Invest in good noise canceling headphones – good for blocking out noisy areas when studying!
Get 8 hours of sleep each night – sleep is so essential for retaining energy and a clear headspace
Utilize a planning system that works for you – whether it be paper or digital, finding a planning system that works for you helps you stay on track
Take short breaks during your day – make sure to get some fresh air and movement throughout the day! Breaks are equally as important as work blocks
Prepare your things the night before – having everything ready the night before relieves morning stress!
Put your phone on do not disturb during the day – don’t let your phone become a distraction
Begin and end your day without screens – I love doing this to help me wake up and wind down.
Break down your assignments into smaller tasks – If you’re finding yourself overwhelmed by your assignments try breaking them down into smaller tasks
Get your hardest work completed first – Eat the frog! Once you get the hardest things out of the way, it only gets easier
Set up a routine / schedule that incorporates time for all aspects of your life (academics, personal time, exercise, etc.) – Possibly the most important thing to do in college! Finding time for everything can be daunting and overwhelming, but making sure you’re not focusing too much on one aspect of your life and taking the time to explore your interests to get the most out of your college experience!
This past month I’ve had the opportunity to learn more about the Institute for Integrative Conservation through my Conservation Biology class! If you’re looking for more research opportunities, try checking out the Institute for Integrative Conservation (IIC). The Institute for Integrative Conservation here at William & Mary connects students with research opportunities that solve real world conservation problems! They have three main ways to get involved: a GIS semester project, semester project, and year long project. Projects are highly interdisciplinary making it a good fit for any major.
You don’t need to be a conservation major to get involved. Many projects include aspects of chemistry, biology, and business. Doing research projects within the IIC can be a good way to learn more about human interaction with the environment and how to prevent and find solutions to both community and global scale conservation issues.
Students are paired with partners to create, develop, and carry out research projects in order to implement solutions.
If conservation is something you are passionate about or interested in learning more about, check out the IIC for both research and other opportunities.
Creating a study schedule is so helpful for reducing procrastination leading up to exams. Having a set time to study, exercise, go to class, eat, and spend time with others / self time will make sure you’re balancing your time effectively. Here are some study schedules that might be useful for creating your own:
3 hour study schedule
8:00 – 9:00: get ready for the day, daily planning, breakfast
9:00 – 10:00: study block 1
10:00 – 11:00: break, exercise, extracurriculars
11:00 – 12:00: lunch
12:30 – 2:00 – class
2:00 – 3:00 – break
3:00 – 5:00 – study block 2
5:30 – 6:30 – dinner
6:30 – 9:00 – clubs, extracurriculars, work
9:30 – 11:00 – self time and get ready for bed
5 hour study schedule
7 – 8:30: quiet time, getting ready, reading, breakfast
8:30 – 9:00: plan your day 9:00 – 10:00: class
10:00 – 11:00: exercise
11:00 – 11:30: lunch
11:30 – 1:00: study block 1 – hardest tasks
1:00 – 2:00: class
2:00 – 3:00: break
3:00 – 5:00: study block 2
5:00 – 6:30: class
6:30 – 7:00: dinner
7:00 – 8:30: study block 3 – review and any smaller tasks
8:30 – 11:00: self time, get ready for bed
7 hour study schedule
7:00 – 8:00: get ready for the day, daily planning
You have a couple homework assignments to complete, but end up cleaning your room instead. We’ve all been there! Procrastination productivity starts to make an appearance around this time when midterm exams are just around the corner. While studying is probably the most productive use of your time, if you’re looking for a break or looking to swap scrolling on your phone for something more productive, check out this list for 25 productive things to do when bored.
Congratulations! Have you reached the credit limit or decided what major you’d like to pursue? Here’s a brief guide to declaring your major:
1. Decide your area of study
Do you want to declare a major, double major, major + minor? In what area would you like to study? You probably already have an idea of what you want to major in, but if still unsure try using degree works to see the specific requirements for majors you’re interested in. Degreeworks will tell you what classes you will need to take for your intended major/minor. This will be especially helpful later on for making a rough schedule of when you’ll take each required course. Also note that some majors have other requirements (ex. Business majors must apply to the Mason School of Business)
2. Complete the Declaration of Major Form This form will be what you submit to the University Registrar for official approval and declaration. On the form there’s a section to list required courses for your intended major and list when you will complete them / when you completed them. (This is where degree works comes in handy!) You must meet with your major advisor before submitting this form, but it’s a good idea to fill it out before meeting with them to fully understand the requirements you’ll need to complete.
3. Find and meet with your major advisor
Your major advisor must be in the academic discipline you intend to major in. Try making a list of professors you’ve taken a class with and/or have a good relationship with. For instance, my major advisor is also the professor I’m doing research with! After asking and settling on a major advisor, meet with them to discuss your future plans and complete the declaration of major form.
More info on major advisors: https://www.wm.edu/as/undergraduate/major/bor-major-advisors/ More information on declaring your major:
The time after move-in or breaks can be challenging to enter or re-enter the busy schedules and demands of college. For some it might be a needed refresh from spending time at home, but for others it can lead to homesickness. Here are three ways to help minimize feelings of homesickness and isolation:
Get involved on campus
The best thing to do to overcome homesickness is getting involved. Push yourself to meet new people, make new friends, and try new things! Clubs are a great way to participate in things you enjoy while also gaining new experiences.
Decorate your room with things from home
Having things in your space to remind you of home that can make you feel more comfortable in your new environment.
Call friends and family from home
Occasionally check in with your loved ones. Remember that those from home are just a call away!
In most cases after the first couple days to weeks, feelings of homesickness tend to go away. Surrounding yourself with new friends while also intermittently catching up with loved ones is a great way to overcome homesickness.
Did you know that William & Mary is the number one public university for internships? There are so many opportunities for professional development within the university, but also outside and beyond your years in school.
Internships
Internships are great ways to obtain work experience while strengthening your resume and skills!Paid, unpaid, short, long, in-person, virtual, internships are extremely variable which makes it easy to find an opportunity that interests you. While internships can be either paid or unpaid, and some internships can even be used for academic credit!
Externships are a shorter opportunity that can help you get a bearing of how a professional organization operates. William & Mary offers opportunities for job shadowing 1-2 days in a variety of approved organizations. Some externships include opportunities in federal government, judicial, non-profit, public defender, private practice, and more organizations.
Funding for Unpaid and Underfunded Student Experiences, also known as F.U.S.E. patterns with donors to offer funding for unpaid and underfunded internships. All opportunities through F.U.S.E cover food, housing, and transportation for students working a certain number of hours depending on the semester. There are certain requirements needed for F.U.S.E, so if you’re interested, please check out the information below!
Research is for all majors at William & Mary. Reaching out to professors that are currently conducting research is a great way to begin gaining experience to add to your resume as an undergraduate.
If you’re currently a student at William & Mary, you’ve probably received an email from Tribe Careers before. Tribe Careers is a one stop shop for professional development opportunities. Find a career explorer, interest finder, add your resume, check out upcoming events, and apply for jobs!
The Cohen Career Center is home to career development and professional engagement. Find quick help with resumes, practice job interviews, and various events to help boost your career before graduation.
While this blog post doesn’t cover the vast number of opportunities that William & Mary has to offer, consider taking advantage of the many resources available!
Welcome to the Tribe! I am so excited that you are coming to join our wonderful community here at William & Mary. It seems like just yesterday I received my acceptance letter, and now I am finishing up my studies. As a graduating senior, it is my due diligence to impart some wisdom onto you. The first thing that comes to mind is to acknowledge that school work is of the utmost importance, but never let it close you off. During my first few semesters, I found myself saying no to things because of my schoolwork. I was shutting myself off for the sake of my studies. You should not do that. Schoolwork will be done, you are so intelligent, I mean you got into William & Mary. Enjoy the little moments, stay up a tad too late and laugh with your friends. At the end of the day, all will be well. Suddenly you’ll blink and you’ll be a senior wishing you could go back and have more of those silly small moments that mean the world. The people here are so kind, so get to know them. Say hi to the person sitting next to you in class, they may become one of your best friends. It worked for me! I was in the hardest class I had taken thus far and it bonded me with my classmate who has now become a sister to me. Instead of that hard work causing me to be unsociable, it led me to someone I could not imagine spending my time here without. College will be hard, it will be an adjustment. But you are so strong and can do it. Pushing through is so worth it. There are so many joys that I have from my time here, and I cannot wait to see what wonderful things you will do and the amazing memories you will make. Roll Tribe!
Finals officially begin next week! While studying takes up a majority of students’ time in these next two weeks, it’s important to remind ourselves to stay well during this time of stress. Having a toolbox of resources to assist with physical, emotional, and academic and wellness during finals can be helpful! Here are a few things, both material and conceptual, to add to your DIY self care kit for finals week!
Reusable water bottle – keeping a water bottle with you while studying helps maintain hydration which increases energy levels!
Journal – keeping a journal, notebook, or even a sticky note to write down anything that comes to mind helps minimize distractions and express your feelings
A good playlist – for study breaks or even studying itself! Something enjoyable like music can put you in a good mood for the day!
Snacks – don’t forget to fuel for studying! Find some snacks from around campus that you can eat while studying!
Comfortable clothes – being comfortable while studying will further minimize distractions
Blanket – If your room gets cold, try having a blanket on hand
Free campus events – keep an eye out for free campus events that can act as a fun study break! You might even be able to score some free food!
Study timetable – knowing your schedule for the day/week will keep you on track by knowing what to do and when!
Essential oils – if you enjoy calming scents like lavender, try utilizing essential oils!
Coffee and tea station – the coffee and tea stations in Caf and Swem are great for a quick and easy study beverage
Set breaks – giving yourself time to do other things like hang out with friends, take a walk, sleep, read, etc. is one of the best ways to decompress
Romanticizing studying and having a variety of resources you can use during finals helps minimize distractions which will keep you energized and focused! Best of luck everyone!
One of William & Mary’s most beloved traditions is the Yule Log Celebration. The Yule Log Celebration is a long lived tradition for expressing gratitude for the past and present while also welcoming new beginnings going into the new year. It also stands as a way to bring the William & Mary community together to celebrate the joy of the season.
Occurring annually around the end of the fall semester, this celebration in the Wren Courtyard spreads holiday cheer with students, staff, faculty, and alumni across the world. With festive music, singing, poems, and stories, the William & Mary community celebrates the end of a semester and reflects upon the themes of peace, joy, and gratitude. The Yule Log is carried through the crowd into the Wren Building to be lit for a fire. Students have the opportunity to toss sprigs of holly into the Great Hall fireplace for good luck as well as decorate the trees around the Wren Building with messages of gratitude on paper doves to share appreciation for the past and present. After, cider and cookies are shared among participants.
