Use Dwolla To Manage Your Flashnotes Cash

We love keeping our options open- both in and out of school. That’s why we’re now offering another option when it comes to payouts!

Thanks to all of your feedback, Flashnotes has improved our service. We’ve partnered with Dwolla!

Dwolla is a great payment network that’s secure and hassle free. You can access your account from anywhere (even your smartphone), which makes it super convenient to use. Allow anyone (or anything) connected to the internet to move money quickly, safely & at the lowest cost possible.

Students already use Dwolla for everyday transactions (like paying back friends for those late night pizzas), so we’re excited to add one more daily transaction onto your tab- your Flashnotes earnings! Students can now easily manage their Flashnotes paychecks from their Dwolla accounts with a simple click of a mouse. 

Want to know the best part? You can transfer money between Dwolla and your bank or credit union anytime you want, for free. That’s music to our ears: free is our favorite word.

Flashnotes is all about helping students, and in honor of that, we like to provide them with the best possible service. School is filled with enough headaches; payment issues shouldn’t be one of them.

Want to give it a go? Sign up for Dwolla here!

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!

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.

Yet Another Discussion About Student Debt

Let’s talk about something that no one wants to talk about with strangers: money. We’re going to just jump right into it: college finances suck. Students find that one of the most stressful aspects of college is not actually going to class, but paying for it. Nearly 70 percent of graduates from 4-year colleges are in debt with student loans. Meanwhile, the Huffington Post recently reported that the national student loan debt has reached $1 trillion dollars. This is now a problem that is too big to ignore.

Politics and money go hand in hand, but for the sake of argument, let’s stay out of the politics as much as possible here. Let’s not complain about how awful things are, but rather, let’s focus on solutions.

In order to prepare for this lengthy discussion, you must have a factual account of the dire situation. I find that infographics are the easiest to comprehend and to contextualize. Education Schools Online and Daily Infographic have two of my favorite infographics.

With the financial security of a student’s future being unstable, a student is left with a choice: either go to college and hope for a high paying job after college or get whatever job is available right now even if it means sacrificing dreams. This is not the ultimatium that we should be giving our students.

Next week we’re going to go over one specific issue with college finance each day. In no particular order, we will discuss loans, grants, money making opportunities, post-college job market, rising tuition, and the value of different educational paths. Different scenarios will be covered for each issue, and hopefully we can all have an open and honest (and polite) discussion on how to make the best of the current situation. Does anyone want to offer up a topic that I missed?

Brand Ambassador Spotlight: Brooks Leitner

Ladies and gentlemen, we have in our midst another superstar! Brooks Leitner hails from University of Maryland and has been busting his butt since the beginning of the semester.

This is Brooks’ first semester with us as a Brand Ambassador and we think he’s doing a great job! He started out with us as a Preferred Note Taker and when his first study guide went out to nearly 500 chemistry students, he earned enough money to pay for a spring break trip!

If you’re wondering what keeps him so motivated and organized during his busy semester, Brooks says, “Over 25 of the people I referred have used a promotional code, and I have seen that over half of them have made over $100 from their notes! It’s a great feeling to know that I was the liaison between such a great company and the money-earning potential of my peers”.

Out of all the jobs that a student could have in college, why did Brooks choose to work with Flashnotes?  He says that “being heavily involved in Flashnotes keeps me motivated to pay attention in class and take GOOD notes. The better my notes, the more others will be interested in them, and the better I do in my classes.”

We couldn’t have said it any better ourselves, Brooks. We’re glad to have you onboard!

If you want to spread the word and help others on your campus, check out Flashnotes!

Ask Dave Anything!

Hey everyone! Meet Dave- the COO and Co founder of Flashnotes.

Dave and Mike had only met twice before they started Flashnotes in 2009. Dave had experience with start up businesses prior to meeting Mike. When they met in 2009, they hit it off and decided to launch Flashnotes based out of Akron, Ohio. Dave compared their relationship to an airplane. “Mike is the engine and I am the rudder. Mike has all these creative ideas and I steer us in a certain direction”.

Some major improvements have been made since they started. The most notable change has been a shift from a tiered structure to a more open marketplace. Dave says that this places an emphasis on actual learning. He says, “Other business models are incentivized or subscription based: we’re not. We wanted to focus on becoming a service and tool for students rather than a schematic”.

We want to be as helpful and as insightful as possible here at Flashnotes, which is why Dave has agreed to answer questions about our company. Use the comment boxes below to ask Dave any questions you have about Flashnotes!