I pulled an all-nighter to write this blog post.  Not because I had to, but simply because I couldn’t get to sleep and figured I might as well do something more productive than watch an entire season of Futurama on Netflix.  Since thoughts about the work I had to do the next day was the main reason my brain couldn’t keep quiet, work seemed the natural conclusion.

When I was in college, I made it a point never to let school dictate when I would go to bed.  I never once pulled an all-nighter to study for a test or to finish a paper.  Honestly, I just never saw the point.  I would start studying for exams two or three days ahead of time and would work on papers in the morning on weekends well in advance.  Suffice to say, I was not your average, procrastinating college student.

Maybe it was because I didn’t live in the dorms, but even when working part time and taking more than a full load of classes I always felt like I had way too much free time.  I read my textbooks, studied for most tests, and completed all my assignments.  And, with the exception of big research projects that necessitated trips to the library, I did all of this at work.

I was a master of finding jobs that left me a lot of down time during college.  (Actually, to some extent I still am.)  After trying out a couple different gigs I soon discovered that, without a degree or enough time to devote to a skills-oriented job, I could either bust my hump for $9 an hour or do pretty much nothing at a work-study position for minimum wage.  It was a trade I was more than willing to make, and it allowed me to get paid to do about 75% of my homework throughout my college career.  Good deal, right?

The best part was that my regular work schedule forced me to get ahead on assignments simply to avoid the sheer boredom of my job (I handed out towels at the gym).  It was either work ahead and be responsible or sit and twiddle my thumbs.  Procrastination completely lost its appeal.  And since I would generally schedule my work hours and my classes to finish by 3 or 4 PM, I had most evenings completely free.

Sure, I didn’t sleep as late as most of my classmates.  And maybe I didn’t have quite as much fun “procrastinating” like they did.  But I never really had an end of semester crunch — and I never had to pull the infamous all-nighter.  How many college graduates can say that?

I have said it 100 times and I will say it again. The only difference is…I mean it this time.

Summer is really coming to an end. You are going back to school, if you have not gone already. Are you ready? Have you followed the expert advice? Have you performed  the suggested steps? As if I have not offered you enough advice already…I have yet some more: Get your goal on. Decide RIGHT NOW what you want to accomplish this semester, let alone this year. Ask yourself these final questions:

1. What clubs do you want to be a part of?
2. What is your target GPA?
3. How soon will you start preparing for entrance exams like the GMAT or GRE…etc.?
4. How are you planning to balance/alter your work and social life/experience?
5. How will you plan your days? (I hope you already bought your 15 minute planner!)
6. How will you allocate your free/my/relax time? (Perhaps you have done some serious research this summer and found a new tv show?)
7. How will you handle/cope with the new stresses of the upcoming semester?
8. Have you planned your next summer vacation or something to look forward to?
9. Are you as prepared as you can  be for school? For example, packed? Schools upplies? Toiletries? Bedding?
10. When was the last time you spoke to your roommate(s)? (Recently I hope)!
11. Do you know the exact time and date when you are moving in?
12. Have you planned out when you are coming home?
13. …your choice.

Above all, are you ready to transform your student style from what you have learned this summer? Have these blogs been helpful to you? Have you seen an increase in your motivation and organizational skills? Do you feel prepared and more confident?

As a closing note, from all of us at TestSoup, we wish you a successful academic year and encourage you to take our advice. We wish you the best performance and preparation for your standardized tests and hope that you find our product effective.

Yours in testing,

K. Ryan

TestSoup Blog

I have said it before and I will say it again: sadly, summer is coming to a close. So, there is no time like the present to reflect on it right!? Let’s take a journey through your summer internship. How do you decide if it was worth it? Was it worth your time, your efforts, your free labor? Here are a few simple steps to help you decide.

1. Look at the cost versus the benefit. How many hours did you work? Where did you work? A lot? Not much? Somewhere in the middle? BUT, how much did you gain; either monetary or experience. Personal example my internship called for approximately 10 hours a week, unpaid. However, the experience I gained from the opportunity was priceless. A few things I learned were how to effectively market a product using social networking like Twitter and Facebook; provide feedback as well as look at mock-up websites or product logos with a critical eye; and that it is ok to make a mistake as long as you learn from it.
2. Evaluate your relationships. How would you rate your boss on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the best)? We you in agreement with the decisions and business practices of your boss? Did you respect the way situations were handled and did her/her share the same mutual respect for you? Personal example: I felt and still do feel very involved in the company/product I worked with this summer. I receive update emails regularly and have been included on teleconference calls with the board of advisors and was able to speak and share my thoughts. Additionally, I know I have made a long-term contact with not only my boss but with the company. I feel as though I was a part of its building and whenever I look back on it and see its progress I will know I was a part of it and that is where my real hands-on learning/experience began. In other words, I will know who and what to thank!
3. Remain in contact. Once your internship ends, do you feel a desire to remain in contact with your product/task and/or boss? Do you feel connected to it in some way? Personal example: in years to come I plan on looking back on my internship company and seeing how far it progressed after my time. In fact, I plan on checking on it and even using it within the next academic year!
4. Resume. Do you feel as if your resume deserves a new section called Internships? Did you learn enough and perform well enough to add this to your resume and as a possible reference? Do you feel that you, even in a short period of time, required a wealth of skills to utilize in the academic setting but also in the real world (like for your next internship or job)? Personal example: My summer internship was my first formal one. It was a very positive experience and provided me with a  wonderful sense of the real world, accelerating my drive even more to do my best and get out there and make my mark as soon as possible.

All in all, summer and/or any internships are great. They provide everyone with valuable learning experience, especially in the area of communication. However, I will leave you with my one line of caution before accepting an internship: get a BlackBerry before your internship!

For most students, college begins within the next two weeks. As sad as it is to say, and as much as no one wants to be reminded, summer is coming to a close. Therefore, there are a few last minute things to do to prepare for school.

1. Visit Amazon.com. Go online and look up your class schedule and textbooks needed and purchase them on Amazon. This way you will make an economically efficient decision buy buying fast and paying less than University Book Store prices.
2. Purchase a subscription to the Wall Street Journal. It is a small investment for the year, but a worthwhile one, especially if you are a business major. It will keep you up-to-date on the latest business news and allow you to hold  your own in an intelligent conversation. I would also recommened making this your homepage on your laptop as opposed to facebook.
3. If you haven’t purchased the 15 minute planner I have been speaking about all summer..there is no time like the present!
4. Speaking of planners…plan out a way you are going to relax during the week. For me, once a week, I would look forward and plan to watch my only television show, LOST. Now that it is over, I have nothing to look forward to as a reward once a weeknight. So, now I am on the hunt for a new one! Any suggestions?
5. Start packing now. Figure out what you need and how you are going to get it before it is too late. You will be a lot less stressed if you plan ahead. Make sure you are overly prepared and ready to jump right into school when you get there! Go to school in school mode…do not wait until you get there to remember that’s where you are!

It is officially August which means it is officially almost time to go back to school! There is not a better time than now to start preparing yourself for the big move-in day. Here are a few simple suggestions to get you better prepared:

1. Begin putting yourself on a regular sleep schedule. A reasonable bedtime is around 11PM. Try to wake up and start your day by 8:30AM at the latest. However, remember, it is likely that you will have to get up earlier if you have any classes before 10AM.
2. Order your textbooks NOW. There is really no time like the present to order! Amazon has great deals and if you order now you will probably be able to have the books make it to your home address instead of having to wait on the never-ending line at your school’s post office.
3. Once you get your books, I would recommend looking over them a bit. It is always a good idea to be ahead of the material before it gets ahead of you. For example, if you are contemplating whether to explore a minor…buying the textbook ahead of time and reading the first few chapters is not a bad idea!
4. Make sure your living situation is set. Make sure you and your roommates agree on the room assignments and individual responsibilities.
5. Shop early and shop smart! Save all of those Bed Bath and Beyond 20% off coupons! If you are living in an apartment, I would suggest making a master list of what you need. Personally, I made mine on Microsoft Excel and made a column listing items, total price, price per person, and who already has it at home and can bring it for free.
6. Be packed and ready at least one day before school to keep the anxiety level down. You do not want to go into school stressed before you set foot in your first class of the semester!