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Obviously if you want to go to college online you have to know how to use the internet, e-mail, and do research online. Granted you’ll get way better at this once you’ve been in class for a few months, but it’s good to get a head start and learn what you need to know before you begin.

I personally got lucky because the first class I took was an introduction to MS Office and most of the software that comes with it, including PowerPoint and Excel. I have to say, though, that the most useful things I learned came from getting the details figured out.

For example, I had no idea how to create a PowerPoint presentation, much less that you could add animated slide transitions and hyperlinks to anywhere in the document. I also had no idea that you could do so much stuff in MS Word, either, but these days I use a ton of the features for work, especially when I’m editing.

So what are some of the basics you should know about the web? Obviously I can’t go into everything in a single blog post, but I’ll certainly share what I found useful and fun… sometimes even at the same time!

First, learning to do research online.

Before I began college, I really had no clue about how to do research on the internet. I mean, I sort of knew, but since I’ve been, I tell people all the time: I can find anything online… and it’s the truth. There’s only been a single search out of the thousands (maybe even hundreds of thousands) that I’ve done that turned up a lack of information: a term I hear in a movie describing a psychological condition that, apparently, doesn’t really exist.

Other than that? Just tell me what you need. Divorce papers you can print for free? Information on demons or mythical creatures? How to use Photoshop to make a person look like a werewolf? The best and worst web sites of every year? It’s all out there.

But how do you enter search terms? It doesn’t seem like much, but knowing what terms to enter can speed up the process of finding what you really need to find exponentially. For example, if you’re looking for how to change the oil in your car, it helps to mention what kind of car you have in your query.

Then, of course, some searches are more in-depth. In college, you’re likely to be required to cite your sources and, if the source is only a web page, you’ll probably have to read through several pages of information before you find the right kind of source.

Next, learning to use your software.

This will vary from one online program to another, so depending on what you’re supposed to be using, you’ll need to gather information and training on how to utilize your software in the best way.

You can find tutorials for your specific version of any software all over the internet. If I want a certain effect in Photoshop or Paint Shop, I go find some tutorials to guide me through it. If it’s something I want to keep on hand and use again, I bookmark the tutorial and return to it whenever I want that effect.

You can find tutorials for free on YouTube and graphic designer blogs, which is awesome. With all of the screen capture software out there and the ability to share information so freely, online college can be almost like getting a degree in finding free information.

Even InDesign has tutorials all over the place. I’m sure that even if you’re learning to be a medical administrative assistant, you can find tutorials for the software you’re required to use for that, too.

The internet is the most powerful tool you can have at your disposal. Amazingly enough, not everyone has computers or knows how to use the internet… but if you’re serious about attending college online, these are two of the main things you will need to begin learning in order to succeed.

Yep, that’s right… finals are upon us, just before winter break. My final portfolio for my current class is due on Friday, which means there’s a ton of work to be done!

Even online college students have finals… and the funny part is that Mr. Facebook can’t stand all the talk about finals! It’s hilarious! There was an article written about how much he hated it, and how Facebook users ranting about their finals has made the site nearly crash on several occasions.

I still think it’s funny =)

Now that I got that out of my system, I want to share some of the things I do to keep myself on track for final projects. These little tidbits have helped me throughout my college career, and will continue helping me to stay on task and focused throughout the rest of my college career.

I decided that I want to be a very educated person, which is why I’m now going for my BFA and later my MFA in creative writing.

My final portfolio this week has components from the entire course’s lessons, so it’s going to be a huge file of work. There was a personal essay, a poem, short fiction, and even a screenplay – all of which I have finished and am going to revise over this week.

It sounds like a lot, huh? Over the course of 8 weeks, I’ve written a LOT, which makes me extremely happy. For this week, my plan is to revise one or two pieces every day. This will ensure that I get everything done and can turn in the absolute best final portfolio ever.

This is definitely one of the most useful tricks I’ve learned as far as getting work done goes.

Do a little bit each day

You know finals will come no matter what course or college you go to. Finals are just a part of it, that’s it. When you give yourself enough time to do a good job, it becomes much easier to knock it all out. Doing a little each day – planning your week out in your planner (I have an amazingly handy, spirally-bound weekly planner that always stays on my desk so I can write out my entire schedule, appointments, to-do lists, and anything else I might need to plan for.

Doling out tasks for each day means I don’t overwhelm myself, I can cross it off as I do it, and I don’t freak out about what I have to get done because it’s all right in front of me.

Take breaks when you need them

This is mainly for online students, but taking breaks after working for a good 45-minutes to an hour is important. Sitting

at a computer all day isn’t good for you, so taking breaks between working and just knocking out one task after another is a great way to make sure you get everything done and can then relax a bit.

Now, this doesn’t mean that you should take a break every 15 minutes. But if you time yourself and work for a good, solid hour and then take a break, you’ll be amazed how much you can finish and how quickly you can get through your workday.

The power-hour

The idea behind this concept is to knock out a good chunk of work in an hour. You are not allowed to get up until you finish it, one hour, and then you can have a break. This is an excellent method of knocking out a ton of work in neat blocks of time, and it’s a great way to manage your time and keep stress levels low. Just sit down, work for 50 minutes to an hour very intensively, and then take a 10-15 minute break.

Exercise & eat healthy foods

When I was pregnant and attending college online, I liked to eat what I call “brain food.” Brain food is things like vegetables, cereal, granola bars, PBJs, and trail mix. These foods help improve mental clarity, focus, and give you an energy boost when you need it. Along with eating brain food, it’s also important to have some sort of exercise routine in place, even if it’s something as ridiculous as running up and down the stairs a few times during breaks. Getting your blood pumping is a great way to keep focus high and maintain healthy levels of energy overall.

Hopefully some of these ideas will help you stay focused and get through your finals week! After all, you don’t get a medical assistant’s salary by freaking out or handling finals in an unhealthy way. Keep yourself managed! After all, if I could still do homework on a laptop in a hospital room right after giving birth to my son, then I know it’s definitely doable for you, too.

For a moment, imagine yourself wearing a diaper and crawling around the kitchen floor while trying to pick up a bug with your pinkie. This is how your parents see you.

Unfortunately, altering this mindset is not easy. Parents tend to operate on a point system. What this essentially means is that for every responsible thing you do, you get 1 point, but for every bad thing you do, you lose five points.

Your goal is to conduct yourself in such a fashion that over time you accrue enough points that your parents see you as you actually are – a young man or woman.

Simple things such as taking out the trash, washing dishes, and keeping the family pets watered and fed are great starts; however, to truly establish yourself as an independent, capable individual, you must take a step back and attempt to empathize with your parents.

As monumental as it may seem to you, completing daily chores is not something your parents are likely to laud as an achievement. Keep in mind that these people have been doing chores longer than you’ve been alive. In order to really open their eyes, you have to make a commitment to yourself. This commitment requires that you begin accepting responsibility for your behavior, your finances, and your future.

I recommend that you don’t blatantly announce that you have made this commitment. Since you’ve been able to talk, your parents have heard you make numerous claims and grandiose assertions before. By slowly incorporating new habits and behaviors into your life, you won’t be under any pressure to “practice what you preach.”

Before doing anything else, independently institute your own method of letting your parents know where you are at all times. So many good kids maintain such an impeccable record that they eventually believe they are exempt from touching base with their parents. You may think that they know you are staying after school, but for all they know you could have been in a car accident. Text messages are great for this since they allow spur of the moment changes of plans, but, if you do not use a cell phone, a dry-erase board on the refrigerator should display all of your after school plans and upcoming obligations.

Got it? Great. Here’s how you can get started:

• Go to bed earlier and wake up on time.
• Beat your parents to the punch by completing things before they even think to ask you to do them.
• Consistently ask your parents to study with you and keep them updated on your progress. Even if you do poorly on an assignment or test, your parents will appreciate your candor; this is especially true if your parents helped you prepare because they can clearly see that you’re trying your best.
• Find some means, however small, to create your own income. Even if you only make enough money to put gas in your car each week, your parents will notice your effort and reward you accordingly.
• Open your own bank account. Your parents can still deposit money into your account if they have your account number and you can get a checking account free.

As you can tell, the primary way of proving yourself to your parents is by achieving consistency and maintaining a personal level of accountability. The erratic behavior of most teens gives parents every right to maintain a short leash on them. By eradicating the inconsistencies from your life, you will obliterate these predispositions.

Here are a few more advanced ways to eviscerate you umbilical cord:

• Keep a daily planner. It does not have to be anything expensive; a cheap spiral notebook is more than enough.
• Pay for your own car insurance.
• Pay for your cell phone.
• Buy your parents gifts on mother’s day, father’s day, birthdays, and any other holiday which you celebrate. Adults buy each other gifts whether they want to or not. If you do not have any money, give your parents what they want most – your time.
• Fill out all of your own forms. Whether it is for the FAFSA, SAT, ACT, whatever, take care of it yourself.
• Enjoy alcohol and tobacco in moderation or not at all, depending on your parents’ tastes. If you’re underage, don’t use either.

For some of you, this will be more difficult than others. But I assure you that if you hold up your side of the bargain by fulfilling all or most of the above, your parents will hold up theirs.

You are studying and you have to budget carefully. How will this affect your diet? Many of the most nourishing foods are inexpensive. What are they and how do you prepare a tasty meal?

Diet is the main contributor to your health and well-being. Your clarity of mind and energy levels are affected by what you eat. This does not mean your diet has to be complicated or expensive. Simple meals made with the right ingredients can provide you with all you need nutritionally. The clue to a good diet is to remember the body’s basic needs and to think whole meal.

Carbohydrates

This is what our bodies need most and the various foods that contain carbohydrates need to form the basis of a good diet. However, the provision of energy to the body through carbohydrates happens differently according to the qualities of the food. Fruits, whole grains, and vegetables are good carbohydrate providers. Carbohydrates are broken down in the body into sugar molecules that can be absorbed into the bloodstream. Fiber is not digested; it simply passes through the body and aids elimination. The speed at which the conversion takes place is what must be considered when writing a shopping list. All processed carbohydrates such as white bread, pastries, white sugar etc. are converted at a faster rate than carbohydrates which are unprocessed and contain fiber. It is the fiber that slows down the conversion rate and helps to provide you with an ongoing energy supply rather than a quick burst. Always make sure you have a good supply of fiber. If you prefer to eat white rice then make sure you eat whole meal bread as a balance, or whole grain cereals for breakfast. A packet of oats to prepare your own muesli mix is not expensive. Soak in fruit juice overnight and add grated apple and yogurt in the morning and you have a cheap and healthy breakfast that contains plenty of fiber and healthy carbohydrates. Another healthy and cheap addition to your breakfast, rich in good carbohydrates and fiber, is whole meal toasted bread. Although whole meal bread may be more expensive to buy than a loaf of sliced white bread, the whole meal option will last longer, provide more nutrition and energy and therefore see you less likely to be snacking during the day because your energy is flagging.

Protein

Most of our body is built on protein. The basic building blocks of protein are amino acids which are found in a variety of foods. Meat, fish, and dairy products provide the most complete combination of amino acids for the body. Vegetables, pulses and nuts are also good sources but if you are vegetarian you must ensure you eat a good variety of plant sources to provide all the amino acids needed by the body. The whole range of Soya products are good, from Soya milk, yogurt and tofu, many delicious meals can be prepared which have the added bonus of being low in fat. Whether vegetarian or not, on a low budget you may well be eating less meat and the addition of pulses such as lentils and beans is both healthy and cheap. The red Egyptian lentils are the easiest to use as they do not require overnight soaking. Hummus, which is made from garbanzos, can be spread on your whole meal bread and together with a salad provide a cheap, fast, and nourishing meal. When eating meat on a low budget first consider eating less. If you buy cuts for stewing and casseroles you do not need a lot as here you can also add beans and plenty of vegetables. Minced meat is also cheap and very diverse in its uses. One of my favorite meals, especially during the winter, is a lentil and root vegetable soup with the addition of small pieces of tofu, dipped first in Soya sauce and then fried. This is cheap and very nourishing with plenty of good carbohydrates, protein, and fiber.

Fats and Oils

It is not about how much fat you consume that constitutes a healthy diet but the quality. Avoid saturated fats and trans fats. Margarine is definitely out. Butter is better but you can try dribbles of olive oil, or if you are spreading peanut butter, hummus, or jam on your toast you do not really need butter as well. Olive oil, peanut oil, nuts, and avocados are all examples of good oils that will not adversely affect your health, quite the opposite. Remember to buy unrefined oil when you can. It is not the cheapest and is therefore to be used with moderation on a cheap budget but you will have enough cheap ingredients in your diet to allow spending a little more on food that is essential for your health. One solution to paying less is to club together with a group of friends and to buy larger quantities, which always comes cheaper. This can be done with other foods as well such as lentils, oats, spices, and all the pulses.

Fruit and vegetables

The list of benefits from eating more than five portions of fruit and vegetables a day is long. Some fruit and vegetables are more expensive than others. Find what is cheapest in your area and buy some staples such as carrots, apples, and cabbage, then add a few others for variety. The local market is probably a cheaper place to buy than a supermarket.

Drinks

Avoid sugary, fizzy drinks. Water and herbal teas are cheap and healthy. Hot milk and honey is a good warmer in winter and home-made lemonade is a great refresher in the summer. One of my favorite drinks which is also a good protein provider is Soya milk mixed with fruit juice.

Snacks

We all like snacks between meals and this is probably when the greatest temptation to eat junk food arises and rapidly depletes your budget. Make your own mixes with nuts and raisins, they are filling and healthy.

Diet plays an important role in your levels of energy and the functioning of your brain. What you eat and how you eat, are important.

When eating during a busy day it is too easy to worry only about satisfying hunger. If this becomes a habit with little consideration for what is actually being put into the body then at some point soon performance will be affected. Mind and body are not separate entities but here I will look at the specific needs of the brain. After all, it is the vehicle of your intellect and this is your primary tool for studying.

Omega-3

Much has been said about Omega-3 in recent years but what is it actually? It is one of two essential fatty acids that the body cannot produce itself. Therefore it needs to be part of a healthy diet. For a very thorough description of Omega-3, and research done at a British school, see the link at the bottom of this article.

Omega-3 has been shown to be beneficial for a variety of ailments but the effect on brain cells has received less attention. As a lay person interested in healthy foods I prefer to make sure I get what my body and brain needs by eating healthily. Supplements are available but please be cautious about taking too many. Too much Omega-6, the other essential fatty acid, can even hinder the effects of Omega-3.

Sources of Omega-3

Omega-3 is found in oily fish such as sardines, tuna, salmon, and mackerel. Pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, and walnuts also contain Omega-3 and these are all easy to use regularly by scattering a spoonful over your cereal or muesli at breakfast time, although flax seeds are better for the digestive system when ground beforehand. A few walnuts and pumpkin seeds taste good mixed in with a salad or simply combined with raisins as a snack. This is an easy and natural way to nourish your brain.

As a side note here, I was fascinated and delighted when I heard that walnuts are good for the brain because of their Omega-3 content. I remembered a so-called old wives tale which said that walnuts were brain food because their shape is similar to that of a brain. Ancient wisdom or simple observation?

General Considerations for a Healthy Diet

If you eat well so that your whole body is more energized and clear then you will also be more alert. Beware of trans-fatty acids that are found in margarine and as an ingredient in many processed foods. Make sure you eat plenty of fruit and vegetables and do not always rely on meat for your protein. Soya and tofu are good alternatives and also contain some Omega-3. The B-vitamin complex is essential for the nerves and again, I prefer to get it naturally rather than in supplements. Unless you are lacking seriously in any vitamins or minerals it is sufficient to make sure you are eating good, organic, whole food as far as possible. Whole meal bread and additional wheat germ are good sources of vitamin B.

Enjoy Your Food

Eating as a pleasurable occasion relaxed and with friends, contributes as much to your wellbeing as the food you are eating so don’t feel you have to be over strict about your diet. Be sensible, care, and enjoy. A few small changes in diet can have a great effect on the way you feel.

Being a full-time student is time consuming. You spend most of your daylight hours in class and most of your evening hours studying. Add in an internship or a part-time job and you may find yourself thinking of sleep as a thing of the past. You certainly are not alone in feeling this way. Numerous studies suggest that college students experience the highest level of sleep deprivation of any demographic of people. Far from being just annoyance, sleep deprivation has serious consequences, from impaired performance at school to serious health problems. Although you can’t change how busy you are and how much time you have to sleep, there are things you can do to make your sleep more productive.

1. Watch Your Caffeine Intake: As students, coffee and energy drinks are far from beverages of choice; for many they are a necessity. Most students consume at least two cups of coffee a day, with some even drinking upwards of three pots. While caffeine isn’t all that great for you, it can be beneficial if used at the correct times. A cup of coffee in the morning gets most of us going. It is a problem, however, if you consume caffeine too close to when you go to bed. Even though many people don’t have a problem falling asleep after a cup of coffee, the sleep you experience while caffeine is in your system tends to be interrupted and restless. Basically, the rule of thumb is this: try to stop drinking coffee two to three hours before you go to bed. Your sleep will be much more restful.
2. Take Power Naps: A power nap is a nap of between 15 and 30 minutes usually taken in the middle of the day. Studies suggest that power naps allow your body to rest enough to feel rejuvenated and energized for the remainder of the day. Be sure to stick to the time limit, though, as sleeping longer can have the opposite effect of making you groggy for the remainder of the day.
3. Keep a Consistent Schedule: Granted, not many students have the luxury of doing the same things at the same time every day, but try to go to bed and wake up around the same times, even on days when you don’t have much to do. This conditions your body and makes it sleep better when you rest than if you binge sleep (sleep 14 hours one day out of seven).
4. Get Plenty of Exercise: This doesn’t mean you have to go to the gym every day. Rather, try to make sure you get about ten to fifteen minutes of brisk walking in at some point during the day. For most students this isn’t a problem, as they must commute between classes. Regular exercise will help ready your body for productive sleep.

You don’t have to live with the bad effects of sleep deprivation if you pay attention to your body. Don’t let exhaustion hinder your academic career! Following the above tips should help you feel more rested, even on limited time.

Some people consider high school to be the best four years of their lives, while others choose to block out that timeframe from their memory altogether. Four years is a relatively big chunk of time so it is crucial that fear of not fitting in disappears within the first semester of freshman year. Probably the biggest piece of advice to be given to high school students is that there is no such thing as popularity, really. There is no such thing as social status in a world where everyone learns the same material, has the same homework to turn in, walks the same hallways, and is subject to the same consequences. Materialistic possessions and brand names are by no means the definition of happiness. Some people just come to that realization four years too late. Don’t be one of those people.

The key to “fitting in” is to build relationships, great ones. Not necessarily romantic relationships, just relationships with people that go deeper than a shared interest in the latest gossip. Taking part in clubs and sports is a sure way of meeting potential friends, fitting in (with them), and having a happy, healthy, high school life.