More Than a Test Score

There’s only one source that can really tell you what life on campus is all about—actual college students! We wanted to hear real experiences from our Student Ambassadors about student life, so we asked them a question and told them to give us their most honest responses. This month we asked…

Destiny Watson from the University of Southern Florida says…

When you come to college, the most important thing to do besides school work is to get involved. Campuses have different ways for us students to grow closer, help out a cause, and just have fun networking. At UCF, I’m the Historian of the Psych Society and we put together meetings and socials to help give helpful advice to psychology majors. If you are a big fan of playing sports competitively but are not a part of the school’s team, you could play intramural sports. Currently, I’m playing flag football and it’s lovely to meet new people, play sports again, and have fun.

You can get involved by volunteering around campus with organizations, become a tutor, or become a leader in Student Government. Getting involved will help you meet important who could help you out later in college as well as in life. All that you do can be placed on your resume to boost your status above others when trying to apply for jobs. Leadership skills, team building, and planning are some more of the benefits you get out of being involved. In high school, it is also important to get involved and join clubs just as it is in college. Graduate schools and employers look for well rounded individuals. When you get involved, it will help you on your path to success!

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Chelsy McInnis from Lindenwood University says…

Moving to campus as a freshman was intimidating.  It’s a campus of thousands and I knew no one (well I guess I knew my advisor, but still). I needed to suck up my insecurities and feign an outgoing attitude if I was going to make any friends, and I did just that. It’s awesome because I got to know more people on campus, but I also ended up doing a lot of things in organizations that I can put on my resume later on.

College is full of new experiences, some of which you even surprise yourself with. If you asked me in high school about my thoughts on Greek life I’d probably say I didn’t want to be a part of some blonde, pop-lovin’ conformist group. I’d also probably make some obscure references to Animal House. But now here I am, going on my third year as a proud sorority girl, and loving every minute with my sisters.

I went through recruitment after meeting some of the sisters my freshman year. Since then I have logged hundreds of community service hours, helped plan events and fundraisers, and partnered with various campus organizations (both Greek and non-Greek). Everywhere on campus I go I’m likely to see at least one familiar face. Plus I live with my best friends, and I have an amazing support system. And as for if I still think sororities consist of blonde conformists, I don’t. My chapter is full of wonderful, unique girls and that’s why I love them.

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Kevin Wright from Northern Arizona University says…

I personally enjoy getting involved around campus just because it’s one of the best ways to get to meet new people, network with important people from numerous departments, make strong connections with peers, and have a good experience all at the same time. Another advantage to clubs and organizations in college is that if there is not a club that interests a student, then they could start their own!

I have already started one myself on campus, R.O.C.K. Alpha Omega, and am in the process of starting two more to be established by next fall, Distinguished MEN and Distinguished LADIES. If students have a constitution, a legitimate purpose for being an organization, and a good amount of people that are supporting the idea, then they’re definitely going to receive approval. With the support of the Office of Student Life and having my close friends and I spread the word all over campus about these organizations coming to campus, it resulted in a fair amount of people showing interest in them. It has been one of the most overwhelming experiences I have ever had while being in college.

By creating goals for yourself of how you want to make an impact on campus, all you have to do is share them with people who want to do the same and the rest is history!

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Angelina Modica from SUNY Fredonia says…

A great way to get involved on campus is through your residence hall. I believe many schools have “hall councils,” or some form of hall meetings, that help bring people together through fun activities. Last year I was on our hall council and we put on a ton of activities, did community service opportunities, and competed in contests with other halls. We did activities such as Relay for Life, a trip to the Buffalo Zoo, helped out at the local Big Brother/Big Sister organization, and a ton of other fun activities and trips.

I enjoyed participating on hall council because I got to know a lot of the people that lived in my hall. I made a lot of friends and really enjoyed the community service we did. It’s a great idea (especially for freshmen) because then you get to know who lives around you and that way you always have someone to watch a movie with or to grab a bite to eat.

As a freshman, there weren’t many opportunities to be on executive boards for clubs (president, treasurer, etc.). I acted as a Social Chair on my hall council and that helped with scholarship applications and becoming the secretary for two clubs this year.

Looking for job or internship opportunities online? Chelsy McInnis, our Student Ambassador at Lindenwood University, shares some insight on how to effectively use social media to land that dream gig.

Technology is amazing; in every way, shape, and form it is just awesome. I was watching Mad Men the other day (it’s placed in the 60’s) and noticed the stark difference in technology. There were no cell phones, computers, iPods—nothing. For the people that grew up during this time, some of them are now the stockholders and CEO’s of Fortune 500 companies. For others they are the owners of your favorite local business. And to us, these are the people asking us about that “Facespace” website we’re always surfing.

The wonderful thing about today is that as a generation we have grown up with the latest technologies; the PlayStations, the cell phones, the portable computers. We were born with an advantage over any of our predecessors because we learned how to adapt to new technologies quickly and fluently. Now with the boom of social media, people are looking for the young folks who “get it” to help them market their business. Agencies have sprouted up solely for digital marketing, and they need help – That help is you. That help is me.

Social media is a god-send for college and high school students. Twitter and LinkedIn are premium outlets for networking and job recruiting. Social media is not only creating jobs, but it is allowing us—students—to create our own jobs.

So here is how you do it:

• Get a Twitter account: If you don’t have one, get one, and then start networking your butt off. Follow the accounts of companies you respect, companies you dream of working at, and start interacting with them. Follow people in your area and in your field, interact with them. On Twitter you have the opportunity to build your own community.

• Follow the #internship Hashtag: You’ll find many people tweeting out tips or job opportunities and it allows you the chance to find other interns to follow on Twitter.

• Wondering if your dream job is available? Tweet your dream company and ask: I got my first internship by hassling my soon-to-be-employer with all kinds of DM’s asking about open positions and constantly interacting with their blogs and tweets. Eventually they called me for an interview for an internship opportunity they cooked up for me (they didn’t even take interns at the time).

• Expert in something? Share the wealth: If you’re knowledgeable or passionate about something, start a blog. Tweet out tips, do something. If a potential employer Google searches your name and finds a blog filled with posts related to your field – you’re golden. Many people at local networking events tell me they’ve at least come across my blog once. Having a blog can prove you know more about social media than Facebook and Twitter. Knowing the tools of the trade is one step to getting paid for it. (WordPress is a good blog start-up)

• Use social media because you want to, not because you have to: Social media has an unlimited potential if you use it. But you shouldn’t feel obligated to. If you don’t actively use it, people will see you as a casual user than a social media powerhouse. If you’re active on Twitter and participating with people in your field, people will notice.

I once had someone from a nationwide company send me a message on Twitter asking if I’d be interested in interning for them. Their web content manager was pitching the idea of a social media branch and was pitching the idea of me specifically to the CEO’s. There are hundreds of job recruiters on Twitter and LinkedIn just looking to come in and sweep you up, so stay active on these sites if you are passionate about it – because yes, there can be a job in feeding your internet-addiction.

Wanting a Q&A session over anything I missed here? Find me on Twitter @chelsysayshi or at my blog chelsycupcake.com.

Today’s post was written by guest blogger John Bader Ph. D. John is a former dean at Johns Hopkins University and author of ‘Dean’s List: 11 Habits of Highly Successful College Students,’ available on Amazon. You can follow John’s weekly column on college life, academic success, and higher education at johnbader.net

Going to college for the first time offers a lot of exciting changes. You’re living away from home. You’re meeting friends from around the world. You’re wearing new school colors, emblazoned with your college’s name, to football games. And, of course, you’re going to class.

These classes offer a way to learn that you likely have not seen before: the college lecture. It may seem self-evident how to behave in these lectures. If you look around, you know you’re supposed to show up, take notes, look serious, ask no questions, and shuffle out when it’s over. If you’re a “good” student, you do this over and over again, without questioning its worth. If you’re not as virtuous, you’ll just stop going to class.

The problem for either kind of student? Lectures are kind of boring. You sit there, scribbling or typing in a futile effort to transcribe all the lecturer is saying. The professor is physically and emotionally distant from you. It’s really hard to connect all of those words flooding over you. And you may not like this style of learning, perhaps preferring a more interactive, personal approach.

Yet lectures, for now, are a reality of college life. You will not succeed if you do not go to class. Guaranteed. Why? You won’t know what is important. You won’t see the themes of the course. You won’t be able to distinguish what you understand from what you don’t. So if you take advantage of the fact no one takes attendance, you can count on failing.

This is tough choice with no chance of winning. Either attend and suffer, but succeed. Or skip and enjoy life, then fail.

I think the way out of this is to rethink the experience so you don’t suffer, so that you come to appreciate the lecture experience, and so that you see how you need and benefit from attending. Here are three ways to do that:

• Think of a lecture as one side of a conversation between you and the professor: You may not be talking, but you can be thinking your side of that conversation. You can ask yourself, “What did that mean?” “Why is that important?” “How does this square with what I read for class last night?” “How does this connect to what she lectured on last time?” Taking this approach will make you an active participant, not a passive transcriber.

• Don’t transcribe the lecture in your notes; let those notes reflect the journey: Building on the point I just made, before you start taking notes, remind yourself why you are taking them at all. It’s not just a record of the lecture. It’s a study tool to provoke thought, help you recall key points, and to move you forward toward understanding. That means your notes need to be sprinkled with questions to pose during office hours or section. Circle important ideas. Put question marks where you’re confused. Make your notes part of that conversation with the professor.

• Warm up and cool down: You already know that it’s important to do these when working out or competing in athletics. Apply this strategy to a lecture. Show up early, settle yourself in, and then focus for the minutes leading to the lecture on key questions: How will this lecture build on what I know? What questions will I hope it will answer? What did the professor talk about last time, and how will this move it forward? Such thinking will not only awaken you, it will get you ready to engage. Likewise, don’t just shuffle out immediately afterwards. Reflect for just a few minutes on what it all meant, what questions are outstanding, where you need help. I know this is hard to do if lectures are back-to-back and far away from each other. So try doing this as you walk to the next lecture.

Remember, going to lecture isn’t just the mark of an obedient student. It’s a strategic choice for smart students—provided they connect to the conversation. College lectures provide a unique avenue for learning, and once you’ve mastered their subtle intricacies, you’ll find yourself with a skill set you can utilize for life.

Summer’s come to an end, but the new school year is just starting! Angelina Modica, Zinch’s Student Ambassador at SUNY Fredonia, shares a few tips on making the most of move-in week.

I know the feeling all too well; you’re packing up your room, leaving your summer job, and saying your goodbyes. As you get in the car and venture into the world of higher education, one question keeps reeling in your head–what actually happens when I get there? Here are some things to watch out for when you arrive on campus that will make moving and settling in at your new school a whole lot easier!

Move-in Crews: Sometimes it’s upperclassmen volunteering to get a good workout or maybe it’s the football team lending a helping hand; but whomever it may be, most colleges provide some kind of aid to help you move in your room. It’s going to be hot and there are going to be hundreds of people moving in at the same time, so take advantage of this and be very thankful for their help!

Free Food: There is nothing better than those two words. Most colleges have picnics or barbecues move-in weekend, so instead of venturing off campus with your family it may be beneficial to stick around and socialize!

Hall Meetings: Soon after moving into the dorms the RAs (Residential Advisors) will most likely have hall meetings to go over the building rules and to make everyone feel comfortable. Don’t be shy in icebreaker games and try and get to know your neighbors!

Activities: It seems that many schools have a carnival, “Welcome Week,” or some sort of celebratory event to kick off the new year. Bingo nights, movie screenings, comedians, musicians, community service opportunities, and even bouncy houses can be found on college campuses during the first week of school. Find out what your school offers and don’t be shy!

Clubs: Find out how your school initiates clubs for the school year. There is often an “Activities Night” in which you can meet people from all of the different clubs on campus and sign up to be on the email list to hear about upcoming meetings. Don’t miss out on this night because extracurricular activities are a huge part of college life!

These are just some of the opportunities colleges provide within the first few weeks of classes. Try and talk to someone from your college (like a Zinch Student Ambassador) that has already completed their first year and can tell you what to expect the first few weeks. And remember, while moving in and meeting people can be a lot of fun, don’t forget to focus on your studying! Enjoy your first semester and best of luck!

As many students find themselves transitioning out of high school, whether on a pathway towards higher education or to the workforce, email will become a more and more prominent tool of communication. Unlike Facebook, Twitter, or text messaging, email is usually reserved for more professional matters. Whether it’s coordinating projects with classmates, reaching out to professors, or even sending your resume to potential employers, email will be your primary means of contact, and by extension, will often be the first impression people have of you. In order to keep from being passed by for a job or having others question your writing proficiency, here are some best practice
tips for keeping your emails organized, concise, and professional:

-Have an Appropriate Address: You could get away with “pizzamonkey25″ when you were a kid, but as you get older having a silly email address will make others wonder how serious you take yourself and your work. Instead, keep it simple by using your first initial and last name as your email address, such as “jsmith@gmail.com.”

-Title Your Emails: Nobody wants to click on an email titled “No Subject;” similarly, typing “Hey” as an email’s subject line is far from appropriate. Make sure when you title your emails you choose something that is brief and to the point. If need be, include phrases such as “Please Review” or “Urgent” to emphasize the needed action from the recipient.

-Greet Those You Meet: In the same way you wouldn’t just go up to a stranger and start talking to them, you should never jump directly into an email message without some sort of greeting or introduction of yourself. It shouldn’t be drawn out, but simply saying “Hello” and “My name is…” is a much better way to begin communicating with somebody than thrusting them into the thick of your message.

-Keep It Clean: We’re not talking about avoiding inappropriate language or subject matter (though you should be already)—we’re talking about avoiding texting lingo and abbreviations. Email isn’t limited to 140 characters and should be fully utilized; there’s no need to use LOL or OMG in an email, and typing sentences like, “wut r u up 2″ will only reflect poorly upon your writing abilities.

-Create a Signature: Instead of simply ending all your emails with your name, create an automated signature with additional contact information. Do you have a blog? Leave a link with the URL. Active on Twitter? Include your username so people can find you. Have a Zinch profile? Add it on there too! This is a great way to share a little bit more about yourself and expand your network.

By keeping these points in mind you’ll be prepared for any online correspondence. Remember, email is a valuable tool and should be considered part of your online identity. So be sure to follow these tips and check your inbox on a regular basis…you never know who you’ll hear from next.