Word On The Street: Issue 39
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UW-Stout main sidewalk
STUDY TIPS:
-Study in chunks, alternating assignments
-Harder material may require more breaks
-Don’t perfect a paper or project initially, finish it
and then tweak it
-Go to alternative places to study
-Use the 20 minute breaks between class to study and do
homework
-Hang out with friends when tired and study when
alert
-Study over lecture material just after class to retain
information
-Complete a project before it is due, giving time for
input from the professor
-Review notes and readings just before class
-DO NOT PROCRASTINATE: Start homework the day it is
assigned
-Study in chunks, alternating assignments
-Harder material may require more breaks
-Don’t perfect a paper or project initially, finish it
and then tweak it
-Go to alternative places to study
-Use the 20 minute breaks between class to study and do
homework
-Hang out with friends when tired and study when
alert
-Study over lecture material just after class to retain
information
-Complete a project before it is due, giving time for
input from the professor
-Review notes and readings just before class
-DO NOT PROCRASTINATE: Start homework the day it is
assigned
Dorm life
RESPECTING ROOMMATES TIPS:
-Respect their right for study time and sleep time
-Set up rules and a schedule for study and sleep time
-Respect their space and things in that space
-Respect their opinions: You will meet many people in
college with opposing opinions
-Wait until your roommate arrives before you start
setting up your room
-Don’t gossip about them
-Mind your own business: offer your advice or opinion
when they ask for it
-Don’t bring huge items that will cramp space (i.e. 50”
plasma television)
-Ask before you borrow something
-Be neat
-Respect their right for study time and sleep time
-Set up rules and a schedule for study and sleep time
-Respect their space and things in that space
-Respect their opinions: You will meet many people in
college with opposing opinions
-Wait until your roommate arrives before you start
setting up your room
-Don’t gossip about them
-Mind your own business: offer your advice or opinion
when they ask for it
-Don’t bring huge items that will cramp space (i.e. 50”
plasma television)
-Ask before you borrow something
-Be neat
Dorm Loft System
MONEY SAVING TIPS:
-Buy a Student Advantage Card at
www.studentadvantage.com for $20 plus shipping
and handling for great discounts on airline tickets,
Urban Outfitters, Footlocker, Office Depot and
more.
-Visit www.freebiespace.com for legitimate deals
-Visit www.craigslist.com for bargains on everything
from bikes to lamps
-Visit www.about.com to learn how to balance your
checkbook and create a budget
-Avoid overdraft fees on your bank account ($25 or
more) by balancing checkbook
-Use your own bank’s ATM to avoid fees
-If you have a credit card pay it on time and in full to
avoid late fees and interest
-Clip coupons
-Buy generic items. Pay for the product, not the name
-Look for free events (plenty of them) to attend when
going out or on a date
-Don’t eat all the time to avoid losing money and gaining
pounds
-Buy a Student Advantage Card at
www.studentadvantage.com for $20 plus shipping
and handling for great discounts on airline tickets,
Urban Outfitters, Footlocker, Office Depot and
more.
-Visit www.freebiespace.com for legitimate deals
-Visit www.craigslist.com for bargains on everything
from bikes to lamps
-Visit www.about.com to learn how to balance your
checkbook and create a budget
-Avoid overdraft fees on your bank account ($25 or
more) by balancing checkbook
-Use your own bank’s ATM to avoid fees
-If you have a credit card pay it on time and in full to
avoid late fees and interest
-Clip coupons
-Buy generic items. Pay for the product, not the name
-Look for free events (plenty of them) to attend when
going out or on a date
-Don’t eat all the time to avoid losing money and gaining
pounds
Surviving Your Freshman Year
Packet after packet and page after page of instructions for orientation, classes, parking, finances, housing, and meningitis shots arrive in the mail. Some of the most crucial years of your life lay ahead, yet none of these packets tell you the key to surviving the freshman year of college or the years to follow. According to the National Center for Education Statistics1, 70% of full-time Stout freshman continue their education the next fall, and 22% of part-time students continue their studies. The overall graduation rate for a bachelor’s degree at Stout is 53%. Do you want to be successful or do want to be one of the 47% that is not? Do you want to know the key? Have no fear; your freshman survival guide is here!! This is not another “Welcome to Stout” packet. This survival guide will let you in on useful secrets such as how to be a Christian in college, roommate ethics, a map of exciting Menomonie features, tutors, time management, saving money, and student organizations. When you walk with God at school, the little details of college life do not become huge fiascos.
Priorities:
Your priorities dictate the direction that your college career takes and its destination. If you have let Jesus Christ take the lead of your life, He should be your first priority; then the rest will be taken care of because He takes care of you. Matthew 6:33 (NLT) says, “and he [God] will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.” This doesn’t mean everything will be perfect. He won’t give you all the answers to your exam, although that would be sweet. He will, however, give you peace through difficulties and no one can do that except for God.
There is a bigger priority than just getting a degree: following Jesus daily and being directed by Him. So how do you keep God as your top priority? You can build and strengthen your relationship with God by spending time reading His words, the Bible. Talk and listen to Him. Ask Him what He wants you to do, and ask Him to show you ways you can serve other people. Use the gifts and talents God has given you to help out other students, and tell them about Jesus when they wonder what it is that is different about you. 1 Peter 3:15 (NLT) says, “...you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.” Find hardcore Christian friends, maybe through a Christian student organization like Street Level Ministries, who will keep you accountable, will pray with you, and will share in the struggles you will face. You will get pulled, invited, and enticed to drink, do drugs, have sex, and seek everything but God more than you ever have before.That is why is it very important not just to know about God, but to actually follow Him and continue to listen, talk, and learn from Him. That being said, your next priority, school, will fall into place and God will give you the resources and time to complete projects and study for exams. (Visit www.studygs.net/index.htm and see page 8 for time management tips)
Roommate(s):
The initial interaction with your roommate(s) is crucial. Living in very close quarters with another person only raises the tension that is already present. The space is tight, you may not know or like the other person or you may become very good friends with your roommate right off the bat. Either way, respecting the other person’s belongings and opinions will immensely help your transition to college life. Bringing too much stuff can cause major clutter and stress to your new home, so bring the essentials and move more stuff later if need be. (See page 9 for roommate tips and see map of Menomonie for quiet parks and coffee shops to get away for a while)
Tutors:
Using resources the college has such as tutors and workshops is not for dummies. On the contrary, it is for “smarties”: people who want a good grade, work for it, and use the tools that are right in front of them. Stout has writing workshops, the Math Teaching and Learning Center, computer labs with specific software for mathematics and science, physics tutors, and chemistry tutors. All of this information can be found on the Stout website, www.uwstout.edu. Once you are there, just search for the department of the class. Each department has its own web page that tells you where tutors or workshops are and the schedules for them. You can also go to your professor when you are struggling with an assignment for advice.
There are plenty of other resources online as well. The Purdue Online Writing Lab is accessible to anyone and provides tons of information on writing papers. Go to www.owl.english.purdue.edu and then click on Non-Purdue Instructors and Students. If you need assistance in a different area, look on a search engine and a lot of websites will pop up. (See study tips above)
Saving Cash:
How do you save money when money acts like a magician and does a disappearing act? Well, there are a few ways to save and still get the things you need. When going to Wal-mart, a lot of people tend to buy a bunch of stuff they don’t need, which ends up sitting in their closet, so have a list of what you need to buy and stick to it. Another way to save money is to look for deals around town. Shop at Aldi for groceries on a full stomach; they have cheap snack food, which is better than getting it from the dollar-sucking vending machines. Stop by the dollar store too, not for durable stuff, but for things like wrapping paper or cleaning supplies. There are also great deals on movies from RedBox. Movies from RedBox are only a dollar a night, 24/7. There are RedBox kiosks at the Student Center, Lammer’s grocery store, Wal-Mart, and Walgreens. Everyone has a different budget, so figure yours out and then stick to it. (See page 9 for money saving tips and budget help)
Student Organizations:
Student Organizations enable you to meet people with the same interests and take a break from homework. From auto to hand-drumming clubs, there is a group for you and if there is not, you and your friends can establish one. Most of these organizations are also on the Stout website and Bash on the Grass during the first week allows you to meet the people in the organizations and see what they are all about. Street Level Ministries is a Christian group of friends that reach out to students on campus as well as the community and around the world. This magazine is written, printed, and distributed by the members of Street Level. So, if you are looking for a real relationship with God and Bible study that goes verse-by-verse through the Bible as well as opportunities to serve God in college, you might want to check us out.
College will either be successful and profitable in your life or it will be a waste of time and money. Putting God first, finding deals, getting along with roommates, not procrastinating, getting involved, and leaving time to enjoy life to prevent “burn out” mode will all guarantee the former rather than the latter if your walk with Christ is the vantage point. Always looking at Him will put everything else into perspective. Now you’re set and you can sit down and enjoy the piece of cake that you thought college would be and then get into the real world.
Priorities:
Your priorities dictate the direction that your college career takes and its destination. If you have let Jesus Christ take the lead of your life, He should be your first priority; then the rest will be taken care of because He takes care of you. Matthew 6:33 (NLT) says, “and he [God] will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.” This doesn’t mean everything will be perfect. He won’t give you all the answers to your exam, although that would be sweet. He will, however, give you peace through difficulties and no one can do that except for God.
There is a bigger priority than just getting a degree: following Jesus daily and being directed by Him. So how do you keep God as your top priority? You can build and strengthen your relationship with God by spending time reading His words, the Bible. Talk and listen to Him. Ask Him what He wants you to do, and ask Him to show you ways you can serve other people. Use the gifts and talents God has given you to help out other students, and tell them about Jesus when they wonder what it is that is different about you. 1 Peter 3:15 (NLT) says, “...you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.” Find hardcore Christian friends, maybe through a Christian student organization like Street Level Ministries, who will keep you accountable, will pray with you, and will share in the struggles you will face. You will get pulled, invited, and enticed to drink, do drugs, have sex, and seek everything but God more than you ever have before.That is why is it very important not just to know about God, but to actually follow Him and continue to listen, talk, and learn from Him. That being said, your next priority, school, will fall into place and God will give you the resources and time to complete projects and study for exams. (Visit www.studygs.net/index.htm and see page 8 for time management tips)
Roommate(s):
The initial interaction with your roommate(s) is crucial. Living in very close quarters with another person only raises the tension that is already present. The space is tight, you may not know or like the other person or you may become very good friends with your roommate right off the bat. Either way, respecting the other person’s belongings and opinions will immensely help your transition to college life. Bringing too much stuff can cause major clutter and stress to your new home, so bring the essentials and move more stuff later if need be. (See page 9 for roommate tips and see map of Menomonie for quiet parks and coffee shops to get away for a while)
Tutors:
Using resources the college has such as tutors and workshops is not for dummies. On the contrary, it is for “smarties”: people who want a good grade, work for it, and use the tools that are right in front of them. Stout has writing workshops, the Math Teaching and Learning Center, computer labs with specific software for mathematics and science, physics tutors, and chemistry tutors. All of this information can be found on the Stout website, www.uwstout.edu. Once you are there, just search for the department of the class. Each department has its own web page that tells you where tutors or workshops are and the schedules for them. You can also go to your professor when you are struggling with an assignment for advice.
There are plenty of other resources online as well. The Purdue Online Writing Lab is accessible to anyone and provides tons of information on writing papers. Go to www.owl.english.purdue.edu and then click on Non-Purdue Instructors and Students. If you need assistance in a different area, look on a search engine and a lot of websites will pop up. (See study tips above)
Saving Cash:
How do you save money when money acts like a magician and does a disappearing act? Well, there are a few ways to save and still get the things you need. When going to Wal-mart, a lot of people tend to buy a bunch of stuff they don’t need, which ends up sitting in their closet, so have a list of what you need to buy and stick to it. Another way to save money is to look for deals around town. Shop at Aldi for groceries on a full stomach; they have cheap snack food, which is better than getting it from the dollar-sucking vending machines. Stop by the dollar store too, not for durable stuff, but for things like wrapping paper or cleaning supplies. There are also great deals on movies from RedBox. Movies from RedBox are only a dollar a night, 24/7. There are RedBox kiosks at the Student Center, Lammer’s grocery store, Wal-Mart, and Walgreens. Everyone has a different budget, so figure yours out and then stick to it. (See page 9 for money saving tips and budget help)
Student Organizations:
Student Organizations enable you to meet people with the same interests and take a break from homework. From auto to hand-drumming clubs, there is a group for you and if there is not, you and your friends can establish one. Most of these organizations are also on the Stout website and Bash on the Grass during the first week allows you to meet the people in the organizations and see what they are all about. Street Level Ministries is a Christian group of friends that reach out to students on campus as well as the community and around the world. This magazine is written, printed, and distributed by the members of Street Level. So, if you are looking for a real relationship with God and Bible study that goes verse-by-verse through the Bible as well as opportunities to serve God in college, you might want to check us out.
College will either be successful and profitable in your life or it will be a waste of time and money. Putting God first, finding deals, getting along with roommates, not procrastinating, getting involved, and leaving time to enjoy life to prevent “burn out” mode will all guarantee the former rather than the latter if your walk with Christ is the vantage point. Always looking at Him will put everything else into perspective. Now you’re set and you can sit down and enjoy the piece of cake that you thought college would be and then get into the real world.