Month: June 2018

Choosing a university is not an easy thing to do. Why is that? Because you may feel unsure about it. You may think that maybe you don’t want to go through the university circle, and the very next second, it doesn’t sound like a bad idea after all. It feels like the Wizard of Oz right?

Well, it is normal to feel that way before making this kind of decision. Many students say that their first big decision in life was the one regarding the university. But how do you know if it is the right one for you?

The Yellow Brick Road

Since I brought “The Wizard of Oz” into the discussion, let’s make an analogy that may help us understand how choosing a university can really feel like.

The road to the university is quite similar to the yellow brick road that Dorothy walks on. You don’t really know anything about where you will end up at the end of the journey. However, if you started walking down this road, you already made a decision about your academic future.

The Scarecrow

In the novel, Dorothy first encounters a scarecrow that tells her that he wants a brain. In our case though, the scarecrow would express our indecision. It’s normal to feel a bit insecure when walking along this path because you go into the unknown.

Human beings are naturally nervous when going through something that they don’t know anything about. You might not know if you can cope with this situation, or if you will choose the right specialization.

Anyway, if you ever feel unsure about these things, you should try and trust your gut. Have faith in your power of choice. Also, if you feel obliged to go to the university when your heart tells you that your place is not there, then follow your instincts.

The Cowardly Lion

The Cowardly Lion symbolizes your fear. This feeling is tightly bounded by your insecurity and lack of self-trust. Don’t let these feelings prevent you from going on with your decision though. If you decided that you want to go to the university, then you will have to get past this phase.

Don’t forget that, even the Cowardly Lion found its courage in the end and killed the giant spider, becoming the king of the animals. Therefore, if you really feel like this character, then be the Cowardly Lion from the end of the novel.

The Tin Woodman

Another character that the protagonist of The Wizard of Oz meets on her journey is the Tin Woodman. If the scarecrow wanted a brain and the cowardly lion wanted courage, the Tin Woodman is asking for a heart.

I believe that the Tin Woodman may symbolize your indecision of going to the university. It is ok if you don’t want to do so. After all, it’s your future we are talking about here. Only you and you alone have the power to decide whether you want to take this path or not.

Another thing that the tin woodman may stand for is the change of heart that you may have during the university. This happens if you discover during the academic year that you chose the wrong university. In this case, you can ask for a transfer.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, choosing a university can really make you feel like Dorothy in the novel “The Wizard of Oz” because her journey is similar to yours. In any case, it’s safe to try and do a research about your potential universities before making any decisions. And last but not least, don’t forget to trust yourself.

We all like to say that we can manage our own time, that we don’t need a computer o an app to remind us of what we have to do. Yet, at the same time, we all seem to either forget or “conveniently postpone” an activity until we are forced to pull an all-nighter.

In these scenarios, you might want to put a stop to your pride and use a few useful time management apps to keep track of your time. This way, the projects will no longer pile up, and you’ll be able to enjoy free time while you are also being productive

Evernote

Regardless of where you look for apps, Evernote will always be the first to show up. This app will allow you to gather your thoughts, notes, and ideas all in one place – and you may connect them through multiple devices.

This way, if you forget your tablet at home one day or don’t have your computer on you, you may access the notes from your phone. Plus, you may also check all of your assignments in, their due dates, and a work plan – all of which can be accessed with just one click.

Focus Booster

The purpose of Focus Booster is to take up the bigger tasks and break it down into smaller chunks while also leaving time for breaks. It’s known as the “digital Pomodoro timer,” and it works based on the Pomodoro method – one which says for every 25 minutes of work, you need a 5-minute break.

Plus, after 4 Pomodoro cycles, you will also get a 20-minute break for your brain to regain its focus. Once the cycle is done, you may return to the task that you have noted into the app.

Listastic

Do you tend to make a lot of lists? If so, Listastic is very much up your alley. This app functions pretty much like a digital to-do list, reminding you of things that you need to do on a particular day.

Regardless if you need a reminder of the groceries or the names of the books that you have to get, this app can help you keep track.

Super Notes

SuperNotes is an Apple app that allows you to save images, recording, notes, and even more. This way, you will not have to write every single thing you hear in class. You can simply record your professor as they are talking, or you can take pictures of the important slides without losing precious time.

Plus, it also has a fun interface that makes note-taking entertaining. Everything is color-coded, so it will be very easy for you to organize your calendar and your lectures into categories.

Remember the Milk

It may have a funny name, but this app is known as the Swiss army knifeof time management apps. You may access your lists from your phone, your tablet, your computer – anything that has the app installed on it.

You can also add entries from your email, and it makes it very easy for people to add to the list while they are on the moo-ve (sorry-not-that-sorry).

Do

Any.Do is another versatile app that allows you to manage your time the way you want it. It has everything from to-do lists to reminders, notes, and calendars if events where you can see your deadlines.

Like any other time management app from this list, you may transfer the data across devices – so you’re not only stuck to your phone or laptop if you want to check your schedule.

In the end, what you’ll need to follow a schedule is determination – and a fair amount of willpower. If you give in to procrastination, even the best time management app won’t be able to help you.