I started writing Neal’s Necessary Knowledge in the fall of 2010 as a sophomore. The idea for the column came from a desire to contextualize the things I learned as a student and share them with others. I drew from my successes and failures in equal measure. Over the last three years, I’ve written 46…
As we reach the final weeks of the semester, we will face our greatest challenges yet. For many students, this means exams. Don’t be intimated though. You’ve already come all this way and summer is right around the corner. One more exam is nothing compared to what you’ve accomplished so far. Here are some tips…
Public speaking is a deep-seated fear that many share, since failure equates to humiliation in front of peers. Many college students dread having to give presentations for this reason. However, clear verbal communication is a vital skill to have. It’s an incredibly fast and time-tested way to spread information to a large amount of people…
There are limits to how much the human mind can retain at a given time. This is why studying is an essential part of a student’s life; there’s too much going on in their lives to remember everything they learn. Here are some tips to help give structure to your study habits: Find the right…
As we enter the final stretch of the semester, the closer we approach looming paper deadlines. This means some serious work ahead for those who have been putting it off. One of the first steps in writing a paper is gathering and citing sources. In order to help you to take that step and move…
Group projects are often the most dreaded of assignments. Many have nightmares about how the last group project fell apart due to conflicting personalities or being forced to take the brunt of the work. However, a positive group experience can lead to personal growth. Being able to adapt to social environments outside of your choosing…
Welcome back. Hopefully you enjoyed and took full advantage of the break. However, now that we’re back in the thick of it again, we’ve got to get that groove back. Here are some tips to help push forward as we enter the second half of the semester: Refocus yourself. It’s time to get back in…
Spring break is upon us, so everybody rejoice! For many this means traveling somewhere for a week and hopefully leaving all problems behind. If that’s the plan, then here’s a little list of some things to keep in mind: Do some preliminary research. If you plan to travel this spring break, it’s best to learn…
Memory is faulty at best, and can become easily overwhelmed by too much information. Notes, meanwhile, are closer to being set in stone. It’s nearly impossible to remember every single thing you learn, and you can learn quite a lot in one class period. This is why note taking is a vital way for students…
College life is filled with all sorts of pressure. The pressure to succeed, the pressure to meet deadlines, the pressure to keep up with assignments, the pressure to maintain social relationships. A lack of organization can make these pressures far worse than they have to be. The purpose of being organized is to make life…
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