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How to Navigate the Job Market as a College Student

How to Navigate the Job Market as a College Student

So you’ve got your degree in hand; now all you need is to land the perfect job, which should be easy, right?

For many, college studies are what seem like the hard part, and landing a good job is the reward for all that hard work. But navigating the job market can be just as daunting as end-of-year exams.

Just as preparing for a big exam takes effort, so too does preparing for job hunting and interviews. You can’t expect that simply obtaining a degree will automatically get you in the door.

Today, most people who are entering the professional job force have some sort of formal education, so you’ve got to have more than just your degree to stand out, and ensure your application reaches the top of the pile.

Landing a good job, however, is not impossible. You can successfully achieve the job of your dreams if you put in the time and effort to adequately prepare for your post-grad life.

What the Current Job Market Looks Like For Recent Grads

The good news for recent graduates is that the job market is looking up. This is not your millennial’s job market.

Instead, today’s job market is very strong for recent grads. In fact, reports show that this year’s college graduates (2022) will enter one of the strongest job markets in recent history.

Despite the mass layoffs and hiring freezes that occurred in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, companies have fully recovered and are on the lookout for fresh new graduates.

According to a recent job outlook survey, 56% of companies say they plan on increasing new graduate hires. Furthermore, there are 65% more job openings now than there were before the pandemic.

With the labor shortage from the pandemic, new graduates will also have more bargaining power when it comes to negotiating better wages and benefits. Numerous employers are already enticing new graduates with generous offers, including:

  • 401(k) matching
  • Employee discount programs
  • Full medical, dental, and life insurance benefits
  • Family planning benefits
  • Mental health and wellness benefits
  • Employee stock purchase programs
  • Student loan repayment assistance
  • Flexible work schedules
  • Flexible time off
  • Signing bonuses

Tips to Help You Navigate the Job Market

Despite a good job market, it’s still important to put time and effort into your job hunt process and ensure you navigate the challenges and opportunities that come with your job search. The harder you work, the more companies will recognize that hard work and be willing to give you a shot.

Here are seven tips to help you navigate the current job market as a recent graduate:

1. Make Connections Prior to Graduating

Even before you graduate, it’s important to start thinking ahead. Having connections and job experience prior to graduating can significantly boost your chances of landing the job you want once you do graduate. So if you haven’t received your degree yet, consider finding a job while you’re still a student to improve your chances.

2. Boost Your Resume

Make sure you include ALL of your work history and experience on your resume. Many graduates are ashamed to have things like babysitting or restaurant work on their resumes as they think it’s irrelevant or might make them seem juvenile.

But babysitting shows that you are trustworthy and capable of managing others and working in a restaurant shows that you can likely handle fast-paced and even chaotic situations. So don’t count something out just because it seems irrelevant to the job you are trying to land.

3. Know What You Want

Be confident and know what you want. You’ll never land your ideal job if you are afraid to speak up for yourself and your wants and needs.

If mental health is a concern for you, for example, don’t be afraid to inquire about mental health accommodations or ask for them when you are interviewing. You want to impress potential future employers, yes, but they should also be able to impress you and give you what you need.

4. Focus on Networking

Job hunting is not just about sitting behind a computer applying for jobs. It’s also about putting yourself out there and networking.

You never know when a connection might lead to a job opportunity. So don’t be afraid to carry your resume or a business card with you wherever you go.

Talk to friends, family, neighbors, and former professors. You can even strike up conversations with people you don’t know while you are out and about in your daily life. Seeking out career events is also a great way to make new professional connections and network.

5. Build Your Leadership Skills

Pursuing self-improvement is also important when navigating the job market. Don’t just rely on the specific job-related skills listed on your resume. There are many other skills and qualities that can help you stand out and land a job, such as leadership skills.

Leadership skills are essential when looking for a job because companies specifically look for new graduates that have leadership potential. They want people that will help move them forward as a business and lead them into the future. So improving your leadership qualities can significantly improve your job prospects.

6. Be Proactive

One of the biggest mistakes college graduates make when navigating the job market is sitting around waiting after applying for jobs. You must be proactive, which means you can’t just send in an application and never check back in.

Do not expect the company you are applying for to do all the work for you. Go above and beyond with your application to show that you did your research and know about the company. Tell them what makes you stand out and what you have to offer them.

And then, even after you’ve applied, make sure you check back in and follow up to let them know that you are hungry to do the work and are still interested.

7. Don’t Be Afraid to Decline an Offer

Many college graduates will be so thrilled about getting a response that they will jump on an initial job offer. But it’s important to make sure that the job and what they are offering is the right fit for you before you agree.

If you do happen to accept an offer and something better comes along, don’t automatically assume you can’t decline the initial offer — even if you already signed a contract.

It is possible to decline a job after you’ve already accepted and signed a contract. You just need to be smart about it. Thoroughly read your contract, be honest and tactical about why you’re declining, and express your gratitude for the opportunity.

Wrapping Up

If you are a recent grad, count yourself lucky to be entering one of the best job markets in recent history — but don’t let that fool you. Landing a good job still takes work. With the right mindset and effort, however, you can smoothly navigate the market and land your ideal job.

SEE ALSO: Best Paid Online Jobs for College Students

Rushing a Fraternity or Sorority? 8 Useful Tips

Rushing a Fraternity or Sorority? 8 Useful Tips

College is more than simply a place to complete homework, take classes, and study. College is also a key component of your social growth and development. Many students choose to join a fraternity or sorority to make the most of their social life in college.

Fraternities and sororities at colleges and universities are called “Greek life.” Greek life is a well-liked social group that students join to get more active. Each of these groups often has a distinctive name, philanthropy with which they are associated, customs, symbols, and other activities that are unique to them, as with a Greek organization.

“Rushing,” often known as recruiting, is the procedure for applying for membership in a fraternity or sorority. Greek life may provide a variety of advantages, such as opportunity for networking, enduring connections, and significant volunteerism.

However, joining a fraternity or sorority may also be quite time-consuming and labor-intensive. Because of this, it’s critical to be prepared before joining one. Here are some tips on how to be prepared for a rush week so you can manage your expectations.

Who Should Join the Greek Life?

All fraternities and sororities provide you with the ability to grow as a leader and help you develop skills to facilitate relationships. Many also work for a large nonprofit organization, which gives them access to volunteer opportunities around the nation and boosts their résumé.

But what are the disadvantages? The cons of joining a fraternity or sorority are that they may be very time-consuming, and you will have to pay fees. So, if you think Greek life might not be a good fit for you, that’s okay. Particularly for freshmen who are adjusting to college life, fraternities and sororities might require a significant time commitment. You could choose to put more emphasis on participating in other on-campus activities instead.

Pros of Rush Week on Your College Life

Rush events are an opportunity to bond with new friends, learn more about the Greek organizations on campus, and find a group of people with similar interests.

The outcome of rush events still varies per student, but the experience is almost always positive. Here are some advantages of going through Greek life recruitment:

Gain Leadership Opportunities

Numerous leadership opportunities are offered to members of fraternity and sorority organizations. Members have the option to run for a variety of positions each year when the organization opens up its executive board posts. The President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Risk Management posts are some of these jobs. These positions carry a lot of responsibility and help students develop crucial skills they’ll need while hunting for jobs after graduation.

Philanthropy and Community Involvement

Each fraternity and sorority must have a philanthropic affiliation and rich community involvement through community service. The groups take part in and organize several fundraising activities for their chosen charities during the academic year.

For instance, Kappa Delta works to support women and children and is associated with the Girl Scouts of the United States. For college girls who want to be heavily involved in these causes, the sorority rush week is their gateway to being able to help this foundation directly.

Lifelong Friendships

You are asked to join a network of active and former members of your greek organization after rush events. While you’ll probably have a close-knit circle of pals, you’ll also meet a ton of other individuals that you may interact with on campus and in your future. The Greek house is where you’ll find your best friends and some of the people you’ll stay in touch with for the rest of your life.

Rush Event Tips: Leave a Positive Impression for Greek Organizations

  1. Make a Good Impression

Fraternity and sorority rush week hold activities to introduce new students to their members. This is how established frat guys introduce Greek life to new members, so be courteous and approachable, maintain eye contact, and make an effort to recall the names of the individuals you meet in order to leave a good first impression.

When you go through a Greek recruitment process, you’ll probably find yourself conversing with a lot of individuals. Later, the fraternity or sorority will convene to decide which members to accept. During the fraternity rush process, you might need to impress a dozen or more individuals in order to receive an invitation to join, often known as a “bid.”

  1. Assess Your Time Commitment

Fraternity rush season might span many weeks, depending on the organization. Although it’s fun and enjoyable, it can also have a negative impact on your mental health and make it challenging to keep up with your academic and extracurricular obligations. You’ll need to schedule a lot of time just for the rush process, so make sure you won’t be overworked.

Missing an event hosted by a fraternity or sorority may reduce your likelihood of getting a bid from that group. Members often select applicants who may be too busy to participate in Greek life in favor of those who will stay active throughout the course of the next four years (remember, they expect you to remain active as part of a Greek house). By being organized and picking a doable class, you may complete your work while rushing a fraternity or sorority.

  1. Be Open-Minded

When you go through the recruitment process, you should keep an open mind about which fraternity or sorority you want to join. Consider all of your options, and don’t limit yourself to just one organization. Some students have a preconceived notion of which fraternity or sorority they want to join but end up finding a different group that suits them even better.

Additionally, don’t let others pressure you into joining a fraternity or sorority. Decide which organization best resonates with you as you think about your options and the different values they uphold. Make sure that the organization’s values coincide with your own. While consulting with friends and family members may be beneficial, you should make an effort to join a fraternity or sorority that has a solid reputation and participates in extracurricular activities and community service projects that you are interested in. Consider the alumni networks and post-graduation successes of each organization’s members as well.

  1. Weigh the Pros and Cons

One of the highlights of a student’s college experience is joining a fraternity or sorority. However, there are a lot of things to think about before choosing if Greek life is right for you.

For one, fraternity or sorority rush frequently includes hazing events. Hazing continues even though it is against the law and despite efforts by Greek life leadership to stop it in recent years. The ceremony may be challenging on a physical, emotional, and mental level, not to mention potentially hazardous. Apart from this, you will also need to pay regular dues, which cover the cost of social events, philanthropy projects, and housing (if you choose to live in the fraternity or sorority house).

On the other hand, joining a fraternity or sorority allows you to develop leadership skills, make friends, and give back to the community. As a member of a Greek organization, you will have opportunities to hold various positions within the house and plan social events and service projects. These experiences can help build your resume and stand out to potential employers.

  1. Research Well

Research the houses first. Knowing what your alternatives are and what these groups represent might make entering rush week simpler and less complicated. Make sure to read up on all of the Greek organizations at your school, their philanthropies, and any other relevant information that can help you make a decision on finding the best fraternity to join.

  1. Allow Your Personality to Shine

Don’t be scared to let your personality shine once you’re at ease. Perhaps you’re the class clown type, you enjoy a little friendly competition, or your sarcasm makes others laugh. The more self-assured you are in displaying your character and personality, the easier it will be for you to connect with others and find like-minded individuals whom you share the same interests with.

  1. Attend as Many Events as Possible

During the recruitment process, aim to attend as many events as possible. This will give you a better idea of what each fraternity or sorority is about and whether or not you would be a good fit for the organization. Additionally, attending more events also increases your chances of getting to know more members of the house, which can make the decision-making process easier.

  1. Check Your Financial Capability

Before you make a decision, it is essential to check if you can afford the dues. If you’re concerned that joining a sorority or fraternity will be too pricey, then make sure to ask how much the member dues are beforehand. Many organizations offer payment plans or other financial aid options to make Greek life more accessible for students. Upperclassmen can explain the cost of dues and the purpose for which the money is used.

Get the Most Out of Your College Experience

Whether it’s in a Greek-life organization or in another group or activity on campus, it’s all about where you will feel most comfortable and find your niche. The college experience is what you make of it, so make sure to do your research and get involved in things that interest you. Have fun and enjoy your time in college!

Author Bio:

Pearl de Guzman is a contributing writer at Campus Colors. She specializes in health and wellness, promoting the health of individuals to be healthier and more productive.

SEE ALSO: Advocating for Inclusive Events & Services On Your College Campus

Google Partners with Columbia, UMich, ASU and Others to Offer Exclusive Program to Students

Google Partners with Columbia, UMich, ASU and Others to Offer Exclusive Programs to Students

Google have announced its working with Columbia University, the University of Michigan, Arizona State University (ASU) and the University of Illinois’ Gies College of Business to offer new Industry Specializations in growing fields to complement the Google Career Certificates, which equip people with job-ready skills with no degree or experience required. Designed for individuals in continuing education programs, these specializations will equip Google Career Certificate graduates with additional skills for jobs in fields including sustainability and finance.

Over 80 percent of employers say that education more tailored to real-world career needs would improve the skills gap their business faces, and 92 percent of employers agree that a professional certificate strengthens a candidate’s application. To help address these employment gaps, the new courses are designed to teach skills in high-demand fields. The specializations include:

To ensure people are learning job-ready skills, the new courses were reviewed by companies including Deloitte and Rocket Companies. These companies are in the Google Career Certificates employer consortium, which includes over 150 employers — including Deloitte, Ford, Verizon and Google — that are committed to considering certificate graduates for relevant roles.

“Google is thrilled to offer Google Career Certificate graduates additional pathways to great jobs through our collaboration with some of the world’s leading universities,” said Lisa Gevelber, Founder, Grow with Google. “These new courses provide a unique opportunity for people to learn from experts at Google and renowned university faculty to learn the skills needed for growing industries.”

“ASU, together with Google, is reimagining how we serve learners from all backgrounds and stages in life who are looking for career advancement opportunities,” said Maria Anguiano, Executive Vice President of the Arizona  Learning Enterprise. “This career education program is driven by learner and industry needs for sustainability skills that are backed by robust academic expertise. Now, individuals don’t have to choose between learning from world-renowned scholars and gaining job skills that can be applied immediately at work. They can do both and succeed on their own terms.”

Community colleges across the U.S. are also offering the Google Career Certificates to further their workforce training offerings. This follows Google’s 2021 announcement that its certificates are free for all community colleges to add to curriculum at no cost.

Available on Coursera, the Google Career Certificates are in the high-growth fields of data analytics, digital marketing and e-commerce, IT support, project management, and user experience (UX) design. The certificates do not require a degree or experience and can be completed within 3-6 months of part-time study. There are over 100,000 graduates in the U.S. and seventy-five percent of them report a positive career impact within six months, such as a new job, higher pay, or a promotion. Fifty-five percent of graduates identify as Asian, Black, or Latino.

To learn more about the Google Career Certificates, visit grow.google/edu.

SEE ALSO: Schools vs. Smog: How Clean is the Air at Your College?

Advocating for Inclusive Events & Services On Your College Campus

Advocating for Inclusive Events & Services On Your College Campus

As a student, you’re in a great position to advocate for change on campus. Your voice matters to decision-makers, and you can form student organizations to rally around a common cause.

You can even use your voice to advocate for greater inclusivity and accessibility on campus. This is important, as many universities fall short of their responsibility to folks who are considered neurodiverse and/or disabled.

Advocating for more inclusive events and services takes time, investment, and plenty of planning. However, you can get the ball rolling this semester by learning to amplify your voice on your college campus.

Assessing Inclusivity

Advocating for greater inclusivity and accessibility is always a great way to use your voice. However, before you start asking for support, you need to assess your campus’ current commitment to inclusivity and accessibility.

Begin by getting in touch with your University’s support services. Most larger institutions will have a department dedicated to educational access and resources for students of different abilities. Ask them about how you might be able to get involved — you may find that a student organization already exists to promote better inclusivity on campus.

Next, complete an inclusivity self-examination. An inclusivity self-examination requires some research, but the effort will be rewarded with a clearer picture of your university’s current accessibility and inclusivity standards. As a minimum, try to research the following:

  • Are administrators at your institution empowered and trained to promote greater inclusivity on campus?
  • Do people with disabilities work in positions of power/authority at your university?
  • Is inclusivity part of your university’s mission statement?
  • Are all students supported during their academic careers? Are there any statistical discrepancies in your student body?
  • Do current events include additional information on reasonable accommodations?

Research gives you a clear direction to head in and you can use your findings to help rally other students around the common cause of accessibility and inclusivity on your college campus.

Student Organizations

Joining a student organization is a great way to amplify your voice and advocate for more inclusive events and services on your campus. Many student organizations are directly tied to the administrative departments of the university and you’ll find it much easier to gain momentum as an official club.

When creating a club, be sure to include folks from a range of backgrounds and experiences. It’s important that your club adequately represents the student body, as this will help you spot issues and ensure that all members of your student body can thrive during college.

ADA

Title II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guarantees that all universities must provide “equal access to postsecondary education for students with disabilities.” However, many universities fail to meet ADA standards.

As an advocate, you should familiarize yourself with the ADA act and document any lapses in ADA compliance. Pay particular attention to things like accessibility during extracurricular activities, accessibility of residential facilities, and the aids available to students.

If you identify an ADA issue, raise it with the administrators at your university first. Oftentimes, administrators are aware of issues on campus and are working hard to resolve them.

If administrators were previously unaware of inclusivity issues on campus, suggest solutions and try to be part of the decision-making process where possible. For example, if your university has an outdoor program, you can advocate for mobility aids to make outdoor activities more accessible. A small investment in portable ramps and scooter lifts can make a big difference for folks with mobility disabilities.

Support Services

Most larger institutions already have a support service in place to help folks with disabilities and/or neurodiversity. However, many students are unaware of the services available to them. You can make a difference by using your on-campus presence to connect people with the resources they need.

Increase awareness of inclusive support services by creating and attending as many on-campus events as possible. Hold disability awareness events in visible areas of your university and network with other organizations to ensure that their members are aware of the services available to them.

If you feel that more can be done to support students, you can consider advocating for greater access to therapy services. Therapy can make a big difference in a student’s academic career and quality of life. You may want to look into alternative forms of therapy, too. Therapeutic horseback riding and equine-assisted activity therapy can be modified to suit all participants and can help with things like self-esteem, empathy, and non-verbal body language.

Conclusion

As a student, you’re in a great position to advocate for greater inclusivity on campus. Start by reaching out to current services and find out what is on offer currently. If you spot gaps, try to work with administrators to find solutions. This may require some teamwork, so consider creating a student organization to share the load and amplify your voice.

SEE ALSO: How to Benefit From Intuitive-Decision-Making as a Student?

Common Problems When Writing Your Assignments

Common Problems When Writing Your Assignments

There are a lot of things that can lead to missing your deadlines when writing your college or university assignments. It is much harder to consistently work on a single project than your teachers would have you believe. It would get so stressful at times I used to pray that someone else can do the assignments I have to do assignments, I have to write my assignment.

So if you don’t wanna end up like those students who are begging the professor for an extension, here are a few problems you need to keep an eye out for. If not you might just get a handsome deduction for a late submission. Also, I’m not going to be talking about obvious things like procrastination or not making a schedule. These are problems that first-time assignment writers do not consider.

Writer’s Block

Yeah, you will get writer’s block as you work on your assignments. Just think about it, you’re trying to complete 2000 to 3000-word paper that all hinges on a single line, i.e. your thesis statement. That line is not going to offer you much when it comes to structuring your study and finding ways to write about the topic in an informative manner.

There will come times when you will feel stuck or that you are moving away from your research aims. When that happens, you have to stop yourself and take a few steps back so that you can center yourself before moving forward. Think about it, it can take up to a month to make an impressive academic assignment. You’re going to have a few times where you’re banging your head against the wall. Most of it will be from your fear and anxiety since you don’t want to mess it up. But now that you know that it happens, maybe you won’t freak out about it.

What Scheduling?

You might think that making a schedule and having an application on your phone might help, and to an extent, it does there are still a lot of problems you have to deal with. For one, you can’t just stop going to work for your assignment. The boss doesn’t care that you’re under a lot of stress, you need to do your job.

Also, we all have friends and social life so it is your responsibility to tell them no if you are falling behind. But how do you know that you’re falling behind…will always assume that you are. It is better to finish early, than being late since it gives you time to revise and edit your drafts. Just know that there will be days when you can’t work on your assignment, and other obligations will take priority no matter how good your schedule was.

Literature Betrayal

Has this ever happened to you? You had hand-picked all the studies and sources that you were going to use for your assignment. It was foolproof in your head, the studies were from a credible journal or online library and the information in the abstract matched your topic of research perfectly. Sadly, it can happen that you might be mistaken. It is often the case that the study you have selected is not a good fit for your research. You have to properly read through the paper to see if it is even talking about the problem you are discussing.

Imagine all that time you wasted thinking that you will use a study to provide an important point and now you can’t. Now you have to frantically search the internet, or any resource to find a study that meets your needs. Not only are things going to be uber stressful, but you are not put into a position where you might choose a subpar study just to not waste any more time.

I would not recommend that you do that, rather it is way better to ask for help at this point. So you can ask a friend or have the wonderful people at assignment labs create you a premium quality assignment in a few days.

Off-topic?

This might not seem like a probable issue but it can happen that you forget the core argument of your thesis. It doesn’t seem professional if your assignment isn’t cohesive throughout. This often happens to people who don’t have a lot of experience writing long papers. A quick fix for this is to keep your research questions with you on a separate paper or on your phone as reminders of where your paper should go next.

The Supervisor Hasn’t Replied Yet

Your supervisor is supposed to help you by going over the drafts you send. And they are supposed to do that, but the reality is they are super busy. It is hard being a college/university professor. They have a lot on their plate and can easily miss an email or text from a student. Just imagine the number of emails and messages they get on the regular from how many students.

So relying on the supervisor too often leads students to waste a lot of time. But what can you do? Well if you want someone to have a look at your draft ask someone from your class who you think is a good student. If that isn’t something you feel comfortable with, you could always risk it can move forward with the draft or contact an online service that provides editing and proofreading like assignment labs. So there’s always the I have to do my assignments route.

Just remember don’t wait around for your supervisor to get back to you since you can always make changes to your current draft. Continue with the research just keep in mind that you may need to make slight changes later on.

Let me introduce you to Plagiarism

So well all understand what plagiarism means and want to avoid it. But for those students who want to add quotations and empirical statistics, this can be an issue. A lot of these details will show up as plagiarism and you may have to talk with your professor about what percentage is allowed. The green zone is often between 10 and 15%, so you have to keep your eye on that. The best way to overcome this issue is to learn the appropriate method of in-text citation in the format that your teacher specifies (you know APA, MLA, Harvard, etc.).

You could try simply paraphrasing the material but you still have to show where the original idea came from or offer evidence to support your argument. So there is no getting around learning how to properly cite your sources.

If you want to learn more about in-text citation, both direct and indirect, as well as how to master citation in the various formatting styles you can check our friends at assignment labs, they can help you get a better grasp on how to format your paper or to remove plagiarism.

These were some of the key things that you will come across as you start writing your academic assignment for college or university. Hopefully, now you’re better equipped mentally to deal with these challenges as they arrive. If not there is always the I have to write my assignments option we discussed at the start.

SEE ALSO: Dissertation Writing Techniques for College Students

How to Benefit From Intuitive-Decision-Making as a Student?

How to Benefit From Intuitive-Decision-Making as a Student?

For decades, the science of decision-making has focused on providing formal and analytical explanations of how we think. Empirical models such as the rational model of decision-making present this process as a series of steps that absolutely have to be followed for decision-makers to have any hope of arriving at valid conclusions.

However, there is also the growing trend of acknowledging that intuition may be just as significant for quick and effective decision-making as rationality. For many, the proverbial ‘gut feeling’ may even be the deciding factor when committing to a specific behaviour or making an important choice. Nonetheless, intuition is a ‘black box’ that is incredibly difficult to define and explain. Can it be leveraged as a consistent source of good insight? In this article, we outline both the benefits and limitations of intuitive decision-making for students.

How Does Intuitive Decision-Making Work?

For most of us, intuition is typically defined as a ‘gut feeling’ that assigns some sort of an emotional response to certain choices. For example, when deciding on what sort of Master’s programme to pursue, we may suddenly feel good (or bad) about the key alternatives we are considering such as different universities, professors, programme contents, etc.

This explanation makes intuition sound like some sort of a magic spell that exists entirely outside the realm of rationality. And hey, this magic spell can lead to some exceptional outcomes. We are sure that nearly everyone who is currently reading this article can remember at least one or two personal experiences in which intuition has allowed them to make an unexpectedly beneficial choice.

For obvious reasons, however, intuition is not actually magic. Modern scientists generally agree that intuition simply constitutes another form of logic. While rational decision-making typically focuses on gathering empirical data and using this insight to evaluate alternatives, intuition taps into one’s past experiences to draw parallels between them and your current circumstances. This process occurs in the subconscious outside of one’s immediate zone of cognitive and affective attention.

How Can Intuition Benefit Me as a Student?

As we have said above, intuition still follows a certain logic which means that it can be developed and harnessed as a very valuable skill. When applied well, intuitive decision-making can offer a powerful tool complementing rational decision-making.

Students are often faced with problems that do not really have an obviously beneficial solution. For instance, when choosing a topic for your dissertation, you may be faced with two alternatives. One topic may be interesting on a personal level while being difficult to pursue and articulate empirically. Another topic could appear boring but at the same time come with a certain academic and empirical ‘safety net’.

From a rational point of view, choosing the second topic is unambiguously the best choice, particularly if parts of it have already been covered by other researchers whom you can cite and reference. And yet, daring to choose the first topic may ultimately result in you being a part of an exciting and fulfilling research project the completion of which could even be the foundation for a future doctoral thesis.

Intuition, therefore, is at its most useful when it is difficult to clearly articulate the risks and benefits associated with each alternative in a decision-making process.

This is just one example in which an intuitive choice could ultimately prove more beneficial than the rational choice. To help you apply intuitive decision-making effectively, we have prepared the following list of questions that you should always ask yourself to evaluate how your ‘gut feeling’ works.

  1. What are some of the biases that may affect my judgment?
  2. What past experiences could my intuition be rooted in?
  3. What sort of feelings am I experiencing when thinking about certain choices?
  4. How can I explain my current emotions and their effect on decision-making?
  5. How have I fared when making similar decisions in the past?

The list is by no means extensive but answering the above questions should provide you with some insight into what specific forces drive your intuitive decision-making. If you ever find yourself relying on your ‘gut feeling’, being aware of one’s biases and idiosyncrasies may be very beneficial.

Are There Limitations to Relying on Intuitive Decision-Making?

Yes, and it is important to fully acknowledge them before you decide to rely on your ‘gut feeling’. Intuition is not a magic wand and relying on it does not guarantee that you will like the outcome that your decisions could lead to.

Intuition is inherently constrained by various cognitive and affective biases. For example, the representativeness bias means that we tend to vividly remember extraordinary events and tend to overestimate the probability of these events occurring in the future. In turn, this may skew how intuitive decision-making construes future events and risks.

Intuitive decision-making is also invariably linked to one’s emotions which opens a huge can of worms. Ultimately, a ‘gut feeling’ is just that – a feeling. Our feelings may be distorted by a wide range of factors, most importantly our mental health. For instance, you may overestimate risks if you are regularly experiencing anxiety. Alternatively, experiencing symptoms of depression may cause you to drastically underestimate risks and, possibly, commit to choices that can be harmful.

Finally, in some cases, your decisions may also affect other people. For instance, you may be required to choose a topic for a collaborative research project. In such cases, fully relying on intuition without considering others’ opinions and perspectives may prove detrimental to group dynamics. Even if you are confident that your ‘gut feeling’ is right, being considerate of others’ choices should be your top priority.

As long as you are aware of its limitations, intuition can be a powerful companion to rational decision-making. While not a universal solution to all possible decision-making problems, your ‘gut feeling’ is not to be underestimated. We hope that our brief guide on intuitive decision-making will prove useful in your future academic and personal pursuits!

Author Bio: Ellie Richards is an online Marketing Manager for Original PhD, specialising in PhD thesis writing. She is passionate about researching and writing on various topics, including Education, Marketing, and Technology.

SEE ALSO: How To Navigate College When You’re Neurodivergent

Dissertation Writing Techniques for College Students

Dissertation Writing Techniques for College Students

What is Dissertation Writing?

Dissertation is a kind of writing that students do in between and at the end of their undergraduate degree program. It is also known as thesis or research. It is the answer of the topic that is selected by themselves or sometimes from the side of the department. It consists of a piece of writing that is about ten to twenty thousand words. If you are writing a dissertation, then it must contain the findings of the given question. The dissertation process is very important. Without following the appropriate process of research, you cannot be able to find the correct data. For writing a dissertation you need to follow some techniques and tips:

Let’s Choose a Topic

To find out the idea of a research and selection of topic is also a challenge. Always choose the topic of your interest. Choose the topic of your grip and your concept about that topic must be clear. List out the topic of your interest and understanding and if you face any trouble in selecting it, you can always get online dissertation writing services.

Personal Interest

The foremost thing that you will need to initiate your dissertation is your personal interest in the topic and the research. If the student has no interest in the dissertation and he doesn’t have personal benefit in the study then he won’t be able to make a good dissertation. It is very important for a student to stay motivated during the research phenomenon.

Clarity in the Topic

The topic of the dissertation should be clear. Your topic should be concise and specific about the research you are going to do, the learning that you have done and the process of learning. The unclarity and ambiguity can diminish your purpose of conveying information.

Uniquity of the Topic

The discussed problems and questions asked in the dissertation should be unique. The set of questions asked in the study should not be discussed before. The new findings and the new objective and questions should be included in the research, as to provide the innovation in the findings.

Making Research Proposal

The aim of writing a research proposal is to brief the worth of your research project and to show the authenticity of your work plan. A research proposal should provide the answers of these questions:

  •         What do you want to achieve in this research?
  •         How are you going to achieve your goal?
  •         Why do you want to do this research?

The elements that you need to put in your research proposals are title, introduction, abstract, objectives, significance, questions and methodology.

Introduction

After a research proposal writing and its approval you need to start your dissertation with a strong introduction. The starting section of the research includes background, literature review and methodology in it.

Background

The background is based on the context of the research. Your background should be catchy and should appeal to the reader to read the rest of your research.

Literature Review

In this section the previous works of the writers should be discussed. The relevant history from your topic and the cited statements are the main elements of it. The arrived conclusions of the writers must be added in it.

Methodology

This section will be right after the literature review in your dissertation. The methodology section must have a connection with research questions and the literature review. You have to write explicit data analyzing methodology. Your selection of the method for analyzing data should be appropriate for your topic.

Realistic Approach

In dissertation writing try to use the realistic approach, avoid any ambiguous language in between the dissertation. You must have an idea what to say and what not to say in the study.

Dissertation writing is not an easy task for you if you are a college going student. Having to cope with the daily assignments and homework plus working on your dissertation creates a mess sometimes. In order to cope with this challenge numerous students, take the help of online dissertation writing services. It may facilitate you to complete your conscious involvement in your research.

Justifications

Your aim of the topic must be justifying the method and result of the dissertation. The purpose of your readings should be fulfilled. Observe and check consciously as well as go through the outcomes and decision of topic selection again and again.

Limitations of the Dissertation

Every topic has some limitations as to keep the research context narrow. If you will broadly work on your research then it would be difficult for you to sum up the findings and draw conclusions. Usually in colleges the dissertations are narrow and easy to complete.

Data Collection

In the section of data collection, you have to analyze the measurements of the data that you collected for your dissertation. If you have selected the quantitative research type then you have to calculate the observations. In any online dissertation service, you have to provide the complete details about the data collection elements. Many students use different software that makes the process of data analysis very easy. In data collection you have to use different tools for data collection.

Drawing Conclusion

After collecting the data, you have to draw a conclusion on the basis of the findings from collected data. The conclusion step is sometimes not completely according to your expectation. You have to deal with the results rationally and draw conclusions consciously. The core idea with the findings should be added in this part.

Rechecking Part

The dissertation process needs to be proofread in the end and for that you need an expert to correct your mistakes. If you want to make your research published and awarded you need to ask for the guidance of your supervisor. The role of supervisor is crucial in dissertation writing. You can ask your friends to analyze your dissertation critically. Check your research thoroughly again and again so you could find any flaw then make it correct.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, dissertation writing is a conscious process which contains your time with the endless efforts. Many students face hurdles in their college study career just because of the dissertation writing. Before starting a dissertation, writing must gather the information and complete knowledge about it.

SEE ALSO: The Single Decision That Skyrocketed My GPA

The Importance of Cybersecurity For College Students

The Importance of Cybersecurity For College Students

As a college student, you likely have a lot on your plate. In addition to working on passing your midterms, memorizing the new syllabus, and determining what you want to do after graduation, you also need to stay vigilant against the threats of cybercriminals. Yes, you may have a full life, but if you aren’t careful and you let a hacker steal your information, then you could face an all-new set of problems.

Since computers are used in just about every facet of student life, we want to set you up for success. So, we have compiled all of the information you need to know about potential scams, the methods that you can use to stay protected, and how to take some of the stress out of cybersecurity.

Dangers Of Cybercrime In Education

Many people believe that hackers spend all of their time focusing on mega-corporations that have millions of dollars and customers to steal from, but that could not be further from the truth. The fact is that cybercriminals are after any data that they can get because all of it can be used for malicious purposes. Social security numbers and banking information can be used to take out fraudulent student loans, while even seemingly innocent information like birth dates and email addresses can be sold on the black market.

Hackers are looking for easy targets and they know that students have too much on their minds to think about cybersecurity, so they often attack educational institutions. Many universities are home to hundreds if not thousands of students, so hackers can get a lot of information at once, and they can cause major havoc.

There is also a lot of cash moving about at universities as students need to pay for classes, books, and food. If a hacker is able to upload a virus to the system, then they could steal a lot of money. That is why students need to keep an eye on their finances. If they notice that their money is gone, then they can notify the administration, and they can try to stop the leakage.

All of these scenarios above explain why the whole education sector is at risk of cybercrime. As a student at a physical or online college, you are not responsible for saving your school, but you can protect your own computers and personal data, so your private information is not put in jeopardy.

Understand Common Scams

The first step to cybersecurity in college is to learn about common scams and how to avoid them. One of the tactics that hackers use the most is the phishing email, which appears to be a legitimate message, but really, it is sent by a criminal, and it includes a link or attachment that if clicked or opened, can unleash a virus onto your computer. The hacker will often pretend to be a person of authority, like a professor or a representative from the school, so you are intimidated to open it. You should be mindful of the possibility of phishing scams and watch for these warning signs:

  • An email that claims to be from a college administrator but comes from a common email address like Yahoo or Gmail.
  • The message is not directed at you but to “sir or madam” or “to whom it may concern.”
  • The subject and body of the message have spelling errors.
  • There is a link or attachment that you were not expecting.

Another major scam that could impact your entire campus is ransomware. That is when a hacker is able to breach the network and lock down the entire school so that administrators cannot access any data until they pay the criminals a fee. As a student, you must prepare for this potential scenario, if only because you may need that locked information for an upcoming class or assignment. To get ahead of the problem, back up your data on an extra device like a thumb drive so you can access it even if the main computers are inaccessible.

Be Smart About Security

It may seem daunting to take on cybersecurity scams, but with the right precautions, you can protect your data and your school work. For instance, you can enable a DDoS shield to help prevent the risk of Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks, which is when a hacker floods your system with internet traffic and essentially prevents you from reaching your systems or completing any work online.

Even if you do not have access or the funds to bring on more complex security measures, you can follow some common sense security steps to protect your data, including using complex passwords and two-factor authentication, which is an additional form of protection like a code sent to your phone or the biometric scan of an eye or fingerprint. You can also buy and enable a virtual private network that will disguise your location and encrypt your data so it cannot be read even if it is stolen.

You might also consider moving your school assignments to the cloud, which is what you are doing when you use online programs like Google Docs and Microsoft Teams. Experts say that using these online platforms can help you to be more productive because they make it easier to collaborate with others, and you can access your data from anywhere, from your dorm to the computer lab. Best of all, many of these cloud companies have their own security teams that will keep an eye on the data you have on their servers, so you don’t have to. It is a nice way to have 24-hour protection.

In the end, the idea of cybersecurity may be daunting at first, but by understanding the risks and taking the proper precautions, you can keep your school data protected so you can focus on passing your classes.

Roles

If you are interested in the subject of cybersecurity, you may want to explore finding a role within the industry following your studies. The cybersecurity job market is projected to grow by 31% by 2029 and the average salary, is getting close to touching six figures so prospects are excellent. To find out more, check out Comparitech’s detailed guide on how to get an entry-level job in cybersecurity.

SEE ALSO: How to Benefit From Intuitive-Decision-Making as a Student?

How To Navigate College When You're Neurodivergent

How To Navigate College When You’re Neurodivergent

Neurodivergent traits are likely to inform many aspects of your personality that deserve to be celebrated. However, you know better than anyone else how they can also present certain challenges. One of the situations many people living with cognitive processing differences (CPDs) find difficult is the transition to life as a college student.

The traditional education system has historically been geared toward neurotypical students. The designs of classrooms, the curriculum, and even the social structure have developed on the assumption of typicality. This is despite the fact that a large part of the student body may fall somewhere on the neurodivergent spectrum. The actual number of neurodivergent individuals enrolled in college is hard to determine. In fact, only 37% of students with disabilities report it to their university — and some neurodivergent individuals aren’t diagnosed until later in life, if at all. Further, neurodiversity is complex, often not being categorized as a disability

Unfortunately, this can make the college experience feel less inclusive. Many universities are taking steps to address this imbalance, but the situation is far from perfect. As such, you may find it helpful to develop strategies and adopt existing tools to suit your needs. There are a few tactics that can help you navigate college as a student with neurodivergent traits.

Seek Relevant Resources

Unfortunately, when education is designed for neurotypical students, the resources available to those with neurodivergent traits don’t always jump out. This doesn’t mean they don’t exist, you just may have to search a little for them. Neurodivergence takes various forms and encompasses a range of neurological frameworks. Even within the definitions of the autism spectrum, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and dyslexia, individual experiences differ. This means you may have a very specific set of challenges and needs to address. It’s important to look for the resources that are most relevant to you.

While neurodivergence is not a hindrance but, rather, a difference in neurological functioning, you may still need to take the same route as those seeking accommodations at college under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Usually, student support services will be able to direct you to the resources available to you on campus and arrange meetings with any relevant members of faculty or staff.

It can be important to prepare before making these inquiries or having meetings. If you know what tools you need to effectively learn and navigate college life best, take these details along. However, if you’re not sure what resources are available, make a list of the circumstances and tasks you feel you’re likely to find challenging in college. This is not only a starting point to explore the options, but it can also help you to feel more confident when seeking resources.

Find Your People

College is a more manageable and positive experience when you make meaningful connections with other people. This tends to be true for both neurotypical and neurodivergent students. It may be the case that your CPDs contribute to the challenges of social interactions. This can make it even more important to establish a social group in college that can celebrate your differences and support you during difficult periods. After all, isolation can often add to the experiences of stress and anxiety.

Finding your people doesn’t necessarily mean you’re hunting for other neurodiverse people. Look for those who share similar interests as you. Join on-campus groups and societies. Get involved in political or social initiatives you care about in the local area. Your passions, particularly those you find easiest to talk about, can be a valuable gateway to building relationships in college.

It’s also worth considering that this approach can be a tool to bolster your life beyond college. Adopting solid networking practices now can mean you’re in an easier position to extend your circle in enriching directions later. Indeed, taking a healthy approach to networking can relieve some of the anxiety you may feel in social situations. Prepare some talking points beforehand and loosely schedule your routine leading up to it. Importantly, be clear about the emotional boundaries you want to set.

Maintain a Dialogue With Your Professors

It’s an unfortunate fact that your college curriculum and the methods used are likely designed with neurotypical students in mind. This doesn’t mean your professors aren’t able to provide support. Nevertheless, it’s important for you to make the first move here. Empower yourself to start a meaningful dialogue with your professors that you can develop over time to make your college experience more positive.

Chatting about your neurodivergent traits and how these factor into your learning is a good start. In all likelihood, your professors won’t have been provided with any advance information about your needs. Talk about the positive factors your unique perspective brings to your experience of learning and the subject you’re studying. Discuss any specific hurdles you have found in your previous learning environments.

Prioritize Self-care

It’s important to put some solid self-care tools in place to help you process the difficult elements of college and maintain your physical and mental well-being. This may involve creating a safe and calming space to reset in. You’ll almost certainly be sharing your space with a roommate, but work with them to agree on decorative elements that promote tranquility. Utilize neutral colors on the walls and soft furnishings where possible.

You should also build regular forms of self-care into your day. Much as your college timetable is scheduled for control and clarity, treat your wellness tools with equal importance. Take a few minutes for meditation and mindfulness on a daily basis if you feel it will help. Plan blocks of time for your interests that help you feel relaxed and positive in between your classes and work. Maintaining your well-being is a vital part of navigating the college transition.

Conclusion

Navigating college when you live with neurodivergent traits can be challenging. It’s important to gain clarity on your needs and seek the most relevant resources. Make regular efforts to form social connections and maintain positive dialogues with your professors. Remember, utilizing self-care tools can help you decompress during difficult periods. With a few additional strategies, there’s no reason your college experience can’t be as enriching as you deserve it to be.

SEE ALSO: How Students Manage Time to Watch Anime Movies

How Students Manage Time to Watch Anime Movies

How Students Manage Time to Watch Anime Movies

Before exams, teachers often tell students to study and get enough sleep. But every student has a routine that helps them study. Some people like to relax by listening to music or watching a movie, but others might prefer to watch anime instead. Some ways to relax before an exam are to watch the same anime seasons show over and over or get a favourite drink at a coffee shop. Still, it’s important to study for the test. There are many different kinds of tests. You should try as hard as you can to study and get the best grades possible.

The best way for each student to study for tests could be different. You can choose to study alone, with friends, or all night long. Most of the time, students choose the way to learn that makes them feel most comfortable and works best for them. Before getting down to business, it’s fine to put in an anime or music video. In other words, you shouldn’t force yourself to study the same way as other students if you find that it doesn’t work for you. On the contrary, watching anime can be a good way to study. But they can be too interesting and make it hard to study and saying yes.

Is there a way to watch your favorite shows and do your homework at the same time?

Learning how to use your time well is a skill that will help you not just in school, but for the rest of your life. If you use it well, you’ll get something good in return. You’ll need to make good use of your time if you want to do well in school. Make a schedule. You can divide it up so you can watch anime, study for tests, and do your schoolwork. If you make a plan and follow it, you can learn how to write an essay in one day. You can still get your anime research paper done on time and still have time to study and watch anime.

Use services that make your life easier to reduce stress and get more done.

Is it possible to do well in school and watch anime at the same time?

College and university students often say that their professors give them too many writing assignments. You can always go back to your anime culture and watch your episodes, right? As deadlines get closer, you might feel pressured to finish your projects. You have homework to do, but you just don’t want to stop watching green movie season. Because of this, you might be wondering what to do next. If you use a professional writing service, you might be able to free up some time. Don’t worry about how you’ll finish all of your homework when the due dates are getting closer. Use one of these services to write less and have more time to study or watch anime.

On top of that, anime can be watched while doing schoolwork, which is a nice bonus. As was already said, some people can study better while listening to music or watching certain shows. With these tools, they can better understand the idea and keep up with their homework. There are also some smart students who learn how to write essays quickly. Still, a lot of teachers and parents are against this. They think that they are a waste of time that will keep you from focusing on your schoolwork. This might make you wonder if you can watch anime while you study without getting in trouble with your parents or teachers.

If you’re the kind of person who can understand something while doing something else, like watching a movie or listening to music, then go ahead and start. But don’t let your interest in anime keep you from doing your homework. Your professor might give you an anime essay to see if you’ve been paying attention in class and if you can show that you know a lot about the genre.

If at all possible, study before tests and quizzes

If the end of a movie makes you want more, you might get too caught up in it. You might be interested in seeing what happens in the other episodes. You don’t have to do your schoolwork right away. You can put it off until a better time. It would not be smart to do this. It would be more fun to watch anime instead of doing homework. You can do jobs that would normally be too hard for you. You can choose to buy an essay for sale and still finish your work on time. If you do this, you’ll also have more time to study and prepare for tests.

Is it possible to do well in school and watch anime at the same time?

It’s safe to say that a lot of students like to watch movies and listen to music. Still, most people don’t know how to find a good balance between school, extracurricular activities, and free time. They feel this way because they want to do well in school and don’t want their love of anime movies to get in the way. So, if you’re worried about how to keep your balance, you don’t need to be. With the above tips, you can find a good balance between watching anime, doing your homework, and studying for tests.

SEE ALSO: Adulting 101: Preparing for Your Post-grad Life