Madison PalmieroBIOSC Junior and Pre-PA We are at that point in the semester where stress may be overwhelming our lives. Taking the last midterm of the semester, submitting the final paper or project, preparing for final exams. We all want to be done, but there is still more studying to do and more due dates to meet. Also, we are still in the midst of a pandemic! When the pressure starts to build, it is important to take time to check in with yourself. If you are feeling stressed out by the demands of school, you are not alone. Stress can have consequences on our emotional, mental, and physical health. However, there are many ways to manage and relieve stress; your goal should be to find which methods work best for you. Here are three ideas for relieving stress that you can try out today. 1. Go outside When classes were in person, we all had to walk around campus to get to different buildings. Now, we don’t even have to leave our room. Fresh air is good for the body. Look up at the sky instead of staring at a computer screen. Taking time to enjoy the outdoors will give you a chance to clear your mind. Pittsburgh is home to many green spaces and parks where you can do just this. Schenley Plaza is conveniently located at the heart of Pitt’s campus. There are tables as well as a large lawn where you can sit and feel the spring breeze. There is even WiFi, if you want to get some studying in. With just a short walk from campus, you can access the 456 acres of outdoor space that make up Schenley Park. Enjoy the views of the city, while still being surrounded by nature. Visit this website to learn more about the other parks that Pittsburgh has to offer. (https://www.pittsburghparks.org/your-pgh-parks ) Many parks are easily accessible through the port authority buses, which are free to ride with a Pitt ID. 2. Get active Another great way to relieve stress is to do something active. Stress can cause tension in our bodies that we don’t even realize is there. Movement benefits our bodies and our minds. Take a walk, go for a run, go to the gym, or even attend a yoga class. Pitt has multiple recreation facilities on campus that are open for student use. Use this link to book a time slot at the recreation center of your choice. https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/campus-recreation/facilities-and-hours/book-a-time-slot/ If you are interested in yoga, which is a great activity for stress relief, here are two great options for you. The Stress-Free Zone at Pitt is offering free yoga classes through zoom. Classes are scheduled for Mondays at 8:00 pm and Thursdays at 6:00 pm. Use this link to register. https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/shs/stressfree/classes-and-workshops/ If you prefer a non-virtual option, free yoga classes are offered in some area parks around town. Bring your own yoga mat, or just a towel, and don’t forget a face covering. For more details, see the link below. https://www.pittsburghparks.org/park-events 3. Take time for yourself It is not healthy to spend all of your time on schoolwork! Give your brain a break. Do something that you enjoy. This could be spending time with friends, watching a movie, reading a book, or even taking a nap. Don’t feel guilty for taking time away from school. Remember, grades matter, but your mental health is so much more important.
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Jacob FrenchmanBIOSC Junior and pre-med student I can imagine that, like me, lots of my fellow Biology peers are also studying for their MCAT, DAT, GRE, or PCAT right now during classes. Honestly, I have been planning to study for the MCAT spring of my Junior year ever since I became aware of the "typical" medical application process. When COVID happened, I assumed that online classes would be a blessing for my MCAT semester; however, taking all of my classes in my room AND studying for the MCAT definitely has been a new beast entirely. My method for tackling this situation has been to make a schedule and fill in as many of my responsibilities as I can on my weekly calendar to keep track of things- I even fill in time for lunch, exercising, and office hours because it can be really easy to get overwhelmed. One technique I found on YouTube which helps me stay productive throughout the day is to plan out tomorrow’s goals on a sticky note the night before. I then put this sticky note on my desk and cross things off as I complete them- I know that this could be accomplished using the Reminders app or an Agenda, but I enjoy the novelty of the classic yellow sticky note! Sometimes, if I feel like I need extra motivation that day I will include my classes and exercise on the sticky note so I can get the added satisfaction of crossing off another task :) Another thing that has worked for me in terms of studying is to do most of my MCAT work in the morning before classes. I then use my classes as a natural break from studying and as a transition into regular schoolwork in the afternoons and evenings. Also, I created a schedule based on weekly goals for my MCAT prep instead of strict deadlines which gives me a bit more freedom day-by-day. This has proved critical for me because inevitably other work for classes can require time that I’d usually use for the MCAT. I also try to spend my time studying for Physics and Biochemistry efficiently, actively interacting with the content and attending office hours in the hopes that it will help me better understand the physics and biochemistry questions on the MCAT. The most important thing that I am actively striving for during this semester of graduate exam preparation is balance. It’s a challenge to balance school, extracurriculars, and personal health, but it is extremely important for us as people and for our future success. I often find myself feeling guilty about taking an occasional evening off to hang out with my roommates instead of studying but these sessions are important for mental health AND for academic success. One thing that we all learn from balancing schoolwork and studying for graduate exam simultaneously is the importance of setting boundaries between relaxing and studying to help with long-term success.! If you want to talk work-life balance, exam prep, or schedules (it’s that time of year again) swing by my office hours on Wednesdays from 1-2 PM! Peter RittenhouseSenior BIOSC major and soon-to-be dental student at.... The second semester is always a busy and stressful time. The weather is getting better and you want to spend time outdoors enjoying it, but know that you have to keep your head down and finish all those papers, exams, and projects. This spring semester is especially stressful for me because I have to make a decision on where I want to spend the next four years for dental school. The decision on where to attend graduate school is never an easy one. However, I have narrowed down my decision based on several factors that I think will be best suited for my success: Number one is location. I want to spend the next four years at a school where I could see myself enjoying living, and potentially living and working there post-graduation. For me, this is a big to moderate-sized city with plenty of people in my age group living there. I think this environment will allow me to have fun while still focusing on my graduate course-work. Second is price. This is arguably the biggest factor in graduate education. Graduate school is very expensive (as is living while in graduate school full-time), so you have to find the school (and city) that fits your budget. For me, this is most likely sticking to an in-state school where the tuition is significantly lower. However, out-of-state education is very reasonable with financial aid and scholarship applications. This is one of the factors that will vary from student to student, so you have to know what your budget is and make decisions from there. Third is faculty. During the school interviews and school presentations you will meet many faculty members of the institution. A big question is: do you like them, and could you see yourself working with them for the next four years? If you are very uncomfortable with an interview, it is likely you will not work with them extremely well. This is an important factor because this is your biggest investment in the foreseeable future. Make sure you are putting your education in the hands of people you enjoyed talking with. Fourth is gut-feeling. For me, during my time researching and interviewing with schools I had a feeling whether or not I could see myself ending up at that institution. Ultimately, you know what’s best for your education and you know your own comfort level. Find a place that you can make home for the next four years. Don’t stress about it too much because you will get a good education no matter where you go. This list was the main things I considered in my decision. Obviously different people put emphasis on different factors. I would be more than happy to discuss this with any of you who are interested in my thought process. I hope this helps you narrow down the schools you are applying to. I hope you finish this year strong with a great second semester! |
Pitt Bio BlogThe Pitt Bio Blog is maintained by the Department of Biological Sciences Advising Office. Posts are authored by our students Archives
January 2022
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