It has now been a month since I began taking online classes full time through UMass Lowell. It has definitely been a unique experience and so far I have gained a lot through this experience even more so than what I have learned in class.

1. Time Management

Having good time management skills is one of the most common requirements you will see on a job description or class syllabus, and for good reason. It is so important. I will be the first to admit that it can be challenging, but it is a crucial skill to master. I am currently taking five online classes and it is so easy to push assignments off until the last minute. But when I have a paper, a couple discussions boards to post to, and a graded assignment due all on Sunday night at 11:59 pm, that last minute procrastination stress is not something I want to deal with. Take the time to plan out your work and do it well before the deadline and you will be thanking yourself later.

2. Communicate with Professors

This is a good rule of thumb for both college, online and on campus, and at a job. I found this to be especially challenging in the online atmosphere because of the lack of in person interaction. Yet, communication is a huge key to success. One of the first assignments I did online was a 20 question timed quiz and when I went to submit it, I had been kicked off Blackboard. When I went back on, all of my answers had been whipped out. And I had three minutes left on the quiz. I panicked and spent the next few minutes thinking I was going to fail the class. Once I took a deep breath, I emailed my professor and explained the situation. He was more than happy to fix it and let me retake the quiz with the full time allotted. Crisis averted. But whether it be with a job or in school, always take the time to communicate with your boss or professor.

3. Use your Agenda

I cannot tell you how many times my agenda has saved me, especially with online classes because there are no regular reminders about a lot of assignments. At the beginning of the semester I wrote down all of my assignments and exams for the next few months and it has paid off so well. There have been a couple times where I check my calendar and realize I have something small due later that night. It’s good practice to write down what needs to be done and it will definitely pay off.

Despite that I have only been taking online classes for a month, I would recommend them to anyone getting a degree. My professors have made it an enjoyable experience while still being very educational.

This post reflects the ideas of the author and she alone.

As finals week is coming to a close, it’s hard to think another semester has come and gone so quickly. Even though many of us, myself included, are still working hard to finish out our last finals, we need to all breathe a sigh of relief because winter break is coming!!

We are very lucky at UMass Lowell because our time off for Winter Break is over a month long. That means we will have a lot of free time that we’re not used to during the school year. In order to make the best of your winter break, take a look at a few of these suggestions…

1. Make a list of everything you want to accomplish over break

At the start of break, it may seem like you have all the time in the world (it is a WHOLE month after all), but with the holidays coming up and all the time spent sleeping in, those days go by fast. Making a list allows you to see the goals you want to accomplish, so you don’t come back to school feeling overwhelmed by things you didn’t do over break.

2. Make time for family and friends

This one may seem like a no brainer for some of us, but it can be tough with busy schedules to spend time with everyone you’d like to. Plan to get coffee with old friends or spend time doing some Christmas baking with family. Making plans at the start of break, or even before you come home, is your best bet so you can be sure to catch up with everyone on your list!

3. Sleep!!

One of the most rewarding part of break, especially after a particularly tough finals week, is being able to jump into bed and catch up on those long lost hours of sleep. After having an 8am two times a week, I am going to be thrilled to have a few extra hours of sleep every night!

Good luck on the rest of your finals, everyone!

Disclaimer: This post reflects the thoughts and ideas of the author and the author alone.

I have been preparing my move to North Carolina at the end of the semester and time has been flying by. Previously, my boyfriend and I had planned on holding a Co-Op position for the semester in NC to be closer to family. Well, our plans have changed. We decided to stop pursuing the Co-Op and instead restart our dog business, Puppy Pals Andover, that we had created while still in high school. I have been so excited about our choice because we had a fantastic time running our own business the first time around.

I have been eagerly setting up everything possible before we get down to NC. One of my biggest projects has been creating a website for our new company, Puppy Pals of Heritage. (The picture above is the heading for our website) Now, to be totally clear, I am not a computer person. That being said, designing a website has been  insanely fun. It took about two weeks, but I have finally finished and will be publishing very soon.

The reason I am sharing this is because I feel like the website will very much help our company with marketing and promoting ourselves. I think designing a website can be seen as expensive or even intimidating to create, but I have found it is much easier and cheaper than it may appear. It is definitely something to consider for anyone who owns a small business.

I think my website came out very clean and professional. It should be a great way to build business and help get word out for our company! When I publish my website, I’ll be sure to post the link to anyone who wants to check it out.

Disclaimer: This post represents the views of the author and the author alone.

Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. Who doesn’t love a holiday dedicated to eating, watching football, and spending time with friends and family? But as a college student I have grown to appreciate this special holiday even more for one reason: good food. As a commuter, 95% of the food I eat, I have to cook myself. I love cooking and I’ve enjoyed getting better at it, but I miss having someone to cook for me. That is why Thanksgiving is so great.

Right now, as I’m writing I’m thinking about how fantastic it will be to sit down at a beautifully made table with turkey, stuffing, goodies galore when all I had to do was show up. (In all fairness to myself, I did spend four hours yesterday baking desserts to bring to Thanksgiving dinner, but I was very excited to try a new Key Lime Cheesecake recipe, so it was fun work.) Then when the dinner is over and the kitchen is filled with leftovers, who get to go home with plates filled with turkey and apple pie? The college student that’s who! And with that the beauty of Thanksgiving lives on for the next week through turkey sandwiches and an assortment of homemade pies for every meal. Ah, it’s good to be a college student!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Disclaimer: This post reflects the thoughts of the author and is not meant to offend anyone mentioned or associated with the post.

I may have underestimated how busy I would be when I decided last spring to sign up for six classes for the fall semester (7 classes if you include the 1 credit Co-Op course). “It won’t be so bad!” I told myself as I submitted my class schedule, which was stacked with two honors courses and an 8am twice a week. To top it all off, I am in the process of searching for a six month Co-Op internship in North Carolina that I will start in January. In addition, I run a dog service business part-time with my boyfriend all while commuting to campus. Looking back I realize that I was a bit unprepared for just how much work I would be in for this semester.

Fortunately, I have learned a lot from my super busy semester. These are a few tips that have helped me along the way.

1. Make Lists

Lists have made my life astronomically simpler. I am a very visual person, so by making a list every week with my school work, things I need to do for my Co-Op search, and all outside events, it allows me to plan accordingly and ensure I get it all accomplished.

2. Remove Distractions

I could spend hours and hours on social media and doing random internet searches. I love to cook and I get lost in cooking blogs and finding the best recipes. That being said, it can be a huge waste of time. One of the best things I’ve done is put my phone in another room while I’m studying and using some good old fashioned self control to stop myself from opening Facebook in a new tab while writing that World Civ. paper.

3. Manage and Plan your Time

College students are typically swamped with things to do. Between school work, jobs, sports, clubs, and everything else we have going on, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.   I have found the best way to manage my time efficiently is to plan out each day, with what I want to accomplish, and then prioritize each thing that I need to do.

4. Set Aside Time to Relax

It is very important to find time to decompress and enjoy college. Even taking a night off can make a huge difference. One of the most rewarding things is getting to have a Netflix marathon after a busy week.