Do You Have The Time? How Deal With Professors Who Don’t Dismiss Class

We've all had to sit through a class or two that goes on longer than the official time block scheduled in the student catalogue. There are always a few students who didn't follow along exactly and need to ask questions that unnecessarily waste everyone's time. There is always that one professor who doesn't have a watch and tends to ramble on. There's always that one classroom with a broken clock telling the wrong time on the back wall. So what about those of you who haven't had this happen yet? How will you deal with it?

Take our advice. We've dealt successfully with these situations before, so don't fret too much. You have plenty of options. Depending on the atmosphere of the classroom, on whether or not it's an easy-going class, you could simply raise your hand as suggest that the class dismiss, letting the students who needed to stay have one on one time with the professor. Or, if that would cause discomfort, you could always sit through it and talk to the professor afterward and let him know that you need to get to a class right after his. This is a great strategy because it avoids confrontation and shows the professor that you still care about his class, but have other responsibilities. He or she will appreciate the honesty, most likely.

If the problem persists, you could try to place yourself near to an exit door so that you can make your escape should the need arise. You might consider letting your professor know that you just absolutely cannot stay longer than necessary, but again, get a feel for your professor's mood before bringing that up. Ideally, you can get out of the classroom without causing too much of a distraction.

At the worst, you might have to drop the class, though it should rarely come to this. If professors continually hold classes over, you can also consider talking to someone in the department that oversees their courses, and the department can speak with them. However, as with all your interactions with professors, be as respectful as you can.

Staying Safe in College

The college experience should be a time of personal growth, learning new things and meeting new friends. All too often, though, a student's experience is dampened by crimes that take place on or near his or her campus. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to deterring crime. It's far better to do what you can to prevent a crime from happening in the first place than to find yourself reporting a crime to campus police. Here, we will discuss ways to keep safe while in college.

By far the most frequent crimes that occur on most college campuses are thefts and burglaries. Prevention of these crimes starts in the residence halls. While it's helpful that many dorm rooms now feature self-locking doors, many students are tempted to prop them open while they run a quick errand or visit a friend in a neighboring dorm room. This is never a good idea, as a theft can occur in a matter of minutes. Next thing you know, you return to your dorm to find your iPod or laptop is missing. It is also a good general practice to place anything of value, such as cash or jewelry, out of plain sight in a dorm room. Thieves will be looking for a quick and easy opportunity.

The same is true of vehicle burglaries on campus — don't leave items such as books, purses or shopping bags in plain sight in your car. Place them in your trunk, or at the very least place a blanket or coat over these items to conceal them. Even a visible backpack can be a temptation, as a burglar may wish to steal it to search for textbooks to quickly resell for cash. Even if the burglar finds nothing of value, you've still got a broken door or window to deal with.

Students should consider taking self-defense classes to protect themselves from physical assault. Women especially should take self-defense classes to protect themselves from sexual assault. These classes are offered by many universities and often count as a P.E. or elective credit. At parties, never leave your drink unattended, as this places you at risk of getting slipped the date rape drug.

Finally, never walk alone at night on campus, even if it's just back to your residence hall after class. Walk with a friend, ask a campus police officer to escort you or take advantage of a night escort service offered by many universities.

The Coolest Dorms in the Country

For students who have never had a taste of freedom, their first dorm room will be great no matter what condition it is in, or how many empty pizza boxes are stacked in the corner. Most colleges and universities provide an average housing experience that pushes many to move off-campus as soon as possible. However, some institutions are known for their diverse housing options. Here is where you can find the country’s coolest dorms.

* Live like a king. Have you ever dreamed of living in a castle? If you enroll at Brandeis University in Massachusetts you just might get the chance. The institution’s Usen Castle offers 120 sophomore students the chance to live in the oldest building on campus, which also offers views of the Boston skyline from its balcony, according to the school’s official website. In addition, no two rooms in the castle are alike. Usen is also the home of Cholmondeley’s, or Chum’s, a student-managed coffee shop. According to U.S. News & World Report, this spot was the model for Central Perk on the television show Friends.
* Room with a view. Cramming for exams is a part of most students’ college experience. So when you are stuck inside your tiny dorm room all weekend, wouldn’t it be nice to look at your window and see an amazing view of the Pacific Ocean? According to U.S. News, that is just what some students get to see from their dorms at Loyola Marymount University in California.
* An architect’s dream dorm. Over 300 Massachusetts Institute of Technology students live inside the shimmering Simmons Hall, which is also known as the Sponge. This architectural landmark is 10 stories high and glows with interior light after dark, according to the school’s official website. This dormitory is home to a computer cluster, fitness center, music rooms and street-level dining. If all this was not enough, students can let off some steam in what U.S. News refers to as a playground-style pit filled with tiny plastic balls.
* Camping anyone? So it is not really a dorm experience, but each fall, a few students from New York’s St. Lawrence University head to the Adirondacks where they study the environment, U.S. News reports. They also live in electronics-free yurts, which are portable, felt-covered structures that are a little homelier than tents. This arrangement is a part of the university’s outdoor program. Though it probably is not for everybody, it is definitely one of the more interesting college living experiences.
* Historical living. Students have the opportunity to be a part of history at the University of Virginia, which was founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819. The institution’s official website states that seniors can apply to live in a Lawn room at the heart of the former president’s original school. A total of 54 seniors can reside in this historic residence. Rooms come furnished with a bed, desk and a rocking chair. Some even have their own fireplace. Not many other schools offer students a chance to have fireside chats with their dormmates.
* Dorm of the future. Vassar College in New York is where students can live like it is the future. The curved Noyes House has been referred to as the Jetsons’ Lounge, according to the school’s official website. Though Vassar’s other residence halls are more Victorian and Edwardian in style, the futuristic Noyes House, which was built in 1958, stands out for its modernist exteriors and futuristic interiors.
* See for yourself. A cool college dorm should not be the main reason for applying to an institution. However, you will be spending a lot of time there, so it is important to like your residence. The best way to get a look at what could be your future home is to take a campus tour.

Survive a Field Trip When You’re in College

Field trips in elementary, middle and high school rock, quite simply. You don't have to sit in class, you get a packed lunch — or even get to eat out in some cases — and don't have homework. Basically, you get to spend the day talking with your friends and getting to see kids from other classes whom you normally don't get to socialize with at school. In college, field trips are usually never like that. With the occasional exception of art students visiting a museum, or voluntary or extra credit field trips that let you tour a place on your own time, college field trips destroy your schedule, and sometimes even your weekends. If you masterminded your schedule so that you didn't have class on Friday, how awful is it to have to go on a field trip all day on a Friday? And if your field trip is a day trip, you can say goodbye to happy hour, power hour, and nap time, too. Even if you'd normally be in class during your field trip, it's not like skipping a class in high school: it's actually more trouble than it's worth. You're going to fall behind and have to do extra work chasing down the professor and making up your work — especially if there was a quiz — just because of that stupid field trip.

To make your day-long (let's hope it's not any longer) field trip less annoying, you've got to pack the right bag and make some preparations. Get with your professor ahead of time so that he or she knows you'll be leaving because of another class, and bring the reading or lecture notes — if they're already online — with you on the bus. Also let your friends know your miserable luck, and have them keep you updated on plans so that you can meet up with them as soon as your bus gets back to school.

Your survival bag should of course include some schoolwork so that you can catch up as much as you can, as well as things to keep you happy. Bring snacks, your iPod, a magazine, and even an eyemask or small pillow so that you can sleep away the bus ride.

From Power Hour to Happy Hour: Adapting to the Work Week After College

College students' schedules change with every semester, quarter, and/or vacation, and even the schedules they do have vary day to day. On Mondays and Wednesdays, you might have to wake up for an 8:30a.m. class, but you can take a nap until your part-time job starts at noon, and then spend the rest of the afternoon studying and taking more classes. Tuesdays and Thursdays might allow you to sleep until 11a.m., but you're in class until 8p.m. Your main concern as a college student with a busy schedule is keeping it all straight as each day brings something new, but when you graduate and enter the workforce, adapting to a regular 9-5 (plus overtime) is harder than it seems.

Just because you've got to be in the same place at the same time every day doesn't mean you'll have an easy time adjusting. You might have less to remember, but your body isn't going to like the change at first. Your mornings will most likely start much earlier, and you won't have time to go back to your room and take a nap, or even eat according to your own preferred schedule. Top that with wearing uncomfortable work clothes and getting minimal exercise as you sit in one chair all day, and your new schedule could seem like a trap.

With a few tricks, however, you can ease your way into the five-day work week. When you first start your job, you might be tempted to start going to happy hour every evening after work: you're exhausted, lonely and just want to unwind in a way that reminds you that you're still young and crazy. But in the early days at least you should limit yourself to one or two dinners, coffees or drink dates per week, and commit to going to bed at the same time every night. Ideally, you'll head home after work and give your body and mind the kind of rest and rejuvenation it really needs: some exercise, a healthy dinner, and uninterrupted sleep. Drinking alcohol greatly impairs the quality of your sleep, even if you pass out right away. It will also be much easier for you to wake up on time in the morning if you had a relaxing evening the night before.

If you're able to wake up on time each day but find yourself crashing before lunch or during the mid-afternoon slump, arm yourself with healthy snacks and scheduled breaks. High-protein, low-fat snacks with complex carbohydrates — and not starchy, sugary carbs — will rev up your energy and keep your mind focused. Since you can't eat actual meals whenever you want like you could in college, keep these snacks in your desk and in the office refrigerator for break times. Take a walk around the block to clear your head, get some fresh air, and free yourself from the confines of your cubicle. It'll boost your mood and help acclimate you to the work week. It's not so torturous if you find out how to give your body the rest it needs and to indulge yourself in little treats and breaks throughout the day.

What to Expect During Your First Week of College

No matter how many times you've watched Animal House, Old School or any other college movie, you're not totally prepared to start the school year if you think it's going to be one non-stop party. You'll be living on your own and will have surprisingly easy access to alcohol and other substances even if you're underage (or they're illegal), can eat whatever you want, sleep on a random schedule, and choose whether or not to go to class, but if you regularly indulge in all of the above, you'll probably be kicked out on your fat, wheezing self after the first semester.

Getting ready for college means having more realistic, balanced expectations for college life, and that starts with educating yourself about what will happen during your first week at college. Whether you attend a large university or a small liberal arts school, your first few days will be taken up with registration and orientation activities, though no school's welcome week is the same. The first day obviously involves moving in, meeting your roommate and saying goodbye to your teary but proud parents, and later on you should expect to have some sort of dorm meeting to explain basic policies, rules, study breaks and how other things around the dorm work, like laundry.

For the next few days, you should expect to have a pretty busy schedule, but you may have already been able to check it on your school's new student website before arriving on campus. You may be assigned to a mentor or orientation group to make the process go more smoothly, meet students right away and be able to ask questions of an older student or other guide who can help you. Registering for classes, buying books, taking placement exams and attending mixers are all a part of freshmen orientation week, but it's up to you to figure out which events you need to go to, which you should go to (in order to meet new friends and mingle with professors), and which aren't worth your time.

This week of college is a great opportunity to reinvent yourself from the start and give everyone a solid first impression of yourself, socially and academically. Everyone's nervous, exhausted and anxious to get on a real schedule, but push yourself to attend parties and events sponsored by departments or extracurricular groups you might be interested in joining, like the drama improv group, volunteer network, or student government association. Official and unofficial parties will be thrown at night, especially if your campus has a lively Greek population, but make sure you don't go overboard, at least not until you've met friends you can trust and have taken all your placement exams.

Getting Your Rear in Gear: Staying Active in College

Ah, college. Those glorious years when you study hard, party harder, and put on 25 pounds by the time you graduate. Wait a minute. Was that last bit not exactly a part of your ideal college experience? Sadly, packing on the pounds is a reality for many students as they enter college life and begin to form habits like studying over the pizza box and downing beer and junk food at parties. The food that's the worst for you is almost always the cheapest, and students' health often suffers from a lack of physical activity.

Your required physical education courses are not always enough to keep your body healthy. That's why it's important to incorporate exercise into a college lifestyle. One luxury that most college students have is access to a fitness or recreation center on their campus. Not only do these centers generally have cardio machines, weight training machines and free weights, but they also usually have open workout rooms where different types of fitness classes are offered, such as yoga, pilates or aerobics. Some college recreation centers even feature pools for open lap swimming. These gyms can get packed in the early evenings with workout junkies, so you may want to get in the habit of hitting the gym every other day in the morning before class.

Another exercise option for those who don't care for the gym scene is joining an intramural sports team. Many students would rather join a softball, basketball or sand volleyball intramural team than hit the gym because it's a more fun way to stay active while hanging out with like-minded friends. And sometimes having people you know surrounding you is what it takes to stay active.

If intramurals don't interest you, there's always running, where the only competition is against yourself. If you go to a school in a larger metropolitan city, chances are there is an organized group of runners in your city and you can connect with them through their various blogs after a brief Internet search. If you live in a smaller college town, you may need to get creative and search out your own running routes near your campus. Then again, there's always your university's track, when it's not in use by the track team.

Whatever choice you make, remember that you are doing the right thing for your body when you make exercise a part of your lifestyle. With a healthy body and an active lifestyle, you will have the confidence and the energy you need to succeed in college.