Answering questions at Boston College O’Neill Library
Acknowledging a problem is the first step to addressing it, so you are on the right track. It is difficult as the semester draws to a close and finals loom … lots of stress and pressure. I don’t know what you’re procrastinating about, but try breaking it down into chunks. Success can lead to more success. Next time do one little thing. And the next time add another. And if you fail or slip, try again. Ask for help. Persevere. I have faith in you! <3
I have faith in you! Sign up for tutoring at the Connors Family Learning Center (bit.ly/BC-connors) now – they end tutoring on 12/10, and appointment times fill up… And… even if you were to fail, failing an exam is not failing at life and is not the end of the world (much as it seems so during the college years.) Best of luck!
Propensity score matching is a statistical method for overcoming selection bias when comparing groups of participants and nonparticipants in an experiment. The authors of a heavily cited paper (bit.ly/propensity-detailed) say, “Its basic idea is to find in a large group of nonparticipants those individuals who are similar to the participants in all relevant pre-treatment characteristics X.” The score can be calculated in many statistical analysis programs, like SPSS, SAS, Stata, and R. Here’s a quick introduction in video: bit.ly/propensity-intro.
Tough decision, but, in general, it is easier to spend a significant period of time abroad during college than at any other time of your life. And it doesn’t have to be a full year; there are opportunities for a semester or just a few weeks, so you can still spend so much quality Heights time before you graduate. The Office of International Programs has some great questions to think it through: bit.ly/ShouldIStayOrShouldIGoNow
It’s not a great idea, either for health or for academic success. Better to pace yourself. If all fails, there’s always caffeine, breaks to exercise, and getting a partner to help each other stay committed to the task and to stay awake. Then go see the CFLC (bit.ly/BC-connors) for academic coaching, so it doesn’t have to happen again.
I haven’t studied econometrics, and I’m not sure how one would test for future cointegration. But you could try taking ECON8821 Time Series Econometrics next Fall, or for more immediate answers, speak to Professor Zhijie Xiao who teaches this course in our Economics department (bit.ly/zhijiexiao).
I can give you some context. The GRE is an exam that is created, instituted, and analysed by a private for-profit testing company. There is little evidence that it actually measures your aptitude for success in graduate school. More and more graduate schools are eliminating the need for the GRE as part of your application. Even when it is part of your application, graduate school admissions departments are giving it less and less value as part of your application package. It is a hurdle, treat it as such. Focus on your personal statement, which is a much more important and valuable piece of your admissions package in that you can share your passions, your successes, and your growth (past and potential) with your future department as a true introduction to how awesome you are and why you would be a good fit and an asset to the field. The best thing you can do the night before *any* exam is get a good night’s sleep. Sweet dreams! You’ll do great.
I think T.S. Eliot was wrong about which month is cruelest, at least for college students and professors! October’s a busy month, for sure. When things calm down a little, take some time for yourself to reflect on what’s most important to you; you might find some of your commitments can be adjusted to fit your priorities. Sometimes, feeling overwhelmed comes from making someone else’s priorities your own. Also, it’s important to take breaks, even if it means having to tell someone that the thing that was going to be ready Friday will have to wait ’til Monday. I hope you can put this tired & busy time behind you soon!
There’s a pretty good Reddit thread with advice on auditioning for Shakespeare, and you’ve already avoided pitfall #1–doing something from the play you’re auditioning for. bit.ly/bc-mab. We’ve also got a few books on auditioning for Shakespeare that look good, with some collections of scenes for auditions: bit.ly/bc-shakes. The Reddit advice is to pick something similar to your age and gender, but I’d think some gender fluidity would not be amiss. Break a leg!
Sometimes it helps to break a big scary project into a series of smaller tasks. It’s totally possible to write a dissertation in 15 minutes a day, for example. bit.ly/bc-diss. There are lots of other books on that topic, too, maybe one of them will help? bit.ly/bc-procras. (p.s. Sorry I didn’t get to this yesterday)
I recommend checking in with the knowledgeable folks at the Career Center (bit.ly/BC-career) and best wishes for getting into the program of your choice!
Stress is tough, and fall semester is for sure the season for it. Try doing some things to take care of yourself physically. Are you hungry? Tired? Feeling cold or hot? If so, try fixing them and see if you feel a little less detached. I’m a wall, so I don’t need exercise, but I hear it’s good for humans. If it’s deeper than that, or if that feeling continues for a while, it’s a good idea to check in with BC Health Services (bit.ly/BostonCollegeHealth) to make sure everything’s OK, or to chat with Counseling Services (bit.ly/BC-counseling), because stress is a common trigger for depression and other mental health issues which are super-common among students and faculty both.
Physical and mental health issues can have a negative effect on your ability to concentrate. But there are other reasons as well. You may be tired, stressed, bored, inundated. (All very typical for busy students.) Things that can help: Step away for a little bit. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep and good food and just generally take care of yourself. If it’s something big you need to focus on, try breaking it down into smaller bits; a feeling of accomplishment as you go through different steps can truly help. Try eliminating some of the distractions; e.g., turn off your cell! These things can help reduce stress too … not to mention a visit with Joe the therapy dog on Friday. If you think this is a serious problem, please contact Counseling Services at bit.ly/BC-counseling.
You students are so busy; honestly, I don’t know how you handle everything, though you all seem to do a good job at it. I am sorry you will be missing out on Fall Break because of your theatre lab. I hope you find that experience enjoyable and I hope you find at least some time to get off campus and do something fun, be it a walk around the reservoir, or a visit to a museum, or shopping and eating–whatever is good for you. And of course, I will be here if you need to vent or talk!
It’s just so hard to choose one! Seriously, though, it keeps options open in more than one area, gives you the background to research issues in an interdisciplinary way, allows you to follow two separate passions, and impresses Grandma…? But don’t feel that it’s a necessity or that everyone double majors – talk with your advisor and do what’s right for you.
Wall hugs to you; having a midterm go all wrong can seem overwhelming. I would recommend you first be kind to yourself; everyone has a bad exam now and then. Then meet with your professor and ask for advice on overcoming this one bad test, go to the CFLC (bit.ly/BC-connors) for peer tutoring, and maybe touch base with your Academic Advisor about how things are going over all.
If you have been keeping up with the work and studying, you should be fine. Remember to get a good night’s sleep and have something to eat. It’s hard not to stress but try anyway. 8) Breathe. It’s only a midterm. I too have faith in you: you got this! Let me know how it goes. <3 <3 <3
Good luck! I don’t have a head, but if I did, I think it would be very hard to think if it ached. I hope you find both relief from the headache and a way to study effectively in spite of it. If your headaches are chronic or frequent, perhaps you can get a referral from BC Health to the headache clinic at nearby Brigham & Women’s hospital: bit.ly/BW-headache.
It isn’t necessarily more expensive than staying at BC; please talk to the OIP Scholarship Advisor (bit.ly/BCAbroadFinances) before you decide it’s not possible for you.
For the calc, contact the Connors Family Learning Center at 2-0611, and for the pains, you can book an appt online (bit.ly/BostonCollegeHealth) or call 2-3225. I hope you feel better and can soon differentiate and integrate with ease…
