Do you need money to pay for college? Are you having trouble
motivating your student to study and prepare for standardized tests?
What you may not know is that there are GUARANTEED
scholarships available for students based on their standardized test scores. And
in case you think they are only for perfect scores, think again. Many colleges
award automatic scholarships for scores of 1100 for the SAT and 22 for the ACT.
Of course, the higher your score, the more scholarship money you receive.
Automatic National Merit scholarships
Perhaps one of the best sources of money based solely on a
standardized test score, is the PSAT. If your student is a National
Merit finalist (based on the scores in your state), they are eligible for
scholarships. Apart of earning a $2500 scholarship through the competition
itself, students can score some big money from colleges by listing them as
their first choice when they take the test.
With just a little preparation and study (most students don’t
prepare for this test), your student can score well stacked up against other
students in the state. It’s completely achievable and pays off in huge
scholarship dollars.
To learn more about sponsoring universities, read here.
Automatic scholarships based on SAT/ACT scores
Colleges offer automatic scholarships based on your student’s
test scores. These scholarships don’t require an extra application or
information, but there may be a college application deadline. Check with
each individual college for deadline information.
These scholarships are usually posted on the college
websites. For a short list of some of the colleges and their scholarship
opportunities and how to search for any college, hop over to PrepScholar
for a detailed explanation of how to search for these scholarships.
Of course, don’t stop here. Encourage your student to apply
for the scholarships that fit them well and keep applying all throughout
college. Free money means no debt after graduation. Your son or daughter should
appreciate the benefit of that.
Have you ever had a question about college prep and there
was no one to ask? Do you wonder what other parents have done in your
situation? Is there a question about paying for college that you simply can’t
find the answer to?
Odds are, you can find most answers to your unanswered questions on Facebook (or at least a suggestion on who to ask). From parenting a teen through the college process, paying for college, financial aid, scholarships and connecting with college parents, you can find groups or pages to help.
Here’s a list of my favorite Facebook groups and pages:
This is a widely popular group for parents of both
college-bound and college students. You can connect with experts in college
prep here or get advice from other parents who have been through the process
and/or have current college students. It’s a friendly, conversational group and
if you have a question, it’s easy to post it and usually get an instant
response from another parent or expert in the group.
If you have a question about paying for college, this group
is available to help. Helpful articles are posted daily and questions are
answered quickly by experts and mentors on the page. They cover topics related
to college prep and often offer training sessions and webinars to help you with
the college admissions process.
Financial aid can certainly be confusing for parents and
students. College talk provides parents with tips and strategies related to
college financial aid.
Looking for merit scholarships? This group is devoted to
sharing merit scholarship opportunities and discussing ways to find schools generous
with financial aid and merit scholarships.
Need help searching for scholarships? Need help with
scholarship applications? Have a question about the scholarship process? You capayn
find the answer on this page, along with endless lists of scholarships
available. Check this page daily for the best in scholarship information.
This is my page and you can find the answer to any
college-related question here. I post informative articles daily and am happy
to answer any question you might have about college prep. I also frequently
post scholarship opportunities and free training opportunities as well. Check
back often to see new news about college admissions.
This is the portal for you to ask any question, raise out
any concern or get feedback from the group. This type of forum rarely exists in
the college admissions space, but it’s space for parents to expand their
network, build connections, establish relationships and form a support system in
this competitive field. This is also the place for parents and students to grow
and even enjoy their college admissions journey.
Everything you need to know about the college essay, personal statements and supplemental essays can be found on this page. From podcast episodes to essay samples to expert advice, the College Essay Guy is available to help. Your student can also join his private group page for personalized essay help: College Admission and Application Forum.
A page with over 14,000 members offering great college advice, current articles in the news, and a forum for students and parents to comment on them and ask questions. College Connections’ main objective is to have our students gain admission to the college which is their best match, and where they find happiness, success and a solid academic program.
If you have an upcoming job or college interview and you’re not sure how you can ace it then don’t worry, you’re definitely in the right place. Whether you’re going to your first ever job interview or you’re interviewing with your dream college, you need to ensure you’re as prepared as you can be. Luckily, there are lots of tips and tricks you can pick up to ensure you’re doing exactly that. From researching the college or company in advance to looking at practice questions online, the more you’re doing the better. With that in mind, here are 5 ways to nail your upcoming interview:
Make sure you do your research in advance
One of the first things you need to do when it comes to nailing an interview is to research the college or company that you’re going to be interviewing for. Whether this means looking at their website or researching whether or not they’ve been in the news, the more you know about them the better, as not only will it give you the opportunity to discuss what you know in the interview, but it will also show how dedicated you are. For a guide to researching a company before your interview, you can visit this site here. If you’re researching a college, look at their websites and read articles about them.
Look At Practice Questions Online
Another great way to ensure you have a great interview is to make sure you are looking a practice questions online. Although you may have been to lots of interviews before, it’s always great to refresh your mind with the kind of questions they can ask. If it helps, try to think about what you might say without sounded too scripted. For common job interview questions, you can visit this site here. For ideas on what to ask and answer during a college interview, here are some suggestions.
Create A More Detailed Resume To Hand Out
Although your potential employers and/or the college will have already seen a copy of your resume, you may want to consider creating a more detailed version that you can hand out. Whether this included further details about your employment history or it has a detailed GPA on there, you need to ensure you’re giving your interviewers all the information they need. For a high school GPA calculator, you can visit this site here.
Prepare Questions To Ask After The Interview Is Over
Another great way to nail an interview is to prepare questions to ask once your interview is over. At the end of an interview, you will always be asked whether there is anything you want to know and it always helps to have a couple of questions lined up to show your interest.
Relax And Answer Questions As Honestly As You Can
Finally, you need to ensure you’re being as relaxed as you possibly can. Interviews can be incredibly stressful and if you’re not relaxed, chances are you’re not going to be on top form.
Do you have a job or college interview coming up that you’re nervous about? What can you do to ensure you’re nailing the interview for your dream job? Let me know your thoughts and ideas in the comments section below.
Who doesn’t love podcasts? It’s the best way to be entertained
or educated wherever you are: in the car, at work, at home or waiting at the
doctor’s office. There truly is a podcast for every interest. My daughter
listens to the History Chicks and has learned a great deal of history while
listening. I like to listen to inspirational podcasts that motivate and
encourage me.
With all the college information available to parents today, there’s no excuse for being uninformed about the ins and outs of the college process. Podcasts are a great way to stay informed. Here’s a list of my favorites:
Practical, up-to-date interviews with experts in college
admissions, financial aid, personal statements, test prep and more. Ethan
Sawyer (aka College Essay Guy), interviews deans of admission, financial aid
experts, and veterans of the admissions field to extract, then distill their
advice into practical steps for students and those guiding them through the
process. From creating an awesome college list to appealing a financial aid
letter, Ethan skips the general advice and gets right to the action items, all
in an effort to bring more ease, joy and purpose into the college admissions
process.
Here you’ll find tips and tricks for studying specific
subjects and how to prepare for major tests like the SAT and ACT. You’ll also
discover valuable insights from local and world-wide educational experts as
they discuss poignant topics like “How to Help Teens Reduce Stress” and
“Navigating School and Career with Physical and Learning Disabilities”. Practical tips and shortcuts for students are
revealed in episodes like “Vocabulary Memorization Shortcuts for the SAT” and
“Google Docs Organization for School”.
Nationally recognized experts Megan Dorsey and Gretchen
Wegner share tips and tricks about creative study strategies, SAT/ACT prep,
college applications, essay writing, teen-friendly time management tools, and
more. They will also host experts on a number of subjects including
scholarships, parenting, test prep, learning differences, NCAA athletics, and
more! About the hosts: Megan is a college admissions consultant and test prep
guru who helps students and parents plan and prepare for college admission.
Gretchen is an academic life coach who helps stressed out students and their
families feel smart, confident and ready for the rigors of college without
losing their lives to school and studying. Together, they are a one-stop shop
for how to survive…and thrive!…during the final approach into higher
education.
College Prep Genius will teach you all the tips and tricks to
ace the SAT and get FREE money for college (no strings attached)! Jean Burk’s
program will give you all the inside information on how to get money for
college, put together a college transcript, and become a logic-based thinker.
Jean will debunk myths and misconceptions, all while providing you all the
information on how to stop fearing the SAT.
Need help navigating the college admissions process? Every
other Monday they bring you exclusive interviews with Former Admissions
Officers, graduates from top universities, and admissions experts. Each episode
will be filled with application tips and first-hand experiences that will help
you get into your dream school. Brought to you by InGenius Prep, the world’s
largest team of Former Admissions Officers.
Two high school seniors and one Columbia freshman explore
the black box that is the college application process. They cover topics like
handling deferrals, asking for letters of recommendations, the college essay
and more.
Each week on VoiceAmerica College Coach hosts their internet
radio program and podcast, Getting In: A College Coach Conversation. Each week,
former University of Pennsylvania admissions officer Elizabeth Heaton leads the
discussion on a variety of admissions and college finance topics including: approaching
and crafting essays, successfully appealing financial aid decisions, selecting
the right college, determining the most effective savings vehicle to help pay
for it and more!
Julie Kim, a Harvard-graduate college consultant, the
founder of Julie Kim Consulting is the host of Demystifying College Admissions.
This podcast is designed to inspire high school students to identify their
passions, learn all about the most updated college admissions strategies, with
guests and experts from all industries! She also dives into mental health so
that this podcast will be a healthy, safe, and vulnerable space for all teens
and parents.
Applying for college is more complex and often times more
confusing than it used to be. In addition, there are so many resources out
there. How do you know which is the right one? The best one? Shouldn’t everyone
have access to the best information out there, regardless of price? On this
podcast, Mark Hofer and Anna Ren, both independent college consultants, share
real and relevant topics in college admissions to provide you with a fresh
perspective and truly actionable takeaways that you can use as you prepare to
apply for college.
Let a college admission expert (Mark) and a mom who’s been
through the process (Anika) guide you through the college admission process.
Learn key strategies and hear true stories on topics ranging from building the
right college list, getting admitted to the colleges on your list; how to pay
for college, and even choosing the right career. The podcast combines in depth
knowledge and insights about college admissions and college life with a
lighthearted, and at times, entertaining style that makes Mark and Anika easy
to listen to.
Parents want what’s best for their children. I’m sure you do. You want your student to succeed in life and if that path is college, you don’t want them to be saddled with college debt after they graduate. Entering the work force with debt puts strain on your student and their ability to live independently after college.
But with college costs rising it almost seems impossible to
attend without borrowing money to pay for it. At least that’s what you might
think; but with some smart planning and wise financial choices, I t can be done
and here’s how:
Know how much you are willing to pay
Before even starting the college search, you should know how
much you are willing to pay. Set a budget before your student starts looking at
colleges. If you know how much you are willing to pay, you can avoid going
over-budget on a college, even though it’s a college your student wants to
attend.
Have the money talk
After you know what you’re willing to pay, have the “money
talk” with your student. Discuss with them how much you are willing to pay for
college and how much you expect them to contribute. Do not (I repeat do not)
allow them to apply to any colleges beyond your financial reach unless your
student has been working toward and receiving scholarship awards. Do not count
on financial aid or merit aid to fill the gap when planning for college. If
your student applies and is offered admission to a college you cannot afford it
makes for a difficult conversation and a very disappointed student if you cannot
pay for the tuition.
Research individual college statistics
Before applying, research the financial
aid footprint of every single college on the list. How much aid do they
typically give? How much debt does the average student graduate with? Use their
net price calculator and determine what it will cost to attend there before
applying. If your student is offered admission, there will be no surprises and
disappointment if you do your due diligence before the application process
begins. Colleges offering small percentages of financial aid in the form of
scholarships and grant
Think outside the box
There are thousands of colleges in this country. Many
families make the mistake of not researching affordable
colleges before applying. Smaller private universities offer more generous
financial aid packages. Recognizable names and Ivy League colleges are not the
only schools offering a quality education. Don’t assume that a state university
is cheaper than a private college out of state. Look at the numbers, research
colleges, and think outside the box.
Consider community college
Two years at a community
college will save you and your student a substantial amount of money. After
completing the basics at a much lower cost, they can transfer to a four-year college
and graduate. Your student may also choose an associate’s degree in a technical
field and graduate from community college with a skill and a career. In the past,
community college has gotten a bad reputation from parents and students for
being “less than” a “real” college. But smart parents and students know the
education is the same at a much lower cost.
Apply for scholarships
Until your student graduates from college they should be
applying for scholarships. The sooner they begin, the better. There are scholarships
for all ages and if your student accumulates awards all throughout high
school and into college those awards will go a long way to help them graduate
without debt. There are resources to help
you and your student find and apply for scholarships—take advantage of them.
Get good grades
Scholarships and grants are disbursed by colleges based on merit.
Grades are a key factor colleges use to determine merit aid.
They use this aid to entice student applicants to accept their offers of
admission. Putting your student at the top of the applicant pool with good
grades stack the odds of merit aid in your favor. Believe it or not, a great
GPA results in more scholarship money than athletics. Use this to your
advantage.
Graduate in four years or less
You might be surprised to learn that most students take more
than 4 years to graduate from college. On average, a college
degree takes six years. That’s two years more of college costs, not to
mention two years of lost income. Plan to pay for four years and make a plan
for your student to stay on track.
Become a National Merit finalist
Your student doesn’t have to win a National Merit
scholarship to score some generous financial aid. All they have to do is become
a semi-finalist—and with a little study for the PSAT,
it’s entirely possible. Colleges who have money set aside for the finalists
will use merit aid to entice your student to attend: full tuition, room and
board, books and fees, laptops, study abroad and even spending money. They
might also offer automatic entrance into the honors college, the best housing
and priority registration until graduation.
Take AP exams or CLEP tests before college
It’s possible for your student to take AP or CLEP
exams and test out of freshman subjects. Your student could enter college
as a sophomore, cutting a whole year off the degree. For a small test fee, your
student can save thousands of dollars and time by taking advantage of these
tests.
With all these options available, your student does not have
to take on college debt to receive a quality education. With knowledge and hard
work, your student should be able to graduate college debt-free.
Life can throw us curve balls when we least expect it, don’t you think? It doesn’t matter how old we are, what we are doing at that precise moment, rich, poor, in love, on our own. Life can be full of champagne but easily be filled with bitter lemons at a moments notice. Often we don’t really know what path we should be taking, we just go with what feels right, what we think we should be doing, or just basically making the best out of the deck of cards we have been dealt. So what is next when life can be ever-changing? If you find yourself at crossroads don’t despair especially about education. Here are some of the things that you could consider to help you make the right decision on what might be next for you.
Learn something new and go back to school
Maybe learning is going to be the right thing for you, and perhaps you want to study to work towards gaining qualifications and degrees in specific areas or industry. This can be a great way to understand what career you want to take. Whether you decide to study from home or attend a university, the experience not just studying can really help you decide on what you want from life moving forward.
Taking a job that’s linked to your degree
Once you have gained your qualifications and degrees you may be wondering what is next and there are a number of things you can do with it. You could continue your educational journey, be more specific in the areas you work in and learn on the job. You could use your degree to gain a graduate job where you can be given an underlying overview of a company and a different role to play, there is more information here about how this could be a good option for you. Or you may have done all you can with the educational side of things and secure yourself a job that is specific to your degree and qualifications.
Travel
Traveling is often the most popular way to spend a GAP year, and many students backpack across different countries, exploring their hidden gems and enjoying experiences like no other. However, you can also incorporate travel into your studies, and take advantage of trips for University students. They can work well alongside your courses as well as giving you amazing experiences. Traveling to remote parts of the world can also give you a new perspective on life and how you see things. Which can often change you as a person and help you later on in life.
Volunteer and gain work experience
Maybe you want to use the time out for something good, and volunteering can be a great way to do it. Not only sure you doing good for someone or something, but you are also gaining valuable work experience in a different environment, which could help you seek out employment in the future. Volunteering can be something you do sporadically, or you could choose to focus on it full time.
Let’s hope these suggestions help your consider your options regarding further education.
With a new year and a new decade beginning, it’s a good idea to evaluate goals and take stock of your progress. This is true with college planning and life in general. The easiest thing in the world is to say you’re going to do something. This is especially found when we suggest we’ll ‘do it tomorrow’. When we do that, we basically offset our need to complete a task or to even think about it, because having to do said task or start off from zero can seem stressful and worrying.
But the truth is that while the rumination is a bottomless pit, so is the satisfaction that comes from actually taking care of the tasks you plan for yourself. In fact, the art of staying on top of things and realizing your dreams, such as 2020 new year resolutions for example, is a satisfying journey without end. Once you complete something you gain that true sense of satisfaction, and you feel even more motivated to achieve something anew. The more you do this, the more the philosophy of ‘I will act now’ becomes a harmonious chorus in your mind rather than a grating shout.
With that in mind, we hope the following advice can help you curate this potential within yourself:
Find Something You Can Orient Yourself Towards
Like any vehicle, you’ll struggle to leave the driveway if you’re empty on fuel. The fuel that we’re talking about here doesn’t come in the form of a meal or an obligation, but in something you willingly submit yourself to, something you perceive as worth your time. Perhaps you know that losing weight is necessary if you’re to reduce the risk of health issues now you’re in your 30s. Maybe this can help you learn how to best run a Couch 2 5k or how to get over your fear of the gym. Nietzsche once said ‘he who has a why to live for can bear any how.’ Through this pursuit, you’ll be making good on that concept.
Take On A Challenge
Why not take on a challenge, or something that you may not otherwise have done? Maybe this could be as simple as taking a second language night course, or going up for a five-minute open mic comedy session at a local bar. Whatever makes you quake in your boots yet helps you realize a dream is often a good way forward. You’d be surprised just how much this can actualize your life and make every day feel important. Sometimes, you have to dive in the deep end to get things moving.
Plan Your Progress
Plan your progress going forward. Breaking down your goals for 2020 and noting them, step by step in Midori planners can help you correspond action to days. This in itself can give you a vital step up over your previous efforts, because when your plans are staring at you in black and white, it’s hard to refute you ever made them when struggling to get out of bed. Planning your progress can also help you see how far you’ve come – and that is not something to take for granted.
With this advice, you’re sure to apply the artful practice of making things happen in life.
When your child is applying to a competitive college, every single thing that goes on the application makes a big difference. Grades are obviously very important, and so is the college application essay, but there will be plenty of students that have good grades and a great essay. So, how do the colleges choose between applicants? If they can’t separate them based on their grades and essays, they will start to look for other things, like extracurricular activities. The things that your child does outside of their normal studies make a big difference because they demonstrate a lot of the skills that colleges are looking for.
If your child participates in certain extracurricular activities that develop a wide range of skills, that looks great on their college application. It is often the thing that separates them from the other applicants and lands them their place, so it’s very important. There are all sorts of things that they can do, but it’s important that they choose something that they actually like. A college admissions officer will be able to tell the difference between somebody that is engaging in activities for their application alone, and somebody that is passionate about them.
If your child is not currently engaged in any extracurricular activities, these are some of the things that look great on college applications.
Student Government
Student government is a great thing to get involved with if your child has any interest in politics or even if they want more of a say in how their school is run. Colleges love it because it demonstrates a few very important qualities. Firstly, it shows that you are a good leader and the other students in your school look up to you as somebody that can be relied upon. Secondly, it shows that you are responsible and capable because you are trusted with important issues. Colleges also like students that are willing to engage with the student community and get involved in events that promote the college, so student government is a great thing for your child to put on their applications.
Educational Summer Camps
Educational summer camps are a great way for students to learn new skills and boost their existing knowledge so they can improve their grades. There are some great camps that teach very desirable skills, like Coder Kids, for example, which teaches computer coding skills. If your child attends these educational summer camps, it shows colleges that they are dedicated to their education and they are willing to put in the hard work. It will also help them to improve their grades, especially if there are certain subjects that they are struggling with.
Academic Teams And Clubs
Academic teams and clubs are another great way for students to show their dedication to education, especially if they enter competitions. It shows that where academic pursuits are concerned, that student is willing to rise to the challenge and push themselves so they can improve. It also demonstrates a competitive spirit which a lot of colleges like. If your child is particularly interested in a certain subject and they excel at it, you should see if the school has any teams or clubs that they can attend. Math and science clubs are the most popular, but there are teams for most academic subjects. If there is not one available, they should consider starting one of their own because this also demonstrates good organizational and leadership skills.
The Debate Team
The debate team has always been a very popular among extracurricular activities for students to put on their college applications. Being able to form a coherent argument is an important skill for college students when they are writing essays or giving presentations on a subject. Being a member of the debate team shows that you have the critical thinking skills to weigh up both sides of an argument and draw conclusions. It also demonstrates that you have good public speaking skills and you can perform under pressure. Their speaking skills are very beneficial in a classroom setting because they will encourage discussion among their classmates and improve the learning environment. People on the debate team are also more likely to have a good understanding of current events.
Internships
The thing that a lot of college students lack is work experience. This is an issue when they graduate and start looking for jobs because they do not have much real world experience. Colleges want as many of their students to graduate and get good jobs afterward because it reflects well on them, which is why they like applications that have obtained an internship. It also shows that you have the general skills that people need in the workforce like organisation, time management, and people skills. It also shows a level of maturity that a lot of students won’t have.
Volunteer Work
Volunteer work is a great way to give back to the local community and meet a lot of interesting people at the same time. It’s also great for developing new skills, and colleges love to see it on applications. In fact, a lot of the best schools consider it a must-have for any successful applicants. The best way to find volunteering opportunities for your child is to think about their existing hobbies and how they could incorporate them in a volunteering capacity. For example, if they are passionate about sports they could coach a local kids team. If they love animals, local shelters are always looking for people to help out. Volunteer work is only beneficial if it’s something that they really care about, so make sure that they find something that is a good fit.
A Part Time Job
Some applicants worry that their part time job doesn’t leave them enough time for extracurriculars and that will hurt their application, but that isn’t the case at all. Colleges recognize that some students need to work to help out their family so it won’t work against you. Having a part time job also teaches you a lot of the desirable skills that colleges look for.
If your child is in the process of preparing a college application, these extracurricular activities will be a huge help.
CollegeXpress compiled a list for those looking for the best gifts for soon-to-be college students. From tech to practicality, these gifts would please any young adult.
What to get students who are heading soon to college and in the difficult process of trying to get there? Here’s an unusual gift guide from college admissions counselors, collected by Brennan Barnard, director of college counseling at the private Derryfield School in Manchester, N.H.
Today’s teens are savvy, and technologically advanced compared to their parents at the same age, and have a love for technology that integrates with life. Check this list out for items that will stimulate their electronic needs, help improve their daily living, and make the most of their time.
The creators of Grown and Flown has been asking their kids (and their roommates, friends, and significant others) and gathered their responses for this list of their favorite 2019 gifts. We love their suggestions and hope that you and your kids will too.
After your kids have grown out of believing in the jolly bearded man bringing them gifts every year, it may be a bit harder to holiday shop for them and think of anything more than a gift card. Check out our roundup of the best gifts for teens, and give the one you love something to gloat about on Snapchat. From an affordable instant Polaroid camera, to trendy accessories and more, we have over 30 gifts you can choose from to purchase the perfect present in a pinch!
I was in Starbucks the other day and I saw a group of teenagers come in and order triple espressos before school. Now I love a good espresso every now and then, but I got the feeling this was nearly an everyday occurrence with these teens. Could this affect their GPA?
Does coffee affect your student’s ability to excel academically? What about their sleep habits or the drugs they take to stay awake?
A survey was conducted of over 1,000 current college students to determine how their sleep and energy habits affect their GPAs. Is the exhaustion that comes from an all-nighter truly the price students have to pay for good grades? Does that extra cup of coffee offer an advantage over the sleeping student? And what about prescription ADHD medications? Their findings may surprise you.
Here are some excerpts from an article and supporting graphics of the survey results by Best Mattress Brands:
Coffee
With millennials continuing to push coffee demand to record-breaking amounts, studies also continue to reveal the health benefits of the beloved beverage, so college students may see little harm in their caffeine consumption. Drinking coffee can provide an immediate rush of energy to make it to early classes or stay awake late enough to hit the books, but the craving for a boost may be more harmful than we realize. Not only is the extra caffeine in the body’s system preventing a good night’s rest –– also it can negatively impact a student’s GPA.
Our study found as students consume more daily cups of coffee, the lower their GPA becomes, on average. While coffee may provide energy and allow for extra study time, lack of sleep that may result from caffeine can take away from the body’s ability to form long-term memories.
Sleep
the less sleep a student gets, the lower his or her GPA, according to our survey results. While the scientific community still debates the exact purpose of sleep, previous studies have shown that quality sleep is vital for a healthy body and mind, especially when it comes to learning and memory. It shouldn’t be surprising then that students who sleep eight hours or more on school nights see an average GPA improvement of 5 percent over those who get five hours or fewer of sleep each night.
Skimping on sleep may masquerade as a legitimate trade for an increased GPA, but lack of sleep actually increases stress levels instead, while GPAs drop. The long-term benefits of crawling into bed sound much more rewarding than forgoing sleep to cram for another quiz.
Prescription drugs
Adderall and Ritalin have become known as “study drugs” that help students concentrate and stay awake. Although these drugs are used to treat individuals who struggle with attention deficit hyperactivity disorders, their use has spread to students trying to better their grades. But do these drugs live up to the hype?
The study again found that sleep to be a better source of energy than stimulants. The 9 percent of current college students who had a prescription for Adderall or Ritalin slept less and earned a lower GPA on average. Understandably, these drugs often correlate with certain learning disadvantages, so a lower GPA may not be surprising.
