Secrets to surviving university or college

Ever wonder how your valedictorian keeps up with their assignments, club activities and maybe even work? Here are some secrets to surviving university that you may not have known about. It doesn’t matter if you are currently facing your first semester or a final year student, use these tools to achieve efficiency and reduce the amount of sleepless nights.

1. Using citation helpers

Citation Plugins

Citation plugins or websites such as citethisforme is an easy way to cite your assignments. However they do have a limit of 15 citations per page for the free version. To overcome it, you may simply just copy and paste the bibliography in another document and create a new citation in the citethisforme page to refresh your 15 citation quota.

Google Scholar

Google scholar is a search engine dedicated to finding journal articles or scholarly literature. It also has a citation feature in the form of a button in the shape of a quotation mark where you are able to copy the citation. This button is located at the bottom of each search result. 

2. Using Sci Hub

Ever find the perfect article but you do not have access to view it? Sci-hub is a website that provides public access to any journals or research papers. This website will help any struggling student who is faced with articles that cannot be accessed. You only need to input the journal URL or the DOI into the Sci-hub search bar to get free access to your articles.

3. Note taking tools

Microsoft Word shortcut

Taking notes during classes will not be so boring anymore with these new hacks. Tired of typing down everything the lecturer says? Just tap on the control button twice on your MacBook or Windows + H for windows users in Microsoft word. This will enable your computer to automatically type what it hears. 

Note Taking App

Notion is a productivity software that has a highly customisable note taking tool to make your notes more organised. You can also create your own to do lists and calendars and share the pages with your friends. If you prefer to write or sketch out your ideas on pen and paper, here are some unique school supplies to not only look aesthetic, but to also be more productive.

4. Noise cancelling earphones

Noise cancelling earphones are a must have to reduce distractions especially during these times where you have to balance your studies and family time in the same place. Music has been known to boost concentration levels and it may help to give you that extra boost to keep working on your assignment for a few more hours that you would usually have. 

5. Listen to your lecturer

Yes it may be the most obvious thing to do, but you would be surprised with the percentage of people who do not actually do this. Throughout the lesson, lecturers may give valuable information or tips in order to do your assignment right. So during class, it is always important to listen to ace your way through college. 

What are some of the other important things you have done that got you through university? Comment down below! Follow @jrsharing for more content like this