it’s tough being a student during the time of coronavirus. on top of worrying about loved ones and the state of the world in general and really missing social interactions, like everyone else, you also have the added student stress of worrying about your education and your future. to help you cope and make the most of this crisis, here are magoosh’s 15 tips to stay sane as we practice social distancing and staying at home.

1. practice gratitude and positive thinking

one of the things this crisis has revealed is just how good many of us have it. especially if you have a roof over your head, a loving family to weather this crisis with, and food on the table, practicing gratitude is not only a good way to see the silver lining, but it’s also a great way to increase your happiness. check out some more tips on gratitude and positive thinking here.

2. intentionally take care of your mind and body

don’t let laziness get in the way here! even dedicating half an hour a day to taking care of your mind and body can work wonders for your sense of calm and happiness. if you take away anything from this article, let it be the importance of the following three practices:

exercise

being in quarantine doesn’t mean that we can never leave our house! even states with the strictest stay-at-home orders deem physical outdoor activities as essential—and for very good reason. do some yoga in your backyard or go for a bike ride around your neighborhood while maintaining considerable distance from other people (more than six feet, if possible). if there are a lot of folks out and about, you can work out at home—lots of gyms and fitness studios are offering streaming services completely free of charge.

practice good sleep hygiene

while it may be tempting to stay up all night one night and watch netflix, it’s super important to maintain good sleep habits. while lack of sleep may no longer be an issue for many students, it’s critical to maintain a consistent sleep schedule (even on the weekends) and avoid things that mess with your system right before going to sleep, like huge meals and extensive screen time. working out earlier in the day also helps with falling asleep faster!

meditate

if meditation isn’t already part of your daily routine, it definitely should be! even meditating as little as 5 minutes a day every day has huge health benefits, from reducing stress to boosting your immune system. look into apps such as insight timer, which has the largest free collection of guided meditations, or headspace. to boost your relaxation even more, consider pairing medication with fun self-care activities like taking bubble baths!
 

3. eat foods that make you happy

while many students stress eat, that’s not what i’m referring to—i’m talking about foods that are scientifically proven to make you happy (although many of them are indeed enjoyable to eat). here are some examples:

bananas: as you probably know, bananas are full of potassium, but did you know that potassium is proven to help reduce stress and depression? this is great news for everyone who has been baking a lot of banana bread these days!

dark chocolate: eating small amounts of dark chocolate actually regulates your body’s cortisol, a hormone that controls stress.

mango: the tropical fruit contains linalool, a chemical that university of tokyo scientists claim brings down stress levels.

green tea: green tea is chock full of l-theanine, which is said to reduce anger and stress. plus, sipping a nice, warm beverage is already sort of comforting and soothing. consider adding honey, which has chemicals like quercetin and kaempferol that have relaxing properties.

gum: okay, so this technically isn’t food, but it is something you chew on, so we’ll count it anyway. according to an nih study, chewing gum actually alleviates negativity and reduces cortisol when under stress. so grab your nearest pack of (sugar-free) gum and chew that thing like it’s nobody’s business!

for more happiness foods, check out this post.

4. create a routine

keeping a routine, which will help you create a sense of normalcy amid all this chaos, can do wonders for your mental health. go to sleep and get up at the same time (as mentioned before), dedicate a certain amount of time for your studies (even if your school is still trying to figure out a fixed schedule), continue doing your act or sat prep if it makes sense, and set aside a block for exercise and doing things you enjoy.

5. but also mix things up to the extent possible

forget about being confined in your house; it’s easy to go stir-crazy if all you’re seeing day after day are the same neighborhood streets. in addition to being the spice of life, variety is also good for your mental health. while having a general routine is important, you also want to switch things up within that routine as much as possible:

• try to do an activity in every location of your home.
• go to the park one weekend, a new hiking trail the next (since physical outdoor activities are considered essential activities, most states allow such travel).
• use this list as a jumping point to create a goal to do something different every day, no matter how small that goal is.
• if you need social interaction beyond your family, call a different friend every day and/or invite a friend to do an essential outdoor activity while strictly observing social distancing.

6. clean

the next time your mom asks you to help her with spring cleaning, resist the urge to roll your eyes—look at it as an invitation to practice self-care! cleaning and organizing not only allow you to feel in control of your environment (something we all need a sense of these days!), but they are also soothing activities that help you relax.

7. laugh

laughter really is the best medicine. or, at least, it’s excellent at de-stressing! scientific studies have proven that laughing eases stress and lowers blood pressure. just look at all the coronavirus-related memes everyone has been sharing or how tiktok has gotten even more weird and hilarious; it comes to no wonder why so many people have been using jokes as a coping mechanism. if you need to step away from these memes, watch some funny videos on youtube or remember a funny memory, and you’ll be guaranteed to feel a lot less stressed.

8. keep a journal

writing out your thoughts is a great way to organize and process your emotions and reflect on everything that’s going on. it’s also a really great way to document this historical time that we’re living in and it could be something that you’ll pat yourself on the back for doing in the future. consider journaling the first thing you do when you wake up and/or one the last things you do before you go to sleep.

9. engage in creative pursuits

it is never too late or the wrong time to bring more creativity in your life, and it is particularly true in these times. dust off that ukulele that’s been sitting in your basement for years. bust out that watercolor set that you’ve been meaning to use for ages (you may find yourself unearthing these things during your cleaning sessions! see what i did there ).
 

you’d be surprised at what kind of artistic or craftsy items are in your house, available online, or still in stock at essential businesses in your community. and if you’re hard-pressed to find anything beyond paper and pens, there’s a lot you could do with that, too.

10. show your affection

show love to the people you are homebound with! although it should be a no-brainer that feeling loved would make people happier, there is real science behind it: hugging reduces blood pressure and stress levels, and kissing fights stress-related hormones. if you live with essential workers, finding non-physical ways to express your affection and deep gratitude for their service does the trick, too.

11. listen to music

music definitely has a strong psychological impact on its listeners, and the right type of music can help you focus more, uplift your spirits, and even relieve your stress. consider listening to ambient music or low and quiet classical music as you do other activities. for more contemporary options, you won’t regret going through the entire catalog of npr’s tiny desk concert series.

12. have meaningful conversations

talk about your stress with someone. really, it helps. find an understanding friend or family member to talk about your problems with (preferably someone who won’t make you more stressed!). if you feel like there’s no one who understands, there are tons of counseling hotlines like this one which will help you for free.

13. minimize screen time

excessive screen time is already inadvisable during normal times; now that we’re in a situation where we’re tempted to use our electronics more while everything around us feels downright apocalyptic, it probably doesn’t take much screen time to drive yourself crazy these days. (also zoom fatigue is a very real thing.)

reduce your news and social media intake—set time limits if you need to. if you need social time, sprinkle in some old-fashioned phone calls with your facetiming so that you’re not staring at the screen. even when you have to use tech, switching it up between your phone and your laptop could help too.

14. give back

according to research, volunteering and giving back actually increases happiness. there are a lot of different ways to give back during this crisis, such as donating to mutual-aid networks, giving blood, or supporting your favorite local restaurant by giving to relief funds. check out this post and our post on how students are responding to the crisis for more ideas!

15. go easy on yourself

it’s super important to note that however you’ve been processing this crisis is perfectly fine. we’re living in troubling times and it’s really hard to manage. many of the tips in this post might be hard to work into your routine as a result. that’s totally okay.

try not to beat yourself up if you’re not being as productive as you want to be or if you’re not “making the most” out of your time in quarantine.

just focus on being in tune with yourself and your needs, which is also just good advice in non-crisis times. so in a few months from now, when you’re adding back extracurriculars and the five billion things you have in your typical schedules, don’t forget about these self-care tips to help you manage student stress!

the post 15 tips for students to reduce stress during covid-19 appeared first on magoosh blog | high school.

in addition to causing a massive, worldwide public health crisis, covid-19 has uniquely impacted high school students. with the move to remote learning and the uncertainty around college admissions, it’s hard to find a time when student stress levels have been higher. what’s more, students from marginalized backgrounds are being disproportionately impacted by this crisis. here’s a look at some of these problems and how students all across the country have been demanding solutions.

overcoming technological and language barriers

one of the biggest issues facing students across the country is the lack of access to technology to continue schooling. immigrant families in particular also lack access to important information in their native language. members of the san diego-based organization youth will created a covid-19 action team and have been hosting virtual hangouts for youth in the area to discuss these issues as well as others related to the crisis.

through these hangouts, youth have determined the following demands to advocate for at the county, city, and school board levels:

• provide technological devices, such as laptops and wifi hotspots, to all students who need it
• provide translation services to families that don’t speak english as their first language
• improve their outreach by having a proactive, direct, and consistent line to students and families and actively engaging with their concerns as the crisis evolves
• expand access to mental health resources, including counselors and mentors

the covid-19 action team has also created the following list of resources, which include opportunities to get free technology, essential job openings, and other resources.

demanding pass/fail grading

given the reality that students do not have equal access to online learning, several students across the country have been pushing their school districts to move to a pass/fail grading system. milly from rhode island led her group, providence student union, to circulate a petition demanding that the rhode island department of education allow all high schools in the state the option to move to pass/fail. zoe, a prominent student activist in her maryland county, created a similar petition targetted at her school district.

fighting for test-optional

student voice, a national organization that is entirely student-led, has launched the #testoptionalnow movement to pressure colleges and universities to drop the standardized test requirement. they argue that sat/act cancellations and delays and the resulting logistical challenges will primarily impact low-income, minority, and other underrepresented students.

emanuelle, a high school junior from kentucky, has partnered with student voice to lead the test-optional movement in her state. her local group, the prichard committee student voice team, recently met with the president of the kentucky council on postsecondary education, which has dropped standardized testing as a minimum requirement for college admissions. their goal currently is to get a better grasp of the data and the arguments for going test-optional.

creating alternatives to college tours

with the cancellations of college tours and admitted student events, many high school seniors are struggling to make an informed decision about their college acceptance, particularly first-generation college students. the maryland-based student-led organization moco for change has created a service connecting current high school seniors with alums from the county who may have gone to their schools of interest. so far, the group has mobilized over 750 county alumni representing 179 different colleges and universities!

what you can do

we hope this post inspires and provides you hope during this uncertain time! if your community is experiencing similar issues, you can use these examples of student activism to create similar petitions and resources. here are some other tips to get started:

• mobilize a group of friends who are equally as concerned about these issues as you are.
• research the issue by surveying community members and looking up statistics.
• engage trusted adults in your community to help you draft communications and create a strategy.
• if you’re new to these kinds of actions, don’t let that stop you! you have real power to create positive change in your community and the only way to exercise that power is to get started!

are you doing anything else to help your community and your peers during this crisis? let us know in the comments below!

the post how students are responding to covid-19 appeared first on magoosh blog | high school.

the exam in a nutshell

the ap us government and politics exam essentially tests material that would be covered in a semester-long college us government and politics class. the exam lasts for 2 hours and 25 minutes. there are two sections and they’re both worth 50% of the exam: the multiple-choice section and the free-response question (frq) section. the multiple-choice section has 60 questions and 45 minutes to complete. the free-response question section has 4 questions and 100 minutes to complete.

the exam expects students to have a really comprehensive understanding of how government works in the united states. the following are the six key concepts you will need to focus on as well as the proportion they make up the exam (check out the course description for more detail about these concepts):

• constitutional underpinnings of united states government (5-15%)
• political beliefs and behaviors (10-20%)
• political parties, interest groups, and mass media (10-20%)
• institutions of national government: the congress, the presidency, the bureaucracy, and the federal courts (35-45%)
• public policy (5-15%)
• civil rights and civil liberties (5-15%)

students take ap exams in may and get their scores back in july. as you may already know, ap exams are scored on a scale from 1 through 5, with 3 being equivalent to the lowest passing grade. you can think of each number corresponding to a letter grade: 5 = a, 4 = b, and so on and so forth.

how hard is the exam?

the average score of the ap us government test was 2.54 in 2015, which might make it seem like it’s one of the harder exams. however, it’s important to remember that the ap us government exam is the first ap exam many students have exposure to, which probably accounts for its lower average score.

in reality, the difficulty of the exam depends on the student. the us political system is a huge and complicated beast, so learning about it won’t necessarily be easy, especially if politics is not your cup of tea. therefore, if you’re planning to take the ap us government class and/or exam, it’s good that you are looking into it now so that you can get a feel for the concepts and how to approach studying in the next year. if you’re already a politics junkie, then you definitely have a head start!

ap us government exam tips and resources

other than paying attention in class and taking really good notes, here are some suggestions for preparing for the ap us government exam:

• if watching the news and reading about politics is not your thing, make it your thing because it would be a great way to relate what you’re learning in class to real life. pbs newshour, npr, and roll call are some suggestions for relatively unbiased news reporting.
• get the vocabulary down pat. in the midst of learning a lot of really complicated and maybe boring political processes, learning words and their definitions will seem like a breeze. not only is learning the vocab the first step in mastering these complicated concepts, you will likely be asked questions related directly to vocab in the multiple-choice and frq sections.
• learn how to ace the frq section; this video describes pretty well how to do it. i cannot overemphasize outlining your response before writing it. also, to make sure you are actually answering the question and to make to clear to the grader that you are answering the question, use the wording from the question in your answer.
• seriously, though, pay attention in class. take good notes. it’s the best way to ensure that you’ve absorbed the material over the year rather than cramming concepts last minute. but if you find yourself cramming concepts last minute…
• some great outside-the-classroom resources to look into are the crash course (particularly good for last minute study) and barron’s books. keith hughes and craig benzine have some fun videos about us government and politics as well.

the post ap us government and politics exam appeared first on magoosh blog | high school.

when you ask the experts, they all seem to agree that for most students, five to eight applications to a combination of reach, right-on-the-money, and safety schools is enough to secure at least one acceptance letter. as completing college applications, even with the aid of the common app, is truly an exhausting enterprise that can eat up a lot of time and money, there’s really no reason to put yourself through the unnecessary stress of applying to more than eight schools, especially if the majority of these schools are not where you want to go anyway. your time would be much better spent – and your chances of admissions actually greater – in carefully choosing a handful of colleges that you truly see yourself being happy at and crafting quality applications that make a solid case for why x university is the best place for you to achieve your academic, professional, and even personal dreams. here’s how to get started on that process.

do some soul-searching

contrary to popular belief, you don’t actually have to have your whole entire life figured out when you’re applying to colleges.

 
yes, really! although it definitely doesn’t hurt to have a dream profession or field of work, what colleges are mainly looking for in their candidates is a passion, a commitment to said passion, and a convincing argument that their school is the best place for you to develop said passion. so prior to researching colleges, try to have a good and honest idea about what you’re passionate about inside and/or outside the classroom. you can then use those passions to either guide you as you pick your schools or serve as a starting point for crafting your application – or both.

it’s also important to note that unless you’re interested in a specialized line of work, like nursing or engineering, or if you want to go to the absolute best program for your field of study, overall academic and social fit may matter more to you than rankings for specific programs or whether or not certain degrees are offered. taking all this into account, you can then…

look for and apply to schools that match your interests (and your profile)

there are a myriad of services out there geared toward helping you figure out what kind of school is best for you based on a variety of factors such as academic and social fit, financial aid considerations, and your level of competitiveness. broaden your horizons beyond well-known universities and that state school that everyone ends up applying to – although sometimes that state school can end up being a really excellent deal. as a proud graduate of a dinky school in iowa that most people have never heard of, i am beholden to share the benefits of attending a small liberal arts college to those who otherwise might not be aware.

in fact, i myself was very much set on applying to well-known research universities (because it was all i knew) and did not hear of grinnell college until i wikipedia’d it on a whim after receiving an (unsolicited) email from the admissions office. upon discovering that grinnell had a strong reputation for social justice (which is what i was passionate about – see above point), i quickly went from “how did you get my e-mail?” to “thank my lucky stars you spammed me!” sometimes the best school for you can present itself to you in the unlikeliest of ways, so the biggest favor you can do for yourself during this exciting process is to stay open-minded and honest about what’s best for you!

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