Let's face it, sometimes college can be incredibly overwhelming. You may only have a few classes, but sometimes the work load can get to be too much.
One of the best study habits that you can have is time management.
Take a close look at your syllabi early in the semester. Take of note of important assignments, quizzes, and tests that will be due over the semester. Map out a plan of how to tackle your homework. You do not want to be cramming all of your studying and work in the day before something is due.
Sometimes trying to figure out a schedule of when to do work is overwhelming in itself, so take it one week at a time. Each weekend, you can look at the work that is due and try to do as much as possible over the weekend. If you have classes with reading assignments, try to do as much reading over the weekend so you have more time to work (or free time) during the actual school week. If you have a project or a paper coming up, try and get some research or brainstorming in during the weekend.
The best way to get through your work is to do it as early as possible!
Another great study habit: find a nice, quiet place to study.
The best place to study is somewhere that is quiet and doesn't have a lot of distractions. Having a clean work environment will also help to keep you focused.
You don't want to be sitting in bed working- it may be more comfortable, but that could lead to you falling asleep. It is good to be relaxed while working, but being too relaxed can be more of a problem.
The best place to be study is sitting in a chair at a desk or table. (You know, the library has some pretty awesome desks that you can study in- and the 4th floor is really quiet! It even has a great view!)
Don't be tempted by television, the Internet, etc.
Your favorite TV show, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, even your cell phone...they are all huge distractions! Try to use these medias as an incentive to get work done, not a way to get pulled away from work.
Your Facebook, Twitter, and text messages will all be there when you finish your work. And if you are missing your favorite TV show, there is always the possibility of catching the show online.
Don't think that you will be able to have the TV on while you are working. You won't be fully focused. And "only working during the commercials" isn't really great either- you know, just as well as I do, that you won't get any actual work done until what you are watching is over!
If you are desperate for some social media interaction, reward yourself 5 minutes of media use of your choice for every 1 hour of solid work that you get done!
Take study breaks!
Sometimes, you get burnt out from studying for several hours at a time. If you feel like you aren't making any progress, maybe you should get up and walk around. Sometimes taking time to eat is helpful too.
The point is, there is a point when your brain actually won't retain anything anymore. Taking a break allows your brain to rest.
There have been times, usually during finals week, that I have put my iPod in, blasted a great song, and just had a 5 minute crazy dance session to help relieve stress. Usually, it works!
If it is getting to be really late (or early in the a.m.), sometimes the best things to do is to just put your work away and get a good night of sleep! Having enough rest (and keeping a proper diet) will help you to stay focused and energized to get through your classes and homework!
Try not to study too late at night.
One of the best times to study is usually shortly after you get home from classes. Your brain is still in "study mode" from being in class and the information that you had learned in class will still be fresh in your mind.
An unofficial guide to attending Utah Valley University
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
School Supplies
Slight deviation! I know I said I would talk about study habits, but my last post got me thinking: You need to know what school supplies to get!
Of course, after your first day, you will probably need to go out and buy other things that your professor requires, but this list should be good for general items!
Of course, after your first day, you will probably need to go out and buy other things that your professor requires, but this list should be good for general items!
- Paper! (Notebooks, unbound papers, whatever kind of paper you prefer, just buy it! You will ALWAYS need paper! Notes, quizzes, class work, doodling, you name it! (I prefer the unbound paper, just plain old lined paper. It is cheaper and you don't get what my high school science teacher called "crud" when you rip pages out!)
- Binder(s) or folders (see previous post)
- Pens & pencils (I really like Sharpie pens, but it's your call. Oh, and I really enjoy mechanical pencils. I get really annoyed when people get up to use those loud wall manual pencil sharpeneners.)
- A planner! (Again, I will push the UVU student planner, available in the campus bookstore!)
- Backpack (If you have a lot of textbooks, this will be handy!)
- Stapler (You can get a little tiny mini stapler for really cheap)
- 3x5 notecards (If you don't need them for class, they are great for studying!)
Staying Organized
As August approaches, you will notice that many stores have their major school supplies sales now! I know it is stressful to start thinking about school when you have the summer to enjoy!
One major key to surviving college is staying organized! Being organized will help you to keep track of everything that you need to turn in, everything that you have already done, and help keep you from being too overwhelmed with papers/projects/assignments when midterms and finals roll around.
There isn't a specific way that is best to stay organized, you just have to know what is best for you!
First off, I recommend getting a 3-ring binder or folders for each class. It is important to keep all of your class work separate.
When using a binder, you can use dividers to keep your classes separate (if you are trying to save money, I have even used a blank piece of paper with a post-it note glued on as a tab). If you opt for using a different folder for each class, you always have to remember to bring them on specific days! Binders are nice because you have everything in one place, but sometimes they start to fall apart when it becomes too full/heavy. Also, sometimes the papers rip out of the rings which can get pretty annoying. Folders can be great too, but papers can slip out and you may forget to bring a specific folder to class since your schedule is different every day.
Whether you are using a binder or folder, always keep your class syllabus and calendar in one place. You never know when you will need to e-mail a teacher or when your class calendar will be changed. You need to bring these to class every day! I always punch holes in them and put them and put them at the top of the class pile.
[For the record, I prefer binders. I have a very specific way of putting together a binder so I know exactly where everything is:
You will want to keep all of your graded homework assignments, projects, papers, quizzes, tests, etc. Usually, a teacher does not pass out a progress report (though I'm sure if you are worried, your teacher will give you one upon request). Sometimes, you won't know how you are doing until a final grade is posted once the semester has ended. If something is wrong with your grade (at any point in the semester, not just after finals) you will want to have proof that you did assignments or that you had a different score.
Countless times I have completed an assignment, had it passed back with a score, and then I get a progress report saying I didn't do it. I would just show the assignment to my professor and all would be fixed. I even had an instance when my final grade showed up as a D-. I did some calculations and figured that my grade should be over a B...which it was. My teacher was happy to fix it for me! Don't feel embarrassed to correct your teacher, this is your grade at stake!
Staying organized will also help you keep on top of assignments. I always keep a planner so I can write down homework assignments that are coming up. If I see that I have a day where there are several assignments or tests, I can plan ahead and work on some things early.
Use your planner to plan out how you are going to work through major assignments! Say you have a major paper due. Give yourself set deadlines to finish little bits of the paper. You don't want to be sitting up the night before it is due trying to type out several pages!
I start by sitting down and looking at an assignment then figuring out how long it will take me to do it. It doesn't need to be done in one night! As an English major, I have had to write many papers! They average about 8 pages so I'll use that as an example.
Your homework can get overwhelming at times! If you stay organized and know when things are due, you can prevent having too much work in one day!
Staying organized is especially helpful during midterms and finals. Midterms may not be that stressful because different professors choose to have their midterm at different times (some don't even have midterms). But every class at UVU is required to have a final. You might have a final project, paper, test, presentation, or a combination of any of those (Yes, I have had classes that have all 4)
Mapping out your finals week early will help you when they actually come! And don't forget to schedule study time! The two weeks before finals are always very mapped out for me. I know exactly what I am doing each day. If I start to fall behind, I keep re-writing my plan of action so I can get everything done.
But more on finals week later!
Click here to see my post on general school supplies you will need!
Next post: Study habits!
One major key to surviving college is staying organized! Being organized will help you to keep track of everything that you need to turn in, everything that you have already done, and help keep you from being too overwhelmed with papers/projects/assignments when midterms and finals roll around.
There isn't a specific way that is best to stay organized, you just have to know what is best for you!
First off, I recommend getting a 3-ring binder or folders for each class. It is important to keep all of your class work separate.
When using a binder, you can use dividers to keep your classes separate (if you are trying to save money, I have even used a blank piece of paper with a post-it note glued on as a tab). If you opt for using a different folder for each class, you always have to remember to bring them on specific days! Binders are nice because you have everything in one place, but sometimes they start to fall apart when it becomes too full/heavy. Also, sometimes the papers rip out of the rings which can get pretty annoying. Folders can be great too, but papers can slip out and you may forget to bring a specific folder to class since your schedule is different every day.
Whether you are using a binder or folder, always keep your class syllabus and calendar in one place. You never know when you will need to e-mail a teacher or when your class calendar will be changed. You need to bring these to class every day! I always punch holes in them and put them and put them at the top of the class pile.
[For the record, I prefer binders. I have a very specific way of putting together a binder so I know exactly where everything is:
- Blank papers (you can get packets of 70 unbound papers for really cheap at Target when they have all of the school supplies on sale. I usually buy two packets & that gets me through the semester. I always have roughly 25 blank pages in my binder at all times for notes, quizzes, etc.
- Class Divider
- Class Syllabus & Calendar
- Homework Assignments
- Class Handouts
- Quizzes
- Practice Tests
- Tests
- Next class divider w/1-6 from first example
- Next class divider w/1-6 from first example
- Next class divider w/1-6 from first example
You will want to keep all of your graded homework assignments, projects, papers, quizzes, tests, etc. Usually, a teacher does not pass out a progress report (though I'm sure if you are worried, your teacher will give you one upon request). Sometimes, you won't know how you are doing until a final grade is posted once the semester has ended. If something is wrong with your grade (at any point in the semester, not just after finals) you will want to have proof that you did assignments or that you had a different score.
Countless times I have completed an assignment, had it passed back with a score, and then I get a progress report saying I didn't do it. I would just show the assignment to my professor and all would be fixed. I even had an instance when my final grade showed up as a D-. I did some calculations and figured that my grade should be over a B...which it was. My teacher was happy to fix it for me! Don't feel embarrassed to correct your teacher, this is your grade at stake!
Staying organized will also help you keep on top of assignments. I always keep a planner so I can write down homework assignments that are coming up. If I see that I have a day where there are several assignments or tests, I can plan ahead and work on some things early.
Use your planner to plan out how you are going to work through major assignments! Say you have a major paper due. Give yourself set deadlines to finish little bits of the paper. You don't want to be sitting up the night before it is due trying to type out several pages!
I start by sitting down and looking at an assignment then figuring out how long it will take me to do it. It doesn't need to be done in one night! As an English major, I have had to write many papers! They average about 8 pages so I'll use that as an example.
- My first day would be sitting down and figuring out exactly what I need to do. Brainstorming and setting an idea.
- The next day or two would be research.
- The third day, I would write about a page (my introduction).
- Days 4, 5, 6, I would write about two pages a day.
- Day 7 would be my conclusion and proof reading. I don't want to miss any errors!
Your homework can get overwhelming at times! If you stay organized and know when things are due, you can prevent having too much work in one day!
Staying organized is especially helpful during midterms and finals. Midterms may not be that stressful because different professors choose to have their midterm at different times (some don't even have midterms). But every class at UVU is required to have a final. You might have a final project, paper, test, presentation, or a combination of any of those (Yes, I have had classes that have all 4)
Mapping out your finals week early will help you when they actually come! And don't forget to schedule study time! The two weeks before finals are always very mapped out for me. I know exactly what I am doing each day. If I start to fall behind, I keep re-writing my plan of action so I can get everything done.
But more on finals week later!
Click here to see my post on general school supplies you will need!
Next post: Study habits!
Monday, July 4, 2011
First Day
I know it has been a while since my last blog post, so I apologize, but life has been fairly busy for me lately!
I know that it is still the beginning of July, and really, the last thing a student wants to be thinking about in early July is school, but I'm going to give you some info on what your first day will be like!
The first day of school at UVU is an interesting thing. You will never see as many people on campus as you do the first week of a new semester. (Truth be told, usually by midterms, a lot of people aren't even coming to class anymore).
Your first day can be really scary as an incoming freshman. You don't realize how big a school can be until you are wandering around trying to find your first classroom. So here are some things that you should do/have with you before your first day:
The UVU student planners are helpful for several reasons. The planner contains a student handbook with e-mail addresses and phone numbers for individual departments at UVU; business hours for the library, testing center, etc.; and other important info for students. Probably the most handy thing for a freshman is the map of the school. It has all of the building names and abbreviations. (You'll most likely become familiar with all of the buildings after your first semester; it makes it easier that most people refer to each building with their abbreviation).
When looking at your schedule, your classroom number will be in this format:
LA 001
LA refers to the building that the class is in. In this case, it is the LA building, the abbreviation for Liberal Arts. 001 is the room number in the LA building. Room numbers will always be 3 digits long. The first digit is the floor that you are on- (0 is the basement in the LA building, 1 is the main floor, and 2 is upstairs; in the CS building, 4 is the main level, 5 upstairs, 6 upstairs, and 7 top floor; you'll see that every building is different but all you have to do is look at a room number to figure out which floor you are on). The 2nd and 3rd digits in the room number are the room on that floor. There are signs on each floor that direct you in the direction of the classrooms.
If you have any problem at all trying to find a classroom, there are always UVU employees by each entrance the first week of school that are happy to help you (they also have free maps if you don't want to buy a planner). Don't be afraid to ask for help! They know that UVU can be pretty confusing and they are happy to help!
In my experience, the first day of classes isn't really that stressful. I had this terrible fear that it would be like Legally Blonde and I would walk into my first class and everyone would have read several chapters from a textbook and I would just sit there saying "I wasn't aware we had reading." It's not like that at all!
The first day of classes is used for going over your class syllabus and getting to know your classmates. A syllabus is a paper that your professor gives you that has all of their contact information, office hours, any required and/or optional textbooks you will need, any additional items you may need for class, the objective of what you will learn, the attendance and participation policy, a grading rubric, etc.
A lot of students and professors will refer to the class calendar as a syllabus as well. The calendar outlines every homework assignment, test, quiz, etc that you will have for each day. Your teacher will explain to you what it is that they mean. If you are confused, make sure you ask the teacher to clarify, because there is sure to be another student that is confused as well.
(For example: as an English major, my class syllabus would have a reading assignment next to a date. Each professor has a different idea what that means. It could mean we have to have read the specific reading assignment by that certain date or that was our homework for that night. It is always best to ask rather than come to class unprepared!)
Unfortunately, there are many professors that like to make everyone introduce themselves to the class. It feels very high school, but sometimes it is good to at least know a few people. I was always shy so I hated it and would dread the first day. Things that I have done in college as a "getting to know you" exercise:
As you go through your first day, you may have breaks inbetween classes. Take this time to walk around and get to know the campus! Find the library, go search for Jamba Juice, find all of the restrooms, go read a newspaper (which are free! UVU has several newspapers that are offered to students for free each day! UVU Review (UVU's paper, pretty sure it is weekly), Deseret News (which is a local paper in case you are from out of state), USA Today, and New York Times---occasionally, we have the Daily Herald, another local paper).
The first day of school also marks the beginning of the semester- a chance to be organized! Organization is key to being successful in college. Another reason why I love to have the UVU student planner, it helps to keep things on track!
Next post: Organization
I know that it is still the beginning of July, and really, the last thing a student wants to be thinking about in early July is school, but I'm going to give you some info on what your first day will be like!
The first day of school at UVU is an interesting thing. You will never see as many people on campus as you do the first week of a new semester. (Truth be told, usually by midterms, a lot of people aren't even coming to class anymore).
Your first day can be really scary as an incoming freshman. You don't realize how big a school can be until you are wandering around trying to find your first classroom. So here are some things that you should do/have with you before your first day:
- Log into UVLink and print off your weekly schedule. You'll want to have your class name, section number, time, teacher, and classroom number.
- I recommend that sometime before your first day of class, you go to UVU and walk around to find each of your classrooms. This will save you a lot of time on your first day! There will be a lot of people crowding the halls and if you have a class on the other side of campus, you'll want to know ahead of time.
- For most classes, you probably won't need your textbook for the very first day. But you will want to bring a notebook and pen or pencil.
- Show up early on the first day of school! There will be a lot of people trying to get on campus so the freeway and roads to the school will have heavy traffic. There will be a lot of people on campus and trying to find parking can be horrible. I recommend showing up at least half an hour before your first class begins (and factor in an additional 10-20 minutes of traffic)! If you have an early class (7 or 8 am), chances are you won't have as much traffic, but classes 9am or later will be very busy.
The UVU student planners are helpful for several reasons. The planner contains a student handbook with e-mail addresses and phone numbers for individual departments at UVU; business hours for the library, testing center, etc.; and other important info for students. Probably the most handy thing for a freshman is the map of the school. It has all of the building names and abbreviations. (You'll most likely become familiar with all of the buildings after your first semester; it makes it easier that most people refer to each building with their abbreviation).
When looking at your schedule, your classroom number will be in this format:
LA 001
LA refers to the building that the class is in. In this case, it is the LA building, the abbreviation for Liberal Arts. 001 is the room number in the LA building. Room numbers will always be 3 digits long. The first digit is the floor that you are on- (0 is the basement in the LA building, 1 is the main floor, and 2 is upstairs; in the CS building, 4 is the main level, 5 upstairs, 6 upstairs, and 7 top floor; you'll see that every building is different but all you have to do is look at a room number to figure out which floor you are on). The 2nd and 3rd digits in the room number are the room on that floor. There are signs on each floor that direct you in the direction of the classrooms.
If you have any problem at all trying to find a classroom, there are always UVU employees by each entrance the first week of school that are happy to help you (they also have free maps if you don't want to buy a planner). Don't be afraid to ask for help! They know that UVU can be pretty confusing and they are happy to help!
In my experience, the first day of classes isn't really that stressful. I had this terrible fear that it would be like Legally Blonde and I would walk into my first class and everyone would have read several chapters from a textbook and I would just sit there saying "I wasn't aware we had reading." It's not like that at all!
The first day of classes is used for going over your class syllabus and getting to know your classmates. A syllabus is a paper that your professor gives you that has all of their contact information, office hours, any required and/or optional textbooks you will need, any additional items you may need for class, the objective of what you will learn, the attendance and participation policy, a grading rubric, etc.
A lot of students and professors will refer to the class calendar as a syllabus as well. The calendar outlines every homework assignment, test, quiz, etc that you will have for each day. Your teacher will explain to you what it is that they mean. If you are confused, make sure you ask the teacher to clarify, because there is sure to be another student that is confused as well.
(For example: as an English major, my class syllabus would have a reading assignment next to a date. Each professor has a different idea what that means. It could mean we have to have read the specific reading assignment by that certain date or that was our homework for that night. It is always best to ask rather than come to class unprepared!)
Unfortunately, there are many professors that like to make everyone introduce themselves to the class. It feels very high school, but sometimes it is good to at least know a few people. I was always shy so I hated it and would dread the first day. Things that I have done in college as a "getting to know you" exercise:
- Introduce yourself with a unique fact. If someone in the class has that unique fact , it wasn't unique enough and you have to pick something else.
- Spend time talking to your neighbor and then you introduce them.
- Everyone says their name and then everyone before them (It is just as awful as it was in high school!)
- Introduce yourself with your name, major, and where you are from.
As you go through your first day, you may have breaks inbetween classes. Take this time to walk around and get to know the campus! Find the library, go search for Jamba Juice, find all of the restrooms, go read a newspaper (which are free! UVU has several newspapers that are offered to students for free each day! UVU Review (UVU's paper, pretty sure it is weekly), Deseret News (which is a local paper in case you are from out of state), USA Today, and New York Times---occasionally, we have the Daily Herald, another local paper).
The first day of school also marks the beginning of the semester- a chance to be organized! Organization is key to being successful in college. Another reason why I love to have the UVU student planner, it helps to keep things on track!
Next post: Organization
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Registration: Step-by-Step
I'm taking a little detour from my original plan, but I am told that there is some confusion with how to register :) No worries! Looking over my previous post on registration, I realize that I didn't give you any actual help with how to register!
Probably the most confusing thing to a new college student is registration. Registration for classes usually begins in April (for fall semester) or October (for spring semester). If you are a new college student for the fall, that means you will be registering while you are still in high school.
So, I am going to give you a step-by-step guide to registering for college classes! Please note that some of this info may change in the future as the website changes. I went 3 1/2 years with the same website layout so this is my first time exploring the new page!
**Helpful Hint: If you want to get into all of the classes you want, you'll probably want to get on at midnight the day registration opens for you. Many classes get full very FAST! If you are desperate to get into something, try putting yourself on the wait list. If someone drops, you will get an e-mail saying you have 24 hours to go back into registration and add the class!**
If you want to read more about my thoughts on registration in general, visit my post titled "Advisors and Registration" here.
I hope this helps!
Next post: First Day
Probably the most confusing thing to a new college student is registration. Registration for classes usually begins in April (for fall semester) or October (for spring semester). If you are a new college student for the fall, that means you will be registering while you are still in high school.
So, I am going to give you a step-by-step guide to registering for college classes! Please note that some of this info may change in the future as the website changes. I went 3 1/2 years with the same website layout so this is my first time exploring the new page!
**Helpful Hint: If you want to get into all of the classes you want, you'll probably want to get on at midnight the day registration opens for you. Many classes get full very FAST! If you are desperate to get into something, try putting yourself on the wait list. If someone drops, you will get an e-mail saying you have 24 hours to go back into registration and add the class!**
If you want to read more about my thoughts on registration in general, visit my post titled "Advisors and Registration" here.
- Go to UVLink and log in with your UV ID and password
- Click on the "Student" tab
- Next, Click on "Planning Your Education" on the left
- On the right, click "Add or Drop Classes"
- Select the term that you are registering for (Days that you can register depend on the amount of credit hours you have; again, see the "Advisors and Registration" post)
- Click "Class Search" towards the bottom of the page
By looking at the requirement sheet that your advisor gave you at your first meeting, you should have a general idea about what classes you want to take. Under "Class Search" there are several items of criteria that you can fill out to search for a class. You will search for one class at a time! For an example, I will show you how to register for ENGL 1010, a general requirement for all students.
7. Under "Subject", highlight "ENGL-English" and under "Course Number" Type in 1010.
- Usually, this is all you will need to do before clicking "Class Search" at the bottom. If you have specific changes to make, you can also type in the "Title", "Schedule Type", "Credit Range", "Site", "Part of Term", "Instructor", "Session", "Attribute Type", "Start Time", "End Time", and "Days". These alterations are there for your benefit. You can choose what days you want to have classes on, whether you only want to be on the main campus, what days you will be in school, etc.
8. Check the class that you want and click "Register" at the bottom. (For a detailed breakdown of the class results page, click the image!)
9. Repeat steps 7 & 8 until you have all of the classes that you want. If you have been clicking "Register" consistently, you should be fine.
When you are done, you can click "Return to Menu" at the top. You can click on "Student Detail Schedule" to have a detailed list with your class name, teacher, course number, time, days, etc. Or you can click "Student Schedule by Date & Time" to get a look at how your classes are layed out during the week.
**Remember: If a class doesn't come up in the search, try typing it again and making sure all of your info was typed correctly. If it still doesn't show up, it probably isn't offered that semester, so try again the next semester!**
**Remember: If a class doesn't come up in the search, try typing it again and making sure all of your info was typed correctly. If it still doesn't show up, it probably isn't offered that semester, so try again the next semester!**
I hope this helps!
Next post: First Day
Thursday, March 17, 2011
The Bookstore
So, while procrastinating my homework (it is Spring Break after all; I should be on a break), I decided I would tell you a little bit about UVU's bookstore! This is probably my favorite information to share for incoming freshman.
UVU's bookstore is located on the main level of the Student Center (SC). You can buy UVU clothing, souvenirs, jewlery, car stickers, water bottles, etc. There is a ridiculous amount of school supplies: planners (which are super handy...and I highly recommend buying a UVU planner every year), notebooks, binders, pens, highlighters, backbacks (the Dakine backbacks are expensive but super durable and can hold a lot- I've had mine for 2 years now and it has stood the test of mulitple English anthologies at one time!), art supplies, photography supplies...there's a lot! There is a small selection of novels (but not the best selection. It is good for the classics-and for a fairly good price- but I would stick to Borders if you are looking for a wide selection). There is also a small electronics section where you can find headphones, recorders (which actually might be helpful if a teacher gives a study guide lecture), and other various electronic goods.
Personally, my favorite section of the Bookstore is the Apple section. You can buy Apple desktops, laptops, iPads, and all of the various forms of iPods. There is even a student discount on all Apple products! But you have to talk to the salespeople there to find out what kind of discounts. There is also a large selection of Apple accessories and software (as well as PC accessories and software).
"Like" the UVU Bookstore on Facebook to get news on sales! This is actually really great because at the end of each semester, you could get school supplies at a discount. There are also occasional holiday sales where you can buy Apple products at an even bigger discount! http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/UVU-Bookstore/10333431772
But of course, the reason why it has its name, the Bookstore is where you can buy all of your textbooks! [Some teachers choose not to have their books available in the bookstore. Mainly because it can take a while for orders to come in. Or because the order can get messed up. And a lot of the time, Bookstore prices can be more expensive than finding the book yourself.] But anyway, for the most part, you can find the majority of your textbooks here!
It is a fairly simple set-up once you understand it.
Here is the best way to make your Bookstore experience great (read everything from this point to the end of the post, you'll see why!):
This next bit is very important (but really, I think everything I say on this blog is important. So I guess this next bit is super important). While it is great to buy your books 1-2 weeks early so you can beat the lines at the bookstore, sometimes it is better for you to wait until the first day of school to get your books. I know, that seems crazy. A lot of the time, you will get to class and your teacher will tell you that your textbooks aren't necessary. Or they will say you only need one (My first day in one of my history classes, my teacher gave us the option between two books, I returned the more expensive one). So for me, waiting in line at the bookstore is worth it if I don't have to spend more money.
As promised, I am going to give my pledge that buying used books is better. Yes, it is wonderful to have a nice new shiny book, and that is great if you know you are going to use that book forever, cherish it, and give it a special place on your bookshelf. That is what I decided for my beautiful Bevington complete works of Shakespeare book. But really, about 99% of your textbooks, you don't need a nice new shiny copy.
Really, other than the nice new shiny thing, there are only pros to buying used books:
Before I give you my next bit of advice, please know that I love the Bookstore, but I have to make decisions based on what is best financially!
Sometimes, it is in a student's best interest to buy their textbooks somewhere else. I know, I know! I should have told you this before! But really, I think it is important to understand all of your options when it comes to textbooks.
When I say buy textbooks somewhere else, I mean buying your textbooks on http://www.amazon.com/ or http://www.bn.com/ (or even at Barnes and Noble or Borders). (But there is also a board near the Muli-Cultural Offices close to the Woodbury Business building that has ads for textbooks...and housing...where you can buy usedbooks from students)
Here is how this works: if you want to buy your books before classes start, go to the bookstore and find your books as if you were buying through the bookstore. On the back of the books (and probably on the info sheet in front of the books), write down the 13 digit ISBN number (sometimes 10 digits). Usually, I come prepared with the course names with gaps inbetween to write the following info: ISBN number, New Price, Used Price, book title. (Do not feel bad about doing this! You will always see people in the bookstore just writing down ISBN numbers!)
When you get home, go to your website of choice. My personal favorite is Amazon. On Amazon, all you have to do is type in the ISBN number in the search bar and the book should come up. On Barnes and Noble, they have a tab for textbooks and you can plug in the ISBN on the textbook page.
Whatever you decide to use, always look at the new and used prices. And for your online purchases, note how much shipping will be. I always have a big sheet comparing all 6 prices: Bookstore New/Used, Amazon New/Used, and Barnes and Noble New/Used. Most of the time, buying a used book on Amazon is the cheapest. It is a lot of work, but it saves me money, which is always my goal.
If you choose to wait to buy online after your first day (because of reasons previously stated), you run the risk of not getting your books in time. A lot of the time, you can get away with borrowing a classmate's textbook or using a reserved copy in the library until you books come in. But if you don't want to share and you can't wait, it is most beneficial to buy the book from the Bookstore.
You can also sign up for Amazon Student (I believe it is free for a year). This makes it so shipping is a little cheaper for you! Occasionally, there are deals where you don't have to pay for 1 or 2 day shipping!
Personally, I always wait until after the first day and buy used books online unless I absolutely have to have the book for class the next time we meet. So while I prefer to buy online, I usually am buying something from the Bookstore each semester.
Wow, that was a lot. And I probably missed something. Oh well, hope it helps!
Next post: First Day
UVU's bookstore is located on the main level of the Student Center (SC). You can buy UVU clothing, souvenirs, jewlery, car stickers, water bottles, etc. There is a ridiculous amount of school supplies: planners (which are super handy...and I highly recommend buying a UVU planner every year), notebooks, binders, pens, highlighters, backbacks (the Dakine backbacks are expensive but super durable and can hold a lot- I've had mine for 2 years now and it has stood the test of mulitple English anthologies at one time!), art supplies, photography supplies...there's a lot! There is a small selection of novels (but not the best selection. It is good for the classics-and for a fairly good price- but I would stick to Borders if you are looking for a wide selection). There is also a small electronics section where you can find headphones, recorders (which actually might be helpful if a teacher gives a study guide lecture), and other various electronic goods.
Personally, my favorite section of the Bookstore is the Apple section. You can buy Apple desktops, laptops, iPads, and all of the various forms of iPods. There is even a student discount on all Apple products! But you have to talk to the salespeople there to find out what kind of discounts. There is also a large selection of Apple accessories and software (as well as PC accessories and software).
"Like" the UVU Bookstore on Facebook to get news on sales! This is actually really great because at the end of each semester, you could get school supplies at a discount. There are also occasional holiday sales where you can buy Apple products at an even bigger discount! http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/UVU-Bookstore/10333431772
But of course, the reason why it has its name, the Bookstore is where you can buy all of your textbooks! [Some teachers choose not to have their books available in the bookstore. Mainly because it can take a while for orders to come in. Or because the order can get messed up. And a lot of the time, Bookstore prices can be more expensive than finding the book yourself.] But anyway, for the most part, you can find the majority of your textbooks here!
It is a fairly simple set-up once you understand it.
Here is the best way to make your Bookstore experience great (read everything from this point to the end of the post, you'll see why!):
- To avoid lines at the Bookstore, about two weeks before classes start (or even a week before), go onto UVLink and print of your schedule with all of your class names (For learning purposes, I'm going to use ENGL1010-001 as my example)
- Go to the bookstore and head to the textbook section (currently, it is located on the north end of the bookstore, otherwise known as the side opposite the door). There is always a Bookstore worker there to help you if you need it.
- The textbooks are arranged by departments alphabetically. So, if you are looking for your ENGL1010-001 textbooks, you would head to the aisle that houses "ENGL".
- Within each section, the books are arranged numerically (There is a little paper in front of each book with the course name). Meaning ENGL1010-001 would be at the very beginning of the ENGL section.
- When looking at your course name: "ENGL"=department; "1010"=course level; "-001"=section number
- Make sure you are looking at the proper section number! Different teachers teach different section numbers, and each teacher chooses their own textbooks!
- Also, make sure you get every book for that specific course. In my English 1010 class, we had 3 separate things that we needed to buy.
- Note that on each sign for books, there are two prices: the "new" price and the "used" price. If there are used books available: BUY THE USED BOOK! (More on that later in this post)
- Then you can go and pay for books!
This next bit is very important (but really, I think everything I say on this blog is important. So I guess this next bit is super important). While it is great to buy your books 1-2 weeks early so you can beat the lines at the bookstore, sometimes it is better for you to wait until the first day of school to get your books. I know, that seems crazy. A lot of the time, you will get to class and your teacher will tell you that your textbooks aren't necessary. Or they will say you only need one (My first day in one of my history classes, my teacher gave us the option between two books, I returned the more expensive one). So for me, waiting in line at the bookstore is worth it if I don't have to spend more money.
As promised, I am going to give my pledge that buying used books is better. Yes, it is wonderful to have a nice new shiny book, and that is great if you know you are going to use that book forever, cherish it, and give it a special place on your bookshelf. That is what I decided for my beautiful Bevington complete works of Shakespeare book. But really, about 99% of your textbooks, you don't need a nice new shiny copy.
Really, other than the nice new shiny thing, there are only pros to buying used books:
- They are cheaper. And to a college student, cheaper is always great!
- A lot of the time, you can find them in nearly new condition. I am that person that sits on the floor of the Bookstore looking at every copy of used books to find the best looking one.
- Sometimes, there are notes already in it (or highlights). Which is an awesome plus. Unless it is like Tom Riddle's diary...
Before I give you my next bit of advice, please know that I love the Bookstore, but I have to make decisions based on what is best financially!
Sometimes, it is in a student's best interest to buy their textbooks somewhere else. I know, I know! I should have told you this before! But really, I think it is important to understand all of your options when it comes to textbooks.
When I say buy textbooks somewhere else, I mean buying your textbooks on http://www.amazon.com/ or http://www.bn.com/ (or even at Barnes and Noble or Borders). (But there is also a board near the Muli-Cultural Offices close to the Woodbury Business building that has ads for textbooks...and housing...where you can buy usedbooks from students)
Here is how this works: if you want to buy your books before classes start, go to the bookstore and find your books as if you were buying through the bookstore. On the back of the books (and probably on the info sheet in front of the books), write down the 13 digit ISBN number (sometimes 10 digits). Usually, I come prepared with the course names with gaps inbetween to write the following info: ISBN number, New Price, Used Price, book title. (Do not feel bad about doing this! You will always see people in the bookstore just writing down ISBN numbers!)
When you get home, go to your website of choice. My personal favorite is Amazon. On Amazon, all you have to do is type in the ISBN number in the search bar and the book should come up. On Barnes and Noble, they have a tab for textbooks and you can plug in the ISBN on the textbook page.
Whatever you decide to use, always look at the new and used prices. And for your online purchases, note how much shipping will be. I always have a big sheet comparing all 6 prices: Bookstore New/Used, Amazon New/Used, and Barnes and Noble New/Used. Most of the time, buying a used book on Amazon is the cheapest. It is a lot of work, but it saves me money, which is always my goal.
If you choose to wait to buy online after your first day (because of reasons previously stated), you run the risk of not getting your books in time. A lot of the time, you can get away with borrowing a classmate's textbook or using a reserved copy in the library until you books come in. But if you don't want to share and you can't wait, it is most beneficial to buy the book from the Bookstore.
You can also sign up for Amazon Student (I believe it is free for a year). This makes it so shipping is a little cheaper for you! Occasionally, there are deals where you don't have to pay for 1 or 2 day shipping!
Personally, I always wait until after the first day and buy used books online unless I absolutely have to have the book for class the next time we meet. So while I prefer to buy online, I usually am buying something from the Bookstore each semester.
Wow, that was a lot. And I probably missed something. Oh well, hope it helps!
Next post: First Day
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)