Al Jamiat Magazine » Studying in America

Making Extra Cash While in College

aljamiat — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 17:19:19 +0000

Tips on finding part time jobs for US students

Most of your college costs may be covered by financial aid, tuition payments or your parents’ pocket book, but you may still need some extra cash now and then. For some students, a part-time job is the answer for the extra cash needed. Here are a few tips on how to find part time jobs perfect for college students and some advice on how to be the best employee and student while working. Remember, international students face different work regulations, so be sure to check with the international students office before starting a job.

Work study. If you are eligible for work study… take it! Work study jobs are on campus and specifically suited for students. Find an area that interests you and apply as soon as you can. Most good positions are taken quickly, so don’t delay.
On- campus jobs. If you are not work study eligible, there still may be on-campus jobs for students. Check with your student center, athletic center, bookstore, library and other key offices and departments at your school to see if there are any open positions. Make sure to let them know that you are not a work study student.

Student employment center. Most college campuses have a student employment center or service, and believe it or not, the services are not just limited to full-time jobs after graduation and summer internships. The office may have long- and short-term job opportunities from businesses and individuals looking specifically for college students. Some of these options may be tutoring, babysitting, data entry, research, etc.
Local businesses. If your college or university is located near a business area, there are probably plenty of opportunities for college students. Music stores, clothing stores, restaurants and other businesses (that typically service your university) usually readily welcome student employees. This is NOT an option for international students on an F-1 visa as you are only allowed to work ON campus.

Once you’ve found a job, you”ll need to make sure that you keep the job and you maintain your grades. Follow the advice below and you’ll be a star student and a star employee.

Limit your hours. You may think that you want to work 30- 40 hours a week for the cash, but you shouldn’t. Your main priority is to be a good student and get good grades. You have to determine the balance that works best for you, but err on the side of less working hours. You need to make sure that you have plenty of time to go to class, study AND just have fun as a college student.
Be professional. Whether you are a part-time receptionist at a local business or a pizza flipper at the dorm cafeteria, always act in a professional manner. This will help ensure that you always keep your job and maintain a good reputation with the employer. Arrive on time, take breaks as scheduled and don’t leave early unless you have permission.

Communicate with your employer. Make sure that you always let your employer know in advance when you have to take time off or leave work early. If you are working off campus, give your employer a schedule at the beginning of each semester so they are aware of key dates such as midterms and finals. This allows your employer to properly determine your schedule in advance and it limits last minute changes and staffing issues.
Know when to quit. If you find that your employment is interfering with your education, negatively impacting your grades or your personal life, quit. Don’t forget your goal during this time in your life, which is success as a college student. If your job is preventing you from being a good student, you have to let it go. Be professional with your employer once you have come to this decision. Be honest and let them know why you can no longer work there and give them at least 2 weeks notice before your last day.

Having a part-time job while in college can be a big financial help, but you have to find the right job, keep a balance and be a good employee.

Photo credit thanks to Jörg Weingrill

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aljamiat — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 14:45:10 +0000

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OMG what, I have to STUDY????

Wassan — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 04:25:35 +0000

Time has been flying by you for weeks and you realize that your big midterm is coming up in less than a week, how are you going to prepare? When it comes to studying, everyone has got a different approach. Some students have had their head in a book for weeks before, while others can skate by with cramming the night before. If you’re the average college student, you won’t need to dedicate an incredulous amount of time in the library to achieve a good grade on a test, (unless you’ve been skipping class and slacking off.) A lot of students elect to study by downing countless caffeinated beverages and pulling all nighters, which may be a quick fix for a test but it’s devastatingly unhealthy as I’ve come to learn and usually ends up with a lesser grade on the test than you could have scored. While everyone has their individual preferences, such as music vs. no music, coffee shop vs. library or home, there are a few strategies that everyone can benefit from.

Planning ahead is probably the biggest key to lessening the stress and amount of time you’ll have to spend in the books. Keep up on your course work and schedule hourly allotments of studying before the big test. This won’t leave you opening your book at 11:00 pm the night before your test.

Studying in groups or with a partner always helps out. We learn information better by teaching the material to someone else. It causes us to use the information in new ways and forms better memory circuits in the brain. This can also make studying more enjoyable than slaving away by yourself. Make sure to study with someone who is going to reciprocate the effort and not just goof off the whole time you hang out.

Review your material at night before you go to sleep. Studies have shown that we commit most of the information gathered throughout the day primarily during sleep, so reviewing before you hit the sack will give you an edge up on those flashcards you’ve been looking at all day. On top of that make sure to get plenty of sleep, at least 6-8 hours. It’s unhealthy for the brain to go without much needed sleep, and you perform worse under less sleep. Caffeine helps you relieve the feelings of grogginess but it doesn’t erase sleep deprivation and won’t help your brain perform at maximum capacity.

The study aides you choose can be powerful tools, so find out what works best for you. You can rewrite your notes or outline the book, make flashcards, read, or just review your old work. Always try and use the information you’ve learned in situations outside of the classroom. Reusing information given in lecture in new and novel ways helps you understand it better and commit the concepts to memory. Caffeine is great in moderate doses, as is chewing peppermint gum which will actually boost your cognitive focus, but no matter what testimonials your friends give you, stay away from ADD and ADHD medications because they are not only illegal to take but they are highly addictive and can cause serious complications.

Take it slow and divide your study load up into manageable bunches, be healthy, stay calm and your studying will prove to be productive and easy going instead of stressful and unsatisfying.

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How to Choose a Major

Wassan — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 21:32:05 +0000

When I was a high school senior applying for colleges, choosing a major (field of study) seemed like the most intimidating decision I had to make in my short 18 years on this earth. I talked to counselors, parents, and friends and none of it seemed to make me rest easy. I thought that once I made the decision I would not only be trapped in that major for four years or more, but that I was also determining the rest of my life. If you feel that way, breathe easy and understand that people go through major changes all the time, mostly because they had no idea what they were really getting into. Here are some tips that I did not know coming into college that will help you choose a major you’ll feel more comfortable with, and some techniques to changing your major that will make it feel easier and not like you are adding on years to your stay in college.

First off, pick a major that caters to your interests, passions, and strong suites. This will give you more motivation in researching the major, the professors who teach in the major, and the opportunities you’ll receive during and after your college degree with your selected education path. Every school has stronger or weaker colleges of business, social sciences, physical sciences, etc. If your heart lies with science, go with a school that offers more opportunities in that field.

When you visit the campus, make sure to talk to people that deal directly with your possible major. Visit the clubs associated with the major, so you can talk to students and ask them about the experiences they’ve had over their past few years and how they feel about it. Ask yourself if you relate to the type of individuals that end up in that field. Talk to advisors specifically dedicated to the subject. This will give you insight into what type of people are going down your desired path, what type of professors and courses you’ll be dealing with, and it will give you a broader perspective of the experiences you will encounter during your time in college.

If you still feel unsure, or what to leave yourself options later down the line, mainly register for classes that will apply towards general education. This way, if you decide a year or so in that you want to change majors or head down a different path, you never really wasted any time in getting your degree. When I entered college as a biology major, I mainly took general education courses. I ended up deciding two years into my major to switch to psychology, and even though the course paths were very different, I had already completed much of my general education and still had biology classes that went into a minor.

Do not stress if you are not 110% sure about what you want to do with the rest of your life. Even if you do feel that sure, you most likely aren’t. Take it slow your first year or two in college, keep your eyes and ears open , and plan accordingly to make any last minute changes.

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Sites Every College Student Should Use

allizon — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 15:06:59 +0000

cc nimble photography

The idea of not being prepared or not knowing can be frightening. The world today relies heavily on Internet resources and it’s crucial to know them. There are multiple online sites that can really make your life easier. And while you’re transitioning into a new country and school, anything that could possibly make life simpler will be needed!

Here is a list of the top two sites for online calendars, music players, photo editors, and scholar search engines, all of which were resources I used non-stop as a college student.

Online Calendars: There is no option, you need a calendar/planner in college is you want to stay onto of your game. I suggest using an online calendar to organize class schedules, office hours, due dates, and meetings. It can start getting confusing if you don’t remember when and where you are supposed to be.

Google Calendar

30Boxes

Scholar Search Engines: Students write a lot of papers in college, so be prepared for tons of researching. Using a scholar search engine will provide you with scholarly literature that is more trustworthy and reliable than articles found with a normal search engine.

CrossRef

Google Scholar

Music Library/Player: If you are not the type of person to buy multiple songs from iTunes but still want to listen to good music, I suggest using an online music library or player. Playing music can do wonders for you. It helps some students work more productively and get in a better mood.

Grove Shark

Pandora

Photo Editor: Taking pictures is second nature while in college, and uploading them to Facebook is the obvious next step. Having an online picture editor is always handy to have around. You can use it for adding a fun effect to a picture of you and your friends, hiding that pimple you wish was never there, or straightening a tilted picture because your mom can’t hold the camera right.

Picnik

Phixr

Do you have any websites you can’t live without? Share what sites are the most helpful for you!

Allizon Munoz is a junior at Ohio Dominican University studying Public Relations and minoring in Marketing. She serves as the 2010-2011 Ohio Dominican PRSSA President and Vice President of Professional Activities for Delta Sigma Pi Omicron Tau. Connect with her here: http://card.ly/allizonmunoz

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To Drive or Not to Drive?

allizon — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:52:00 +0000

cc Menlo Photo Bank

To drive or not to drive? That is the question. When you make your transition to the United States, it’s important to adjust and make your new atmosphere as comforting as possible. You want to continue having a normal life, actually an extraordinary life. Getting a US driver’s license is one way to adjust to the American lifestyle.

Receiving your driver’s license can be a difficult task, but it is rewarding just like every other hard thing in life. There is a specific process you must go through before you are granted your license. This process varies from state to state. You will need to follow the guidelines of the state which your college or university is located. Besides the specifics, here are the basics which are constant in every state provided by USA.gov:

Foreign visitors who become U.S. residents can only obtain a driver’s license from the state in which they reside (not from the federal government). Each state has its own driving rules and regulations. Check with your state’s motor vehicles department to find out how to apply.
Once you receive your U.S. driver’s license from a state motor vehicles department, you will be permitted to drive in all other U.S. states. The laws in each state vary from one to another. It is your responsibility to know and obey the laws of that state while driving.
The residency requirement for obtaining a U.S. driver’s license varies with each state. Consult the motor vehicles department in your state for more information.
If you are a foreign student coming to the U.S. to study, contact the university or college you will attend, as most institutions provide students with additional driving information. The best option would be to contact your International Director.

Prepare to take and pass a written knowledge test, which gives you a driving permit, by studying your state’s Driver’s Manual. When you go to test for your actual license, you will need to pass a vision test and a driving test. You will also need to show identification (passport, documentation of new address, I-94 card).

But is getting your license worthwhile? Sometimes a US driver’s license is unnecessary. I would suggest every student to give the car-less life a try. Here are the reasons to not get a license versus reason you should:

Reasons to drive

There is poor public transportation at your university
You can be reliable on yourself
Having the leisure of going places on your own time and schedule
You plan on traveling to nearby attractions (road trips!)
You just love driving

Reasons NOT to drive

It will take time to study and take all tests
Paying for the actual license
Paying for a vehicle
Paying for gas
Paying for school parking
Basically, a whole lot of paying for things
The public transportation at your university is reliable and efficient
It is environmentally better to be car-less

If you are decided on getting your license or you are still unsure, talk to your International Student Director. They can tell you more information about the transportation at your university and help guide you through the process of testing for your driver’s test.

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Tips and Tricks to College Eating

allizon — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:00:41 +0000

cc Pink Sherbet Photography

A recent trend in the last three years has been creating a better lifestyle. A lot of times, America is known for its high rate in obesity throughout every age group. Luckily, there is a notable change in the market. Along with the rush of becoming environmentally friendly, people have also changed their ways to become organic. It has now become popular to shift to a healthy lifestyle.

It is always a challenge to continue a change in health eating habits, especially in college. Commonly, you hear about the “Freshman 15” when referring to your first year at school. The “Freshman 15” is used to refer to the almost-always weight gain when you begin college. But why is it so common to put on the extra pounds? When you move to campus, you have a limited opportunity to cook food in the dorms. Typically, you are only allowed a mini fridge and a microwave. You will also get a meal plan from your dinning hall. Unfortunately, not every school’s dinning hall will have the healthiest of meals to eat. Dining halls can also can trick you because they are most commonly in an “all-you-can-eat” buffet style. That is why we have compiled a list of tips and tricks on how to eat healthy in college.

Never EVER skip breakfast. Your mother was right, and so were your teachers and gym instructor. The biggest mistake you can make is skip breakfast!
Buy a water filter and a good water bottle. I would recommend the Brita Water Filter. It is crucial to stay hydrated every single day. Buying bottled water can become expensive but when you own a water filter you will be saving money and the environment by eliminating plastic bottles.
Follow the 80/20 rule; eat healthy 80% of the time, and indulge in something good and rich the other 20%.
Be a mindful eater. Allow yourself, at minimum, 20 minutes to eat a full meal. This gives your brain enough time to register that your stomach is full.
Use smaller size containers and bowls. When you only have one large bowl, it will be natural to fill it when serving things like potato chips. Having smaller size containers will help you control serving proportions.
Limit yourself to one serving when eating at the dinning halls. It’s a bad idea to always go back for seconds and you will be sure to see a change in your size if you do.
Take small plastic containers with you when eating at the dining hall. This way you can take back some fruit, yogurt, hummus, or any other snack that you can eat later on in your dorm room.
When you begin buying fruits and other natural products, be careful for the amount you buy. Though buying in bulk can me money efficient, keep in mind how fast the food will go bad and the estimated time it will sit in your fridge. Remember, mold is not your friend.

You can have the leisure of still eating the things you like if you can control your eating habits. But still be considerate of what kinds of foods you keep in your room. Eliminating fattening and unhealthy food from your shelf will save you in the long run. It is also helpful if you know how to read a food label properly. The University of Iowa provides a easy guide on how to read a food label easily. But what kinds of food should you buy? Take a look at our College Grocery List as a guide when going grocery shopping and remember our tips and tricks and you are golden!

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20 Sites to Help You Save Money in College

aljamiat — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 13:00:08 +0000

Saving money in college can be difficult. There are always required purchases–books, computer equipment, food, etc.–that must be made. The good news is that there are many different sites online that can help college and university students cut costs and make ends meet. Here are 20 sites guaranteed to help you save money while you’re in college.

Upromise – Upromise offers a unique way to save money for college. Users can earn up to 8 percent on restaurant purchases, up to 25 percent on online purchases, and up to 10 percent on grocery and drugstore purchases. Earned money can be put into a savings account or 529 plan or directly reimbursed with a check.

Student Advantage – This student discount card program helps students save on food, travel, school supplies and more. The card is accepted by hundreds of colleges, universities, and campus organizations and thousands of national chains and local stores.

Student Savings Club – Designed specifically for college and university students, this student savings club provides discounts that can be used at local and national businesses. Discounts are available for restaurants, fast food, entertainment, travel, school supplies, and much more.

STA Travel – STA Travel is the world’s largest student travel agency. The company offers discounts on airfare, care rentals, hotel stays, insurance, cell service, and more.

CouponMom – CouponMom is a great place to find printable grocery coupons and restaurant coupons. The site is also a good source of coupon codes for department stores, home improvement stores, computer stores, and more.

FatWallet.com – FatWallet.com is a community of savvy shoppers who share deals and coupons over the web. The site can also be used to compare prices on millions of products.

Feed the Pig – Feed the Pig is a non-profit site that was created to help individuals between the ages of 25 and 34 take control of their personal finances. Site resources include free savings tips, savings tools, and community forums.

Campus Tech – Campus Tech has partnered with numerous companies, such as Barnes and Noble, Google, Adobe, and Microsoft, to help students save money on everything from books and backpacks to computer hardware and software.

Zilok – Zilok is an online marketplace that can be used to locate anything you want to rent. Site users can rent almost anything imaginable, including cars, apartments, vacation spots, electronics, DVDs, event supplies, and tools.

PriceGrabber – Considered the leader in online comparison shopping, PriceGrabber allows users to compare prices on everything from books and electronics to clothing and furniture. The site also provides a back-to-school shopping guide.

BookMooch – BookMooch is a great place to save money on reading material. The site allows users to exchange books they no longer want for books they need.

eCampus.com – This site offers up to 90 percent savings on college textbooks. eCampus.com visitors can choose to either rent or buy textbooks and can later return the books for cash when they are no longer needed.

Cengage Brain – In addition to selling and renting entire textbooks, Cengage Brain also allows students to purchase single chapters. eChapters can be purchased for as little as $1.99 each.

Textbook Revolt – Textbook Revolt is a student-to-student textbook renting site. Users can compare rental rates, rent the books they need, and return books at the end of the semester for free.

CourseSmart – College and university students can save up to 50 percent on their textbook purchases by buying digital textbooks from CourseSmart. Textbooks can be read on the computer, an iPhone, or an iPad.

Textbook Revolution – Textbook Revolution is a student-run site that provides links to free textbooks and select educational materials. The goal of the site is to get free textbooks into classrooms so that college students can save money on school supplies.

BIGWORDS – This search engines makes it easy to compare prices on textbooks, books, DVDs, music, and games. BIGWORDS searches multiple stores, compares prices, and shows you where you can get the best deal on the item you are looking for. The average shopper saves $70 per textbook.

Public Library Locator – This U.S. Department of Education site offers a unique search engine that can be used to locate public libraries in your area. Public libraries are a good place to find free books, music, and movies.

Mint – Mint is a popular online finance service that helps users establish a budget, track expenses, reduce debt, track investments, and more. The service also offers a blog and advice on paying off students loans, using credit cards, buying a car, and saving for retirement.

Bob’s Budget Planner – Scotland’s Building Society provides free budgeting software that is easy to download and use. The software works well for tracking weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual income and expenditures.

Karen Schweitzer is an education writer who specializes in writing about business education. She is the Business School Guide for About.com. She also writes about pharmacy technician education for PharmacyTechnicianCertification.com.

Image by: voobie (http://www.flickr.com/photos/vinish/3226484450/sizes/m/)

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Getting into the Spirit

allizon — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:12:25 +0000

cc Alexandra Campo

The time is drawing near to begin preparing for school to start. One of the best ways to make your transition to school enjoyable is by actually being excited about your plans! Some may say they are about to leave everything they know, their comfort zone, but great things are coming their way. One of the best things students can do is channel their nerves into excitement, and having school spirit is a great way to do just that!

School spirit is the pride you have for your university. It shows others where you attend and why you are so proud to be there. Having school spirit will provide a more positive atmosphere not just for yourself, but for your campus as well. You form a special connection with your school and other students when you truly have school pride.

So how can you have school spirit?

Wear the gear. Get t-shirts, sweatshirts, lanyards, etc. You can usually find these at your school’s book store and sometime they are even available for purchase online. If you would rather not buy them, make them! A great idea is to have a get-together with friends, maybe before a football game, and make your own shirts with iron-ons or fabric paint. You’ll be creating something to wear all year long and great memories at the same time!

Display the logo. Make posters, buy stickers, or keep fliers with your school’s name or logo on them and add them to your desk, car, or dorm walls. Simple and easy!

Tell the people you meet. It is effortless to say, “Hi! I’m (your name), a student at (university name).” If you really love your school and want to represent them well, make them part of you. When you mention what school you attend in your introduction, the other person will know you must be proud to be there.

Add it online. Post it, write it, blog it, or tweet it. It is simple to add to your “About Me” sections on social media pages where you attend school.

Families can show spirit too! Get your family into the school spirit. When they support you, it will help ease the nerves and fears of moving away. When they have school spirit too, it really makes a difference!

And remember your loyalty and pride to your university should also reflect on the organizations you become involved in. Whether it be a fraternity or local school organization, always be proud of everything you involve yourself in!

Allizon Munoz is a proud junior at Ohio Dominican University studying Public Relations and minoring in Marketing. She serves as the 2010-2011 Ohio Dominican PRSSA President and Vice President of Professional Activities for Delta Sigma Pi Omicron Tau. Connect with her here: http://card.ly/allizonmunoz

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Goal Setting: Making it happen!

allizon — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:06:04 +0000

What is Goal Setting?

When a student first starts college, their main objective is to receive a degree but there are more things to be accomplished during their time in school. Goal setting is the key factor to success and something every person should do to get the most out of their life. It is human nature to set goals even if a person is not aware they are doing it. Setting goals before a student begins their college adventure gives them a proper incentive, a vision, and moving force that drives them to success.

Types of Goals

Goal setting is thinking and putting aside certain objectives you would like to accomplish. Some types of goals are short term goals, long term, academic, professional, and personal. Being a student in college doesn’t mean all goals should revolve around academic success. It is important to be triumphant in the academic realm of college, but it should be balanced with personal accomplishments as well.

SMART Goals

A great tactic to use when beginning your collection of goals is the SMART goal guideline. This guide is provided by Goal Setting Guide, and is a great way to effectively set goals and aspirations that are attainable.

S- Specific. Goals should be straightforward and emphasize what you want to happen. Specifics help us to focus our efforts and clearly define what we are going to do.

M- Measureable. If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it. In the broadest sense, the whole goal statement is a measure for the project; if the goal is accomplished, there is a success.

A- Attainable. When you identify goals that are most important to you, you begin to figure out ways you can make them come true. You develop that attitudes, abilities, skills, and financial capacity to reach them. Your begin seeing previously overlooked opportunities to bring yourself closer to the achievement of your goals.

R- Realistic. Be sure to set goals that you can attain with some effort! Too difficult and you set the stage for failure, but too low sends the message that you aren’t very capable. Set the bar high enough for a satisfying achievement!

T- Timely. Set a timeframe for the goal: for next week, in three months, by fifth grade. Putting an end point on your goal gives you a clear target to work towards.

Here are some examples of goals that abide by the SMART guideline, and flourish in rewards: Make the Dean’s List (an academic achievement recognition), attend at least 10 campus events, join a student organization, be part of a focus group, write an article and have it published, give a public speech, talk to someone new every day, try new types of food every chance you get, ace all midterms and finals, see all the tourist attractions in your university’s city, etc.

Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail

When a student realizes their aspirations and what they want to accomplish, the most important thing to do is write it down! Well not exactly write it down, let us keep up with today’s internet-driven world and use a website instead. An easy and free way to keep track of your goals is through mylifelist.org. This website is built to make goal setting a breeze. You have six different categories to list your goals; Travel & Leisure, Relationships, Personal Development & Community, Career & Finance, Lifestyle & Culture, and lastly Sports & Adventure.

The Challenge

The hardest part about goal setting? Staying on track. Students are motivated and determined when they begin school, but it is normal to lose that momentum later in the semester. They begin to have many more distractions and priorities sometime change. It is a typical challenge for students to stay on track throughout the entire school year. That is why it is helpful to document the list of goals and read through them at different periods of time. This will allow the student to evaluate themselves and it serves as a reminder of what they should still be working towards.

Allizon Munoz is a junior at Ohio Dominican University studying Public Relations and minoring in Marketing. She serves as the 2010-2011 Ohio Dominican PRSSA President and Vice President of Professional Activities for Delta Sigma Pi Omicron Tau. Connect with her here: http://card.ly/allizonmunoz

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