May the Grades Be With You

the curve of forgetting describes how we retain or get of information we absorb.

day 1: you go into a lecture knowing 0% and come out knowing 100% of what you know (regardless of whether you know it extremely well or not)

day 2: you did not do any reviewing of your notes from day 1 therefore you have lost 50%-80%

and as the days progress we forget less and less

think about midterms! notice how around midterms when you’re trying to study for something (that you haven’t been reviewing for regularly) it feels like the material is VERY difficult and almost as if you’ve never learned it before

formula to reshape the curve

within 24 hours of your lecture spend 10 minutes reviewing the material

a week later: it will only take 5 minutes to REACTIVATE the same material

ultimately, you will reshape the curve  

day 30: by this day your brain will only need 2-4 minutes to recall

information on the curve of forgetting was taken from the university of waterloo (x)

my formula to reshape the curve using the information above

before class: spend 10 minutes PREVIEWING the material. 

after class: spend 10 minutes REVIEWING the material

do this regularly. this will be your preview/review system for each class.

a week later: try to review a week later. i know that school/life can get pretty hectic, but try to make sure you are reviewing regularly.

maybe record yourself saying some important details/concepts from your notes the night before and on your daily commute to school plug in those earphones and listen to it. i am an auditory learner and i find that listening to my notes before i go to bed and right when i wake up have truly helped me retain information. studies have shown that the best time to study is right before going to bed and right when you wake up.

a month later: after a month, review what you’ve learned so far in your class. trust me this will be a very very short review. everything will look very familiar to you and it won’t look as difficult as it used to.

basically your review schedule should be the following: 

1 hour before learning the material

1 hour after learning the material (or within 24 hours of learning it b/c i know we’re all very busy people)

1 day later

1 week later

1 month later

remember everyone learns, studies, and retains information differently!! my personal belief is that your technique is what matters most. it is not about your innate ability/talent. find a technique that works for you.

more suggestions:

active learning > passive learning

when taking notes use the Cornell method. it forces you to ask questions and summarize what you’ve learned.

set frequent, short, review sessions

test yourself constantly! there are so many resources online. 

people who are under stress have difficulty remembering things so CHILL OUT

don’t rush, take your time

repetition is key

practice MAKES PERFECT

group items together

fish, vitamin b12, and green tea can help w/ memory

hello everyone! i know some of you will be going back to school soon, so i decided to make a huge masterpost that will hopefully help some of you out!

NOTETAKING

how to take pretty notes

notetaking from a textbook

how to make mindmaps

different types of notes

mindmapping.com

99 mindmapping resources

tips for taking efficient notes

effective notetaking

ORGANIZATION

staying organized

organization tips

get organized in high school

ten tips for staying organized

colour coding organization

tips for keeping your desk clean

PRINTABLES

form your habits

study and revision planner (2)

student planner

daily and essay planners

poetry terms chart

exam studying pack

loads of printables

2015 calender

chalkboard style to do list

READING

free online library

read free classics

what should i read next?

TESTS AND STUDYING

test taking guide

how to make a study guide (2, 3, 4, 5)

study tips (2, 3, 4)

study techniques

how to get straight a’s

how to study

making study schedules (2, 3, 4)

preparing for an exam (2, 3)

the basics of efficient studying

how to be an efficient test taker

how to review in less time

things NOT to do when studying

on test anxiety (2, 3)

study skills assessment

how to pull an all-nighter effectively

tips for answering multiple choice

how to answer exam questions

WRTING AND ENGLISH

develop your characters

essay-writing (2)

academic writing tips

create a bibliography (2)

MATH

math practice

math resources

free math help

learn basically anything

graphing calculator

learn any math

a bunch of calculators

square root calculator

cube root calculator

PRODUCTIVITY

how to wake up earlier

how to have a productive day

stop procrastinating (2)

how long to nap?

time management tips

tips to help you focus

energy throughout the day

STRESS AND WELLNESS

how to manage your stress

bedtime calculator

power naps

STUDY PLAYLISTS

minimalism

studying

film scores

you’ve got this

essential indie

pencil lead and lined paper

minimalist

celestial

love that aesthetic

space race

sunday morning

BULLET JOURNALLING

bulletjournal.com

bullet journal setup (2, 3, 4, 5)

minimalist bullet journal

bullet journal in a binder

pages to start

health tracker

how to use a chronodex

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

diy school supplies (2, 3, 4)

back to school supplies haul (2, 3, 4, 5)

finals survival guide

top secret study tips

how to take the best notes

study hacks

JOURNALLING, ART JOURNALLING, AND SKETCHBOOKS

journaling 101

what to put in a sketchbook

100 sketchbook ideas

119 journal prompts

50 art journal prompts

lists to make

how to collage in your art journal

collaging for beginners

how to start a sketchbook

art journaling 101

how to start a journal (2)

what to put in a blank notebook

keeping creative diary pages

turn an old book into an art journal

how to journal

what is an art journal?

must have art journal supplies

journal themes

art journal techniques

art journal inspiration

MISC

annotating a book

get back on track after missing school

It’s October! Black cats are often associated with being spooky, but this means they have a negative stereotype associated with them. Some people take the color of the cat into heavy consideration when looking for a new companion. This also goes for dogs! It’s a sad fact that black dogs and cats have a hard time finding homes. To celebrate the awesomeness of black kitties, we would like to do a little showcase of black adoptable kitties! We also want to adopt to some shelters that are taking care of black kitties! If you would like to nominate a kitty, please reblog with a link, or email us at [email protected] Want to find a black cat to show us? Try https://www.petfinder.com/ ! www.thetinytabby.com https://www.facebook.com/thetinytabby https://twitter.com/TheTinyTabby

Sirius: moons it’s a party why are you doing homework

Remus: shhh babe shush this shits about to be lit look at this

Sirius: oh hells yeah make sure you put it in third person though moons

Remus: oh yeah oh yeah thanks

James: also throw in the need for less mine control that’s supper important

Remus and Sirius: trueeeee

Peter: what was this essay supposed to be about Remus

Wear jeans/pants that “breathe” and bring a sweater, even if it’s scorching hot out, until you know which building blasts the AC to 60 degrees F and which feels like a sauna

Backpacks with thick straps are your friend!  Messenger bags are cool and all but if you’re commuting with a lot of stuff, symmetrically styled backpacks are better for your back

You are your own person and you can walk out whenever you need to or want to, so long as you’re not disrupting the class.  Meaning you can go to the bathroom without permission, take a breather if you’re anxious, answer an important phone call, etc.

If you don’t like the class on the first day, if you can- DROP THAT CLASS AND TAKE ANOTHER ONE!  It’ll only get worse from there!

If you can, take a class outside your major; it’s a good break from your expected studies.

You are in charge of your schedule.  Your adviser and guidance counselor is there to ‘advise and guide’ but if you don’t like certain classes and you can substitute for others, that’s your choice.

Consequently, if you are changing anything drastic in your plan, talk with your adviser and instructors.

Pay attention to your credit hours and grades.  Never leave this to the last week of school, you will be sorry and stressed beyond belief!

Unless it’s a lab book or otherwise specified, go to the class for a week or so before buying an expensive textbook.  Some classes, while having it on their required list, do not actually use the textbook a whole lot and you might find some of it scanned online.  Rent if you can or buy used online (schools actually don’t give discounts).  Use your best judgement on what you think you need.

Tell the people who go up to you selling or advertising things you are not interested in that you are in a rush to class and don’t have time to listen to them.  It’s less rude and they’ll leave you alone.

The smaller the class, the better it is to have some sort of acquaintanceship with a couple classmates.  They might save your ass if you are absent one day or need to study.  And talking with them makes the time go by faster without it being so insufferable.

You don’t need to join a club or sport, but internships are cool and useful!

If you can afford it, take a day off once or twice each semester if you’re too exhausted.  Just be aware of what you missed and if it was worth missing!

Your health is the most important, this goes for mental health too!!  Note: College-age/upper teens is when mental disorders like depression and anxiety are most commonly diagnosed.  Most schools have therapy services, especially during exam time.  Look into it if you need to!

Communicate with your professor if you are having trouble with something.  Anything.

Eat and stay hydrated.  Bring a water bottle and snack to class.

All-nighters will happen but never go over 36 hours without sleep.

ADDITIONAL ADVICE

Don’t let a mental health day turn into a mental health week because you will be so screwed.

Pay attention to the syllabus and do not lose it. A lot of professors put all of the assignment due dates in there and ONLY in there.

If your school has blackboard or moodle etc. CHECK IT. a lot of professors will only post certain info there and not talk about it in class

READINGS ARE NOT OPTIONAL.

I REPEAT. READINGS. ARE. NOT. OPTIONAL.

Put them in your schedule, read BEFORE class. And summarise it. For bonus points, come up with some questions about the text and go introduce yourself to your professor either after class or during office hours, and ask them about it. This will make them much more likely to remember you in a positive light (and possibly bump your grade up if you hit a hard patch.)

Your library will have a copy of your textbook. If you cannot afford to rent it, you can go to the library and borrow it from the front desk for a few hours whenever you need it. It is there for you, okay? 

when it comes to productivity, technology is a double-edged sword. you can either be distracted and waste time for hours, or you can be more efficient and use it to your advantage! therefore, I present you these apps and extensions that can help you with school, whether you’re studying for a test or need to complete a project!

timing

pomello (pomodoro timer. connects with trello, an organizer that helps you manage projects through boards. )

timer (countdown, alarm clock, and stopwatch)

calendars

google calendar (share schedules with others. customize reminders. send invites and rsvps, and so on. available offline and mobile)

sunrise calendar (gorgeous design. includes facebook events. connect google calendars. available offline)

writing

read&write (helpful for those with ELL/ESL, dyslexsia, or learning difficulties)

grammarly (spell and grammar checker)

amazon storywriter (optimized for screenwriting. available offline)

planning

wunderlist (for lists and to-dos. you can share them too. available offline and mobile)

moo.do (listing, outlining and planning. available offline and mobile)

todoist (to-do list and task manager. available offline and mobile.)

any.do (to-do list and task manager with a drag and drop interface. available offline and mobile)

myHomework Student Planner (planner for students. tracks classes, homework, etc. available offline and mobile)

notes

evernote web (save notes, clip webpages, create task lists and to-dos, and more. available mobile)                                                                         

onenote online (gather webpages, notes, pictures, documents all in one notebook. includes collaboration. available mobile)

pocket (save videos, articles, etc. for offline viewing. also available mobile)

google keep (add notes, lists and photos. includes color coding, labels, and collaboration. available offline and mobile)

diagrams

mindmeister (leading mindmap application. includes collaboration. syncs with google drive)

lucidchart diagrams (diagrams, mindmaps, mockups, charts, etc. you can collaborate with others! available offline)

gliffy diagrams (diagrams, flowcharts, wireframes, etc. available offline)

google drawings (for shapes and diagrams. syns with google drive. available offline)

design

lucidpress (you can create newsletters, brochures, etc. using templates or making your own. you can collaborate. drag-and-drop interface. available mobile)

piktochart (create infographics! aimed for beginners to design)

canva (graphic design maker. you can use templates or start from scratch)

new tabs

momentum (the tumblr favorite. background of a beautiful photo that comes with a clock, todo, and the weather)

infinity (comes with apps, a to-do list, and elegant design)

ios7 new tab page (just as the name says. you can even download and use apps like in mobile)

lanes (todo app with pomodoro timer and weekview)

sounds

defonic (calm noise generator, uses natural sounds like rain or fire)

soundcloud (largest community of sound creators. available mobile)

spotify (popular music service. available mobile)

games

max words (learn about latin and greek roots with nice graphics)

duolingo (learn languages in a fun way. available mobile)

word search puzzle game (contains over 3000 word searches. available offline)

little alchemy (combine items to find tons of elements! available offline)

Naturally I’m making this post as everyone is finishing education for the year so keep hold of this for September, and I hope that it is of some use! This is a semi-carry-on from my  'how to take notes from reading’, so I’ve structured it in a similar manner :) 

Any questions / requests feel free to direct my way!

*I’ve made this how I would lay it out for my lectures as they’re predominately all powerpoint based. It does work if you’re in a lesson without powerpoint though!

Explaining things from left to right:

On the left-hand side, on the line: the module or course name, for example ‘The Cold War’ (if you’re using loose paper this can come as a god send if you’re not super organised and get your papers muddled up)

Right-hand side: the date of the lecture / lesson (makes organising notes much easier & quicker)

Right-hand side, above the date: what teacher taught the lesson. This is handy if you have more than one teacher per module / class so if you have any problems or questions you know who to contact rather than thinking it might have been this Professor but you’re not sure… 

Left-hand side, one or two lines down: the title of the lesson (or powerpoint), for example, ‘The Influence of the West’.

*If you know you’re going to use more than one sheet of paper, number it in one of the corners :) 

And this is what the finished product of my lecture notes looks like (obviously never this neat, b/c time)

I’ll talk about the margins first and then the main body because if not I’ll probably become confusing…

Margins: 

The ’//’: I actually stole this idea from one of my friends at uni because it’s such a good idea. So the two forward slashes (//) in the margins means new slide if a lesson has been delivered in powerpoint.  This is really useful if you’re likely to re-visit the powerpoint post-lesson so you don’t get lost. 

Names, Dates and Other Words & Numbers: in the margins jot down important dates, people, places or figures etc. If they’re really important circle them or, if you have time, highlight them.  I guess it’s similar to the Cornell note taking system but I’ve never looked in to that so I can’t comment.. In this area, also write down things you want to research further, as well as things that you don’t know so you can come back to it at a later date. 

Main Body:

Title of slide / Main theme of slide: I always try and write the title of the slide down (or paraphrase it) so when I go back to my notes I can chunk everything down, and find things quicker. I always write the title of the slide next to the ’//’. My exception for this is when a series of slides are under the same title or theme.

Underneath the title: This is where the content of the slide goes, and what the lecturer has said. It’s normally in bullet points, and I try to summarise both what’s being said and what’s written on the slide (yes, it can get hard & messy with lots of arrows)

Things in brackets: the things written in brackets often relate to what’s being discussed but not directly or; a name or title of something. It can also be used as a note to yourself, i.e.  (see x’s work) or (to be covered next week).

Arrows: these are used to link slides or points together. Use as necessary :) 

*something written in stars*: I tend to write things withing stars as ’*see slide*’ or something  to similar effect. This is because the slide has a large chunk of text on it (for example a quote) or lots dates and events etc whereby I know I’ll be able to see it after the lecture and make amendments to my notes. In most cases like this, I just write down what the lecturer has been saying.

I hope that this has been useful!

my tips

PRACTICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! this is literally THE most important thing you can do to get good grades!!!! w/ enough practice, you can attempt any sort of question they throw at you bc you get acquainted with formulas + how to apply them. you can practice through questions in your textbook, the net, doing your homework, or past papers (my ultimate fav) which you can get from the internet or library 

know the formulas and symbols and terminology!!! an easy way to do this is by making summary flashcards ↓

summarise each chapter onto flashcards like these or mind maps or sheets or w/e suits you. write the important formulas, diagrams, graphs, examples, etc of each chapter in them. this is helpful if you’ve forgotten a formula or an old chapter, or need to revise the day before (or the morning of) your exam + its def faster than going through your textbook which can have a LOT of unnecessary info.

understand your mistakes and find out the correct way to solve the qpay attention in class pls it will help you understand + solve problems faster which means more time to relax yay

if you can’t solve a problem, see if there are any examples in your book which can help you. otherwise, use one of the sites/apps linked under ‘tools’  ↓ to solve it and view the steps. if you still don’t understand, ask your teacher or someone who knows maths.

try to develop a mindset that you have to find the answer to a difficult q no matter what! this helps me bc i always end up finding the answer so i know how to solve such questions, which is better than giving up and having a similar q come in the exam and not knowing the answer.

on tests: pls recheck every q, esp if you’re like me and write 12-5=6 (lol rip)

don’t stress!!! maths is difficult and its totally okay if you don’t understand a q! just skip it and come back to it later.

resources

khan academy has videos to explain concepts and do examples, and tests after videos (esp useful if you have a crappy teacher)

sparknotes math

purple math

complete list of online maths resources

lots of cheat sheets

symbolab’s cheat sheets

google does maths for you bless

tools

desmos graphing calculator (website + apps)

online calculator (website)

pcalc calculator (ios app)

realcalc scientific calculator (android app)

symbolab (website + apps) this is my fav. it solves problems for you like mathway, but shows the steps too unlike mathway

malmath (android app) like symbolab. also available in other languages

cute af notes

colourful study guide

these colourful trig notes

bright + lively quadratics notes

more colourful fun notes for functions

THE CUTEST MATHS NOTES EVER.

flashcards to summarise chapters [two] [three] [four] [mine]

really really cute + simple flashcards

cute + neat blue notes

mind map

another full mind map

flippy example card thingy in notes

circle theorem notes

cool stuff to help you understand some things

explanation of radians

pythagoras’ theorem explained

trick for remembering trigonometric values

arm movements to remember the graph shape of some functions

tips + masterposts by others

masterpost by @pythgaoras

precalc masterpost by @etudiance

9 unnecessary ways to lose points on tests by @gracefullywitty

sat maths tips by @lattenotlate

last minute sat maths tips by @scholasticwhimsy

how to organise maths notes (in 2 notebooks) by @monica-studies

taking maths lecture notes by @studyign (video)

how to take maths lecture notes by @studyign (post)

I tend to have two note books for school: 

1. Class Notes 

use highlighters and different coloured pens - i limit myself to around 3-4 different colours, otherwise i find the page overwhelming to study from. 

make notes of everything you’re teacher is saying (because i tend to forget if i don’t) 

include different examples showing the different steps of working out 

spread your writing out - this makes it easier to look at and study from 

make sure all your notes from the same topic are located together 

highlight important formulas or methods 

2. Homework Book 

honestly, my homework book isn’t the neatest, because it isn’t something that i constantly have to refer back to. 

however, putting an asterisk next to important questions that i could use for revision aids my future self when it comes studying. 

scholarships are the bomb!! free money to get urself an education!! here’s my best advice aaand resources for applying + getting some of that sweet sweet money :D

advice

use all of the databases!! the scholarships are right there for you. Take advantage of them, srsly!!! many let you input your criteria + they’ll match you up with some, and they help to organize your applications. You can subscribe to their newsletter and get alerts for new scholarships. there’s a whole bundle below all this advice to getchu started :D

start early + don’t stop: your eligibility for scholarships starts pretty much freshman year of high school, and basically doesn’t stop until you’re out of education, so take advantage of them!!! Logically, applying to more gives you a higher chance of winning one, so keep ploughing through them

don’t let essays scare you off: sweepstakes scholarships are easiest to apply for, but this also means they have more applicants. Do your best work + put time into essay-based scholarship contests, and up your chance of winning something!! Factor them into your normal routine like you would a homework assignment and just keep at it.

keep track of what you’ve applied for: seriously. Do it. It’ll motivate you when you’re not feeling like it, + keep you organized. Set up a spreadsheet (google sheets, excel, whatever floats your boat) and give it 5 columns: title of the scholarship, amount worth, whether or not you’ve applied, if you were successful, + the organization offering it. It’s also a great reminder of scholarships to reapply for next year.

check local scholarships: they’re waayyyy more restricted so the applicant pool is a lot smaller!!! Check your school, organizations you belong to, your parents’ companies, + local businesses. You’ll be competing against people in your town/county/district + it’ll give you a much better shot at winning. Check out your school’s website + talk to your guidance counsellors!

be specific: narrow down that applicant pool early. When you’re googling, look for scholarships that will apply only to you, so don’t just search ‘scholarships’. Look for ‘scholarships for bisexual women’, or ‘scholarships for international students’, or ‘scholarships for left-handed volleyball players’. Less applicants=better outcomes.

don’t apply to scams: be wary!!! Two big things: be careful of scholarships which want you to pay to apply, and guaranteed scholarships. Research pay-to-apply ones to make sure they’re legit. There’s more info here, here, and here on avoiding scholarship scams. Stay safe!!

scholarship databases

unigo goodcall scholarships.com niche scholarshipmonkey fastweb chegg cappex dosomething scholarshippoints nextstudent college board

more scholarship masterposts

college scholarships masterpost by @wonderstudying​ 

how to search for scholarships by @adamparresh​ 

scholarships! by @the-regular-student​

it’s ya girl’s college scholarship masterpost by @jesussbabymomma  

scholarship 101 by @thisexpedition​

scholarships: how to find them and apply by @futurecristinayang​

Applying & Freshman Year

Picking the right school infographic

Getting letters of recommendation 

Tips on choosing a major

Choosing the right college

A guide to move-in day

Surviving your first day of classes

Choosing a major

Things you need to know before starting college

Senior checklist

What you need to know about admissions

Things to consider when choosing a major

What to expect at orientation

Tips for transfer students

What I learned my freshman year

Tips on choosing classes

Finding the best laptop

The truth about being undeclared

What NOT to do freshman year

Things to do the summer before you start

Writing a great application essay

Different types of colleges

Why your major matters

Pros and cons of taking summer courses

Pros and cons of attending a small college

How to be successful in community college

Freshman tips for the self-conscious

College prep timeline

Visiting colleges

Scheduling your classes

Why you should apply early

First week checklist

Things to do before you graduate high school

How to efficiently choose your classes

What colleges look at most on applications

Self-Care 

How to be a morning person

Dealing with anxiety

Organizing your assignments

How to deal with burnout

Dealing with depression

Losing weight in college

Avoiding the freshman 15

More on dealing with anxiety

Practicing self-care

Overcoming shyness

ADHD & college

How to have “me time” 

Taking care of your mental health

Remedies for homesickness

A healthy grocery list

Helpful exercise tips

Eating healthy in restaurants and the dining hall

Dealing with mental illness in college

Curing test anxiety

Managing mental health

Staying healthy

Getting through college when you don’t party

How to nap effectively

In Your Classes 

How to master your toughest classes

How to raise your GPA

Handling a heavy course load

Preparing for new classes

Can I afford to skip class today? 

Things to do in between classes

Things to do when starting new classes

Planning for a busy week

Passing an online class

Acing group projects

Why you’re not making the grades you want

Good note-taking tips

How to prepare for next semester

What to do if you’re failing 

How to bounce back from failing a class

Ways to raise your grades

GPA calculator

Things to do during syllabus week

Making the most out of your syllabus

Mistakes to avoid in your classes

Note-taking in class

Cornell method of note-taking

How to remember what you wrote in class

How to correctly use a syllabus

MLA format

Weekly assignment printables

Studying & Essays

Why studying in advance helps improve grades

Gigantic study playlist

Anti-procrastination strategies

How to properly use Google for essays

Really cool motivation strategy for reading textbooks

Shortening/lengthening essays cheat sheet

Make an essay appear longer than it is

Ultimate guide to passing finals

Useful tips for all types of learners

How to write a great essay about anything

Make a study guide with Microsoft Word

Tools for writing an essay

How to write papers that will dazzle your professors

How to tackle a long-term school project

Writing thesis statements

What to do if you’re a few words short on an essay

How to make a paper look longer

Procrastination 101

The formula for writing long papers

How to write with clarity cheat sheet

Preparing for exams

Writing a research question

How to be study savvy

How to take notes from a textbook

Make a study schedule with Microsoft Excel

Helpful highlighting system

How to annotate text

Research terms defined

How to study effectively infographic

Forming good study habits

What to do if you don’t have enough time to finish a paper

How to prepare for a test

Really helpful website to work with on essays

How to memorize flashcards

Organizing classwork and notes

What I wish I knew before taking online classes

Study tips for different types of learners

Making a study guide with Microsoft Word

Make a finals study plan

Ways to start and end an essay

Pandora study stations

Automatic bibliography generator

Finances

Questions about buying textbooks

Guide to cheaply buying textbooks

A girl’s guide to saving money

Free college textbooks

Tips for managing your finances

Basic guide to couponing

Paying for college beyond the basics

Student discounts, pt. 1

Student discounts, pt. 2

Student discounts, pt. 3

Student discounts, pt. 4

Student discounts, pt. 5

Student discounts, pt. 6

Student discounts, pt. 7

Compare/buy/sell college textbooks

Websites for financial aid you should use

Ways to save money on expenses

The financial aid roadmap

Questions to ask about student loans

Financial advice from a grad student

Apps for budget-setting

Clothing stores with student discounts

How to make money in college

Student loan mistakes

How to attend college for free

Side jobs for students

Free school supplies

Easy ways to save money

Dorm room discounts

Free college textbooks

How to live on a budget

Finance tips

Printable financial planner

Expense tracker printable

Monthly budget printable

Tips to lower your grocery bill

Planning out your college finances

Things to know when completing the FAFSA

Miscellaneous 

Backpack essentials

Tons of printables

Free binder spine labels

Staying safe

Life hacks for college students

Living with a roommate

Great time management system

Surviving your first party

College dating: expectations vs. reality

Packing list for a library study binge

Why you should try new things in college

Sample roommate contract

Surviving your first cold winter

Tips to navigate dating

Hard lessons you learn

Healthy dorm room snacks

How to own your hookups

The do’s and don’ts of talking to your professors

Time management tips

Juggling work and college

How to e-mail your professors

College care package items and must-haves

Apps for organization

What to do when life challenges threaten your academic success

Lily Pulitzer binder covers

Popular planners to use

College clubs that look great on a resume

Truths about sex in college

Class assignments template

Things to know before applying to grad school

How to stay organized throughout the year

Habits of highly successful students

Weekly meal prep

My favorite Dollar Tree organizing products

Ultimate organization guide

idk just with school starting soon i thought it would be a good idea 

For Studying

formulas & equations fill-in sheet

organic chemistry resources

essay checklist

exam checklist

template for summarizing academic articles

language practicing pack

writing/planning essay pack

correction sheets

assessment schedule

pomodoro technique

primary source analysis

 exam study pack

overcoming the curve of forgetting

key people/character tracker

review pack

study schedule

vocabulary

For Sticky Notes

blank template

to-do strips

to-do strips, stickers, sticky note outline

different sticky note templates (water tracker, to-do, etc.)

For Note-Taking

blank dot grid pages

semi-cornell note taking outlines

novel note-taking

line/dotted note templates

several note outlines

unicorn notes!!

grey, pink, blue, yellow, & black grid paper

Planners

undated planner (365 days calendar, month calendar, & week  calendar)

undated academic calendars (May 2016-May 2017)

weekly goals

timetable schedule

daily to-do list

4 to-do list variations (one of my faves!!)

daily planner (fave!)

weekly dotted planner

dotted monthly planner

b&w serious weekly planner

daily planner v.1 v.2 (fave!)

weekly planner

to-do list (hackers/x-files/spy?? theme)

essay planner

full year planner inserts

monthly overview

habit/goal trackers

weekly planner

simple daily planner

long-term goals

daily grid planner

project planner

100 days of productivity & to-do list

steven universe planning kit

plain planner bundle

summer calendars 

blog planning kit

ultimate blog planner kit

habit tracker

20 to-do lists!

pastel daily printable

summer goals

august calendars

goal printables pack

Expenses

monthly budget

monthly in/out expenses and spendings (really useful tbh)

school supply list

finance tracker

Etc. 

reading list

song list/music log

productivity log

folder inserts

font references!!! (also a fave)

insp. posters 2

self-care 

water tracker

study break activity book

inspiring wallpapers!!

really good kit containing a planner, quote sheet, book tracker, & more!

class information 

Other Masterposts for Printables!

studiyng’s

studie-s’s

ONLINE

find a scholarship. i recommend chegg.com, scholarships.com, fastweb.com, scholarshippoints.com, and your college or university’s scholarship page. 

remember that the more general the requirements for the scholarship are, the more people will apply. try to find ones that have specific requirements you fall into.

add the deadline to your calendar and, if you think you need it, make a plan or timetable to finishing the scholarship.

write your essay if you even need one. remember most of them must be under a certain number of words. if you use google drive like me, i recommend wordcounter.net for checking your word count. 

ask your english teacher (or any teacher really) to proof read your essays. seriously. they are at your disposal, utilize that!

to make things easier, i make a document with all my academic facts on it like my class rank, gpa, and a list of extra curriculars and awards.

upload it all into the application and submit. 

LOCAL

find a scholarship. ask the front office at your school about scholarships that the school is endorsing or offering. 

add the deadline to your calendar and, if you think you need it, make a plan or timetable to finishing the scholarship.

buy a pack of report folders. i got mine at staples, but the office ladies at my school also had a bunch from previous scholarships that they give out.

assign a manila folder for each scholarship you are applying for and write the deadline on it. this way you have a place to put all the required pieces of paper before it comes to actually putting it all together in your report covers. 

create a document with photocopies of the awards and certificates you’ve received in high school, including a certificate or letter received after being accepted into college. you might also want to add in any instances of you being in the newspaper (highlight your name), any sports pictures, band or club pictures, etc. 

(my school required this but i don’t know about others) create what’s known as a summary of qualifications. it’s like a resume but with emphasis on academic instead of work. the sections it has are education, leadership, recognition & awards, university merit awards, extra curricular, volunteer, and work experience. i will write another post on how to create a summary of qualifications. 

ask several teachers to write you letters of recommendation, and remember to give them a resume or summary of qualifications of yours so they have something to reference while they write. they don’t have to be teachers that really like you or are all buddy buddy with you, just teachers whose classes you excelled in. photocopy ALL of these letters as soon as you get them and save them on your computer so you can print copies out them out later. 

copy the application part of it into word or google drive and fill it out electronically. it looks much better than hand writing it. 

write your essay. once again, use wordcounter.net if you prefer writing on google drive like i do. since these essays will be printed out, type like four blank lines before adding a bunch of underscores, then on the next line write your full name. this way when you print it out you can sign on the line and it looks super professional. 

once again, ask a teacher or guidance counselor to proofread your essay.

create a cover page: the name of the scholarship, your senior picture or a good picture of you (please don’t use a selfie), a quote that relates to the values of the scholarship, then your name, your high school, your city, and the date. 

put it all together in a report folder: cover page, application, essay, letters of recommendation, summary of qualifications, and award/notable picture pages, in addition to any specialized documentation the scholarship requires. choose the letters of recommendation to fit the scholarship. example: put in the one written by the art teacher into an art scholarship. put in one that praises your leadership skills in a scholarship that emphasizes leadership.

before turning it in, ask a guidance counselor or someone in charge of the scholarship program at your school to look through it and make sure everything looks right.