This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cengage Unlimited. The opinions and text are all mine.
It’s back to school season! As an upcoming college junior, I know the college ropes and have a pretty good rhythm on campus. I can find all my classes and I can remember a lot more professors’ names. I love my friends, my dorm room, and the freedom that college brings. Whether you’re a freshman or an upcoming senior, all college students can benefit from a few helpful tips! Today I want to share with you 6 College Hacks every student needs to know. You will love these tips and they may even change your whole school year!
- Use a Cengage Unlimited Subscription
Cengage Unlimited is a new subscription service that allows you to digitally access all of your textbooks in one place! It doesn’t matter how many courses you enroll in, Cengage Unlimited’s price stays the same starting at $119.99 per semester. Not only that but you also get access to all your Cengage courses on platforms like WebAssign and Mindtap. Plus ebooks, study guides, and a print rental. I’ll be honest with you all, this program has really taken some college stress off of me and I love the fact that my college books are all in one place and I don’t have to worry about big, heavy, bulky books anymore if I don’t want to. Another huge plus about Cengage Unlimited is that when you choose to end your subscription you can still access up to 6 ebooks anytime for up to a year. Now that’s a company that wants to see me succeed.
2. Be Aware of All Student Discounts
There are a lot of perks to being a student, maybe even some you have never thought about. The truth is, that student ID of yours can really help you save money and get discounts that would otherwise be unavailable. Electronic brands, movie theaters, attractions, local transportation, insurance companies, sports stores, cell phone companies, online subscriptions, local memberships, tons of retail stores, many food franchises, need I go on? I bet you didn’t know you could be saving so much money! Make sure to research and take advantage of all the student discounts in your area, you won’t regret it. Neither will your wallet!
4. Search For Online Study Guides
You would be surprised at what can be found online to help you in college. I love when my teachers hand out study guides before big tests, they help me so much and it saves me time from making one myself. The problem is some teachers don’t, and that’s a bummer. Don’t panic when a teacher chooses not to give out a study guide, and before you put in all that work making your own, check the web! Typing in the name of your book and what chapter your test is covering is the best way to find a potential study guide. I know searching online first has saved the day several times for me. If you don’t like digging all over the internet, Cengage Unlimited subscription service comes with a library of study guides and tools that are all at your fingertips.
5. Download a Grammar Extension On Your Laptop
I can’t stress this enough. You NEED a grammar extension. Us college kids have a whole lot more to worry about than making sure all of our papers are spelled perfectly and are all grammatically correct. That’s what these are for. Research the one that would work best for you, but definitely get one. There’s nothing worse than handing in a paper with a bunch of careless grammar mistakes just because you may have pulled an all-nighter writing it and didn’t proofread your paper…but none of us ever do that…right?
6. Turn Textbook Headlines Into Questions
This one may seem odd, but it’s a great studying tactic that has helped so many students dig deeper into what they’re studying and help them become more prepared. You get creative and get your mind thinking so you’re not just reading course material, you’re making up your own questions about the material. For example, if a section in your textbook had the title “A Hippo’s Habitat” you would make that title a question and think of ways you could ask yourself about the hippo’s habitat like “What conditions are important for a hippo to have in their habitat?”. See how this study method gets you thinking outside the box? Eventually, it will become second nature and you will be learning and studying like a pro.
7. Set Semester Goals
I don’t know about you, but I am very goal motivated. I think all college students have to be. I mean, we’re all motivated by the goal of one day getting our diplomas! One thing I started my freshman year that I still do now, is write out at some semester goals, whether big or small and hang it in my dorm somewhere I will see it every day. It’s a great way to stay on track and stay motivated to reach the smaller goals. Plus they keep me accountable. Set your goals and make sure you achieve them! Click Here for a free printable to write your goals on!
I’m ready for my junior year! I hope you’re ready to start, or continue, this college journey as well. If you incorporate these hacks into your college life you’re sure to be unstoppable! I wish someone had told me about these great college tips when I first started. They have all helped me so much and I hope they help you too. If you’re curious about the Cengage Unlimited subscription service I mentioned before, you can learn more and subscribe here. It’s a great resource for any and every college student, go try it out for yourself.