By: Charissa Skinner
APUS Academic Advisor

When applying for college or selecting your first semester of courses, choosing a major will be one of the most important decisions you make. After all, your major will determine which courses you need to complete to graduate, which faculty members with whom you will work, and, ultimately, which career field and occupations you seriously consider after graduation. With such a variety of majors now available in higher education, narrowing your options down to even just 2 or 3 may seem daunting. Here are 5 points to consider as you narrow down possible majors to the right one for you:

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Wonder where all your time has gone? If you find you don’t have the time to get all your classwork done then maybe you need to do a little detective work to see where it’s all being spent.

Rescue Time is a great time management tool that “spies” on your activity on the computer and will report it to you. By using this tool you can re-evaluate how you’re spending your time online and adjust to be more productive with schoolwork.

Think of this tool as a way of keeping yourself online. So if you know you spend too much time on social networks, which is great for communicating with peers and gathering new information, it can start eat away at productivity in school and at home. Be your own PI and read about the benefits of this great new tool that can completely change how you use your time.

By J. Mason

College courses require hours and hours of weekly reading. Even the best students can fall behind. Sometimes, it may seem impossible to catch up if work or family responsibilities have temporarily taken over your study time.

[Not sure what the online environment looks like? Sign up for a virtual open house to get a better idea.]

There is one option for getting back on track: speed-reading. Speed-reading is more than just reading fast. It’s a technique for scanning and pulling out main themes. Speed-reading can also be a good tool for test preparation.

It’s important to read smart as well as fast. Otherwise, you’ll comprehend and remember little — and waste valuable time. Keep in mind that speed-reading can’t help if reading is difficult for you. Talk to an advisor or trusted professor if comprehension is an issue.

Now, if you’re ready to give speed reading a try, here are 8 ½ quick tips – any more would take too long — to incorporate speed reading into your study plan.

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Not sure where to start budgeting your time? In the latest installment of “Ask an Advisor“, you’ll find helpful tips on how to strike a balance between your school work and your daily life commitments. Continue Reading