5 of My Favorite College Bloggers Everyone Should be Following!

Blogging today is really popular. It seems like everyone either wants a blog or has one and it can be about anything. There are blogs out there for fitness, beauty, fashion, food, travel, cooking, kittens, video games, etc. Name a topic. There’s a blog about it.

Some blogs are about nothing in particular, and are just meant to be fun reads and updates on a person’s life. No matter what your favorite blog topics are, you should check out this list on five of my favorite college blogs out there run by college students. Are you inspired yet?

5 of My Favorite College Bloggers Everyone Should be Following!

Life As A Dare

This blog is ran by Rebecca Lindenbach. She discusses my different topics like college, relationships, faith, and more! The 21 year old psychology grad helps or college student through her experiences as a graduate student and newlywed. As her blog is titled "Life As A Dare" she challenges her followers to, "Challenge yourself, find your purpose, and pursue it with all your heart."

The Swirl Blog

Ran by best friends Gabby and Hannah, "The Swirl Blog" discusses everything from college, lifestyle, travel, etc. Gabby is a junior studying biology, while enjoying "brunch, Birks, and no iced white mochas." Hannah is also a junior who is studying chemical engineering. Her motto is, "You're never fully dressed without a monogram." They may not be at the same college, they constantly collaborate to bring their readers new and interesting posts other college students totally relate too.

Chase the Write Dream

Ran by Tori Canonage, "Chase the Write Dream" talks about millennial life, college & career, healthy eating, and so much more! Tori is a millennial with a bachelor's degree in human services and a masters degree in psychology. She's passionate about helping college students and twenty-somethings find their place in the world.

Dani Dearest

Ran by Dani, a 20 year old college junior, and offers college advice; including fitness, study, and organization tips. "Dani Dearest" began as a small blog, and grown to become an empowering community with many followers. In her "about" section, Dani expresses that she uses her blog to share her thoughts on college, and cope with her anxiety. Dani's posts on college will definitely be helpful to other students.

Sara Laughed

Ran by Sara, a writer, an aspiring programmer, and she lives in the Netherlands. She offers posts in college, being an adult , world , etc. She studied religion at Wellesley College, spent her junior year at Oxford and recently got her degree December of 2016. She uses her blog to share her thoughts on college, and the little in betweens in life. Her posts in all areas of life are very helpful to others.

Things I Learned as a College Freshman

Being a college freshman is quite difficult. It’s a new environment, new students, and you have to make new friends. Going into college freshman year is scary. Anyone who tells you anything otherwise is either lying to you. It is fine to admit that you’re a little bit terrified of new situations. Visiting somewhere where you know nobody is bad in itself, but when you’re being dropped off there and told “see you in three months!” you suddenly realize just how alone you are.

10 things I learned my freshman year:

I just finished my freshman year and I learned so much. There is so much that I didn’t know going into college because nobody told me. I had unrealistic expectations and unnecessary worries. I compiled this list of things that I wish somebody would have told me before I entered my freshman year of college.

• Freshman fifteen

I never done this, I can’t say how great or how much everyone should do this. Although, just because no one says rude things or nags you doesn’t mean you should make good, healthy choices every day. You’re sitting at a desk all day, in front of a laptop, and then sitting in class listening to lectures when you finally get to venture out from behind your desk.

Staying healthy in college is even more important than it was in high school for most of us.

You don’t need to do much–but even if you start small by eating healthy lunches and breakfasts instead of just having pancakes and heavy pastas. When you’re doing a bunch of readings you don’t really need to take notes on, why not try to do some of them while walking on an incline on the treadmill? This year you have a chance to decide who you will become, so please take steps to make sure that you become a healthy person. Maybe not a crazy health nut, but at least stay in shape. Treat yourself right and opt for grilled chicken over pizza every now and then!

• Start a study group.

I learned so much from my friends, we incorporated professional help a few times. Discussing and experiencing studying with friends can not only make studying so much easier but it’s fun too. Discussing and explaining what you’re learning helps commit it to memory far more effectively than mindlessly reading from a textbook. But be careful to study with friends who will be focused on studying, you can have a social hour after your exam.

• You have a chance to start over.

This is really not emphasized enough. I went to a medium-sized university in Alabama after being a small-town country girl for my entire life. University allowed me to completely switch how people saw me–instead of being that small-town girl, I got to be Nichole, a college woman who’s funny, hard working, and a go-getter.

You don’t need to hold on to what you were in high school. This is your chance to become the person that you’ve always dreamed of being–because no one knows who you are! That anonymity is honestly the best gift you can be given, because it allows you to have choice. So embrace it.

• Go to class.

There have been studies that prove going to class is linked with higher grades, not shocking but you’d be surprised how many students make a habit of skipping class. It’s just an hour or two out of your day, one that you or your parents are paying about 50 dollars a class for you to attend, lets not let that money go to waste!

• Call your family.

I know you’re super busy and sometimes it slips your mind, but I can promise you that your parents and grandparents would love to hear from you every now and then.

• Explore!

You are lucky enough to be exposed to a whole new city, state, or in some people’s cases – country! There is so much to see on campus and in the surrounding towns, it’d be a shame to miss out. If your school has one, I’d highly recommend trekking out to the arboretum, University of Illinois has a gorgeous one!

• Create a resume.

If you haven’t needed one yet, I can assure you that you’ll need one soon. When you’re a freshman you can still put all of those high school achievements and leadership positions on there, so take advantage of those while you still can!

• Your syllabus is there for a reason.

Read it, reference it, worship it. At the beginning of every semester your professors will hand you a packet that tells you step by step how to pass their class, yet so many students ignore it. As soon as I got all of my syllabi second semester I copied all of my upcoming due dates into my planner and simplified my life so much.

• Make friends with everyone you can.

BSWs, the cooks in the dining halls, your dorm’s security officers, and the list goes on. Not only is it just a nice thing to do, but they are from your campustown, they can tell you about all of the best places on and around campus and many of them have some pretty great stories to tell.

• Meet your professors.

Professors are people too, and most people are pretty nice. But they are far more likely to go above and beyond for someone that they already know – so don’t wait until you’re in trouble to meet them. If the end of the semester approaches and you’re not doing so hot, chances are they’ll be more willing to help you out if they recognize that you’ve come to office hours and you participate in class.

That’s all that I have for you today! Did I miss anything? Let me know what your best tips are for college students! Thanks for reading!

8 [More] Things to let Go of after High School

Hey there! Getting through high school is the easy part. But what about after graduation? Most students are actually excited about get out into the world. The problem is they still act like they did all throughout high school. So, I decided to write a sequel post, with 8 more thing to let go of in order to have a better college experience.

high school drama

When you’re in high school, and know most everyone in school, it’s a lot easier to get involved or start drama. Everyone has gossip about something or someone. It’s important to let this go once you graduate. Remember, when making new friends no one likes someone all about drama. Gossiping about others only leads to trouble. Its always most important to never start drama with a roommate or others in your dorm. I’m high school it never mattered because you never lived with people you caused drama about. In college however, you don’t want to cuz drama with your roommate because that could ruin your housing situation.

This is very important if people from your  hometown go to the same college. That means you’re more than likely to know things about them they wouldn’t like others to know. Leave them be to recreate themselves and hopefully they will leave you be also. Don’t start or cause drama in college at all, it’s just mean and very basic. I don’t mean to always be nice, but don’t get involved in any kind of unnecessary drama in school.

Fear of being alone

College is all about trying new things, while figuring out who you are as a person. Don’t be afraid to do your own thing or self-conscious about it. I struggle with this still, you might throughout college. I hate going anywhere by myself (even in class the first day), you just have to push yourself. You have to try new things with friends or even to make friends. Be willing to go out of your comfort zone. Try going to karaoke, or rock climbing. Maybe you’ll find something to love! After high school, you can try many things you never thought you’d get too. Don’t let fear keep you from making new memories. Also never put yourself in danger. Know when fear holds you back or when it keeps you safe.

Conventional meal times

These don’t exist in college. In high school, you usually had lunch between 11 and noon for an hour or so. That’s not how college works you don’t get a long lunch or maybe your schedule does not allow for lunch. Gone are the days of three square meals. Welcome the days of “it’s 9 p.m… have you eaten dinner?” “Um… I ate a bag of chips like two hours ago?” Most of my professors allow students to eat in class unless your class is in the computer lab.

Toxic people

Don’t be friends with someone just because it is convenient. This applies to any one, anywhere, at any time (home, significant others, new college buddies, etc.). Don’t ever feel like you have to hold on to anyone because you’re afraid of being lonely. if people in your circle are causing drama, don’t stay with them! One of the best things I did in college on Facebook was unfriend toxic people and drama starters. Letting go of college friends can be harder, because of living within close proximity. Don’t feel like you have to ban anyone, but don’t be friends with people who make you unhappy.

High school clothing

Everyone needs to let this go. Every piece of clothing you have received from your high school, (clubs, events, etc.) need to be removed from your closet. You buy about 10+ t-shirts within the first month or so, meaning you don’t need to bring the ones from. high school. Getting up in the morning at college, it’s a struggle to even put a bra on, let alone a reasonable/normal/dare-I-say-flattering outfit. This also applies to outfits that are weather appropriate; I can’t count how many days there was snow on the ground and I was in shorts. This becomes a fact of life.

Another thing I highly recommend not wearing sweats or pajama pants to class. College is a place where you are preparing to go into the professional workforce, and your professors are those who will write you recommendations in the future. Make a good impression, and always wear decent clothes. This will positively benefit your future.

Bad habits

In high school, is the easiest time to be able to handle your money. For those who drive you were paying for your own gas. Most students have a full-time summer job, and your savings went towards college. Then, everything changed. your paying for books, school supplies, and food, as well as gas, and the remaining amount of tuition. You have way more financial responsibility than before. You’ll soon figure out you will need a job to keep up with expenses. When you move off campus, you’ll need money to pay electric, internet, rent, insurance, etc.

Why do I tell you all this? You need to realize you need to handle your money good. For those still in high school, save as much as possible before getting into college. You will most likely think you have a lot of money, but it will be gone very fast. Be careful with your spending, utilize your dining plan, and you don’t need Starbucks every day.

It can be easy to spend without thinking when you’re in high school, but that has to change when you’re in college. It’s time to start thinking about savings, and budgeting, and bills. Let go of your frivolous attitudes towards money if you want to be a well adjusted adult in college!

College is not job training!

Most high school students definitely believe this and don’t think to let go of this thought. They only think college basically trains them for a ob. They dislike taking anything unrelated to their future position. This is really sad, especially for those who attend a Journalism/Communications school.College is so much more than job training – they are supposed to shape you, teach you how to think for yourself, and make you into the person who you want to be for the rest of your life. The classes unrelated to my major are required for any type of a degree and they are they ones in which I learned the most about myself. Viewing college as job training mean you will never truly be experiencing college to the fullest degree. College is your chance to truly explore who you want to be – not only teach you how to do your chosen area.

Being judgmental

When you’re in high school, it is easy to be set in your ways and judgments. Your friends and family probably agree with you a lot, so your never really challenged. Going to college does that. Even going to a small private school, you are (hopefully), exposed to people with different beliefs than you, and lives other type of lies. Let go of your judgments, and accept people who are different, and that’s okay. Being judgmental of those who do/don’t have sex, drink, worship something different, etc. will only make you seem mean or rude.

You don’t have to change yourself, although be open to accepting others as they are, without judgement. I don’t mean you can’t stand up for yourself or what you believe in, but you shouldn’t force your beliefs or opinions on others. College is about acceptance, so let go of your judgments.

CONCLUSION

I hope that this list of eight more things to let go of after high school can help you! It’s so important to have the right mindset in college, and way too easy to hold on to negative emotions! It’s important to realize that even as a senior in college, I have yet to let all of these things go. I am still learning, and growing. I’m still working to become the best me I can be. Again, you can find the first 8 things here. What is something you wish you had let go of after high school? Let me know in the comments below!

12 Must-Have Apps for Every College Student

School is starting up again soon, and I’m already excited for it! I know it’s strange, but I absolutely love school. I love going to class, writing exams, researching, everything. A lot of that, though, is because I’ve found ways to make studying and student life easier and less stressful than they normally are.

A bit part of making life go smoothly is utilizing the tools available. I personally don’t like bringing my laptop to school unless it’s exam season, although I was getting into the online courses my very first year so I'm starting to feel better about bring my laptop. Since then, I’ve completely customized it to be my own super-school-tablet filled with amazing college apps, and I use it every day to take notes, write assignments, and make sure that I’m staying healthy! All things that are important in student life!

So here are the college apps that I personally love, and what have worked to keep me organized and good to go!

12 Must-Have Apps for Every College Student:

Istudiez Pro- This is my planner, it keeps track of my courses, homework, quizzes, exams, teachers, and etc. Are you having trouble remembering the deadlines of your projects or when your next test or quiz is? Sticking to deadlines is a problem that most college students face and seemingly can’t comply with. This app will allow you to input all your important activities in its calendar so that you will not miss another important deadline again.

Clear- How many to-do lists do you have in college? One for essays, another one for exams, the third one for parties… So, why not synchronize them all in order to get access from anywhere? Choose Clear for this goal, an application which syncs all your to-do lists with other devices and makes it easier for you to open them wherever you can find Internet access.

Chegg- We all know that a new semester means new textbooks. But don’t jump the gun and start purchasing all your books from the school bookstore – unless of course you want to throw tons of money down the drain. Instead, download the Chegg app which lets you search and rent any available textbooks…for much cheaper than actually buying the book! Plus, when you’re done with the book, you can put it back up on Chegg and rent it out to another lucky student.

Evernote- This app goes well with Clear and iStudiez Pro. In this app you can make a checklist, add reminders, take snapshots of notes written on classroom boards, or create a notebook directly on your phone. This app also has a market store that sells great school supplies!

Pandora- I love this app a lot, I'm always listening to music no matter what I'm doing. I love being able to listen to music close or related to a certain artist. If I studying for an exam or a final my go-to is classical music ( either like bach, mozart, etc). 

Groupon- Since college is expensive, and doing fun things usually requires spending some money, this app is a great way to save money. It offers hundreds of coupons. If you want to do an activity with friends, but can’t quite decide what to do, you can check this app and see if there are any great deals at places that sound fun. I had a friend who used a Groupon to get fondue with friends. I can’t have fondue, but it’s still awesome, and there are even better deals!

MyFitnessPal- Dining Hall food is fattening. There is a reason the freshmen 15 exists. There is also the fact that more people start drinking more or start eating more than usual because there are entire sections of the dining hall dedicated to cake, donuts, etc. There is also an increase in soda and coffee consumption because of the need for caffeine. All of these things may taste awesome, but are also pretty unhealthy. When I entered college, I desperately wanted to avoid the 15. I had two plans, first, I planned to lose 15 pants prior to starting college so that if I gained 15 pounds I would be my normal size. Or, second, I would simply watch what I ate, and work out more frequently. The second plan was the route I took. This app will help you monitor calories, workouts and the calories burned, and ensure that you’re body is remaining healthy.

Nike Training Club- Working out relieves all the stress that college puts you under. With the combined chaos of classes, homework, clubs, activities, etc; it can often be hard to find time to make it to the gym (unless you are an organized person who follows her schedule to the dot…). Nike Training Club offers equipment-less exercises and timed circuits that you can do right in your dorm room, no gym required. Sorry to break it to you, but now you’ve got NO excuses to not get your butt into gear.

Cram- Note cards are many people’s preferred way to study, but they’re also hard to keep track of. Cram is just the solution; allowing you to create your own custom flashcard decks or even searching for pre-created decks on your topic of study.

Easybib- Have you found yourself swamped with countless essays to write this semester? While there’s not an app to write the papers for you (at least not yet), there is one to automatically generate citations. EasyBib takes a picture of the ISBN/Barcode of the book and inputs the citation in MLA, APA or Chicago to your phone. You can then email the citations to yourself! No more losing easy points on papers because of citations.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary- It definitely doesn’t hurt to have a dictionary conveniently tucked away in your back pocket (or purse…or backpack – wherever you keep your phone). When you’re reviewing a lecture or reading a text book and you stumble across a word you don’t understand, just take out your phone and look it up. This is great for improving your vocabulary.

In Moment- This is a productivity app to help you stay focused in class and on school work. It helps you reduce your time in and on Social Media by 45% during your first week using this app. You are able to set limits and block Social Media, it rewires your digital habits by setting daily limits for Social Media usage, and blocks access when you're over the limit. You also get charts with time spent in all most popular Social Media.

These apps are my go-to ones, and they have made my college experience that much smoother! I hope they help you, too!

WHICH APPS WOULD YOU ADD? LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS AND I MAY ADD THEM!

Your Guide to Surviving Finals Week

I hate to break it to you, but finals are coming. *starts freaking out*

Okay, now let’s take a deep breath, because I got you covered! I have been through five semesters of finals, so I know how it feels to be overwhelmed. I thought I would gather all of my knowledge and experience and prepare this finals survival guide.

Now, you don’t only want to get through your finals but to ace them! And this guide will help you do just that!

STUDY

Now I bet I can tell what you're thinking, "Obviously, I have to study. It's finals!" Trust me, I know that feeling. But before you get your textbooks out, you need to ask yourself a few questions so you can study smarter and save time! What type of exam am I studying for? Is it more about comprehension or do you need to learn things by heart? Is the exam recapitulative (meaning it’s going to cover the entire semester) or is it only covering the classes you’ve had after your midterms?

PLAN AHEAD

Surely, by now, you’ve found out that the best way to prepare (or to survive college at all, for that matter) is to plan ahead! Make a study schedule and stick to it. Block out hours dedicated to studying and nothing else!I do mine by week. I write assignments and when my finals are down. Then plan out my week by hour, I break it down to prioritize the important things that need to be down first, then add in everything else.
Basically, do what works for you! But don’t forget to use your planner and stick to what you have planned!

PRIORITIZE

That kind of goes with the whole planning thing. Sometimes it can all seem a little too much. Between college, extracurriculars, work, and friends, you don’t know where to put your energy. It can all be a little overwhelming. Make sure you write down what you need to-do and by when if that will help. Make sure it has everything on the list and just homework, write in activities and the times you go to them. PRIORITIZE your list! Don’t be afraid to say no if you think you can’t handle it. Your classes should always stay a priority, even if that means taking fewer hours at work or canceling a few appointments. Don’t forget to think about your health first!

SLEEP

In order to stay on top of your game, you need to get some sleep! Try to get into a regular sleeping cycle, and not only the day before your finals! Sleeping is important when you’re preparing too. Give your mind and body a break, they’ll be thankful!

EAT HEALTHY

I have to admit that this is my weakness. My body is always craving junk food, but even more when I’m under stress. However, feeding your body with healthy food will give you enough energy to give the best performance you can!
Basically, make sure you’re getting enough of everything, that you have a balanced diet. However, don’t go overboard!

How to Be More Productive

Productivity is one the things I struggle most with. Especially around finals, I can’t seem to find proper motivation! And even once I find it, I can seem to get anything done. I sit at my desk with the best intentions, and before I know it, a 10-minute study break turns into an hour of reblogging stuff on Twitter. Needless to say that I don’t get anything done while doing that.

So I decided to share with you a few tips that help me to be more productive. Hopefully they will help you too!

GET DRESSED

We all love to stay in our pajamas all day, every day. I can never get anything done when in my pajamas. It's like a lazy day, I don't want to do anything. Pyjamas are for reading or watching Netflix. Instead, put on some pants and a shirt (it can be an oversized sweater) and get to work! You’ll feel much better, trust me!

WORK AT A DESK

Are you doing your work on your bed? Get rid of that habit! Beds are for sleeping or chilling. You won’t get anything done (or not nearly as much as you could) if you’re doing your work on your bed. I don't do my work at a desk, I find I am more productive at the kitchen table. Do what is best for you to be the most productive at study time.

REDUCE DISTRACTIONS

I think that’s a given. You’re probably thinking “Duh! Of course I need to stay away from distractions!”. But are you actually doing anything to really stay away from them? Your phone and laptop are probably going to be the things that are most likely to keep you away from really being productive. These things take up most of the time we could be productive. This is one of my flaws, I don't always study. I used to think I had all the time in the world.

WORK AT A CLEAN PLACE

Remember that desk I mentioned earlier? Keep it clean! Make sure you only have the necessary things out and remove the clutter. I always feel so much better and can study better because my space is clean and organized.

SCHEDULE EVERYTHING

If you think your assignment will take more time than what you’ve scheduled, break it down into smaller tasks! Write everything down, this will help you in the long run. Studying and just getting homework done for the night or week can help so much, especially with stress.

DON’T TRY TO MULTITASK

Just don’t. I realize we think we can get more things done, but you're not giving 100%. It’s much better to stay focused on one thing at a time and do it to the best of your abilities rather than do more than one things at once. Sure, you might get more things done, but is it the best you could have done?

What are your productivity tips? Do you see anything in that list you want to try out?

How to Write an Amazing College Paper

Doing any kind of assignment is hard. At least for me, I am a procrastinator. I also don't like doing essays because I never know when or how to start the introduction.

Once, I get started it is easy to finish. I have already written two papers out of 4 for my drama class. I would assume for my second English class I will be doing more. Here are my tips and advice when writing a college paper.

If you’re an incoming freshmen who has yet to experience writing a college paper yet, just you wait, you’ll become familiar with them very quickly.

In either case, nobody really wants to write them and everyone is looking for ways to make it as easy as possible. How I write my college papers from start to finish (my advice to you).

1. Pick your question.

Some of you may have a mandatory question assigned, and in that case, you can skip to the next section. If, however, you have a list of questions, or need to think of a question yourself, this is the place to start.

If given a list of questions, don’t just choose the one that seems easiest. Often, questions can be deceiving; the ones that seem easy can turn out to be much trickier or more nuanced than you expected. Choose the essay question that legitimately seems the most interesting to you, regardless of how difficult it is. It’s better to be energized by a challenge than to trudge through a question you find boring. Even if it is difficult, the professor will know that you took a risk and challenged yourself.

Coming up with your own question can be difficult. Take a look at the required reading for the course and the subjects raised in class lectures, and come up with a question for yourself that you find interesting, to which you don’t already know the answer.

2. Make a timeline.

This is like a schedule. Whether you have four days, two weeks or a month to write a paper, make a timeline for every step of the way.  Plan how long you plan to brainstorm on what you’ll write about, then how long you’ll research information and how many pages you’ll work on each week, day, hour etc.

Unfortunately, a schedule like this is often a luxury, and for some classes (or universities!) it’s just not possible. I have 5 classes this semester, I have essays to write every week and every 2 books in my other class. I usually only get to spend three to five days per essay. In that case, I still recommend one day for just research and then to divide the length of the essay over the days you have left.

3. Find all of your resources.

Nobody likes doing research.  Since you have to so some research one way or another in order to write your paper, do lots of research all at once.  It’s better to have more information than you have room for in your paper rather than to have to continuously go searching for more information.

Make sure that if your professor lists an author or book, you get your hands on that source, whether it’s at your library or via inter-library loan. It could make a big difference in your final thoughts on the topic, and your professor may be surprised if you leave the source out of your essay.

4. Note taking and writing your outline.

I prefer to take typed notes when I have the time, because they are cleaner and more organized than my handwritten ones. However, if you prefer to take notes by hand, that is fine and totally up to you.

If I am writing my notes on a computer, I use a Notebook Word document that allows me to put a different author in every tab. An alternative to this would be Google Drive or Evernote, depending on what you have access to. After this step, I write out a list of quotes and summaries as I read.

Yes, I know most people hate being told to make an outline but it really is a great way to keep track of everything that you want to cover in your paper and to make it organized.  You can use your own outline format.

5. KEEP TRACK OF EVERYTHING.

As you work on your paper, find a system to help you see what you’ve already done and what resources you’ve already used.  Not only does it help you keep track of everything, but it also helps to give you a visual of your progress.  I personally like to highlight things as they are completed or used.  That way I can still read them and have a very clear visual of what’s been done.

6. Writing the essay.

Now comes the hard part: writing the essay. If you made a good outline, this part will be a lot easier.

a. Reflecting on previous feedback

If you’ve previously written an essay for this professor, take a look at the feedback on your old assignments to see how to improve. Did you use too many quotes? Were you too wordy? Do your best to take that advice to heart in this essay. If this is your first time writing for the professor, just do your best and see some of my general advice below.

b. Which citation style to use

Always make sure to cite correctly – plagiarism, whether intentional or not, is a very serious offense, and could get you expelled.

Different disciplines require different citation styles. As a religion major, I most often use Chicago and MLA style. For a list of which disciplines require which citation styles, look here. If you’re still unsure, ask your professor!

c. General tips

There are plenty of things I could say here, but I’m going to stick to three pieces of advice. The first is to really engage with the subject of your essay. Really ask yourself the question that you’re trying to answer in your writing, and then do your best to make your essay’s answer as thorough and clear a possible.

Second, try to stay clear in your writing. Don’t get too creative with a thesaurus; clean, elegant writing is always the best way to go. Some great books on this are the Chicago Manual of Style and The Elements of Style by Strunk and White.

Third, try not to over-quote (my biggest writing sin!). Using too many quotes is the sign of an insecure writer. A tip for this is not to have any books or articles open next to you as you write; just go off of your notes and your memory. When you do use a quote, try to go for primary sources, and use a sentence before and after the quote to set it up and explain its relevance.

7. Editing the essay.

You finished your essay! Put it aside for a night if you can before taking a look. This will let you return to it with a fresh eye and a clear mind.
When editing, I find it most helpful to print it out and go through with a pen, crossing things out and marking them as I go. Look for any errors in grammar or citation, and try to make your writing as clear as possible. If necessary, ask a friend or tutor to look over it for you to see if they catch anything you didn’t.

If you struggle with grammar and citation, I really recommend you get a citation guide. Personally, I love the Pocket Style Manual, which was a required purchase at my college and which has saved my butt on more assignments than I can count. It includes sections on each of the major required styles in which to format your papers. There are school-specific versions and a general version, but the differences are pretty small. I recommend the general version of your school doesn’t have its own.

Finally, know when to put it down. If you’ve been editing your essay for hours and you’re about to throw it out and start over, stop. Have some confidence in yourself and your abilities. You didn’t come to college to be the perfect student – you came to learn. Your essay is probably much better than you think it is.

DON'T PROCRASTINATE!!!