A Never Ending Week.

It’s monday today. Just two full days away from Results Day, and it feels like it’s lasting forever. 

I had a nightmare this morning, right before I woke up. It was results day and I checked track and it said unsuccessful to both my offers. So I cried, then I went into my Gran’s room and we cried together. Then I got my results which revealed I got EUU. So that brought on a new round of hysterics because I don’t understand how I could have possibly got those grades with the amount of work and revision i’ve done. So I set about planning on re-sitting the whole year. I woke up, and paused for a couple of minutes and thought ‘it’s not results day yet’, you can imagine my relief when I realised it was just a dream. Gah, all this waiting around is making me anxious. I don’t have a great deal of impatience as it is, so this doesn’t exactly help! 

Come on results day, hurry up!

An Essential List for Funnsies!

Hi guys, well I got a great suggestion from CharlottexBelle on Formspring to compile a list of essential items to take to uni. Now I can’t make this from experience because I haven’t started yet, so i’m kind of making this list blind, however, this is in my opinion, the must haves for uni! ........

• Photos. For several reasons. Firstly, to decorate your room, it’s going to be your own little place for a while, you might as well make it homely.  Secondly, when your feeling home sick, I know photos may make you sad because you miss someone, but they can also put a smile on your face, and remembering a good memory is definately the way to go to cheer yourself up. I’ve lost count the amount of times i’ve been sat on a bus grinning like a chesire cat because i’ve remembered a good time, and people are sitting giving me funny looks. Maybe they should try it! 

• Footie Shirt. Ok, so it’s not an essential, but I was de-cluttering my room this afternoon and I came across my old Newcastle shirt. I don’t wear it anymore, so I had an idea, whey!  I’m going to stick it on my corkboard at uni, it shows where I come from man! And I love where I come from. Newcastle in my opinion is amazing. If you haven’t been, i’d recommend you try it out, shopping is awesome. Plus, this shirt is another way to decorate my room. It’s not an essential, but if you’re proud of where you come from, you could maybe think about putting one up...........a one you don’t wear! :) 

• Bottle Opener! This in my opinion, is the most essential item. (Oh yes!), so you have a bottle of booze, FANTASTIC! And then you realise you have nothing to open it with, (Ohhh no!) so you spend some time frantically running around like a headless chicken trying to find out. So yeah, bottle opener is a necessity. Unless of course “Ye hard as nails’ (Geordie talk) and open it with your teeth. I really wouldn’t recommend trying this if you want to keep them in one piece!

• Inhalers. Ok this is me personally. If you’re asthmatic, i’d definately recommend you stocking up a few inhalers at the start of the semester in case you don’t time to run along to the docs while you’re at uni.

• Tablets. Medicines. Etc. A few of you may have heard of Freshers Flu. Apparantly everyone is guaranteed to get it, I hope i’m lucky! Anyway, I reckon you would be wise to stock up on painkillers, flu tablets, cough medicine, etc, you get the picture. You aren’t at home anymore, Mummy won’t be there to run around after you!

• A Notebook. Seems pretty obvious huh? Well, my Dad advised me to take a small notebook to keep track of cash. Everyweek, budget before you spend anything. This will help you see how much you have spare, whether or not money is going missing or you’re unexpectadely overspending, etc.

• White-tac. Nobody wants to leave at the end of the year with the accommodation people on their backs about little pieces of blu-tac or pins in the walls. White-tac is apparantly less likely to mark.

• A USB Memory Stick. This is very much essential. And also I tip I came across in one of my study books. If you miss a deadline, losing you work because of technical problems is not an excuse and you will lose marks. So it would be a good idea to always back your work up to a USB stick. That’s what I plan on doing. That way, if you computer breaks down, or you by accident delete your work, it’s ok, don’t panic, you have it saved elsewhere. My study book also recommends you save all your work to the uni computers as well as your own, that way, it’s saved in 3 different places. Surely the guy on the cloud doesn’t hate you that much to steal all your work! (Sorry if any folk are religious, i’m not trying to be offensive).

• A Planner. In my opinion, this is an absolute necessity. To record everything down, work, lectures, seminars, assignment deadlines, exam dates, etc. EVERYTHING. Again, i’d definately the Palgrave Student Planner, however, if you are after a planner/diary which is a page to a day, this isn’t the planner for you. Seven days is spread out over two pages.

• Highlighters. I love highlighters. They are so helpful. Great for highlighting important points in work notes or books (only if you own them!) Everything seemed to mould into one when I was doing my A Levels, until I started highlights, things started standing out and i’d remember them better. Personally, i’d recommend using a bright yellow highlighter. It’s the only colour i’ve found that doesn’t leave a blotty darker colour spot where the highlight has left the page (anyone know what I mean?) So yeah, should you decide to use them, definately yellow.

• CV. It sounds daft doesn’t it? I mean, a decent CV can be put together in less than half an hour. BUT! By having an up to date CV, if you see a job advertised, you can quickly get it printed and sent in, much quicker than if you didn’t have one. It saves the stress of getting one created, especially if your low on time.

• Condoms. Ok, so i’m not here to lecture you on birth control. But really folks, nothing is going to put a downer more on the whole uni experience, than a screaming baby in tow! You may think in the heat of the moment, that it doesn’t matter, but I promise that’s not what you’ll think the morning after.

• Pads and Tampons. Sorry guys if you’re reading this and are squeamish, but it’s true. Ladies, i’d advise stocking up on these now if you seen them on special offer, you’ll thank yourself if your time of the month rolls around and you’re a bit strapped for cash! I think my Gran is planning on buying me a years supply (Oh dear lord!). 

• Earplugs! If you’re like me, and you cherish every moment of sleep, AND you turn into the incredible hulk if woken from that sleep, then definately invest in some earplugs. Excellent especially for nights before exams when you just can’t sleep because of the racket or whatever. Come to think of it actually, they may actually be good for those who are easily distracted, they can be used to help you zone out from any distractions and focus on whatever work you are supposed to be doing.

• Subject Specific Dictionary. I’m not sure if this is necessarily an essential, but i’d recommend getting one if you think you’ll need one. For example, last year when I was studying Sociology, I was forever looking for definitions of terms instead of focusing on actual revision, it was a godsend when I discovered the Sociology Dictionary. I couldn’t believe i’d never thought of looking for one before. And i’ve found that alot of subjects have these kind of things. I plan on buying a Dictionary for Criminology for Amazon. Oh that’s another recommendation for you. Don’t buy any books from books shops, they cost an arm and a leg, buy from Amazon, sometimes you can even get them really cheap and brand new. For example, a few months ago I bought a Criminology book which cost me £30, if I had of bought that from the shops, it would have cost me around £75. Massive difference! 

• Slippers! If you’re going to be living in halls. Slippers are a must. Halls floors, especially in the kitchens get filthy and sticky. Nobody wants stick feet right! Get yourself down to Primark or something, probably cost two quid or something, hardly going to break your bank balance! ;)

• Alarm Clock. It doesn’t matter whether this is an actual clock, aslong as you have one. Phone, organiser, clock, whatever it is, just make sure you have one. 

• ID. It really wouldn’t be wise to turn up to uni without some form of ID. No matter how much you prop your boobs up and out, I can promise you, you’ll find some bouncer who will refuse you access without some ID. And you lads should know bouncers can be even stricter with the male species. Don’t spoil your night, go prepared. 

Of course there are other necessities for uni, such as bedding, cutlery, etc. I will get down to those before I go to uni.......i’ll write a proper list. This was just a kind of fun essential list to do :) 

More Recommendations For You Guys!

Hey guys, so I mentioned in a past post that I was waiting for a holdall and a book to come through from Amazon.

Firstly, the holdall. I started searching for a large holdall/suitcase when I realised that my luggage at home really wasn't going to be enough to fit everything in, and since I plan on trying to get everyone I need down in one trip, I knew this might be a challenge. So I set about doing some research and found that even the biggest suitcases don't have that much capacity inside, even though the prices are crazily high. So I decided on a holdall, and found this one on Amazon, which was £28.50, the original one I wanted was from Argos but they had sold out, and then I found this one. The main thing that attracted me was a) the reviews, it didn't seem to have any bad ones (that I can remember anyway), and b) how much it could hold. It holds so much stuff, I have almost my entire wardrobe packed in that thing, as well as a couple of coats, and a few teddies (gotta make the place look like home!)..........I tried taking a few photos to show you guys what it's like, but my bluetooth is being naughty so i'll have to make do with the one from Amazon's website.

The only disadvantage of this is that it is mega heavy when it's filled, but to be honest, that's not exactly a surprise, I knew it would be. The most important thing for me when purchasing this was to make sure it held alot of stuff, and boy does it. I've got so many clothes in here it is unreal. So if you're like me and have so much stuff and struggling to find the space to get it all to uni, i'd advise checking this out.......you can get even bigger ones, but I was bit intimidated by the size of this one, so i'm glad I didn't go any bigger. If you are interested in checking these out, i'll put the link here.

I've actually done quite a bit of shopping over the last couple of days. I went to my local diddy town shopping centre and got a couple of bits of clothes in. I'm trying my best to get as much clothes as possible to stop me from buying them when I go away........as if that's going to happen, ha! :) But it's what i'm aiming for. And so i've been scouting round for bargains. Because i'm trying to stock up, i've been buying in bulk. I went to Matalan's and bought some mens joggy bottoms. Now I know what your thinking, "Why is she buying mens clothes?", I promise i'm not a freak......but i've found that mens lounge pants are so much better quality and more comfy too. Actually, the way I came across them was that my dear Grandad died a few months ago as i've already mentioned and alot of his stuff was left untouched, he'd just got brand new pjs and joggy bottoms and what not for Christmas. So my Gran was sorting his stuff out and thought I might like to have his joggy bottoms. I was a bit skeptical at first, because well, like you, I was thinking 'Woah, mens clothes, they ain't going to be any good for me'. I was pleasantly surprised however to find that I loved them. They are a tad long so i'm going to have to get them taken up in length, but they were so thick and soft. In comparison to the womens, which are so think and not very warm at all. Anyway, he only one pair of those, so i've pinched them, and yesterday when I went into Matalan I picked up another two pair. For £6 they are totally a bargain and will definately be comfy for me to lounge about studying in. Interested in checking those out? Here is the link. The only bad point I have to make about those is that they come right past your waist, but to be honest, I haven't found that an issue, i've just rolled them over and over until they reach my hips, it's not a problem for me, their cheap, their warm, their cosy, so i'm happy with those.

I also picked up some plain leggings from Select. I think they were £8 for two pairs. I bought 4. I know this may sound extreme, but i'm totally stocking up for the Winter to get me through, plus I go through leggings so quickly, because I wear them that often, they tend to get a few holes in after around 6 weeks, so it's best to have a couple of spare pairs.

Today I went into Matalan again, (great for bargains!), and picked up some slippers. Not very exciting, but I love them, they are so warm and comfy. I only really wanted them so my feet don't get sticky or dirty or whatever from the floors in halls. I've seen how messy they can get! These are my new slippers......Don't they look super cosy! :)

I've been on the lookout for some cheap towels, and I found some in ASDA the other day, I picked up the plum colour. Usually I would have went for pink, but I totally fancied a change. I bought two bath sheets, 2 for £10, and two bath towels, 2 for £7. They don't actually have the plum colour on the website, but they have others, if you're looking for a bargain. £5 for a decent towel ain't bad!

Finally, the last thing I have to review is a book which I bought from Amazon.........'HOW TO GET A FIRST, The essential guide to academic success'. Firstly, I just want to say that I'm well aware that by reading this book, i'm not just going to magically get a first, I know that, but i'm prepared to do everything I can in order to get one, even if that means a complete overhaul of my study technique.

I haven’t quite finished reading the book yet, but I am more than halfway through, and I can say it’s definately helped me. For some people, they may already know all this stuff and their technique is perfect, but for me, I needed the extra help, so it was worth buying. 

This is what the back says (the blurb?), whatever it is, this is what it says........

Do you have to be a genius to get a first at university?

In How to Get a First, Thomas Dixon argues that you do not, and sets out to demystify first-class degrees in the arts, humanities and social sciences, clearly articulating the difference between the excellent and the merely competent in undergraduate work. This concise, no-nonsense guidebook will give prospective and current students advice on the teaching and learning styles that prevail at university, and on how to manage their two most important resources - their time and their lecturers. In an accessible, and entertaining style, the author looks at subjects such as:

• Making the transition from school to university.
• Developing transferable skills.
• Making use of lectures and seminars.
• Using libraries and the internet.
• Note-taking, essays, seminars and presentations.
• Common mistakes to avoid.
• Writing with clarity and style.
• Revision and examinations.

Illustrated with many examples from a range of academic disciplines, How to Get a First is an all-purpose guide to success in academic life. For more tips and useful links, visit www.getafirst.com. Thomas Dixon has taught at the Universities of Cambridge and London, and is now a Lecturer in History at Lancaster University.

I can’t promise this book will be useful to you, but I can already tell that it is helping me, and I haven’t even started my degree yet! So if you are interested in this, i’d recommend checking it out! If you want a more detailed review, just let me know, but then I might even have finished the book which will of course give me the opportunity to really let rip about this book! I’ll put the link here.......How to Get a First!

That’s all I have to say for the moment folks. Hope you are all having a great day! 

P.S.........5 days until Results. ARGH! 

Ten Time-Saving Suggestions

Save rewriting notes, and find more quickly what you have written.

• Write on ready-punched filepaper. (It can be moved more easily between files, and rearranged as needs arise). Notebooks are much less convenient.
• When making notes, write each major point on a different sheet. Then, when you are writing essays or reports, you can shuffle pages as necessary. Make sure each page is adequately headed so that you can put it back in the right file afterwards.
• Write your notes on a laptop, computer or an electronic note-maker if you have one of these.

Save time writing notes.

• Avoid writing notes in full sentence - use headings and keywords.
• Don’t rewrite notes in ‘neat’ (Arrrgh, i’m guilty of this!)
• Leave lots of space so you can add details later.
• Don’t write the same information twice, if two writers make the same point, note in the margin a cross-reference to your earlier notes.

Save time looking for your notes.

• Keep them all in one place.
• File them as you go along.
• Number your pages and label or colour-code them by subject in the top outer corner, so that you can arrange and find information easily.
• Note where the information came from, keep an (updated) guide to your files.

Save time reading.

• Read only what is relevant to this essay or assignment.
• If something looks interesting for the future but is not relevant now, fill out an index card or make an electronic record, noting what looked worth reading.

Save time in writing and looking up your references.

• In the margin of your notes, write the page reference from the book.
• For every book, article, etc that you read, complete an *index card.
• Alternatively, keep n updated file of your references on the computer - you will probably use some for more than one assignment. Some word-processing packages have a card-index facility.

Use word limits to focus your energies.

• You need to research less, read less, note less, and write less for a 1500 word essay than for a 3000 word essay. If you don’t spend less time preparing ad writing, you will take extra time later, reducing your notes and cutting text to meet the word limit.
• Map out your work to match the word limit. Eg, Into 100 words, Paragraph 1 200 words etc.

Save time thinking.

• Always carry a small book in which you can record ideas as they occur to you.
• Try brainstorming to get your mind working.

Save time organising information.

• Use numbers and highlighter pens to group information written on different pages, rather than writing it all out again. 
• In the early stages of making pattern notes, use small post it labels so you can shuffle ideas around.

Save time writing.

Write assignments directly onto a computer.

Avoid duplicating effort.

Find a study partner to share research tasks and tactics and to bounce ideas off.

*An index card should include the following:

• Topic
• Names and initials of author(s)
• Year of publication
• Title
• Volume/Collection
• Edition
• Location of publisher: Publisher
• Where to find a copy
• Brief summary of contents

The advantages of this approach include:

• You will know exactly where to look if you need to double-check some point.
• Writing the ‘references’ page is so much easier.
• If you use a computer, you can simply ‘cut and paste’ references when you reuse them.

Effective Diary-Keeping

A ‘week to view’ diary for the academic year is ideal. Fill in all the important dates for the year, such as family holidays, medical appointments and study activities. Include everything you do.

WHAT TO PUT IN ABOUT YOUR STUDY

To be effective, your diary or planner needs to be a complete record of what you have to do:

• Write in all study deadlines, exam dates, field trips, etc.
• Write in exactly where and with whom each appointment or lecture is.
• Add in very specific study tasks, eg, ‘Read Chapters 2-4 of Urban Ecology’.
• Schedule some free time to be used in catching up on what got missed.

Map into the diary the times when you will:

• Think about the subject.
• Prepare for lectures and seminars.
• Prepare for other formal sessions.
• Plan your work.
• Organise and refile your notes.
• Reflect on your learning.
• Discuess work with others.
• Research each subject.
• Write early drafts.
• Edit and redraft your writing.
• Check your work.

Allow some time for emergencies and unforeseen events.

HOW TO USE YOUR DIARY OR PLANNER

Your diary will be effective only if your keep it up to date and use it:

• Carry it with you at all times.
• Check it several times a day, especially at night and first thing in the morning.
• Add new appointments straight into it.
• Write inessential appointments in pencil, so you can make changes easily.
• Organise entries so you can see at a glance which time is filled - to make sure you cannot double-book yourself.
• Use the diary’s year-planner.

COLOUR CODES AND SYMBOLS

Use colours and symbols to indicate a different activities and subjects in your diary. If you use colour and symbols consistently, you will find after a while that you don’t need to ‘read’ the entries: you will be able to see at a glance what is there. Use a positive or energising symbol for activities you dislike.

Examples:

• Smiley face for socialising.
• A pencil for writing.
• A book for reading.
• An ear for a lecture.
• A bookshelf for the library.
• A piece of paper for a final draft.
• A happy sun ray face for an exam.
• A road for travelling.
• And a random pattern for a seminar.

DIARY LISTS

• Write a fresh lists of things to do on a piece of paper or post-it label (I find this very useful).
• Divide the list into ‘Today’ and ‘Soon’ (so you are aware of what you need to do long term).
• Write items under headings so that they are easy to see, ‘Study’, ‘Home’, ‘Other’ (or whatever headings suit you).
• Star or highlight the essential items.
• Attach or paperclip the list to the page opposite the current page of the diary.
• Cross out all of the completed items so that you are clear what is left to do.

TIME PATTERNS

Look for time patterns that suit you. You may prefer to work in short spells of twenty minutes or find you are increasingly engrossed by study as the day progresses.

As far as possible, schedule study activities to suit your own time patterns. For example, if you begin slowly, schedule short activities, such as brainstorming ideas, early in the day. You may find it easier to write at night when it is quiet - or it may suit you to write in the mornings when you feel more alert.

MINI GOALS

Set yourself mini-goals as milestones, so that you have a sense of achievement.

• Break larger assignments, such as writing a report, into smaller tasks: ‘Read course notes’. ‘Find course materials’, etc.
• Break each of these sections into smaller tasks: ‘Make notes on pp. 20-40 or Business Management’.
• Set a realistic time allowance for each mini-goal. ‘Make notes on pages 25-45: 20 mins’.
• Give yourself a start time - and stick to it!
• Set a target end-time. However, if you have not finished, keep going until you have.
• The important thing is not how long you spend studying, but to complete each mini-goal.

Mini-goals work best when they are:

• Integrated: Clearly linked to a larger plan, such as your essay, project or overall motivation for the course.
• Manageable and realistic: Set yourself achievable goals.
• Specific: So you know what you are going to tackle.
• Measurable: such as a set number of pages to read, or a report section to write.
• Flexible: ‘empty’ spaces into your timetable for emergencies, and be prepared to change things around if necessary’. 

Managing Your Time.

Hello again folks, here are the tips as promised. I hope you find them useful! :) Also, I think it’s important I confirm these tips and what not aren’t my own work, it’s just stuff i’ve got lying around in my room, which I think people could benefit from, before I hoy them in the trash! :) 

MANAGING YOUR TIME

As only part of your week and year will be formally timetabled, you will be responsible for organising most of your study time. This can be challenging when there are committments such as work, family and friends to fit in.

Organise your time. To manage time well, it helps to do the following:

• Be aware of your own time management.
• Be aware of how much time it takes you to complete each type of study task.
• Be aware that many aspects of study take much longer than expected.
• Schedule time for unforeseen events.
• Schedule time for relaxation and leisure.
• Be very specific in your time-planning.

Set your priorities.

You may find that you have more things to do than there is time to complete. If so, it will help if you think through what your priorities are, either for the day, the week, or the year.

If you find yourself in this situation, it may be helpful to do the following:

• Write a list of everything you have to do.
• Underline essential tasks in one colour, and those that can wait, in another colour.
• Identify the most urgent item on the list.
• Work out the best order to do things.
• Work out how much time you have to spend on each.
• Enter each essential task into your timetable and diary.

Morning People!

Yo folks! It's currently 1:36AM and i'm lying here rather bored. I should really head off to bed but that would involve effort. Ha, i'm being lazy.

I don't really have much to say on the university front because nothing has changed in the last few days, Oooo, except i bought my towels the other day from ASDA. A nice plum colour. They are really cool.....well, as cool as towels can be ;)

What I do have is some leaflets and articles and random stuff which have advice for tips for new University Students, so I thought others might aswell benefit too, so i'm going to type those up for you! :) Tomorrow I am expecting my holdall to arrive, Mr Parcel Man did come yesterday but I was shopping in London, typical! So I changed the date and that is coming tomorrow, when it arrives I will give a review on it, material, sizing, etc. And on Thursday, my book which I mentioned in the first blog will be coming, I will give a review on that, obviously that one may take a while because I need time to read it.

Palgrave Student Planner
Now in my last post, I mentioned the Palgrave Student Planner, but I didn't go into too much detail, or give my full review so i'm going to do that now......

Firstly, I have to say, I was very pleased with it, it had everything I expected and more, so definately value for money.

Contents:
- Year Planner.

- Notable Dates.

- A space for personal details, uni/college, emergency contacts/any allergies and medical conditions.

- Tutor contact details, along with subject, room, phone and email. There is a tone of space for these in case you have more than one tutor.

- Contact details for college services, eg, student union, student services, accommodation, transport, etc.

- Also space for essential local service numbers, eg gas, water, cinema, take away.

- Landlord details.

- Useful contacts, it gives you loans and finance, sexual health and family planning numbers etc.

- A list of useful websites (I haven't tried any of these yet, when I do, i'll recommend them if I think they are helpful), wow they take up like 4 pages!

- Also, they have tips on time management, revision and exams, managing stress, university language, spelling rules, grammar rules etc.

- Keyboard shortcuts.

- Cooking temperatures and laundry symbols. The laundry symbol idea is great in my opinion, I defo need help with those! :P

That's basically all the necessities. The actual planner itself was the most important buying factor for me, because I wanted space to be able to write what I needed to do, sometimes you see those awful planners/diaries and they have like 2 lines or something per day, which is just no good. This one has plenty of space.

At the back, there is a section for addresses and contact details. Also birthdays and events to remember. A to do list which is quite cool, this will definately come in handy, it has a column for when it needs doing, and a tick column too. This is followed with tips for managing your money, and a section which helps to sort out your own personal finances, which is really cool. Next comes a section for notes, and assignments and exam deadlines which is good if your like me and get your dates mixed up (I actually managed to miss an exam last year accidentally, it all worked out though, was only General Studies), then recommended reading by tutors, also tables to record which books you have on reserve from the library and when they need to be back. A revision timetable and subject planner, then a record of marks table, which again is pretty cool, easy to see how well you are doing. Then right at the back you have a timetable, so you can see this planner is just jam packed. I'm so glad I bought it, if you interested, i'll give you the link in a moment for you to go check out......... You can see here aswell, atm, the cheapest Planner on the marketplace and brand new is £3.50 which is so cheap compared to the shops, so a definate bargain! :)

I'll post the tips and stuff on a different post so they are easy to find for other people! So if your interested, bear with me :D