Author Archives: Holly Spence

5 Tips To Study Smarter – Not Harder!

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Studying can be tough, especially if the content isn’t something you’re very excited about or you have a lot of other things on the go. Below are some tips to help you focus on studying smart. 

 

1. Follow a clear study schedule. If you want to make sure you study each week, you need to follow a schedule. If you don’t develop a study routine, you risk losing focus and hurting your performance in your classes. Write out a study schedule in a notebook, and make it realistic! If you have band practice after school for an hour, then dinner with your family, it’s unlikely you’ll then want to spend 3 hours studying for a calculus test. Be kind on yourself and set realistic and achievable goals for your study schedule. 

 

 

2. Make a goal for every study session. Just flipping through notes or the textbook is not effective. Set a concrete goal for each study session to gain the most from your homework. Great goals include reading a certain number of pages in the textbook or mastering a specific concept. 

 

 

3. Avoid cramming. While it can work sometimes, it’s really only temporary knowledge. This is especially problematic for tough classes like AP classes where the information is cumulative. Try your best to start studying while you have plenty of time before the test. Doing some last minute revision is ok, but don’t rely on this for the entirety of your knowledge. 

 

4. Use your weekends wisely. Sure, the weekend is a good time to unwind, but you also need to use this time wisely to also get ahead and avoid rushing during the week. Build some weekend study into your schedule, even if it’s just an hour on Sunday afternoon. It’s important to find a good balance, so you’re still getting to see your friends and spend time with your family, but you’re also starting the week off on a good foot.

 

5. Try creating a study group, but pick your study buddies wisely. Make sure this is someone you can actually get stuff done with. Also be cautious with including too many people in your group, as this can make it easier to get distracted. You want to study around people who are motivated to get through their work, and also happy to talk through problems and concepts if you need a hand figuring something out. 

 

Now these five techniques should be helpful, but most importantly remember to be flexible with your study techniques! If you’re studying for a test and do poorly on it, look at it as a learning opportunity and a chance to try a different technique next time. So whether it’s doing flashcards while you’re waiting for your ride to pick you up, or teaching the tricky concepts from class to your friend, is important to try all kinds of techniques to learn what works best for you and to study smarter, not harder.

 

Best of luck with your studies! You got this. 

College Facts Friday: San Diego State University

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This week for #CollegeFactsFriday, we’re talking about San Diego State University! 

 

1. San Diego State has a strong statement of ethics: “Leadership starts here”. The statement is a fundamental principle that guides the actions of the school.

2. The school is ranked No. 60 among public universities, and in the top 130 overall. Learn more here. 

3. The college colors are black and scarlet

4. A very cool event at San Diego State is the Student Research Symposium, an annual forum for SDSU’s graduate and undergraduate students to present their faculty-mentored research. 

5. Notable alumni of SDSU include Jim Sinegal (Costco founder), Ellen Ochoa (Astronaut) and Tony Gwynn (Baseball). 

6. The school dates back to 1879, when it began as the San Diego Normal School, a training facility for elementary school teachers. 

7. Interested in learning more about what it would be like to be an Aztec? Visit the “Experience SDSU” Instagram page! They post student tips and events happening each week to help students stay involved. 

8. You can also learn all about the student traditions, including the “Good Luck” tradition where students rub the left foot of a 6-foot, life-size statue of Samuel T. Black, SDSU’s first president. Read more here. 

9. “100 years, 100 stones” is a very cool monument on campus celebrating the 100th anniversary of the school. It was put together using stones gathered from within a 100-mile radius of campus. See the monument here. 

10. Learn more about San Deigo State on social media! Visit Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for more. 

 

Dislike College? You Have Options!

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Question: I am a freshman in college right now. I chose the school I am attending because I wanted to go to a big school in another part of the country for a new experience. I thought I would love this school, but it turns out that I am really unhappy here. Is it possible for me to transfer this year or do I have to wait until next year? Should I go to community college first? I really don’t want to stay here any longer than I need to.

 

Answer: People often believe that college is made up of four magical and blissful years. The reality is that school is hard and adjusting to a new environment can be even harder.  So my first piece of advice to you is that what you are feeling is something that most college students feel at some point during their freshman year. For many, that feeling goes away usually after the December break. Before you make the decision to leave school, try to pinpoint what you wish was different:

 

1- Are you homesick and miss your family and the lifestyle you had last year?

2- How are the academics? Do you feel that your classes are challenging and interesting? Is your course load to difficult or too easy? Are the classes too big and impersonal?

3- Do you feel like you have made some solid friendships?

4- Have you started to get involved in some extracurricular activities or organizations on campus?

 

Building relationships can be the hardest thing to do in a new environment but also the one act that can help you feel like you are part of a community. Try to get to know your professors, classmates, roommates, and dorm mates. Get involved in activities you love or want to explore. The easiest way to connect with others is through shared interests.

 

If you are absolutely positively sure that you cannot stay at this school, there are certainly options. Few schools give the option of a Sophomore Transfer. This means that you apply to transfer this year to then begin in the Fall of your Sophomore Year. In these cases, the colleges will likely want to see your high school transcripts and test scores since you will only have one semester or quarter of college grades to show. Other schools only give the option of Junior Transfers. This means that you apply in the Fall or Spring of your sophomore year and begin at the new school in Fall of your Junior year.  This would mean that you would need to either stay on campus at your current school for the next year and a half or transfer to a community college for that time.

 

And there is one slightly riskier option. You can decide to drop your current courses. If you do that, you can then apply as a freshman applicant. In this case, you should contact the school you would like to attend and ask for an admissions officer’s best advice. If it is a school you were previously admitted to, that is a good sign but definitely not a guarantee that you will get in this year. Do not rely on where you were accepted previously since admissions changes every year. The risk involved here is that if you drop your courses and you are not admitted as a freshman, you will likely want to transfer two years down the road. The courses you are taking now can help you to fulfill some of the transfer requirements. Dropping the courses mean that you will need to retake them. 

 

Think hard about why you want to leave your school. If you are willing to ride it out for the remainder of the year, you will have given yourself the best opportunity to get adjusted. If there is some deeper issue happening and you need to get out, research your options. You are not stuck at any one school. But you want to be wise about your move. Bouncing from one school to another may set off some red flags. Making one move can signal maturity. Making two or more may mean that you are inflexible.

 

Remember that college is going to be filled with ups and downs no matter which school you attend.

 

All the best, 

Team Insight 

College Facts Friday: Penn State

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We’re back with another #CollegeFactsFriday! This week, we’re taking a closer look at Penn State, located in … you guessed it, Pennsylvania! 

 

1. The history of Penn State dates back to 1855 when the school had a focus on agricultural science. More on the history of the school here. 

2. Penn State has a diverse student body, with first-generation students making up one-fourth of the student body, and over 17,000 adult learners. 

3. The mascot for Penn State is the “Nittany Lion”. It is an eastern mountain lion, the “Nittany” forename referring to the local Mount Nittany, which overlooks the university

4. The Penn State values are Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Discovery, Excellence, and Community. Learn more here. 

5. Statistics your thing? Check out the “At a Glance” section of the Penn State website for many interesting numbers, such as since it’s founding, Penn State has conferred more than 863,636 degrees,

6. If statistics aren’t your thing, maybe Ice Cream is a little more your speed! Did you know that Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, founders of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, took a course on ice cream making at Penn State’s creamery? 

7. Ever heard of a 46-hour dance-athon? The “THON” is a Penn State student-run dance marathon and is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. THON is a year-long effort that raises funds and awareness for the fight against childhood cancer. All dancers in the THON are Penn State students. Learn more at THON.org. 

8. Penn State’s original school colors were pink and black, which was originally submitted by the student body at the time. They are now blue and white.

9. Penn State is in the top 1 percent of universities worldwide. It has the largest alumni network in the nation. 

10. Learn more about Penn State on social! Visit Facebook, Instagram, Twiter and YouTube. 

 

Why The College Essay Matters

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Writing about oneself is not an easy task, but a necessary one when it comes to college applications. Too often students and parents scour the internet looking for the secret to the best college essays, or devour past essays as clues to getting in. But there is no gaming the system when it comes to writing the essay.

 

Let’s take a step back and think about the importance of the personal statement. In a mass of thousands of applications, the personal statement is one of the few key components of the applications where the student has freedom of expression – both in terms of style and content. In an era when the average GPA of college applicants is above a 3.5, test prep has boosted average standardized test scores, and resume padding is an extracurricular in an of itself, admissions officers are hungry for more information. They want to know who you are, what is important to you, and what makes you tick. With this information, they will get a better sense of what you will contribute to their college campuses and what role you will play in the overall collegiate community.

 

So don’t waste time reading the 1000 most successful college essays or mimicking the essays your neighbor wrote last year. Your essays need to be uniquely yours!

 

The first thing you want to do is to evaluate your application. Where are its strengths and weaknesses? What are the important experiences and qualities that are not fully discussed in your transcript, test scores, list of activities, and letters of recommendations? What are the success and failures that have made you stronger? What are the moments that have influenced you? What do you want an admissions officer to know about you when they finish reading your application?

 

Once you have a sense of what you want to convey, sit down at your computer and just write and write and write about a given experience or thought until you have nothing else to say. Don’t get limited by structure or style. Don’t get bogged down by word counts and “hooks”. Somewhere in your meanderings probably lays the basis of your college essay. Go through these drafts by yourself or with someone that you trust to pick out the most salient and impactful ideas.

 

Remember that you will likely have at least two essays to write for each given college. Try to balance ideas and experiences. If you want to talk about a failure in one essay, use the other essay to show your strengths. If you want to be a doctor or engineer or teacher want to discuss those interests, pick one essay topic to convey your future goals and use the other to discuss something unrelated to career choice. If you had one really amazing summer experience, relate its meaning in one essay and use the other to discuss one of your hobbies.  If you need to discuss why your grades slipped in one semester, be concise and to the point. No need to draw out this explanation over multiple essay topics since your high school career should not be defined by it.

 

Every essay is an opportunity to share something about yourself that is not easily evident. Writing about being a hard worker when your grades already show it is too easy. Saying that you want to be a doctor because you like helping people is almost obvious. While you might love dance or music because it offers you the ability to express yourself has already been written about. The same is true for art. It is not that these experiences or sentiments are not important. It is that these ideas don’t even scratch the surface. Do not waste the opportunity in front of you. Think deeply about what you want to convey.

 

Writing may not be easy, but it is much easier if you write honestly and sincerely. 

 

All the best, and happy writing! 

Team Insight

Insight Alma Mater: UC Berkeley

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Welcome back to Insight Alma Mater! For those of you that haven’t ready last weeks blog, written by counselor Jenny Huang, make sure you go back and read that one first as today’s story picks up right where that one left off. Insight Alma Mater – UC Santa Barbara. 

 

FLASHBACK TO TRANSFERRING
When I attended UCSB, I didn’t plan on transferring to UC Berkeley.  Really, I didn’t plan on transferring. Period.  However, in-a-blink-of-an-eye, I transferred to Berkeley, which reshaped my perception of college.

 

SO MANY NEW EXPERIENCES!
When I came to Berkeley, I was very shocked with how different it was from Santa Barbara.  Countless boba shops replaced Blenders (a fantastic smoothie shop in SB); a cool, NorCal breeze replaced the warm, SoCal sun; and the hilly, pedestrian-filled campus replace the flat, skateboard-friendly campus I was used to.  There were so many changes—how do I adapt to all of them?

 

My answer: trying my best to embrace these changes, meaning trying out unique activities offered at Berkeley.  For example, I always wanted to learn how to dance, but I never had the opportunity to; thus, one semester, I joined a dance team on Berkeley campus.  Performing during showcase was one of the most memorable memories I have at Berkeley. I heard that Berkeley offers DeCals, which are school-approved classes, run by students who are passionate about a certain subject that they would like to teach other students; for a semester, I taught a beginner language and culture class. I’ve also taken other Decal classes at Berkeley to learn more about topics I was curious about. Lastly, navigating Berkeley as a transfer student wasn’t the easiest for me, so I wanted to help prospective transfer students. Consequently, I joined Starting Point Mentorship Program, where I mentored community college students with transferring to a 4-year institution. By constantly taking advantage of the opportunities present at Cal, it reminded me to be thankful for the many avenues available that I would not have had if I didn’t attend this school.

 

In addition, one humbling lesson I’ve embraced at Cal is reaching out to those around me. Berkeley can be a pretty lonely place without a strong support system. I’m extremely grateful for the people I’ve met through the activities I was a part of. They supported me and carried me during my time at Berkeley. Ultimately, they made the campus feel warmer, despite the cool, NorCal breeze.

 

TOP FIVE TIPS/ADVICE FOR FUTURE BEARS
1. You were accepted for a reason— you are with some of the brightest minds, so it is easy to feel that you aren’t good enough.  However, remember that the admission officers chose YOU. You deserve to be at this school!!
2. Be involved (but don’t bite off more than you can chew)—There are countless clubs, Decals, research opportunities etc. at Cal. I definitely encourage you to try new activities; further your passion in activities you already enjoy etc.  However, don’t bite off more than you can chew! You’ll burn out.
3. Utilize Bear Walk or walk home with a group of friends, especially at night—Always use Bear Walk or walk with friends at night. Carry pepper spray and learn how to use it.
4. It’s a semester system school—You’re learning 15 weeks of material. That’s a lot of material.  Be sure to stay on top off it by reaching out to professors; GSIs; and classmates. Also, don’t waste your RRR week (the week before finals week, where there are no classes).  It’s a great time to reach out to professors and GSIs for last minute questions
5. Above all, build community (through clubs, res hall, classes etc.) and reach out. Your health is most important—Berkeley can be a lonely place if you don’t have a good support system.  Reach out to those people if you are struggling in any way by utilizing office hours; going to academic advising; seeking professional help if need you.

 

Jenny graduating from UC Berkeley!

 

Final Thoughts about Berkeley
While I no longer had the ocean as my backyard in Berkeley, this metaphor still extends to my time there: sometimes the waves were calm, other times the waves were rough.  However, it’s during this time that I grew stronger and became more resilient.

 

Final Thoughts about College
If you read my post about my experience at UCSB, you’ll realize that the “final thought” section is quite similar: no matter which college you attend, it won’t always be smooth-sailing. 

In addition, I tried to emphasize the importance of community. Some of my most memorable college experiences involved having a meaningful conversation with someone on the beach; going out to club events; and being present with people who I care about.  They’ve helped me become a better version of myself, so the social aspect of college is as important as the academic component of college. 

Lastly, given my experience of being an undergraduate student at two amazing yet very different colleges, I can’t stress how important it is to choose the right college for you: this means reaching out to alum and hearing about their experience; visiting the college and attending a campus tour; maybe even asking a professor if you can sit in on a class sometime.  By trying to discern this now, you’re headed in the right direction for a worthwhile college experience…Good luck, and I wish you the best!

 

College Facts Friday: American University

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This week we’re taking #CollegeFactsFriday to the capital and learning more about American University, located in Washington DC! 

 

1. American University was founded by John Fletcher Hurst in 1893, and first took on undergraduate students in 1925.

2. There are 250+ student organizations at AU, you can learn more about them here. 

3. The Mascot for American University is one you can probably guess – an Eagle! For the history of “Clawed Z. Eagle”, you can watch a video all about it here.

4. American University has eight schools and over 170 programs including bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.

5. Sustainability is a big focus at AU, and electricity on the campus comes from 100% renewable sources! 

6. American University boasts a 90-acre campus in Washington, DC. and offers students the chance to enrich themselves with the history and culture found in the very famous streets around them. AU was ranked #4 for most beautiful urban campuses in 2015! 

7. AU is certainly more than a “sleepy college town” – watch a video about campus life and spirit here. 

8. Famous Alumni from American University include Goldie Hawn, Paul Ryan and Judy Sheindlin – AKA, Judge Judy! 

9. New students to AU take part in the “All American Welcome”, a two week celebration that welcomes new students to campus with over 70 events! Interested in learning more? Click here for the website. 

10. Learn more about American University on social! Visit Youtube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

 

Insight Alma Mater: UC Santa Barbara

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Welcome back to the Insight Alma Mater blog series! The story you’re about to read is one with an unexpected ending – make sure you return to our blog this time next week to find out what happens! Below is Insight Counselor Jenny Huang’s experience at the University of Santa Barbara. 

 

FLASHBACK TO SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL
Growing up in a competitive area, I was sucked into believing I had to attend the top universities in the nation; otherwise, I “failed” (Jenny, 4 years later: THIS IS NOT TRUE.  Regardless of which school you end up attending, make the most of your time there, and you will significantly increase your chances of having a fulfilling experience.  Anyway…let’s flash back to my senior year of high school).  Thus, I somewhat begrudgingly attended UCSB. 
 
However, when I entered the dorm room on move-in day, a mesmerizing ocean view welcomed me in–the beach was literally across the street from my dorm! That set the tone of the next two years of my time at UC Santa Barbara. 

The view outside Jenny’s dorm at UCSB

 

“I GAUCHO BACK”
If you become a Gaucho, you’ll quickly learn the schools’ motto: “I gaucho back.” If I had to sum up my UCSB experience in one phrase, it would fittingly be that phrase; the people around me generally tried their best to exemplify this statement.

Professors and TAs? I GAUCHO BACK.   While I evidently can’t speak on behalf of all the departments at SB, the professor and TAs in the Linguistics and Chinese departments were always available during office hours. They were so approachable and never belittled me for asking questions.

Mentors? I GAUCHO BACK. I’ve been blessed with an incredible mentor who has helped me in so many ways, from giving me advice to being the listening ear I needed.

Friends? I GAUCHO BACK. During my two years at SB, I was part of two organizations. These individuals have been some of the encouraging people I have met in my life. One friend, bless their soul, biked to my dorm at 3am, just to comfort me. Through the love they bestowed on me, it encouraged me to be more loving to those around me.     

Of course, my time at SB wasn’t always calm. There were definitely challenging times, where the waves were rough; however, I was able to overcome the rockier times because of the people I’ve been lucky to meet. That, above all, is what I remember about my time at SB. 

Downtown Santa Barbara

 

TOP FIVE TIPS/ADVICE FOR FUTURE GAUCHOS….
1.  Don’t be fazed by other peoples’ opinions—Unfortunately, there are some stereotypes about UCSB.  However, this is your college experience, and you can choose which activities you want to participate in. So do not be ashamed, and hold your head high, future Gaucho!  
2. Take advantage of Surfing/Sailing Lessons/Whale Watching/Kayaking—Campus Point and/or Downtown SB offer these activities; you might even get a discount if you bring a valid Student ID.  If only I had known this sooner, I could have gone whale watching! But of course, be safe!
3. It’s a quarter system school—Classes are 10 weeks, and depending on your major, it could be packed with midterms and tests. Stay on top of your work, and don’t be afraid to ask for help!
4. Blenders, McConnell’s, and Freebirds are must tries—Smoothies, ice cream, and great Mexican restaurants are close to the school. Be mindful of what you consume in your body, but these are wonderful treats after a midterm or final!
5. Be open to change, but don’t change your core values College is a time to explore your interests, passions, and character.  I was able to broaden my perspective by trying new experiences, and I became a more emphatic person by being exposed to people from diverse perspectives. At the same time, I’ve held to my core values amidst it. In doing so, I kept myself grounded.

 

Beauty all around at UC Santa Barbara!

 

Final Thoughts
My time at UCSB was like the ocean (I mean, I was literally across the ocean)…sometimes, the water was calm. Sometime, the waters were like big waves, swallowing me up.  However, I learned to reach out to those around me, and I found that people will try their best to pull me to shore.  But most all, the best thing you can do is soak it all in before it’s gone.

 

….‘Cause you know, my time at SB suddenly ended two years earlier than I expected.

 

Want to know what happens next? We’ll see you back here this time next week! 

All the best,
Team Insight

College Facts Friday: University of Denver

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This week we’re heading to Colorado for #CollegeFactsFriday, learning more about the University of Denver! 

 

1. Students at DU reap the benefit of its amazing location, located near the beautiful Rocky Mountains and enjoying over 19,000 acres of park space in and around Denver. 

2. University of Denver is ranked in the top 5 schools in the nation for study abroad participation. Around 70% of undergraduate students study abroad for at least one academic term.

3. The college colors are crimson and gold 

4. University of Denver was founded in 1864 as the Colorado Seminary, only six years after the founding of Denver City in what was then the Colorado Territory.

5. Fun fact – the University has it’s own special flower! The DU Rose is a special variety known as “Rosa Denvera.” After the University received a rose bush as a gift in 1912, botanist Ira Cutler discovered the blossoms were unlike any others. He then used the original specimens to develop a distinct variety still used for functions on campus.

6. Getting outside of the classroom during study is a big part of the University of Denver culture. Learn more here. 

7. Being that Denver becomes a winter wonderland during the colder months, it’s no surprise that “Winter Carnival” is one of the favored traditions at the school. It’s a full week of festivities for students to take part in, you can learn more about the 2019 carnival here.  

8. 35% of the buildings on campus are over 50 years old! 

9. DU enrolls approximately 5,600 undergraduate students and 6,100 graduate students

10. Learn more about University of Denver on social! Visit Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for more. 

 

 

College Facts Friday: UC Riverside

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As we enjoy the last few weeks of sunshine… wait, who are we kidding? It’s California! It’ll still be sunny in November! Well, even still, we can’t help but want to write about a school in sunny CA for #CollegeFactsFriday. Ready to learn more about UC Riverside? Read on! 

 

1. The very first “first-day” for UC Riverside was in February 1954. Interesting fact about UC Riverside is that the school didn’t start off as a school at all! Rather, UCR was the official UC Citrus Experimentation Station. Read more history here. 

2. UCR Palm Desert, which opened in 2005, extends the reach of UCR to the Coachella Valley, offering a Master of Fine Arts degree, continuing education courses, and a Future Physician Leaders program. 

3. The college colors are blue and yellow 

4. UC Riverside has 101 Bachelor’s Degrees, 55 Master’s Degrees, and 42 Ph.D.’s 

5. UCR Extension provides continuing education and specialized certificate courses to nearly 30,000 per year to meet local workforce training needs, to educate international students, and to provide intellectual enrichment for community members.

6. UC Riverside is ranked No. 2 in the country for financial aid – (source Business Insider 2019)

7. One of the most beautiful parts of campus is the Botanic Gardens, which cover 40 acres.  

8. The mascot for UC Davis is Scotty Highlander, a mascot with a lot of history! Read more here. 

9. There is a great tradition at UC Riverside of hiking the infamous 132 feet high, 70 feet wide letter “C” that is located in the heart of the Box Spring mountains. It has been rumored that if you kiss the “C” the beginning of fall quarter your first-year, you’ll get a 4.0. 

10. Learn more about UC Riverside on social! Visit Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for more.