The Campus Socialite » The Nerd’s Word

The Nerd’s Word: Graduate with a Gameplan

Brad Wellen — Thu, 13 May 2010 04:03:37 +0000

Graduation season is upon us at most colleges, and many students of all fields of study are asking themselves: what now? Unless you’ve already landed a job or are in line for a professional field like law or medicine that will keep you in school for years to come, this is really the end of your school days and the start of your full-time working life. Even during normal economic times, graduation is frequently the start of quarter-life crises for many young people, but graduating in 2010 brings about a special set of considerations. What do you do if you’re graduating during a tough economic climate? Let the Nerd serve up a cold glass of advice.

Travel the World and Take Advantage of Deals

Travel is a popular option, and may be especially tempting during this economic downturn for one reason: deals. As travel agencies and airlines slash their prices to destinations around the world, if you’ve got enough cash left over, you can probably land a cheap fare to Europe, Asia, Mexico, Australia, or other popular places. Plus, if you’re not committed to a job yet, or if you’re willing to take a chance on economic recovery making more jobs available later, you might as well go and see the world now. Just make sure you have a good post-getaway plan lined up (i.e. moving back with parents or in with friend, enough cash in savings, etc.) so you’re not completely disorganized when you return.

Get a Stop-Gap Job while You Pursue Your Preferred Career

Another option is to simply get a stop-gap job, something for now that will pay the bills and help you build up a cash reserve. If you’ve been getting summer jobs for the past four or five years of your undergrad period, don’t be surprised if they don’t call you back, as companies are still cutting back their costs. Try your old contacts and see what the scoop is, but don’t be afraid to branch out and try something new that can make you money right away, even if it’s not in your preferred position.

Stop-gaps also give you breathing room so that you can pursue your desired career. This is especially true for Arts graduates who are looking for creative endeavors like writing or design: this is your best chance to try to make something a career from something you love doing.

Stay in School and Learn a Practical Skill

If you’re feeling particularly anxious about your job prospects and the state of the workforce out there, consider staying in school. If you’re on a student loan program, the main drawback is that you will have more debt to pay back later – and if your loan is administered by a U.S. bank, you may not be able to get it renewed at all in the current climate – and you’ll be starting out a few years later than your peers.

On the other hand, if you feel that your current degree turned out to be something you didn’t have a real passion for, or if you would like to diversify your experience by adding another discipline to your resume, then re-apply. If you can, try to get a certificate in a practical skill: see if your college or university offers certificates in Human Resources, Accounting, Bartending, and more. You may not have believed it while you were an undergrad, but as you’ll learn soon enough, those practical skills prove to be far more valuable in the workforce than most of the theoretical knowledge you’ve acquired through your degree.

Whatever you decide, make sure it’s in line with your vision of who you are, who you’d like to be, and what you want to get out of life after college. Good luck and the Nerd is sure you’ll make the right decision!

That will wrap up The Nerd’s Word for this school year… thank you all for joining us each week and we hope that you learned something useful to apply in or out of the classroom. The Nerd will be back for the fall semester to continue to provide you with all the tips and tools of surviving the academic world. Be smart and keep your brain active this summer with Nerd: The Focus and Energy Beverage.

The Nerd’s Word: Don’t Let Senioritis Cloud Your Final Semester

Brad Wellen — Thu, 06 May 2010 04:03:56 +0000

bradwellen@precioustimeny.com

It’s easy to tell if you have senioritis (the odds are that if you aren’t sure, then you probably are a victim of the widespread condition). But why do seniors get senioritis? Sometimes they’re just plain sick of their studies after four (or five, or six) years and have run out of motivation. Sometimes students have a case of the college senior year graduation blues – that is, they’re stressed out about the financial and emotional aspects of the huge life change they’re about to make. And sometimes, students just want to have fun and enjoy their last semester with their friends. All of this is perfectly normal, but unfortunately, this can lead to lousy grades and other consequences. Here are some of the Nerd’s finest tips to help students “treat” their senioritis.

Assess the Potential Damage of Senioritis

Goofing off your final semester isn’t necessarily a bad thing – if you can afford to do so. Before senioritis fully sets in, assess the damage that will happen if you neglect your classes your last semester. If you can’t think of any serious consequences, it may be just fine to goof off.

However, be sure to assess the situation carefully. Are you considering graduate school in a few years? If so, you really need to keep your grades up, especially in classes related to your major. Is your GPA on the low end? If so, you might need to do fairly well your last semester in order to graduate. Are you taking a class that is especially relevant to your prospective career, or where the professor might be able to write you a letter of recommendation? If so, this is not the right class to blow off.

Of course, keep in mind that you don’t want to fail any of your classes, as this may mean no graduation.

Balance Work and Play

Fortunately, senioritis comes in different levels. It’s entirely possible to goof off in moderation and still do well enough in your classes. By your senior year, you hopefully already know a little bit about balancing college work with college fun. It’s the same thing with senior year. Set priorities for yourself as to what really needs to get done well and what can get done without your full effort.

Enjoy Your Final Semester of Classes

You may not believe this now, but after graduation, you might actually miss your classes, so try to enjoy the experience while you can (at least a little bit). Your last semester may be a good time to take a fun elective, especially since seniors typically get first dibs at classes. Since many schools allow students a pass-fail option their senior year, this may be a good time to try something new that you’re not all that great at, like a performing arts class.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to have fun your last semester, or with simply feeling too burnt out to be a top-notch scholar. By being realistic about your situation and striving to achieve a balance, you’ll find that your bout of senioritis is entirely treatable. In just a week from now, the Nerd will help you deal with the major transition brought on by college graduation, particularly in the tough job market.

The Nerd’s Word: It’s the Final Countdown

Brad Wellen — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 04:02:47 +0000

bradwellen@precioustimeny.com

With the end of the academic year fast approaching, it is time to acknowledge the sobering reality of finals prep. Every student has their own unique way of studying for final exams, but some methods are much more effective than others. Unfortunately, an inefficient method of preparing for finals may be what keeps you from succeeding. Your finals are too important to mess up. Enter the Nerd with a few ways to stay on task and ready yourself for the most important exams of the year.

Prioritize

Study and complete the projects that will be worth more of your grade first. Make an ordered list of things to study and projects to complete based on time and importance. Without having some semblance of an agenda planned, it will become very easy for you to mismanage all of the study time that you have available to you. Know where you currently stand grade wise in your classes, so you know how well you will have to do on the final to get the grade you desire.

Don’t Fall Behind

If you are behind in required class readings, you will have a lot of catching up to do come finals. Make sure you learn the material the first time it’s taught, so you don’t have to go back and review it. Sometimes, if you pay good attention in class, you can forgo some of the required reading.

Study Environment

You can accomplish much more quality study time in an academic like atmosphere than studying at home. Cut out all distractions while brainstorming to help maintain your train of thought. Eliminating noisy distractions and working during the day when you are more alert are also great ways to improve efficiency when studying.

Study Time

Be prepared for some seriously intensive study and plan for it accordingly. Study when it best suits you. Some people have more energy in the daytime, therefore study harder then, while others have higher efficiency during the late hours of the night. Find what works best for you and dedicate your more difficult tasks to these study times.

Office Hours

Show up at your professor’s office during office hours. Many professors’ office hours go unused by students, which is sad because they are such a great resource of information (they know what will be on the test). The professor will see your dedication and in doing so, it may even bump you up a grade.

Here are some more Study Tips:

Study aids – Use note cards, practice tests, tutors and teacher assistants as top study aids.

Find a study buddy – Pick out one of the smarter people in the class so you can team up and work together on upcoming tests and projects.

Review previous tests – Go over previous tests throughout the quarter. Spend most of your time learning what you got wrong. You should also take the time to get to know the format of the final so that there are no opportunities for misunderstanding later.

Cramming – Many say “cramming” is not the way to go, as you lose this information fast. If you do cram, it is recommended to do it within 24 hours of your final, so the content is fresh in your head. Review all of your material at least once through to deal with any and all unread materials. You should ensure that you understand all basic concepts before moving on to the next subject.

All-Nighters – Many say try and maintain a “normal” sleeping schedule, however this is almost impossible. Yes, you will be pulling a couple of all-nighters, and you will be fine (maybe just a little worn out after finals week). Just remember to take short breaks in between tasks to give your brain a refresher.

Collaborate Notes – Compare class notes with fellow peers.

All seriousness aside, if you don’t know the stuff on the final, “C” is not always the best answer. B is the new C.

It may be a rough week, but you’ll be glad when finals are over. There is a reason why schools give you a nice long vacation break after finals…because they can be grueling. Don’t forget to always keep some Nerd Focus & Energy Beverage by your side and everything else will fall into place.

The Nerd’s Word: The Blueprint for Buying Textbooks

Brad Wellen — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 04:02:21 +0000

bradwellen@precioustimeny.com

College is a big business, and one of the biggest expenses in this business – next to tuition, room, and board, is textbooks. Nothing hits your party fund like a trip to the campus bookstore. Reselling books may recoup some of your investment, but not all. You shouldn’t have to take out extra loans just to cover your books. The Nerd is here to offer you some alternative approaches to the costly textbook dilemma; just follow this tip guide to lessen the cost of your education.

Register for your classes as early as possible. Start researching courses as soon as you can, and solidify your schedule early. If you have to change classes at the last minute, it’ll be hard to escape high textbook prices.

Find out what books you’ll need for your classes. Go to the bookstore just to browse. Leave the wallet at home, but bring a pen and paper. Look for your classes and the new semester’s required books. Ask the bookstore employees to assist you if needed. If your 0classes’ book requirements are not in yet, inquire as to when they will be and come back on that date. You may also be able to get this information off the bookstore’s website or your classes’ web pages.

Write down the following information for each book:

- the name and volume/edition of the book

- the name of the author

- the book’s International Standard Book Number (ISBN), found on or near the barcode on the back of book

- the price

Try to find the books in the library. Check the catalogs of your school library and the local public library. If you can’t find a book there, try to obtain the book via inter-library loan. Depending on the library’s borrowing policies, you may be able to check out books for the whole semester or at least for as long as you’ll need them. You’ll want to get on this early, though, because supplies will be limited. If they do not have the current edition, it is likely that they may have previous editions, with most of the same information (see below on previous editions).

Check your library reserve. If a book is on reserve, the professor has provided the library with one or a few copies of the book for students to borrow for several hours at a time provided they do not leave the library. Be careful before class, tests, or major homework assignments, because reserve copies are often checked out at critical times; however, with proper planning you will have no problem. Alternatively, buy or borrow a previous edition for the chapter content, and use the reserve copy only for the homework problems. If the text isn’t available on reserve, e-mail the professor and ask if she’d be willing to put a copy on reserve.

Search for books on the Internet. If you can’t get a book at the library, or if you’ll need to be able to keep a book or write in it, look for better prices online. Usually all you’ll need is the book’s ISBN. In the search box of your favorite search engine, enter onlySharing, the ISBN number, without the dashes that separate the digits. You should come up with several exact matches; in the unlikely event that you don’t, try searching by title. Verify you have the correct book using the other information you wrote down.

Consider renting. Some sites will rent you textbooks for a fraction of the cost of purchasing them. Shipping is often free for either the receive or return, depending on the service you use.

Buy bundles. Bundled books save you money by allowing you to buy your books in one shrink-wrapped package, often at a discount.

Shop around online. Most likely just about any price you find online will be cheaper than the bookstore, but check as many sites as possible to find the cheapest possible book. Check out online auction marketplaces. While you won’t be able to find as many books at auctions, you may be able to find screaming deals.

Check out local bookstores. You may be able to find a good deal locally, especially once you factor in shipping charges. Even if you can’t quite match an online price locally, you’ll be able to see the book before you purchase and you’ll get the satisfaction of helping local merchants.

Inquire about earlier editions. If the current edition’s used price is still too much, use the book name to find an earlier edition: enter the book title in the search box and remove any references to what edition it is. You’ll find that the cheapest used version of the newest edition generally sells for 3-5 times the price of a previous edition. Before buying, be aware that page numbers, chapter order, and homework problems will almost certainly be different, and content may vary as well. However, often there are only minor difference between the two, and the homework problems are the only thing that may give you trouble (see above about library reserve, or below about sharing). Other than that, you will rarely have a problem, particularly for core texts on basic subjects. If in doubt, however, ask the professor or TA about using an earlier edition before you buy; you don’t want to have to pay for a book twice.

Share. Particularly for your core courses, try to take the same classes as your roommates or friends, and share a book. You’ll learn better if you study together anyway. Alternatively, get an old edition (see above) and borrow from a friend only minimally to access the homework problems.

Consider used books. Used books are almost always cheaper than new ones, and if you can find a used version online in good condition it may be a good bet. You may also be able to get used books at your campus bookstore, especially if you shop early or pre-order. Compare prices to find the best deal. Also used books may have the previous students notes in them which is a plus because you won’t have to make them.

Scour your campus. Some colleges have student groups that sell used textbooks for older students or that otherwise facilitate buying and selling of books. Ask your friends, look at flyers around campus, and watch the student paper for deals.

Resell your books. If you don’t foresee that you’ll need a book after the semester ends, try to resell it as soon as possible. Find out what your campus bookstore and local booksellers will pay, and consider putting up flyers around campus and/or selling it online. If your book is in high demand, you may be able to sell a book online within a day, and at a much higher price than you’ll get at the bookstore.

It doesn’t take a Nerd to know that you will need textbooks to stay on top of your courseload. You shouldn’t have to take too much of a hit to the wallet for arming yourself with the necessary tools to succeed in the classroom. By taking a lesson or two from our textbook purchasing guide above, you won’t have to make the choice between your savings account and GPA – you can have it all with the help of the Nerd. Next week, the Nerd zeroes in on what you need to do to prepare for your upcoming finals.

The Nerd’s Word: You Can Be Absent, Just Don’t Be Absent-Minded About It

Brad Wellen — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 04:02:51 +0000

bradwellen@precioustimeny.com

Regardless of how good a student you are, how detail-oriented, hard working, or diligent, you can be certain that you will miss a class at some point in your academic career. And likely many more than one. There are many reasons for missing classes, ranging from illness and emergencies to hangovers and a desire to sleep in. Why you missed class matters – to you. If it was for irresponsible reasons, your absence signals that you need to take a closer look at your obligations and priorities. What do you do after missing class? Do you just show up at the next class and start fresh? What about material that you’ve missed? Do you talk to professors? Here are seven things that the Nerd suggests you do when you’re absent.

1. Understand that some faculty, especially graduate faculty, take offense at absences for any reason. Period. They might be a bit more warm for students who were legitimately ill, but don’t count on it. And don’t take it personally.

2. Be aware of attendance, late work, and make-up policies. This information should be listed in your course syllabus. Some faculty do not accept late work or offer make-up exams, regardless of the reason. Others offer opportunities to make up for lost work, but have very strict policies about when they will accept make-up work. Read the syllabus to ensure that you don’t miss any opportunities.

3. Ideally, email your professor before class. If you’re ill or have an emergency, try to send an email to inform the professor that you cannot attend class and, if you wish, provide an excuse. Be professional – offer a concise explanation without going into personal details. Ask whether you may stop by his or her office during office hours to pick up any handouts. If possible, hand in assignments beforehand, by email (and offer to hand in a hard copy when you’re back on campus, but an emailed assignment shows that it’s completed on time).

4. If you cannot email before class, do so afterwards.

5. Never ask if you “missed anything important.” Most faculty feel that class time itself is important. This is a surefire way to make a professor’s eyes roll (maybe inwardly, at least!)

6. Do not ask the professor to “go over what you missed.” The professor lectured and discussed the material in class and likely will not do it for you now. Instead, demonstrate that you care and are willing to try by reading the course material and handouts, and then asking questions about what you don’t understand. This is a more productive use of your (and the professor’s) time. It also demonstrates initiative.

7. Turn to your classmates for information about what happened in class and ask that they share their notes. Be sure to read more than one students’ notes because students have different perspectives and might miss some points. Read notes from several students and you’re more likely to get a complete picture of what happened in class.

Look, the Nerd understands that college, in most cases, lasts four years and in that time there will be instances when you just can’t make it to class. Don’t sweat the absences, just make sure you stay on top of your workload and keep on your professor’s good side then the missed course will not be a major issue. In a week from today the Nerd will dissect the most affordable methods for buying your textbooks.

The Nerd’s Word: Avoid Plagiarism By Giving Credit Where it is Due

Brad Wellen — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 04:05:12 +0000

bradwellen@precioustimeny.com

Plagiarism, the attempt to pass off the ideas, research, theories, or words of others as one’s own, is a serious academic offense. Most students know when they are intentionally plagiarizing, for example copying an entire essay out of a book or buying a paper off the Internet. However, many people are tripped up by unintentional plagiarism – not giving proper credit for others’ quotes, facts, ideas, or data. The Nerd is here to keep you out of trouble and ensure that any papers you write or presentations you give are honest, transparent, and most importantly the result of your own work rather than that of another individual. Check out our tutorial on how to cite sources and paraphrase information.

A good rule of thumb is to always give credit for any ideas that aren’t yours by citing your sources. Different disciplines, publications, and professors have different standards for citation. Usually, your professor or teaching assistant will specify how you should present your citations, and if they don’t, ask.

Here are some common citation formats:

Footnotes and Endnotes

For longer papers especially, a widely used form of citation is the footnote or endnote. After a quote or paraphrase, a small, superscript number appears. This number corresponds with a numbered note either at the bottom of the page or the end of the text. Your citation and foot- or endnote should look something like this:

Commenting on the history of climate change, Kennedy notes, “We have known since the early 1900s that global temperatures between 90,000 and 10,000 years ago underwent sudden dramatic shifts.”¹²

12. Don Kennedy, “New Climate News,” Science, volume 290 (November 10, 2000), 1091.

In-Text Citations

These will usually suffice if you are referring to a small number of assigned texts or you are including a bibliography with the more specific information about the texts you cite. In-text citations usually list either the name of the publication or the author of the work. Here is an example:

Bellow writes, “Knowledge divorced from life equals sickness” (More Die of Heartbreak, p. 7).

Here is another acceptable way to format in-text citations:

The term “hunter-gatherer,” when used to describe nomadic societies that practice neither agriculture nor animal husbandry, places undue emphasis on hunting both as a source of nutrition (Oakes, 1980, 121) and as a time commitment (Peachtree, 12).

If you use this approach, make sure you include enough information about each of the sources you are citing so that it can be identified in your bibliography. The reason that Oakes has a date and Peachtree doesn’t is that this writer’s bibliography included two articles by Oakes and only one by Peachtree. Also, once you’ve chosen a way to format your citations, be consistent.

Citing Material from Websites

Rules for citing websites are still evolving. For now, a good general rule is to give the site’s name, the page’s URL, the date of publication if you are citing an article or a journal, and the date you consulted it, as shown below:

Mihm, Stephen. “Pet Theory: Do Cats Cause Schizophrenia?” Lingua Franca, December 2000/January 2001. Online. Available: http://www.linguafranca.com/print/0012/cover_pet.html. November 30, 2000.

A word of caution about using the Internet for research: the Web is full of rumors posing as facts, as well as plagiarism of every sort, so evaluate sources carefully before relying on them.

When Don’t You Have to Cite?

Common Knowledge

You don’t have to give credit for a fact stated in your own words. For instance, information that is common knowledge does not need to be cited:

Thelonious Monk, acclaimed jazz pianist and composer, wrote the classic tune, “Round Midnight.”

Your Own Ideas

You also don’t have to give a citation for facts or ideas that you, yourself, have established. However, it’s always a good idea to make the origin of such material clear, as shown in the example below:

After conducting a survey of sophomore engineering majors, I found that 72 percent cite the potential for high salaries after graduation as an important factor in their choice of major.

Is Paraphrasing Plagiarism?

Paraphrasing is putting information and ideas into other words for the sake of clarity or brevity. Used properly, paraphrasing can be a powerful tool for both explaining ideas and making persuasive arguments. But what constitutes proper and improper use of the paraphrase?

Take the following example of an original text:

The lost-wax casting process (also called cire perdue, the French term) has been used for many centuries. It probably started in Egypt. By 200 BCE the technique was known in China and ancient Mesopotamia and was soon after used by the Benin peoples in Africa. It spread to ancient Greece sometime in the sixth century BCE and was widespread in Europe until the eighteenth century, when a piece-mold process came to predominate.

–Marilyn Stokstad, Art History, Volume Two (New York, Prentice Hall, Inc. and Harry Abrams, Inc., 1995), 31.

And here is a paraphrase:

The lost-wax casting process is an ancient method for making metal sculpture. While the ancient Egyptians appear to have been its first practitioners, other cultures around the world also developed or imported the technique. Introduced to Europe by the ancient Greeks in the sixth century BCE, lost-wax casting remained an important artistic method up to the eighteenth century (Stokstad, 31).

Rather than simply restating the text, the author of the paraphrase changes the text to

draw out a particular idea and leaves out the details that aren’t relevant to the point she’s making. Moreover, she adds some clarity by including a short definition of the lost-wax method in her opening sentence. Most importantly, the author has cited her source by author and page number.

A Note on Notes

If you are not careful in your note-taking process, it’s very easy to closely paraphrase or even copy a source unintentionally. When in doubt, copy out the exact words of the original quote in your notes, put it in quotation marks, and include the citation information. Then you can later decide whether to quote or paraphrase, according to your reason for citing the text.

Avoid Plagiarism in Oral Presentations

It is very easy to use other people’s words in a speech without realizing it. Do your best to make it clear when you are borrowing. For example, you can say, “As the Roman playwright Terence observed, ‘While there’s life, there’s hope.’” Keep a written list of citations you can use as a reference if you are asked about your quotes.

Plagiarism can be a risk if you depend too heavily on outside sources. But if you rely on your own ideas, are conscientious about citing your sources, and are careful about how you paraphrase, you can steer clear of it, and write better papers or speeches in the process.

Do not be tempted to get someone else to write your research paper, hand in the same essay to two or more different teachers, or purchase instant essays from the web. Also, don’t download information from CD-ROMs or someone else’s original work off the Internet and directly incorporate such information into your essay without paraphrasing and acknowledging its source. Apart from being unethical, dishonest, and learning nothing in the process, your teacher probably knows you and your writing style too well for you to plagiarize successfully. Join us next week as the Nerd chimes in what you should do when you miss class.

The Nerd’s Word: The Great Notetaking Debate

Brad Wellen — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 03:55:20 +0000

bradwellen@precioustimeny.com

Good, comprehensive notes are the lifeblood of a student’s performance in any given course. Remember, when deciding the best way to take effective class notes, the important thing to do is figure out what works best for you. To some students, the sense of organization that a laptop can provide is a lifesaver. For other students, the old-school pen and paper is a much better option. Or perhaps a combination of the two — paper in some classes and lectures, and computer in others — is your best strategy. The Nerd is here to break down the advantages of taking your notes with a laptop or a standard paper notebook.

Advantages of Taking Class Notes on a Laptop

One of the biggest advantages to taking notes on a computer is that your finished product will be so much neater, especially if your handwriting is less than fabulous. Yes, you may wind up with a document full of typos and grammatical errors but that’s very easy to fix with spell check and some proofreading. But even if your document doesn’t read perfectly, it will look a whole lot better than chicken scratch in a notebook.

Another advantage to taking notes on a laptop is it’s so much easier to organize your notes. If a professor’s lecture is a bit disorganized, you can organize bits and pieces of the lecture until it makes more sense. And when it comes time to study for exams, you can cut and paste material to simplify the process.

Having notes on a laptop also eliminates the need to carry around lots of bulky notebooks. When it comes time to study for finals, all you need to do is open your files.

Finally, a laptop is great for taking notes because it makes it much harder to lose notes — as long as make sure you save your work and always back it up. And if you want to share notes with a friend, all you have to do is email a file.

Advantages of Taking Class Notes with a Pen and Paper

One potential problem with taking notes with a laptop is that you must be a fairly quick and efficient typist. If you can’t keep up with a lecturer, a traditional paper and pen might be a better alternative for you. Speed is probably more important than efficiency, as you can always clean up typos later – but if your documents are so full of typos that you can’t read them, laptop notes may not be your best alternative.

Another problem with laptop notes is that for some students, writing things down with pen and paper helps them retain the information much better. Before relying in laptop notes, see if this is true for you.

In addition, laptop note taking opens you up to technological glitches. Your computer can crash, or run out of batteries, or malfunction. With paper notes, not much can go wrong, provided you don’t actually lose your notes. If your pen runs dry, just use another one. And, of course, laptops can get stolen.

Also, keep in mind ergonomic issues. Laptops simply aren’t that great for your hands or your back. In addition, they’re a whole lot heavier to carry around than a paper notebook.

One problem that some students run into with laptops is that the opportunity for distraction. If the lecture’s boring, it’s hard to resist IM, or Facebook, or solitaire, or surfing the Internet – and you’re teacher will never know. Of course, you might say this is also an advantage of taking notes of a laptop, but in terms of getting good grades, it probably doesn’t help.

Finally, of course, laptops are a whole lot more expensive than paper and pens.

Remember, it’s important to take the time to figure out what works best for you. If you have a laptop, try taking notes for a few weeks – but also try taking notes with pen and paper, to see if that actually works better. Everyone retains information differently, so get to what strategies work best for taking down information and recalling it. Next Thursday, the Nerd’s Word focuses on how to avoid the pitfalls of plagiarism.

The Nerd’s Word: Get on the “Paper” Trail to Success in College

Brad Wellen — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 04:10:17 +0000

bradwellen@precioustimeny.com

I’d like to think that every day of my college career was an adventure and I never knew the opportunity that each waking morning would hold, however that would not be telling the whole truth. While much of the college experience consisted of trying out exciting new things, one area of my life remained unchanged and is still part of my daily routine today. Not one day of my time at school began without reading the campus newspaper. Whether it was just browsing the headlines, flipping to the sports section, and then completing the crossword puzzle in class – Syracuse’s flagship publication, The Daily Orange, was as much of a staple in my backpack as Scooby Doo fruit snacks and Formula 50 Vitamin Water. Perhaps I paid so much attention to the school newspaper because I was a Broadcast Journalism major, but I was not alone in my fondness for The Daily Orange as many students became familiar with the work of their favorite columnists and some future writing careers set their roots at the university level.

This week, the Nerd is here to advise students that a college newspaper job is a foot in the door for an up and coming journalist. Follow our steps to see how you can properly apply for and lock down a job writing for your school’s paper.

1. Get the words right. There is a general rule in journalism that you always get the names right. It applies to the first step of this guide. This means that you can’t misspell a bunch of words in your query, or that you can say the name wrong. Getting the name right means being polite and cordial. If you can get the names and words right, you are read for your initial query.

2. Get the query right. The newspaper business works much like the rest of the world – people want to see you in person. However, a good query and a meeting can put you leagues ahead of other writers applying at the college paper.

3. Showcase your skills. If you want to write for the entertainment section, write something entertainment related. The same is the case for news or sports. Editors want to see you can write well. Whenever an editor receives a piece, they almost always read it. If they like the writing, that writer will receive a call or an email. This showcases your talents. Many who want to be newspaper writers don’t even know what a complete sentence or headline is.

4. Study the newspaper. Understand its writing style and the topics generally discussed. If the editors liked your initial query, you can get the job by explaining what you liked in the paper, and what you could bring to the table.

5. Apply in person. It could be the beginning of a newspaper career. Bring your resume in and explain to the editors what you would like to do.

Some college newspapers can pay you quite well. Other newspapers won’t pay you in anything, except maybe a gift certificate. Regardless, a college newspaper job can open up a wealth of opportunities for a young writer. If you are responsible enough to balance your course work and a writing position that requires you to produce a few articles each week, then work at the campus newspaper may be a great fit for you. Join the Nerd next week as we debate the better notetaking device: the laptop or paper notebooks.

The Nerd’s Word: Internships are the Gateway to your Future

Brad Wellen — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:17:59 +0000

bradwellen@precioustimeny.com

You spent hours filling out applications, lining up references, opining in essays, and polishing and proofreading your resume a painstaking number of times. Now it looks like all that hard work has paid off: you just got the news that you landed that highly sought after summer internship. You’ve gotten your foot in the door at one of the top organizations in your field of study. Now what?

Your first order of business is patting yourself on the back. College internships are more competitive than ever these days, and if you ended up with a top spot at a firm you’re really interested in, congratulations are definitely in order. Heave a sigh of relief, call up your party buddies, and give yourself a night off to celebrate.

After you’ve crawled out of bed and shaken off the cobwebs the next morning/afternoon, you’ve got some serious thinking to do. Internships are a great way for college students without a whole lot under the “Experience” heading on their resumes to make a splash in the business world. Always keeping your best interest in mind, The Nerd has come up with some ideas to help you get started on the first stop to career success – the valuable internship.

Sketch out what you want to learn. Make a list of the skills and processes you want to explore during your internship. Avoid generic or overly broad goals – try to get as specific as possible. Once your position gets underway, keep careful track of your day-to-day tasks and responsibilities – that way, you’ll have a wide array of experiences to list on your resume.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. It can be intimidating to press your supervisors for clarification or more detail, but it’s always worth the effort. Not only will these questions help you gain a more comprehensive understanding of the industry, but they will also help you avoid the kind of screw-ups and snafus that can tank your future prospects with the firm.

Be prepared to work hard. Let’s face it – interns are a great source of cheap labor, and most firms that go through the trouble of screening and selecting interns intend to make the most of the situation by demanding a lot from their summer hires. Be ready to take on more than your fair share of the grunt work – and to do it with a smile.

View your internship as an opportunity to network and get noticed. When else is a lowly college student going to have the chance to mingle with some of the leaders in their field of study? An internship is your best shot to make a name for yourself as an up-and-comer in your industry. Make it a point to connect with as many people as possible and make sure that your reputation for hard work and innovative thinking will hang around long after your internship is over.

Take initiative, but take orders, too. An internship is a great time to showcase your talent for out-of-the-box thinking – but don’t take it too far. Make sure your supervisors know that you can be a stickler for particulars when the situation calls for meticulous attention to detail. You don’t want to be seen as a maverick that can’t play by the rules.

Contrary to popular belief, internships aren’t all fun and games – just like the college experience itself, what you’ll get out of your internship is exactly what you put into it. As soon as you get the good news that you’ve earned an internship, it’s time to start putting some thought into exactly what it is you’re looking to take away from the experience. Join us next week as The Nerd discusses the value of contributing to your college newspaper.

The Nerd’s Word: How to Succeed as A Student-Athlete and Not the Other Way Around

Brad Wellen — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:55:15 +0000

bradwellen@precioustimeny.com

For collegiate athletes, playing a sport began as fun and turned into a passion. If you are one of the lucky few that can take their passion to the next level, it will be a challenge to strike a balance between athletics and academics, but a worthwhile one. Maybe you can hit a running jump shot, sink a 50-foot putt, or lay down a perfect bunt, but you will need the grades to continue showing off your skills in college.

If you have dreams of turning pro, that’s great. But you should know that, out of all the high school football players in the country, only 0.09 percent go on to play professionally. For high school men’s basketball players, only 0.03 percent make it to the pros – so you better be a superstar before you decide to put the game ahead of the books. Most Division I schools have an academic support system set up just for student athletes, or at least a contact person who can steer them in the right direction to get the help they need. If you are a student-athlete in need of some guidance, the Nerd is here with some pointers on how to get your career on the right path – whether you future lies in the office or on the field of play.

Most athletic departments have guidelines about how athletes must notify professors about athletic schedules and missed classes. It is best to give your professor your athletic schedule and the days you may miss at the beginning of the semester. Many professors are flexible, but do not take advantage of their understanding. Make sure you turn in assignments in on time. You may want to find a “buddy” in class so that you can get notes from classes you miss.

The NCAA sets regulations aimed at keeping student-athletes eligible. However, in the end, it is the student’s responsibility to remain in good standing on and off the field. The NCAA has a GPA minimum of 2.1 for eligibility, but some schools or coaches may set a higher GPA minimum. Make sure you are aware of your school or sport’s policy and understand the consequences of falling below the required GPA.

Schools also typically have tutorial centers. Some colleges offer remediation to get students to the point where they need to be, however others have little to no assistance. If you expect help and it’s not offered, then you could get in over your head academically. Many universities expect college-aged students to be responsible enough to balance their workload with their practice/game schedules without any guidance from an advisor. Regardless of what aid your college has to offer, be prepared to be managing your own time and making your own decisions when it comes to getting your work done.

Many schools also provide academic coaching through organized study tables for student athletes. These typically combine tutors – either peers or professional staff – and computer labs. Attending study tables is sometimes mandatory and a great way to promote a team concept through learning together.

Growing in popularity are academic courses that actually teach student athletes how to be successful college students. Many schools have created their own, and the NCAA has one called CHAMPS/Life Skills Program (Challenging Athletes Minds for Personal Success) that’s at more than 500 schools around the country. Some colleges count it toward your credits for graduation; others use it as a free elective. Some athletic departments require it, some encourage it and others leave it up to the student to decide.

Most athletes have a full schedule, so time management is important. Although a student-athlete’s time is limited, it’s important to find some downtime between practice and homework so that you refuel before beginning schoolwork. Schedule just a few minutes to unwind so that you are ready to put all your attention toward schoolwork.

Overall, most student athletes find balancing athletics and academics to be a rewarding experience. Often, what athletes learn on the field can translate directly to the classroom. Student-athletes constantly make connections between the teamwork, motivation, and dedication needed to succeed in sports to their work and experiences in their courses. Next week, the Nerd’s Word will fill you in on how to make the most of a college internship.