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Life Skills Main • Intellectual Growth • Social Awareness • Physical Well-Being

• Academics
  • Improving Personal Academics
  • Improving Chapter Academics
• Managing Your Credit
  • The High Cost of Credit
  • Using Credit Wisely
  • Your Credit History and Why It Matters
• Time Management
  • The Basics of Time Management
  • 22 Tips for Better Time Management

Classes & Lectures

• Attend all classes.
• Average two hours of quality study time per hour in class.
• Complete assignments before class. Proofread and review your work before handing it in.
• Complete recommended readings before class. You will take better notes when you know more about the topic.
• Exchange eMail addresses and telephone numbers with at least two other students in each class.
• Practice presentations before giving them in class.
• Read each course's syllabus and use it for planning the academic term. Keep each syllabus in an easily accessible place for reference.
• Seek out new readings and/or research projects related to your courses. Seek real world experiences to supplement your learning.
• Sit near the front of the classroom and participate in discussions.
• Spend 10 minutes before each class or lecture reviewing your notes from the previous session. Then, take 10 minutes after each class "fixing up" and reviewing the notes just taken
• Take detailed notes in class and when reading. List questions you have and follow up by consulting with peers, professors, or on your own.
• Volunteer without being called upon.
• Set a goal of achieving your very best in each class.

Exams

• When studying, recall what you have learned. Organize your notes for revision. Practice responding to potential questions on the exam.
• Make brief outline notes before answering essay questions.
• Pay attention to information in questions that may help in other parts of the exam.
• Pay attention to question wording and to directions, both written and oral. Follow directions explicitly.
• Pause periodically for intensive thinking.
• Reread answers before leaving the examination room to ensure accuracy.
• Review periodically for exams during the term, rather than cram before. Begin test reviews at least one week prior. Review notes intensively several nights before the exam and use the night before to go over concepts with which you're less familiar.
• Skim the entire exam before answering. Plan your time according to the difficulty and value of each item. Answer easy questions first, and then do the more difficult questions.

Managing Stress

• Boost your confidence level by preparing well for exams.
• Breathe. Ten deep, abdominal breaths will help release tension and enhance your focus when studying or exam-taking.
• Do not waste time agonizing about a project or work; plan the steps needed to complete the task, and get it done.
• Do not cut class unless you are seriously ill. Other student's notes are not sufficient to ensure your understanding of the course material.
• Exercise. It will keep you healthy, increase stamina, and help rid stress and worry.
• Extracurricular and social activities are an important part of the college experience, but not at the expense of your studies. Do everything in moderation.
• Eat nutritiously, avoiding junk food. Eating better helps one feel better. Fruits, vegetables, and vitamins will boost your immune system and help you avoid getting run down and ill.
• Laugh and have a sense of humor. It will help you relax.
• Limit alcohol consumption. Alcohol limits concentration and lessens your likelihood of sleeping well.

Physical Energy Management Strategies

• Do at least two cardiovascular interval workouts and two strength-training workouts a week.
• Drink 48 to 64 ounces of water daily.
• Eat breakfast daily. Eat a balanced, healthy diet.
• Eat five to six small meals daily.
• Get some physical activity daily.
• Go to bed early and wake up early.
• Go to sleep and wake up consistently at the same times.
• Minimize simple sugars.
• Take breaks every 90 minutes during work.
• Think positively.

Note Taking

• Be thorough. Write down the date and topic of each class or lecture, numbering each page.
• Use your favorite types of pens and paper.
• Following the lecture outline, structure your notes. Look for the overview, main points, examples, and conclusion.
• If you are dyslexic, or have visual or hearing difficulties, tell your lecturers. They can provide lecture notes beforehand to study and will accommodate by not blocking your view or talking with their back toward you.
• If you miss dates, words, or overheads in class, speak up. Ask the lecturer to reiterate.
• Keep it brief. Abbreviate and use key words.
• Use class handouts to record notes. Record your immediate thoughts and reactions.

Professors

• Attend scheduled help sessions. Help sessions are valuable for understanding the material, giving one the opportunity to ask questions and learn from other students.
• Find out about your professors-what else they teach, areas of expertise, and other areas of interest.
• Look for opportunities to develop informal relationships with one or more professors.
• Meet with each of your instructors outside of class, utilizing the office hours listed on the professor's syllabus. Tell them what parts of their lectures you enjoy and ask for assistance on topics or concepts that remain unclear. Seek feedback for your work.
• Try to get clear information about your instructors' goals.
• When you get feedback from professors on exams, papers, or other class work, review their responses to assess your strengths and weaknesses.

Studying

• Build a list of unfamiliar terms and look up their definitions in the dictionary.
• Maximize your memory potential:
  
  • Before trying to memorize, assess your level of concentration. If you are unable to focus, you are not likely to retain information. Determine what you must do to refocus (e.g., food, short nap, walk, deep breaths, etc.), and take care of this need.
  • Use flashcards. Write a word or formula on the front of a card and its definition on the back. Go through the cards until you can define each word correctly.
  • Create acronyms. Make up a word or phrase using the first letter of each term you want to remember (e.g., the spectrum of colors in a rainbow can be remembered with Roy G. Biv = red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet).
  • Draw diagrams of concepts that you are trying to remember. Be able to verbally explain the concept and reproduce the diagram.
  • Study to the point of recall, not simply recognition. This means that you can define and explain material in your own words.
  • Participate in study groups-small discussion groups with students who are equally well prepared. Study groups are a great way to review information and make new friends.
• Read actively:
  
  • Before you read, preview the material. Read introductions and chapter summaries.
  • Focus on main ideas and supporting information.
  • Have a purpose when you read. Ask yourself questions as you go, learning to articulate the material.
  • Take notes as you read. Make an outline of the main points and supporting details.
  • Write a brief summary when complete.
  • Recheck problems to be sure answers are correct.
  • Tailor your environment to fit. Remove distractions; tell others you are not to be disturbed. Find a quiet space to study that is well lit, and make studying a well-established habit.

• Enforce quiet hours.
• Maintain a clean, substance-free chapter facility.
• Encourage members go to class, sit in the front rows, and participate in discussions.
• Develop incentives for academic improvement, such as merit based scholarships.
• Hold a regular scholarship awards banquet or other celebration. Recognize members with a GPA of 3.0 or above; honor members with a GPA of 3.5 or above.
• Establish an academic mentoring program. Pair brothers with similar majors/classes and schedule regular study hours at the library where mentors and mentees can study together. Keep track of their study hours with a sign-in sheet.
• Have each member of the chapter submit his GPA goal for the academic term. Compile a list of the members' goals and distribute it to the chapter. Include a chapter GPA goal.
• Conduct campus tours and orientation clinics for new members. Show them where the library and other campus resources are located and how to use them.
• Institute supervised study hours/study buddies for brothers who need assistance in achieving their academic potential.
• Set the minimum academic requirements for membership of at least 2.5 GPA.

Credit can be a useful tool for handling your financial affairs, or it can be the worst thing that ever happened to you. It's all a matter of how you manage it.

In a perfect world, most of us would pay off our entire credit card balances within the allotted grace period.

Yeah, right.

Once you get caught in the credit card trap, paying your balance off every month becomes less and less likely. Because while the convenience and so-called "free credit" feature of credit cards make them very useful, the fact is that many consumers run up large unpaid balances and continually make sizable interest payments. The card issuers make this an easy option by asking that you make only a minimum monthly payment, usually far less than the unpaid balance.

That's why credit card companies are so successful. Making only the minimum payment ensures that it will take a long time to repay the debt and guarantees the card companies a hefty return in interest payments. Occasionally, often right after Christmas, cardholders are encouraged to take a "payment holiday" and skip a month's payment. The interest charges then accrue on the unpaid balance, making it a very expensive holiday indeed.

If you find yourself in the position of carrying a balance on credit cards, make it a priority to pay it down. If you have more than one credit card carrying a balance, pay the minimum on the cards with the lowest APR and concentrate on eliminating each credit card, one at a time, beginning with the card with highest APR.

Finally, bear in mind that while credit card issuers heavily promote their credit card insurance programs, there is little reason to buy it. Your liability for unauthorized use of your cards is limited to $50 - far less than the cost of multiple insurance payments. If you make sure to report any loss or fraud within twenty-four hours, that's as good an insurance policy as any.

The basic rule of thumb for using credit wisely? Less is more.

When you're using credit, be cognizant of it so you don't spend beyond your means and end up too far in debt.

Here are a few tips for keeping credit under control:

The fewer credit cards you have, the better. Credit card companies offer lots of incentives for college students to apply for cards, including low introductory interest rates. Don't be taken in by these marketing gimmicks — they can end up costing you a lot more than you expected.

Use cash instead of credit whenever possible. Debit cards are a great way to achieve this since they allow you the flexibility of a credit card without the adding to your debt load.

Secured credit cards are excellent alternatives for college students. This type of card requires you to set up a savings account with the credit card company as a backup measure.

Make sure you understand how fast interest charges can add up on credit cards. For example, if you were making the minimum 2.5 percent monthly payment on a $1,000 outstanding balance with 19% interest, paying your balance would take seven years and cost $730 in interest. And that doesn't even account for any late payment penalties you might accrue, which can be substantial.

"Out of sight, out of mind" shouldn't apply to your student loans, especially considering that your first bill may arrive as soon as one month after you graduate. Taking care of your student loan payments will be tougher if you've got credit card debt to take care of as well.

What is a credit history?

Your credit history is contained in a credit report, which is a summary of your financial reliability. For the most part, it includes your history of paying debts and other bills. It is prepared by credit bureaus (also known as credit reporting agencies) primarily for use by lenders, employers and others who have a legally defined legitimate need for the information, such as when you apply for a loan, insurance policy, apartment or job. The wealth of information gathered by credit bureaus, coupled with the speed of today's computer systems, explains why consumers can quickly get loans and other services, including approvals of certain credit applications in minutes.

What is in my credit report?

In general, your credit report has four components:

Identifying Information. This section includes your name, Social Security number, current and previous addresses, telephone number, birth date, and employer. This information helps ensure that your credit report is accurate and doesn't mistakenly include details about another person (perhaps someone with the same name).

Public Record Information. This data is generally gathered from local courthouses, including bankruptcy records, foreclosures, tax liens, court-ordered payments, and late child-support payments. This information is used to determine if you have previous defaults or legal judgments against you. For example, a mortgage lender will want to know if you've had a past foreclosure before granting a home loan. Derogatory information can generally remain on your credit report for up to seven years, except for bankruptcy information, which may be reported for 10 years.

Other Credit History Information. such as a list of your credit cards and loans, and whether payments were on time. Here, too, negative information about your credit relationships, such as late payments or defaults, will remain on your report for up to seven years, and bankruptcy information may appear on your report for 10 years.

Inquiries. This section of your report that lists the creditors, insurance companies or other parties that have requested your credit report, usually when considering an application you submitted. Inquiries typically can remain on your credit report for two years.

What is not in my credit report?

Your credit report typically does not contain information about your checking and savings account balances, brokerage accounts, medical history, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, or your driving record.

How do credit bureaus get their information?

Lenders voluntarily supply the information to credit bureaus on an ongoing basis. Why? Because having access to current and reliable information about you helps them make informed decisions and offer you financial products and services very quickly. Lenders, landlords and other users of credit reports also may want to know about events such as lawsuits and bankruptcies, so credit bureaus obtain this information from courthouses and public records.

Can anyone get my credit report?

No. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) contains rules about who can get your credit report. Generally, a third party can access your credit report when considering an application you've made, such as for a loan, a job, insurance or an apartment. The law also allows entities to access your report as part of an ongoing business relationship. Suppose you already have an auto loan at the bank and you miss a payment or you move and don't provide a forwarding address. In this situation, the bank has the right to obtain a copy of your latest credit report.

But even if you are paying on a loan or credit card as agreed, the institution where you have the account can obtain your credit report as part of its regular maintenance of the account, and that includes looking for warning signs that you may have problems fulfilling your obligations in the future. An exception would be for employers, who would first need to obtain the employee's permission each time before requesting a credit report.

How can I get a copy of my credit report?

First, be aware that there is no one credit report on you. Most likely, each of the three major credit bureaus that operate nationwide — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — has a credit report on you. There also are many smaller or regional credit bureaus that may have a report on you, but the big three are the most commonly known and used companies. And because the credit bureaus can have different information and findings, many experts advise you to obtain your report from each of the three major credit bureaus.

How often should I get my credit report?

Many financial advisors suggest that you review your credit report for inaccuracies or omissions about once a year. It's especially important to review your credit report before making a major purchase, such as a home or a car, so you can correct an error before it slows down your credit approval or prevents you from getting the best possible loan terms.

What kinds of problems could I encounter?

While federal law requires lenders and other companies providing information to credit bureaus to give accurate information, mistakes do happen. So, when you look at your report:

• Make sure it accurately reflects how you have paid your bills. If you always pay your credit card and other loans on time, but your credit report erroneously shows late payments, you'll want to correct that.
• Verify that all the accounts listed are yours, especially if you have a common name or you share a name with a relative (such as John Doe, Jr.). You also want to be careful that an identity thief hasn't opened new accounts in your name to commit financial fraud.
• Look for accounts you don't use and may have forgotten. You may be able to raise your credit score by closing unnecessary credit card accounts.

How do I correct wrong or incomplete information in my credit report?

The FCRA gives you the right to dispute inaccuracies or omissions, and it requires credit bureaus to investigate your complaint (generally within 30 days), send you a prompt response and correct any errors. The law also requires the source of inaccurate information (such as a bank) to correct the record at the credit bureaus to which it initially provided the erroneous information.

• Staff at the FTC, the government agency responsible for ensuring credit bureaus' compliance with federal laws, suggest the following:
• Immediately tell the credit bureau, in writing, about information you believe is incomplete or inaccurate. Include copies, NOT originals, of any documents that support your position.
• Clearly identify each item in your credit report that you dispute, state the facts and request a correction.
• Send your letter by certified mail and request a return receipt to document that your complaint arrived at the credit bureau.
• Keep copies of your dispute letter and enclosures.
• Also contact the company that provided the inaccurate or incomplete information to the credit bureau and request a correction of its records, too.
• If a credit bureau's investigation does not resolve your concerns, the FCRA allows you to submit a brief statement about the matter, in 100 words or less, that must be attached to your credit report and provided to anyone that accesses your report in the future. This enables you to tell potential lenders or anyone else who sees your credit report your side of the story.

What is a credit score and why is it important?

A credit score is a number calculated by a credit bureau, a lender or another company intended for use in making a decision on a loan application or other product or service. (For example, many lenders use a system developed by Fair Isaac and Company called the "FICO score.") Think of credit scoring as a point system based on your credit history, designed to help predict how likely you are to repay a loan or make payments on time. Everyone with a credit record also has a credit score. Different lenders and other companies may use different scoring systems, so your score (and the products or services you're offered as a result) may vary significantly from one source to another.

In general, the better your credit score the better your chances are of getting a loan with an attractive interest rate. Alternatively, a poor credit score may mean you can only qualify for a "subprime" loan - one with a higher interest rate and higher fees than those offered to applicants with "prime" credit records. So when it comes to getting a good loan, it's important that your credit report — the basis for your credit score-is accurate, complete, and in the best shape possible.

What are the most important factors in determining my credit score?

Typically, your credit score is most influenced by two factors: how you pay your debts and how much debt you owe. For example, late payments on loans, a past bankruptcy, debt collections or a court judgment ordering you to pay money as a result of a lawsuit will negatively affect your credit score.

Lenders want to be sure that the debt you owe is manageable. One example: Lenders get concerned if you have a significant amount of debt compared to your income — say, if what you owe each month on all loans and credit cards exceeds one-third of your monthly income. Other factors that can affect your credit score include how long you've used credit, how often you've applied for new credit and whether you've taken on new debt.

How can I get my credit scores?

Your scores, along with an explanation of how the score was derived, typically are available online for a small fee from Equifax, TransUnion, Experian, and Fair Isaac and Company.

As so aptly stated above by one of America's most prolific inventors and philosophers, time is one of your most important assets. Learning to use it wisely will benefit you for many years to come.

Managing your time successfully means accomplishing what is most important to you within a certain time period. When you don't accomplish your goals, it's not unusual to feel compromised, frustrated and stressed out. By taking inventory of your short- and long-term goals and assigning each a priority, you too can become an effective time manager.

Some Common Misconceptions

Misconception: My life is completely controlled by external events.

Fact: You can have a great deal of control over many aspects of your life. The first step to exercising that control is to recognize what events and occurrences you don't have power over. You can achieve this by thinking ahead and identifying any external demands that must be addressed. Once you've done so it will be easier to determine what you can accomplish and within what time frame.

Misconception: I should meet everyone's expectations.

Fact: The needs and demands of others may not be appropriate for you, especially if they don't mirror the priorities you've set for yourself. Once you're clear about your own priorities, then consider whether or not what others expect of you is complementary to the goals you've identified for yourself.

Misconception: I should have no limits.

Fact: Everyone has limits. Acknowledging you limitations and lack of perfection is a positive step. Perfectionists are prone to procrastination because the perfection they demand from themselves is unattainable.

Time Management Techniques

Use your biological rhythms to your advantage. Identify the times of day when your energy levels are at their highest and do your most important work at those times.

• Optimize your work environment and attitude.
• Keep things you need in your work area and make sure the physical environment is conducive to concentration as well as comfort.
• Arrange your work area so that your back is to the traffic flow.
• Close your door; open it selectively.
• Find and use a special space such as a library study area or an office where friends will be unable to find you.
• Phones, eMail and Instant Messaging are huge distractions. Turn them off and return messages at a more convenient time.
• Minimize interruptions by saying "no" to the activities, requests, or persons who disturb you. This will send a clear message that you're serious about your work time and do not want to be disturbed.

Developing a Plan

Step 1: Create an overview of everything you want to accomplish.

Start by determining the time frame within which you'd like to work, such as a semester, a month, a week or a day. Five goals for a week, for example, might include studying for an exam on Friday, spending more time with a friend you've been neglecting, exercising three times for half an hour each time, attending a Wednesday night rush event, and catching a game on TV. Notice that the goals include not only academic responsibilities but also personal and social activities. Write each of your goals on a separate index card.

Step 2: Organize your goals according to their urgency.

Determine which goals are urgent and which are not and separate your index cards into urgent and non-urgent piles. From our examples, studying for the exam and attending the rush function may be more urgent than socializing or exercising because they have deadlines.

Next, assign the categories "A," "B," or "C" to each goal. Assign "A" to those items which are most important to you, "B" to those of moderate importance, and "C" to those of low importance. You can further priorities within those categories by identifying them as A1, A2, and so on.

Once you do so, you'll know where to devote your time and energy according to your priorities, thus avoiding getting bogged down in low priority tasks. After completing this step a couple of times using index cards, you may find that organizing your priorities on a piece paper works just as well.

Step 3: Plan ahead according to your priorities.

Create a long-range timetable: Identify academic goals and deadlines (e.g., dates of exams, dates papers are due, etc) and make target dates for your non-academic goals. Next, determine the steps you need to follow to reach these goals. Segment the larger activities into a series of smaller units. Then, make a reasonable timetable for accomplishing your goals on time.

Remember your day-to-day personal maintenance: Neglecting certain activities (such as sleeping, eating, socializing, exercising, doing laundry, etc.) will throw your life out of balance and undermine your high priority efforts. Include them in your planning.

Plan each day and week as you go through the timetable: Consider each week as a subcategory to be planned, and similarly each day within a given week. Each day and each week, review your timetable. New, unexpected items will come up; so be prepared to be flexible while keeping your high priority goals in mind. That way you'll avoid frustration when the unexpected happens.

Step 4: Avoid over-planning.

Beyond a certain point, adding steps, techniques, levels of prioritization and so on may actually create additional time problems rather than solving previous ones.

1. Create a weekly schedule and task list, utilizing the 168 hours within each week.
2. Allow time for sleep, meals, job, fitness, and social activity.
3. Estimate and list the time needed for studying each subject-generally two to three hours per credit per week.
4. Find your periods of peak efficiency and when you are likely to have the best study conditions. Plan to study your most difficult subjects then.
5. List all classes and other fixed activities. Use your class syllabi for planning the academic term.
6. Make effective use of free hours between classes.
7. Plan time for activities you enjoy.
8. Schedule each study period as close to that class's meeting as possible.
9. Schedule the study of unlike subjects consecutively. For example, it is better to follow the study of a language with the study of a science than to study two languages in a row.
10. Structure your academic schedule as if it were a 40-hour work week.
11. Use a convenient form or planner.
12. Allow longer periods in your schedule for term papers and major projects-at least two weeks before they are due.
13. Allow time for review and preview. For example, if you have a free hour between classes, it is wise to use the beginning of that hour reviewing the notes from your previous class and the last part of the hour previewing for the next class.
14. Allow unscheduled time in your day for special opportunities, thinking time, or emergencies. Always plan time for balance.
15. Break down large or overwhelming tasks into smaller manageable tasks.
16. Develop a clear mental picture of the completed task. Maintain focus on the end result, not just the process. Remind yourself how good you will feel when you are finished.
17. Learn it is okay to say no. Stick to your plan. Keep your short- and long-term priorities in mind.
18. Make a "to do" list every day. Prioritize between immediate and less essential tasks by assigning each task an A, B or C priority.
19. Set deadlines for yourself. Tell other people your deadlines and encourage them to check up on you.
20. Unpleasant tasks rarely turn out to be as bad as one thinks. Complete these tasks first, and schedule them early in the day.
21. Use periods when you are tired or when your environment is noisy for jobs or tasks that do not require much concentration.
22. Use spare minutes wisely. Utilizing small blocks of otherwise wasted time for reviewing or reading, such as time waiting for a bus or in a doctor's office, may prove quite effective.