Final Reflection The first topic I learned about was financial aid, including FAFSA and work studies. Knowing the basics of what FAFSA and work studies are, along with how to apply, is extremely helpful for me as a first year college student. By learning the benefits of applying for work study programs and staying on top of my FAFSA applications by turning them in early, I will feel more confident with my college finances. The second topic I learned about was student loans. This topic is perhaps the most infamous and scary aspect of college, so knowing helpful tips and tricks about them saves a lot of unnecessary stress. This topic taught me to not borrow more than $5,000 in loans per year, and to make sure that, after college, my student …show more content…
I learned to always be aware of what scholarships and grants are offered, both by the school and community. Since learning that these don’t have to be paid back and that not all are based on academic scores, it has lead me to look more in depth into scholarships offered by Sauk and in my area by using different websites to see what I should apply for. This topic has taught me to not be afraid to apply for different scholarships, as they’ll save me money and stress in the long run. Learning methods to use when studying was extremely helpful. The most useful were to: work for 25 minutes and then take a 5 minute break; read for 50 minutes and then take a 10 minute break; studying for no more than an hour per subject; organize and review class notes soon after class; and, finally, do work for my hardest subjects first. All of these have helped me to procrastinate less and feel more confident in my schoolwork. The fifth topic I learned about was note taking. Reading about the pros and cons of different note taking methods, including the list, outline, concept map, and Cornell method, has helped me to identify which methods work best for me. Using the outline format while also incorporating aspects of concept maps and the Cornell method has inspired me to better organize my notes and study more …show more content…
Metacognition is intentional thinking about how one thinks and learns, and doing this is instrumental to adjust and enhance deep learning. This topic taught me to always analyze my study habits and school methods to see where I can improve. My biggest struggle in school is managing my time, so the topic of time management was perhaps the most beneficial for me. The more useful tricks and adjustments I learned to better manage my time was to: wake up at a regular time each day; install activity blockers on my electronic devices; and keep my phone in another room while doing school. These tips have all helped me avoid procrastinating on my schoolwork. The time management topic also inspired me to be more realistic with my daily tasks and take small breaks to stay refreshed. An additional topic I learned about was how to better use the Sauk library, both online and in person. In person, I learned how to get a library card, use the tutoring center, and find different physical resources. Online, I learned how to better utilize the research tools and methods available to me through Sauk. Familiarizing myself with these things will be helpful in the future when I have to conduct research for different