#studyblr advice

hello all! i have written quite a few research papers during my time in university, and these are some of the tips and tricks i’ve used while writing! (disclaimer: these are from the perspective of a history and spanish major so the process may be different for other majors and of course everyone is different! this is just what helps me)

1. spend time at the library

this is the most important tip in this post, hence its spot as number 1. not only is it great to spend time writing in the library to help you focus, but there are countless resources at your university’s library that will help you write the paper. depending on your university, you may have archives, an extensive array of books on the subject, and staff members specifically hired to help students do research. take advantage of these resources!

2. write an outline

having an outline is immensely helpful while writing a research paper. it helps you organize your thoughts and write more cohesively, especially when the paper is 8+ pages long. another important part of outlines is coming up with a clear thesis before you start writing so research is guided by a main point. 

3. go to your professor’s office hours

going to office hours can be helpful in multiple ways. your prof can help you identify a topic, can read over a rough draft, and give you research tips. as professors, they have done research themselves and can help point you in the right direction. plus, professors love when students visit their office hours because a majority of their students don’t, so your professor will appreciate it!

4. give yourself time to revise a rough draft

including myself, we have all procrastinated. the last couple years of school have been really hard, so don’t blame yourself if you find yourself behind on your work. but, if you can, writing a rough draft ahead of time and working on the paper throughout the semester can make the final product so much better! try to find a friend (or your professor!^) to read the rough draft to get multiple eyes on the paper. some professors will even require that you submit a rough draft for the class.

5. do research at an archive

Hi <3 Thank you for your ask! Glad to hear you’re interested in environmental sciences. Someone close to me is a nurse so I discussed this ask with them to ask for their point of view from the nursing side. They said looking for a job with a nursing degree isn’t hard but is secure income. They said they do not make salary income, though.

Based on what I know, many environmental based jobs are salaried unless it’s something like a temporary or internship type position. I don’t have experience with a career type job, I’ve only just begun to start looking for jobs because I’m graduating in a few months.

I think that compared to nursing, it may be a little bit more difficult to find a job. Because with nursing, I *think* you may have the skills already from the degree, or know everything or most of what you should know to do the job. What I’ve heard from many professors in my school is that most environmental science based jobs, the work that you will be doing will mostly be learned on the job. Having background knowledge about stuff will help, though. I think jobs related to environmental sciences usually want to see that you have a bachelors degree in a related field, plus they want to see that you have experience/know how to use programs such as R, Excel, or GIS.

That being said, once you actually have a job in the field, there’s no reason why it wouldn’t be secure income. Environmental science is a growing field due to climate change so it’s likely that organizations will get more funding to be able to support more employers.

In conclusion, I think environmental science jobs are probably just as secure income as a nursing job, but it may be a little more difficult to find a job at the start. Hope this helps!

As the pandemic beats my career to the ground and I sit unemployed at the age of 25, here's what I'm doing instead of letting the existential angst wash over me (it washes over me at least once in two days, I'm not invincible):

- I'm taking three courses on Coursera: two pertaining to educational technology and one about Sustainable Development.

As an aspiring educator, it's necessary to acquaint myself with the junctions of education, technology, policy, philosophy and everything in between. The sustainability one is for my own sake, because I get childlike joy at anything that's got to do with environmental education.

- I'm cultivating better relationships: with social media, my friends and family, my sense of self and my significant other.

There's an unfortunate rise of the right in the world, and with that all liberal and expansive thought has left the discourse as far as my country is concerned. I've lost a lot of friends to this but it's good riddance. I'd rather not be surrounded by people who don't even wince at lynchings of minorities but want to talk of (non-intersectional) feminism.

I’m going into my fourth year of college and as sentimental as I am, I’ve also learned a lot of important shit that I wish I had done better, so this is the advice I would give my first-year self.

Cut out the toxic right now - your toxic friends and habits and interests will make you laugh and smile and feel happy just like your good friends will fuck up, your healthy hobbies will frustrate you, and your good mentality will fail you. Don’t mistake momentary happiness and relief from the stress of being in a new place with new challenges for meaningful interactions. Your time and attention and self-esteem are important and urgently need saving, so if it hurts you, cut it out right away! The longer you wait the harder it gets.

Get right with yourself - if you’re quiet that’s okay. If you’re bookish that’s okay. If you’re awkward or too loud or whatever it is that’s okay. Accept that and focus on being the best quiet, bookish, awkward, too loud person you can be. If you want to write your thesis on something obscure that might not change the world, that’s okay. Just write a damn good thesis. Passion and confidence in what you love and believe in is always worth twice as much (and looks twice as cool) as half-hearted attempts to do something you think you have to do.

Get in the water - it’s never too late to learn something new or make new friends, but for the rest of your life, people will be acting like who you are when you leave college is who you will be forever. While you have the dorms and the parties and the sports clubs and the writing circles- join them! Fail, fail again, fail better, and learn what it is that you like or don’t like about these people or things. At the very least, you’ll have some good stories to share. 

Take breaks - yes, study breaks and holiday breaks. But also try to keep your school and your life separate. Drama will happen and academic stress will happen- let them be escapes from each other. It can be tempting to think of every moment of your day as a potential moment to study, but as much as you can, keep your fun and your work in separate times and spaces.

You need food and sleep - shit gets crazy busy and assignment cycles might mean every monday night is an all-nighter (I’ve been there). That’s okay, but make your wellbeing a priority. If you have a to-do list that you relentlessly obey for school assignments, you deserve one for your physical and mental health. 

Keep an eye on the prize - it’s okay if you don’t know exactly what you want to do in the future. But before you sign up for your millionth club or fifth class or yet another fleeting relationship, ask yourself: does this serve my interests? Is this worth my time? Why do I want it? Once you get comfortable with being alone and the truth of what you want, you will never choose someone/something out of loneliness instead of love.

TV got it wrong - yes, romanticise your life and this incredible opportunity. But it’s okay if you’re not partying every night. It’s okay if you only have a few close friends, if you’re not captain of the rugby team, you’re not suma cum laude, you don’t date, you aren’t mentioned on your university secrets page, you don’t win department awards, you don’t get accepted to your dream grad school. Other people will live those lives- focus on your own story and being good. Being good is different enough. 

i’ve seen many tips for university students fly around here and i’ve noticed that some of them are either unrealistic or not necessary at all (take it from someone who has been studying 3 years already) so here are some real tips to help you

BUY. A. BACKPACK. i’ve made the same mistake and my back is in s h a m b l e s. and honestly, you don’t need an expensive one, but be sure to check if your backpack has a laptop compartment in case you bring a  laptop a to class. i know it looks unflattering as hell but trust me your back will thank you for it.

You don’t need expensive stationary. any pen or notebook will do but make sure you bring enough pens to classes, exams, etc because you don’t want to sit there panicking because your pen gave out.

on the topic of stationary ALWAYS KEEP A NOTEBOOK IN YOUR BAG what if your laptop dies? what if you want to make a reminder to yourself that you will forget about 5 minutes later? just keep a small notebook in your backpack in case you need it.

Always bring food and water! i’m particularly bad at this, not gonna lie, but especially when it’s summer and hot as hell this tip is incredibly important or you will most likely feel awful. i’m not a big breakfast eater myself because i get stomach issues from it but i make sure to bring something for either on my way to class, just before class, or during the break you might have in class. 

For those of you who menstruate: keep tampons/pads in your bag. you’re friends will thank you for it as well!

Moving on from backpack arrangements: pro-tip you don’t have to be bff’s with you teachers, especially not in your first year. later when you’re writing your dissertation, it’s can be helpful, but honestly they most likely won’t remember you in your first year and they will also most likely not grade your papers/tests either so no need to suck up

on the topic of teacher: you don’t have to attend every single office hour. if you have a question, please go, but otherwise you’re wasting your damn time

wait until your first lecture/seminar before buying books your professor will most likely say please buy this or this is optional. don’t waste money!

read the damn syllabus not just so that you know what to do before class, but also so that you know what to do in case you fall ill and what the attendance expectancy is (some professors have a 80% attendance or you will fail and others don’t give a shit)

don’t sign up for 9 am classes you won’t go okay? it seems fun at the beginning but you’re gonna end up dreading that class even though it would’ve been interesting if you were awake enough to take it in

procrastination is normal everybody does it and guess what? YOU DON’T NEED TO GET ALL A’S!!!! strive for it? great! but work yourself until you’re crying from the stress and thinking about dropping out because you can’t handle it? not so great!

mental health is more important than that 4.0 GPA speaks for itself but also if there is something going on please talk to your student advisor or tutor! you can better warn them in advance than try to build a case after you flunked that assignment/exam

try to make friends honestly it will make your uni experience so much nicer. and i get social anxiety, but at least try to get on friendly terms with people so you have notes when you’re sick, a partner when there is group work to be done, and just a friendly face when it’s all too much!

wear comfortable clothes yes i get the need to look cute but honestly when you’re freezing in your lecture hall because you wanted to wear that one top, you’re gonna be mad at yourself. also bring a jacket/scarf to put over yourself when you know a lecture hall/classroom is cold as hell it helps, trust me.

higurashi kagome taught me that if she can study for tests and do her homework in her world while going back and forth in the past to fight off demons that would probably kill her at the same time, than so can you.

it’s 2020, make this YOUR year. kagome is a strong and brave woman that should also be a great role model to everyone.

you’ve got this. you’re going to do whatever it takes to achieve your dreams no matter how much tears you’ll shed.