Major Project 4: Research Paper. Do Actors need a college degree

Keith Kearney-Pelsey

 

Professor Rebecca Weaver

 

Engl 1102

 

April 18, 2022

 

Actors: Degree or No Degree

 

    For those of young students who want to be actors or actresses know that acting doesn’t always come from talent but from skill. There’s more than what people might think. And that is getting a little bit educated on the art of Theatre or Film. Some actors strive to get a degree in those categories in order to get far in their career, but there is one major question that is often asked is whether or not actors really need to have a degree in their craft. The answer often varies when it comes to the actor or actress who want to have a degree. For most people, they will say that acting just comes from experience without needing an education but others take their time to go to college to increase their knowledge in their career. It matters to everyone who wants to become successful after their years in education. Actors are free to have the choice to go to college and make an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in their craft.

The college degree that everyone, including actors, strives for is a Bachelor’s degree or an Associates degree. In an anominously written article on the Best Accredited Colleges website, “Acting Career Information: Becoming an Actor or Actress”, they addressed the educational requirement for being an actor. The author of the article states that, “There are no formal education requirements to become an actor but a bachelor’s degree in theater arts, drama, acting and performing, may be helpful in learning technical skills. Granted, they only talk about everything that an actor does and needs, the author actually talks about the different skill sets to be an actor. Those skills are memorization, creativity, and literacy. Those skills are often there as a reminder for how young actors should treat their education. Since there is no formal educational requirement, they offer classes in the college field as a bit of extracurricular for other actors. These classes show the students how to be technical in their craft and help them gain full experience. Even if those extra-curricular activities help with experience, it doesn’t truly help with getting a degree in that particular field. The general conclusion of this article lies under the fact that the necessary skill sets and extra-curricular programs in college will help students become actors. Therefore is one of the reasons that actors don’t need a degree to make it far into their careers.

 

Without having a degree in acting, students who are soon to become actors will find better experience when they are doing real jobs onstage or onset. This is fully explained in the article, “Actor” written by Kathyrn Quinlan. Kathryn Quinlan is a writer who writes on different career pathways that give out training tips in those particular careers. In Chapter 3: Training to Be an Actor, Quinlan states that, “Most actors train on the job, taking lots of small jobs at first, as extras in shows and helpers building sets and props.” (Quinlan)  For actors who are being extras are usually given minor parts with little dialogue. Luckily they get paid for their work and gain tons of experience doing so. Another thing that was mentioned in Chapter 3 was that actors could join unions. Quinlan added, “A union is a group that seeks fair treatment and better pay for workers. Sometimes actors must belong to unions before they can work.” (Quinlan) Say as if an actor wanted to be a lead role in a play or a movie, they would have to be part of a union such as SAG-AFTRA or Actors Unity Association. There are actually different kinds of unions that helps different types of actors ranging from being an extra to being a stunt double. Many beginning actors can gain true experience when they do real work real set or stage. They can even do without having a Bachelors or Associates degree in their craft.


It could be a few actors who actually do decide to get a college degree and use it for their career. They would use that degree for getting a job in theatre, acquire a lot of money in that field or even better they get to experience new things with the degree. This particular idea is a lot more explained in the article, Dollars and sense’’: Professors and Other Experts Share Advice on Financing Your Theatre Degree.” written by Amy Cuomo. Amy Cuomo is a theatre professor of University of West Georgia who made this article with other theatre professors on their opinions and advice on theatre students who want to have a college degree. “For theatre practitioners, higher education training provides an opportunity to learn new skills and hone your craft, as well as to make discoveries about yourself and your abilities.” (Cuomo 11)  As she said, when most actors gain their degree, particularly in Theatre, the world is always open for multiple opportunities for everyone. With financial aid, FAFSA aid could definitely help with scholarships for college and it could really benefit college professors for their jobs. Granted, colleges will charge students for classes and living expenses, but luckily FAFSA will take care of all of it. It all adds up to how students manage grades and what they got on their test scores. With acquiring money and experience, that all goes into how the student chooses whether or not to use their degree. Experience and money is very important to a degree but the way a degree is financed should be very crucial.

 

As it would be seem from all of the evidence that whether or not actors should get college degrees to help further careers lies on the hands of the actors themselves. Even if there is no formal education requirement when actors need a degree for their craft, it would still be good for them to go for it. Every actor should be able to find their way into their career with or without a college degree. They could learn by experience, programs, or even by getting real jobs in the field. Others who want to get a college degree will be able to study more and learn new things along the way that they never knew even existed. It’s almost similar to the old saying of “College isn’t for everyone.” Where in this case, actors who would want to go to college to find more opportunities will be great for them, while other actors who aren’t really looking forward to college can still find those opportunities by another source. Degree or no degree, Actors will be able take the stage in their own way and set up new journey for themselves.

 








Works Cited
“Acting Career Information: Becoming an Actor or Actress.” Bestaccreditedcolleges.org, https://bestaccreditedcolleges.org/articles/acting-career-information-becoming-an-actor-or-actress.html. 


Cuomo, Amy. “DOLLARS AND SENSE: Professors and Other Experts Share Advice on Financing Your Theatre Degree.” Southern Theatre, vol. 62, no. 1, Winter 2021, pp. 24–36. EBSCOhost, https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,shib&db=ibh&AN=148423046&site=eds-live&scope=site.

Quinlan, Kathyrn. “Chapter 3: Training to Be an Actor.” Actor, Jan. 1998, p. 22. EBSCOhost, https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,shib&db=ndh&AN=8906123&site=eds-live&scope=site.

What are the best ways of helping international students succeed in their academic writing?

 

“EditorialBusiness & Work” by Scott Graham licensed under Unsplash.

Writing challenges such as grammar, word choice, organization and flow of ideas, critical thinking, and plagiarism are the problems in international students’ academic writing. In a generation where sharing ideas is a resource, not being able to share them is a killer of a revolution. To solve the struggle in the academic struggle of international students, there are five best strategies to improve international students’ academic writing: Reading effectively, translating, practicing, being open to feedback, and knowing international students are not alone in their academic writing struggle. 

Reading habits can be a new skill to build; however, it is the backbone for improving academic writing or writing in general. Dr. Katherine Firth, a lecturer from LA TROBE’s research University, asserts the value of reading about writing. She said reading habits help international students be familiar with sentence structure, word choice, and common use of English metaphors(Firth). The more international students incorporate reading habits into their life, the more they will understand English. Understanding English is a helpful skill that improves the writing skills of international students. However, there are international students who are avid readers but find academic writing difficult, this is because they are using an ineffective reading strategy.

According to Mai-Linh Bui, a U.S. News publisher, ”[International students] will probably need to read a number of research papers and dissertations throughout the academic year.  [ They shouldn’t] skim them for information”(Bui). Glimpsing the information over does not help international students improve their writing much; However, they should read a dissertation or research paper and look at how the author structure the paper in a way that convinces the reader. These will help international students know different sentence structure forms, which they can embody in their academic writings. 

In addition to reading research papers or dissertations, Bui said if international students translate English text into their native language, it will enforce them to know the different structures of writing (Bui). When international students translate English into their native language, they will force themselves to read deeply or analyze the text. Analyzing a text will help them visualize the structure of the paper.

However, while reading and translating are helpful in writing, if international students do not practice writing regularly, they will not show much improvement. Firth asserts that taking every opportunity to increase international students’ English writing skills such as: taking notes, writing emails, and sending text messages- are better means to help international students improve their writing skills(Firth). In every writing international students write and make a mistake, they are learning. But, if the mistakes were not corrected, will they be illiterate their whole life about writing?

In their study, Carol Dweck(author of Mindset) and her team do research at the University of Hong Kong and asked students who are not fluent in English if they were willing to take courses to improve their English skills if provided. The fixed mindsets, a mindset that skills cannot be developed, were not very interested; however, the growth mindsets were happy to take the course(Dweck, 25). Those who were not interested risk their college career by hiding their deficiency in English. However, the growth mindsets open doors for improvement. They welcome feedback.

For international students to learn from their writing, they should be open to feedback. But, From whom should international students ask for feedback? Swathi Ravichandran et al., who published an article in the Journal of International Students about how to improve the academic writing of international graduate students, stated that feedback from faculty, writing center, peer mentors, or friends plays a good role in improving international students’ academic writing (Ravichandran et al., 775-777). Many academic writings were written with professors and peers as an author in mind. As a result, getting feedback from these people will increase the chance of triumph in international students’ academic writing. However, if international students do not correct the error, the feedback will be just feedback. Feedback will be effective when international students learn from it and make a change.

As much as the usefulness of applying these strategies, it can be daunting at the same time. However, what international students have to know is that they are not alone in the process of struggling with academic writing. Firth, a lecturer from LA TROBE’s research University, said, ”international students pass [their writing assignment] at the same rate as local students and often complete more swiftly”(Firth). Most international students learn through struggle. The struggles shaped their writing to be better, which helped them pass at the same rate as local students.

All the five best strategies help international students become better writers. By becoming better writers, international students can open doors for lots of career opportunities. Most employers want employees that can communicate effectively. If international students can communicate effectively through writing, they will create a better lifestyle in the future.

Becoming a better writer is also useful for the good health of international students. University can be a stressful place, so writing thoughts on paper can clear the mind, which reduces the stress of international students. If their stress is reduced, they can use that energy on productive tasks, which will broaden their knowledge.

If international students can increase their knowledge, they will become successful in their college life and become satisfied with their life. Their success is also a way to create a better society. The more literate person an environment contains, the more a better society will be built.

In conclusion, even if English Composition courses are given on college campuses,  international students must incorporate the habit of writing into their life even after completing the course. If international students form a community where writing is a culture, they will thrive even after leaving their English Composition course.

                                            

                            Works Cited

Dweck, Carol .” Mindset Changing the Way You Think to Fulfil Your Potential”. Robinson, 2017.

Ravichandran, Swathi, et al. “Strategies to Address English Language Writing Challenges Faced by International Graduate Students in the US.” Journal of International Students, vol. 7, no. 3, 2018, pp. 764–785., https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v7i3.298. 

Bui, Mai-Linh“3 Ways International Students Can Improve Academic Writing.” Yahoo! News, Yahoo!, https://news.yahoo.com/3-ways-international-students-improve-academic-writing-130000828.html. 

“6 Strategies for Better Writing When English Is Your Second Language.” Nest, 15 May 2018, https://www.latrobe.edu.au/nest/6-strategies-better-writing-english-second-language/. 

 

 

Major project 4: College and Poverty in America

Name: The Thuy Trang Nguyen

Professor: Rebecca Weaver

Course: ENGL1102

Date: 4/21/2022

 

INTRODUCTION

The dream of college is more often than not too big for the low-income population due to the overall cost of college. However, as in society, higher education increases the chances for success by allowing one access to better job opportunities; the middle and low-income population strive to go to college and to afford it acquire loans, scholarships, and taking up part or full-time jobs to ensure they can raise enough for their upkeep and college fees. The financial toll that college takes on individuals has stirred up the discussion on the need to make college education accessible or reduce college fees to be affordable to low and middle-income individuals.

DISCUSSION

A free college education would reduce college’s financial toll on students and their families. Students’ financial lives are characterized by acquiring student loans while in college, which raises whether college is worth the effort. As highlighted by Jeff Grabeier, “When asked how they paid for their tuition, students were most likely to say either loans or scholarships and grants” (Grabeier). The government should address the difficulty people face paying for college and ensure that the opportunity for college is accessible for everyone despite their income and social class. Thanks to social stratification, the rich have more access to the most exemplary education programs. In contrast, the poor can only access the bare minimum, thus ensuring that the rich remain rich by acquiring the best jobs after the best education. In contrast, the poor maintain a cycle of missing opportunities for the cost. Making college accessible would provide a sense of equality as all one would need to acquire a college education is the academic achievement that qualifies them for college and will. This would ease the financial stress on students, that is Grabeier highlights in the statement, “Financial problems lead some students to make difficult choices, the survey found. Nearly three out of 10 students said they reduced their class load because of the money they owed, while 16 percent took a break from their college or university and 13 percent transferred to another institution” (Grabeier). Sara Goldrick mentions that the economics of college display a rise in college tuition, which is contrary to what society needs, as college tuition was already too expensive for the majority of the population. She highlights that one in ten students endure homelessness during college. A free college education would solve many of these problems students face as the little money they can raise would be directed to their upkeep and personal needs that would ensure the students can acquire a college education without the financial stress.

A free college education would ensure that young people can attain their dreams despite their socioeconomic backgrounds. Dreams are shattered too by the inability of young people to afford college tuition. To build a society that can motivate young people to be ambitious and chase their dreams, the government should ensure that college education is free. This is not to mean that free college would solve every financial problem students face, as small expenses such as housing and food can threaten students’ college careers. Financial stress presents itself in worry about general personal finances, catering for monthly payments, and debts from student loans and credit cards (Lim et al.)

Karen Weese highlights that “To a middle-income kid from a neighborhood with two cars in every garage, it may be incomprehensible that something costing less than a few burritos at Chipotle could derail a person’s college education. But for many young people across the country — growing up in homes where there’s little left after paying rent and utilities — the challenge is painfully familiar” The number one reason that low-income students drop out is financial. And often it’s a little thing, that a middle- or higher-income family wouldn’t even think twice about.” (Weese). These facts depict that raising the college tuition is a meager first step in attaining a college education as the other expenses are not as affordable for the low-income students. This is especially noted by Chris Metzler, who identifies that “A lot of people think if you give a kid a scholarship, now the kid’s set, they’ve got everything they need,” (Weese), which is an erroneous assumption as students require more than just paid tuition fee to survive in college.

Listening to the stories of low-income college students, one gathers that financial anxiety is predominant among them. With the tuition rates rising faster than inflation, financial stress and anxiety are not new to students. The money that low-income students save up to use while in college is rarely enough, and they end up depleting the capital before the semester’s completion. As students cannot increase their income or reduce expenses, they end up acquiring debt here and there. Financial anxiety causes the development of poor mental health in students and poor physical health as the amount of pressure they put on their bodies juggling academic work. Their part-time jobs take a toll on the students’ health. “schools cannot simply showcase smiling black and brown faces in their glossy brochures and students wearing shirts blaring “First Gen and Proud” in curated videos and then abdicate responsibility for the problems from home that a more diverse class may bring with them to campus. Does this entail going beyond providing tuition, room, and board? Yes. It requires colleges and universities to question what they take for granted, their students, and the institutions themselves.” (Jack) Schools should understand that when an individual comes from a low-income background, financial aid is not enough for them to succeed. This is especially highlighted by Anthony Jack in his description of his college struggles, like in the statement, “During one rough patch, I stayed home from school for a few days when we couldn’t afford all the supplies needed to carry out my science-fair experiment on bulb voltage and battery life. I developed my hypotheses, outlined my proposed methods without the materials, and had everything ready to go when we could afford the supplies” (Jack). Low-income college students should be provided with adequate access to all resources essential to their academic achievement. The primary factors such as housing and food are catered for as affording this is quite cumbersome for them to do independently.

Ultimately, a free college education would partially solve the problem of high college funds, as students would still have so much more to pay to ensure their smooth learning.  

Work Cited

Abraham Jack, Anthony. “I Was A Low-Income College Student. Classes Weren’T The Hard Part.”. The New York Times, 2019, I Was a Low-Income College Student. Classes Weren’t the Hard Part. – The New York Times (nytimes.com) .  Accessed 29 Mar. 2022.

Goldrick-Rab, Sara, “College is creating poverty” uploaded by TED, May 2019, https://www.ted.com/talks/sara_goldrick_rab_college_is_creating_poverty . Accessed 17 April 2022.

Grabeier, Jeff. “70 Percent Of College Students Stressed About Finances”. 70 Percent Of College Students Stressed About Finances, 2022, https://news.osu.edu/70-percent-of-college-students-stressed-about-finances/. Accessed 29 Mar. 2022.

Lim, HanNa et al. “Financial Stress, Self-Efficacy, And Financial Help-Seeking Behavior Of College Students”. Journal Of Financial Counseling And Planning, vol 25, no. 2, 2014, pp. 148-160., Accessed 29 Mar. 2022.

Weese, Karen. “When A Sudden, Small Expense Threatens An Entire College Career”. The Washington Post, 2022, https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/01/30/college-poverty-expense-cost-dropout/ . Accessed 29 Mar. 2022.

Laila Thurman- Project Four- The Impact On-Campus and Off-Campus Living Arrangements Have on Student Success

Podcast Link

Laila A. Thurman

Professor Weaver

English 1102

21 April 2022

 

The Impact On-Campus and Off-Campus Living Arrangements Have on Student Success

 

When students are accepted into the college of their dreams and are preparing to confirm their acceptance, there’s a certain process they go through. They cancel their other applications, call their parents to celebrate, check their financial aid package and begin to excitedly complete their next steps process.

 

Eventually, they’ll get to a screen that asks a simple, straightforward question, “Will you be living on campus; select yes or no.”

 

It’s an easy question to answer for some. But, for others, a bit more thought must be put into it before they can decide.

 

Some common questions run through their mind, such as:

 

How do the dorms look? Are they modern enough?

 

If they live off-campus, will their home be a reasonable distance away?

 

If they live on campus, will RAs be as big of an issue as they’re made out to be?

 

So many questions, so many outcomes, all hinging on one ‘yes or no’ question.

 

For being such an important consideration for college students, housing is rarely thought about outside of the aesthetics of Greek Life or the dread of a communal bathroom. But why is that? How can something so important be handled with such a blasé attitude? Don’t students know just how deeply housing can affect their college experience? How deeply it can affect their success?

 

The answer is they don’t.

 

At least, they don’t have a deep level of understanding. Most students will choose their housing option based on surface-level information. They don’t consider how the environment they live in will affect the environment school will become.

 

Currently, there are plenty of housing offices that help on-campus (i.e., residential) students make the best of their college experience.

 

Here are some examples of this:

 

They’re provided with Residential Assistants, also known as RAs, whose jobs are to optimize their living experience. Solving issues that pop up between roommates and checking the living spaces of students to make sure they’re being responsible and staying safe.

 

They’re also placed in prime locations that are near school amenities and services such as dining halls, school buildings, faculty offices, and recreation centers.

 

Residential students are cared for in a way off-campus (i.e., commuter) students have not seen since the 1970s.

 

After the 1913 Gott v. Berea College case. Which opened the door for colleges to stand in loco parentis” or in the place of a parent.  Colleges experienced a shift in responsibility. They were given the power to involve themselves with student welfare outside of the classroom, and as this responsibility evolved, most colleges became institutions that strived to literally “be a better parent.”

 

Off-campus housing offices were created, and housing staff worked with students, city and state officials, and locals to find the best places for off-campus students to live. According to Kate Rousmaniere, author of the article, “What Happened to Your College Town: The Changing Relationship Between Higher Education and College Towns,” the goal of these offices was to “designate and maintain appropriate housing lists which would indicate to students that the listed property had passed health and safety inspections and university provisions.”

 

This level of care and involvement from universities in the goings-on of commuter students has not been seen in the decades since off-campus housing offices lost power. Currently, on-campus housing has become the most popular living arrangement, and in the eyes of students and universities alike, on-campus living is the only way to receive a fulfilling college education.

 

America has become enamored with the idea of the dorm.

 

America has become bewitched by the thought of Greek Living.

 

America has become addicted to the idea that the only way for students to take advantage of their education is for them to live on-campus.

 

Students who live off-campus are often accused of being less serious about their studies and less willing to pursue higher education. They are also seen as less valuable members of their college communities, and oftentimes, they face ridicule from the very institutions that make their college experience as unengaging as it is.

 

While it is true that most of the issues that arise with students who live off-campus result in lower grades, less engagement with their universities, less dedication to their classes, and lower retention rates, these results are not solely the fault of commuter students. The lack of attention being placed on off-campus housing has damaged the way these students receive their education.

 

College is not just about going to classes and getting a passing grade, though that is a major part of it, college is about the experience it can give to students. Study abroad programs, movie nights, concerts, playing bingo, all of these different socialization opportunities are very important ways colleges help their students succeed.

 

After all, when a feeling of community is present, students are more likely to remain at a university to pursue higher education.

 

To really understand the role housing has on students’ college success, we must begin by focusing on ‘good housing, ‘i.e., On-campus living arrangements.

 

At most universities, living on-campus looks a little something like this.

 

Let’s assume that our hypothetical student is taking the standard 12 credit hours per semester.

 

Two classes each day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

 

Between classes, they give themself several hours to return to their dorm and relax while completing homework. If they run into an issue, it’s no problem. They can just drop by the tutoring center or ask a classmate who happens to live down the hall.

 

Once they complete their work, they could nap or go to the recreation center and work out.

 

A few hours later, before they go to their next class, they head to the dining hall, which just so happens to be less than five minutes away from where they live.

They eat a full meal, prepared by the staff, of course, before heading to their second class.

 

By the time their day completes, they’ll have taken advantage of several different amenities and services provided by the university. All of which are easy to use and locate as a residential student.

 

According to Ryan Bronkema and Nicolas Bowman, authors of A Residential Paradox?: Residence Hall Attributes and College Student Outcomes, living on campus is one of the most important college experiences. Living in a dorm or suite or even a university apartment can contribute to a wide range of learning, cognitive, attitudinal, educational, and psychosocial attainment outcomes.

 

In layman’s terms, living on-campus results in a more well-rounded student. There’s a sense of belonging and integration that has been thought to lead to greater educational attainment. However, this doesn’t mean that residential students get higher grades than commuter students. Instead, greater educational attainment refers to residential students having a larger percentage of their population who attend a majority of their classes, make connections with their professors and other faculty members, and complete the courses they enroll in while continuing to pursue higher education.

 

Now, it’s time to explore what off-campus living looks like.

 

Once again, let’s assume that during the school year, our hypothetical student takes the standard 12 credit hours a semester.

 

They have to take two classes a day, but the way these classes must be organized is a bit less forgiving.

 

Instead of these classes being spread out over the morning and the afternoon, our hypothetical student has to put the classes closer together in order to avoid traffic and make time to study while at school.

 

Before leaving, they must consider the time it takes to get to school in the morning on top of the time it will take them to walk to their class. If they drive, they must consider how heavy traffic is. If they use public transport, they have to run on a very tight schedule to make sure they catch their bus or train at the exact right time. And, if they use rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft, they’ll have to hope that 1.) they have enough money to pay for the driving costs and 2.) that the estimated time on the app is actually the amount of time it will take for that driver to arrive.

 

Once they arrive, they’ll head to their first class of the day, and once that class ends, they’ll give themselves around 30 minutes to find a place to sit and relax and try to do some homework before leaving for their second class.

 

By the time this student finishes their classes, they’ll head to the dining hall to microwave their lunch or buy something from the vending machine. 

 

After they finish lunch, they’ll head to the library or another quiet area and begin to study and try to complete their homework. If they think the work is hard, they’ll go to the tutoring center after they’re completely finished with the work they can complete on their own. They don’t want to lose their good spot.

 

Once they finish, they walk all the way to the tutor, only to find a long line of students already there. And once they check the time, they realize they have to leave in the next few minutes before traffic gets too overwhelming and leaves them stuck on the highway for an hour or two.

 

By the time their day completes, they’ll have taken advantage of very few amenities and services offered at the university, but not for lack of trying. Amenities like libraries or dining halls are easy to enjoy and locate as a commuter student, but it can be hard to fit your school schedule around your life schedule when you have to factor in the extra time actually commuting to and from campus will take up.

 

As you can see from the average day of a commuter student, it is harder to reach greater educational attainment.

 

Unlike residential students, commuters don’t have their entire life stationed on campus. There is no bed to nap in when they’re waiting for their next class; for some, there is no dining hall to look forward to. There is no classmate down the hall to rely on. But most importantly, there is no time to truly relax while on-campus.

 

Unlike residential students, commuters see their school as just that, a school.

 

It’s not home.

 

It’s not a comfy place to nap.

 

It’s not the place to shower and change into their favorite pajamas.

 

It’s just a place to learn, and sometimes, it’s a place where random events take place.

 

Through no fault of their own, and for better or worse, these students lack the ability to take advantage of certain college benefits. Living off-campus makes it difficult to wait things out and to be there when important activities pop up. There’s a level of planning that goes into every interaction commuter students have with their campus, and that can make it difficult to go beyond the bare minimum, especially when that bare minimum is already so difficult for some to commit to.

 

The experiences that college students have depends on them and their school. There is no one size fits all experience that describes all types of students, and what has been described is only meant to create an idea of what these two types of housing options could offer the students who experience them.

 

In the end, living either on or off-campus contributes to student success in more ways than just getting eight hours of sleep vs. none at all. Full range meal plans, access to schools’ resources, quick commutes from home to class, along with several other benefits, are offered almost exclusively to students in on-campus housing. And even when commuters get the option to use these resources, their involvement is almost always an afterthought.

 

Having access to all of these things with little fanfare means that students who live on campus have an already obvious advantage over students who don’t. And, despite going to the same universities and paying for the same level courses, it’s no secret that these institutions are more focused on residential students than they are on commuters. Sure, the resulting difference is less likely to present itself in Grade Point Averages, but GPAs are only one part of why students are labeled as successful. The advantage of residential students is more than just grades; it’s the access they have to the full college experience.

Works Cited 

Rousmaniere, Kate. “What Happened to Your College Town: The Changing Relationship of Higher Education and College Towns, 1940-2000.” History of Education Quarterly, 2021, pp. 320–340., https://doi.org/10.1017/heq.2021.31.

Henning, Gavin. “Is in Consortio Cum Parentibus the New in Loco Parentis?” NASPA Journal, vol. 44, no. 3, 2007, pp. 538–560., https://doi.org/10.2202/1949-6605.1835.

Alfano, Halley J., and Nina B. Eduljee. “Differences in Work, Levels of Involvement, and Academic Performance between Residential and Commuter Students.” College Student Journal, 3 Nov. 2014.

Bronkema, Ryan, and Nicholas A. Bowman. “A Residential Paradox?: Residence Hall Attributes and College Student Outcomes.” Journal of College Student Development, vol. 58, no. 4, May 2017, pp. 624–630., https://doi.org/10.1353/csd.2017.0047.

 

Major Project 4 – Why do first-year students at public colleges suffer from anxiety?

Emily Perales 
English 1102+ Section 298 – Professor, Weaver                                                                                                                                                                                                             email address: eperales2@student.gsu.edu                       

Picture of a young businesswoman using a labtop, looking stressed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction:

Anxiety is one of the most common issues in college, especially for first-year students. College can be a challenging and stressful experience both personally and academically, which is why it is so important to address what is causing anxiety. Understanding what causes first year college students to suffer from anxiety is important because Mental Health is a topic that deserves more discussion to find more solutions. By addressing this problem, first-year students will have a more positive college experience, and hopefully more colleges will start discussing what causes anxiety and how to handle it. 

Discussion:

   In this article, “Work-life balance as a predictor of college student anxiety and depression,” by Justin M. Sprung and Anna Rogers, they talk about how anxiety is one of the most common mental health issues among first-year students. Many colleges have reported a rise in the number of students seeking mental health services. For example, they state that “College represents a highly demanding experience for students both personally and academically.” (Justin M. Sprung, 2021). Most students are under a lot of pressure to get good grades, but they also have to keep up with personal things outside of school, such as work and family obligations.

  Justin M. Sprung and Anna Rogers also talk about how college is the time where students make their transition from adolescence to adulthood. For example, the authors state that “Between ages 18-25, individuals learn to become self-sufficient and make independent decisions regarding their life and their future.”(Justin M. Sprung and Anna Rogers, 2021).In other words, Students are not only working towards a degree, they are also searching for their identity.  

  Anxiety is most common among young adults. An article titled, “Third of First Year University Students Have Moderate to Severe Depression/Anxiety.” by Nleeson talks about how Transitioning to university life occurs at the same time as the peak period for mental illnesses, which begins in young adulthood. As part of this article, a researcher named Drew conducted a survey asking students what their main reasons are for getting anxiety. The article stated that “Respondents potentially influential factors were parental education; early life adversity, such as divorce and sexual/physical/emotional abuse; and lifetime occurrence of mood and anxiety disorders.” ( Nleeson, 2021). Having family issues like parents’ divorces can distract a student in college.  

  Students were also asked what helps them not to be anxious as much. The researcher Drew, found that, “socializing and getting involved in student clubs, societies, and sports teams is linked to lower odds of developing significant symptoms as well as boosting the recovery of those who already have symptoms of depression or anxiety.” (Drew, 2021). This suggests that students who are more involved in their college or university life, such as joining clubs, will have less anxiety. This is because they have a better time adjusting to socializing.

  In this article, “Family Members’ Expectations for Involvement with Their First-Year College Students.” by Phyllis Zajack, it talks about how family has an impact on first- year college students. It is well known that family members are being more involved with their adolescents on college campuses. In this study, family members were asked to describe their expectations for involvement with their first-year college students. According to the study, “Mothers and fathers expect to have less influence over their students in college than in high school.” (Phyllis Zajack, 2004). This is because they are encouraging their teenager’s independence as they grow older.  

  First-year college students are used to having their parents help them out. College is different because students do not have their parents with them, so they must consult other people for guidance and help. Asking for help can cause anxiety because first-year students are anxious individuals who are afraid of the unknown. There are ways First-year college students can reduce anxiety. The article, “Anxiety in college students”, by North Central college, talks about what causes anxiety. For example, they state that, “College frequently causes overwhelming anxiety because it’s so new and different from any life experience before it, and students’ minds are overloaded.” (North Central College, 2020). Not knowing what will happen will make students’ minds fill in the gaps by overthinking which will cause students to get overwhelmed and stressed.  

  North Central College also talks about some helpful ways college students can reduce anxiety. For example, North Central College states that it’s important to “Take care of your physical health. This includes getting enough sleep, eating well, drinking water, exercising, relaxing, and attending medical and dental appointments.” (North Central College website). Taking care of physical health is important because that can make you feel good about yourself. North Central College also states that students should: “Take technology breaks. Develop awareness of how technology use makes you feel, from comparing yourself to others on social media to playing games to avoid responsibilities.” (North Central College website, 2020). Instead of comparing themselves with other people online, students should disconnect from technology and focus on getting their work done.  

  In conclusion, there are many reasons why first-year college students have anxiety and there are many ways to reduce it. For example, one of those reasons is that students must deal with both their academic and personal life. Students’ academic and personal life are both as important, so they have to find a way to balance both. College is a time where students must discover what they want to do in the future by discovering who they are. North Central College website stated that, “anxious people often are afraid of the unknown.” (North Central College- Website 2020). It is common for first-year college students to feel anxious because this is their first time in a place where they don’t know how things work. 

  However, there are several ways for first-year college students to reduce anxiety. A great way students can reduce anxiety is to practice positive affirmations daily. For example, North central college stated that, “One way to combat negative thinking is by practicing affirmations such as “I can handle this” or “I am good enough.” (North Central College- Website). It is important for students to know they are capable of doing anything they set their minds to. Students often experience overwhelming anxiety in college because the experience is so new and different from previous life experiences. Keeping a student’s mind in a state where it is always working to keep them protected is something they should be thankful for. So, students can spend more time anticipating life’s best moments. 

Citations: 

Justin M. Sprung & Anna Rogers (2021) “Work-life balance as a predictor of college student anxiety and depression”, Journal of American College Health, Gsu library Database 

https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2019.1706540 

Nleeson. “Third of First Year University Students Have Moderate to Severe Depression/Anxiety.” BMJ Open, 1 Dec. 2021,  

 https://blogs.bmj.com/bmjopen/2021/12/01/third-of-first-year-university-students-have-moderate-to-severe-depression-anxiety/ 

 Phyllis Zajack “Family Members’ Expectations for Involvement with Their First-Year College Students.” Psychology Database, 2004. EBSCO, Gsu Library Database 

www.proquest.com/psychology/docview/305140319/39311A92B38046E1PQ/12?accountid=11226. 

Jacob Imm, “Anxiety in College Students.” North Central College website, 4 Dec. 2020,  

www.northcentralcollege.edu/news/2020/12/04/anxiety-college-students. 

 

 

Posted in 298

Group One Section 298 ENGL 1102

Hello, our names are, Ayanna C., Alyssa H., Laila T., Keith K., and we are group one!

One healthy thing we did during finals was study in a space that was meant for studying. These spaces included the library and other designated study areas that were located on the Clarkston campus. By studying this way, we were able to leave our stress at school instead of taking it home. We drew a boundary and we stuck to it. This way we didn’t have to worry about our peace being disrupted. (Laila and Keith)

Find time to decompress and intertwine it into your study schedule.
Step 1- identify something that is a stress reliever for you.
step 2 – make time to do this in order to relax and not overwork yourself
step 3 – during your study session when you notice your brain tapping out, know that it is ok to stop and take a break. (Ayanna and Alyssa)

As a group, one thing healthy thing we think everyone should do during finals is to find a designated study space and make time to relax once you’re finished studying there.

This means finding a quiet space, usually a library or another spot in the university that is made for studying, and staying there while you review for finals. You should have all the equipment you would use gathered beforehand and inside of a bag that is easy to place down on the floor. Your bag should have the essentials (books, notebooks, pens, multi-colored highlighters, and any technology you would use to retrieve online information.) and any non-essential items you deem necessary (snacks, headphones, laptop stands, water, pillows, etc.). The atmosphere should be calming and quiet, but if not use the headphones. This should take at least one hour and can last until the university closes. Once you go home, find time to relax. Go into your room, lie down, and sleep, or just take time to complete a hobby. You should get dressed in something soft and comfortable and you should always make sure to find a place you feel comfortable. The only materials you need when decompressing are things that you know make you comfortable. 

Final Hacks

Group three

1. Samuel
    Kiara
    Emily
2. A helpful tip for finals: to sleep well
3. A and B: Reduce screen time and fix your sleep schedule and use an alarm. Make sure your sleep is consistent and sleep for 8-10 hours daily.
C: The Atmosphere: Sleep in a cool and quiet room
D: 2-3 weeks before finals start practicing your sleep schedule

*consistency is key

Steps to talking with your professor (Axel, Amayah, Eyuel)

  • The first step is to email your professor a week or two weeks beforehand and let them know you want to talk to them.
  • You should also have your questions or concerns ready.
  • Wait until the agreed time of the meeting and walk to the agreed location.
  • Introduce yourself and be polite.
  • Let the professor know about all your questions and concerns.
  • Make sure you tell them everything you want them to know. Do not feel like you can’t ask a question because you might feel like it’s a dumb one, it’s not.
  • While the meeting is happening make sure to write down notes and apply them later when you take your final.
  • Thank the professor for meeting with you and do not be disappointed if the outcome of the meeting does not meet your expectations.
  • Go home and read over the notes and check off what you see you’ve already done and work on what you have left or need extra help with.

Finals Hacks Group 2

A. Take more time each day to study.

  1. Make sure to distribute the time evenly
  2. Study in short bursts
  3. Find a quiet place  

B. Create a study guide if none is provided.

  1. An example of this would be to create flash cards.

C. Create an organized schedule.

D. Organize a study group.

  1. Get together with classmates from the same class to catch up on studying.

E. Don’t procrastinate.

F. Reach out to professor if you have questions.

  1. It is important to ask questions if you are having trouble with something. Most professors are more than happy to help.

G. Take breaks, rest is very important.

H. Make sure to eat well during these times. This could be something as simple as eating breakfast.

I. Write down a goal for how much and what you want to get done for the day.

University of Toronto

Name: The Thuy Trang Nguyen

Professor: Rebecca Weaver

Course: ENGL1102

Date: 3/7/2022

Summary, Analysis, and Response Essay

Summary

            A good prospective student for the University of Toronto is one who knows the purpose of education. Engaging in the school under ‘UTogether’ is the guide that the university welcomes all students. The school looks forward to creating a purposeful lie for everyone who joins, making it a place of learning, thinking, and discovering. Thus, they use purpose as one of the APATSARC strategies. Also, the university has students’ news as case studies that are applicable under the Large Rhetorical strategy.

Analysis

            In the University of Toronto website, it tries to impress the viewer of the website with a robust first impression. The website designer uses the APATSARC strategy with the target for the purpose of the website. The website’s main aim is to attract more students to join and associate themselves with the activities offered by the university. Siting of the color scheme is consistent with the brand of the university. For instance, the website can be known by such color as it is incorporated. The links are clear and direct, like Current Students, Future Students, Alumni, and Visitors.

Based on how it looks, the visual design helps pass the message and tone of the website. The layout is welcoming, not overcrowded with images and texts, thus being not chaotic. Some websites would have massive walls of texts and images that would intimidate the website visitors. Thus, it has an attractive landing page before students and other website users would navigate to other sites like case studies or search engines. It encourages visiting students and prospective ones to take their time and look around on the website. Notably, there are clear navigation headings that would allow deep-diving into the site. The navigation menu, typefaces used, and page layouts are a consideration in the design of the website. Also, another key factor is color. It can affect moods. For example, the blue color is seen as welcoming and hinting that sky is the limit.

The web designers know the purpose of the university website is to use the Internet as the information source for teachers and students. Thus, education technology experts help them express concerns about the information source. The website has to mediate the correct information and updates. For instance, all events have to be updated: ‘U of T Entrepreneurship Week 2022.’ (U of T). All the upcoming events have to be accessible and any changes communicated. Most importantly, the web designers had to set critical information accessible to students. Such a strategy enables prospective students to reach out in case of any questions. Therefore, it remains prudent to available relevant information like ‘important dates’ and ‘preparing to graduate.’ (U of T). The students who would like to join the university would like to hear or find out about a university where they will get what they want in life. In the response, the website author uses credibility and character as the strategy to persuade the website viewer.

The website author also uses case studies as part of encouraging students to be part of the institution. For example, under the current students, there is a student case study whereby she had lost her father through a stroke. Thus, it helped the student launch a startup on cardiovascular screening startup. The student was inspired and set up a personal mission to mitigate the risks of cardiovascular disease. The experience is part of the case study and being part of life science as the student had to do deep research on the matter. Notably, the website author gives the narration of what the student experienced related to the condition the father went through (U OF T News).

The use of the case study helps the author put across the information on how students can effectively apply their skills. It is after they learn of the facts under their area of study that they can shift to apply them in real life. The writer is aware of how students might reflect and pursue their dreams. The student will believe in themselves and take on the skill to work on the real-life issues of society. The case study helps the author show the quality of the research. They would as much like to show the organizations of arguments in their process of analyzing the case and offering feasible solutions. Thus, the considerations of all case factors may be the onus of the website author but at the same time being a strategy to capture the audience along with the case arguments. The author knows the necessary steps that take place vital for the practice and reflection.

 Response

            I would agree to join the University of Toronto as I am convinced of the learning opportunities available. It would be very encouraging to sort out issues that I have learned and apply them in real life. I find the university being a hub with the activities around the campus. With the strategy that it represents itself from the website, there is much information that would make me join the university. I find the discovery and innovative levels with many expectations. The statement, ‘be part of University of Toronto global footprint’ is welcoming either being a current student or a future student. Moreover, I find the opportunities available very overwhelming. Learning at U of T would help propel my studies to another level. Joining the school would not be determined by the distance from GA. My exploring proficiency would make me go ahead and get international experiences. Learning on International Relations would need a substantial range of studies. I believe that nothing would withhold me from joining U of T. The website provides information on student society fees and the allocation each year that would enable students from far be willing to join. It encourages me to feel part of the community with such steps, thus not feeling alone as but part of the system.

Work Cited

University of Toronto (U of T). (n.d). https://www.utoronto.ca/, Accessed 6 Mar. 2022.