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Show 9 To wait or not to wait There are benefits to both attending graduate school right after graduating or taking a gap year, but there are also stressors involved with each decision. Choi Seong-I- n is an assistant professor in psychology who teaches quantitative research methods. She also has clinical interests in and anxiety depression. You are now protected in the system, Seong-I- n said. Once you are out, it is a whole new world, Seong-I- n said. Unlike high school, college students are independent yet dont have the independence as much as someone with an established career, Seong-I- n said. This sense of protection in the college system is shattered once students step into the unknown world of employment. Losing support is highly Seong-I-n anxiety provoking, said. The unknown future of tests, graduate school interviews and applications, job relationships with peers and professors heightens the risks involved. When students feel this fear, they become anxious and overwhelmed, Seong-I- n said. The best way to lower anxiety is tvo increase the controllability in life, Seong-I- n said. According to Seong-I-n, application tests are important but students should also focus on their letter statement. A letter statement shows a students passion and how interested he or she is in the desired program, which will set him or her apart from other students who may lack that in their application, said. Seong-I- n Despite passion for a subject, there are certain tests that students need in order to get accepted into graduate school. These tests tend to be highly stressful for students, said. Seong-I- n Seong-I- n suggests that students undergraduate should study strategically and improve time management, especially when they face the decision to go to graduate school. This is very basic but basic is important, Seong-I- n said. And sometimes it is hard to follow. Jim Katsilometes is in his second year in the Master of Public Health program at Westminster. He chose to attend graduate school right after graduating with a bachelors degree in public health in 2013. As a physician, its important to have a more diverse understanding of health care than just the hard science, Katsilometes said. Katsilometes took the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) before attending graduate school and took over 50 sample MCAT tests to study for it. He said he was stressed out during the examination period because of the testing environment and the pressure he felt to succeed in it. Katsilometes said medical school played a major factor in his decision to attend graduate school right after his undergraduate graduating at Westminster. schooling. Mia Wang, junior public health major, started studying for the GRE last semester. She dedicates one day a week to study for the test from books. Moore said that she plans to study more online in her senior year. Wang said she wasnt nervous for the multiple questions section, but for the essay portion. The earlier to start studying!, the easier it will be, Wang said. Natale McAneney, senior musical theater major, plans to attend graduate school but not directly after graduating. I want to be certain of the program that I want to study, McAneney said. like Other students McAneney would rather take the time after college to experience and settle into a job that they want before going to graduate school and juggling work and a school load. Alice Pugh, junior public health major, said she wants to take at least two years off after her undergraduate degree, especially since the GRE test is valid five years after the test date. I want to get some job experience first and see what I like, Pugh said. Other students plan to attend graduate school right after graduation. Erin Moore, English major, is only a sophomore but plans to attend graduate school after I probably have to for my major, Im not really employable ar get frustrated when I get home and realize that I was wasting my time during class and I dont have the information I need to do my homework. As the transition from high school to college can be a drastic change, social media can become bigger influences on students day to day lives. Ferreira said, I check my social media sites more now that I am in college rather than high school because my friends are now posting more things online and I want to be involved in as many activities as I can. Social media dont just affect students but professors as well. From time to time, students can pull their phones out in class to check social media sites and some professors see that as a big distraction. the Unfortunately, media sends the message toward young people that they are multitaskers, said Zarkin, communication professor. But our brains can only handle doing two things at once and when you add a third thing, we start getting really stupid. When students are in the classroom, their focus should be on their schoolwork, Zarkin said. Students tend to think what is happening outside the classroom is more important than what is happening inside the classroom, Zarkin said. Social media can also be used positively as a learning tool. Zarkin encourages students to use social media as an educational tool outside the classroom. I think students using social media to talk to each other outside of class to connect with each other to work on groups is a brilliant use of social media, such as Google Hangouts, Zarkin said. How do you use social tools? media as learning forumfortnightly Kim STAFF REPORTER CLASS OF otherwise, Moore said. 2013 QlfSTUDEHTS Off GRADUATED STUDENTS EMPLOYED 6'adSt-?- o BEST PLACE TO STUDY ON CAMPUS: GIOVALE LIBRARY were students Twenty surveyed about the best place to study on campus. The results indicated all students preferred the library for studying for tests and finishing big projects. A majority of the students chose the top floor of the library as the best place to study because of its quiet environment. Silent, peaceful and studious are among the characteristics students look for when reviewing notes, rereading chapters or creating flashcards. Jerry Argyle, sophomore computer science major, said she Is social media ruining us? Over the last decade, social media have swarmed college campuses. While social media offer many positive opportunities for both students and faculty, it can also be a distraction. Mikayla Vasquez, sophomore and nursing major, said, I try to not bring my computer to class so I am not tempted to check my social media sites. Vasquez said she thinks she is able to monitor her social media use in class. I check social When media sites in class, I am still interested in class but I just like to be updated on my friends, like knowing what they did on Fall break, Vasquez said. Some students on campus may not spending their time wisely in class and are missing key information in class due to checking phones and social media sites. I am 100 percent missing notes in class because I am checking my social media sites, said Alex Ferreira, first-yestudent and business major. I DENISE HIMES likes to get her studying done on the top floor because of its quiet environment. Argyle also said she enjoys the comfortable chairs it has to offer. PROS AND CONS OF THE LIBRARY PRO Unlike the Bassis Student Center and the Shaw Student Center, the library has power sockets in reserved rooms, computer workspaces and study tables. CON The library is not open 24 hours, which may limit the times students can study. lanr8uson,stappreporter |