Not Much Going On For April, V Quiet Month When It Comes To School (obviously), But May Is Exam Month

hey lovies!!

even with the current socioeconomic crisis, the prospect of moving from high shool to college or sixth form is still looming over many of us.

so i've compiled a list of things i've learnt and some advice that would've been so handy if someone had told me before hand!

it's divided into three sections for easy reading. if anyone want to add anything, feel free!! i'll update this at the end of second year!!

before college

if you're going to get folders for your subjects, a sturdy totebag (like from lush) is a shout. but a backpack is an even bigger shout.

before sixth form/ college starts, buy a planner or a journal. i have one that i got in october and omg guys. i have used almost every page and i'll probably only have to buy a second one in december. it's sturdy, i can set my own layout and!! it's got about 256 pages!

unless your teacher specifies otherwise, get a day folder!! it'll just be a smaller folder which you can take what you've done from that day or that week and move into your home folders. plus, it's just so much easier and more convenient.

you don't need to complete every single book on the reading list before you go back. try to become familiar with the ones that interest you the most or all of them, whatever floats your boat. just enjoy your summer!

hydroflask. hydroflask. hydroflask. you know, for water, tea ect.

find out what you like for breakfast. if you're like me, you never had breakfast before school at high school. that won't fly now! i love porridge to go so i can sort that out before my morning shower and then by the time i leave the house, it'll be the right temperature for my half an hour walk.

get yourself a little toiletries bag. put in tissues, hand sanitiser, makeup if you wear it, deodorant, body spray/perfume, hand cream, lip balm. you can even go as far as to get portable floss thingies

portable chargers are a life saver!

during college

the first week should be spent getting used to your learning centre. figure out the quickest route to your classes.

take a picture of your timetable and keep it as a lockscreen for like 2 weeks or until you get the hang of it

and most importantly!! learn everything you can about your library's loaning, returning and reserving process. if they also have recourses like flashcards, hefty amounts of paper, now is a good time to learn that for the future

if you have a personal tutor, try and stay on their good side as much as possible! they'll be your hypeman, your point of access and hell they might even become a great source of laughter and relief during the week.

you'll meet people in your classes that you don't vibe with. you'll meet people that you do. maybe, this is your chance to get away from past school friends/ acquaintances. whatever your case, try and stay grounded. don't sacrifice any part of yourself to fit in and definitely do not feel bad if people begin to drift away. everyone has different schedules and are at different stages, it's normal

during the school breaks (easter, christmas ect.) relax! obviously, complete the homework you've been given but take an actual break too!! trust me on this one

the balance of your work life, social life and sleep will be hectic and confusing and at some times, frustrating. you'll be able to do it, i can assure you. just never sacrifice your work life or your sleep for your social life!

relating to the above one, if you do get invited to events or your friends want to do something after college for fun, go have fun! at the end of the day, as long as you're caught up, your free time is yours.

also christmas time? if you want to get presents for your new college friends, by all means go ahead. but i would go by the rule to not get christmas presents during the first year of friendship unless you know 100% what to get them!

decide whether or not you're going to go paperless, have some paper documents for some subjects or just use printed documents and folders by about november time. that way, you know that your organisation system is consistent and you're not stressing out

condense your notes as you go along. the majority/all key words, key diagrams, and key concepts should be condensed or on flashcards by the time summer comes around

this is something i wish i knew beforehand. anki!! is an absolute life saver. if you're like me, you recently found out about the gem that is spaced repetition. anki does the work for you as long as you insert the info and remember to visit it everyday!

if you need support (academic, emotional ect.), it is perfectly fine to admit that and utilise the resources at your centre. hell, i strongly advise that you do so just for peace of mind

for my philosophy class, i'd advise doing this for any essay based subject, the day or two before an in class assessment, do some practise essays or answers with one or two of your classmates. you'll learn from each other and you can even turn it into a little study date as long as you do the work!

jstor, massolit, cambridge companions, emag, subject reviews (law review ect. by hodder education), podcasts, youtube videos and crash course will make your life so much easier!

try to go to some university lectures/taster days (i know it'll be hard but there are also online options)

whiteboards. whiteboards. whiteboards!! that's all i have to say

remember to have fun!! i know people say that these two years will be the best two years of your life but they kinda will be. the freedom is unmatched and the friends you may make will really help in stressful situations

now is the time to learn how to budget effectively. sixth form can cost a pretty penny if you're not diligent

if you have a part time job- ensure that you're being treated fairly. if you're not, leave. the weekend stress on top of your shool work will not be helpful and it won't benefit you in anyway!

after first year

if you haven't condensed all of your notes for the past year, complete it during the summer. you'll be at much more ease than you think

if you're doing any extra work (EPQ, medicine admissions test prep or law admissions test prep, coursework), do it during summer or at least have the bulk of it done. it will save you so much time and stress! the same with UCAS applications

there you go my loves! if you've got any questions, my inbox is always open!

tag yourself as hogwarts houses, study edition:

slytherin:

into dark academia, can drink 100 cups of coffee in a day, competitive to a fault, most likely head of the school or school council, studies in libraries, night owl, listens to podcasts, loves mythology, is a teachers pet, is a perfectionist, probably is a tutor or has some education-related side hustle, opens the door for people.

ravenclaw:

loves the smell of old books, always on the go, fascinated by architecture, make pinterest boards of study notes, runs a studyblr, drinks herbal tea daily, secretly competes with slytherin, has surprisingly messy handwriting, gets stressed easily, shares their notes with everyone, helps their teachers if they are carrying too much stuff.

griffindor:

is 99% energy drink, watches tv in class but still manages to get good grades, procrastinates but manages their workload, makes beautiful flashcards, has a bujo, is friends with everyone, organizes after school study classes, calms everyone down before exams, studies last minute, listens to audiobooks, encourages their classmates to do their best

hufflepuff:

is trying their best, studies in groups, best friends with their teachers, writes poetry, collects cute stationery but never uses it, has the best study snacks, has their pet to keep them company when studying, loves making study playlists, thinks that taking buzzfeed quizzes counts as ‘studying’, sleeps in class, doodles on their notes

youtube channels to motivate you this semester

♡ abao in tokyo - study with me’s & playlists

♡ advika singh - study & productivity vlogs

♡ allie c. - medical school vlogs

♡ carrot td - study with me’s

♡ celine - study with me’s

♡ deaana - medical school, study with me’s, stationary, etc.

♡ dear mimi - study vlogs

♡ dia - medical student vlogs

♡ dr. rachel southard, do - medical school & residency vlogs & talks

♡ emily feng - medical school vlogs

♡ emilystudying - dental school & study vlogs

♡ emma grace - nursing school vlogs

♡ emmalilyn - study with me’s

♡ ginny - study vlogs

♡ hyobin - medical student vlogs

♡ leighton sanders - nursing vlogs

♡ lucky penny - study with me’s

♡ lunardazes. - uni study vlogs

♡ madi’s nursing journey - nursing school & nursing vlogs

♡ mango oatmilk - study with me’s

♡ maria silva - study & hospital interning vlogs

♡ merve - study with me’s

♡ mishujo - study & productive vlogs

♡ nada - study & productivity vlogs

♡ ray hon - study with me’s

♡ sab yang - medical school & study vlogs

♡ sean study - study with me’s

♡ sierra lyn - nursing vlogs

♡ studymd - study with me’s

♡ study to success - stationary, study with me’s, study hacks, etc.

♡ tani study - study with me’s

♡ yours truly, chloe - study vlogs

♡ yulma - study with me’s

hi! do you know any vocabulary books? or websites/apps(besides a dictionary) that teach vocabulary? a lot of the vocabulary on tumblr/etc idk if it's accurate and i want to reach N4 soon. apologies if this sounds rude ^ ^ こんばんは

It doesn’t sound rude at all! I double check Tumblr vocabulary too (especially with natives) and make sure to get mine double-checked because it’s really easy to just put anything on the Internet these days. ✍🏻

Good vocabulary books are usually just textbooks! I’m a huge fan of the Genki series because I think their vocab is broken up really well. If you’re specifically studying for N4, I’d recommend getting your hands on N4 vocab books! 

新完全マスター has a whole series for vocabulary, kanji, and grammar. The books aren’t too expensive either!

日本語総まとめ also has a ton of good books for vocabulary that are geared towards N4

I also really like the 日本語能力試験完全模試シリーズ because just like the previous two, it has books geared towards each level and you can pick what you want to study (so there’s a whole vocab book)

はじめての日本語能力検定試験Ｎ４単語１５００

Truthfully, I recommend heading over to Kinokuniya’s website and searching “N4.” Tons of information comes out for books you can find and order online! 

As for apps, I love news apps! You can usually find kanji + vocab in tandem, and it’s a great way to practice your reading skills as well. Totally recommend! Apps like NHK for School or Easy Japanese are great for this. I also really like StickyStudy (I think it’s only available for iPhones though?). There is TONS of vocabulary broken up by JLPT level.

I hope this helps! My favorite vocabulary builder is WaniKani, but it does cost a bit of money to get past the first 3 levels and unlock the whole 60 level program. Definitely worth it in my opinion, but it does take some time to complete as well.

i’m back babes and i finally found out how am i gonna do my bujo

Conversation topics for incoming college freshman

(Here’s a link to my tips for college freshman worried about how to make friends)

Hey! I’m Em, a socially awkward person who has yet to master the art of conversation. To help all you people who might feel the same, here are some questions to ask beyond the basic ‘where are you from?’ and ‘what’s your major?’ I hope you find it helpful and I hope you kill it at college!

1. What dorm are you in? Do you like it so far? 2. Did you know your roommate before you came to college? 3. Are there any clubs you’re looking to join? 4. What is the farthest place you’ve heard someone here is from? 5. Why did you choose your major? 6. Which dining hall is your favorite so far? 7. Do you have any pets at home? 8. What other colleges where you looking at before you chose this one? 9. Which class are you most excited for? 10. Have you gotten lost yet? 11. Do you know of any haunted buildings on campus? 12. Do you know any upperclassmen? 13. Are you interested in rushing/do you have any family involved in Greek life? 14. Opinions on astrology? (For some reason, college peeps are big on zodiac signs) 15. Biggest fear for the upcoming semester? 16. Do you have a car on campus? 17. Have you climbed the rock wall yet? 18. Are you looking to get a job this first semester? 19. Whats your favorite thing that you bought specifically for college? 20. Do you have a favorite meme?

Now, these are all pretty basic starting points, so remember that after they answer, give them a two part response. First, react to what they said. Then, add onto it to provide the other person with something to respond to. Good luck!

graduation is just around the corner for me! equally nervous and excited! 

let the nclex studying begin :-)

♡ quick links

- etsy shop

- free printables, wallpapers, digital stickers!

♡ tag me! @annastudyskills​ | #annastudyskills

Who is SHE?

→ journal out who you want to be in 2025:

1. What does she look like? (Physical appearance, style)

2. How does she dress on a typical day?

3. What does she like ?

4. What doesn't she like?

5. What is her behavior like in different situations?

6. (Social interactions, demeanor)

7. How does she prefer to be treated by others? (Expectations from relationships)

8. How does she treat people around her? (Interpersonal relationships, kindness)

9. What does her daily routine entail? (Activities, schedule)

10. At what time does she usually go to bed? (Sleeping habits)

11. When does she wake up in the morning? (Morning routine)

12. What are her hobbies and interests? (Leisure activities)

13. What is her profession or occupation? (Career, job responsibilities)

14. What are her long-term goals and aspirations? (Career ambitions, personal achievements)

15. How does she handle stress or challenges? (Coping mechanisms, problem-solving approach)

16. What type of books does she enjoy? (Cultural preferences)

17. How does she maintain her physical and mental well-being? (Health and self-care routines)

18. Does she have any specific dietary preferences or restrictions? (Food choices)

19. Who are her closest friends, and what are her relationships like with them?(Friendship dynamics)

20. How does she navigate conflicts or disagreements? (Communication style, conflict resolution)

21. What values and principles guide her decision-making? (Personal ethics)

22. How does she spend her leisure time on weekends? (Weekend activities, relaxation methods)