Welcome to a special episode of College Focus. Today we welcome several highly successful college students to share some of their practice advice and secrets of academic success.  Enjoy!

College Focus Podcast

From Black Dog Scholars LLC

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Podcast #15    How to Step Away and Refresh

Ahh, welcome to winter break. I love this time of year. I love the rhythm of the academic year—working intensively for months followed by a clean break for a few weeks. Today we are going to talk about how to really refresh yourself.

There are four key points in refreshing yourself after difficult, challenging, competitive work.

First, it’s time to get some sleep. Your best sleep comes when you go to bed at the same time each day and get up at roughly the same time. The quality of your sleep is not the same as the quantity of it. If you fall asleep at 3 a.m. and get up around 10 a.m., you will not have the same quality of sleep as you will if you fall asleep around 11 p.m. and wake up around 7 or 8 a.m. Yes, you need hours, but you also need to stop fighting your circadian rhythms which regulate many aspects of your body such as hormones. Set yourself up for deep sleep. Keep the room cold, but have plenty of blankets so you are warm. The cold air, warm body will set you up for hours of good sleep.

Next, it is time to physically move. Go outside, even in the cold, and take a walk. Wake up your senses and enjoy the holiday lights. I am a huge fan of snow and one of the things I love is how a fresh snowfall deadens the sound, making everything quiet. If you want to hit the gym, don’t wait for January 1st, go now. Play with dogs, run a race, go Christmas caroling. Get outside and get moving. Set up a schedule that does not feel like punishment – end your day with a walk outside; hit the gym for just 30 minutes right at noon each day. Remember, you are not punishing yourself; you are rewarding yourself.

Another important way to refresh: connect with human beings personally and in real time. Yes, we are still dealing with COVID right now, but you can figure this out. Call a friend and speak to them; don’t text. Invite a friend out for coffee. Get together and go out for breakfast. Go for a walk. Make dessert and bring it to a friend. Just because we need to avoid large crowds doesn’t mean we cannot find ways to meaningfully connect. Rekindle those friendships that faded when you were so busy or strained with the pandemic. Don’t forget the older generation. Who is your favorite aunt or uncle? Is it time to reach out to a grandparent? If you live far apart, pick up the phone and call. Write a short note and mail it. You need genuine communication to build and maintain relationships. Invest in it.

Finally, help your fellow human. There is no refreshment like the feeling you get when you help someone else. What random act of kindness can you do? Can you write a short compliment and slide it under someone’s door? Can you volunteer somewhere? Does a neighbor need a little help? Many communities have an online list of organizations that are looking for help. Do you have older neighbors in your building or street that could use a little assistance – a trip to the store, a light bulb changed, the floor vacuumed. Are you going to the store? Grab a few extra items and drop them off at the food pantry or community center. There are needs all around you – you just have to lift your eyes.

These are some new things and new habits to invite into your life over winter break. Here’s one way to find more time and more peace – let go of social media. You don’t need to know what other people are doing. You need to focus on the people in front of you. You will find more peace and more energy that way.

I wish you a peaceful and refreshing winter break. Merry Christmas.

Copyright 2021. All rights reserved.

In this episode, we welcome our guest Nathan into the studio to share his incredible story of how he built rich and lasting relationships with his college professors that have fundamentally shaped his college experience. Enjoy!

Want more ways to write fast? Click this link.

#13 Write Fast: Introductions

The single most difficult part of writing a paper is writing the introduction. In part this is true because the best introductions are written AFTER the body of the paper is written. You’ve explored the ideas fully and now you are ready to write the intro.

However, most students don’t take that road. So if you find yourself dreading starting that paper, here is a way to go from blank page to finished intro in fifteen minutes.

Develop a couple of go-to patterns for your paragraph and use them. Instead of starting with nothing, you will start by using a pattern for a solid paragraph.

Do not begin with an “attention-getter.” This is so sixth grade and it brings to mind disastrous missteps of prose. Instead, set the scene. Here are three ways you can set the scene for your reader.

#1 – The Essential Issue.

Many courses are organized around an essential question or several essential questions that drive the readings, the discussion, the assignments. What are the essential questions for your course? Turn one of those questions into a statement like this:

Every modern civilization has struggled to reconcile safety with freedom. The more citizens have of one, the less it seems they have of the other.

Look for the pivotal controversy, conflict, mystery, or problem your course returns to again and again and you will find an idea to use as your essential issue statement.

#2—Context

Context means the historical, economic, societal, religious, political, and/or scientific situation that is present. Identify what else was or is going on as your topic arises. Again, paint the picture. Don’t begin with dawn of time (unless your course begins there). Instead, give us the wide-angle lens view of the general situation. Where can you get a sense of the larger context? Look at the introduction to your textbook or look at your course syllabus.

#3—The Situation Vignette

Set the scene with just a bit of creative writing. This works best for political science, history, or sociology papers or similar courses. Start by thinking of a situation – could be true but it could also be a hypothetical – and write it in a way where you use sensory detail. The situation should be something that illustrates an idea in your paper. Now this takes a bit of writing technique – you have to move smoothly from narrative into academic prose, so it is not for a beginner writer.

If you would like examples of these and my absolute #1 favorite way to start an introduction, look in the show notes for this link, click it, give us your email, and we will send my FAVORITE introduction pattern to your inbox immediately.

Now, here are two things to avoid at all costs. Never use a rhetorical question. These are best left to master writers. It always sounds contrived and amateurish. Every writing teacher has nightmare stories of rhetorical question introductions gone wrong.

Also, never start with a quotation. You know, the old “Plato once said . . .” Your quotes are for evidence. If you want to use a quote from someone else –say a favorite poet or thinker – that is better for the start of a chapter of a book, rather than a standard academic paper. Again, it can feel contrived and out of place. Worse, it becomes a crutch. You could weave such a quotation into your conclusion toward the end, but definitely not at the start of your paper.            

Once you have set the scene, add a sentence of transition, and then your thesis. Your intro is done.

Good work.

Want MORE ways to write faster? click the link

#12 Write Faster: Writing the Compelling Thesis

You need three things to speed up the process:          

1. You need to fill your mind with ideas.

Today we are focusing on Step 2.

Start by crafting your thesis, your main argument. If you are given a prompt, re-read it several times and zero in on the key task you are asked to do. Look for the writer’s verb. Does your prompt ask you to analyze, evaluate, synthesize, differentiate, assess, define, prove, recommend, or critique?   Each of these words means something different – make sure you know what that verb means.

If you are not given a prompt, you can create your own topic and thesis. Start with pondering what you find interesting, fascinating, or compelling about this portion of the course. What questions or issues have caught your attention in lecture? What part of the discussion or seminar surprised you or made your wonder? What theories did you want the professor to say more about when class ended? Grab some scratch paper and make a list of sentences beginning with the phrase I wonder. I wonder what would happen if two black holes collided? I wonder why Shakespeare’s history plays are so centered on men, when his country was ruled by Elizabeth I? I wonder how the mind changes when we are confronted with the unexplained miracle? I wonder how creatures at the bottom of the ocean on the edge of underwater volcanoes evolved to survive such extreme conditions? I wonder how much of the North’s financial empire was ultimately based on the economics of Southern slavery? I wonder how much the early European painters’ ability to invent new pigments influenced their art?

To make your thesis more compelling, you want to make sure you are wrestling with complexities. Where are the complexities in your topic? Where are the opposing ideas, the paradoxes that cannot be reconciled? Look for the antithesis, the mystery, the inconsistencies, the contradictions, the paradox, the impossible, and explore that.

Word your thesis so you begin with a dependent clause that recognizes the complexity or counterargument, then move into your main idea. Start with despite, in spite of, even though like this: Even though crowds can include hundreds of independent strangers, they behave in strikingly similar ways as a group. Now you try it! Start with despite, even though, or in spite of.

How do you know it is the PERFECT thesis? You don’t. You will learn more as you write. The very act of writing will lead you to deeper discovery and may well lead you to revising your initial thesis.

What if you don’t know the answer to your thesis – you don’t know how to prove it. The writing process may help you see the evidence.

In the show notes today is a special link – I ask you to click the link and I will send you a simple, yet sophisticated way of starting your introduction to your paper. If you want to write faster, you need to find a way to knock out your introduction fast. I have it and I want to give it to you! Again, check the show notes for the link.

#11 Write Faster: Uncovering Ideas

Want MORE ways to write faster? click the link

You have been dragging your feet starting that paper. How can you jump into this task and finish faster? If you want to cut down the time you spend writing, this episode is for you. You will need scratch paper and a pen, your syllabus or course description, and your assignment.

I’m going to assume a few things here. I’m assuming your writing task is the usual 3-5 or 4-6 page paper for college. I’m assuming this is not a chapter in your doctoral thesis. I’m also assuming you have not left this task until the last few hours before your deadline. Finally, I’m assuming this is not a creative assignment, such as writing a short story, but largely an analytical one.

By the way, if you want some fantastic resources for writing faster, just go to the show notes and click the link, give us your email, and you will receive my favorite method of writing an introduction in your inbox. This could change how you approach your next paper, so check it out.

One reason why college writers struggle to write in an efficient manner is that they feel that they have no ideas, no direction. This can cost you time, time, time. Instead of actually drafting the paper, you find yourself just spinning, unable to decide on one idea or another. Without any direction, you give up and procrastinate.

Let’s solve this.

Writing is thinking, remember?

Start by adding ideas into your mind. Before you can pour something onto the page, you need your mind full of ideas. Go back to the readings for the course. Re-read an article or skim a chapter or two. Set a time and give yourself no more than two hours of re-reading time.

Even better, there’s a secret for uncovering great ideas in a shorter period of time. Limit the amount of text you are going to focus on. Instead of reviewing the entire novel, you are only allowed to review the last three chapters and use those as evidence. Instead of all the readings for your course, tell yourself you are only allowed to use these three articles and no more. The more you give yourself boundaries and borders, the more your mind will dig deep and find patterns and ideas in that limited text that you can then apply. Giving yourself strict boundaries actually makes your mind more creative and helps you think more deeply.

As you re-read, tell yourself you are only allowed to underline one sentence, the most pivotal sentence in the piece.

As you read, tell yourself you are only allowed to highlight one phrase, the most critical phrase the writer uses.

Do you see how setting a boundary not only saves you time but also fires up your brain and helps you start to think more creatively about these ideas?

A few points of caution – do not burn up valuable time consuming the readings or texts for hours and hours. You have limited time, so spend it wisely.

Lastly, if you have a few days, do this exercise and let those ideas resonate in your mind for a day. Even though you are doing other tasks, part of your mind will still be mulling over these ideas and when you return, your insights will be richer.

 The Inspiration Episode

(Click here and I will send you three ways to write faster!)

Need to find a little inspiration? Maybe you feel overwhelmed by work or lacking energy because of the weather. I wanted to create an episode specifically for those times when you need your own little motivational speaker in your head. I’m dedicating this episode to those hardworking college students in my life. You know who you are.

What I’m going to tell you is not based on formal research. It is not a collection of platitudes gleaned from the internet or found on coffee mugs. These ideas are valuable simply because of their cost – I learned these only after decades spent on college campuses, after sacrifice and worry.

Right now, you need a little dose of truth.

• Your past does not determine your future. Your past does not hold the steering wheel; you do. If you find yourself thinking, “Because this happened in the past, something negative will happen in the future,” you are wrong. Yes, people repeat mistakes, but your prior mistake is not controlling you. Your past does not determine your future. Don’t let yourself fall into that trap.

Now, go do your best work. The world needs you.

Contact us at [email protected].

Copyright 2021 Black Dog Scholars LLC

All rights reserved.

The Four Horsemen of Distraction

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What actually distracts college students most often? Today we are going to explore the root causes of distractions that keep you from giving your full attention to your studies.

Let’s start with the idea that your mind WILL seek distractions. That does not mean you have weak willpower or that you have an attention deficit of some sort. That just means you are human. Let’s examine the most frequent sources of distractions for students.

1. Money

College students are often worried about money. You never feel like you have enough. Perhaps you are worried about a scholarship. Perhaps you are worried about paying your phone bill. Perhaps you are worried about paying rent or your car payment.

Money worries are like a flash flood – they can overtake you and erode your attention from focusing on the right things. Money problems and how to solve them may even consume you – you might lie awake at night worrying about these issues.

Let’s address two scenarios. First, let’s think about a situation where you have a job and you need those hours to pay for important things, but if you work, you won’t have enough time to do your school work. The solution is two-fold: You will need to cut back slightly on work to buy yourself a few hours. At the same time, you need to become more efficient in your studies so you use the time you have very effectively. We will address more techniques for becoming a more effective student in the coming weeks.

Second, what if your money problems cannot be solved by you at this time? Perhaps you lack a job or your present job simply does not pay enough to cover your needs. This is the time to reach out to your university for an emergency loan. Most American colleges have mechanisms to help students with emergencies. They offer small grants or short term loans. Look into this—it can really offer you the ability to deal with the situation effectively at another time. I want to give you a stern warning, however. Do not go to one of the payday loan businesses. This is a terrible financial choice and it will not dig you out of a problem, but instead create an even bigger problem later. You are not working full time (probably) and you should not be using such a service. Go to your university or your chaplain’s office for a temporary loan. If that is not available to you, reach out to extended family – your aunts and uncles, an older trusted cousin for a quick loan. You might be surprised at how quickly people will assist you.

1. People

People in your life can be the root of all distractions! Roommates, floormates, co-workers, family, significant others: they all demand time from us. First, if you are in a situation where someone is harassing you, reach out to campus counselors and campus police immediately. If you are resident in a dorm, reach out to the housing office right a way. There are solutions available, and you do not need to deal with this situation alone.

For all the rest, if you are facing a real crunch time with your academics, you will have to have some honest communication with the people in your life and explain that you are going to be deliberately ignoring them for a period of time. If you do this during a truly challenging time – the last three weeks of the semester, for example, that’s fine. If you do this routinely, you are just selfish. I assume that does not describe you.

The truth is you do not have to give your roommate time. You do not have to give your significant other time. You do not have to give your parents time. You DO need to let people know you are okay. You DO need to briefly check in for safety reasons.

Make a plan to check in with people at a point during the day, but let them know you will see them when your responsibilities ease up.

Dealing with this issue ahead of time – before there are misunderstandings and hurt feelings—is the mature way of coping.

If you still cannot navigate your studies and the people in your life, it is time to reach out to a counselor.

1. Promises

You made promises, didn’t you? You’d go with your teammates to dinner. You’d help Alex with his paper. You’d talk to Lisa about her interview. You’d call your mom more often.

But, you made a promise to YOURSELF, too.

The week your paper is due, the last three week of the semester, the days leading up to an important test or presentation: these are the times you have to fulfill the promise to yourself.

Remember, the instructions about the oxygen masks on an airplane? Put yours on first before you help someone else put on theirs.

You are worth fulfilling this promise to yourself. Do it.

1. Guilt

You shouldn’t have cut class. You should have started on the paper sooner. You could have read more of the assigned reading. You would have reached out to your TA, if it wasn’t for that other thing that came up.

Acknowledge all your woulda’s, shoulda’s, and coulda’s and put them in an imaginary jar. Tighten the lid down, and put that jar on a shelf. There is a time and place to evaluate what habits and choices got you into this academic crunch, but that time is not now. This time is just for getting stuff done. If these continue to haunt you, repeat after me, “You did the best you could, at the time, with the information you had.” Save the post-mortem for AFTER your final exams.

It’s go time, people.

I’m Rita Thompson. I truly hope you find this helpful. If so, please let me know in the comments.

Copyright 2021 Black Dog Scholars LLC.

All rights reserved.

“Your Windshield and Willpower”

(Click here and I will send you 3 ways to write faster!)

Ahh, spring! This time of year brings flowers and frustration, doesn’t it? You are facing too much to do and too little time.

Take a breath. Realize you DO have enough time to accomplish what you need to accomplish. You don’t need more time—you need to eliminate something that is stealing the time away from you: distractions.

I want to talk today about one way to improve your willpower and help you stay away from distractions.

Imagine for a moment you are an Olympic class athlete arriving at your training facility. World class trainers work here; world record holders train here. What do you see on the walls as you walk through the facility?

You would see reminders of the great athletes who have stood where you are standing right now. You would see the photos of the greats from years past and recent winners. You would train around and with constant reminders of who you want to be.

Daniel Coyle, in his book The Little Book of Talent, tells us that “we each live with a windshield of people in front of us” (5). He reminds us that research validates that the more we find connections with role models, the more we increase our motivation.

Need help staying motivated in the sciences? Print out a picture of a young Marie Curie. Struggling to finish that paper? Make your phone screen a young Toni Morrison or Amy Tan. Find someone who can inspire you and surround your “windshield” with reminders of that person.

Likewise, you can fill your windshield by physically going to a place where people are serious about doing what you need to do. Need to get motivated about studying? Find a place where people are going at it hard-core – the medical library, the law library. Every time you look up, you will be looking at hard-working students.

Cal Newport reminds us that if you find yourself tempted to stray from your studies, you are not alone—we are constantly being tempted to leave the tough work and move to something easier and more fun. This is not a personal failure on your part – this is being human.

Newport points out that if you try to fight these temptations, you often will lose. Your willpower has limits. The best way to boost your willpower is to add routines and rituals to your study time. Block out consistent time each day to study – maybe 7:30 to 8:30 in the morning, for example. Never vary from this. Maybe reserve Tuesday and Thursday afternoons – 4 p.m. to 5:30 for chemistry. Now, you can do more than this per week, but if you set up a routine where you will always spend this time on the subject, you will find that it is easier to stay on track.

Remember, fill your windshield and set up a simple routine and you will you become a willpower hero.

Sources referenced and recommended reading:

Coyle, Daniel. The Little Book of Talent. Bantam, New York: 2012.

Newport, Cal. Deep Work. Grand Central: New York, 2016.

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Copyright 2021 Black Dog Scholars LLC.

All rights reserved.

How to Crush your Stress

Reach out to your campus counseling center. If you are feeling hopeless, please know you can get help. You can call 800-273-8255 24 hours a day. If you know of someone who feels hopeless, please ask him or her to call this number. Stay with them while they call and then bring them personally to your campus counseling center, or call 911.

We are devoting this episode to discussing the best methods of reducing your stress as a college student. We are specifically focusing today on your stress from your classes and your workload. There are other sources of stress – relationships, money. We are focused today on your academic work.

What happens when you feel overwhelmed by your classes? Maybe you shut down and find it hard to drag yourself out of bed. Maybe you find it hard to focus and concentrate.

We have 15 ways to turn this around. These are based on my personal experience and some wonderful research on how the brain responds to stress.

So, you have too much to do and too few days left. Perhaps you have a big test, maybe a difficult paper, maybe deadlines for some important work, and then you have other obligations, too. What can you do? Let’s look at 15 practical and effective things you can do now.

(Click here to get 3 ways to write faster!)

1. Look at the next 2-5 days. Lay everything that needs to happen on the table. Write it out. Face why you are feeling overwhelmed. Then think carefully about which items are mission critical. Not everything is equally critical.

Now, let me tell you what you already know about caring for your body during this stressful time. Get sleep. Sleep is the fuel your brain needs. You brain also needs water and good nutrition. Don’t eat or caffeinate your way out of this crisis. I know what you are thinking – I’m just going to stay up all night and get stuff done. There is a law of diminishing returns. Yes, you will stay up all night. But the truth is you will get little done and what you study will largely not stick in your mind. Instead, protect your sleep. Use exercise, not pizza, as a study break. Eat simply. Wake up and go to bed at the same time each day.

1. Get assistance. Don’t try to do everything on your own. Meet with the TA, convene a study group. One good conversation about what you are dreading is time well spent.   You are speeding up the process of getting stuff done by involving others.

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