Future Black Engineer

I thought it’d be cool and useful to give you guys an “Honest Guide on Preparing for College.” It has all the things you may already know, and then also some things you perhaps don’t. And a bunch of tips that are helpful for preparing for college, but also during college. I’ve been working on this post for months, adding few new tips every now and then so hopefully you guys like it and find it useful! :) I may add more tips from time to time, I’m not sure.

Suffer from acne? Visit a dermatologist to get it under control ASAP. The earlier you start, the earlier you’ll see results! And trust me, you’ll be going bare-faced a lot in college. At least twice a day- morning & night. And you’ll always want to look and feel your best! It sucks to be self-conscious.

Figure out a rough guideline of your morning/ night routine. Your college routine is usually not going to be the exact same as your home routine. Ie: Make up will probably be done in your room, not in the bathroom. If you use makeup often, consider buying a vanity mirror! Very useful. 

You won’t need binders. I brought 3 (1-inch) in case and I hardly use one. It’s more useful to have individual folders for each class. Or even those notebook with tabs inside to hold papers. The point being, the way you organize your work is different in high school. You’re not going to the same 5 periods everyday in college. You have classes that meet MWF, and TTh, etc.

Don’t forget to bring college essentials! Refer to my two posts here (”College Essential Hacks”) and here (”Things I Forgot/ Nearly Forgot to Bring to College”. 

Invest in make-up. In high school, I never wore make-up but now I often wear mascara and light lipstick! I spent countless trips figuring out what shade was best for me and trying out different products. Would’ve been easier to just do this in the comfort of my own home than in college! I’m still a make-up noob though, haha. I can’t even figure out how to apply eyeliner confidently!

Bring clothes you’ll actually wear. 1/3 of the clothes I’ve brought to college were never worn… They just took up closet space!

Bring formal clothes too. You never know what events you’ll go to (including sorority rush, galas, etc). Don’t forget a good pair (or two) of shoes for the outfit!

Realize that the first month-ish of school is the prime time to make new friends. People are more open to making new friends and are more friendly and receptive. Make the most of this!!! I can not stress this enough! Remember that first impressions can stick, so be especially graceful during this period. I would even go so far as to say that you should try to go out to a party in the first few weeks of school for two reasons…. 1) You can see if you fit with the party scene and if you enjoy it. 2) When you attend events early on, people will assume you’re down to go for the rest of the semester and you’ll get invites. (Which you can turn down, of course.)

Keep in touch with old friends! Seriously. Don’t just make new college friends and forget about your old high school friends. Keep in touch! Message them regularly and keep them in the loop! It might seem like a lot of work to message them all the details about something, especially when they are unfamiliar with the people so you have to describe it a lot (Wait, who’s Jim again? What’s your roommate’s name again? etc), but it’s so rewarding to have an old, familiar friend with you as you both experience college together, but separately.

Know your schedule and be on top of this. Be organized. I recommend a planner and also having a print out of your weekly schedule that has your classes and other time commitments. I actually drew my weekly schedule and hung it by my desk. It not only helps me visualize my week, but also lets my roommates know when to expect me. I also use a calendar app very diligently. Whenever I commit to an event, I immediately put it into my calendars (the app, and also my physical calendar in my room). I also inputted the dates and times of my exams/ important assignments from the get-go so I wouldn’t be surprised about when they were. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND INPUTTING THE DATES OF YOUR EXAMS AND DUE DATES OF PAPERS, ETC INTO YOUR CALENDAR ASAP!!!!!!!!

Keep in touch with family. Similar reasoning with #9. But basically, your parents and siblings have lived with you all of your life. They’ll miss you. Text them, call them, facetime them once in a while. Send them a postcard. Buy them college gear. Do little things like this; they’ll really appreciate it!

Don’t be so uptight and remember to be grateful. I feel like I’ve matured greatly in college. I used to have these crazy-high expectations about friendships and stuff, and now, it’s not that I have absurdly low expectations, but I just don’t take everything for granted. I am grateful for anything and everything my friends do for me. They bought me Chipotle? Aww. They reminded me about the review session? So sweet. Basically, don’t take things for granted.

Don’t be that one annoying friend. You know who you are. College is a time where you can really ‘reinvent’ yourself and you should really try to be a ‘better you’ during college. Here are some traits I find annoying, personally… An annoying friend is one who does any or all of these things:

“Forget” to pay a friend back for spotting you. Seriously, we all hate that person who does this and we all really respect that person who is really diligent about paying back someone. So take note. Everyone is on a tight budget in college.

Rants all the time. If you’re ranting all the time and your friend is just listening, you have yourself a freaking awesome friend. Just remember that friendship means you can rant, and your friend can rant back. It’s a two-way street.

Tries to peer pressure others into doing something they like. Okay, I get that you drink and smoke a lot. But you don’t need to feel the urge to ‘convert’ me to doing the same. No means no.

Always bails or is flaky. Freaking annoying.

Takes things too far. We all have that one friend who takes things too far and doesn’t know when to stop….

Too sensitive… But we also may have an uber-sensitive friend who always holds grudges and is a grumpy cat. 

Don’t skip class. Seriously. It doesn’t matter if the lecture is posted online, or if you’ll just get notes from a friend. Or if you already ‘know’ what’s being taught. Just go. Skipping class = lower grades = lower GPA = unhappy you.

Be willing to try new things. This can vary to an extent from person to person. It can be as crazy as asking someone out or trying new food. College is a time of growth, new experiences, and fun times. HOWEVER, don’t do anything that will harm yourself. None of this “yolo” mantra please.

Bring a lot of undies. Shirts and pants can be reworn more than once (within reason), but undies can’t. So save yourself from doing laundry all the time and bring a lot of undies.

Learn to let things go. I used to be that person who held onto grudges. But since starting college, I’ve really begun to realize that life is so much more fun and enjoyable if you don’t let the little things faze you. Learn to let it go. Don’t let what that rude guy said to you this morning stick with you for the whole day. Who cares if you asked someone out and it failed? You don’t need them anyway! You’re too fabulous for them to handle! 

Learn to be confident in yourself. “Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You “- Dr Seuss. Over the years, I’ve found that I’ve grown much more confident and independent. I love it.

Learn how to socialize and be a great conversationalist. Smile and actually pay attention to what they’re saying. Remember what they said and bring it up the next time you see them. Hey, how was your lunch at Gypsy’s with John? It makes people feel special and nice. Use their names in the conversation as often as you can (without it sounding totally awkward and weird). People like hearing their names in conversation. [Btw, I read these facts on a Time article somewhere so its legit.]. People don’t remember what you say, but they remember how you made them feel. So make them feel loved and appreciated. Laugh.

Live and learn through your mistakes. No one’s perfect. So what if you bombed your first midterm? It’s the first of many. Pick yourself up and study harder for the next one. Don’t get all beaten up.

Consider bringing your AP study guide books to college. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve opened my AP Calculus review book from Princeton Review to review and look up things.

Keep track of your meal points. I frequently hear people saying they always have leftover meal points at the end of the year, but maybe it’s because I like to buy a lot of snacks, but I was actually behind on points for half the semester. It’s no big deal–I can easily add more points–, but just don’t be under the illusion that you have unlimited amount of points and can buy whatever you want. Be smart about rationing off your points.

Don’t let one midterm grade affect you. Yeah, you failed that midterm. So what? Just do well on the next ones. There’s nothing you can do about your midterm grade–you can only improve yourself for the future. Have a good cry, rant to friends, watch some Netflix–and then realize the changes you have to make and enforce the changes. 

Pick classes that you’ll enjoy. Don’t pick morning classes (if you can help it) if you’re not a morning person. Don’t take a Drawing/ Painting class if you’re not an artsy person for your Visual Arts requirement–there’s classes like Art History or stuff like that. Be reasonable about the classes you take and how much workload you know you can handle. Not everyone is the same.

Go see your adviser from time to time. Just to make sure you’re on track! Work out a 4-year plan. You don’t want to have any surprises later down the road!

Be careful with labels. Like “best friend” or “favorite person”. Sometimes, these can lead people on unintentionally and you’ll get yourself in awkward and uncomfortable situations where they like you but you don’t like them or something. I learned that it’s just best to call people your “friends” and unless you are really bonded with a person, then call them your best friend. But honestly, if you two are best friends, you kinda just know you are each other’s best friend–it’s a mutual feeling and it doesn’t really need to be said or labeled. I think it’s just best to rid yourself of using labels, honestly. Terms that imply exclusivity can sometimes lead people on. I think you should have a self-check with yourself every month or two and go like, “Okay, where am I at? I really like where I am right now. I could improve on this… etc etc. Let’s see the friends I’m close to… Do I think any of them likes me? I don’t want to unintentionally lead them on.” Just stuff like that.

Understand your finances for college. Including scholarships, how much you’re paying, how much you’re working (if applicable), etc. Just be on top of all your money stuff! 

Don’t go out and eat out a lot. I ate out a lot during freshman year. Too much. I had no regrets during the moment but now looking back, I just imagine all of the money I could’ve saved if I didn’t eat out…. :( You can save so much money by reducing how much you eat out.

Be financially conscious and be mindful of how much you spend. There are plenty of hangouts you and your friends can do that don’t require money or that much money. Examples: movie nights, picnics, checking out the campus botanical garden, going sightseeing in the city, cooking dinner together, etc. Just because it costs money doesn’t mean it will always be fun, memorable or worth it–something to remind yourself of! In addition, shoot for quality over quantity. Buy a $50 pair of Rainbows sandals that will last for years, instead of flimsy, cheaply made sandals that will break after a couple of uses. Splurge on that North Face jacket–you’ll be wearing it a lot and it’s versatile and will last you years. Now that I buy groceries and cook for myself, I’ve definitely come to appreciate the value of the dollar.

A few new printables available on my Etsy shop! :-) Here are the links:

student academic/college planner printable pack

academic yearly planner printable set (2017-2018)

daily schedule and task printable set

30 day habit tracker printable

note taking template pack (lined, dotted, lecture, grid, cornell)

weekly planner printable set

this is a masterpost on how to deal with all of your schoolwork during a shitty mental health week. it is important to note that mental illness is a finnicky animal, and that not everyone has the same experiences as far as symptoms and adverse affects are concerned. however, these are all tips/resources that have worked well for me in the past, and i hope that there are at least a few that will work for you as well.

i. look at your schedule for the next day. rally all of your energy do all of the assignments and readings that absolutely must be done by tomorrow. disregard everything else. it can be done another day.

some portion of the stress will be lifted off your shoulders, and you will be able to relax a little bit and focus on things that are more important. If it can be delayed by 24 hours, it is not worth doing the night you are on the verge of a real crisis. i’m not advertising procrastination, but the reality is that we all do it. and i would argue that sometimes it is justified. if you are having a bad enough night where it takes all of your emotional and physical energy just to get through 30 pages of reading, you need to put nonessential things aside for a time when you are feeling more mentally available. your work will be higher quality if you do it this way.

ii. take a shower.

showers (especially hot ones) will help clear your mind, open your sinuses, and relax your muscles. stand/sit under the spray until you feel less tense. even if you’ll be heading straight back to your room to work, you will be more relaxed and levelheaded to tackle the assignments in front of you.

iii. tackle your essential assignments in smaller chunks.

slow down your routine by a few minutes. study in 10-15 minute bursts instead of your usual 20-30. study in your room instead of the library. make a small change that could help boost your focus. however your study schedule may look, slowing everything down can help you accomplish your essential tasks without causing you to burn out before everything is done. it may seem impossible to slow down your already fast paced schedule, but trust me, even making small adjustments can do a lot of positive work.

iv. seek help and support from outside sources if you need it.

study with a group of friends or classmates if you are feeling up to it. this will help with your comprehension of the material, and might help boost your motivation to get through those essential assignments so you can go back to your room and wind down. call your family if that will help you feel better about where you are. if necessary, seek counseling/wellness services on your campus. this information is often posted somewhere on your university’s website. remember that there is absolutely no shame in seeking out therapy and counseling related services! there are also many online resources for mental health you can access as well, if in person counseling is not a viable option for you.

v. remember that you are not a bad student because this is happening. you are not a failure. this is not your fault.

- delete conversations between people you no longer talk to. its healthy to let go of the past and not letting yourself dwell on things.

- say kind things about people you like. say good things about yourself. don’t speak or think about people you don’t like.

- look in mirrors. you shouldn’t be afraid of facing yourself.

- clean sheets make clean sleep make clean minds

- allow yourself time to feel and grow. don’t be too hard on yourself for crying, you need to vent in order to move on to better times. even rainy days work towards sunny days.

- if things don’t work out, stop forcing them. there’s no reason for you to keep working and failing if there’s other places/people for you to excel and be happy.

- kiss your body, caress your body. make yourself feel loved.

- running away doesn’t always solve everything. sometimes, the reason that made you run will still be with you. focus on freeing yourself before starting anew.

hi, i’m jordan and welcome to my new studyblr!

some facts about me-

i’m going into the tenth grade (sophmore/year 11)

i live in the united states (california) & i’m african-american

my zodiac sign is aries

i plan on pursuing a career in either medicine or computer science

what i’m interested in-

i love photography & anything aesthetically pleasing

stationary is an obsession of mine

i love watching & posting youtube videos (causes me to procrastinate sometimes :/)

i enjoy playing the sims 4 and maintaining a simblr (if that’s relevant)

dance moms and so sharp are my fav

hamilton will always be my love

why did i make a studyblr?-

i’ve been following the study community for a while now, primarily on youtube, and have recently started following the community on tumblr-i decided to join in order to inspire myself to work harder during the upcoming school year, be more productive, and to not procrastinate! i hope to post things that inspire me and possibly others, study tips, notes, planner spreads, and other useful study-related information

find me on instagram @studywithjordan

studyblrs that inspire me-

@studyquill @studyign @studywithinspo @emmastudies

7-18-17

How to take effective notes (in class). I probably should’ve added that in the banner 😂. I know many people have already made posts like this, but I just thought I’d give my own tips and tricks.

i. Be prepared:

If you know what topics will be discussed, skim your textbook before class. If you have no time, just read the main titles and subtitles so you have a general idea of what the topic’s about. This will help you understand everything you write down, and you’ll be a more active writer.  

ii. Be minimal: 

I know that having colors and all is really nice, and sometimes it’s essential for the learning process, but it can also be very time consuming. Try to write down your notes with one color, and use a different color only for titles, subtitles, or important words. You can also adopt a highlighting system to color-code your notes at home.  

iii. Be well rested: 

This might sound strange, but I always find that when I’m tired and sleepy, I can never take notes. Sometimes I even doze off in class, which is obviously no good. So, being well rested is essential for you to be alert and focused in class.     

iv. Be concise 

You’ve heard this multiple times. Don’t write everything down. But, while doing that, you should also find a way to further shorten your sentences. Use abbreviations and acronyms. But, make sure that you know what everything means. Don’t use a certain abbreviation suddenly and then forget what it means when you’re reviewing.

v. Be somewhat neat 

Find a place for your handwriting between completely illegible and crazy neat. You need to write quickly, but you should also write neatly.

vi. Refer back to your textbook and teacher 

You are human, and sometimes you don’t always write things correctly. You can always check with friends, but sometimes even they can’t help. So, in times like this, you should refer back to your textbook and teacher as well.  

vii. Sit away from friends

While writing notes, your focus should be at its highest. Don’t let your friends distract you, and in return, don’t distract them.

viii. Take good notes the first time

If you find that you benefit most from rewriting notes, then this is not for you. But if you’re short on time and find that you passively copy words when rewriting notes, then you’ll benefit from this. Take good notes the first time around. Focus on making them effective study aids for you when you need them later.