Students blog

I started college during COVID – when everything was on lockdown and school was completely virtual. Because of that, I never stepped foot on campus for my entire freshman year. Now, as a senior, I have one big piece of advice for students at any stage of their college career: take advantage of all your school’s resources!!

As a student, you’re paying for way more than just your classes. College is the perfect time to explore your career options and get a head start on building your resume! I wish I had known all of the services that my school offered earlier on, which is why I’m here now to encourage you to get involved on campus and guide you on where to start.

Get Published!

No matter your major, getting your work published is a major achievement that will make your resume stand out. Luckily, your college has tons of different avenues to facilitate getting your voice out into the world! Most colleges run undergraduate journals and student media organizations specifically to publish students. Depending on your interests, you could: get your research peer-reviewed and published, join the school newspaper and continuously publish articles, get your poetry/short stories published and read by hundreds, and even more! For most people, this is the easiest path to getting that first publishing credit, so don’t let it pass you by!

The Writing Center

But, before you get published, you’ll actually have to get writing! The Writing Center is a great resource for free feedback on all your work. Writing is a skill that will be important in any future endeavor, so don’t miss out on the chance to strengthen it right now! The Writing Center is there to help refine any piece of writing, from essays to poetry. This is the perfect way to learn how to make your writing more effective and to get feedback on anything you’re working on. Need help on coming up with an essay topic? Struggling on a major assignment? Want tips on how to improve your writing overall? Give the Writing Center a visit!

Travel Opportunities

Traveling during your studies is one of the best ways to make lasting memories and friendships. Studying abroad is alluring but can often be too expensive or daunting to students. Luckily, many colleges offer other opportunities to explore. One common opportunity is an Alternative Break! These are trips that run during school breaks, are typically held domestically, and center around a social cause, thus providing students with an experience that adds meaning to their studies and can enhance a resume. It’s also the perfect way to meet like-minded people, learn about important issues and new places, and give back to your community.

The Career Center

Last, but definitely not least, is the Career Center! This is possibly the most bountiful resource that your college has to help you build your career. Need help making a resume? Want to improve your interviewing skills? Looking to meet and network with new people? Want to learn from alumni? Searching for a job or internship? The Career Center can help you with all of this and more!

College is the optimal platform to build a career from, but it doesn’t start once you get your degree. It starts now! Your college is there to help you get started while you’re in school– all the resources are there for you to use, so dive in now and get familiar with what your school offers you.

Do you have a compelling story or student success tips you’d like to see published on the Pearson Students blog?  If you are a college student and interested in writing for us – click here to pitch your idea and get started! 

The end of the semester is creeping closer, and everyone knows what that means – finals are approaching! Whether you're a freshman looking for tips on how to have a strong finish to your first academic year or a senior searching for the motivation to get through your last round of finals, here are a few strategies to help you study, manage stress, and succeed on all your tests!

1. Make a Study Plan 

A great way to manage your time is to enter finals with a predetermined study plan! Look at your schedule ahead of time and plan out the best days and times to reserve for studying. Make sure to give yourself ample time to get enough studying in, so that even if you skimp out on certain days, you’ll still have plenty of time to prepare. Most importantly – stick to your study plan! Do whatever to hold yourself accountable – set multiple notifications and alarms to remind you to study, motivate yourself with small daily rewards if you follow your plan, and make sure that you set achievable goals so you don’t overwhelm yourself. You’ll thank yourself if you take a small amount of time every day to study rather than cramming the nights before! 

2. Limit Your Screen-time 


Don’t give your phone the opportunity to distract you! Get ahead of the issue by implementing time limits for certain apps, turning off notifications for your apps, and by putting your phone in a separate location when you’re dedicating time to study! Your phone itself is a great tool to remind you to stay off of it! Utilize the features that will encourage you to take time away from it, like setting reminders when to turn off your phone, implementing screen-time limitations, and using ‘Do Not Disturb’ modes. 

3. Utilize Resources 

Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Make study plans with classmates to hold you accountable, engage with any tutoring services your campus offers, visit your professors’ office hours to clear up any concepts you’re struggling with, and make use of those study guides! There are a ton of people on campus that want to help set you up for success, so don’t be afraid to reach out to make sure that you will come to your finals prepared! There are also a ton of super helpful study resources offered on Pearson+ that you can check out and incorporate into your plan! 

4. Practice Self-Care 

Last but not least, make sure not to compromise your mental well-being for your classes! There are a ton of different techniques to manage stress, so make sure to incorporate the ways that work best for you into your study plan – whether that be doing yoga every morning, adding extra products into your night-time skincare routine, enjoying a hot cup of tea on a study break, or practicing breathing techniques. Your mind is your greatest asset during testing, so make sure 
to take care of it! 

Overall, make sure that you’re planning ahead going into finals and that you encourage yourself to start preparing early. This will drastically reduce your stress levels and help you earn great grades on all your tests. But, if you do find yourself falling behind on your study plans, reaching out for help through tutors or attending office hours is always a great idea. The most important thing to remember when heading into finals is that one grade on a test doesn’t define you, so just take a deep breath and try your best!

Do you have a compelling story or student success tips you’d like to see published on the Pearson Students blog?  If you are a college student and interested in writing for us – click here to pitch your idea and get started! 

It's that time of year again! The sun is shining, and there’s still plenty of time to enjoy your well-earned free time and make the most of your summer break. From visiting new places to learning new skills, you'll find all the best ways to make the most of your summer break listed here! Start making your bucket list now! 
 

1. Build Your Resume 


Though nobody wants to spend their entire break working, summer is a great time to look at different career opportunities and start adding experiences to your resume! Great opportunities to consider can range from volunteer work to internships to seasonal jobs. Committing to any of these options will show future potential employers that you are hard-working and that you have valuable experience in the workforce (and will give you some extra spending cash!). Not sure where to start? Reach out to your college’s career counselor or head onto Pearson+ to check out what actively hiring career opportunities they recommend to you! 
 

2. Learn a New Skill 


What’s that one thing you’ve always wanted to do but just never found the time to get around  to? Well, now’s your time to get started! Whether you’ve always wanted to start playing an instrument, learn how to sew, cook up new recipes, or start a homemade garden, nothing’s stopping you now that you’re on break! Dip your toes into different hobbies and learn more about what interests you. You can also check out what clubs and organizations your school offers and connect with new people who share your passions! 
 

3. Get Outside 


Especially if you live someplace where the winters are long and cold (like I do!), now’s the time to get outside and enjoy the warm weather! Some of my favorite outdoor activities include hiking national parks, swimming at the pool, biking around town, having picnics in the park, or finding some local live music to listen to. Even something as simple as sitting on your porch while you read or scroll your phone can be a breath of fresh air! Make sure not to waste the days before you’ll be sitting inside of classrooms all day again! 
 


4. Explore a New Place 


Exploring someplace new can range from traveling to a different city to making it a goal to find a new coffee shop you like right in your town. One of my favorite summers was spent in London, walking all around the city and learning how to navigate the Tube. But you don’t have to save up and travel miles to have a fun summer! Whether you’re a transplant studying in a foreign city or staying close to home, there’s always tons to explore right under your nose! Try a new restaurant, check out a local concert, try to find an Instagram-able mural – get acquainted with your town and maybe find your new favorite study location! 
 

5. Recharge Before Next Semester 

Lastly, and most importantly, make sure that you take plenty of time to regroup over the break so that you can dive back into your next semester recharged and ready to learn. Binge a new favorite show, pamper yourself with a new haircut, and catch up on all the sleep you’ve skipped out on the past semester!  
 
However, you choose to spend your summer break, make sure you spend plenty of time doing the things you enjoy! You’ve earned a break after a long semester of hard work– so enjoy your break! 

Do you have a compelling story or student success tips you’d like to see published on the Pearson Students blog?  If you are a college student and interested in writing for us – click here to pitch your idea and get started!