do a guest post? Visit the contact page!

Every serious student knows that school requires at least as much work as a full-time job. The flexibility of being a college student can be an advantage, but it can also hurt your academic performance when you don’t have a set time and place to work (as you probably would with a job). A few steps to help make school more like a job and your study time more productive.

Create a work/study schedule
In college, classes are often spaced throughout the day with breaks in between. Combined with part time jobs and extracurricular activities, it can be hard to find a block of uninterrupted time to study. One solution is to break assignments and study materials into many small sections that can be covered in short periods of time. A few weeks into the semester, you’ll have an idea of which classes will require more time and you can create a more detailed study schedule. You can find several calendars and scheduling tools online, such as ToDoIst.com or Google calendar. Scheduling tip: Reviewing your notes right after class helps retention and can make studying easier closer to test time.

Designate a work space
It’s tempting to study in front of the TV, but you’re study time will be more efficient and effective if you’re focused. To create a space that signals you’re in work mode, find a quiet area with enough space for your study materials and no distractions. The ideal study space will have a desk or table, a comfortable (but not too comfortable) chair, sufficient lighting, and some privacy. If you have roommates or a noisy dorm, go to your school’s library or the local public library. Another consideration is a white noise machine or a study music playlist for your mp3 player. Since you’ll probably use your computer while working, consider installing LeechBlock or similar plug-in that limits your time on certain sites.

Prioritize
You’ll likely be juggling several classes and assignments at any given time, so decide which tasks are most important before you begin work. Estimate the time needed for each task by timing yourself on a similar task and adding a little extra time to be safe. Just like with a job, you’ll sometimes have to work longer hours than you’d planned.

Finding motivation to study can be difficult, especially when the test date is far away. Creating a structured work environment, adhering to a set schedule and prioritizing will reduce stress and increase your GPA. When you enter your work/study space at the designated time, it will be like going to work. Unfortunately, you still won’t be getting paid, but you’ll graduate with more self-discipline than many other students.

This post was contributed by Andrea Moore, founder of CollegeCareerlife.net!

Have you download the free ebook on motivation already? Download ‘Nine ways to get motivated for college’ from Stefan Knapen now!

This is a guest post written by Tom Tessin. Tom runs FindSecuredCards, a website that connects people with the best prepaid credit cards on the market today.

The moment that you step into your college class, you need to start thinking “finals” right away. If you’re not, you’re already lagging behind in the class. I wanted to showcase some tips that you can use today in order to study successfully with your college finals.

Start on day one: The moment that you set foot into the classroom, you instantly want to think about your studying. The reason you’ll want to do this is because you will find that it’s easier to study chapter, after chapter, rather than all at once. It’s never good to cram at the last second.

Notes are key: Every time you go to class, you want to be there, and in order to do well, you will want to make sure that you’re getting the education you’re paying for. Take effective notes each and every class, and make sure they are organized properly.

Always get help: If you don’t understand something in the class, get help with it. There are some classes such as Math that can kill you if you don’t understand something. If you don’t understand something now, you may not get the rest of the class in the future. If you can’t connect with another student in the class, you may want to ask the professor for help. You don’t want to be afraid to do this!

Create your own quiz: Use services online such as Quizlet.com that will help you create a quiz for free. Make a quiz, study, and take it later. If you pass it, you’ll be on the right path. If you fail, you may have to do some more studying.

Manage your time: You don’t want to spend all day studying, because it’s just not good for your health. Instead, set time aside for friends, family, and a healthy diet. Make sure that you’re getting the proper foods, and also make sure that you’re not stressing yourself out by studying too much. A schedule is always a good thing to have.

Join a study group: I’m sure that the same people in your class are in the same boat as you. Ask around, and see if anyone wants to join your study group. You’ll want to hold It somewhere quiet such as a library, or a Starbucks. Obviously, a cafeteria, or that will work.

These tips can work more than just on a college final, but on any test in general. Studying takes time, and you can’t absorb everything within seconds. Take your time, start early, and let’s hope you score that A on your test.

Image from Flickr

Have you download the free ebook on motivation already? Download ‘Nine ways to get motivated for college’ from Stefan Knapen now!

I am going to try a new thing here. I am not going to try it alone. I have Archan with me. Archan wrote a poem. Not just a romantic poem, it’s a motivational poem. That is why I am going to post him here! Hope you like it.

‘Move Forward
Take it one step at a time
It will provide momentum
And you will feel sublime.

Move Forward
Hey, what can go wrong?
Try to sing a song
Aim for a journey which is long.

Move Forward
De-clutter your life
What do you want to achieve?
Nothing is out of your reach.

Move Forward
Never let fear hold you back
You don’t lack
So get back on track.

Move Forward
Stop rushing around
By running helter-skelter
Instead, mail that employment letter.

Move Forward
Why be a slave from 9 to5?
Start your own business
And don’t be shy.

Move Forward
Take an evening class
And earn an MBA
To keep the cobwebs at bay.

Move Forward
What have you got to lose?
Go swimming every day
And look like Tom Cruise.

Move Forward
It’s okay if you fail
Pick yourself up
Don’t ever feel like you’re stuck.

Move Forward
It’s okay not to arrive
Take a detour and find
Values you left behind.

Move Forward
Instead of aping others
Follow your gut
and stay away from the rut.’

Archan Mehta is a freelance writer and can be contacted at archanm@hotmail.com. Archan is going to write more for StudySuccessful, would you like to write for StudySuccessful also sometimes? Contact me, via the contact page.

Have you download the free ebook on motivation already? Download ‘Nine ways to get motivated for college’ from Stefan Knapen now!

Today, you have a date with destiny
You see
These are early days
So, learn to change your ways
In order to get ahead in life
Else, you’ll have to fly a kite.

Jot down those notes
Raise your hand
Ask questions in class
Instead of smoking grass.

The professor is there to teach
Don’t be a blood-sucking leech
Did you enter class just to sleep?
Did you while away your time?
That’s like going to jail for crime.

It’s okay to be smart
Be curious like the morning lark
Hit the books, not the booze
Any loser can lie on a pillow and snooze.

Ignore those who lead you astray
Calling you nerdy, geeky or worse
Take comfort in their curses
Go home and pen a few verses.

Hit the gym and work out
Use your spare time wisely
Just do it quietly and politely
So one day you can be mighty.

Visit your teacher
During office hours
They don’t live in ivory towers
Be sure to shave and shower.

Your teachers are wise
They can help you win a prize
Ask them for reference
Improve yourself from such lessons.

Hang out with the right crowd
Volunteer and pursue that internship
It’s easy to lose your iron grip
And lose your way in school or college
Persevere and increase your knowledge.

There’s a lot to be said
About early rising
Partying all night at the bar
Won’t get you very far.

Go easy on the greasy food
It will make you brood
And increase your stress
When you want to be the best.

Don’t listen to the critics
Come on, you can do it
Pursue excellence if you can
Whether you are a woman or man.

That’s why you are here
To make a positive impact
Not to smoke crack
But to cover yourself with glory
And write your own success story.

While others attend a party
You can do better than that
Go to the local book-store
And find wisdom and ancient lore.

Instead of whining and complaining
Work at a menial job or better
If it’s cold, wear a sweater.

Schooling can make or break you
It’s upto you to take your chances
Take risks at every step of the way
Before you turn old and grey.

(Archan Mehta is a freelance writer and can be contacted at archanm@hotmail.com)

Have you download the free ebook on motivation already? Download ‘Nine ways to get motivated for college’ from Stefan Knapen now!

This is a guest post by Tom Tennis, if you are also interested in guest posting, visit the contact page.

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, President Obama signed the Credit Card Act of 2009 a few months ago. What some college students don’t realize is that there are some notes in there that are going to affect college students, and I wanted to break it down for you.

Limits on those under 21 years of age

If you’re under the age of 21, you’re going to find that you’re going to have a harder time getting a credit card. With the new act, you’re going to have to prove to the credit card companies that you either have a job, or you’re going to need a co-signer. If you can’t get either one of these two, you’re going to be out of luck.

You’re protected from pre-screened offers

Do you remember when you were 18, and the mailbox was always filled with the credit card junk mail? Well, with the new act, you can be rest assured, that the credit card companies won’t be able to do this to you. For everyone that is under the age of 21, pre-screened offers will be banned, unless you opt-in to the offers.

No more free merchandise

When you think back to walking the college campus, you probably remember a lot of credit card companies offering free things in order to sign you up for a card. From free food, to t-shirts, companies are now banned from offering free goods on campus, and any location nearby a school.

Your credit limit is limited

With the new act in place, you’re no longer going to get those $5,000 credit limits, but instead, the act now only allows you to get a card no greater than $500, or 20% of the student’s annual income, whichever one is greater. This will hopefully cut back on crazy limits that many students have been receiving.

Student credit cards can be a danger, especially if you don’t know how to manage finances. I’ve always been against signing up for a card that offers freebies, because you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into. Instead, do your research online, or ask a friend. Yes, this act will help a lot of students with debt, but it won’t solve the problems 100%

This was a guest post by Tom Tennis from findcollegecards.com, which focuses mainly on student credit cards, where students can do all the comparing themselves from many major credit card companies.

Have you download the free ebook on motivation already? Download ‘Nine ways to get motivated for college’ from Stefan Knapen now!