January 27th, 2010

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January 26th, 2010

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January 20th, 2010

Even if you know more than the average person about finance, there are undoubtedly a few areas where you could expand your knowledge. Luckily, education on finance is easier than ever to come by with a little help from the Web. This collection of lectures will have you becoming an amateur financial expert in no time so you’ll be able to bring your knowledge with you throughout college and beyond.

The Basics

These lectures will teach you the basics of finance so you’ll be ready to move onto more advanced topics.

1. Financial Literacy: Take a listen to this lecture to learn more about just what it means to be financially literate.
2. Liquidity, Asset Prices and Market Efficiency: This business-focused lecture will help you to better understand these absolute essentials to financial success.
3. Managing Financial Risks: If you want to know more about investing, you can learn some of the basics from this lecture.
4. The Use of Derivatives: "Derivative" is a word that gets thrown around a lot, but if you don’t quite know what it means, check out this lecture.
5. Foreign Exchange and Currency: This short lecture will give you an idea of how different currencies work together.
6. Financial Strategy: Business owners and regular working people alike can take away some great lessons from this lecture.
7. Risk and Money: Here you’ll be able to learn about the essentials of managing risk when it comes to money.
8. Hedge Funds: You’ve no doubt heard of hedge funds, but do you know what a hedge fund really is? This lecture will explain it.
9. Private Equity: Give this lecture a try to learn more about private equity and what that means for you.
10. FRAs and Futures: These elements of the economy can be confusing, but you can get a great overview of them in this short lecture.
11. Financial Math: While focused on the health care industry, this series of lectures can be useful to anyone hoping to learn more about managing finances.
12. Stocks: Learn the basics of the stock market and its component parts in this lecture.
13. Options Markets: This lecture will teach you what option markets are and how they can add to a portfolio.

Personal Finance

Make sure you’re managing you’re money intelligently with a little guidance from these lectures.

14. The Challenges Retiring Baby-Boomers Face: As more and more of the baby boomers head towards retirement, the material covered in this lecture becomes ever more important.
15. Katherine Fulton: You are the future of philanthropy: This lecture will explain how new technologies and innovations make it possible for even people without large amounts of money to make a difference with philanthropy.
16. Going for Broke: Middle Class Families: Learn more about the home economics that are a reality for most middle-class families today.
17. Managing Personal Finances: Learn the basics of getting a handle on your personal finances with help from this lecture.
18. Paying for College: The Rising Cost of Higher Education: Hear from experts on what the rising costs of college will mean for students and their families in this lecture.
19. What Retirement Means to Me: In this lecture, you’ll hear a panel of seniors who are economists on what retirement means to them and what it means to many now.
20. Make Smart Decisions: This lecture aims to help guide you towards better money management.
21. Money Matters: The Ins and Outs of Personal Finance: Here you’ll get some pointers on understanding and managing your money more intelligently.
22. The Importance of Saving: Check out this lecture for motivation to keep saving instead of spending.
23. Personal Finance: Retirement: If you’re wondering how to plan for retirement, this lecture offers basic guidance.
24. Debt and Self-Restraint: Many people have charged their way into massive credit card debt, and this lecture offers advice on battling debt and keeping spending in check.
25. Finding Financial Wisdom in Unexpected Places: Learn how you can find financial understanding where you least expect it in this lecture.

Economics

Check out these lectures to learn the basics of economics.

26. Beyond Freakonomics: New Musings on the Economics of Everyday Life: Hear from this well-known University of Chicago professor on his economic ideas and theories in this entertaining lecture.
27. Game Theory: Take a look at this lecture to learn more about what game theory is and how it can apply to finances.
28. Financial Markets: This series of lectures will help you understand just what the financial markets are and how they function.
29. Economic Theory for an Innovative World: Take a look at this Columbia lecture that attempts to show why traditional economic theories need to be replaced with more modern ideas.
30. Women and Economic Development: In this video you’ll hear from a panel of experts at Harvard on the role women can and are playing in the world economy.
31. Economics and the Roots of Terrorism: This Princeton lecture will help illuminate some of the economic factors that have helped foster terrorism.
32. The Economics of Climate Change: In this lecture you’ll see what the real economic impact of global warming may be.
33. Barry Bluestone: Socio-Economics: Watch this video to learn about the current social and economic conditions of the lower and middle classes in America.
34. Color of Wealth: The US Racial Wealth Divide: Learn why racial disparities in the US still exist through this financially-focused lecture.
35. Internet Economics: Through this lecture you’ll learn about the impact the Internet has had on global commerce and how business is done.

Economic Crisis

These lectures will explain the current economic climate to you.

36. Understanding the Crisis in the Markets: This video from Harvard will help you to get a grasp on how and why the markets are failing.
37. Capitalism and Confusion: In this lecture, you’ll hear from Nobel Prize winner Amartya Sen on a range of pertinent economic topics.
38. What’s Ahead for Financial Markets?: Learn what you can expect in the coming years from an economic perspective in this lecture.
39. Origins of the Financial Mess: Alan Blinder, a professor of Economics and Public Affairs, delivers this lecture on where the current financial problems came from.
40. The Financial Crisis: Implications for Washington, Wall Street and Main Street: Learn what the economic crisis means for big business and everyday people alike in this lecture.
41. Financial Crises: This series of five lectures will help you understand where financial crises come from, what they mean and how they can be managed.
42. Preventing the Next Financial Crisis: Want to know how we can avoid another big economic downturn? Listen to this lecture to find out.
43. Feeling the Pain: How the Financial Crisis Is Affecting Brazil, Russia, India and China: This lecture will show you how the crisis has affected more than just the US.
44. The Outlook for the Global Economy and the Challenges That Must Be Met: Check out this video to learn some of the big obstacles that must have been faced before the market can get back on track.
45. Higher Education and the Recession: Here is a lecture that will show what effect the recession has had on higher education and the long-term implications it may have for society.

Investing

Get some help understanding the markets, how you should invest, and more with these lectures.

46. Why Stock-price Volatility Should Never Be a Surprise, Even in the Long Run: Learn why your investments may go up and down violently, even without market downturns, in this lecture.
47. Cash vs. Fixed Rate Investing: Unsure of the difference? This lecture will help you better understand what you’re getting into.
48. It’s Not About the Check: This lecture will explain why good investments shouldn’t be just about the payoff.
49. Investment Basics: Those who need a basic guide to investing can find some great advice here.
50. Investment No No’s: Learn just what you shouldn’t do when it comes to making smart investments in this lecture.
51. The Psychology of Saving and Investing: People don’t always make the best decisions when it comes to saving and investing. This lecture explains some of the psychology that lies behind it.
52. Equity Investment: This lecture will explain more about equity investments for those who are unfamiliar.
53. Human Judgment and Investment Manias: How do people get caught up in investment scams and manias? This lecture attempts to explain the reasoning.
54. What People of All Ages Should Know About Investing in the Stock Market Now: Scared to make investments in this economic climate? This lecture will explain what you can expect and what you need to know to do it well.
55. Investment Banking: You’ll find a basic primer on how investment banking works in this lecture.
56. The Universal Principle of Risk Management: If you’re going to make investments, make sure you can understand and manage the risks associated with it with help from this lecture.
57. Investing for the Long Run: Learn how to get your investments to take you into your retirement years from this lecture.

Business Finance

Whether you’re starting a business now, working in a corporation, or plan on going it on your own later, these lectures offer financial guidance.

58. Superclass: The Global Power Elite and the World They Are Making: In this lecture, you’ll hear more about the select few who make the bulk of financial and economic decisions worldwide–often to the detriment of others.
59. Adapting to Market Transformation: Learn how you can keep your business afloat even when the market is changing around you from this lecture.
60. Business, Knowledge and Global Growth: This lecture will explain how the MBA degree has contributed to the growth of entrepreneurship at home and worldwide.
61. David S. Rose on pitching to VCs: If you need some cash to get your business off the ground, this lecture will teach you the ropes of finding venture capital investments.
62. Daily Crisis: Developing Value-Based Companies: Learn how to create a company that will last for the long haul in this lecture.
63. Startup Garden: Growing Business to Fit Your Life: Creating a startup can be hard work, and you can get some great advice on how to do it right from this lecture.
64. Social Business Enterprise and a World Without Poverty: Those interested in social entrepreneurship can find a plethora of information on how to get started in this lecture.
65. Michael Goldberg Shares Lessons Learned on Entrepreneurship and Investing: In this lecture, Goldberg shares some of his personal lessons on these business aspects, letting you learn from his successes and mistakes.
66. Building a Business: Understanding Financial Control: If you’re a business owner or manager you’ll find some excellent advice on financial management here.
67. Crackdown on Executive Pay: Learn why giving execs big salaries may not always be the best thing for the long term success of a business.
68. TV’s New Economics: This lecture will show you the impact TV has had on how business and marketing are conducted.
69. Finance and the Financial Manager: Even if you’re a financial manger, you can learn great finance skills from this lecture.
70. Entrepreneurs: Then and Now: Learn about some of the changes that have happened in entrepreneurship over the past decades in this lecture.
71. Get the Business Basics: Get advice on mastering the basics of good business in this lecture.
72. Keeping a Financial Focus: It can be hard to keep your business focused on business when you’re trying to innovate, but this lecture stresses the importance of just that.

International Issues

Learn about fiance from a global perspective in these lectures.

73. Globalization and Markets: David Dapice explains the impact globalization has had on how business, and therefore finance, is done around the world.
74. Conference on Chinese Capitalism: This video brings together scholars from around the world to talk about how the rise of Chinese capitalism affects politics, economics and more.
75. China and Financial Reform: Here you’ll learn how the rise of China has shaped financial reform around the world.
76. The Crisis of Global Capitalism: Professor John Gray explains the economic crisis from a global perspective and how it’s evolved over the past ten years in this lecture.
77. Navigating Global Economic and Financial Change: This lecture from the London School of Economics given by Mohamed A El-Erian will help you learn more abut the changes occurring today in global economics.
78. Bad Money: The Global Crisis of American Capitalism: Learn how the "bad money" has changed America’s place in the world economy, and get some ideas on how we’ll rebound and at what cost to the average person.
79. The Economics of Climate Change: Risk, Ethics, and a Global Deal: This Princeton University lecture will help you learn what the economic effects of climate change are around the world.
80. The Impact of Economic Sanctions on Iraq: Learn about the real ramifications of economic sanctions and the many lives these political limits had on everyday people.

Finance, Society and Behavior

Learn about the role that finance has played in history and how it is influenced by our psychology in these lectures.

81. Cultural History of the Great Depression: Learn more about the entertainment and daily life of people living during the Dust Bowl and Great Depression in this lecture, proving you can still have a good time on little money.
82. Finance and Insurance as Powerful Forces in Our Society: This lecture will make it easier to understand the roles insurance and finance play in our society as a whole.
83. New Research in Behavioral Finance: Listen as the faculty of Yale discuss their latest research in this interesting field.
84. In Search of Homo Economicus: This lecture addresses the idea that humans act rationally when it comes to making financial decisions.
85. Ponzi’s Scheme: The True Story of a Financial Legend: With a name that now is synonymous with get-rich-quick schemes, learn how this man found his own path to riches and ultimate way back down again.
86. The Democratization of Finance: Learn about some of the most important aspects of risk management, including those that are government sponsored, in this lecture from Professor Robert Schiller.
87. Human Foibles, Fraud, Manipulation, and Regulation: Check out this lecture to learn how phenomena like magical thinking, overconfidence, and representativeness heuristic cause people to make poor financial decisions.

Miscellaneous

These lectures offer inspiration and information about the future of finance and much more.

88. So Damn Much Money: Senior correspondent for The Washington Post, Robert Kaiser, shows how lobbyist money has changed the way government works in this lecture.
89. Deciphering the Future of Social Security: Here you’ll get some insights into what the major problems facing social security are.
90. The Widow Cliquot: The Champagne Empire: Check out this lecture to learn about this inspiring woman who built the Veuve Cliquot brand.
91. Cornelius Vanderbilt: The First Tycoon: If this classic story of rags to riches doesn’t inspire you to strike out on your own, nothing will.
92. The History of Financial Innovation: This lecture from Yale will give you an overview of how finance has changed over the years.
93. The Future of Banking and Financial Regulation: Hear from several experts in the field in this London School of Economics lecture on how the economic crisis may impact how finance is done.
94. The Evolution and Perfection of Monetary Policy: In this lecture, you’ll be able to hear more about how central banks work.
95. Real Estate Finance and Its Vulnerability to Crisis: Real estate may generally be a good investment, but this lecture will make you think twice before you dive in.

January 19th, 2010

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January 18th, 2010

The Internet has proven itself as a valuable resource for all types of readers, from collectors of rare books to tech-minded readers who shop, network and download books online. But if you’re having trouble finding exactly what you need, whether it’s a book review, a book by a certain author, or a digitized anthology for your online courses, you’ll want to use sophisticated tools that direct you to quality resources. Here are 50 cool search engines for serious readers and students.

eBooks

When you want to read books online, use these search engines to find free versions, PDF files and .doc formats.

1. Ebook Engine: This engine will connect you to free ebooks and ebook sites like Project Gutenberg, Archive.org, Feedbooks.com and others.
2. PDF Search Engine: Search for PDF versions of ebooks using this tool, which also features an ebook search toolbar for Firefox.
3. Ebooksearchengine.com: Search ebooks in various languages in PDF or .doc forms here.
4. Google Books: Google Books offers an impressive database of searchable titles in non-fiction, fiction, poetry, self help, science, reference and more. Not all books can be accessed for free in full text, but you will at least find shopping information for each book.
5. PDFse: This is another ebook search for PDF texts, complete with a tag cloud, keyword search box, and alphabetical glossary.
6. Open Library: This beta open source site claims to have "one web page for every book," and gives you the choice of searching fully scanned titles only.
7. eLibrary: eLibrary is a good tool for searching reference books, self-help titles, instructional books and training guides.
8. Bibliomania: Literature nerds can browse classic works, including poetry, drama, short stories and novels, at Bibliomania.
9. Project Gutenberg: Project Gutenberg is the original search engine and archive of ebooks, specializing in old and classic texts.
10. Digital Book Index: You can search plenty of subcategories in umbrella sections like authors, subjects, keywords or publishers from the Digital Book Index, which has over 100,000 titles.
11. The Online Books Page: The University of Pennsylvania supports book search engine for classics and more modern works that can be read online, downloaded, and saved.
12. Etext Center: The University of Virginia’s ebook collections contain over 2,100 works, from classics, American history, children’s literature and more.

Books to Swap, Sell and Buy

Use these search engines when you need to swap, sell or buy a book over the Internet. Below are tools for old and used books, new books, out-of-print titles, and more.

13. BookFinder.com: You can search through 150 million books for sale, including textbooks, rare and out-of-print books, and international titles.
14. AbeBooks.com: This book and bookseller site has all kinds of options for searching, including most popular subjects, author/title/keyword/ISBN, simple browsing, top reviewed, and more. You can also sell books through AbeBooks.com
15. AllBookstores.com: Use this site to compare prices on books and textbooks.
16. BookFinder4U: This simple search engine offers advanced and out-of-print search.
17. PaperBackSwap.com: Join this community to search and swap all kinds of books, including memoirs, fantasy, fiction, historical, religious books, children’s books, and more.
18. eBay: eBay’s book page has search options for book type, rare books, textbooks, printing year, book accessories, and more.
19. Barnes & Noble: This mega retailer has one of the most popular online book search tools, too, including a section just for ebooks.
20. BookSwap Textbooks: College students can select their school or school system to find textbooks for swap or sale here.
21. TitleTrader: Book categories here include nonfiction; cooking, food and wine; sports; teens; comics and graphic novels; biographies and memoirs; reference; and others.
22. ISBN.nu: Compare books and book prices on this site.
23. AddALL: AddALL is a popular book search engine and price comparison tool for new and used books.

Rare Books

Collectors of rare, signed, and out-of-print books can use these search engines to help them complete their libraries.

24. Inprint: Inprint has been finding out-of-print books since 1980 and now operates online, too.
25. Bibliofind: Bibliofind and Amazon.com offer this book search for rare and out-of-print books, letting you search by category, format, reader age, language, publication date and other qualifications.
26. Powell’s Books: Powell’s is a legendary independent bookseller that can connect you to signed editions, collectibles and rare books.
27. Alibris: With Alibris, you can easily locate rare and collectible books by searching publication years, signed or first editions, dust jacket, collectibles, and more.
28. Rare Book Room: Find digitized rare books from a range of disciplines and authors, like Shakespeare, law, philosophy, natural history, linguistics, botany, and more.
29. Book Values: Here you can search for and compare prices of rare books.
30. Bauman Rare Books: Rare book gallery owners David and Natalie Bauman offer a searchable library online too, where you can find books in categories like music, photography, children’s books, Americana, religion, and more.
31. Biblio.com: Biblio.com’s antiquarian and rare books page covers law, philosophy and reference books, business, cook books, history books, "books on books," literature, rare art books, and lots more.
32. Bibliopoly: Bibliopoly is a search engine that pulls rare books from many different languages.

Book Reviews and Community

Online book clubs and communities also offer powerful search engines to help you find new books to read, browse reading lists, and research authors while networking with other serious readers.

33. Reader’s Robot: Reader’s Robot contains databases filled with over 19,000 books and reviews in categories like popular fiction, romance, historical, travel, mystery, African-American and more. The tool’s "appeal factor" rating system will help you fill up your reading list.
34. AllReaders.com: AllReaders is a solid resource for locating book reviews and information based on keyword, plot, title, author, setting or character searches.
35. Book Movement: Book Movement hosts book clubs on its site and also features a very extensive search engine of book reviews that you can browse by top rated, a glossary, or keyword.
36. Book Crossing: This site incorporates a reading community with title searching. You can look up title, author, ISBN and publishing information, plus reviews, for all types of books.
37. Whichbook: This clever tool lets you pick keywords on a graph of opposing moods, characters, plots, or settings (like happy vs. sad or no sex vs. sex).
38. BookReview.com: Choose to search only must read books, or search by review date, author, publisher and/or title.
39. LibraryThing: On this book club site, you can catalog books, search reviews, swap books, and more. The powerful search engine features search by title/author/ISBN, author, tags, groups, and community members.
40. GoodReads: This community-driven book search will connect you to book reviews, top book lists, book discussions and giveaways, and more.
41. Bookwire Reviews: This user-friendly engine offers title, keyword or author search, as well as a category search that can find book reviews going back until 2004.
42. Sunday Book Review: Search the New York Times’ archives of book reviews here.

Libraries

Whether you want to find a nearby library or locate a book in a virtual or physical library, use these search engines.

43. AwesomeLibrary.org: Powered by Google, this search engine also searches the Internet Public Library, Google Books, Education World, and other reference sites.
44. Library of Congress Online Catalog: Search books housed at the Library of Congress here.
45. Internet Public Library: The IPL’s Online Texts section features collections of contemporary fiction, classical literature, drama and plays, poetry, and more.
46. Classic Reader: On Classic Reader, you can search free books, authors, categories and more.
47. World Cat: Use World Cat as a one-stop resource that will find books in nearby libraries.
48. Public Libraries: Search for public, state, Presidential, national, college and law libraries in all 50 states. This site also has a book search and author information center.
49. Questia: Questia can connect you to the largest online collection of books and journal articles in the world.
50. Library Spot: Use Library Spot to locate libraries around the world, find book reviews, shop for books, and more.

January 17th, 2010

Solid writing skills open up career-boosting opportunities for professional writers and for those with aspirations beyond their basic job description. Journalists, fiction writers, scientists, teachers, business professionals, law students and other professionals can all get ahead by inspiring and influencing others with their writing. Whether you’re an undergraduate wanting tips to organize your papers; a novelist who needs help with character development; or a technical writer in search of tips to write more engaging copy, here are 100 little ways all of you can dramatically improve your writing.

General

These writing tips will help you work on your writing habits and style each day.

1. Keep a notebook handy: Carry around a little notebook so that you can write down ideas, great words, characters, observations and inspirations, whether you’re a fiction writer or nonfiction writer.
2. Read more: Read authors, journalists and other writers you admire and notice the way they use language.
3. Become a better listener: Understand what really motivates people by listening to them more and imitating their dialog and speech patterns in your writing.
4. Simplify things for the reader: Instead of making concepts or events seem more complicated for your reader, aim to make them more simple through your writing.
5. Remember your audience: Always have a very clear of who your audience is before writing.
6. Write all the time: Write whenever you can, whether it’s a short story, a poem, an analysis of a play, or a column you send into the newspaper. Practice makes perfect.
7. Trim everything down: Good writing is concise writing, so weed out wordy phrases whenever you can.
8. Treat writing like it’s your job: Even if it is technically your job, the odd hours and free schedule can turn real writers into procrastinators. Treat it seriously, or you’ll never get anything done.
9. Keep it fun: At the same time, you shouldn’t take yourself or your skill too seriously: it’s okay to make mistakes during your brainstorming session or generate silly story ideas as practice.
10. Tell a story: Even journalists can use the right kind of language and style to make a fact-based event read more like a story.
11. Think before you write: Sometimes, just writing things down arbitrarily can help with brainstorming, but it also helps to have an organized idea of what you aim to communicate through your writing.
12. Write on the go: Being able to write anywhere at any time if a valuable skill.

Grammar and Spelling

Tighten up your writing by paying careful attention to grammatical nuances, spelling errors and word usage.

13. Always have perfect grammar: As Christopher Meeks points out, spelling and grammar mistakes are "the first things people will notice…Even if your writing is brilliant, if it has a lot of errors (not uncommon on the Web), then people think less of you."
14. Worry about spelling and grammar in your second draft: It’s okay to work with your natural flow and worry about spelling and grammar after you’ve gotten the ideas down on paper.
15. Learn new words: Writing consultant Judy Rose encourages writers to check out all the synonyms when looking up a word in the dictionary.
16. Never mistake sound-alike words: "Your" and "you’re;" "whose" and "who’s" are all sound-alike words that will make you look like an amateur if you confuse them.
17. Review punctuation rules: Don’t know when to use a semi-colon or dash? Use this guide to help you straighten it out.
18. Keep a dictionary handy: Keep an online dictionary or hard copy next to you when you write.
19. Use the thesaurus: Some writers believe that if they couldn’t think up the word themselves, it’s cheating. But think of a thesaurus as a vocabulary lesson and an opportunity to explore new words.
20. Don’t rely on spell-check: You may be using a correctly spelled word, but that doesn’t mean it’s the right one for the sentence.
21. Use niche dictionaries and glossaries: Science dictionaries, medical glossaries, foreign language dictionaries and slang dictionaries will help your writing appear more accurate and authoritative.

Creative Writing

Fiction writers will find tips for better character development, scene writing, and story ideas here.

22. Understand the four types of conflict: The four types of conflict are man vs. man; man vs. himself; man vs. society; and man vs. face, nature or circumstances of life. Identify the one that will be the center for your story.
23. Use examples: Clarify an emotion or event by using tangible examples that readers can relate to.
24. Don’t mix up your point-of-view: Your story’s point-of-view should remain consistent, so make sure you know all the nuances of perspective and point-of-view before you get lost in the story.
25. Have a backstory: All of your characters need a backstory, and you need to have a specific outline written out to keep you straight all through your primary story.
26. Reinvent old ideas: Just because a tragic story between star-crossed lovers has been written before doesn’t mean you can’t reinvent it based on your experiences and perspective.
27. Research setting: Setting is extremely important to your story, so be prepared to visit a real-life version of what you’d like to write about, especially if you’ve never actually been there.
28. "Show, don’t tell: Remembering this tip should help you create visual stories instead of dried-out narration.
29. Identify the purpose of each scene: Write down in a clear sentence what needs to happen in a scene for the story to move forward, and then generate specific details like location, time and starting and end points, before filling in the middle parts.
30. Use dialogue labels: Let dialogue propel the story, not your explanation of every thing that happens or the characters say.
31. Work from prompts: Tools like this one can help you come up with an entire story or refine a scene.

Business and Technical Writing

Business and technical writers should remember to keep up with industry publications and news, use charts and bullets, and write simplistic articles and guides for a range of audiences.

32. Be curious: Curious writers commit to finding out everything they can about a particular subject, which strengthens their writing and reporting.
33. Use bullet points: In technical writing, it’s okay to use bullets if you need to clarify a list or idea. Just make sure you use them only when necessary.
34. Keep up with changing words: Word meaning changes over time, especially in technical and business settings, so make sure you’re keeping up.
35. Write like a reporter: Stressing the "who,what, when, where and why" is most important to customers.
36. Write for an international audience: When writing for international audiences, use simpler language and avoid idioms and other figurative language.
37. Be careful with titles: Technical titles may be unfamiliar to you, but it’s very important to address people correctly.
38. Use tangible examples: Help readers — especially if they are not experts in the field — understand what you’re writing by detailing tangible examples.
39. Know the difference between being professional and formal: Keep your correspondence and your writings professional, but you don’t need to write as if you were generating a legal document.
40. Put yourself in the customer’s shoes: Consider what your readers are looking for when they turn to your article, manual or outline.
41. Stay on top of trends: Read other publications and blogs to stay updated on the newest emerging trends, concepts, people and standards in your industry.
42. Organize sources: Use proper documentation, and save links to or copies of your sources for back up.

Journalism

Whether you’re a rookie Jschool graduate or a veteran reporter, here are tips for strengthening your writing.

43. Use smart headlines and titles: The better your headlines and titles, the more likely people will want to read them.
44. Don’t make absolute predictions: Avoid absolute predictions, and remember that even if you’re confident in the outcome, "anything can happen" and "nothing has to happen."
45. Stop hedging: Copyblogger asks readers to stop hedging, or make allowances for every possible exception. It weakens your writing.
46. Get off the Internet: It’s very important for journalists — even web reporters — to talk to actual people when conducting research.
47. Learn shorthand: Shorthand is still around and can be especially helpful for journalists.
48. Work with multimedia producers: Strengthen your writing by working with photo, video and online journalists.
49. Start with meaning in your sentences: This guide recommends starting sentences with subjects and verbs, and then letting "weaker elements branch to the right."
50. Milk weird names: Weird names attract the reader and work for you by spicing up your sentences with minimal effort.
51. Don’t ignore Twitter: Some journalists have a love-hate (or just hate-hate) relationship with Twitter, but it can be a useful tool for story ideas, finding sources, and staying on top of trending topics.

Writer’s Block and Inspiration

Get over writer’s block with these ideas for brainstorming, scheduling, organizing and more.

52. Just start: When you feel overwhelmed or dried up, just start writing anything that comes into your head, and you’ll have a good starting point.
53. Don’t wait for motivation: You can’t always sit around and wait for motivation to come to you. Write and revise every day.
54. Take breaks: Sometimes, the only thing you need for a fresher start is a short break.
55. Identify your purpose: Figure out why you’re writing, and start by explaining to the reader what your purpose is (ie: setting up an argument or asking for something).
56. Set a personal deadline: If you procrastinate when you know your deadline is far off, set a personal one for yourself that makes you write on time.
57. Don’t save ideas for later: Whenever you’re suddenly inspired, write down as much as you can to accurately capture the experience or emotions.
58. Give each brainstorming session a theme: Focus your brainstorming and organizing sessions by giving each one a specific theme and goal.
59. Try the 3-day writing method: On the first day, write in a stream of consciousness; on the second, refine your writing and fix grammar errors; on the third day, polish your writing with better adjectives and clearer sentences.
60. Use the news and blogs as inspiration: To write about current topics that people want to read about, watch the news and read blogs for inspiration.
61. Set up a writing routine: If you don’t make yourself write, you’ll always have an excuse ready. Pick a time every day to sit and write for a half hour at least.

Style

From simple sentences to cliches to experimentation, these style tips will turn you into the kind of writer that readers love.

62. Write simply: Use the best words for communicating what you mean, and don’t pick words based on how long they are or how smart they sound.
63. Don’t back into sentences: Johnny Kramer asks writers to be more direct early in the sentence instead of "backing into" their words.
64. Avoid cliches: Here you’ll find a list of cliches and "worn-out" phrases to avoid in your writing.
65. Play around with style: Even if you’ve already pin pointed your personal style, don’t be afraid to try new techniques with your writing.
66. Avoid all caps: Use italics sparingly, and if you want your story to be more dramatic, work on word usage and sentence structure.
67. Use active voice: Active voice makes your writing more direct and powerful.
68. Know how to use repetition: When used correctly, repetition can add to your writing, but if overused, it’s irritating.
69. Leave out adjectives: Adjectives can add a lot to a story, but for clearer writing, leave out unnecessary modifiers.
70. Try to be conversational: Lifehack.org suggests adopting a more conversational tone when you write if you want to engage your readers.
71. Be original: You can emulate others’ style up to a point, but a copied style is boring and borders on plagiarism.
72. Use original similes and metaphors: This list of writing rules from George Orwell cautions writers against using figures of speech that have already been tried.

Composition and Organization

Get tips for outlining and understanding organizational structure here.

73. Keep it short: To help you write simply and clearly, make a point to keep sentences and paragraphs short.
74. Make — and remake — outlines: You can make outlines for every kind of story, report or column you’re writing. Revise your outlines as you add to your piece to make it easier on yourself.
75. Clearly identify your theme: Before you start writing, give yourself 15 seconds to write down the main purpose of your piece, and stick to that theme.
76. Use a template: Online article templates help you get started and avoid forgetting important elements.
77. Make use of the writing process: Brainstorm, organize, support, rough draft, revise, rewrite, final draft: those are the steps in the writing process.
78. Write a real conclusion: Your conclusion should depend on your purpose for writing: they can summarize, reinforce an idea, or tell a reader what to think.
79. Pick an organizational structure: Different pieces use different organizational structure. Review this table to identify which one you’ll need to develop.
80. Check for coherence: Each part of your piece should flow logically and in sequential order.

Revising and Editing

All writers need to revise their work, even if they have an editor. Here you’ll find tips for drafting, stripping, editing your work.

81. Revise everything: No matter how terrific you think your writing is the first time, everyone’s writing improves after editing.
82. Write the first draft for yourself: No one is going to see the first draft, so feel free to experiment, make mistakes, and really push yourself.
83. Watch out for redundancy: While editing, highlight any words, phrases or paragraphs that are redundant, and delete them.
84. Sleep on it: Don’t turn something in the second you finish the last sentence. Sleep on it, and check it for mistakes in the morning.
85. Read your work out loud: It’s easier to catch mistakes when you read out loud.
86. Eliminate everything that doesn’t have a purpose: Each word and punctuation mark should have a specific purpose for appearing in your piece.
87. Ask someone else to read your work: If you don’t have a professional editor, ask a friend, teacher or fellow writer to read over your work before pitching or publishing it.
88. Don’t be afraid to tackle large "out-of-control" projects: Read this guide to learn how to trim down sprawling, 700-page novels in just 20 steps.
89. Don’t add to your piece: Unless you forgot an important piece of information, avoid adding words. It’s best to shorten your pieces.
90. Know when to stop: Edit your work until it’s error-free, clear and seamless. Then stop and turn it in.

Computer and Web Tips

Web writers have a different type of audience to write for, and therefore, a unique set of standards to adhere to.

91. Save: Some web applications save your work automatically, but it’s best to be in the habit of manually saving your work too.
92. Use a headline formula: This guide highlights 10 headline formulas that will attract easily distracted readers.
93. Write for active readers: The Internet is an active medium, so be sure to write for readers who are actively pursuing information.
94. Use lists: Using lists in your posts draw readers in and let them know ahead of time how much time they need to invest in reading your piece.
95. Write with the goal of engaging others in discussion: You may have to write with more edge and a well-defined opinion, but getting readers to respond and take over the discussion is your ultimate goal.
96. Write for scanners: Web readers are scanners, so use short, simple sentences.
97. Stick to one idea per paragraph: This technique makes it easy for readers to find information quickly.
98. Use the inverted pyramid: Write what you’d normally save for the conclusion first, and stress the main point early on.
99. Optimize your subtitles: If you’re worried about dumbing down your writing for the sake of SEO, focus on optimizing your subtitles, and then sparingly add in keywords to your text.
100. Writer reader-centric posts: Web readers are selfish and expect pieces to help them directly. Write about yourself as infrequently as possible, and focus on what they want.

January 4th, 2010

Journalism is undergoing a drastic reinvention, and Jschool students are being challenged to learn traditional concepts and practices while mastering the new media techniques that will help them redefine the industry as a whole. From photojournalism to broadcasting and web writing, journalism students have a lot to keep up with in their college courses, but dismissing the history of newspapers and broadcasting would be a huge mistake. Here are 10 iconic journalists we think every Jstudent should study, even those committed to a new sphere of reporting.

1. Bob Woodward: Bob Woodward, formerly of The Washington Post, is one of the most celebrated journalists of the 20th and 21st centuries. Best known for investigating and publicizing the Watergate scandal which resulted in the resignation of President Richard Nixon, Woodward worked alongside fellow reporter Carl Bernstein and a then-unknown source nicknamed Deep Throat. Woodward and Bernstein wrote a book about their Watergate experience, which was later turned into a popular film, All the President’s Men. Many of Woodward’s stories for The Washingotn Post won Pulitzer Prizes, including pieces which covered Watergate and the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Woodward has also written and contributed to 15 books, 12 of which were #1 best-sellers.
2. Barbara Walters: Journalist Barbara Walters is one of the most recognizable broadcasters and reporters in television history, defining a new age of media coverage and investigation. Walters is best known for interviewing high profile personalities in politics and entertainment, often getting first dibs on the biggest stories at the moment. Walters, who has hosted and co-anchored The Today Show, The View, 20/20 and ABC Evening News, has interviewed Boris Yeltsin, Margaret Thatcher, Michael Jackson, King Hussein of Jordan, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, and many others. A popular subject for spoof on Saturday Night Live, Walters is considered a powerful influence on TV news.
3. Walter Cronkite: Also known as "the most trusted man in America," former CBS Evening News anchor Walter Cronkite set the standard for broadcast journalism during a time which saw the emergence of new media and television. Cronkite was the Evening News anchor from 1962-1981, covering major, historical events like the first man on the moon, Watergate, Iran Hostage Crisis, Vietnam War, assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr., and the first American TV broadcast with The Beatles. Cronkite dropped out of the University of Texas during his junior year and instantly picked up newspaper writing gigs and then began a career in radio broadcasting. As the face and voice of many of America’s most historically triumphant and devastating moments, Cronkite earned numerous awards and honors, and is the namesake for the Cronkite School at Arizona State University.
4. Margaret Fuller: One of the country’s first female journalists, Margaret Fuller also worked as a women’s rights activist and book reviewer. She began her journalism career as editor for The Dial in 1840, a magazine run by American Transcendentalists, and later worked for the New York Tribune as the country’s first full-time book reviewer and later as the Tribune’s first female editor. Fuller was also the first foreign female allowed access to the Harvard College Library, became the first female correspondent when she was sent abroad, and was once known as the most widely read person in New England. It is also believed that Fuller is the inspiration for Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Hester Prynne in The Scarlet Letter for her feisty temperament and commitment to feminism.
5. Anderson Cooper: Anderson Cooper is one of the most popular journalists in modern times and serves as a powerful example for the changing media industry. Cooper, the son of heiress Gloria Vanderbilt, was a child model that first worked for Channel One, a TV news show that is aired in middle and high schools across the country. As a restless reporter who wanted access to breaking news stories, Cooper traveled to Burma and Vietnam with forged press passes until he was able to sell his videos and receive proper backing from Channel One. Over the next several years, Cooper worked for ABC News, hosted a reality show, and was a fill-in host for Live with Regis and Kelly before getting his own show on CNN, Anderson Cooper 360. Cooper has become a veritable media celebrity in his own right, and has successfully built a career out of multitasking and reinventing himself to fit in with the evolving media industry.
6. Peter Jennings: Peter Jennings served as the anchor for ABC’s World News Tonight from 1983-2005, though he reported for the program since the 1960s. Jennings originally served as the anchor for Peter Jennings with the News, though he was eventually moved to a position as foreign correspondent after he was deemed too young and too Canadian. Jennings thrived as a foreign correspondent and became known as an incredibly detailed, engaged journalist as he covered the Arab-Israeli conflict and the PLO, as well as the assassination of Israeli Olympians in Munich. Jennings eventually returned to the anchor desk at ABC, where his perfectionism and passion for hard news stories and getting first-hand interviews bolstered his reputation as one of the more popular "Big Three" anchors at the time. In 2005, Jennings was forced to retire after battling lung cancer, which took his life in August of that year. During his career, Jennings was awarded 16 Emmys and two George Foster Peabody Awards, among other honors.
7. Sarah Josepha Hale: Another revolutionary female journalist from the 19th century was Sarah Josepha Hale. Hale, who was also a novelist and a vocal abolitionist, began working for the Boston-based Ladies’ Magazine and served as editor from 1828-1836. Hale, who preferred to be called "editress," oversaw stories about literature, home life, fashion, and cooking, and was considered a significant influence for middle-class New England women. Hale also played a part in the founding of Vassar College and the Thanksgiving holiday, the preservation of George Washington’s Mt. Vernon home, and wrote the iconic nursery rhyme, "Mary Had a Little Lamb."
8. Robert Capa: One of the most iconic photojournalists in American media history is Robert Capa, who was born in Budapest in 1913 but who worked in Germany and France before moving to the U.S. Capa covered the Spanish Civil War, World War II, the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, and the First Indochina War. During World War II, Capa moved from Nazi-occupied France to New York City, but went back to Europe to cover the war for Collier’s and Life. During World War II, Capa took dramatic photos of Omaha Beach on D-Day, and later traveled to Moscow and Kiev to photograph post-war damage. After traveling abroad, Capa founded Magnum Photos, which is now an international photographic cooperative.
9. Anna Quindlen: Anna Quindlen is a novelist and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who has worked for the New York Post, Newsweek and the New York Times. The same year she graduated from Barnard College in 1974, Quindlen joined the Post, transferring to the Times just three years later. In 1992, she won a Pulitzer Prize for Commentary for her opinion column. Also a novelist and columnist for Newsweek, Quindlen has made a successful transition to the movies, as three of her five best-selling books have been turned into films.
10. Ernie Pyle: Another popular war correspondent during World War II was Ernie Pyle, a Pulitzer Prize-winning syndicated journalist whose specialty included daily life stories from around the world. After dropping out of Indiana University, Pyle worked at a small newspaper in Indiana. He moved to Washington, D.C. to work for The Washington Daily News, where he became the first aviation columnist and later the managing editor. After filling in for another columnist on vacation, Pyle became a celebrated national columnist for the Scripps-Howard chain until 1942. Pyle also covered World War II, focusing on the stories of individual soldiers. He won a Pulitzer Prize, and four books have been released as collections of his writings from the war.

December 16th, 2009

Homeschool students have the advantage of using the plethora of information available on the Internet to supplement their education. The following reference tools are a great place for students to start when looking for new places to find what they want to learn. With resources such as dictionaries and encyclopedias, online courses, full texts, resources just for homeschoolers, and reference sites based on particular subjects, homeschool students in search of knowledge will not have to look far.

General Reference Sites

From traditional dictionaries and encyclopedias to specialized dictionaries to stories to facts, these reference sites will open up a world of information to homeschoolers.

1. Bartleby.com. Find a comprehensive listing of reference books as well as fiction, non-fiction, and poetry on this site.
2. Online Etymology Dictionary. This online dictionary lets you discover the origin of common words.
3. Dictionary.com. Not only can you find definitions with this online dictionary, but you can use other tools as well as that help with grammar and style, word FAQs, and more.
4. Library Spot Grammar/Style. Make sure you are using proper grammar and style with the resources provided here.
5. Multnomah County Library Homework Center. This is an awesome resource with links to information on a variety of topics and to several high-quality reference sites.
6. Internet Public Library. Find reference material on topics such as arts and humanities, law and government, business, education, and science. The online librarians will also help you find anything you need to know.
7. Awesome Stories. This resource allows you to discover original sources from national archives, libraries, universities, museums, and government databases.
8. Fact Monster. Get your facts from the Fact Monster.
9. BJ Pinchbeck’s Homework Helper. Sorted by subject, you will find plenty of reference material here.
10. Federal Resources for Educational Excellence. Use this government database to find information on everything from math to music.
11. HowStuffWorks. This reference resource will help you learn how just about anything works.
12. refdesk.com. Get facts, quotes, news, and more from this online reference desk.

Reading

Whether your children are beginning readers, struggling older readers, or accomplished readers, these reference tools will provide plenty of information to help.

13. Project Gutenberg. Project Gutenberg offers one of the largest collections of free books on the Internet.
14. DailyLit. DailyLit sends you small bits of the book you select to your email inbox each daily–for free.
15. Open Book Project. Get free text books and other educational material here.
16. Google Books. This powerful reference tool allows students to find information about books, read excerpts or full text, use interactive maps based on the content, and more.
17. The Reading Genie. Find a listing of lessons and other materials to help strengthen reading skills with The Reading Genie.
18. Reading Rockets. This site offers reading strategies, guides, and more for both beginning readers and older readers who need some reinforcement.
19. Thinkfinity Online Courses. These free online courses are designed for both students and those teaching to reinforce literacy.
20. All Info About Reading. Offering lessons, free worksheets, ideas, and more, this site provides tons of reading help.
21. Audio Stories 4 Kids. While this site offers tons of audio books for kids, it also offers some free text versions too.
22. Children’s Storybooks Online. This site offers full-color story books for young readers to books for young adults.
23. Open Library. Find information on just about any book ever published, including full text for over 200,000.

Writing and Research

These awesome reference tools will have homeschool students learning to improve their research and writing skills.

24. Purdue Online Writing Lab. This is the go-to spot for writing reference material.
25. Teaching Organization in Writing. Get a simple overview of how to write a well-organized paper here.
26. orangoo. Paste your writing into this tool to check for spelling errors.
27. EasyBib. If you need help creating a bibliography in the MLA style, this tool will help.
28. Ottobib. Similar to EasyBib, this tool creates a bibliography in most of the major styles based on the ISBN from any book.
29. A+ Research and Writing. This site steps high school and college students through the process of creating quality research paper.
30. University of California Berkeley Library General Guides. Find plenty of helpful research information here.
31. A Research Guide for Students. Use this tool to learn how to do research, how to correctly write your research paper, and even get links to additional reference materials.
32. Info Zone Research Skills. Move through the six steps of creating a research paper given here.
33. Research and Documentation Online. Find out how to evaluate the quality of information you find during your research, learn how to cite online material, and discover places to find reliable information on the Internet.
34. Research, Reports and Presentation Support. This site offers everything from the mechanics of writing a paper to how to research controversial topics.

Math

From basic math all the way up to college level, these math reference tools will help students of any age learn.

35. Ask Dr. Math. This impressive resource is a must for anyone studying math.
36. AplusMath. Students working on simple math skills through basic algebra can find worksheets, flash cards, interactive math games, and more.
37. The Math Forum at Drexel. Find plenty of tips, problems, and puzzles to help strengthen your math skills at this site.
38. Math Playground. This site offers lots of fun activities such as logic problems, word problems, and games geared specifically for elementary through middle school.
39. curiousmath. Students can learn lots of great time-saving math tricks here.
40. Algebra.help. Get algebra help with these lessons, calculators, and worksheets.
41. Math.com. If you are looking for help with algebra and geometry, this is the place.
42. Roman Numeral Converter. This tool helps students learn about proper roman numeral usage.
43. Algebra Homework Help. Find algebra and geometry topics, get a free tutor, and more on this math site.
44. The Abacus. This is a great resource to learn how to use the abacus as well as learn about its history, practice calculations, and more.
45. Martindale’s Calculators On-line Center. Find virtually any type of calculator you may need right here.
46. Mathematics Articles. Read these articles to gain a better understanding of everything from algebra to statistics.
47. The Most Common Errors in Undergraduate Mathematics. Learn from this professor what some of the most common errors in math are.
48. Free Math Help. Whether you are learning algebra, calculus, trig, geometry, or statistics, you can get help here.
49. dansmath. With new lessons frequently added, you will certainly find resources for algebra, calculus, and other math topics.
50. Virtual Math Lab. Visit the virtual math lab at West Texas A&M to find help in algebra, GRE math, and other standardized math tests.
51. Graphing Calculator. Don’t invest in an expensive graphing calculator when you can use this one online.
52. Universal Currency Converter. Use this reference tool to learn about currencies and their exchange rates around the world.

Science

From chemistry to biology to anatomy, homeschool students will find plenty of information here.

53. MadSci Network. Find thousands of science questions and answers with this resource that also allows you to ask a scientist if you didn’t find the answer you needed.
54. eNature.com. Learn about nature, get field guides, ask an expert, and more on this site.
55. Chem4Kids. This site provides a ton of information on matter, atoms, elements, reactions, biochemistry, and more.
56. Dynamic Periodic Table. This is the only periodic table you will ever need. It is interactive and provides much more detail that the old paper versions ever could.
57. Exploratorium. Get a wealth of useful science information from this science museum.
58. The Image. Students learning about minerals and gemstones will find tons of information and images.
59. CELLSalive. Learn about cells up close and personally with this visually-appealing site.
60. Who Named It?. This reference site helps students learn about the people who contributed their names to medical phenomena.
61. The Science Page. The Science Page offers a wealth of science resources.
62. Climate Zone. Use this interactive map to find climate data around the world.
63. Online Conversion. Find conversion tools for just about anything here.
64. Visible Body. This online anatomy tool is amazing, but does require a fee for use after the 7-day free trial.
65. TryScience. Students can go on virtual field trips, perform science experiments, and have online science adventures with this fun tool.

History and Government

Use these reference tools to learn about history, current events, and American government.

66. The Biography Maker. Choose the subject of your biography, then let this tool walk you through creating an informative biography.
67. Biography.com. Find information on the subject of your biography with this resource that provides information on everyone from Emily Dickinson to George Washington.
68. History Timelines on the Web. The time lines here document historical events from around the world.
69. History Help. Use this resource to post your questions about history or browse through past questions and answers.
70. The History Place Homework Help. Find resources to help learn about history here.
71. U.S. House of Representatives Floor Summary. This real-time tool keeps students informed of what’s happening on the House Floor as it occurs.
72. Clickable Mummy. This interactive mummy is a wonderful reference tool for learning about the ancient process of mummification.
73. Sparticus Educational. This online encyclopedia holds a vast amount of information on the American Civil War.
74. ANYDAY Today-in-History. Use this reference tool to discover any historical events, important birthdays or holidays, and any religious observances for any specific day of the year.
75. EyeWitness to History. Learn about history from those who were present at the time with the stories and photos available here.
76. Scholastic News Online. Stay on top of current events happening around the world with this reference site that’s organized by grade level.

Geography

Students of any age will be able to explore geography around the world without ever leaving home.

77. Visible Earth. These images come courtesy of NASA and offer a unique view of the Earth.
78. 50States. Learn all about the 50 states with the information available here.
79. IPL Kidspace: Stately Knowledge. Click on any one of the 50 US states here to learn fascinating facts.
80. Maps.com. Find educational map games, free route maps, maps in the news, reference atlas maps, and more.
81. Countries of the World. This site provides a comprehensive listing of information about all the countries around the world.
82. Destination: Himalayas–Where Earth Meets Sky. This resource provides information about and photos of the Himalayas.
83. KidsWebJapan. Explore Japanese culture on this site that covers everything from culture to folk legends to technology.

Search Engines

These search engines are dedicated just for children or with education in mind and are a great way to find what you need to know.

84. Searching for Stuff. Search by topic or select one of several kid-friendly search options here.
85. KidsClick!. Created by librarians and made especially for children, this search engine allows kids to search by keyword or by topic.
86. CyberSleuth Kids. This educational search engine is specifically for K-12 students.
87. Google Scholar. Perform scholarly searches with this specialized Google search engine.
88. Ask Kids. This search engine is designed for children ages 6-12 and all website results are kid-friendly.
89. MetaGlossary.com. Enter a term, phrase, or acronym and get the definition with fast and accurate results.
90. Education Planet. Search educational resources with this search tool or browse by category.
91. Awesome Library for Kids. Browse or search with this reference tool to find articles and information appropriate for students.
92. Lego Educational Search Engine. Find Lego robotics sites that are education-based.
93. Infomine. Find scholarly Internet resources geared to the college-level research here.

Miscellaneous

From virtual field trips to notebooking resources for homeschoolers, these miscellaneous reference tools will help teach about a wide variety of subjects.

94. Produce Oasis. Learn all about fruits, vegetables, and herbs with this easy to use reference tool.
95. Virtual Field Trips. Take a virtual field trip here or create one of your own design.
96. GPS Activities and Lesson Plans. Find out how to use GPS and geocaching to create a dynamic lesson with all the resources here.
97. Free SAT Exam School. If you are studying for the SAT, this resource is one you won’t want to miss with practice tests, study guides, articles, and more.
98. The Encyclopedia of Traditional Celtic Music. Learn all about this music that comes from a rich history.
99. NotebookingPages.com. This resource provides a wealth of homeschooling information, experiences, and tons of notebooking pages.
100. Google Translate. Translate any webpage, word, or phrase in 51 different languages.

December 9th, 2009

The college cafeteria can be your best friend or your worst nightmare. You can’t really control how yummy the food will be, but you can be smart about what you choose to eat. Here are 101 ways to hack your college cafeteria, from eating healthy to working the buffet to taking the goods home with you, all as you manage college classes, extracurriculars, and your social life.

Dining Etiquette

Your college cafeteria certainly doesn’t pretend to be the finest dining spot in town, but you do need to be respectful of your fellow classmates and the cafeteria staff. Here are some valuable dining etiquette tips to consider.

1. Don’t cut in line: Everyone’s hungry, stressed, tired and/or hungover, and cutting in line won’t make you feel any better.
2. Say please and thank you: Always be respectful to the people who are serving you or swiping your card at the check-out line. Please and thank you go a long way, especially from college kids.
3. Throw your trash away: It’s not a restaurant: pick up all of your trash and throw it away on your way out. Check your seat and table for crumbs or spills too.
4. Don’t talk with your mouth full: People want to hear what you’re saying, not see what you’re eating. Take time to chew and swallow your food before jumping in the conversation.
5. Clean up spills: If you drop your milk in the middle of the cereal station, get some napkins to start the clean-up process and alert staff if they need to bring in a mop or broom.
6. Have your card ready: Don’t hold up the line by digging around in your bag for your meal card. Have it ready to swipe as soon as it’s your turn.
7. Don’t be a mean girl: College is supposed to be more mellow than high school, so open up your lunch group to new friends.
8. Accommodate guests: You’ll probably run into visiting parents, alumni and prospective students in the dining halls from time to time, and you should help them find food stations, let them go first, and generally be polite and respectful.
9. Keep your conversation private: The cafeteria isn’t the library, but you don’t have to yell and scream either.
10. Get dressed: On the weekends especially, you probably roll out of bed and head to the cafeteria, but make sure you’re not ruining others’ appetites with your appearance.

Healthy Eating

Here are tips to find the healthy options hidden around your college cafeteria and keep the extra weight off.

11. Pick foods with nutritional value: Avoid empty calories from sugary snacks and drinks.
12. Add fruit to your tray: Each time you hit the dining hall, pick up a piece of fruit to take with you when you get hungry.
13. Eat breakfast: Eating a regular meal for breakfast each day improves focus, helps you maintain energy, and can prevent you from overeating later.
14. Avoid fried: Ask for grilled chicken or fish instead of fried tenders.
15. Know where to find fiber: Your body needs insoluble and soluble fiber to keep you regular, full, and focused. You can find it in whole grains and cereals, fruits, vegetables and beans.
16. Find healthy substitutes: Opt for turkey burgers, veggie pizza and fat-free dressings when you can.
17. Remember the food pyramid: Eat food from each food group every day.
18. Be smart about calcium: Drink skim or low-fat milk, eat low-fat yogurt and cheese, and take a calcium supplement if needed.
19. Get enough iron: Avoid anemia — which can make you distracted, listless and weak — by getting enough iron in your diet from raw spinach, fortified cereals, and lentils.
20. Stay healthy with Vitamin C: Foods that contain Vitamin C — like grapefruit and red peppers — are generally healthy anyway, but they will also help your immune system.

Hitting the Buffet

Salad bars and overstuffed buffets are easy and provide lots of choices, but they can also kill your diet. Remember to use a smaller plate, pile on the veggies first, and wait 20 minutes before going back for seconds.

21. Avoid the mayo: Salads and sides made with mayonnaise are loaded with fat.
22. Get a salad plate: Use the salad plate as your main dinner plate to avoid overeating.
23. Do a once-over: Scan the entire buffet to see what you really want, instead of piling everything on as you go.
24. Watch out for extra toppings: Bacon bits, cheese and sour cream add lots of calories to your salad or potato.
25. Fill your plate with healthy items first: Choose fresh vegetables, salad, fruit and lean meats when you first arrive, and then go back for a small portion of whole wheat bread or dessert when you’re already almost full.
26. Follow the 20 minute rule: Eat more slowly and wait out the 20 minutes it should take you to finish a meal before going back for seconds.
27. Know what to avoid: Cream-based sauces and soups, heavy dressings, and fried or crispy foods aren’t worth it.
28. Try new things: Consider the buffet as an opportunity to try lots of different things instead of gorging on your favorites.
29. Split dessert: Get one plate of dessert with friends instead of piling up a plate for each of you.
30. Keep the buffet to once a week: Don’t visit the buffet for every meal, or even once a day. Keep it to once a week or less.

Mixing it Up

One of the biggest complaints among college students is that they get bored with their cafeteria food. But the choices are there-you just need to know how to mix it up.

31. Look at everything: Make a point to try something at each station in each dining hall every semester.
32. Keep a food journal: When it’s all written down in front of you, it’ll be easier to see which foods you’re not getting enough of.
33. Eat a variety for the sake of your diet: If you’re too strict, you’ll feel deprived and may end up bingeing later. Choose sensible options from a variety of stations.
34. Try lots of different fruits and vegetables: When you get bored with your food choices, experiment with different salads, veggies or fruits before heading to the pizza station.
35. Split with friends: Eat family style and pick up a couple of spreads of meats, veggies, pasta and other foods that you can split with friends.
36. Mix up the sides: If you’re obsessed with your grilled chicken every night, switch up the sides every so often for more variety.
37. Drink milk: An easy way to add vitamins and a new taste to your meal is to choose milk as your beverage.
38. Eat pizza, just not all the time: Limit your pizza to once or twice a week.
39. Switch dining halls: If you always eat at a certain dining hall for breakfast and a different one for dinner, switch it up.
40. Eat out of order: Try pancakes for dinner if it’s available.

Study Food

You need a lot of stamina for studying long hours, but it’s also tough to stop snacking when you’re stressed. Here are tips and ideas for finding the best study foods.

41. Single-serving popcorn: Pop it before you head to the library and put it in a plastic bag.
42. Don’t study in the dining hall: Manage portions by bringing a snack with you instead of eating within arm’s reach of every kind of food you might want.
43. Water: Alternate between water and caffeine to keep yourself hydrated and alert.
44. Nuts and seeds: Nuts and seeds can be good study foods, but make sure you measure out portions beforehand, or you’ll overdose on calories.
45. Sensible cereal bars: Look for cereal bars with fiber, whole grains and fruit, rather than excess sugar, fat and calories.
46. Only eat when you’re hungry: Don’t eat just because it’s study time. Save snacks for when you’re actually hungry.
47. Fresh veggies: Rely on baby carrots and celery for when you fall victim to mindless munching.
48. Cherry or grape tomatoes: These are packed with antioxidants and are fun to eat.
49. Dried fruit: You can keep dried fruit in your bag overnight without it spoiling, but be careful of portion sizes.
50. Mini cereal boxes: If your cafeteria serves dry cereal in the single-serving packs, take one of those with you to the library to snack on.

Social Hacks

Your college cafeteria isn’t supposed to be a place where you go to eat alone. Here are several hacks for turning your campus dining experience into a real party.

51. Hold group meetings: If you can’t find a place to host a club meeting on campus, save a table in the dining hall and hold a meeting over dinner.
52. Use it for special occasions: You don’t have to go out for every special occasion in college. When you ace a test, want to celebrate a birthday or are finished with finals, invite all of your friends to eat dinner together for a change.
53. Stock your dorm party: Use the juices and snacks from the dining hall for mixers and food to serve at your dorm party.
54. Host a study break: Meet in the student center dining hall for a quick study break and to get more snacks.
55. Practice interviews: Some interviews and networking events are conducted over meals, and you’ll need to know how to eat, talk, and make a good impression all at once. Practice in the dining hall with friends.
56. Meet with professors: Invite a professor for coffee or lunch at a nearby dining hall if you want to discuss a project or internship, or just to chat.
57. Throw a mixer: Contact residential life to see if you can sponsor an open party or mixer one night in the cafeteria.
58. Host a movie night: Instead of the regular TV programming, ask permission to show a movie on the TV or on a projection screen.
59. Go on a date: It’s not super lame if you treat it like a joke. Get dressed up and sit at your own table for a "date" at the cafeteria.
60. Start your own breakfast club: Help yourself wake up by turning the normally quiet breakfast time into a social hour.

Getting the Most out of Your Meal Plan

While we don’t condone stealing, we do support the poor college student who has a right to every cent on the overpriced meal plan. Here’s how to make the most of your college dining resources.

61. Napkins and plastic ware: Don’t be super obvious about it, and don’t swipe it on your way out. Put the extras you picked up with your food in your backpack to stock your dorm room.
62. Bread: Get a roll on the side of your salad or meal, and then wrap it up and take it home to make a sandwich with the next day.
63. Salad dressing: Get extra salad dressing or condiments to take back to your room.
64. Finding a sugar daddy or mama: If you’re a big footballer whose already eaten your way through your meal plan before the semester’s up, ask students who still have lots of money left over if they’ll pay for your meal.
65. Carry a shoulder bag, not a backpack: If you were going to sneak food out of the cafeteria, bring an open shoulder bag. It’s easier to throw food and drinks into it than a zippered backpack. Just make sure there aren’t any cameras around, and you toss a jacket over the opening when you check out.

Going Green

Many colleges are responding to students’ requests to go green, even in the cafeteria. Here are hacks to support Fair Trade, recycling efforts, and more.

66. Lobby for more sustainable products: Start a petition to get more sustainable trays and utensils in your cafeteria.
67. Petition for Fair Trade coffee: Many college campuses have switched to providing Fair Trade coffee in cafes and dining halls because of student interest.
68. Recycle: Most college campuses today have ample recycling stations, so throw cans and paper goods in the proper receptacles as you leave the cafeteria.
69. Reuse your water bottle: Most scientists believe it’s still safe to reuse your water bottle a few times, especially if it hasn’t been left out in the sun or heat.
70. Eat in season: Eat fruits and vegetables that are in season, as they’re most likely the freshest and used less packaging in their transport.

DIY Meals

Make your own meals with cafeteria food by following these tips.

71. Go grocery shopping: Shop your dining halls by visiting different stations and cafeterias to find the ingredients you like best.
72. Make your own sandwich or pizza: Sandwich and pizza stations usually let you make your own instead of adhering to the offerings on the menu.
73. Head to recipe websites: Browse easy recipes with minimal prep and simple ingredients for ideas of meals to make and assemble in the dining hall or your dorm room.
74. Chicken tenders = chicken salad: Bring leftover chicken fingers home to throw on top of raw spinach and other salad ingredients you may have picked up.
75. Visit different stations to make one meal: Visit the pasta station, salad bar and comfort food station to collect different items that you can throw together for a customized meal.
76. Bring home the basics: Spices and other dry goods are good to stock in your room and will save money if you want to go to the grocery store for other ingredients.
77. Use the microwave: Put cheese from the salad bar on top of a pita, salad or chips, then head to the microwave to make a hot sandwich or Mexican-inspired dish.
78. Create your own sundae: Go back to the fruit salad or cereal after getting fro yo to pile on your own healthy toppings.
79. Mix drinks: At the coffee or soda fountain station, mix drinks for a yummy signature drink.
80. Spice up your soup: Get a simple cup of soup from the soup bar, and then go back to get chicken, fish or veggies to mix in.

Eating on Schedule

One of the toughest diet and nutrition challenges for college students is eating on schedule. Between classes, weird sleep schedules, study groups, extracurriculars, and studying, it can be a challenge to eat at regular times. Here are tips for making it work.

81. Plan ahead: Don’t just hit the cafeteria for snacks and meals whenever you’re hungry. Come up with a plan for eating, including times and what you’ll eat, to stay on track with your diet.
82. Consider your friends’ schedule: If you want to eat with friends, but they don’t get out of class until after you, eat a small snack to tide you over instead of eating two meals.
83. Don’t skip meals: If you don’t have time to sit down for a meal, pick up portable snacks from the cafeteria to eat on the go.
84. Plan around your new schedule: Your college schedule will change from semester to semester, and is drastically different from when you ate at home in high school. Prepare for the new changes by figuring out when you’ll be able to eat meals and which dining halls are closest to you.
85. Bring snacks to class: Bring inconspicuous snacks to class if your teacher doesn’t mind to help your body stay nourished.
86. Stay busy: Avoid eating off schedule because you’re bored or stressed by staying busy.
87. Eat frequently: Eat more, but eat less at each "meal."
88. Stick to a regular sleep schedule, too: Waking up and going to bed at the same time will help your stomach regulate its cravings.
89. Avoid the late night snacks: The later you stay up, the more you’ll be tempted to eat late at night. Stick to lower calorie, lighter snacks that are easier to digest, and don’t keep junk food in your dorm room.

Budget

The following list shares hacks for finding the best deals on your meal plan.

90. Go vegetarian: Save money by eating a meal that’s all vegetarian, like a pita with hummus.
91. Choose the right meal plan: Really evaluate your eating habits and decide on a meal plan that works with your upcoming schedule, work outs and activities, and appetite.
92. Eat foods that keep you full: Avoid going back and spending money on snacks by eating foods that keep you satisfied longer, like peanut butter, almonds, salads and avocados.
93. Eat before you get super hungry: If you wait until you’re absolutely starving to head to the cafeteria, you’ll buy everything in sight, and probably won’t be able to finish it.
94. Buy foods that can be saved for later: Be strategic about buying foods that can be saved for later if you’re not sure you can finish it in one sitting.

When the Cafeteria’s Closed

Sometimes your dining hall will close, leaving you to your own devices to forage for food. Here are hacks for figuring out what to do when you’re caught off guard.

95. Familiarize yourself with dining hall hours: If your campus has more than one dining hall, then the cafeterias most likely have different hours.
96. Check for holiday closings: Even over short holidays like Labor Day or Easter, certain dining halls may close early or completely.
97. Buy ramen: Keep ramen noodles on hand to heat up when you’re craving comfort food.
98. Keep your dorm room stocked: Keep cereal bars and other snacks in your dorm room in case you forget about a cafeteria closing.
99. Make the extra effort: Even if the other dining hall is really far away, making the extra effort to visit is better than blowing your money at the vending machine.
100.  Stock up beforehand: If you’re going to be stranded during the holidays, stock up on foods from the dining hall that you can use later, cutting down on trips to the grocery store or restaurants.
101. Find free food: Club meetings, art openings, and study breaks are popular places to find free food.

December 8th, 2009

Congratulations, college freshman. You graduated high school, got accepted to the university, and you’re about to embark on the happiest, wildest, scariest journey you could ever imagine. Part of the process is the infamous college dorm. You probably took a tour and saw an empty room, and perhaps it looked "spacious enough." Wait until you fill it with your body and your roommates, plus all the clothes, office supplies and textbooks each of you will bring. Fortunately, we have over 100 amazing tips and techniques for optimizing your space and overcoming any difficulty living in a dorm might impose.

Time Management

Though your dorm room is possibly the smallest living space you’ve ever experienced, it’s filled with more distractions than you know. Manage your time wisely, or your room might just lead you to your academic demise.

1. Ask the Experts: Get Ivy League tips for optimal time management.
2. Plan Each Week: Use this free printable planner to map out your weekly schedule.
3. Beat Procrastination: Learn the psychology of procrastination and the steps you need to take to beat the nasty habit.
4. Keep Track of Due Dates: This user-friendly device develops a work schedule for you based on your assignment due dates.
5. Know Your Daily Schedule: My Daily Schedule allots the 24 hours of your day into 12 categories.
6. Make To-Do List: Todoist is so fast and easy, it has its own fanbase.
7. Remember the Milk: You won’t only "remember the milk" with this tool, you’ll be reminded about important events, like your monthly dorm meeting.
8. Wake Up On time: This practical online alarm clock serves as back up when you have an early morning exam.
9. Learn From Your Own Habits: MyHours is a time management solution that allows you to track your work time, projects you must manage, and tasks you are scheduled to complete.
10. Use 30 Boxes: This calendar application is the college student’s best friend. You’ll never miss a meeting, test, birthday, or party again.

Organization

Welcome to the undersized, overloaded world of dormitories. You probably noticed a sudden onset of claustrophobia soon after you moved in. So what can you do to maximize your small living quarters, and turn your dorm room into a place that feels like home? Follow the tips below to a more comfortable, less suffocating space.

11. Bring Only What You Need: Sure, you’re moving far away and you’d like to take everything you can to remind you of home, but the truth is you really won’t have enough room. Follow the link above to your ultimate packing list.
12. Start with An Organized Move: If you begin your new dorm life with a messy move, you’re probably starting off on the wrong foot. Keep your packing and boxes organized, and you’ll be glad you did.
13. Use Space Effectively: Your dorm should already have some storage space available for you, so make sure you use it to its full capacity.
14. Find Your Floorplan: Before you get settled in, make sure you know how you’re going to define your space. Create your optimal layout for an optimal living situation.
15. Decorate, but Don’t Overdecorate: You might want to put up all your favorite pictures, but overdecorating your walls can make your room look smaller and darker. Stay on the safe side and don’t go overboard.
16. Watch a Bit of HGTV: Like you need an excuse to turn on the TV. These shows feature experts in organization and healthy housekeeping.
17. Break Bad Housekeeping Habits: This site was created to help readers break bad organizational habits within their homes.
18. Donate to Charities: Follow this rule: articles of clothing you haven’t worn in the last year should be donated to places like Goodwill. If you’re not wearing that old pair of jeans anymore, why not give them to someone who truly needs them?
19. Learn to Love Shoe Boxes: Stop throwing away old shoe boxes. You can store your shoes in them, since they stack easier than the shoes themselves, and keeping them is cheaper than buying a special shoe organizer.
20. Use Your Trash Can: If you feel overloaded with clutter, it’s probably because you’re hoarding things (papers, old notes, etc.) that you don’t need. Purge unneccessary documents, and don’t forget to recycle.

Unwinding

Your dorm room is your haven at times, your refuge after a hard test or a long day. Follow these tips to relax and get some dorm therapy.

21. Build Something Fantastic: Fantastic Contraption is an overwhelmingly fun online game that requires you to build devices to transport the pink ball from the building area to the goal area.
22. Chill with Tetris: Pogo doesn’t just offer Tetris, but a boatload of other games, like Sudoku, Word Whomp, Texas Hold ‘Em, and more.
23. Get Puzzled: This site features free puzzles of various difficulty levels.
24. Play Pandora: This free music site creates playlists based on your favorite artists, songs and genres.
25. Watch Hulu: Hulu features the cable TV shows you missed during your Thursday night study session. So on Friday afternoon, put on your pajamas and catch up with The Office.
26. Plan a Date: See trailers for upcoming movie releases and those showing in theaters with Apple’s movie trailer Web site.
27. Get an Alter Ego: Second Life is an 3D virtual world imagined and created by you. Create your own avatar that represents you, then use it to meet people, shop, work, learn and play.
28. Learn Something Fun: Follow these recipes for awesome at-home experiments brought to you by San Fransisco’s Exploratorium.
29. Laugh a Little: This site’s comic strips are sure to help out during stressful times.
30. Put Life In Perspective: Don’t make a habit out of it, but reading gossip and entertainment news from time to time is a great way to put life into perspective.

Personal Wellness

Living in the crowded world of a dormitory has its ups and downs. For example, you’ll make a lot of new friends, but your chances of getting the flu increase. You might also feel overwhlemed by constant interruptions and "togetherness" so make sure you take some time for yourself and stay healthy.

31. Get a Life Coach: Horse’s Mouth offers free online life coaching, which can be a great tool if you’re not comfortable talking to your parents and you don’t have time to see a therapist.
32. See the Light: Marc and Angel are two postitive, practical thinkers help give perspective to tough situations and help you see the end of the darkness.
33. Find Your Marbles: This mental health site examines stress and crisis management.
34. Manage a Crisis: If you find yourself in crisis situation, being away from family could be harder than ever. Read this site’s suggestions for keeping your head above water.
35. Stay Healthy: Use this advice to beat depression, prevent weight gain, maintain positive relationships, and more.
36. Ask Wikihow: College students learn how to learn, how to study, how to take exams, and how to make good grades, but what about the really important stuff? Wikihow can teach you: how to cook, how to wash laundry, and how to ask someone on a date. Brilliant.
37. Meditate: Here’s a free short guided meditation from Brain Sync.
38. Practice Yoga: These online yoga videos and pictures show you how to practice this great method of relaxation.
39. Stay Calm: This site is updated daily with new tips and guidance for handling stress. It also offers a free stress-less kit that includes four useful tools.
40. Consult a Nurse: Follow these 101 health and wellness tips, from diet and exercise to sleep and mental stability.

Roommate Etiquette

With everything you’re facing during your first year of college, the last thing you need is the added pressure of roommate discord. Make sure you’re on your best behavior, and you might want to share these etiquette tips with your roommie as well to avoid any tension throughout the year.

41. Express Issues: One of the worst things you can do as a roommate is to let your anger and frustrations build up without tactfully confronting your roommate. Make sure you express your feelings in a timely manner to keep things from overheating.
42. Respect Your Roommate’s Stuff: This might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s a huge reason conflicts occur. Don’t borrow anything without asking. For any amount of time. End of story.
43. Pick the Right Roommate: Look at this guide for a list of good questions to ask before choosing your living companion.
44. Compromise: Don’t think of compromising as surrendering, but rather that you are showing your willingness to reach an agreement you and your roommate can both live with.
45. Set Rules: Make a list of rules you and your partner both agree on, and put it in writing if you must. Whether it’s about visitors, sharing food, clothes, or budgeting bathroom time, put it on the list and stick to it.
46. Get to Know Each Other: This helpful sheet has a series of sentences for both you and your roommate to complete. For example, "The way I react when working under pressure is…"
47. Practice Quiet Time: Be courteous about making loud noises late at night or having friends over to study without your roommate’s permission.
48. Be Neat: Nobody likes a pig. Clean up after yourself, including trash, dishes and laundry.
49. Follow the Golden Rule: Treat your roommate (and everybody else) the way you want to be treated. Let him or her know you expect the same.
50. Know When to Switch: Unfortunately, many students realize they simply are not compatible with their roommates. Learn how to tell when it’s time to give up, and how to go about finding a replacement.

Healthy Eating

Of course you’ve heard about the freshman 15, but have you ever researched what it really is? A major part of this unfortunate first-year weight gain is the constant cafeteria eating for dorm students who don’t have access to their own kitchen. But that doesn’t have to be the same for you. No matter where you go or what your dorm is serving, you have the power to stay healthy and eat smart.

51. Watch What You Eat: This informative site has thorough data on many restaurant foods.
52. Don’t Overeat at Restaurants: Many restaurants share their nutrition info with this site.
53. Watch Portion Sizes: CalorieKing has comprehensive nutritional info and a great Portion Watch tool with pictures of different portion sizes of many popular foods.
54. Avoid Too Much Sodium: Get all the nutrition label data you could possibly need with CompuFoodAnalysis.
55. Read Nutrition Labels: Understand nutrition labels and how to adjust your diet according to them.
56. Become an Expert: Get little-known nutrition facts and advice from this great blog.
57. Get a Taste of The Daily Plate: Tell your goals to this site, and they’ll even hold you accountable for meeting them.
58. Choose Food Wisely: Compare foods and their nutritional value so you can tweak your diet for smarter foods.
59. Know Food Stats: Find out everything you need to know about the food you eat with this awesome database.
60. Count Calories: Compare burgers, sandwiches, and sides from a dozen fast-food chains.

Staying Fit

Exercising isn’t just about losing weight, it’s about staying sane. Working out helps reduce stress, which can be especially necessary around midterm and final exam time. When you feel like you could go out of your mind in your dorm, get outside for some fresh air and some physical activity.

61. Keep a Fit Diary: Track your daily routine for unneccessary calories and missed exercise opportunities.
62. Set Goals: This weight loss tool will teach you how to keep a daily food diary.
63. Share Your Goals: Use Shape’s free weight loss tool and network with others who are in your shoes. Great motivational tool.
64. Keep Track of Food Intake: Watch everything you eat, and remember how dangerous unhealthy eating can be.
65. Ask for Help: Use this free software to keep you on track in your weight loss journey.
66. Work Hard: Watch Jasmyne reach her fitness goals, and learn from her dieting strengths and weaknesses.
67. Do What Works: No gimmicks. If you’re wondering whether you should spend time keeping a food diary, read this article that shows food journals are linked to increased weight loss.
68. Change Your Lifestyle: This popular lifestyle tool tracks your eating and exercise habits.
69. Get Inspired: Learn about the truth behind overeating and food addictions. Wynonna Judd shares her battle with emotional eating, and challenges readers to follow in her new healthy footsteps.
70. Take it One Day at a Time: Let each day of your life be healthier than the last.
71. Track Your Progress: Watch yourself as you approach your goals, and you’ll be more proud than you can imagine.

Check Out Student Blogs

Take it from these college sophomores, juniors, seniors, and alumni who have been in your shoes and walked a few miles. Get the best advice on dorm decorating, staying safe, healthy, and happy despite your current enclosure.

72. Take a Shortcut: Here’s a daily blog about software, productivity tools, Web sites and shortcuts that help you work faster and save time.
73. Develop Zen Habits: This peaceful blog demonstrates how to be at peace while remaining productive in class.
74. Be Trendy: Get the latest trends, from fall fashion to the coolest video games.
75. Stay Positive: The Positivity Blog is full of humorous but valuable life lessons every student should read.
76. Stay In the Know: Perez Hilton keeps you informed with the latest celebrity gossip and strange, random news.
77. Seize the Day: The posts on Today Is That Day teach you to make each day better than the last.
78. Get Wired: Gizmodo gives you the latest information on technology you can use to keep you ahead in your classes.
79. Hug a Tree: Stay in touch with your inner activist and earth lover. This blog has hundreds of links to different sites and articles that can help you.
80. Stay Connected: The links on this site are as diverse as they are fun, from tech and gadgets to arts and design. Boing Boing is very popular among both college students and working adults.
81. 43 Folders: Merlin Mann runs this site, where he teaches his readers to pay attention and give their all to everything task they take on.

Read These Books

Go to the library or Amazon.com for these books that will help you make it through your first year with a great attitude, a sense of humility, and a few fun stories to tell your grandchildren.

82. The Dorm Room Diet: The 8-step Program for Creating a Healthy Lifestyle Plan That Really Works: This book has an easy diet plan for college students who eat in dorm cafeterias.
83. How to Survive Your Freshman Year: By Hundreds of College Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors Who Did: Take it from the experts–other students who have been in your shoes–to give the best advice on surviving your first year at your university.
84. The College Dorm Survival Guide: How to Survive and Thrive in Your New Home Away from Home: Here’s a great manual with everything you need to know about surving life in the dorms.
85. A Girl’s Guide To College: Making the most of the best four years of your life: This female-friendly book will prepare you for the ups and downs of college life, starting with moving away to your first dorm.
86. Dorm Room Feng Shui: Find Your Gua, Free Your Chi: Follow through with our dorm decorating tips with this book, which will help you put everything in its destined place.
87. Dorm Life and the College Experience: This book sums up everything you’ve learned so far, so it’s a perfect start to your dorm room bookshelf.
88. Surviving Dorm Life: Author Chris Hellman brings tales of first-year college survival, including how to create a healthy relationship between you and your roommate.
89. Zen From The Upper Dorm Bunk: The Uncommon Common Sense of Life: A lot of books, blogs, and tips show you how to survive your first year, but this book teaches you how to get even more from it than survival.
90. How to Adapt to Life in College Dorms: The adjustment from home life to college life is going to be hard, but this book can really help you out.
91. The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College: You might laugh at the title of this book, but you should take it seriously to prepare yourself for the worst case scenario. If none of these happen to you, thank your lucky stars.

Get Help Studying

Whether you’re heading down to the dorm study hall or staying in your room, you have to figure out the best study habits for you. Don’t get distracted or dismayed; stay on top of your courseload with these awesome tools and tips.

92. How To Study Manual for Students: This official, scholarly advice uses psychology to determine what students really need to be efficient learners.
93. Study Skills from Dartmouth: Take it from Ivy Leaguers to teach you how to study like a genius; they know what they’re talking about.
94. How to Study: Author Ron Fry will help you study, no matter what kind of learner you are.
95. U Oregon Frequently Asked Question: How Do I Study: Let the University of Oregon answer this golden question for you.
96. Lifehack’s How to Study: If it’s from Lifehack, it’s worth reading. This amazing blog shares the secrets of learning well with its most studious readers.
97. Study Effectively: Use this Studenthacks.org page to get all the tips and tricks you need to know for optimal study time.
98. Academic Resources: Studying: Perhaps the most important academic resource a college can provide is a lesson on how to study. Get yours here.
99. Effective Studying: Here’s a SlideShare article about the different types, methods and techniques of studying well and learning for life.
100. WikiHow to Study: Studying might not be a black-and-white task to be broken down into steps, but if it’s possible at all, WikiHow succeeds. From getting out your books to taking notes of the content you read, this article covers all the bases.

Videos

Some of these are funny, other are scientific, but all of them are designed specifically with you in mind, freshman. From basic survival tips to above-and-beyond success, you can use these videos to help you when you need it most.

101. How To Survive College: A student put this funny video together to explain how to get through the toughest part of your youth.
102. Surviving Freshman Year: This video looks a bit outdated, but if you look past the mustaches, you’ll find a very helpful video about the challenges of student life.
103. Tips for College Freshmen: Carol Carter shares tips for first-year success.
104. 10 Ways to Succeed in College: Three sophomores take a look back at their freshman year and give (somewhat sarcastic) advice about how to succeed.
105. The ABCs of Good Grades: You might want to mute your computer to the house music that blares during this video, but make sure to watch all of the slides. They offer sound advice on how to do your best without losing your mind.
106. How to Survive Dorm Living: Heloise visits her old dorm room at Texas State University, and helps the student living there with his dorm disasters.
107. How to be a Good Roommate: A Texas State student talks about finding a good roommate and being a good living companion.
108. The Dirt on Your Dorm Room: So you think your roommate is great, but what about the mites, bacteria, and bed bugs you didn’t know about? Get the grotesque facts, then learn what you can do to help yourself and your room.
109. CalState Fullerton Dorm Documentary: Hear what students and staff have to say about life in student housing.
110. Dorm Room Essentials: First-time students will love this video, in which an interior designer helps Mary take advantage of small dorm spaces.