Beating study lethargy after the holidays

by Beverly Aldridge on September 23, 2012

With the second academic term now under way, the problem of procrastination is now more critical than ever. The first set of deadlines is already looming and maybe even exams. Of course if you done your work over the Christmas holidays then you don’t have anything to worry about � but how many people does that refer to.

While the procrastination bug is by no means limited to students, they are a group who seem particularly afflicted by it and whose academic performance can suffer. This has probably been the case since time immemorial but with the relentless barrage of distractions of today’s world, especially online, the issue is perhaps more acute than ever.

However, technology can also help beat the bug. There are add-ons available for Firefox which will only allow you to access certain sites at predefined times or you could be forced to confront the true extent of your dawdling with a program which provides you with a breakdown of how you spend your time online. It’s a sobering experience.

Here is a selection of the most popular and achievable tips to beat procrastination from the plethora of self-help books on the subject.

  • Move � if you’re in a distracting place, move to another one. Also works if you can just go for a walk or get away from your desk for a few moments (but not too long, of course.)
  • Shut out the world � if you can’t move or find somewhere quiet, make your current spot your own with some noise-reduction headphones. Just don’t get carried away listening to music rather than concentrating on the task in hand.
  • Get enough sleep � the amount of sleep you get is directly linked to academic performance, especially in terms of retaining facts. And you’ll save money on alcohol.
  • Remind yourself of what you have already achieved � you’ve probably been in this situation before and come through it, so use this as motivation. Of course, if you weren’t successful last time, you should definitely give yourself more time.
  • Get on with it � the hardest part with any task is getting started � so just get started and the rest should follow.

Remember, procrastination is the thief of time!

{ 0 comments }

Amazing cost of University library fines

by Beverly Aldridge on September 21, 2012

A recent study has revealed the amazing truth behind the collection of library fines at Britain’s universities. It turns out that they have raised nearly ?50 million ($77+ million) by fining students for overdue or missing books in the past six years.

Top of the list is Leeds University which collected in more than ?1.8 million ($2.8m) in fines over the six years of the study from 2004/5. They were closely followed by Manchester (?1.3 ($2)million) and Wolverhampton (?1.25 ($1.9) million). At the opposite end of the spectrum is Imperial College London which amassed a measly ?26,703 ($41,000).

These figures seem all the more shocking when it is taken into account that at most institutions library fines start at just 10p ($0.15) per day per book; although Edinburgh Napier are much harsher with fines of ?1 ($1.5) a day. Perhaps more damaging is the fact that more than 300,000 books are missing frm university libraries. Bucks New University tops this particular list with over 30,500 books missing, followed by Oxford (20,923) and Kent (19,613).

These figures have been uncovered after freedom of information requests were made to all of the UK’s universities by the Press Association. Overall, 101 universities replied but not all were able to provide accurate data about the amount of library fines collected from students for late books.

At many universities, sanctions can be taken against persistent offenders, most often in the form of having their accounts suspended, sometimes including access to the university’s IT network. Many also have a system in place whereby outstanding library fines will prevent graduation � starting with as little as ?5 ($7.70) at Exeter. Some pass the matter onto external debt collection agencies, although in most cases this was only when combined with other unpaid debts such as fees and accommodation.

{ 0 comments }

Thinking about changing majors?

September 19, 2012

When choosing which college degree to study, students generally pick an option related to the field they want to study: medicine for doctors, law for lawyers, and history for teachers. But you may find that, at some point during your studies, that your major isn�t what you want to do � it�s very common for [...]

Read the full article →

Choosing your university/college

September 18, 2012

Choosing a college can be one of the most important decisions you will ever make. For some people the choice will be dictate by availability of courses but for many there will be a broad spectrum of choices available, so how can you set about choosing the right one for you. Lots of studies have [...]

Read the full article →

Choosing a school � head not heart

September 16, 2012

The power of your peers should never be doubted when considering which college you should study for your degree at. A lot of students choose a college based on the fact that they know a friend or classmate who is also planning to attend � in some cases, best friends study together at college to [...]

Read the full article →

The Benefits of Peer Editing

September 15, 2012

Regardless of whether you are completing a degree in a traditional environment, i.e. at a college, or online, it�s likely that you will have to participate in an English Composition class. Peer-editing is a component of the class that is what makes it fundamentally different to other English classes; you will work alongside your fellow [...]

Read the full article →

NY Museum introduces MA Course

September 14, 2012

A night in the museum (sic) for $30k � must like bones and cephalopods! Who could resist such an offer? In reality the American Museum of Natural History has embarked on an agenda to find and recruit students into an unique MA program the aim of which is to produce fifty or so science tutors [...]

Read the full article →

Considerations before Attending College

September 13, 2012

There is no denying that when you leave home and go off to college your whole life will change for better or for worse. You will most likely have your own idealised view of how your first few days of your new life will go down, but as a new student you will need to [...]

Read the full article →

Students and English Composition Courses

September 9, 2012

An English composition course is all about teaching you how to write assignments and express yourself in a clear and professional way, both verbally and in the written word. Those who are studying towards a bachelor�s degree are obliged to take an English composition course. English composition can be difficult to master if you go [...]

Read the full article →

Sustenance for the body as well as the mind

September 7, 2012

It�s well-known that colleges and universities are usually assessed and rated by looking at the academic achievements and the courses on offer. However, something which should be factored into the equation by all prospective students is the quality of college food. The quality of college food is an important factor in choice of school because [...]

Read the full article →

← Previous Entries