Brand Ambassador Spotlight- Zara

It’s that time again! Our Brand Ambassador spotlight is now shining down on our newest member of our team- Zara. She’s the BA from BU!

Her enthusiasm is unparalleled and frankly all of us in the office are impressed. We think her communications major and business administration minor really allow her to be one of the most productive Brand Ambassadors we have.  She’s a dedicated, goal-oriented student and we’re so thankful to be working with her at Boston University.

Zara is constantly busy with school, but she says she doesn’t worry about balancing time between school and her position at Flashnotes. “What people might not realize is that a lot of the time Flashnotes is interchangeable with school. Even if you might be making notes to sell on Flashnotes, your making notes for classes nonetheless.”

But there are a number of options out there when you want to pick up a part time job, so we asked Zara why she decided to use Flashnotes out of all the other options. She says, “It was really the interpersonal relationship that Flashnotes tries to build that made me feel immersed into the family and more motivated to further our brand name”.

We hope she enjoys a much deserved summer break; we can’t wait to start another semester with Zara! Welcome to the family!

A Summary of Finals Week in Tweets

If you’re like us and addicted to social media, you have probably seen all of the tweets and Facebook status updates about finals. Twitter has become a nationwide pity party. There are literally hundreds of pictures of people complaining about finals. Some of them were desperate, some of them were hilarious, but all of them seem to come to one consensus- finals suck.

This isn’t new information. Anyone who has ever taken a college final knows the excruciating pain and suffering that taking a final can produce: hours of time spent studying, lack of sleep, and mostly just sheer frustration. (High schoolers- you have no idea how hard finals are until you are in college- so let’s leave this conversation to the big kids).

In honor of finals week, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite finals week tweets to share with you. Whether you are finished with finals, still have finals to do, or not even in school anymore, I hope you can enjoy the beauty in other people’s finals week breakdowns.

 

“I can’t make myself study for more than 10 minutes at a time before I just get really angry at life”- unknown

“ugh…”- everyone, everywhere

“Walking around the library waking kids up with a bullhorn and screaming ‘OH MY GOD, YOU SLEPT THROUGH YOUR FINAL!!!!’ #finalsweek “- @NotBrooksKeel

“Finals week: the struggle is real”- unknown

“You’re not doing finals week right if you don’t wear the clothes you slept in to take your test”- @bigtuckkk

“Going to the library during finals week is like going to the gym during spring break #desperate” -@jessiepauley

“I can never forget the good times I had in college. They keep sending me my loan bills to remind me.” – @CollegeTownLife

“Opening textbooks during finals that still have that brand new book smell. #TFM” -@totalfratmove

“Oh finals week. When college students replace shots of liquor with shots of espresso.“- @_DrunkBlonde

“The only true wisdom is knowing you know nothing #finalsweek” – @HeatherMerphy

 

I hope this has brought somewhat of a smile to your face (or at least you did that little breathing out of the nose thing that is supposed to be a laugh). In any case, we hope this made you realize that although finals can suck sometimes, they bring all college students together (even if it is to laugh at each others misery).

Have a hilarious finals week quote from your own newsfeed? Share it here!

Make the Most Out of Finals

It’s that time of the year- finals! To some, merely mentioning the word will send them into a panic attack. Others actually look forward to finals season. What kind of crazy human being would EVER look forwards to finals? I’m glad you asked.

Flashnotes users do! Finals time is the best time to gather up all those notes and flashcards and make a profit off of them. Want to spend your summer sipping lemonade and vodka by the pool? How about handcrafting a good ‘ol fashioned 30 foot long slip ‘n slide? Whatever you decide to do, you can pay for your extravagant college lifestyle by selling your notes!

Whether you’ve already finished finals or you still have 6 more to go, we can help you.

If you’ve already finished finals: Go out and enjoy that summer sun! Taste the sweet freedom because it won’t last long. I know you probably don’t want to think about this right now, but even though you may be finished with this semester, there’s no better time to start preparing for next semester.

If you’ve already signed up for classes next semester, check out the materials available on Flashnotes to get a good idea of what you’ve gotten yourself into next semester. Give yourself a little time to soak up the sunshine and enjoy a much-needed break from school, but just don’t forget that the earlier you can start preparing for next semester, the smoother it will go.

 

If you still have to take finals: Now is the best time to really put some effort into those flashcards and study guides (not that we didn’t have faith in your studying ability before- we know you’re always on your best behavior). However, now is your time to shine. Finals season is the perfect time to sell those comprehensive study materials.

The key to a successful Flashnotes experience is marketing your material. You can make the best study guide in the entire world, but how will anyone know it’s the best if they haven’t seen it? We’ve seen that the best way to market your notes is through Blackboard or Moodle (whichever system your school supports). Shoot your classmates a quick email, and you’ll be on your way to earning summer fun money and making friends.

The end of finals doesn’t necessarily mean the end of Flashnotes. We’ll be here all summer long to answer any questions you can come up with (even the ridiculous ones). Happy Studying!

6 Ways to Make an Epic Exit From Your Final

I’ve finished a lot of finals in my lifetime, but you don’t need me to tell you how relieving it is to strut out that door knowing that you are home free. The first thing you want to do is yell at the top of your lungs. But what will you say that will make the biggest impact? Should you yell or just run away and never look back?

I feel your pain. The only problem with actually finishing your finals is that you can’t figure out how to make the perfect exit. What are you going to do?! I’m glad you asked.

1. Bring cheerleaders and/or the school mascot to escort you out of the final. Make sure they chant your name as loud as possible and there is confetti thrown on your professor’s desk. There’s nothing better than being publicly recognized for your accomplishments. Even if you don’t feel like you aced the test- your cheerleaders don’t care. They just want to cheer you on anyways!
2. “I’m The Boss! I’m The Boss! I’m The Boss! I’m… The… Boss!”- Raging Bull
3. Set your phone ringtone to your favorite super hero’s theme song. As soon as you’re finished with your final, abruptly stand up and yell, “I must go, my people need me!” as you bolt out the door.
4. Bring a boom box to your final if you can find one. If not, any ‘ol speakers will work. Play an epic exit song as you turn in your final. Here are our top songs: “We Are the Champions”, “Started at the Bottom” and “School’s Out”. Make sure that whatever song you chose is both relatable and energizing. (No sense in playing a classic love song is there?)
5. Memorize the words to “A Whole New World” from Aladdin and choreograph a simple ballroom dance with your buddy from class. Wait until both of you have finished your final and then start singing as soon as you both stand up to turn it in. Slam your final on the professor’s desk and have “Aladdin” carry you out the door to start your whole new life together.
6. There’s nothing more effective than yelling “I’M DONE” and laughing manically at the poor people next to you still viciously trying to scribble out answers to questions that they don’t know. Not saying that I’ve done this, but I’ve heard it’s fun.

Seriously though, I want to congratulate you on finishing your finals. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to actually finish a semester. Now go enjoy your summer! If you have an epic exit from one of your finals, I want to hear about it!

Our 6 Favorite Apps to Help You Study

You’re in college and your life moves a hundred miles an hour. When the heck are you going to find time to study, maintain a social life, and (dare we say it?) get some sleep. Well, we noticed that you’re always on the go, so why not study on the go, too? Whip out that smart phone of yours and instead of texting Johnny about 50 cent wing Wednesdays, how about you peruse some flash cards or get started on that paper?

We know what you’re thinking “Ugh, atomic buffalo wings are so much more important than looking at flashcards right now”. Well we have good news for you! You can spend as much time as you want at the local BBQ restaurant because if you don’t study now, you’ll be working there the rest of your life.

If you wish you could just press the “easy button” instead of studying, unfortunately, that button doesn’t exist. However, we can sure give you the resources to make it a little less painful (unless you like pain, which, if you’re eating atomic wings, you obviously do). These 6 apps for your smart phone will have you organized and studying in no time!

myHomework- This is the mother of all college organization. Not good at organizing? Let myHomework take care of that. Keep track of you class schedule, assignments, and major tests all in one place. It automatically color-codes everything based on due date. All you need to do is pay attention in class!

Evernote– If you are already mediocre at organizing, or just want a more user-friendly platform for organizing, Evernote if the app for you. All of your to-do lists, notes, and doodles are in one place. The best part? Evernote automatically syncs all of your devices. As long as you have a mobile device on you, you have organization in your pocket!

Flashcard Plus– Flashcards are probably the most popular way of studying for a test. If you walk into class before a big test, you’re bound to see students flipping madly through their decks and muttering to themselves. With F+, you won’t ever have to wonder where the missing flashcards have gone, and you don’t have to waste paper! This app is totally free, so you can start uploading and quizzing yourself right now!

Sleep Cycle– We could all use a better nights sleep. Sleep cycle monitors your sleeping patterns and wakes you up during your periods of lighter sleep, so you wake up less groggy. There’s nothing worse than stumbling out of bed and willing yourself to wake up even though every bone in your body wants to lie in bed.

Coffee Shop Finder- We all know what it feels like to have too much to do and not enough energy. Thankfully, Coffee Shop Finder can guide you to the nearest coffee shop in the world! Yes, that specialty drink that you’ve been craving is closer than you think!

Essay planner- Although this app isn’t free- it’s totally worth the $2.99. If you’re the master of procrastination, this app will help break you of that habit and have you well on your way to writing better. Contrary to popular belief, you can’t always just “wing it” the night before and get an outstanding grade. Writing is about practice and discipline. Why do you think you’ve been doing it your entire school career? Invest in your future, and become a better writer (or at least planner).

Although you should probably be studying instead of reading this, we appreciate your dedication to procrastination. Now, go download some apps and make good use of your time! See something we missed? Let us know, we’re always on the look-out for the next big thing.

6 Comfort Foods to Get You Through Finals

There are three necessary functions of the college student’s body: eat, sleep, study. During finals, it’s pretty typical to give up precious sleep in order to cram for the next big test. One thing we can’t live without, though, is some good food.

Food gives you the energy you need to power through those late nights. It’s also a nice distraction from staring at your computer screen for what seems like the 14^th straight hour. So, why not indulge a little bit? Here’s a great list of easy snacks/study foods that will make you feel great and give you that extra boost that you need to get through the day!

Pirate’s Booty– Healthy junk food? Yes, you heard right. Pirates booty is the perfect study snack! They’re baked rice and corn puffs, and you can get them in almost any flavor. The bag says “Thar be good”! How can you argue with that?

Baked Pasta– Make a super large batch of some bowtie pasta on Sunday night. Bake the left overs with some pasta sauce and parmesan on top. Separate the baked pasta into personal sized Tupperware and you have yourself an easy lunch for the rest of the week!

Baked Potato Soup– You can get this out of the can or make it from scratch. Either way, the carbs in the potatoes will give you that boost of energy that you need without the crash.

Chicken Nuggets– I am a personal advocate of eating chicken nuggets with everything. You can dunk them in BBQ sauce or roll them up in a tortilla with some Ranch dressing and lettuce. Healthy? No. Cheap and easy? Yes.

Quesadillas– Get fancy with this one. We’ve all made microwave quesadillas, so why not put a new spin on it? Throw some tomato sauce or an avocado on it (avocados are a super food)! Pro tip- chicken nuggets in a quesadilla is so unhealthy but so good!

Pizza- We all love a good pizza, and frankly, during finals it’s totally fine to binge eat a whole one. On a budget? Here’s where it gets good- make your own personal sized French bread pizzas from home and just reheat it when you get to campus. Throw together some bread, tomato sauce, cheese and whatever else your creative mind can come up with.

I am a firm believer in doing whatever you have to do in order to be successful. Sometimes, you have to make tough decisions between what’s good for you now and what’s good for you in the long run. That being said, I spent about 85% of my days on campus going from class to the library to class again. It was hell, but my comfort food got me through it. Does anyone else have any go-to comfort foods?

The 6 Types of Study Buddies

Here’s the deal- we all hate to study, so finding a partner in crime sounds like the perfect option to doing it alone, right? Why not waste away both of your nights sharing in each other’s misery about how awful your professors are? Seems like a great Friday night to us.

We just have one word of advice: Make sure you choose the right study buddy, or your nights could take a serious turn for the worse. Here are the 6 types of study buddies. Choose wisely!

1. The Perfectionist- Everything must be perfect, organized, and methodical. This study buddy is on top of everything in class. Careful with this one though- everything seems perfect on the outside, but this study buddy is one pink highlighter explosion away from a major breakdown.
2. The Partier- This kid either comes to class high or drunk and doesn’t pay attention, or doesn’t come to class at all. You can pretty much assume that this kid comes to class purely to hone his doodling skills. This type of study buddy can surprise you though- his/her random alcohol induced life skills and marijuana fueled research can make this study buddy a great wild card.
3. The Silent Partner- You might not be quiet in a library, but this study buddy will remain silent until all is accomplished. Want to ask your study buddy a question about the possibilities of artificial intelligence recreation? How about how their weekend went? Expect the shortest answer possible with as little detail as possible.  Your study buddy came for two things: to be quiet and to finish studying.
4. The User- This type of study buddy may put up a great intellectual façade, but don’t be fooled. This person was not paying attention in class and they want to study with you so they can copy your notes and have you explain everything to them. You might find this annoying and time consuming, but look at the bright side- you’ll end up knowing the material well enough to teach it!
5. The “study” buddy- The hottie you’ve been undressing with your eyes all semester finally asked you to come over and study for finals. You’re stoked, but be warned-you won’t get much studying done with this person! Five minutes into your French vocabulary review in their apartment, and your lips are locked. A couple hours pass and you completely “forgot” to attend your next class. Oopsies! Now you need a study buddy for another class, too!
6. The Yin Yang Buddy- This person compliments you and your study style like Nutella and waffles. Both of you take great notes, try to follow along in class, and have fun studying (who knew this could be fun?!). You might have missed a class or two, but luckily for you, your study buddy filled you in. If you find this person- don’t ever let them go.

Choose your buddy wisely and your grades will thank you. Happy studying!

6 Study Playlists You Need to Ace Finals

Here at Flashnotes, we love a good music. One of my favorite quotes from travelling abroad comes from a random girl at the airport that I will never forget, “I just, like, don’t like bad music. You know? I, like, only listen to good music”.

Yes, yes. We hear you loud and clear. In honor of “good music” everywhere, we have created a couple of studying playlists and new ways to check out some great studying music.

Listening to music is a great way to boost your energy level and maintain concentration. Some people find it hard to study without some sort of background noise. Instead of blaring the TV and becoming distracted with the latest episode of Archer, throw on one of these playlists and step into the zone.

Our favorite playlists based on musical preference

EDM– There’s nothing like an upbeat EDM song to put you into the “getting stuff done” mood. Songza has great playlists to put you in the mood.

Classical– I love classical music as much as the next person, so I’m really happy that Songza puts it all in one place. If you’re looking for more, Evan Duffy does amazing piano covers of EDM songs.

Hip-Hop-Frat Music is great for whatever mood you’re in- whether you need to speed write a paper or study those flashcards.

Dr. Roy J. Paget suggests that music can be a powerful vehicle for learning, and that its rhythms, patterns, contrasts and varying tonalities can help to encode new information. He states that music does this by evoking emotional responses, stimulating the limbic system along with other subcortical regions. This basically means that if you listen to music while studying, you will have an easier time creating long term memories. For college students everywhere, that’s music to our ears.

Lookin’ for a little extra stereo love? Check it out here:

Stereo Mood Turn your mood into music. Pro Tip: try typing in “I feel epic”.

8 Tracks Almost 7 hours of instrumental magic for your favorite nook in the library, couch with a book, or chair at your desk.

Study Music Project Study Music Project fuses a broad range of genres, which includes classical, orchestral, jazz, instrumental hip-hop, piano solo, and ethno-music to bring a fresh, relaxing sound.

4 Ways to Milk Your Cafeteria Meal Plan

Although we’d really love to, we know that we can’t meet all of your needs.  Somehow you’ve got to feed yourself, put a roof over your head, wash your clothes every now and then, and replenish your bank account.  We can help with the money part, but what about the rest? When you’re paying for rent, transportation, tuition, nomming three times a day, and participating in on-campus activities, you need to get creative.  So what can you do every day to scrape by?

Well, the Flashnotes staff is proud to consist of 100% college graduates, and we know from experience that there is a direct correlation between dwindling dollars and creative survival techniques.  So, take our word for it.  And because noshing, nomming and gobbling are OUR favorite pastimes, let’s start with one of our favorite on-campus meccas – the cafeteria.

1.    Tupperware is your friend.  You have to admit that the thought has crossed your mind about five times since last week – and that’s because it’s a smart idea.  If you’re like me, and like most other students with a campus meal plan, you spend about $12 every night just for the right to step foot in the cafeteria for dinner and gaze at the options.  Unless you’re an athlete, you probably only ate about $6 worth of food at your last visit.  Bring that to-go container and fill ‘er up.  Enjoy the other $6 worth later when you’re huddled over your Orgo homework, thankful that your I-just-don’t-freaking-get-it rage is quelled with every delicious bite of late-night leftover spaghetti you cram into your mouth.

(Tip: This strategy usually works best when coupled with #2.)

 

2.    A “My, that goulash really brings out the green in your eyes,” never hurt anybody.  Some rules can be broken, and some can be bent.  The easiest way to bend a rule is under the gaze of a knowing smile and twinkling eye.  You know where I’m going with this: Make Bertha the cafeteria warden your BFF.  Taking food out of the cafeteria when you pay an entrance fee may be met with a raised eyebrow on some campuses, but if the powers-that-be say OK, then you’re in the clear!  I learned a lot from our campus cafeteria workers:  How to be gracious, how to show thanks, how to make delicious omelets (including the ever-elusive perfect flip) – and how to score free cookies. Bertha is one of the most important people on your campus – get on her good side, and your to-go potential is limitless.

 

3.    Make your meal mobile.  A plate of eggs, bacon and toast sounds messy until you put a little pizzazz into it.  Stack it, wrap it with a couple of napkins, and you have yourself a breakfast sandwich to go.  Most backpacks are big enough to fit at least five egg sandwiches – which means you’ve got breakfast covered for a week!  I’m high-fiving you in my mind.

 

4.    If you can can-can. There’s no shame in recycling.  In fact, it’s all the rage!  If whatever is bad for the earth is your enemy, than whatever is a friend to the earth is your friend (We learned that in Philosophy 101).  So collect those leftover cans on the table at the end of dinner and head to your nearest Trader Joe’s to cash in.   Don’t expect to be rolling in dough; at 5 cents per can, you would need 20,000 cans for every $1,000 you want to make.  If you got 10 cents per can, you’d need 10,000 cans per $1,000.  Still, money is better than no money. Plus, you’re helping our best buddy, Earth!

Here at Flashnotes we’re in the business of helping college students make money.  If you’re reading this, you’re probably already using us.  And if you’re using us, that means you’ve got an enterprising spirit and an intelligent mind, you resourceful young devil, you. Do you have any dining hall tips and tricks to save money?

 

(This blog was written by Flashnotes’ Community Coordinator Adriana. Show her some love!)

The War on Finals Begins

Finals season is almost here. Prepare yourselves. Seriously, taking finals is like going to war. There are many enemies in this battle: sleep, social events, laziness, procrastination, and sheer, unbridled lack of understanding. The enemies are near, and they are ready to take you down. Good thing you’re preparing now.

• Let’s face it- finals are like waging a personal war against sleep. This enemy is both physical and mental. There are too many finals to review for and not enough time. If you take a good look around and see students in the library using their laptop as a pillow, they’re in trouble and they have already lost the war against sleep. Here’s how to defeat your enemy: Drink 5 hr. energy and speed-read every book you’ve ever been assigned. We like to call this efficiency. It’s a GRE word.
• You’re young, you’re fun, and you’ve got the packed social calendar to prove it. Every soldier needs a good plan; a plan to party is not what we’re talking about. The temptation is so strong to just pack up your things and go have “just one beer” at the bar across the street. This is a booby trap filled with car bombs, Jaeger bombs, sake bombs and other unmentionable drinks that make you regret ever stepping foot into a bar. Here’s how to defeat your enemy: remember that during finals season, if it sounds too good/fun to be true, it probably is.
• Laziness and procrastination are pretty much the same thing here- and you can prevent them both. This is an enemy that lives within you- scary, huh? You can say that you sat down in front of your computer to do research for that 10-page paper due next Wednesday, but we know you’re lying. Laziness has won the battle this time. It will continue to win again and again if you don’t put an end to laziness right now. Here’s how to defeat your enemy: List every single possible excuse for not studying and write it on a piece of paper that’s not in your notebook. Now burn that piece of paper (as safely as possible- we don’t want a bonfire here). Look what you just did- you got rid of all your excuses to not study. Now GO STUDY.

• A lack of understanding is probably one of the hardest enemies to overcome in the war against finals season. For whatever reason, you decided to wait until it was almost too late to recover before realizing that you have no idea what’s going on in class. We don’t judge-we’re just here to help. Good thing you actually want to learn the information. Here’s how to defeat your enemy: Talk to your professor and let him/her know that you need a little help understanding some key concepts. If he/she has a heart (and you haven’t pissed them off), you best believe that some help is coming your way. If you have managed to get yourself into a class that has a soulless professor, Flashnotes does a wonderful job at connecting students that understand the material with the students that want to learn.

If you’re in college and you just want someone to baby you and tell you that everything will be alright- you’re barking up the wrong tree here. You’re an adult and you have to make everything right for yourself. We can provide you with resources to help you help yourself, but this is a personal battle between you and your studies. We wish you the best.