How to Avoid Senioritis

With the semester halfway over, almost all seniors are coming down with senioritis. It’s easy to catch and almost impossible to get rid of, at least in my case. With projects and tests piling up towards the end of the semester, winter break seems entirely out of reach. Here are some tips to help ward off this nasty “disease”.

1.     Keep a planner – A planner can help with time management and guarantees you never miss a due date (well it should anyways). In my case, keeping a planner and writing down assignments and keeping my schedule planned out helped me to easily prioritize my time. I can schedule school and work, and also give myself some free time.

2.     Maintain organization and focus – As difficult as this may seem, it is still important to focus on the last year you have left. We’ve all been focused on graduation for 3 years now and don’t need to give up now that it is finally in sight. When asked about senioritis, a University of Utah ethics professor said, “If students can recognize the onset, then they need to find the necessary mental discipline to overcome it by concentrating even harder on their academic tasks.” You need to make an effort to stay organized. Find a motivator that works and stick to it.

3.     Take care of yourself – While it is important to still focus on your studies, it is equally as important to take care of your body as well. Staying healthy and active throughout the semester can help to motivate you academically. Getting enough sleep can have a huge impact on the rest of your day. Many people, myself included, have pulled all-nighters, but that shouldn’t become a habit.

4.     Make a post-grad bucket list – Even though a lot of us already feeling like we’re “adulting”, I know it will be a whole new world when we graduate. Come up with a bucket list of things you want to do or accomplish once you have the time (and money) after graduation. Work should be a priority in the real world, but you should also allow yourself time for fun and that can be a huge motivator senior year leading up to that.

Ways to Save Money on Food in College

Being in college, there are a lot of sacrifices we make to avoid depleting our bank accounts. As someone who has lived off of Ramen for a week because my bank account was next to nothing, I understand that when it comes to buying groceries, it is important to shop smart. Here are some helpful tips to save money on food while on a college budget.

1. Plan your meals ahead – People, along with myself, have wasted so much food simply by not planning out what you are realistically going to eat. If you were to write out what you are having, you could shop from that list and avoid over-shopping or just going out and picking something up because you don’t like anything you have at home.

2. Learn how to shop – Go into the grocery store with a list already prepared, that way you know what you are shopping for. I had a bad habit of going to the store with nothing in mind and picking up whatever appealed to me in that moment. By learning what you want to shop for and looking at the different brands that offer the same items, you can save a lot of money. Purchasing the generic brand instead of the name brand cuts cost and virtually tastes the same.

3. Shop with coupons – This is a new thing for me. I would sometimes look at what was on sale, but mainly I just got what I wanted. If you look at a grocery store’s weekly catalog or even go to their mobile app at their uploaded coupons, you can save them and help to pick out your weekly menu based on what is on sale for the week.

4. Cook with a buddy – As someone who hates leftovers, I have a problem cooking for one. I love to try new recipes, but they are always for multiple people and I have tons left after I eat. I have learned to shop and cook with my roommates, which helps in the cost for ingredients and decreases the amount of food that gets wasted.

5. Get a slow cooker – I am constantly busy with class and work, and sometimes I don’t have the time to spend an hour making a meal and will end up going out. I recently invested in a slow cooker and it has changed how I can prepare meals. In the morning before class, I can just stick something in and come back a few hours later with a prepared meal.

How to Prepare for a Post-Grad Interview

As seniors, we are constantly being asked what our plans are after graduation and if we have a job lined up already. Interviews are bound to happen, but do we really know what industry professionals are looking for? Here are a few tips to set yourself apart from others desperate on the job hunt as well.

1. Do your homework – Researching the company or organization you are interviewing for will let employers know you are not only serious about the job, but also serious about their brand. Do not just read the website. Read business magazines, online sources, even those who have some kind of contact with the company and ask them questions beforehand.

2. Bring past papers/projects to sell yourself – When interviewing, you are essentially trying to prove to an employer why you are a better fit above others for the job. By bringing papers and projects you have completed in school or internships, you have physical evidence of the quality of work you can provide.

3. Develop adaptable stories from your resume related to your aspiring job – Each person coming in for an interview will have a resume. If you can describe a situation or example from a point on your resume, it will demonstrate you understand the importance and impact of your personal contributions.

4. Frame your answers to show how you will add value to the company – Instead of figuring out what you will get out of this job during the interview, focus on what you bring to the table and why this organization needs you as a member.

5. Prepare some “go-to” questions – Everyone can prepare questions for the end of an interview, but if you show knowledge about the company and demonstrate you prepared in advance, you can easily set yourself apart. There is a big difference between “Tell me about….” or “I read that your company is…how will that affect…?”

Once the actual interview process is over, it is vital to reach out and send a thank you to the employer for their time and for seeing you. Add in a small point that professionally articulates why you would be a great fit to their company. Hopefully these tips help as we are all about to start this stressful process and move into the real world!