Life Hacks
How do I stretch my financial aid stipend?
Everyone knows that despite the Academy’s generous financial aid packages, it can still be hard to find enough money to pay for your books in the spring, especially if you’re an upperclassmen and you have to buy those (ridiculously expensive) Davidson history textbooks. Luckily for you, the Life section is sensitive to this issue, and we’ve compiled some tips to help you squeeze every last penny out of your stipend.
1. The Lending Library is your friend. It’s one of those underrated gems on campus, and is located on the top floor of the Davis Library. A lot of our faculty members will teach the same books year after year. Exonians frequently donate their books after a term of classes, and so you have good chance at finding the books you need in the Lending Library. The best part? It’s completely free, and you don’t even have to check the books out to take them.
Time represents your commitment—how much effort you want to put into learning and improving yourself.
2. On a similar note, your dormitory is also an often overlooked resource. Instead of donating their books to the Lending Library, at the end of the year, many Exonians will simply leave their books in the common room. So, after scoping out your books in the Bookstore, make sure to pay a visit to your dorm, and check out its bookshelves. Who knows what you might find? (Hint: A lot of common rooms stock the aforementioned pricey Davidson textbooks. The pages might be off, but the information will probably be more or less the same.)
3. It’s important to form connections with older students. If you couldn’t tell by now, many of them try to get rid of their books, especially seniors on their way out. At the end of the year, find out which seniors you know have taken a class that you will take next year. Maybe they’ll be kind enough to hand over some books. Do note that this is a bit less reliable, as it’s hard o guarantee that your teacher will use the same books the senior’s teacher did.
4. This last tip requires some planning ahead. Many lowerclassmen, particularly preps, will find themselves with money left over in their stipend after buying all their books for the year. Do not let that money go to waste. Your stipend does not roll over, and so you should always finish your money. Use the rest of stipend to prepare for next year, and avoid some future expenses. Buy school supplies. If you really want to think ahead, buy some test prep books too.
My midterm grades are not great. How do I bump my grades?
It’s completely normal if you are feeling upset about your grades right now. You should be serious about your grades. But don’t get stuck in the abyss of depression. Reflect on your academic performance in the past half term. Write down what you have done well and what needs to improve. Just like the midterm METIC we did in class, do a self-METIC on your own. Keep the list next to you when you are doing your school work, and always push yourself out of the comfort zone to make a change. Changing long-developed habits might be uncomfortable at first, but I promise you it will get much easier once the change becomes a new habit. Put aside your negative emotions and focus on your work at hand. All that you can change is what is in front of you. Look ahead, Remember, you still have half a term to flip the game (I’m not saying it’s a long time, so start from today)! The key to getting good grades is to use good study methods, stay focused and work hard. Think about what we have learned in physics, work equals power times time. Power represents how efficient you are, which is determined by your study methods and level of concentration. Time represents your commitment—how much effort you want to put into learning and improving yourself. I understand, rose is red; movie is fun; young love is sweet. Though not impossible, it is very hard for a person to handle everything at the same time. Manage your time well. If you are feeling a bit overwhelmed, sacrificing something minor for the bigger win is a tough but imperative decision to make.
How can I help dorm community?
Dorm community is one of the most important aspects of life at Exeter. Whether you are a boarding student or a day student affiliate, getting involved with dorm activities often creates the best memories. I have heard countless alumni say that their dorm friends have been their best friends, even long after Exeter. There’s a reason why we shout out our dorm’s name at assembly, right? So, to become a closer dorm community, don’t shy away from the time-consuming activities. People tend to complain about the duration of dorm activities (“I have too much homework for this,” “Why do we even need to do this?” etc.). Ignore others’ complaints and bring your relaxed self to dorm discussions or group games. Also, it’s fun to try gathering a group: maybe you encourage dormmates to bake cookies with you or play spikeball on the quad. Lastly, managing tensions in the dorm is a tough but necessary skill to learn. Instead of sidestepping an issue or letting tensions awkwardly simmer for weeks, bring problems up with the person/persons with an open mindset. Even if you have to compromise more than others, that may be worth it to achieve harmony. After all, you will be seeing these people every day!