Students blog

Explore the latest trends, tips, and experiences in college life in this blog written by fellow students.

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  • Two college women are standing outside with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them.

    Three Things I Wish I’d Known as a Freshman

    Laura Avellaneda

    Now that I have graduated, I’ve been reflecting a lot recently on my college experience. I’ve realized that there are three things I wish I knew as a freshman that would’ve made my college experience much easier!

    1. Don’t be afraid to take risks

    College can be an intimidating place, especially as a freshman going to a big school! Don’t be afraid to take risks or try new things because of what other people might think; this is the perfect environment to do it in. This could mean joining a new club, trying a new sport, taking a difficult class, going to a social event, and more. For all you know, it could lead to you meeting your best friends or finding a new hobby! This is an awesome opportunity to learn more about yourself and what you like and don’t like.

    2. Everything will work out in the end

    Although it won’t always seem like it, most of the time everything always works out in the end! As a freshman, it can be so stressful and overwhelming when you don’t get the class you want or you aren’t able to become roommates with your friends. But what if it leads to you taking a different class that you love or you becoming best friends with your roommates that you’ve never met? It’s easy to get stuck on something when one bad thing happens, but living with the mindset that everything happens for a reason and that it will all work out can be super helpful. Stress is inevitable but understanding this can make college a little less stressful!

    3. Reach for help when you need it

    Everyone will experience highs and lows in college, especially in their freshman year. Sometimes, it might seem like you’re having a lot of lows, but when this happens it’s important to reach out for help so you can feel less lonely. This could mean reaching out to friends and family and letting them know you’re struggling, going to therapy on campus, or asking for help in classes. College is already hard enough, but having a close circle of people you can rely on when you need it can significantly improve your experience!

    If you’re just getting started in your college career, take my advice to ease your way into this experience. Be prepared to take risks, keep an open mind, and seek support when you inevitably face challenges.

    Do you have a compelling story or student success tips you’d like to see published on the Pearson Students blog?  If you are a college student and interested in writing for us – click here to pitch your idea and get started! 

  • A calculator and an iPad on a desk. The iPad screen shows a math problem in the MyLab Math platform.

    How to Get the MOST out of Pearson’s MyLab Math

    Laura Avellaneda

    After three semesters of using MyLab Math, I consider myself an expert in using it to its full capacity! While many students just know MyLab Math as a tool their professor uses to assign them homework, MyLab provides an abundance of resources that help students to truly master their material.

    Ever stuck on a difficult math problem?

    Math classes can be hard in college, especially if you’re a STEM major! It is common to get stuck on a problem and need some help to solve it. When using MyLab, the first thing you can do is click on the Question Help drop-down in the top right corner which gives you a variety of options to work through the problem and answer it correctly. The ‘Help Me Solve This’ feature will walk you through the exact problem you’re working on step-by-step. MyLab will explain the concept for each step and there will be a few fill-in-the-blanks as you work it out. Once you’ve solved the problem and have the correct answer, MyLab will change the original question on your homework for you to answer! If you don’t think you’ve mastered the concept you can use the ‘View an Example’ feature to see another problem worked out step-by-step.

    Feel like you need more practice?

    If you have a quiz or exam coming, up the best thing you can do to study is practice problems! The Study Plan feature on MyLab Math gives you recommended practice questions and quizzes based on what you need help with the most. Your personalized study plan comes directly from your homework, quizzes, and test performance, so it’s the best tool to get some extra practice in! You can also view hundreds of practice questions under the ‘All Chapters’ tab to practice other concepts.

    Would you prefer a video explanation for solving a problem?

    As a visual learner, the Multimedia Library was super helpful for me to see and hear someone explain a difficult problem step-by-step. Within this resource, you can filter down the chapters and sections to find exactly the practice problems you’re looking for. Not only do they have hundreds of two to four-minute videos explaining practice problems, but they also have videos introducing concepts or entire lectures!

    Next time you’re in a class using MyLab Math, be sure to utilize all of these tools to succeed in your course! MyLab is so much more than just a homework platform – it helps to make learning easy!

    Do you have a compelling story or student success tips you’d like to see published on the Pearson Students blog? If you are a college student and interested in writing for us – click here to pitch your idea and get started!