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Let’s Get Ready for Finals - 8 Secrets For Success

For many students, just the thought of final exams and projects brings anxiety and distress. This stress can be self-defeating, as studies show that over-worry related to exams can make it more difficult to retain information (Young, 2022).  But with proper preparation and a positive mindset, students can set themselves up for a grade-boosting finale. Obviously, re-reading the material (or practicing problems) is a necessary ingredient for high achievement on exams. Assuming that just about everyone reviews the materials to some extent, let’s consider what practices can set you apart. Get calm. First and foremost, your best bet is to worry a lot less. For most USG eCore and eMajor courses, the final exam or project only represents a relatively-small portion of the grade. It helps to calculate the exam score you will need to achieve the grade that you are seeking.  For example, if the final exam is worth 15 percent and you have an 87 in the course, you would need a 107 on the final to
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Sitting in the Front Row of an Online Class

We all remember that first day of class and trying to decide where to sit. Even when we felt like hiding in the back row (and texting on our cell phones), we knew we were probably better off in the front. It seemed that the ones just a few feet from the lectern were almost part of the instructor’s secret club. And when we joined that club on the first row, it seemed as though our grades were higher, the teachers liked us more, and we were more confident. Being at the front of the class felt like being at the top of the class. In an online class, the front row has a lot more room than it does in a traditional classroom. There’s space for a lot more of us to be an active part of the learning experience. And finding that perfect spot is fairly simple - even in a virtual space. Provide a memorable introduction. Most courses provide for an opportunity to introduce yourself during the first days of class. Make a positive impression by not only telling about your academic goals but revealing
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March Freebie: No Application Fee for Most USG Colleges and Universities

Free applications are back at more than 20 institutions in the University System of Georgia. During the month of March, potential students can apply for admissions to most USG institutions at no charge. By waiving fees, institutions are able to increase applicant pools and remove a financial barrier for those who might otherwise be reluctant to apply. Rates vary across institutions but savings can be significant. For a student applying at 10 USG institutions with average fees of $40, the savings would be $400.   Students may apply for as many schools as they wish. Most institutions will automatically waive the fee during the application process. A few require specific steps during the application process. Below is a listing of all participating USG institutions and additional instructions where needed. USG Institutions Requiring No Code for Free Applications in March 2024 Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College ( application ) Atlanta Metropolitan State College ( application ) Clayton Sta
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What is FinTech and What Makes it a Promising Career

As a USG eMajor collection of courses focused on preparing students for high-demand careers, FinTech is a shortened term for Financial Technology. What makes FinTech particularly important for students in Georgia is that the Atlanta area is the national capital for the financial payment and transactions industry. Of all of the millions of electronic payment transactions occurring each day in the United States, more than 70 percent are handled by companies in Georgia. Among the more than 200 companies in Georgia’s so-called “Transaction Alley” are CashApp, Kabbage, Equifax, BitPay, Greenlight, Paymentus, and Patientco.  Endless Possibilities These rapidly-growing companies work behind the scenes in most of our lives to make electronic transactions and payments possible and secure. Someone working for these companies may typically have an interest in traditional business or technology-related fields, but companies also need creative types who understand the language to market products.
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Feeling Overwhelmed? Seven Time Management Tips Can Change Your College Life

Time is the most important resource in your life and in your academic path to success. Yet, in spite of our best intentions, the midpoint of a semester often brings angst. Studying for an exam in one class competes with the completion of papers and projects due in others. And then come the distractions. Whether it is getting off task, environmental noise, or unrelated worries, it seems that everything is taking longer than you had hoped. There are a multitude of articles on time management, and books on the subject represent a multi-million dollar industry. What is important to realize is that a strategy that works for one person may not work at all for another. Following are some of the most time-tested strategies. Becoming significantly more successful doesn’t require doing them all. Know Thyself. As mentioned before, a time management strategy that works for one person may not work for another. Think about your personality, your strengths, your weaknesses and when you’ve been most s
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University System of Georgia eCampus Offers Free Online Courses

Students can now take more than a dozen online non-credit college courses at no charge. While most students who take FreeCampus courses already attend USG colleges and universities, the courses are open to anyone. These self-paced courses are also asynchronous with traditional graded assessments. After successfully completing a course online, a student can receive a certificate for earning a grade of 75 percent or higher. There is no penalty for not completing a course. With a focus on courses that are sometimes a barrier to college completion, the USG FreeCampus program allows students to better prepare themselves for credit-bearing courses. For example, a dual-enrolled high school student can take an English composition course to hone his or her writing skills before taking the for-credit version at a College or University. An adult learner who is returning to college after years away can brush up on math, increasing both confidence and future academic performance. USG eCampus also
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