Students blog

How am I going to prepare for finals week? Where will I be traveling this summer? Do I have a summer internship or full time offer yet? These questions are just some of the few that run through students’ heads during the Spring semester. Towards the end of April and May are some of the most stressful times that can occur for students.

One other important question students ask, that often gets overlooked, is: what are my plans for moving out? This is a very important aspect of the end of the semester, as you do not want to leave behind anything important or delay this process. It is a difficult process to start and can often be very exhausting to do so.

Personally, I believe that there are three important phases in the moveout process. Here is a step by step checklist for each phase that can help students ensure that the process goes as smoothly as possible!

Prep

Before you can start moving and putting away our clothes, shoes, tv, and other important items, you need to have a game plan set in place. The first step in this phase is determining when and what time you need to move out. Every college has a set move out date and time for their residents, and often can provide containers to help students move out their belongings. However, students that own a lease can decide what day and time works best for them as long as it is before the lease ends.

Once that is figured out, the next step is to come up with a plan of action. Figuring out what needs to be put away first that is not being used and understanding what can be put away on the last day is important to know. Also knowing what goes in each bag, suitcase, and box and labeling said boxes is going to be important. Last step in the prep phase is getting any materials, if needed. This can include extra boxes, a U-Haul truck, or extra hands to help you move.

Now that we move prepped our moving process, let’s move on to the next phase.

Pack and Load

Your extensive planning in the previous phase will make this step much more manageable. First, pack and organizing your belongings. By the end of this step, everything should be put away and grouped together by whatever category you have picked.

The next step is to throw away any unnecessary belongings and junk. This will make it easy to clean and have more space in the long run. The final step in this phase is loading your belongings. This can either be in your vehicle or in a U-Haul truck, depending on the size of your belongings.

Believe it or not, there is one more phase left in the moving out process.

Departure

It’s time to double check your packing and start saying your goodbyes. Make one last round inside your dorm, apartment, house, etc. to make sure you are not forgetting anything. Next, make sure to clean your old place according to the specifications stated in your lease or housing contract. Make arrangements to turn in your keys and sign any required paperwork. Lastly, this step is optional but make sure to let neighbors, friends, etc. know that you are officially leaving and potentially provide a way to contact you!

Following these phases and associated steps will help you turn the monumental task of moving into a smooth process! Remember to change your address ahead of time and potentially rent out a storage unit if need be. Good luck with you moveout!

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College is a time where one leaves home for the first time to pursue an education in their respective major. It is a time where one learns how to balance their schedules appropriately. College is a time where one cultivates and fosters new friendships and relationships that last a lifetime. These aspects are often highlighted and are expectations of many young adults when entering college for their first time. However, there are other aspects that can be overlooked. Often, students do not discuss how to appropriately deal with stress or social anxiety, both of which may be overbearing to even the biggest achievers. Many college students struggle daily to manage their mental health and stress. In fact, according to the American Psychological Association, 61 percent of college students nationally report dealing with anxiety and 45% struggle with stress related issues. In this blog, we will discuss ways to reduce stress and improve mental health.

What is stress?

There are three main types of stress that occur: Acute, Episodic Acute, and Chronic Acute stress. Acute stress is characterized as stress that comes unexpectedly because of an event, but it often goes away quickly. An example would be a test is coming up that you are not prepared for, or an argument you had recently with someone. Episodic acute stress is recurring stress that occurs in a pattern and is occupied by worry of what is happening to and around you. This can be because of a lack of a support system resulting from moving away from friends and family or from over-committing yourself to too many responsibilities and obligations. Lastly, chronic acute stress is where you experience stress that is never ending and slowly wears you out. This is considered one of the more dangerous types of stress, as it can even affect your physical health and potentially lead to depression.

How do you handle it? 

Although acute stress happens more frequently, it is also the easiest one to combat. Being able to implement strong time management skills is ideal, as it is proactive to this cause of stress. Other techniques would be implementing breathing techniques, good dieting habits, and cognitive reframing. A lot of on campus gyms offer stress release classes and are often free throughout the year, which can be helpful for dealing with this type of stress. As for episodic acute stress, one tactic to use in dealing with this type of stress is to physically write out every deadline and prioritize what needs to be done. Another method is to join a club or campus organization to make some friends and build a solid support group that you can lean on. Many schools offer organization fairs at the beginning of each semester to help connect students with campus clubs. Lastly, for cases of chronic acute stress it is best to reach out to a professional that is better equipped to help in this situation. Many campuses have their own separate department to deal with cases like these. Reach out, as those staff members are best equipped to help you.

In conclusion, these are some of the types of stresses that college students can experience and how to go about dealing with them. Stress is inevitable; however one should be aware of the strategies and resources for how to deal with them in order to have a great semester! 

Winerman, Lea. “By the Numbers: Stress on Campus.” Monitor on Psychology, American Psychological Association, Aug. 2017, www.apa.org/monitor/2017/09/numbers.

Writers, Staff. “Student Stress & Anxiety Guide.” LearnPsychology.org, LearnPsychology.org, 1 July 2019, www.learnpsychology.org/student-stress-anxiety-guide/.

“Types of Stress & Effects on Health – Acute, Episodic & Chronic Stress.” Neurocore, 13 Apr. 2018, www.neurocorecenters.com/blog/understanding-your-stress-type-how-to-manage-it.

It goes without saying that the job market today is extremely tough. There are many talented individuals that are all qualified for whatever role that you may also be applying for after college. After all, everyone that is applying for a position will possess the basic requirements that the posting requires. However, one particular saying that has held its worth over time is, “It is not about what you know, but rather who you know.”

Since many job postings have thousands of applicants, it is important that recruiters know who you are in order to set yourself apart from the crowd. Networking at career fairs is a great opportunity to do exactly that. This can result in gaining new insights to job postings, building special connections that carry great worth, and potentially even getting a job. With that being said, it is important to put your best foot forward. Here are three important aspects that you should cover in order to be prepared for your upcoming career fair. 

Before the Event: Plan Ahead

One of the most important steps that you should take ahead of the event is to research the companies that will be present. From there, prioritize the top five or ten companies that you want to talk to specifically. Those companies should be appealing in terms of: nature of the business, location, culture, and potential job openings. Next, research the proper attire. Since it is the first time you will be meeting with recruiters, it is strongly encouraged to wear business professional attire in order to set a great first impression. Details of the event’s attire will be located on the career fair flier or at the career services office typically. Finally, make sure to print multiple copies of your resume to give out at the event. 

During the Event: Talk Yourself Up

Be ready to market yourself to recruiters. You get about five to ten minutes, so it is important to talk with a purpose. To do that, you should consider creating an elevator pitch, a short introduction in which you quickly tell someone about your educational and career background, skills you possess, and career aspirations. There are plenty of websites that give basic templates to help you plan what to say. Your campus career services office probably has resources to help you develop and improve your pitch. After giving your pitch to a recruiter, be ready to answer any questions the recruiter may have. It is key that you communicate clearly and be straightforward about what you want, whether that be expanding your network or learning more about a specific program. To end the interaction, make sure to thank the employer, ask for their business card, hand them your resume, and give them a firm handshake and smile.

After the Event: Follow-Up

Although you might have left the career fair, you are not quite done yet. The last step that you need to do is follow up with every recruiter you spoke to. Connect with them on LinkedIn. Include a note in your connection invitation to make it more personal. If you were able to get their business card, send an email to follow up and thank them for their time. This will be crucial when applying to jobs or internships at their company, as you can now potentially use them as a reference on the application which will greatly improve your chances. Make sure to periodically check in with the recruiter, ask if you can meet with them if they are local or if they are going to be on campus again soon. This will create rapport and make you more memorable for future offerings.

In conclusion, this is the general checklist that you should follow for before, during, and after a campus career fair in order to put your best foot forward and improve your chances in landing an interview. I hope you all utilize these tips in order to be successful in your upcoming career fair.