Now that I am officially done with my thesis, aka the most stressful event in my life so far, I can now focus on actually getting to Scotland. Now I am pretty sure the second most stressful event in my life will be all the fun that comes with actually getting to Scotland. With this joy of an application process, I thought that I would share all that I have figured out as both a guide for anyone who plans to study abroad in the future and also to anyone who has done this and can point out any tips that they have!

With almost ten years of college/university/post-high school education under my belt, I would like to think that the one thing I have mastered is attempting to avoid mistakes that I had previously made. According to prior mistakes especially is true for the ones that are the easiest to avoid - like forgetting that I have an insane week in the middle of the semester or that all of my professors conspired and had placed three tests all in one week!



Now fortunately for me as a post-graduate student (Ph.D. life), I get to avoid tests/practicals / general things that were all I had to focus on as an undergrad and masters student. While I may not have the "due dates" like I used to, I still believe that using some 'cheat-sheet' for essential dates is a must need for anyone in school.

The start of the year (or semester) is filled with all the joy of being one step closer to being done, a new class that you are looking forward to and of course the class syllabus. Something that used to be considered an easy first day becuase all of the professors would generally go over what was in store for the class, but is often disregarded after that moment.

Sure student may go through and highlight the importannt dates, file it away in the apporpriate binder (folder), but I have firmly believed that the syllabus should be something much more than an easy first day of class.

What is in generally in each syllabus?

The critical thing that we need to focus on is the course outline filled with all the IMPORTANT DATES. Highlight anytime there is an assignment due, a quiz or class test, or any other things that require more preparation than just a day.

Key things from the syllabus 

Creating a syllabus cheat sheet

Like I said I recently started using Excel to make my sheets - my handwriting is terrible plus it's easy to change things around. More importantly, I can print off 5 or so copies to keep with me or hang around my flat, so I don't miss anything! 

Do you have any advice on how you keep up with all of your classes/assignments/meetings?

I am back finally. I am terrible at getting on a schedule with all of the road trips that I have been on. Lucky me though today I head back to school and am back to writing, research and prepping for the start of the semester! Well, this past week I headed Connecticut for my little brothers Navy Sub School Graduation. There will be a post showing the graduation and the sub museum in Groton, Connecticut!

First I wanted to share the fantastic seaside town of Mystic Connecticut! It is home to Mystic Pizza the pizza shop that inspired the film Mystic Pizza with Julia Roberts and Matt Damon.  Some amazing ice cream shops, a charming drawbridge that you can sit by and watch the boat pass under and also some of the best seafood I have ever eaten! So hope you enjoy all the pictures and I am happy to be back blogging!!!!

Well there they are Mystic Connecticut told through photos! I must say I loved this town and wish I could live there in a houseboat!!!!

Question for everyone----
 Who has seen Mystic Pizza? My mom continually told me to watch it (I still haven't seen it) and yet she said it was a famous movie.

I never thought  I would have to write a post about "Renting in College and Bad Landlords" for my college advice section, but after the drama that I have had with my former landlord I need to share my advice to make sure that you will (hopefully) never have the problems that I am having. So here it goes: what to do before you rent, what to do when you move in and what to do to prepare to move out! Plus the most important tip of all and advice on handling a lousy landlord!

Before you decide to move in 

•  Make sure to look at more than one or two apartments and look at them IN PERSON. Sure you may have to make a weekend trip to check out places, but the Internet pictures can be deceiving. Seeing a place in person allows you to visualise what it would be like to live there. Can't make a trip up there, see if you can watch a video or Skype with the landlord walking you're virtually through the apartment.

• Check out the location a few different times during the day. It may be surprising and calm during the day but filled with beer pong/parties at night. Sure the parties are high every now and then but when your studying for an exam, it can be miserable and a distraction. 

• Ask your future neighbours what they think about living there. A lot of times this will get you the honest truth!

Signing the lease and moving in

• Read the lease and what it includes. It may be boring but knowing what is written down in the contract can help you if there are ever problems with the apartment.

• Have proof of what you paid upfront (First, Last and Deposit). This will save you time in the end if there are issues when your lease is up, the landlord may want you to pay your last month's rent even though you paid it. Having proof will save you money and the hassle!

• The first day the apartment is yours before you have stuff in there do a walk through and take pictures/video documenting the condition of the apartment. Write down anything that you notice is damaged/needs to be fixed and give a copy of the list to your landlord.

Planning your move out and what to do

• Notify your landlord in writing of when you plan to move out, try to do this at least a month before your lease is ending.

• Once your all moved out, do another walk through and document (photos/video) of how you are leaving the apartment.

• Leave your landlord a forwarding address to get your security deposit and ask when you should expect to get this. Make sure to also get a copy of the landlord's information (if you don't already have it) including name, address, phone number and email if possible.

The most important tip

• Make sure to get EVERYTHING IN WRITING and keep this together , make a folder with all of this information the day you sign the lease. In the end if your tenancy ends with no issues than having this information won't matter. But if you do have problems with your landlord, having all the information in writing and documented will help your case! 

Landlord problems and what to do...

• Make sure to check out the laws and rights that you have as a tenant. I used NOLO that broke down information by each state and then gave where to look for further information.

• Contact your landlord in writing with any issues that the apartment has and make sure to follow-up with them until it is fixed. If the problem is never handled than see what you can do to either get out of the lease and move or in extreme cases withhold rent.

• Talk to your college to get advice on how to handle off-campus housing problems. They may have a list of people that can help you to fix the situation and they may also be able to warn others about the apartment and its issues.

• Contact a lawyer.  If you have exhausted all of your other options and are still having issues (apartment conditions/no return of security deposit) you most likely have a case for small claims court. Sure this will be a pain, but it may be the only way to solve the situation. 

Hope that this helps everyone out there looking to find their perfect place for the start of the school year!

Anyone else have advice on how to find the right apartment? Has anyone else ever had issues with their landlords?

It is now (almost) mid-April, and I know that many of you are planning for that moment where you get to say "I made it through college". Yes, graduation is exciting. You made it through 4 years of tests, exams, late night study sessions, projects and rough nights. All of this may lead you to think that you are done with everything from the last four years, that all the information you've crammed into your head is all you need. Well, I am here to tell you the things that you should keep from college, and I am not talking about the two-story beer bong or your childhood teddy bear.

Here is the list of things that I would HIGHLY recommend you hold onto as you venture out to the real world, looking for jobs or going on to grad school or whatever you have planned.

1. Books from the classes that are your major. Sure you can google the hell out of things to 'refresh' yourself before you go to a job, take the GRE/PCAT/ blah-blah-blah, but I always find it much easier to go to my books (filled with tabs and highlights) and look up what I am trying to figure out. It could be a theory, math equation, instrument setups, I usually have them written out from one class or another. And reviewing things like that may come in hand if your applying for a job that wants you to work with something specifically from your background.
2.  Writing Sample, one that has been critiqued, graded and your professors approved of. It can be a lab report, newspaper article, Honors paper, or even your pottery portfolio. Whatever it is, make sure it is something that you would be proud to share, let it show off your rioting talents and make sure that it is your 'best' piece you can show. Jobs, grad schools, and internships/fellowships often ask for one so go ahead and have one ready! 
3. Poster or presentation that you may have done. There have been times in interviews where I have gotten asked to explain some research that is on my Resume. Being that some of it is now 4 years old, I know to refresh myself on it before going in for interviews! 
4. If your planning to go to grad school or maybe even thinking about it, I suggest keeping notes, study guides, homework, and test from your undergrad. There have been countless times that I have gone back to my old notes/test to look at how to do something. Much easier 'recalling' how to do something when you have your actual work in front of you!
5. My last tip is organizing all this shit I just told you to keep. How about making an ultimate college reference binder. Go through and organise/keep anything that may be important in a large binder! Easy to do, a bit time consuming but probably well worth it in the end.