It's Finals Week!!

Here are some tips to help!

1. Before taking a test, write down all the relevant information you can think of on an index card, as though it were a piece of paper you were allowed to bring with you.



2. Use a program to block distracting sites on your computer for a set period of time..

3. Take better notes by pretending you’re taking them for someone else.


4. Leave yourself a gummy bear trail when reading.

5. While studying, do a short review session at each 20 minute interval of the newly learnt material


6. Google “site:edu [subject] exam” to find many different college exams featuring problems pertaining to that subject.


7. Try an online interactive flash card site like Quizlet


8. Take notes using different colored pens.


9. Take breaks every 25 minutes for 5 minutes(http://pomodorotechnique.com/)


10. Chew gum to help boost mental performance!


11. Don’t over caffeinate!


12. Vary your study locations!


13. Practice on old exams


14. Explain your answers to others


15. Organize study groups


16. Naturally energize yourself the morning of the exam through taking a walk, reading a book,
something alive and positive to build your energy levels!


17. If you can, write things out by hand


18. Keep your study space clean and organized

19. Eat healthy and exercise to keep your mind sharp


20. Drink water during the exam!


21. Meditate to lower stress and eliminate off-topic thoughts

22. Get enough sleep


23. Avoid technology at all costs!!!!


24. The library will be backed so arrive early to find the perfect study spot!


25. RELAX!!!

What helps you study? What are your tips and tricks to help you get that A? Email bswr@iup.edu and we will post them on our blog!

@PrattersASM

Remember: Ryan Gosling wants you to succeed!

Fall 2013 Final Exam Schedule

Here's a quick link to the Final Exam schedule! 
Come by our office with any questions!! :D
http://www.iup.edu/page.aspx?id=138304

Remember, the library becomes pretty packed during finals week/leading up to it so you'll want to arrive earlier than usual to get a good seat (especially if you need access to an outlet!)!!

FINALS

Can you guys believe it?! FINALS are NEXT WEEK!

If you have any questions, need a quiet place to study, need help figuring out your new billing statement- anything at all, please come see us in office G6!

Good luck!

Boost Your Creativity With Free Background Noise! rainycafe.com

Check out this website:
http://rainycafe.com/

It has two different looped sound tracks: rain and a bustling cafe that you can turn on and adjust the volume to, and play in the background during times when you need a boost of creativity!:

“A moderate level of noise enhances creativity compared to both low and high levels of noise. Moderate background noise induces distraction which encourages individuals to think at a higher, abstract level, and consequently exhibit higher creativity.”

Smartphone Addiction

Smart phone addiction is a serious problem, much more serious than most people realize. A lot of people treat addiction to smart phones as a joke but it is something that has to be taken seriously. Using your phone too much can interfere with many aspects of your life and it can cost you a great deal of money.  

Check out these other reasons you should take a break from your smartphone addiction:

It Could Help You Sleep Better Tonight
We all know that cell phone use during the wee hours can be disruptive to our sleep patterns, but it's also true that texting during the day could harm our ability to get a good night's sleep, according to a recent study in the journal Psychology of Popular Media Culture.

In the study, researchers followed the stress levels, texting habits and sleep of first year college students. They found that regardless of stress levels, the more people texted during the day the poorer their sleep was.

Your Posture is Suffering!

Texting can actually harm your whole body. “People get so focused on these devices that they end up holding their neck and upper back in abnormal positions for a long period of time; enough that other people coined the phrase ‘text neck,’ which is essentially referring to postural pain,” Chris Cornett, M.D., orthopaedic surgeon and spine specialist at the University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, said in a statement.

Want to counteract the effect of all this stooping and texting? Cornett recommends trying to bring your phone to eye level while you use it or actually training for your endurance texting with back, neck and core strengthening exercises. Oh, and give your phone a rest!


It Disrupts Your Driving!
Hopefully you know by now that you can't text and drive (since it's the law and all), but an astounding 80 percent of college-aged drivers admit to engaging in this behavior, despite knowing how dangerous it can be.

You are 23 times more likely to crash if you're texting behind the wheel, according to a federal report. And cell phone use was associated with 18 percent of "distraction"-related deaths.

It makes you a less responsible pedestrianEven if you aren't driving, your texting could be a liability to the people around you. A study in the British Medical Journal found that one in three people are distracted by mobile devices while walking and that texting was the most distracting of all the mobile activities -- including listening to music and talking on the phone.

The researchers observed more than 1,000 pedestrians during rush hour in Seattle and recorded their phone habits and safety precautions as they crossed traffic junctions. They reported that texting pedestrians were almost four times more likely to ignore traffic lights, fail to look both ways at a cross and to cross outside of the demarcated crosswalk.

Your school or work performance will suffer
Your texting could be holding back your productivity at work or school. According to one study of college students, female first year students spend an average 12 hours texting and engaging in social media -- and extensive media use is associated with lower academic performance.

"We found women who spend more time using some forms of media report fewer academic behaviors, such as completing homework and attending class, lower academic confidence and more problems affecting their school work, like lack of sleep and substance use," study researcher Jennifer L. Walsh, Ph.D., of The Miriam Hospital's Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, told ScienceDaily.

But it isn't just college students who face texting distractions. A study conducted at the University of Michigan found that short interruptions at work -- even just the duration of reading or sending a text -- can increase the number of errors a worker makes during a single task, reported HealthDay. 

So, how to break the vicious cycle and dependency on our smartphones?

Well, you don't have to just stop using your phone all together, it was meant for convenience, scheduling, management, and organization. And there is no reason to stop using your phone for the fun things it provides, like snapchat, social media, blogging, and Candy Crush. 

As with everything, balance is key. 

Should you find yourself checking your phone every five minutes, in the middle of the night, or letting it distract you from schoolwork and class, then you should turn off your notifications, turn on airplane mode, or put it out of reach (such as zipping it into your book bag out of immediate reach). Or, better yet, design a cell phone-free zone, such as when you're at your desk, or when you enter the quiet floor at the library.

It's good to stop and smell the roses. By distancing yourself from your phone you can take a break and thoroughly de-stress. No one can reach you, and you can just relax. Trust me, you won't miss much of anything of what's going on in the world.

More information regarding campus construction

Provided is a link (via The Beak) discussing the construction going on on campus, for those of you that are curious or affected by it:

http://www.iup.edu/newsItem.aspx?id=163284&blogid=3657&utm_campaign=the_beak&utm_medium=e-mail&utm_source=the_beak&utm_content=0000-00-00

Group Study!

Need to get your midterm grades up while you still can?

Join  a group study hosted by ASM Sam! 

All you have to do is fill out one of the slips of paper outside of room G-6 and put your name and what days are best for you, and stick it in the box attached to the door!

You will get an email asking about specific times, and then you just show up and study with some of your peers! 

It can be any subject, but if there's a lot of response for a certain subject, we can set up specific study groups.

PIE YOUR RD, CAs & ASMs!!!!

Come join us in the Suites on Pratt 1st floor lobby at 8pm to PIE your CAs, ASMs & RD!!

ALL of the money we raise will go to Project Linus (making blankets for kids with cancer) and to a local nursing home in Indiana.

50 cents to throw a pie at the CA/ASM

$1 to smoosh the pie in the CA/ASM face

$3 to smoosh the pie in the RD's face

SEE YOU THERE!!!!

Important Reminder

The deadline for individual course withdraw is today, November 4, 2013. Please keep in mind that this should only be done if absolutely necessary; there are plenty of solutions to bringing up a low grade at this point in the semester. If you are unsure as to what you should do, please talk to your adviser, professor, CA, ASM or a tutor immediately. We are all here to ensure you succeed. 

Hocus Pocus Movie Night!!!

PRATTERS RHC IS HOSTING

HOCUS POCUS MOVIE NIGHT!!

This Saturday October 26th @ 9:30pm in Pratt G-11

Bring your friends!

Midterm Grades

Hello Pratters!
Do not forget that midterm grades are posted tomorrow, OCTOBER 22, 2013

and remember..
* If a grade is NOT visible, that means you are NOT failing or in need of academic assistance in that class
* If you ARE failing, please go to your professor immediately to see how you can better your grade so you will pass the class. Even if you let your grade slip, there is still time to bring it up with some hard work and self discipline. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.”
- Jimmy Johnson

Happy Homecoming Weekend!

REMEMBER:
Midterms are a week away! 

So, if you're celebrating homecoming (responsibly) remember that many of your fellow residents are still studying through the weekend! Just be respectful of your neighbors and your floor mates, quiet hours: 10pm-8am weekdays; 12am-8am weekends. Courtesy hours, however, are in effect 24/7: "Courtesy hours, in effect twenty-four hours a day, require students to be considerate of the needs of others at all times and to comply with requests for maintaining a reasonable level of quiet. Quiet hours cover specific evening hours and require that noise be reduced so that nothing can be heard from within rooms when doors are closed."

MYTH: Majority of students skip Friday classes before homecoming

FACT: The majority of students at IUP don't party and attend class as per usual

So, it's homecoming! Let's celebrate the arrival of October and the mid-semester! Here's some stuff going on around campus:

• Thursday, October 3
• The Optimist 
• 8:00 p.m. 
• Theater-by-the-Grove, Waller Hall 
• Tickets sold at door 45 minuntes before curtain 
• Friday, October 4
• Jimmy Stewart Museum 
• Open 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
• Smicksburg Fall Festival 
• 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. 
• 138 East Kittanning Street, Smicksburg, PA 16256 
• Free admission 
• Exhibit: “We Two Founts, Larson and Mitchell”
• noon–4:00 p.m. 
• Kipp Gallery, Sprowls 
• Free admission 
• Open House at the Student Co-op New Building
• 281 Rice Avenue
• 1:00–6:00 p.m. — Light refreshments, prizes
• 4:00 p.m. — Ribbon cutting with remarks from President Driscoll
• Exhibit: “Layers: Places in Peril” 
• 2:00–6:30 p.m. 
• University Museum, Sutton Hall 
• Free admission 
• AACC Cultural Enrichment Night: Mexican Cuisine and Salsa Contest 
• 6:00 p.m. 
• Cozumel Mexicano Restaurante 
• (located on Philadelphia Street, Indiana) 
• IUP Voices of Joy 
• 7:30–9:30 p.m., Victory Christian Assembly, 418 Church Street 
• The Optimist 
• 8:00 p.m. 
• Theater-by-the-Grove, Waller Hall 
• Tickets sold at door 45 minuntes before curtain 
• Saturday, October 5
• Computer Science and Mathematics Department Alumni Breakfast 
• 8:30–10:00 a.m. 
• Rooms 327/329, Stright Hall 
• Jimmy Stewart Museum 
• Monday–Saturday, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. 
• Homecoming Parade 
• Theme: “Countries Around the World" 
• 10:00 a.m. 
• Philadelphia Street 
• Smicksburg Fall Festival 
• 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. 
• 138 East Kittanning Street, Smicksburg, PA 16256 
• Free admission 
• Kidz Karnival 
• 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. 
• Kovalchick Complex 
• Crimson Huddle Alumni and Friends Pregame Party
• 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. 
• Kovalchick Complex 
• Tickets $12; Preregister online 
• Parking: $5 in lots along Wayne Avenue 
• Sponsored by the IUP Alumni Association and the Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine/Indiana Total Therapy 
• Trolley Shuttle
• 11:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. 
• Service sponsored by the Co-op. Runs from Field House parking to the Co-op Store and to downtown Indiana after the game. 
• Exhibit: “Layers: Places in Peril” 
• Noon–4:00 p.m. 
• University Museum, Sutton Hall 
• Free admission 
• Women’s Soccer vs. East Stroudsburg 
• 1:00 p.m. 
• South Campus Field, IUP 
• Homecoming Football Game
• 2:00 p.m. 
• IUP vs. Millersville Marauders, Miller Stadium, IUP
• Field Hockey vs. Shippensburg 
• 7:00 p.m., Miller Stadium, 
• The Optimist 
• 8:00 p.m. 
• Theater-by-the-Grove, Waller Hall 
• Tickets sold at door 45 minuntes before curtain 
• Homecoming Monte Carlo Night 
• Sponsored by Center for Student Life 
• 9:00 p.m.–2:00 a.m. 
• Kovalchick Complex 
• Celebrate Homecoming with casino games, prizes, dancing, food, movies, and fun! Tickets only $5, on sale at the Kolvalchick Complex Box office, Welcome Weekend, IUP Day, and the Center for Student Life in 303 Pratt Hall. 
• Tailgating
• During all home football games, the Stadium Lot South is the designated tailgating lot. Each slot is $5. In accordance with university policy, no alcoholic beverages are permitted. 
• Sunday, October 6
• Jimmy Stewart Museum 
• Open noon–4:00 p.m. 
• Smicksburg Fall Festival 
• 12:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. 
• 138 East Kittanning Street, Smicksburg, PA 16256 
• Free admission 
• IUP Homecoming Concert 
• 3:00 p.m. 
• Fisher Auditorium, Performing Arts Center 
• Tickets sold at the door starting 2:30 p.m.

LASTLY, if you DO decide to go out, remember:

1. Stay in a Trustworthy Group at Parties
Going in groups is safe for a number of reasons. It can prevent a young woman being targeted for unwanted pursuit. Others will notice if one group member goes missing, or has too much to drink.

Go to parties with positive people that have your best interests in mind. Choose companions who will make sure to keep an eye out, and not let anyone wander off with people no one knows, especially if there appears to be drinking or drugs involved.

This creates a safety net. 

 
2. Guard Beverages

At social gatherings, keep track of drinks. Rohypnol, also known as a roofie, is a small odorless and tasteless white pill that dissolves quickly in drinks.

Rohypnol is illegal. It is commonly known as the “date rape” drug. It is a sedative. Effects last 2 to 24 hours. It causes symptoms including sleepiness, relaxation, intoxication, dizziness, disorientation, and difficulty with motor functions and speech.

Don’t risk it. Keep your drink in hand. Get a new one if you lose sight of yours.

3. Have a Plan and a Backup Plan
Prior to going out with friends discuss who will be the designated driver for the night, and make sure that person is someone who can resist any social pressure to drink.

Every year, thousands of people die from drinking and driving, about 30 people each day, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Please, don’t do it, or allow anyone else to.

Know where you’re going, and how to get back home. Deciding on a time when you want to either regroup and leave, or discuss staying longer, is also a good way to check in with everyone.

Know where emergency resources are on campus, such as blue phones, as well as the campus security number. Have local cab companies programmed into your phone. If a designated driver has been drinking, even one drink, call a cab or a friend you know isn’t going to be at the party, to get a safe ride home.

4. Drink Lightly or Not at All

Binge drinking for women, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is four or more drinks at a single occasion. Heavy drinking is at least one drink per day.

Long-term, or major episodes of drinking can have severe physical consequences, such as liver damage, neurological problems, and depression. It can cause social problems like unemployment, and isolation.

If you see a friend consuming alcohol very often, or binge drinking, consult school counselors for resources to help. Effective support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Al-Anon are easy to find.

5. Don’t Do Anything You Don’t Want on the Web

With the constant evolution of technology, any picture taken can be on several social media sites, and seen by thousands in a matter of minutes.

There is no way to remove this photo from cyberspace, and many have gone on to regret pictures, or videos that were taken of them without their consent.

Additionally, employers are beginning to consistently Web search potential employees. You’re in college to eventually get a job. Don’t let one night ruin what you’ve worked so hard to achieve.

6. Stay Healthy

Get plenty of sleep, and maintain a healthy and balanced diet. The CDC recommends a minimum of two and a half hours of physical activity per week.

Peer pressure in college gets intense. Don’t stop following hobbies and other interests to help maintain a strong sense of self.

According to the Nation Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism four out of five college students drink alcohol, with about 25 percent reporting academic consequences. Additionally, alcohol is a depressant, and can cause several health problems if consumed irresponsibly.



Campus staff, professors, friends, and family are all there to help you. Whether it’s for you, or for others, don’t be afraid to speak up.

Important Upcoming Date

Hey Pratters! As you all know, this semester seems to be flying by. Although it feels like we have just began, we are almost halfway through the semester. Which means as we head into October, we are also heading into everyone's favorite time- Halloween! Just kidding, I'm talking about MID-TERMS!

 Ah, yes. Although midterms seem so far off, they are actually creeping up pretty quickly. Tuesday, October 22nd is the date in which mid-term grades will be posted. Which means actual mid-term testing begins next week! It is important to be prepared for any mid-term papers, tests, and projects. Even though October has just began, time flies when you're having fun- and lets be honest, you can't NOT have fun here at IUP! So make sure to take the time to plan accordingly to prevent these things from sneaking up on you. Here are some time-management and success tips to help you rock your mid-terms:

1. Pace yourself
If you try to cram, you're only setting yourself up for failure and a ton of unnecessary stress. 

Split your test material into sections and study each one a different day. Then take some time to review everything at once (flashcards can be helpful here). If you have a paper, give yourself the time span of a week or two and write a different section each day. Same applies to if you have some sort of project or presentation. It is important to know what you are going to say and present and to do it with confidence. Time management is key here.

2. Pick a productive place
Studying with your best friends while watching Catfish or in your dorm room (that suddenly looks very messy and needs cleaned this minute) is probably not going to end with you learning all the material. Be sure to pick a spot to study with little distractions that fits your study habits. The library has multiple places ranging from loud, to a quiet hum, to complete silence. There are also study rooms right in the residence halls that you may gain access to and can shut yourself in and spread your work out. Being someplace where your one and only focus is on your assignments will result in major productivity.

3. Give yourself a break
Studies have shown that students who take small breaks while studying (about 15 minutes) can aid in remembering the material. It is also important to take a bit to relax and have some deep breaths. After all, you're only human! Just be sure to stay on track and keep your break time limited. Using this time to eat a healthy, brain-boosting snack (like dark chocolate) can be beneficial! 

4. Have a study buddy
Studying with a friend or with a group of smart, motivated people can lessen the work load and ease the stress. You can also use each others creative minds to make acronyms or little rhymes to remember terms or bits of information. Writing notes in class, reading them to yourself, and reviewing them with your group will make the information more likely to stay in your brain.

5. Hide your phone
I know personally that my phone is my biggest distraction; so power down, turn on airplane mode, or leave it in your room if you need to. It is easy to pick up your phone to check and email and end up playing Candy Crush for an hour. If you're waiting on an important phone call, the iPhone even has a 'do not disturb' setting where you can select that only phone calls from certain people may come through.

6. Use some tunes to tune yourself out
Listening to music that you do not know the lyrics to and won't memorize can help you focus. Pandora Radio has an awesome classical music station meant just for studying. Easy listening is also a great choice in genre as well. Music can help you drown out that girl who thought the library was meant for (loudly) taking phone calls, or just keep you from hearing any noises that might distract you.

and, most importantly:

7. Take care of yourself
Midterm preparation can easily turn even the most studious person into a zombie...

So take a hot shower. Jog for 15 minutes in the fresh air. Trade that Five Hour Energy and espresso shot in for some blueberries and hot tea. Pull that yoga mat out from under your bed. Laugh at funny cat videos on YouTube. Have dinner with your friends. Midterms can make you focus more on your brain and less on, well, the rest of yourself. Being happy, calm and healthy are key to being able to study well and take all that information you worked so hard to remember and put it to good use. 

And remember, your ASMs are here to help you if you feel you might be having trouble studying, managing time, or anything of the like. Stop in at office G6 in Suites on Pratt or shoot us an email. We are here to help YOU!

Where to Find the Time?!

THE MOST IMPORTANT TIME MANAGEMENT TIPS YOU'LL EVER READ. EVER.

There’s an easy way you can enjoy better time management in your life: make it a habit.

Habits are WAY easier to create than they are to break, that's the reality.

Getting things done on time, being stress free....sounds impossible. BUT It can happen for you, it can happen for your friends, (it probably won't happen for your cat but, hey you can try)....

Anyways, here are the TIPS:

• Set your “Plan Time:” Choose a specific time each day for your planning activities. For example, you can devote 5 minutes over breakfast each morning and hold a 15-minute weekly review every Sunday afternoon. Setting a schedule keeps you accountable and makes planning a normal everyday life activity. 

• Commit for 1 month: Make a goal for yourself that says you will unfailingly stick to your planning system for one month. You’ll start feeling a sense of progress and accomplishment with each passing day. Be sure to write your goal date into your planner so you can celebrate your success. Then, commit to another month of planning. 

• Be realistic: Start at a planning level that feels manageable. For example, you might want to start simple and keep just a weekly schedule and to-do list. Don’t attempt a process that may overwhelm you. Once you get the ball rolling, you can add activities such as monthly goal setting and time tracking. 

• Carry it: Keep your planner with you at all times, and spend a few minutes reviewing your plans during downtime at work or at home. It’s especially important to keep your schedule and to-do list in front of you so it becomes a reliable presence in your day. 

• Share the love: Be proud. Tell those around you about your new planning system. Having public awareness will motivate you to continue your progress, and you’re bound to inspire others to join you in working toward better time management. REWARD YOURSELF, buy a venti Pumpkin Spice Latte, or go out to the movies with a pack of pals. 

• Don’t cheat: Planning is an act of personal integrity, so don’t allow yourself to skip a day. It will become far too easy to cheat again and again. Following through on your to-do list and daily calendar when things get hectic may be a challenge, but it will provide the greatest payoff toward making planning a habit. 

• Similarly, Don't Give Up: Say you do forget for a day, DON'T LET THAT BREAK YOU. Keep going! 

Start your time management habit  today. When planning becomes second nature you’ll adopt a more productive mindset, and you’ll live in a place of increased confidence and organization.

Also, celebrate your success with your ASMs!! We love to hear that our tips are working! :)

Here's a few things happening around campus! Check them out!

Want to be more involved with your residence hall? Make friends in your building? Be informed about various subjects?

Check out the flyers around the building to see what kind of programs are coming up! The CAs and ASMs would love to see your beautiful faces!

Don't be a Zombie!!

Many times us college students forget how important the balance is between health, academics, work, athletics, and having a social life. It's a delicate balance that can take time to work out, and one that is different for everyone! 

What's the stereotypical college student lifestyle? Work and attend class all day, eat ramen noodles or mac n' cheese every meal, and stay up through the night studying. But that sort of situation is NOT going to work long-term.  You will start by being unable to pay attention in class, and then your body will start to feel slow and sludge-like due to not getting proper exercise and nutrition. YOU WILL TURN INTO A ZOMBIE.

One of the key things to remember: BE REALISTIC.
Set goals for yourself, but don't expect a miracle. After a long day of classes and band practice, are you going to want to study for 4 hours straight? I didn't think so. 

But you CAN set up a realistic schedule that still leaves time for a social life and interaction with your fellow residents!

Here are some tips from last year's zombies:

And lastly, remember that your ASM's are here to help you! We can offer suggestions and help you come up with a schedule and a game plan to combat zombification!

Come and visit us in Suites on Pratt room G-6! :)

So, it begins!

Hey everybody! With the first semester coming into a full start, many of you are probably feeling just a bit overwhelmed. Between classes, quizzes, meetings, homework, activities, social events and everything in between, you might be feeling like you have a ton on your plate- and you probably do! However, the key to keeping calm and being successful is organization and balance. If you stay organized from the start, your schedule will be planned out, and this will make you more likely to succeed and be less stressed through the semester! I am going to share five tips that I, personally, have found to be helpful in keeping me on track.

1. Get a planner.
I remember in seventh grade when I was required by the school system to use a planner and I thought it was extremely lame. Now my planner is constantly within my reach. I start off each new week by penciling in my classes, work hours and meeting times. I'll also usually write in any personal plans I have with friends or the like. This way, I know where I'll be each day and at what time. Then, I write in my assignments due for each day, quiz/exam dates, and a to-do list. When I know how busy I'll be during the day, I know what times I can plan to sit down and study or do homework so I don't fall behind. Having my entire schedule in front of me each day makes my life so much easier! I don't forget about assignments or miss meetings and I keep high grades because I know how much time I have to study for tests.

2. Use a calender.
I have a dry-erase calender that I keep on the wall above my desk. The calender has all the same information that my planner does, but it keeps me in check because it's always in my view. I have to look at this every day, and it makes me remember everything so well.

3. Talk to your professors.
A wise teacher I had in high school once told me that simply stopping by your professors office hours, even once just to say hello, will benefit you greatly. Thus far, he has yet to be wrong. Doing this makes the professor remember you and it also shows that you care about your grade and the class (even if it's not your favorite). If you have just a simple question, drop by their office and ask. Seeing your face is so much more personal than seeing an email address pop up on the screen. Making a good impression from the start is key.

4. Ask for help.
If you are a student that happens to have a lot on your plate, you might become entirely too stressed out. If you feel like you need to talk, vent, need a study buddy, or just want someone who can help you feel more prepared (anything at all), there are people you can turn to. Your CAs are always just a few doors away and will be more than willing to do what they can to help you out. Your ASMs are always here to provide you with solutions. We have many resources and techniques to help you with any problems that you may be facing. And it's not just limited to the people in your residence community. IUP has a great counseling center for people who are feeling especially in need. Don't forget your friends and family too! A simple call to home or a talk with a friend may be just the thing you need.

5. Don't forget to have fun.
While college is about gaining the education you need to have a successful future, its also about having some fun, meeting new people, and creating new experiences. Don't forget that if you work hard, you deserve a little break. Credit yourself! Go have some fun with friends, go to the programs in your residence halls, go check out whats happening on campus. It's important to balance your personal life and school life so you can be educated and have some good times along the way!

I hope you will find these things helpful as you go through the first semester. Don't forget that your ASM office is located on the ground floor of Suites on Pratt (office G6) and we are always at your reach! Enjoy your semester, and don't forget ASM Sam and ASM Chelsie want to see all your lovely faces!