Through casual conversation with various students who attend colleges and universities throughout the country, it seems as though students simply do not believe that taking the time to fill out course evaluations holds any weight in terms of improving teaching departments.

Taking course evaluations seriously does impact professor’s teaching styles.  Evaluations keep standards high.  If a professor needs improvement but only receives positive feedback, they will have no reason to believe they need to make changes, aside from being simply passionate teachers.  Honest course evaluations can break the chain of overlooked poor quality teaching.  On a greater scale, when a professor receives negative feedback from a majority of students, a career may be in jeopardy.  Taking evaluations seriously can significantly impact how and if professors will be teaching next semester.

One thing about course evaluations to remember is that you are evaluating the professor, not the course.  Especially when taking general education courses, you may be facing a course that is not your expertise, a course you did not enjoy by any means.  Be sure to judge your professor fairly in this respect.  Was your teacher un-supportive, or did you really just not like the material and thus paid less attention?  Did you not like the teacher’s pace working through course materials, or was it that you weren’t attentive in that Friday 8am Econ class?

While you are in the midst of presentations, finals, papers, course evaluations are probably the last thing you will be giving any brain power to, but making sure that you fill them all out truthfully and honestly can keep the standards of the faculty high and give you that satisfying feeling that your voice has been heard.

-TravelBug

I’m reading The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down

A fight can cause a lot of drama between two people that have to live in the same room. Arguments may spark from the tiniest things. My roommates used to argue over the dishwasher.  One of them didn’t like how the other one placed their dishes to be cleaned. She would take the dirty dishes out and rearrange them to her content instead of yelling. This is a great plan, because if you’re the one being picky, you must also be the one to compromise.

I once got into a debate with my roommate over noise. She thought I was too loud and I thought she was too sensitive. This debate lasted all year long. She would go to bed at 10 o clock on a Saturday and then expect me to be quiet when I returned home. She would also sleep away most of her afternoon and expect me to be dead silent in the middle of the day. This fight could have ended sooner if we had communicated and formed compromises.

What happens if you have a fight with a roommate that isn’t over something as simple as your living habits? I mean a REAL fight. The best thing to do in this situation is to give each other space for a while to cool off. After you cool off, try talking it out. Place yourself in their shoes and try and see their point of view. Sometimes role playing can help you understand the other person better. If they don’t want to resolve anything, then it is out of your control.  Best advice then is to find a new roomie.

In conclusion, you’re most likely going to find yourself in conflict with a roommate at some point in the year. The answer to the problem is usually just communication and compromise. Try and stay calm and speak rationally, try to understand each other. Hopefully, your conflict can be resolved and you can live peacefully once again.

-Speedy G.

I’m reading Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology

Chances are, you aren’t the ten percent of people who like statistics, as mentioned by Some People Don’t’ Like Statistics Blog.  But if you are, this blog post is for you.  Here are some interesting college statistics:

“The American Freshman: National Norms Fall 2010” survey polled about 200,000 first-year students at four-year colleges.  This study revealed that the emotional health of freshman has hit its lowest point in 25 years.

Okay, so yes, I decided to start off on a bad note, but statistics like any good playlist has its ups and downs.  On a happier note, also from the “National Norms” report, about a third of students polled “believe there is a ‘very good chance’ they will participate in volunteer or community service work.”  Back in 1990, that was only 16.9 percent!  I told you things were looking up.

A 2010 survey from The Chronicle of Higher Education explains that in 2009, more students prioritize “being very well off financially” over “raising a family” by about three percentage points.  This was the opposite reaction in 2004 by about two percentage points.  Other top objectives include helping other who are in difficulty, becoming an authority in my field, and improving my understanding of other countries/cultures.  Least important objectives polled are creating artistic work, becoming accomplished in one of the performing arts, and writing original works.

The Chronicle of High Education’s almanac reveals some other awesome statistics about colleges and college students.  Did you know 9.4 percent of all college students attend community college in California?

How about only 0.4 percent of undergraduates in America attend an Ivy League school?

Also, 332,489 more students earned business degrees rather than mathematics degrees in 2009.

The U.S. Department of Education’s The Condition of Education 2011 confirms that out of 1,601,000 bachelor’s degrees conferred in 2008-09, 348,000 were in the business field, followed by169,000 social sciences and history students, 120,000 health sciences students, and 102,000 education students.

So there are a lot of non-Ivy League business majors out and about.  The more important question, where are all the guys?  According to a presentation done by Becky Brodigan of Middlebury College at a College Board Forum back in 2005, male birthrates have been outnumbering females 105 to 100, but males account for only 47 percent.  Way to get that education ladies!

Men listen up! ClassesAndCareers.com released a cool YouTube video about the guy to girl radio at colleges.  Randolph College in Lynchburg, VA wins that prize at 99.58 percent.  The coed colleges tied with the lowest male to female ratio are Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, LA at 62.5 percent.

If you’re thinking of transferring due to those stats, fine comfort in the fact that 1,250,000 others transfer too.

If you’re looking for some fun without transferring, why not hit up spring break along with the 1,125,000 (average) other college students attending spring break.  Just try not to be a part of the 88,750 on average who get arrested at Spring Break each year.  College students attend an average number of 62 college parties per year.  We also average 2 parking tickets per student per year.  We each skip an average of 26 classes each year too.

What about our stuff?  The most common car for a college student in the Toyota Yaris, while the most driven scooter is the GS Motor Works CY50-B.  I don’t know about you, but with that scooter costing $769, I’m fine walking…

Don’t forget to hold onto your stuff too!  The most common item stolen from college students is the iPod.  Unfortunately, I play into that statistic (don’t worry, I didn’t do the stealing.  I got it stolen.)

-TravelBug

I’m reading Essentials of Geology

A lot about being an RA is give and take: depending on your personality, your experience can be doused with positives and negatives. For starters, you get your own room, which can be nice or lonely. If you’re someone who has had trouble in the past with roommates or just really enjoys your privacy, this is perfect for you. But just because you have your own room doesn’t mean you should necessarily expect to have a lot of alone time. As someone on duty, your door has to be open for your residents basically all the time. Sometimes people will come in just to hang out because they’re lonely. Now and then you’ll have to advise someone facing an issue, like a freshman who’s homesick. So, if you’re a complete loner this may not be the job for you. You have to be helpful and caring toward your residents—even when they annoy you at 3 am.

Another aspect to consider is cutting your summer short. Generally, it is required for RA’s to move in early, possibly go through some training and helps all the newbies move in. If you have an internship that’s lined up to last right up until an average student is returning or a family vacation schedule for right before school, this can certainly put a damper on your plans. So, if you’re considering RA-dom, be prepared for compromise on time—even before the school year officially starts. This will also change your travel plans during the school year. You can’t leave every weekend or even every other weekend; depending on your school, you may get only one weekend every month to travel home…so plan wisely!

Now it’s time to think about your resume. There are positives and negatives being an RA can provide. Obviously, an RA is a leader and it will definitely present you as a take-charge kind of person who can handle difficult situations on their own. Your communication skills will improve considerably—as will your understanding of strange campus lingo. You’ll also be shown as a problem solver, someone who can truly care for another and act to find the best solution. Being an RA can also hurt your resume a bit if it cuts into time you could otherwise spend on other organizations or studying. With a lot on your plate for your RA responsibilities, something else will likely have to give. This won’t necessarily hurt you, to stop attending recreational volleyball, but it is something to consider.

Finally, think of the responsibilities you’ll have and consider if it’s something you’ll actually enjoy. RA’s often correspond activities for their hall, set up meetings, enforce the rules, and have a knowledge of the university to help guide students (especially freshmen) to the people they need to talk to. Also, consider your personality. If you generally don’t like hanging out with people regularly or listening to their problems, this probably isn’t the right choice for you. If you’re really shy and don’t think you’ll be able to come out of your shell enough to help your residents, consider other cheaper housing options.

Ultimately, the job isn’t just about you. It’s about what your residents need you to be and need your help with. Just like an internship or any other job, you have to think about whether or not you’re the best one for the position, beyond the money factor. With the job comes a lot of benefits and a lot of responsibilities, so if you decide being an RA is something you can do, be prepared to take the good with the bad.

As always, best of luck!

-Toony Toon

I’m reading Introduction to Geography

So how do you decide when break time is over? You survived your classes and a break is obviously in order. You need to veg out and watch a little tv, raid the fridge and see your friends. But when should you roll out of bed and get back to business? And how can you make the best of summer, combining the best of both worlds—fun and productivity?

I have a mental checklist to keep my summer moving. It keeps me honest and helps remind me that even though I would love to spend every waking hour sun bathing by the pool, it might not be the most practical thing for me!

I would recommend making a list of the different things you want to accomplish this summer—think of it as a bucket list of sorts. It will help you prioritize and highlight the areas you need to focus on this summer.

You don’t have to follow this list, but here are a few ideas.

Do something for yourself. I call this the “Pool time regime”. My guilty summer pleasure is hanging out at the pool. It gives me a chance to relax, gather my thoughts, and of course, soak up a few rays! (Don’t forget your SPF!) Your summer getaway doesn’t have to involve water, in fact, you don’t have to getaway at all! Just make sure to schedule a little time for yourself so you can regroup and recharge from the semester.

Next, get a job. It can be painting, or mowing the lawn. You can sell lemonade, or ice cream. Be a lifeguard, sell shoes. Whatever it is, just do it. Summer is a great time to relax, but no one needs THAT much time to do nothing. Dust off your resume, put on something nice and go searching. Maybe you want to do an internship, or a co-op. Or maybe you want to stay low-key—I’m not joking, a lemonade stand in the right climate has huge potential! Just make sure you don’t spend all summer trying to perfect a body imprint on your couch. A part time job will give you the freedom to make your own money, stay busy during the day, and if you’re lucky—time off at night to hang out with you friends and family! It doesn’t sound thrilling, I know, but it really shouldn’t be optional. Future employers will look at your resume—if not this summer, then soon. They will ask you about the gaps in employment and you might want to prepare a better answer than, “well I felt like the pool was more fun!”, I wanted to try that, but everyone advised me against it so I’m passing the memo on to you!

Third on your bucket list: Family Time! I don’t know about you, but I miss my family a lot during the year. I decided to go out of state for college. I only go home a few times a year. When summer rolls around I’m thrilled to see my family! It can seem boring going home—You’re in college now, obviously a “real” adult! But don’t take these brief visits for granted. Before you know it you will be a senior in college ready to move out on your own and all you’ll want is a home cooked meal and fresh laundry. It may knock you down a few pegs on the freedom ladder when you go home for summer—yes, now you have to actually let your mom know you won’t be home until 2 A.M.! But, enjoy it while you can.

The last tidbit of advice I have for you to keep your summer feeling great is to work out. Don’t let the hot weather and smaller clothes fool you. You still have to keep moving and stay active if you want to stay in shape. Make sure you are drinking water and getting enough exercise. It will make you happy and keep you feeling good. Summer tends to be a “lazy” season for some college co-eds, don’t let that be you! Play outside, take a walk, jump rope, or swim laps! Staying active will not only benefit your body, but will keep on track for when school starts up again.

Summer will come and go before you know it! Make sure you are keeping busy and doing more than just watching summer reruns. If you stay busy and make the most of your time off, you may surprise yourself with what you can accomplish!

-Ring Queen

I’m reading Prealgebra

The single thing that has helped me the most is getting a semester-long calendar with all my big due dates on it.  It can be hard to stay motivated when the deadlines are two weeks away, but when it’s on paper those deadlines become very real.  Start planning backwards from the date of the last final and watch how the hours fill up magically.  Before you know it, you have all the motivation you need.

Keep your calendar fluid.  Build in a little extra time (not too much, or that elusive motivation goes out the window!) so that when unexpected social events or setbacks occur it doesn’t wreck your entire plan.  You’ll know by planning backwards how many of those unexpected events your schedule can manage.

Write next to the assignment deadline bolded and italicized the percentage of the grade the assignment is worth.   There is something about seeing 35% next to an essay that gives me the motivation to proof read it one more time or begin the assignment one day sooner.  As we all know, it’s those small things that can make the difference between a B and an A.

Schedule in time for yourself.  You will burn out very quickly if you only work, work, work.  Whether that means going to the gym or taking a long bath, or even taking the time to clean up your dorm.  Whatever gives you peace of mind, do it, even if it counter intuitively takes time away from what you feel you should be doing most!

Keep your friends in the loop.  The only thing more rewarding than a job well done at the end of a semester is celebrating with friends who have seen you through the stress and hardships along the way.  When you’re feeling depressed about how many assignments you have due and how stressed out you are, call up a friend to vent (just make sure to do the same for him/her!).

Good luck getting through Finals!

-WonderBread

I’m reading Statistics: Informed Decisions Using Data

Just visit eCampus.com, enter the ISBNs of the books you want to sell, print your FREE shipping label, and send them to us! We offer checks, direct deposit, or get 20% more for your books if you choose in-store credit.

Have a great summer everyone and remember that you can make some easy money selling your college textbooks to eCampus.com!

-Lovejoy

In all the craziness, please do not let your poor mother go unappreciated on SUNDAY, MAY 13, this year’s Mother’s Day.  While you think to yourself you don’t have the time to do anything, remind yourself that she experienced nine months of pregnancy than hours of labour for you.  No matter if you have an hour, five minutes, or thirty seconds to spare, use that time to send some love to Mama.  Even if your relationship with your mom or grandmother is not the best, this could be an opportunity to taking a step toward clearing the air.

No idea what to do?  Well, if you are already at the library working on papers, it doesn’t take much to print out a card to mail or hand deliver.  If trying to be environmentally friendly, there are always e-Cards although they have their lameness factor.  A handwritten card would be best.  If unsure what to write, look up what those print out cards or eCards say (this is the one time plagiarism might go unnoticed).

While procrastinating on your paper or final, check out 1800Flowers.com to order a bouquet (ranging from $25 to $200).

EdibleArrangements.com is another way to go for Mother’s Day with chocolate covered fruit boxes, fruit bouquets with and without stuffed animals and balloons are available (also ranging in price from $25 to $100).

If you’re looking for something a little different for Mom, consider ordering her some gourmet cupcakes or cake pops from a local bakery.

Day’s at the spa never go unnoticed either!  Although massages can get pricy, a gift card or treating your mom in person to a manicure or pedicure, especially if she does not get them regularly, can help her relax (which can lead to less nagging).

Simply spending some time with Mom on mother’s day is the cheapest, most heartfelt which seems to be most appreciated by moms everywhere.  If you’ve got a final, making a point to talking with her and making a plan for after you are out of school for the semester is sure to bring a smile to her face.

-TravelBug

I’m reading Biology: Science for Life

When returning to your family, go with a clear mind. Don’t spend your time thinking about all the things you will be missing out on in your college town. Don’t think about all the old rules and chores you may be returning to. Instead, think about the positives. Odds are, your family misses you very much and can’t wait to see you. Think about home cooked meals, good times with the family, and reuniting with high school friends.

One of the hard parts about going home is dividing your time evenly between loved ones. Obviously your family misses you very much and wants to consume large amounts of your free time. High school friends will be calling and excited to hang out. A lot of times, it’s hard to not blow off the family when you’re excited about seeing your friends again. Be careful about equalizing your time as much as possible because you don’t want anyone that you rarely see to feel left out. Maybe try grilling out with the family then meeting up with some friends later. Compromise is the key.

In college we get used to doing what we want when we want. We are adults for that matter. We go out when we want, come home when we want, eat what we want, say what we want, and spend money when we want. If we want to, we can let dishes sit in the sink for a week, not vacuum our room and we can blast our stereos at their maximum capacity. It’s hard to get used to the old when we’ve finally broken out on our own. Parents often expect to know where you’re going, who you’re with, and what you’re doing at all times. A lot of parents don’t see the fact that you’ve gone to college as a free pass to let you do whatever you want. How do we get used to old rules?

My advice would be to talk to your parents and attempt some sort of happy medium which can make you both happy. Maybe suggest having no curfew if you stay in communication and let them know where you are. All it takes is two seconds to send a text message and inform your parents now a day. Obviously, sloppiness has to go. You’re most likely going to be expected to do some of your old odd jobs around the house and to be somewhat tidy. Keep clean without the complaints, I mean, you have 3 months of free room and board, it’s the least you can do. Common curtsies will be of most importance. For 3 months, be kind and pay attention to the little things that might bother your family.

You’ve gone the entire school year without your younger sibling’s annoying ways. Although we love them, we all know how little brothers/sisters can be. It’s hard to go back home and live with a little sibling again. Just remember you are more mature now and under control. If they start their antagonizing ways, just ignore them. Odds are, they’ve missed you a lot and your relationship will be different when you return home. As you’ve aged and grown, so have they. Just try and be patient and most importantly, a good role model.

Put these tips to use and live well this summer with your loved ones. Families are irreplaceable, and attitudes are spoilers. Go with a warm smile and a kind heart, and really soak in those 3 months at home.

-Speedy G.

I’m reading America’s History

Whether or not the ceremony is filled with joy, or sadness, or just pure anxiety, graduation means different things to different students. It can affect us all- regardless of our year.

Graduation for seniors is about the next step. They are moving on and saying goodbye to their classes, their dorm rooms or school-houses, and hello to a job (hopefully), bills and real life. They are leaving their friends and meal plans and going into the real world to fend for themselves. Will they make it? Are they happy or scared? Are they wondering if they should have invested in the 5-7 year college plan instead of 4? It’s scary and different but can also be a breath of fresh air. Your senior friends can pat themselves on the back. They are walking away with an arsenal of knowledge, a college degree, and hopefully not too many student loans. Either way, they made it and should be incredibly proud. They can throw their cap up high!

For juniors, graduation is odd. It means your friends are leaving, you’re getting older, and somehow, someway, you’re next. In the blink of an eye you went from being a new kid on campus and barely making your way from class to class and now you’re just two short semesters away from the stage walk your friends are facing. There has to be a mistake? How would you have missed something as huge as three years of college? Could the old saying be true, and time really does fly when you’re having fun? Or, have you just been so busy working and studying that the last 6 semesters have slipped you by? Breathe. You will make it just fine. This is the last summer before your big year. Enjoy it, relax. When you return in the fall, it’s your time to shine and prepare to ride the rollercoaster of your senior year! It’s filled with emotions, ups and downs, and plenty of “real world” anxiety.

Sophomores are excited by graduation. They think to themselves, and announce of their facebook pages, “Whoo, I’m half way done with my college career”. Little do they know the next two years of their lives are about to pass by even faster than the previous two. Sophomore year was exciting. You finish the year, go home for summer and come back an upperclassman. It’s a strange but exciting feeling.

Freshmen might feel just about as weird as the seniors do when graduation rolls around. Didn’t they just graduate? How can it be May already, there is absolutely no way a whole year has past? Freshmen spend the year soaking up all that college has to offer. They study hard, meet new friends, and experience a whole new chapter of life.  When May hits after their first year there really is no other option other than to just reflect and think back on everything you just spent the last 8 months doing. How did you do? Did you like it? Did you make it? How were your grades? Will you ever make it to where those old kids are in their college robes?

No matter what year you’re in, or how far you’ve made it in your college career, there is no denying how fast time flies. You made it through another year and summer is here once again. It’s quite an accomplishment and shouldn’t be taken lightly—even if you aren’t the one in the robes (yet—you’ll get there!).

Now is the time to breathe. Relax. Enjoy your summer, keep working hard—no matter what year you’re in, and stay positive. The 4 years of college are supposed to be fun, challenging, rewarding and exhausting all at the same time. It will fly, so you may not be the one the stage this year, but your time will come. Be prepared!

-Ring Queen
I’m reading Beginning and Intermediate Algebra