How I'm Graduating Early

I'll start this post with a premise: I've always been a self-educator. I have a genuine desire to learn because I think, "Hey, there's this thing. I don't know about it. I want to learn it!" (For example, I'm learning Russian this summer, because, hey, third language!) I ended up graduating high school a  year early, and now I'll be graduating a semester early with a B.S. in Biology Pre-Medicine, with minors in Spanish, Writing, and Biochemistry.

Whoa, whoa. A science major with three minors? How are you graduating early?

I took a chance and ran with it, that's how.

Source: reddit.com

But in all seriousness, I hear this question all the time. So, I'm going to answer the question and show how you can apply this, whether you're in high school or in college.

1. I came into college with college credit already completed.
If you're still in high school, take advantage of any AP program. But, a word of warning: check out your top colleges and see what scores they accept, as well as if your degree plan for your intended major even requires the course. 

If your school doesn't offer AP courses, see if there are some online they'd let you add, or take concurrent classes either online or at a local community college. These courses let you get both high school AND college credit for one class! I finished American History and two Spanish classes this way. Check with your advisor to see what your school can do for you.
Credits I completed: 16

2. I made a degree plan and got it approved.

Now, I know everyone's not a meticulous planner like I am. But trust me when I say that you will be glad you made a degree plan, especially if you have a minor or want to graduate early. The department's degree plan will not work for you. 

I did this over a few weeks by taking the department's suggested degree plan and morphing it to be my own, taking into account courses I'd already completed and my minors. The above is just the courses I've completed so far. I have my entire 3 1/2 years planned out and color coded for easy interpretation, and at the bottom (unpictured) I have each of my degrees I want to graduate with to make sure I complete the appropriate number of credits. I took my entire degree plan to my advisor, made appropriate adjustments, and got it approved.

One thing to look out for when making a degree plan is courses that aren't offered every semester. For example, the upper division Biology courses at my college are usually only offered one semester each year. Email the secretary of the department and clarify what courses are offered when.

Another issue is classes that overlap. My college has a policy that, if both professors agree, you can take two courses that overlap by 15 minutes. I've done this twice and survived (with some negotiating on both ends). However, I know I am going to have a problem next spring with two classes that are at the exact same time. Try to see when classes were offered in previous semesters and talk to the professors. Perhaps there is some other course that could substitute, or you can do an independent study course (if those are offered).

3. I took classes during the off-semester.
If you're already in college, have no fear! You can still get credits outside of regular semesters. One option is summer school. At my college, these courses are set to be condensed into three weeks. This is a heavy-duty workload, but I just finished two semesters of physics in six weeks. If your school has a fast-track summer school like mine, then I'd advise only doing general education credits or forgotten-about/unwanted-but-necessary credits (like my physics). 
Credits I completed: 17

4. I took CLEP tests.
Summer school is often expensive. My scholarship doesn't cover it. The second option is CLEP tests. These allow you to "test out" of a course, essentially. You can view what tests your college accepts online at www.clep.collegeboard.org and schedule a test. These don't count toward your GPA, so it's taken as a pass/fail course. Check with your advisor to make sure that your major accepts certain courses.
Credits I completed: 6

5. I listened to advice, but knew when to ignore it.

Most of the time, anyways. There are a few instances I wish I'd taken advice (like taking Pre-Calculus instead of Calculus), but for the most part, I have known my capabilities better than my advisors have. If you think that you can accomplish something, go for it! Take two hard courses at the same time. Take a course a year late. As long as it fits into your degree plan, who's to tell you you can't do it? (Okay, a lot of people can tell you you shouldn't. But they can't keep you from doing it!)

6. I planned EARLY.

I cannot emphasize this enough. If you think you want to graduate early, you have to plan it early. I started planning this the fall of my sophomore year. If I had waited another year, it wouldn't have been possible. Do it early, be realistic, and get it approved!

7. I prepared backup plans.

I have a list of courses I can substitute if a class doesn't work out. I'm okay with not getting all of my minors, and I'm also okay with doing a part-time semester if it comes to it. Always have a backup plan. If you're not prepared, it'll feel like this:

Source: reddit.com

8. I took the "undesirables" in stride.

7:50 classes, anybody? When you find out that that class you really, really wanted to take is only offered at 8 pm, just deal with it and move on with life. In the long run, you'll be happier that you took a class that you really wanted to take at a bad time rather than taking the lame substitute. You'll be happy you went to physics from 8 to 2 every day in the summer even though you felt like a train wreck. Basically, this: 

Source: reddit.com

9. And finally, I was kind to myself.

Never have I done anything I knew I couldn't handle. I'm aware of my capabilities and, while I push them to the max, I come out in the end feeling like an exhausted champ. All it takes is a little planning and confidence. 

There you have it. The answer to "How can someone with three minors graduate early?" I'm quite proud of the path I've taken, and the hard work I've done so far to do it.

From those who are graduating early like I will be, anything I missed? 

Preparing for College

Move in day is soon! No matter what college you're going to, you're probably living in the dorms. It's your first time out of the house, and you don't really know what you need to live by yourself, probably with no easy way to get your mom to bring you something you forgot.

Lucky for me, I was able to attend a private university close to home. Which meant several runs back home to get the things I forgot. This is a list I've compiled over the last year including the things I wish I'd brought and the things I'm glad I did.

A first aid kit. This has been a huge need for me. The first week of classes, I cut myself badly while shaving. A few weeks ago, I was sick and had to have my parents bring me medicine. A good first aid kit should have medicines and supplies alike. Here's what I will be putting in mine:

• Hydrocortisone for stubborn zits
• Bandaids of all sizes
• Neosporin, hydrogen peroxide, bandaids, and gauze for wounds
• Claritin and benadryl for allergies
• Advil and tylenol for aches and fevers
• Medicine for stomachaches
• And lots and lots of tissues

These are all things I have needed at one time or another throughout the semester. You never know what you may need, so be prepared.

A vacuum. The floors often become quite gross after all of your friends coming in and out, all of the food you eat, and all of the powdered makeup that gets spilled on the floor. You will want a vacuum, along with other various cleaning supplies such as windex, paper towels, and clorox. 

A few lamps. If your room faces the sun at some point, light will stream in beautifully. But those fluorescent lights aren't your friend when it comes to night. Get a few lamps to give your room a cozy feeling. I'd say at least a desk lamp and a bed lamp, and maybe even a floor lamp.

Extra towels and washcloths. I came with a towel for showering and a few cheap washcloths. I would suggest bringing another towel for if you go swimming or if you shower twice in a day. Also, washcloths are great for washing your face, your dishes, or your countertop.

A swimsuit and tennis shoes. At my college, we're require to take P.E. and work out multiple times a week. Therefore, a swimsuit and some good tennis shoes are musts when it comes to my college. Most universities have their own gyms that you have membership to if you are a student, so why not take advantage of it?

Rainboots and an umbrella. You wouldn't believe how many people I know forgot these! You don't even need anything fancy. I got my rainboots for $8 at Walmart. As long as they keep the water out on your way to class, you're golden.

A foam mattress pad and mattress suspenders. Don't know what I'm talking about when I say mattress suspenders? If you aren't a reckless sleeper (yes, reckless) like me, don't worry about it. But if you roll, you may need those clips to keep your sheets from popping off your mattress. If you can't get a foam mattress pad, stick a sleeping bag under your fitted sheet. It works just as well!

A shower caddy. When the shower is down the hall, it's nice not to have to juggle your shaving cream, shampoo, conditioner, brush, towel, and washcloth. 

Some luxuries that aren't necessary, but nice

Office supplies. If your roommate is cool with your using hers all the time, then no worries. But it is nice to have your own so you don't have to wake her up at 6 am when you need staples. A stapler, highlighters, hole punch, scissors, tape, pens, and pencils are all lifesavers. 

Iron and ironing board. I got away without one last year, but if you will be doing a lot of presentations, you may need an iron. You don't even necessarily need an ironing board. Some sites sell ironing pads you can lie on your desk, or you can even stick a towel on your bed.

A scrubber for dishes. You can use a washcloth, but some of those food bits are just too difficult to get out without something harder.

A printer. Chances are there will be at least one girl in your hall who has a printer, but it's nice to have your own. 

A good stain remover. I was pretty good about not getting anything on my clothes that wouldn't come out with detergent, but if you're a spill-prone person, you may want a Tide To Go pen or something similar.

Don't buy until you see your room:

Storage. You don't truly know how much space you have until you get there. Once you've seen your room and how much stuff you have, buy plastic bins or boxes from Walmart and bring them back.

Bed risers. I was so determined on getting these. When I got there, I found that my bed was already so high I almost couldn't get on it until I adjusted to it. If I'd had bed risers I would've needed a ladder!

Food. This is just a pain to transport. Besides, you won't know how much space you have in that mini fridge until you see it for yourself. That quart of yogurt may not fit in there.

DO NOT BRING...

All of your clothes. If possible, bring seasonal clothes, with a few shirts for those strange days that don't match the season. Try to keep your wardrobe versatile so that you have one shirt that goes with five pairs of pants and three skirts, and vice versa.

All of your books. I love reading. I really do. But in college, you don't have a whole lot of time for pleasure reading. There's always reading to be done for some class that you've forgotten about. Save some space and leave your beloved treasures at home.

Bulk items. Those fifty rolls of paper towels? Leave it. The five packages of printer paper? Nope. Your package of ten bars of soap? Nah. My roommate and I went through three rolls of paper towels throughout the entire two semesters. I went through a package and a half of printer paper. I think I only got through three bars of soap. If you're living far from home, that may be a different story. But only buy bulk of things you use a lot, e.g. granola bars, tampons, razors, etc.




I hope all you girls are ready for the school year! I'll be posting more as I get reorganized, hopefully.

College Girl Problems: Coping with Insanity

Wow, has it been a hectic semester! But finally I can rejoin the land of the living as this portion of the semester draws to a close. My insanely stressful semester has led me to write this post on coping with the insanity that is college.
Every college student struggles at one point or another with difficult classes, huge projects, and the oh-so-lovely midterms and finals. But you, too, can survive without all-nighters!

Photo Credit

College Girl Problems: Textbooks are so expensive!

As another semester draws close, many students are searching for the cheapest prices on textbooks. While tuition and boarding may already be paid, textbooks are another huge expense, especially in some of the more extensive classes.

So, here I am to show you how I have been working on finding the cheapest textbooks so that my parents will have fewer expenses. Because, you know, that's always nice.

College Girl Problems: I Don't Know How to Study

Despite being a straight-A student in high school, I actually had this problem when I first got to college, and occasionally throughout the first full time semester, and when I've asked some other straight-A students, they could relate. I almost never had to study in high school, with a few rare exceptions such as geometry and history. I either got it or I didn't. In college, you learn twice as much information in a semester. In my major, biology, memorization is key. I had to learn how to learn the information and retain it longer than past the quiz. Here's a few tips I've picked up over the last few months.

Tips for the Aspiring Writers

I have been writing stories since I was young. When I was in third grade, I wrote a short story three times as long as it was supposed to be. I wouldn't call myself a world class novelist, though. Over the last few years, this love of writing has been cultured, especially through one specific event.

NaNoWriMo

For the last three Novembers, I have participated in what is called National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo. During this month, participants attempt to write a novel, or 50,000 words, in 30 days. This feat requires about 1,667 words on average every day. (To give you a general idea of the length, the average double-spaced three page essay is around 600-800 words.)

Five Things I Learned in My First Semester of College

This semester was my first full-time semester in college. It's a little surreal that it's finally over, and that I survived. Over these last couple of days, I've been thinking about what this semester has taught me and how I've grown.

1. Listen to your mother.
My mom is one of the smartest people I know. And, as I knew before, she knows what she's talking about. Instead of listening and taking an easier math class, I took calculus, when I didn't need it for my degree, and it consumed a lot of my time. She's been right about other things, too, like how long it'll take me to study for certain subjects, or when the best time would be to go home, or when I need to finish assignments. In short: Your mother is always right.

2. Expect the unexpected.
Expect your printer to break down the night before your big research paper is due (which happened). Expect your professor to give a pop quiz on that chapter you haven't reviewed yet (also happened). Expect not to have any way to do laundry this weekend. Expect it to be thirty degrees the day you're supposed to run two miles. Expect everything, no matter how impossible it seems. Always be prepared, no matter what, and you'll be better off in the long run. Even if your professor doesn't have a surprise quiz on neurons, you'll be better prepared for the test in a week.

3. Study more than you think you need to.
This goes back to some words of wisdom from my mom: Study three hours for every hour the class meets. That means if you're in a class that meets three times a week for an hour each class period, study nine hours. Now, in my opinion, this works better if you break it up. Study for an hour right after the class, then an hour that night, and another hour the next day. Then repeat after the next class meeting. Repetition is the key to learning. Plus, this'll help for those pop quizzes I mentioned.

4. Sleep.
So many times have I slipped into bed at two in the morning, completely exhausted after studying my butt off for my big biology exam at 8:50. Studies say that the average person needs seven to eight hours of sleep. That doesn't include the seven to fifteen minutes it takes you to actually fall asleep. So make sure you account for your required sleep. You'll perform better, retain more information, and stay healthier. Plus, you'll be doing your roommate a favor if the lights are out by midnight.

5. Be social.
Don't be such a bookworm that you neglect your friends. The people you meet in college may very well be the friends you carry with you until the day you die. Nurture these friendships. Spend an hour talking about nothing in particular. Go to a movie. Get to know that girl halfway down the hall who you never talk to. This is something I really wish I'd done with more than just a couple of people who I knew before I even came to college. Broaden your horizons. Get to know someone from someplace far away (and I'm not talking about from the next town over). You never know what you may learn.

So there you have it. If I could have a do-over, those are the things I'd fix. Best of wishes to those heading to college for the spring semester, or starting in the fall.