A week in the life of a college student can feel like an eternity, and it can be complicated. Thankfully, there is a limitless supply of useful apps to help get you through week. Your lifestyle and personal preferences will dictate what you need to survive. But if you’re a little clueless, or just curious, here are some suggestions to get you through the week.
Monday – CNN mobile. Face it. You didn’t watch the news over the weekend. That’s why politicians always make apologies and give bad news on Fridays. They know you’re thinking about that hot date or that party you got invited to – as you should be. But come Monday, you might accidentally get cornered into a conversation about something newsworthy. Have this app ready, even if you just scan the headlines and improvise. Who knows, you might meet someone who’s attractive and smart, in which case this app might come in handy.
Tuesday – ScoreMobile. I know, it’s only Tuesday, but you’re already thinking about your fantasy team, or you’re following March madness and every other sport you can think of. Don’t worry, you don’t have to be glued to your TV or computer to know the latest scores, stats, or upcoming game times. With ScoreMobile, you can follow: NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, NCAAB, NCAAF, CFL, PGA, NASCAR, EPL, Champions League and MLS soccer.
Wednesday – Lose it! By mid-week you’re already looking forward to eating 50 wings while watching the big game. But that feeling of guilt creeps in that reminds you how long it’s been since you showed up at the gym or ate a salad. With this app you can track your nutrition and explore a database of recipes, exercises and activities in the palm of your hand. You can even share how motivated and disciplined you’ve been with your friends on Facebook and Twitter. There are so many features and benefits to this app – order a pizza and check it out!
Thursday – Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies. Okay, the weekend is getting really close. You can almost taste those hot wings, hear the laughter of your friends, and envision your team winning the big game. So what do you need to control the fire burning in your soul? A game that lets you kill Nazi zombies who have no souls. With this app you can meditate on shotgun blasts, splattering brains and the moans of the undead. Also, you can play with friends who are might be just as bored in class as you are.
Friday – Bartender’s Encyclopedia. (For 21+ College Students of course) You know what day it is. It’s time to relax and blow off some steam. Let’s say you’re trying to impress a date by making a martini (which you’ve never made before), or your at a bar and you want to order something different but you’re not sure what. This app boasts almost 25,000 different drink recipes. Drinks can be sorted by name, ingredient and in alphabetical order – depending on your need. This app even includes other information such as setting up a bar and techniques for quality assurance.
Saturday – Dinner Spinner Pro. So that girl you talked to last night? Um, yeah, you told her you could cook and that you’d make her dinner tonight. I know! How could you have done that? Thank goodness you have this app that lets you search by name, ingredient, cook time – you name it. You can even create a shopping list (because we both know you don’t have anything except beer and leftover pizza in your fridge). This app is handy for novice and experienced cooks. Why clutter your bookshelf with recipe books when you can have them all on your phone?
Sunday – HomeWork. Where did the week go? It’s Sunday and you can’t believe another week is about to begin. More than that, you can’t believe that you haven’t studied since last Sunday night. Some things never change. If this describes you, then download this app and start keeping track of your classes and homework. You won’t have to rummage through your notes (which are poorly taken) to figure out what your priorities should be.
Who knows what apps you’ll need next week? But rest assured there’s an app for everything (except time travel) and everyone.
Recently we posted blogs dealing with Studying Tips and Time Management in College. While a majority of students lean heavily on their laptops to get the job done, we wanted to know if the iPad is a good fit for college life, can it help with your time management and studying habits? Is it a possible computer replacer or is it a higher end gadget for those looking to show off their money and technological habits? Well, we’re about to find out.
With the emergence of the iPad several months back and the new fall school year just underway, the idea of the device’s practicality has risen on college campuses. As you can see from the Google Trends graph below, the popularity of the iPad is on the rise and is primed to pass laptops by the end of the year.
The iPad’s usability in class for note taking may not take the advantage over the laptop, except in the area of size and portability, but it does hold its own. You can use a Bluetooth keyboard for faster, more conventional typing or simply use the on screen keyboard as your makeshift notebook. Was there mention that you can open up an application and draw diagrams and other figures with the touch of your finger? Well, you can!
In addition, to its user-friendly typing and doodling functions, the iPad also offers the perks of whipping out Wikipedia or a dictionary app quickly in case you’re looking for clarification during a lecture or just want to be the star student with the answer to the question.
Whether you’re in the classroom, at the library, in your dorms, on the bus or on the go, the iPad doesn’t seem to fail in delivering. You can draft essays, articles, blog posts, important emails to teachers, and spreadsheets all from the comfort of your little bundle of technological joy.
Beyond the classroom, you get access all your social media sites like facebook, Twitter, You Tube and the like. Listen to your itunes, watch DVDs, surf the web, chat online and find any other method of procrastination that you can fathom with the versatility of the iPad.
Starting at $499 and peaking at $829 the iPad is a revolutionary device that could be seen as the catalyst for the future. Does that mean that you should ditch your desktop or laptop for the iPad? No.
During college you’re going to value having your desktop or laptop in the long run because for just a smidge more than the iPad you can have the assurance that a decent computer will have more storage, act as a more sophisticated gaming device and possess quicker and more powerful capabilities all around. However, if you’ve got the extra $500 to spare – if you’re a college kid that answer is probably a resounding no – you could benefit from an iPad. It’s portability, applications and convenient features do allow the user to stay in touch in just about every way imaginable – minus a desired camera feature.
Overall, the iPad is a great device. Is it suitable for a college student? Absolutely. Is it better than your trusty computer? Probably not, at least not yet. Who knows what the future will hold…feel free to share your opinion at AnyCollege.com.
In one of our previous blog post Adjusting to College Life, we touched on the Freshman 15 and felt it deserved a post entirely devoted to this topic. “Freshman 15” is a phrase that strikes fear into the hearts of College freshman across the nation, a somewhat somber reminder of what they can expect after their freshman year. Most freshman enter into their first year of college with the full expectation of gaining weight their freshmen year.
These freshmen would be able to avoid these extra pounds by simply understanding what causes the “freshman 15” and what they can do to avoid freshmen fifteen weight. Here are some good tips that will help educate you on the freshman 15 and give you tips on how to combat it.
Freshman 15 Causes
The Freshman Fifteen are caused by the perfect storm of lifestyle changes, with multiple factors coming together to cause weight gain. Freshmen who are worried about gaining weight during their freshman year need to realize that their new lifestyle change will require a change in habits.
Freshmen are known for eating on the go. With random and busy schedules, freshmen can rarely find time to sit down for a meal. When freshmen can sit down for a meal, they are limited to whatever they can fit in their mini-fridge and cook in a refrigerator. This often leads to poor food choices, which can lead to weight gain.
Freshmen are also notorious for staying up late on a regular basis. The snacks that you eat during the late hours of the night will come back to haunt you, as your body is more likely to store sugars and fats at night. A simple snack of fries and a pop, over the course of a year, can lead to significant weight gain.
Freshmen fifteen statistics show that freshmen are less active in college. When you move to college, your lifestyle changes, and the idea of going to the gym for a workout is less attractive. Many freshmen do not have cars, making getting to the gym difficult. The combination of bad foods, late night eating, and fewer workouts will lead to a Freshman 15.
Avoid the Freshman 15
Freshmen are constantly looking for tips to avoid freshman 15 weight, trying to learn how to avoid the freshman 15. There are some simple and easy tips to follow that will help individuals to lose freshman 15 weight.
One simple tip is to control your eating habits. Set specific times for snacks and meals, keeping flexible for last minute schedule changes. The most important time to set is a cut-off time; do not let yourself eat past a certain time of day. Stopping your food intake around 8PM or 9PM will help you to avoid the freshman 15.
Another tip is to post pictures of yourself in the places that you eat. These “Freshman 15 pictures” will help to keep you motivated, reminding you of the body that you would like to keep as you debate your food choices.
The best tip for those looking to lose the Freshmen 15 is to go on a steady and reasonable diet. Crash dieting never works for those who gain the freshmen fifteen, as they simply gain the weight back when they stop the diet. Small diet changes, including fewer carbohydrates, no fast food, and no soda, will help you to avoid the freshman 15.
Freshman 15 Stories
Most stories start out with “why me” and “what did I do wrong?” It’s usually the perfect storm of a change in lifestyle and diet. If you follow some of the advice above, you may actually have a good story to tell about it. Just be sure and keep your head up and realize there are ways you can overcome these challenges physically and mentally.
Feel free to share you freshman 15 stories on AnyCollege.com.
As a freshman year college student, give yourself time to adjust to the college transition. You need some time to digest all of the new things around you before you go home for a visit. It's very common to become homesick when you first move into a dorm. Especially if you're within driving distance of home, you may be tempted to go back within your first few weeks because of that feeling. Try to avoid doing so and instead give yourself time to experience your new surroundings. Look into college programs on campus that can help keep you engaged in the campus social life. Be sure to check out our College Freshman Survival Guide for tips on making this adjustment easier.
Dorm living
Leaving your family to move into a dorm and become a college freshman is something that you might be looking forward to or you might be dreading. For most undergrad students, adjusting to college life is a combination of both. The idea of going away and being independent is exciting but there is some worry about being alone, possibly for the first time and some people have trouble adjusting to college. Below you will find some tips or adjusting to college.
Many college freshman tips talk about how to adjust to dorm life, how to budget your time and your money and how to handle living with a roommate that you don't know. They will also talk about moving out checklists, dorm checklists, dorm stuff and the dreaded freshman 15. Not as much college preparation seems to be spent preparing you for how you'll feel when you leave your family. This could be one of the toughest things to do. But you have to consider your family and your place within it, as well. It's often just as much an adjustment for parents and family members as it is for you when you leave home. Though they know you'll be coming back for visits (and maybe even bringing your laundry with you!) it may be the first time you've been away from home for weeks at a time.
College Activities
Going home early or often in the beginning can actually make you more homesick. Do your best to stay on campus as much as you can and get involved in social activities around your campus to help distract you from those feelings until you adjust. Ask your RA if there is a college activity list or if they have any ideas on what you can do. Some colleges also have a college activities board that can help place you in the right group. Call home, write, e-mail or talk via web cam when you feel home sick, and express your feelings. Your parents or family members are bound understand because they're going to be missing you, and they may remember what it was like for them when they went away to college.
College Freshman Tips
There are a lot of sites that have college freshman tips and advice for students that are having some problems. Here is an idea that could help, revive the somewhat forgotten art of letter writing and actually mail them home. Your parents will probably be thrilled to hear from you in this way and the act of manually writing down how you feel and writing to them about your college freshman adventures can help you feel less homesick and make the adjustment easier. This is also a lot more personable and only takes a few more minutes to complete than sending an email.
College Depression
If you're a freshman year college student and you're having some homesickness, don't forget that your family may be having a harder time than you. Call home and contact your family on a regular basis to help ease their transition to your college life. Staying in touch with your family and friends can help keep your spirits high. And don't hesitate to contact a school counselor if your feelings of homesickness persist, or you start to feel lonely or depressed, because counselors have great college freshman tips to share. Those tips listed above will help you avoid college depression, college anxiety, or feelings of being home sick or bipolar. There are a lot of college depression facts that show a correlation of college success vs. college drop outs. So be sure to seek help if you feel you are starting to struggle with any of these feelings.
Comparing Colleges
One way to make sure you find the right college that’s not too far from home, is to use AnyCollege. You can compare college and universities though our online search engine. We also have a great resource center with stats, charts and worksheets on colleges in your area.
Some of the most repeated college freshman tips include how to deal with difficult roommates or how to win your new roommate over and make him or her a friend. No one wants to live with someone who is distance or unpleasant. And statistics show that not only can it be annoying, it can threaten your higher education.
Freshman College Statistics
An article in the College Student Journal suggests that not only is social adjustment desirable, it can help make or break your success as a college freshman. According to the stats, about 30% to 40% of college students eventually drop out before they earn a degree. And aside from having problems with classes and other issues that make a student drop out of college, not adjusting to dormitory life and the social changes that college brings on can make it more likely that a student won't finish school.
A college education is a huge financial investment in your future. It should be your priority to get the most you can out of it, so adjusting socially to your new environment is very important. Whether you're attending school on college freshman scholarships are you're paying for it yourself with the help of family, it's often easy to forget just how expensive it is and how important it is when you're feeling down or lonely.
College Freshman Social Advice
Making connections and bonds as quickly as possible when you're a college freshman can help you, not only throughout your freshman year, but your entire college career. Of course, reach out to your roommate and try to forge a connection there. One of the best pieces of college freshman advice is it's best if you don't have any preconceived notions before you meet your roommate that way you won't be disappointed if they don't turn out to be your best friend right away. And there's no point in wasting time and energy worrying about a roommate that might be terrible. Try to have an open mind and decide to go with the flow.
Also, reach out to people in your dorm and in your classes. If you're lucky enough that some of your friends are attending the same college, that's a social safety net but don't let that keep you from making new friends. Cloistering yourself among what's already familiar isn't going to help you adjust to college. Get involved in some organizations or sports to get yourself out of your dorm room and among new people can help you make new friends and adjust socially, and can help you avoid the dreaded "freshman 15."
The Freshman Fifteen
Gaining 10 to 15 pounds is something that's common among freshmen because of changes in eating habits, and the tendency to eat when you're lonely or frustrated. But you don't have to come home a heavier college freshman than when you went if you focus on staying active and meeting new people. And if you have problems adjusting socially, there are on-campus guidance counselors and psychologists that can help you, so don't hesitate to contact one for college freshman tips and moral support.
Visit AnyCollege to find colleges and universities near you where you can make new friends and get a higher education.
A freshman year college student faces a lot of new information and situations at once. Classes are different, people are different and the college is often miles or even states away from home. But nothing requires the same kind of adjustment that dorm life does. If you come from a large family where several people have shared a small number of bathrooms or you've shared a bedroom, the adjustment might not be as extreme as you think. If you're an only child or you're used to having everything to yourself, a little college preparation can go a long way.
College living in a dorm often means that you'll be using a community bathroom. Each floor of a dormitory typically has one bathroom, but the large dormitories may have more than one. And for most undergrad students, it seems that the bathroom is as far away as it can possibly be. This requires a little bit of forethought. A caddy or container that contains all your toiletries and anything you might need should be fully stocked and kept handy.
If you're not used to wearing a robe or slippers around the house, you may want to invest in those for your freshman year so you never have to make a midnight dash to the bathroom in sleepwear that may be a bit more revealing than you'd like. Also, some type of shower shoes like flip-flops, as inconvenient as that might seem when you take a shower, can protect your feet from fungus that is pretty common in shared shower situations. Taking 3 seconds to slip on a pair of cheap flip-flops can save you in aggravation and antifungal medication later.
You'll also need to consider the laundry situation as a freshman year college student. Shared laundry facilities are common in dormitories and upperclassmen are typically already in a routine. They know the best time to go and have worked out all of the schedules and situations that you're trying to figure out now. Give yourself leeway. Don't wait until every item of clothing is dirty before you try to get the laundry done or you might find that the machines are full.
Also, keep in mind that the neater you keep your space, the better you'll be able to concentrate and focus on your work. You'll also be able to enjoy yourself more when you do have down time because you won't be thinking about how messy your dorm room is. The stereotypical messy dorm room might seem almost fun, but it can actually be counterproductive to a freshman year college student or any student. Keeping your room clean and organized and planning your time for showers, laundry and other tasks will make a huge difference in how smooth your transition is from high school to dorm living.
AnyCollege can help you find a college that has a great dorm environment as well as academic excellence.
A freshman year college student faces a lot of new information and situations at once. Classes are different, people are different and the college is often miles or even states away from home. But nothing requires the same kind of adjustment that dorm life does. If you come from a large family where several people have shared a small number of bathrooms or you've shared a bedroom, the adjustment might not be as extreme as you think. If you're an only child or you're used to having everything to yourself, a little college preparation can go a long way.
