First Year Thoughts

I haven't been here in a while, namely because I've been busy passing my 1st year at uni! I remember this time last year panicking about starting uni. What to take, how would I cope, would I do well? All of these thoughts went racing through my head. So, hopefully, this sum up of my first year will help.

• Firstly, always start revision early. I always used to scoff at teachers who told me to 'revise as I went', but it's true. After each unit you study, make up revision posters. That way you have all the posters ready for when you come to revise, and you've got the information down while it's still fresh in your mind. Also, discuss your lectures with friends from  your course. If you can explain the lecture to your friends, then you can explain it in an exam.
• Take time out. Never work too hard! If all you do is study, and take no time out, who'll end up frying your circuits, and you won't be able to concentrate on your work.
• Collect throughout the year. For example, buy a separate notebook for each subject (not expensive notebooks, the £1/$1 notebooks that you can pick up in discounts stores will do). That way all you're notes are together in 1 folder, and if you want to revise a certain subject you can do it easily. Do this throughout the year, when store prices are less expensive, or wait for the sales. If you buy materials just before you start studying the prices would have shot up. Keep buying folders, notebooks, pens, pencils, highlighters etc etc all year round, while their cheap.
• Stay organised. This most important thing you can do is have a system. Keep all your subject notes together, have a proper filing system sorted, keep everything you'll need for studying at hand. That way studying is that much easier and quicker.
• Print out all relevant notes. If you keep a hard copy of your notes, that way you can revise on the go, because you wont need to rely quite so heavily on your laptop/computor.
• Know how you learn. For example, I learn by making notes on everything I can, and constantly going over things. Sounds like a lot of work, but I know that's what works for me. So know your learning style.
• Set a budget. And stick to it! There's nothing harder than living it up at the beginning of the year, when you first get your loan, then having no money later on.

 Things to take:

For your first year at uni, there are quite a few things that come in handy to have, and you should check certain things with your uni before getting it. For example, a fridge is a pretty cool thing to consider buying if you want more fridge space, but most uni residencies won't allow a fridge in your room. So check that out. Essential things like pens, pencils, rulers, rubbers, stapler, staples, hole punch, plastic wallets, folders, notepads etc can be collected throughout the year. Make sure you buy some kitchen supplies, such as sauceepans, woks, frying pans, lates, bols, knives, forks, spoons, utensials etc, because you may not notice them at home, but you sure notice them when you don't have them. Also, make sure to invest in cleaning supplies, and bulk buy things like bleach, disinfectant spray, washing up liquid, bin liners, cloths, sponges etc because that certainly comes in handy, even if it's for your own piece of mind. Remember bathroom essentials like shampoo, cnditioner, body wash, a flannel or poof, toilet paper etc, because theirs nothing worse than not having one of those! Get bedding (duvets, pillows, covers etc) because again, you don't realise how much you miss having a spare set until you spill something on yours! The best thing to do is look around your room at home and pick out the essential items, then do the same in the bathroom, kitchen, living room etc. That'll help you get a reasonable list of essential items to take with you.

Finally: Have Fun!!!!! Uni is an amazing experience, and honestly one of the best things I've done with my life. You get to meet new people, make your own way in the world, learn about something you're passionate about, and generally broaden your mind.

I'd love to hear from other first years, prospective first years, or university alumini. Comment below with your first year thoughts!

Dos and Don'ts

Always useful, these are bitesized tips for dealing with Uni issues.

Do

• Ensure you know how the student loan system works.
• Try to have some savings in case your loan cheque is delayed.
• Budget! Use the Spendometer to help you. (www.creditaction.org.uk/downloads/spendometer)
• Keep a record of what and where you spend.
• Have a list of priority spending - differentiating between needs and wants.
• Take advantage of your bank's free banking facilities.
• If they require a response then reply quickly to letters from your bank, building society or any creditors and keep a copy of all correspondence.
• Be aware that if things go wrong financially, it can affect you emotionally and seriously distract you from your studies.
• Seek advice speedily. The longer you leave a problem the harder it will be to sort it out. Talk to family, student welfare officers, bank staff etc.
• Allow some money for recreation and pleasure.

Don't

• Overspend at the beginning of your first term. Remember your money has to see you through the year.
• Spend more than you can afford when going out. Leave your cash card at home!
  
• Buy non-essentials when struggling to pay for essentials.
• Ignore signs that spending is getting out of control.
• Guess at what you're spending.
• Be afraid to talk to someone and seek advice if you are having problems financially.
• Cut yourself off from family and friends if things get tough.
• Make rash promises to pay when you know you can't.
• Exceed your overdraft limit without previous authorisation. Unauthorised overdraft rates are very high when compared with what is offered if you stick within agreed limits.
• Get paranoid! Remember even if you are struggling, your bank or building society will see you as a good long-term investment, so approach them with confidence.
  

Useful Contacts

No matter how many leaflets you read, or how many sites you surf, you're bound to still feel unprepared. So here are some useful contacts which can help you sort out anything involving University, all of which were taken from the 'creditaction' leaflet.

Citizens Advice
Details of local offices and their telephone numbers are provided on the website.
www.citizensadvice.org.uk

Consumer Credit Counselling Service
Tel: 0800 138 1111
www.cccs.co.uk

Credit Action
Add: 6th Floor, Lynton House, 7-12 Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9LT
Tel: 0207 380 3390
www.creditaction.org.uk
www.moneybasics.co.uk

Directgov
Provides easy-to-understand information on where government services and legislation impact on university life including houseing, funding and tax.
www.direct.gov.uk/uni

Education Grants Advisory Service
c/o Family Welfare Association
Add: 501-505 Kingsland Road, London, E8 4AU
Student Advice Line Tel: 020 7241 7459 (available Tues, Wed and Thurs 2-4pm)
www.direct.gov.uk/en/DI1/Directories/DG_10011032

Student Awards Agency for Scotland
Tel: 0845 111 1711
www.saas.gov.uk

Student Finance England
Tel: 0845 300 5090
www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance

Student Finance Northern Ireland
Tel: 0845 600 0662
www.studentfinanceni.co.uk

Student Finance Wales
Tel: 0845 602 8845
www.studentfinancewales.co.uk

Student Loans Company Limited
Add: 100 Bothwell Street, Glasgow, G2 7JD
Tel: 0845 026 2019
www.slc.co.uk

National Union of Students
Add: 2nd Floor, Centro 3, Mandela Street, London, NW1 0DU
Tel: 0207 380 6600
www.nus.org.uk

Student Beans
Discounts for students
www.studentbeans.com

UniAid
Tel: 0207 785 3885
www.uniaid.org.uk

Money Saving Ideas

Now I'm applying for uni, I'm getting all sorts of leaflets and advice through the mail. So, here's some of the money saving tips from one of those leaflets ('Money Manual For Students')

Food Shopping:

• Plan your menu a week ahead and buy foods accordingly. (I tend to buy a few days extra, so my weeks are more like 8/9 days long. That way, if you don't fancy what you've planned for one day, you've got another option.)
• Where possible, combine your shopping with a housemate, buying to cook for two is usually cheaper than cooking for one.
• Remember packed lunches work out much cheaper than buying sandwiches or eating out.
• Always use a shopping list with items for your planned menu - and stick to it! Of course, you can treat yourself from time to time, but most of the time you need to stick to a list.
• When you get to the supermarket, immediately check out the 'reduced item' shelves (usually at the end of an aisle) to see if there is anything you could use.
• Keep a running total as you shop and check against the till receipt - mistakes do occur! (Plus, if you've set yourself a shopping budget, you know you're not going over).
• Watch the 'sell by' dates as you shop. You do not want to throw away food which you bought cheaply but cannot use in time. In the UK we throw away a third of all the food we buy. This is both costly and a ridiculous waste.
• Take advantage of discounts for buying in bulk - but only when you are sure you will be able to use the items. There is no point buying '3 for the price of 2' if the product will be out of date before you can use it. Tinned goods, cereal, toiletries and frozen goods (as long as you can store them!) are ideal things to buy in bulk.
• Prices of many fresh products such as fruit and vegetables vary during the year so include items when they are cheap and avoid them when they are not.
• Buying fresh vegetables from the local market or greengrocer usually works out cheaper than buying them from the supermarket.
• Fresh fruit and vegetables that need washing and cutting are much cheaper than prepared or frozen items.
  
• Avoid prepared 'instant meals' as you are paying for someone else to prepare them.
• Buy 'own brand' products which are often cheaper but just as good.
• Take advantage of all the money-off coupons you can. If you usually shop at one regular supermarket take advantage of any 'reward card' they provide which turn 'points' into cash vouchers.
• Visit supermarkets at the end of the day, when fresh food is often marked down in price.

Other Ideas:

• Only pay with cash. This is easier said than done, but if you can't afford something, save for it. Paying in cash also helps you keep better track of what you're spending.
• When you are thinking of buying something, ask yourself whether it is something you need or just want. Try waiting a few days before you buy anything (particularly for expensive items) - that should test how much you need it.
• As a general rule, don't buy what you don't need.
• Shop around for the best price. If you are thinking of using credit, remember to compare the APR as well as the prices.
• Don't be afraid to haggle (negotiating for a discount) - especially if you are paying cash.
• Don't feel under pressure to buy something once you're in a shop - it's always your right to walk away!
• Buy things that are good quality but don't pay over the odds just for a label.
• Remember that restaurants and fast-food places are expensive compared to eating in.
• Take bottled tap water or squash with you if you are playing sport or attending lectures. Buying drinks when you are out and about can quickly become costly.
• When you use a washing machine, oven and so on, try and fill them to save energy costs. Additionally, turn appliances off when not in use instead of leaving them on standby. A TV on standby uses 90% of the energy needed to run it.
• Shop in sales wherever possible.
• Can you make gifts for people? By taking a bit of time you might be able to make something nice and save a lot of money. For example, could you knit a funky, chunky scarf rather than buying one?
• Keep your budget up to date.
• Keep looking for ways of making the most of your income and cutting down on your spending.
• Keep a record of what you spend and check this against your bank statement.
• Keep receipts and guarantees in case things go wrong.
• Talk to your friends and family - often people have quite inventive ways of saving the pennies.
• Have your NUS card handy since it gives benefits on many things.
• Websites like www.studentbeans.com and www.moneysavingexpert.com have great money saving ideas and offers for students.
• The ISIC card (International Students' Card) can often get you money off flights and other travel and can be used to obtain student discounts abroad.
• The The Young Person's Railcard is very useful since you can get substantial discounts on tickets and the initial cost of the card can usually be recovered after only one or two trips.
• Return library books and rented videos and DVDs on time to avoid fines which can mount up quickly. Your library may be able to loan you videos and DVDs which will usually work out cheaper than borrowing from a video/DVD rental store.
• There is usually a thriving market in secondhand course books from other students. Amazon.com has a section for buying and selling used books.

Organisation

Had this sent to my inbox the other day, and it has really helpful tips for keeping your work area organised. On of the really simple things you can do to help with studying is to keep your work area organised, and that link has some fantastic, simple, easy to implement ideas. No, you won't be able to implement every idea, but don't just stick to one picture either. Pick and choose your organisation, and sort out the area you work in. Simple and effective.

10 Ways To Beat Exam Stress

I know that exams are upon us, and if you're anything like me, you'll be freaking out. It's normal to be stressing out about exams. A little bit of stress helps us motivate ourselves, helps us get ourselves in gear, get us moving. But too much stress can make us burn out. So, here are 10 Top Tips to keeping the stress levels down, and helping you be prepared for your pending exams. Good Luck!

1) Devise A Cunning Plan.
I write a detailed revision chart a few weeks before exams to help allocate time to revise, time to do homework, time to do chores, time to go out etc. That way I know how many hours I'm spending on my subjects. Always allocate a little bit of extra time to the subjects that you're having trouble with. It doesn't have to be much - just a little extra to help cement it into your brain. It's better to overestimate how much time you'll need to revise than it is to underestimate. You don't want to get over-booked, because that leads to stress. Be realistic and flexible. Look over the syllabus, go over old exam questions, and get your parents and friends involved. (See 'Extra Tips and Tricks')

2) Find A Quiet Space.
It's impossible to get work done when there are distractions and a noisy environment. Close your door, shut yourself in your room, and find your way of working (See '6) Find Your Own Way Of Working'). Try going to the library to get away from distractions, or find a quiet space at home.

3) Aids To Memory.
The more relevant facts you can mention in your exams the better. Make lists of the key facts you need to know in each subject/topic and memorise them. Make memory study cards, or a key facts revision poster, and get friends and family to help test you on them.

4) Don't Stress Over Chores.
Household chores are a pain. But don't panic that you'll never find time to do them. Try talking to your parents and working out a way of condensing and simplifying your chores down. Don't throw a tantrum, but ask politely and state your case. A simple 'I need to focus on my exams, is it OK to leave my room cleaning until the weekend? I promise I'll give it a really good go-over.' is much more effective than 'I can't do my room I'm revising for my future! Ergh, you're so STUPID!!!' Right?

5) Praise Don't Pressure.
Don't pressure yourself into a state. Praise is much better to hear than put-downs. Don't say to yourself 'God, why don't I know that? I'm so thick, I'm gonna fail!' Instead, try asking 'Why don't I know that? Lets go over my notes, and try spending some more time revising it.' Failure is disappointing, but it's not the end of the world. Sure, if you get a D but you really wanted a B, it's annoying, but don't get hung up on it. You can't change the past. Just learn from it.

6) Find Your Own Way Of Working.
Not every revision way is going to work for you. Your mates may like to work in the morning, and yet you just can't drag yourself out of bed. That's fine. Your other friend might be able to revise all day, but you get bored and end up playing computer games. That's fine too. Because those aren't your way of working. Try revising at different times in the day and find the time that's right for you. It may be morning, afternoon, or evening. And then try revising for a long while and then try shorter chunks. I find I can't work more than an hour on one subject before getting bored. So I tend to work for an hour, go off, have a drink, come back in 20 minutes and start again. My tip? Swap subjects after your 'cut off point' and swap mediums. So, if you've revised English for 20 minutes by reading a book, after your break revise Maths by doing quizzes on the Internet. That way your mind is constantly being challenged, and you might even be able to work for longer.

7) Start Your Exam With A Plan.
At the start of every exam I spend about 5-10 minutes jotting down everything I can remember on the topic I'm being asked questions about. That way my knowledge is down on the paper, and my brain can access more information because you're not stressing out as much. Plus you have a note plan for every answer, so you can spend a little more time on structuring a great answer than on panicking that you 'suck'. Plus, if you run out of time, the exam may see your plan and award you some marks. If I'm running out of time I always try and bullet point my answers down, because then I can prove I know what I'm talking about. Timing is everything, so spend about 5-10 minutes reading the exam paper, choosing your answers and planing. You may find you need a little more time, and that's fine. Try practising your timing at home on old exam papers.

8) Chill-out Time.
Always take time out to chill. Watch TV, hang out with mates, do some exercise. Regular breaks and regular chill-outs are the key. If you don't see your friends, or chill, you are heading for severe brain meltdown. And then there's no point revising anyway, because it's all leaking straight back out your ears. Plus, the science behind this? Regular activity helps combat stress hormones. So you get to see your mates and feel less stressed? Sounds like a winner. Just make sure you're home at a reasonable time so you get enough sleep. So no partying until 3am!

Student Tips - Coming Soon!

I've been mulling this over for a while, and think that now could be a good time to implement it, if people are willing.

Trawling the Internet for resources and tips is fine, but who knows how to manage a students schedule/responsibilities better than a student? Most of the tips on the Internet are written by adults who have been there, but are giving tips that are tough to implement. But, if we were to share our tips on how to: remember when homework's due in; manage finances; get the perfect revision timetable; etc etc then we could help each other on a wider variety of subjects than just what we learn in the classroom.

Education is important, but it is important in all areas. So, coming soon will be a student tips section, maybe monthly if we get enough tips, and we can share our own experiences and guidelines on anything and everything to do with student life. So, if you'd like to participate, read below!

How To Enter A Tip:

• Either comment this post, and I will collect them up;
• Email me at this address, and I will collect them up
  

It's as easy as that. I will collect them up, organise them, and see if we can get this started up. So, start educating!

Exam Questions

Here are some Psychology of Education exam questions. I love exam questions, because they are a great revision tool, as well as great practice. You can download them here , and there's about 4 pages of Section A and Section B questions for you to choose from.

Essay Writing - Part Four

Remember, you can download the entire pack here.

When you have finished the first draft, READ IT THROUGH. If you are in any doubt about the grammar, read it aloud. Have you done a spell check? Have you done a bibliography? Have you numbered and captioned the illustrations? Have you included a word count?

Avoiding Cliché
Here are some common words and phrases that are often misused:

In stark contrast: What is so stark about the contrast? Are you sure it is not just simply a bit different?

Portray: To portray something means to make a portrait of a name individual or thing. By extension, the word can be used metaphorically: thus "James' novel, Washington Square is a portrait of New York society in the 1880's. But this use of 'portray' has become a cliché, and bad writers, unaware of the metaphorical meaning, now use it relentlessly when they really mean 'represent', 'depict', 'show'.

Deeply personal: This is often used as the ultimate term of praise for any sort of artwork. But what does it mean? If you mean that the subject of the work is private life, or intimate experience then say so. It is helpful to remember that everyone experiences love, death, birth etc, but far fewer people can make good art about these experiences. If it is good art it works because it taps into the common realm of such experiences, otherwise we would not be able to understand it.

Capturing the essence: Image-makers do not capture essences of things: they make representations. Image-making is an artificial process; ideas for artworks are not hanging in the air, waiting to be 'captured': the most apparently spontaneous work may involve years of effort. talking about 'capturing essences' mystifies this effort, which should be the real subject of your analysis. Lens-based art is particularly liable to fall victim to this kind of mystification. Instead of saying, for example, that Gillanders' photograph of the poet Ian Hamilton Finlay 'captures the great mans essence', you should consider the portrait as an image which invokes other images; i.e. which deliberately places this image of MacLean in well-known traditions: the Romantic 'Great man' (e.g. Rodin's Thinker), the head of the prophet (e.g. Michaelangelo's Moses).

Essay Writing - Part Three

Remember, you can download the whole pack from here.

Your Own Ideas and Other People's
Try to avoid vague remarks: Some say... or Many think... Who exactly says or thinks this? You should be able to cite at least one specific individual, and be able to quote what it is that he or she said or thought. If quoting from a book, it is important to supply a context for the quotation. Briefly introduce the new speaker in your text: "According to the anthropologist, Joseph Campbell...", or "In 1908, Freud argued in a letter to Jung that..." This will enable your reader to orient themselves. Then comes the quote (indented and single spaced). Then, explain to the reader the significance of the quote: state explicitly why you are quoting this. Point out any contradictions or interesting implications. Very often you will be able to use this 'exit' from the quote to form a bridge to the subject or point you will be dealing with next.

Good Style
Focus on the artwork, not the artist. An excellent way to approach any still or time-based work of art is to pretend it is anonymous. This will save you from wasting time and words on irrelevant biographical detail. Imagine that all you know about a work is the year and place in which it was made. How would you start researching its meaning? You would have to look first at the culture and historical events, the movements and ideas around it.

Avoid overstatement, as in the sort of sentence that begins, "Truly, Man Ray had entered a new realm of reality..." Had he bodily left the universe or had he just started making a different kind of photographic image? And what is that "Truly" doing there? If it is not true, why say it?

You may find yourself using "Truly" and other redundant constructions ("Hopefully", "Sadly") to make your writing sound more exciting. This is unnecessary. If the event or idea you are discussing is itself interesting or important, all you have to do is describe it and let it speak for itself.

Other forms of overstatement involve making gigantic claims; e.g. "Throughout history, man has endeavored..." or "Never before in the history of photography had..." Few of us actually know enough to make a claim like this. Chances are such statements are going to be plain wrong or at best redundant. Similarly avoid starting with assertions about human nature e.g.: "Man has always used violence as a spur to progress." Has the writer undertaken a comprehensive study of all known civilisations and cultures, at all periods of human history, or are they talking nonsense? What would you think? If in doubt try putting together an opposite statement: "Throughout history man has never tried to..."; "Many/Several times before in the history of photography..."; "Man has always regarded violence as a block to progress." If any of these strike you as at least as likely to be true as the original claim, then you will know you have to change your text.

The truth is that no culture is uniform; cultures are composed of competing and co-operating groups, who may differ radically in their views of their common situation. History tends to be produced through debate and disagreement (dialectic). Where there is slavery, for example, there will always be groups of people trying to abolish it.