Study tips to get you through the last few weeks

You’ve made it through midterms, spring break and Easter break. Now comes that long stretch before finals. When motivation seems to be at an all-time low and exhaustion seems to be at an all-time high, you need some basic study tips to maximize the productivity and efficiency of your study time.

Here are some of our suggestions:

1. Make a list. Take a second to sit down and make a comprehensive to do list! Making a list helps to prioritize assignments and keep you on track. It may feel overwhelming at first to look at all that you have to do, but it is incredibly satisfying to cross assignments off and watch that list shrink.
2. Reward yourself. As you cross items off your list, make sure to reward yourself for your progress. Put jelly beans on the pages of your textbook, and as you read down the page, eat the jelly beans as you get to them. Or, once you finish an assignment, allow yourself to have a cookie!
3. Take breaks. If you study for too long without giving yourself a break, your studying becomes less effective. It is well worth your while to take 15 minutes and go for a walk around campus. Get some fresh air or chat with a friend. When you sit back down, you will be refreshed and better able to focus.
4. Don’t wait until the last second. Procrastination seems like a good idea until it’s 10 p.m. the night before that paper is due and you’re both exhausted and overwhelmed. Start working on projects a little bit each day in the weeks leading up to that due date. That way, on the night before it’s due, when all of your friends are scrambling to finish, you can treat yourself to some ice cream and get a good night’s rest. It is a difficult habit to get into, but it pays off in the long run.
5. Study with others. You’ll have to make sure that everyone in the group is on the same page and really wants to study, but studying with others can offer new perspectives on and explanations of the material. Bouncing ideas off of peers and explaining concepts to each other really helps you learn and remember material well.
6. Try some new, quirky study methods. Whether it’s a mnemonic device or something as simple as chewing gum while you study, there are tons of ways to increase the effectiveness of your studying and help you remember information more clearly. Figure out what kind of learner you are (audio, visual, etc.) and go from there!

As the semester draws to a close, finish strong and remember that the CRC is always here to help with assignments, reading comprehension and speeches!

Don’t miss Thursday’s CRC fun!

Short and sweet, we have two words for you: free donuts.

Yes, you read that right. The CRC is hosting an open house on Thursday, April 2. We will be hanging out in the CRC (Brooks 222) from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. and giving out free Krispy Kreme donuts to all students who drop by*!

Come meet some of the tutors, grab a donut and see what’s going on in the center! Also, Thursday is the last day to be entered to win a Starbucks gift card through the CRC. Make an appointment at samford.mywconline.com!

Can’t make it by the CRC tomorrow to meet the tutors at our open house? Visit samfordcrc.wordpress.com/meet-the-tutors and get to know the tutors that way!

*while supplies last

Spring break reading suggestions as told by the tutors!

Congratulations–you made it to Spring Break 2k15!

As you’re heading off to the beach (or wherever your spring break destination may be), consider these book recommendations from the CRC tutors if you’re looking for something good to read over break!

“My spring break book suggestions are Divergent and Insurgent because the Insurgent movie comes out Friday, March 20!” – Kristina Emmerson

“I recommend The Red Tent by Anita Diamant, but my personal favorite is No Exit by Jean Paul Sarte. This is a thought-provoking read that will give you a new insight on how you won’t want to spend the rest of your eternity.” – Chandler McLarren

Depending on what kind of book you’re looking for, Hannah Reynolds has several to recommend:

1. ‘Til We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis – “It’s a novel, I promise!” says Hannah.
2. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes – “This one is only marginally depressing,” she says.
3. Bruchko by Bruce Olson – “Shameless missionary plug,” she laughs. “Fight me.”
4. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? And Other Concerns by Mindy Kaling – “This one has absolutely no literary value whatsoever, but it is also absolutely hilarious. It’s completely stream of consciousness and requires no shred of critical thought–like reading a giant hilarious blog but feeling better about yourself because it’s printed in a book,” she says.

“There are a couple of different ways you can go as far as vacation reading is concerned. If you’re looking for something with literary value and haven’t read A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, read it. It’s my favorite book of all time. Seriously. If you’re looking for something that’s a bit less challenging/academic but still has literary value, I suggest Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. I recently read it and loved it! Finally, I am also a shameless fan of Nicholas Sparks, so if you’re looking for a lighter read, I love A Bend in the Road. That’s my favorite one of his books.” – Claire Per-Lee

No matter what you choose to read, all of us at the CRC hope you have a wonderful, relaxing spring break!

Never fear, the CRC is here!

Time seems to fly especially fast during the spring. It seems like the semester just started, and yet advisers have already started sending out the “come meet with me so we can figure out what classes you need to take in the fall” emails.

This is the time of year when you wake up in the morning, ready for your afternoon nap before your feet even hit the floor. Your theme song becomes Dory from Finding Nemo singing, “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming…” on a never ending loop in your head. We’ve all been there. Actually, if we’re being honest, we’re all probably still there. Such is college. At least you’re in good company.

So how could you possibly think about next fall when you barely have the energy to make it through the classes at hand? With the support and encouragement of your friendly neighborhood tutors in the CRC, of course!

We are here to help you survive the classes you’re in now. And next semester? We promise we’re not going anywhere. Don’t let those upper level classes intimidate you. We can help with papers, public speaking, projects and even reading comprehension. Let us be the first to assure you: you absolutely can do it!

Whether you’re signing up for  core classes or embarking on your senior thesis, we are committed to being a resource for all Samford students.

Not an official Samford student yet? Maybe you’re a high school senior anticipating that huge college decision and transition that is right around the corner. If that’s you, take a deep breath. College is great! (Though, I realize you may be skeptical after reading the “just keep swimming” comment above. Sorry about that.)

In the CRC, we are here to help you through your first big paper or speech. Our tutors are undergraduate students themselves, which allows you to work with a tutor who can relate to those stressful weeks you’re facing and has even taken a lot of the same classes that you need help with.

Not only do we have speaking tips and grammar expertise, but we also have candy. It’s a proven fact that all papers, projects and speeches can be conquered with the help of a little candy. So there’s that.

Don’t just take our word for it, though. Check out what these freshmen had to say about their experiences in the CRC:

“I love the CRC! I came last semester, and my professor noticed all my efforts! I suggested it to a friend, and they tried it and loved it, too! It’s so helpful!” – Hannah

“The CRC is the best–always helpful. I’m so glad we have this student resource.” – Jessica

“I love how quick and effective the tutors are. They help me so much with each visit!” – Tayler

Moral of the story? Make an appointment with the CRC today (go to samford.mywconline.com)! By coming in for a tutoring session anytime between now and April 2, you will be entered to win a Starbucks gift card! Don’t miss out on this awesome, caffeine-related opportunity! (We know you could use the caffeine. Let’s be real. It’s midterms week.)

We’re looking forward to seeing you in the CRC! Until then, just keep swimming.

Get to know the CRC!

As spring break approaches and you find yourself well into spring semester, midterms in your midst, it can feel like you’re fighting just to keep your head above water.

We get that. Really, we do. We’re students ourselves, so we understand that sometimes you just need a second set of eyes to look over a paper. Or maybe you have a speech coming up, and as helpful as it is to practice in the mirror, your reflection can’t really give you much feedback. We can help you with those things and so many more!

So who are we? It’s a bird! It’s a plane! Nope, just your regular CRC tutors.

If you’re a regular CRC-goer, you know that the CRC is a pretty great place, but if you haven’t come by to see us before, you may be wondering, what exactly is the CRC?

Funny you should ask.

CRC stands for Communication Resource Center, aka your friendly neighborhood tutoring center! We are a free peer tutoring service that offers help with papers, speeches, projects, and reading comprehension. We can help with any step along the way, too, from outlining and conceptualizing to polishing final drafts. And did we mention that it’s free? Because it is. It’s free.

The CRC is located in Brooks Hall, room 222, and we are open Monday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. (with the exception of a few hours here or there when our tutors are all in class–like we said, we’re students, too).

When you walk in the door, the atmosphere is both welcoming and relaxed. We are always working on a new puzzle and welcome anyone willing to help put it together. We also have candy, coffee, and tea! (Are you starting to wonder why you’ve never been by before? Maybe it’s time you considered visiting!)

While we do take walk-ins, we also recently started using an online system for making appointments prior to your visit! The new system is a way for us to help you more quickly and efficiently. In order to make an appointment, go to samford.mywconline.com. If you’re a first-timer, make an account real quick and then log in! We have 13 stellar tutors that you can choose from when making your appointment. Piece of cake.

If you are still skeptical about coming by, let us throw one more incentive your way. For the next month, we are having a gift card giveaway! Everyone who comes into the CRC during the month of March will be entered to win one of four Starbucks gift cards! Yes, you read that correctly. It’s that simple. There will be a drawing each week for the next four weeks (not including spring break). That means 4 weeks, 4 Starbucks cards, 4 winners. It’s really a no-brainer.

Make your appointment today, and come see us! Stay tuned for future blog posts introducing each of our tutors and offering tips that will help you survive the semester. We’re looking forward to meeting you and seeing you in the CRC. In the meantime, good luck with midterms. May the curve be ever in your favor.