Nicole Eisenberg - University of Maryland

Stop Procrastinating! The Five Simple Ps That Promise an A+ and a Social Life

By Nicole Eisenberg > Freshman > Business > University of Maryland

No wonder students are resorting to excuses—we’re only retaining 10 percent of what we read, and 20 percent of what we hear, says Nicholas Aretakis’ website, author of No More Ramen: The 20-Something’s Real World Survival Guide.

With that probability, professors can’t expect us to actually ace our tests and do our homework, right? Wrong—takes some effort, but with just a few simple changes to your procrastination habits, you can get that A.

First, open your planner (or go out and buy one if you didn’t already). Next: use it. As soon as you receive a syllabus, write down your entire semester’s work, including deadlines and study time. Also, write down some “social” time, like a date for the movies.

Next, prioritize. Cramming 37 hours of activities into 24 hours is impossible—unless you rank what you have to do in order of importance. Use a number system or stars and symbols to organize the tasks you just wrote into your planner.

Plain just do it now. Lay out a course of action—two hours for this paper, one hour for studying—stay off YouTube and get to it!

Have more than one assignment to do? Dr. Daniela Schreier, assistant professor at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, recommends treating your schoolwork like dinner—finish your first helping before starting on your second.

Then, pluck them off the list. Take a marker and cross that baby out. That action alone will feel rewarding.
Following these rules, you’ll have hours to spare. Reward yourself with Starbucks or watch a re-run of Glee. Perhaps even celebrate with the fifth simple P: party!

Jennifer Rogers - Arizona State University

What is one of the most common and most difficult questions to answer as a graduating senior? That's right, answering the question of "What are your plans after graduation?" causes most seniors to feel obligated to have the perfect, politically correct answer ensuring they have fully planned their next step of life.

For most college students, the next step is often a hazy, uncertain period in their lives. Fortunately, No More Ramen, a book written to guide 20-something's from the "college world" to the "real world" is tremendously helpful to bridge the gap. The author, Nicholas Aretakis, exposes key areas in careers, finding a dream job, personal life, finances, and even the importance of life balance. No More Ramen addresses a myriad of questions that most college students have; the advice from the 20-somethings featured in the book adds a personalized approach that college students can relate to. With recommended online career sources to budgeting templates, any 20-something can set their life up for success by reading this book. An easy and life-changing read, No More Ramen should be used not only as a guide from college to the real world but as a guide throughout one's life.

Arizona State University - anonymous

The one book every college student should read before graduation! After reading No More Ramen, my fears of going out into the 'real world' turned into excitement. As a graduating senior at ASU, I had so many questions about what to do with my life after graduation. The author really understands what is in the heads of 20-somethings because he addressed all of my concerns. I was able to take a sigh of relief knowing I am not the only one with these questions. This is the ultimate toolbox for any student who wants the best out of their life after college. From how to balance your personal and professional life to interviewing tips and budgeting, this book covers it all. I highly recommend it and I will be giving them away as graduation gifts to all my friends!