Book Review: Learning Outside the Lines

   Learning Outside the Lines may be a book meant for college students with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) but can be applied to any student who wants to be successful in college. It's a great guide for those who have been recently diagnosed with any learning disorder and how to navigate your way through the college life frenziness.
  The second section of the book is where I concentrated on reading the most. The authors guide you through note-taking, class discussions, writing papers, and doing well on exams. The book is very realistic since the authors wrote the book based on their experiences at Brown University. The book is set up for quick and easy reading with lots of bullet points for those of us that want to get what we need out of it and move on. Yes, built for short attention spans!
  I learned that I was making my system far more complex than it should be. Color-coding is a definite must and it will take some trial and error to figure our what works and what doesn't. I find a few simple steps will save a lot of time. Digging into the syllabus of your class is a must and so is better time management. I take each class syllabus that first day and plug in all the major tests and assignments into my calendar. If you are paper-based, use pencil. If you are computer-based, it will be easy to add and delete as you go along. I use paper-based in class because I don't always have my electronics on me to toss it into my Google+ calendar. I set aside time each day to add to the computer what is written on the paper-based calendar. Then I look at the upcoming month, estimate how long it will take for me to study and complete major assignments and I will schedule tasks that lead to the completion of each assignment. I also throw in an extra day on major assignments that allows for room to breath if I have a Murphy's Law day in which nothing is going right. I have been using my system since Spring semester and it was far more successful than the previous semester!
  Look this book up in your local library or head to your favorite bookstore and pick it up. Well worth the time and money invested!

Surviving the Job Market with a Liberal Arts Degree

The push for more colleges to turn out more graduates in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) majors has created somewhat of a push back from those in Liberal Arts and Business Majors. People are generally worried that our country will lose it’s cultural identity (think writing, history, music, art) to students who want to guarantee a place in the job market through STEM.

  I really believe that the worry is over exaggerated. Most of the students that attend school with me and major in STEM areas are very well-versed and well-rounded, academically speaking. Still, many liberal arts and business students have fears about taking STEM classes. I will list a few possibilities on why you should dual major or minor in a STEM program with your liberal arts or business degree. Here are the trends in the job market and what kind of classes will give you an edge:

§  Elementary Education. The biggest complaint with those who receive an elementary education certificate/degree is that they usually have a concentration in English or History. Why not have a concentration in Sciences or Math? These concentrations are highly valued as public schools push to reform how content is delivered. Biology and Chemistry based classes require a minimal Math level of Algebra II.

§  Green businesses. The growth in this field has been phenomenal with the realization of climate change impacts and a push for alternative energy, there could not be a better time to be in this exciting field. This is great for business majors who want an edge. Most of the classes you will need are Ecology based and require a minimal Math level of Algebra II.

§  Social Media Marketing. This is a great area to get into for the English majors. Companies want high level communicators to drive and develop their marketing strategies. Why not pick up a few Web Design classes as well?

§  Medical and Engineering Journalism. There is always a demand for technical writers. Especially writers with a heavy science background. Why? You have to be able to take highly technical material and make it easier for the rest of us to understand. If you want to write about medicine, take Biology classes and Medical Terminology. If you want to write about the latest and greatest in technology, a few technology based classes would not hurt. There is generally more Math involved but not as much as the standard engineering class. And you can save money by taking these classes through your community college.

§  Web Design. This is a good area for Art majors. People who major in Art have an eye for layout, color, and theme. It also allows them to be creative. All it would require are classes in JavaScript and other web-based programs.

§  Geology careers.  History majors would fare well in this area. Why not study the History of the Earth? Classes like Historical Geology and Physical Geology can round out a History degree. If you would like an Earth Science based background, you will have to take Calculus I and II. But how cool would it be to be able to call yourself a PaleoClimatologist? And guess what? You still have to write a lot, something you had to do in your sleep as a college History major.

 These are only a few career options that you can choose from. Why stick with meat and potatoes learning and step out of the box? You don’t have to major in STEM to fill some of the most important and much needed career openings available. Who knows? You may find a job that you really love!