Before I start, I’d like to give a quick shout out to the Campus Clipper. The Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. The company helps support students in so many ways, from their coupon booklet to their Official Student Guide. Now, on to the blog!

Free Museums

In the room the women come and go

Talking of Michelangelo

The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T. S. Eliot

New York City is full of thousands of ways to fill a day. But nowadays, intellectual hobbies have been suppressed by laziness, inconvenience, and the vastness of the Internet. People don’t bother going to see artwork when they can just see images on Google or blogs. But let me inconvenience you for a minute to say that you are wasting a fantastic opportunity to see priceless art all over the city, for free!

In addition, some of New York’s most famous museums have what is called Suggested Admission fees, where the hosts have a price that a museum guest should pay if they please. But keep in mind, these fees are optional, and you can give less, more, really whatever you want.

Some Museums with Suggested Admission Fees:

American Museum of Natural History

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Tibet House

Staten Island Museum

Don’t forget about Zoos and Gardens. Check out The Bronx Zoo and NY Botanical Garden, which neighbor each other in the Bronx, on Wednesdays when there is a great discount on admissions.

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By Ryan Forman

A few words from the Campus Clipper –

The Campus Clipper not only help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create these amazing E-Books, but we give them a platform to teach others. Follow each new blog post to read a chapter of our various books and to learn how the Campus Clipper can help you follow your dreams!

Craving student savings while you catch up on your reading? Click on the link to download the Official Campus Clipper Coupon Booklet! And check out our newest YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during this year’s Welcome Week.

Before I start, I’d like to give a quick shout out to the Campus Clipper. The Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. The company helps support students in so many ways, from their coupon booklet to their Official Student Guide. Now, on to the blog!

Biking

 Full many a glorious morning have I seen Flatter the mountain tops with sovereign eye, Kissing with golden face the meadows green, Gilding pale streams with heavenly alchemy

William Shakespeare, Sonnet 33

It’s summertime, and it’s hot. But that doesn’t change the reality that taking cabs around Manhattan is growing excessively expensive by the month. Also, at times public transportation is just too slow and unreliable. While walking everywhere may be lovely for some, it is quite slow. So why don’t you give biking around the city a shot?

I’ve been biking in Manhattan for years, and I have to say it is my absolute favorite method of transportation. At first, it is a little unnerving: the aggressive drivers, the crowded intersections, and sometimes roads riddled with potholes. But once you get used to riding around NYC it can be one of the fastest, cheapest, and pleasurable ways to get around. Just get yourself a quality lock and throw your bike on really any pole on any sidewalk.

New York City has plenty of groups that try to enhance the biking lifestyle. Biking is healthy as a form of cardiovascular exercise, and it is much more efficient for the environment than cars, buses, or motorcycles.

Remember, biking is a practical way to get about anywhere: class, work, a friend’s house, a park, or just biking for leisure.

If you’re not ready for the commitment of purchasing your own bike and padlock, take advantage of the Citi Bike program, which provides bikes all over Manhattan and some parts of Brooklyn and Queens. Rent a bike for a day or just a few hours; it’s super convenient.

Some links to check out about biking in NYC

http://www.bikenewyork.org/

http://www.nycbikemaps.com/maps/ (Bike maps all over NYC!)

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By Ryan Forman

A few words from the Campus Clipper –

The Campus Clipper not only help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create these amazing E-Books, but we give them a platform to teach others. Follow each new blog post to read a chapter of our various books and to learn how the Campus Clipper can help you follow your dreams!

Craving student savings while you catch up on your reading? Click on the link to download the Official Campus Clipper Coupon Booklet! And check out our newest YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during this year’s Welcome Week.

Before I start, I’d like to give a quick shout out to the Campus Clipper. The Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. The company helps support students in so many ways, from their coupon booklet to their Official Student Guide. Now, on to the blog!

Running

As I came over Windy Gap
They threw a halfpenny into my cap.
For I am running to paradise

-William Butler Yeats, from “Running to Paradise”

Since I started college, one of the hardest things for me to do is simply go for a run. I used to do it all the time, what happened?

The unfortunate truth about running is that once you stop, it’s hard to get going again. It becomes easy to just sit around with friends or playing around on your computer. We begin making excuses, insisting that we don’t have time for exercise, when in reality going for a run can still be effective if you only run for 20 minutes. On the flipside, however, once you get used to running again, it is one of the most liberating and efficient methods of exercise. All you need is a pair of decent sneakers, athletic clothing and, if you like, some music (hyperlink: http://runningplaylist.net/).

Running can be fun for some, but treacherous for others. The panting, the sweating, the pounding, it’s not for everyone. But if you fear the pain of running and, as soon as you start, find yourself wanting to quit, consider the benefits. Besides the obvious healthiness of burning calories and improving your physical condition, it has been scientifically proven that running makes you feel good. This article in the New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/health/nutrition/27best.html) explains the Runner’s High, a sensation that has been compared to euphoria and general lightness. My friend once said, “Running is the opposite of getting drunk: you feel awful during, and amazing after.” This is where the relaxation comes in: taking a long shower and plopping down on the couch after going for a run can be jubilant. And you’ll feel like you’ve finally earned this relaxation.

Note: top places to run in NYC: http://www.forbes.com/sites/fathom/2013/11/06/the-6-best-running-routes-in-new-york-city/#76f6e59d723c

Some of my favorites include Central Park and the East End Boardwalk.

Note: for those who find running physically impossible due to health issues or past injures, taking long walks is also valuable for clearing your mind on a nice day. To motivate yourself to go running, go out and treat yourself to some new running sneakers. If you truly dedicate yourself to running, the cost of the shoes will be worth it with your end results of a healthier, happier, and more relaxed self.

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By Ryan Forman

A few words from the Campus Clipper –

The Campus Clipper not only help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create these amazing E-Books, but we give them a platform to teach others. Follow each new blog post to read a chapter of our various books and to learn how the Campus Clipper can help you follow your dreams!

Craving student savings while you catch up on your reading? Click on the link to download the Official Campus Clipper Coupon Booklet! And check out our newest YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during this year’s Welcome Week.

Before I start, I’d like to give a quick shout out to the Campus Clipper. The Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. The company helps support students in so many ways, from their coupon booklet to their Official Student Guide. Now, on to the blog!

This summer, I interned at Student Maximus Magazine, a publication that helps students living in the city save money and express themselves creatively. Cassandra Fox, the founder of the magazine and company, is on a mission to give students creative outlets, and is avid about young adults finding their passions and becoming masters of whatever they are most enthusiastic about. She assigned the interns a challenging and rewarding task: to write an eBook about something they truly care about, and to become a master of that craft.

College life is crazy. Classes can be overwhelming, socializing can be tiresome, extra-curricular activities can be consuming—at times, finding the balance that allows a student to be happy and busy at the same time seems impossible. I try my best to stay relaxed, but it’s often hard. That’s why I’m trying to master relaxation. It may sound a bit contradictory—relaxation, I suppose, should be something natural and unforced. But I believe we really need to designate times and activities that help us to drop everything and cleanse ourselves of the stresses of college life.

That’s why this eBook will focus on the art of relaxation. I will be fleshing out some of the ideas I have compiled from personal experience, as well as my friends’ experiences, and expert advice on leisure and catharsis.

My name is Ryan Forman. I am a student at Washington University in St. Louis, and graduated from Trinity School in New York City in 2010. I am a Manhattan native. I enjoy writing, reading, music, hanging out with friends, sports, exercising, going to the movies, and, of course, relaxing. I hope you benefit from my advice.

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By Ryan Forman

A few words from the Campus Clipper –

The Campus Clipper not only help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create these amazing E-Books, but we give them a platform to teach others. Follow each new blog post to read a chapter of our various books and to learn how the Campus Clipper can help you follow your dreams!

Craving student savings while you catch up on your reading? Click on the link to download the Official Campus Clipper Coupon Booklet! And check out our newest YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during this year’s Welcome Week.

Before I start, I’d like to give a quick shout out to the Campus Clipper. The Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. The company helps support students in so many ways, from their coupon booklet to their Official Student Guide. Now, on to the blog!

In this post, we will discuss where you should begin if you’re thinking of returning to school.

Think about why you want to return to school.  Why is it constantly on your mind?  Will earning a degree help you get more out of life or will it help you find the right job?  Decide on what you want to study and begin your research.  What are you good at?  What would you like to do?  Make sure you are returning for the right reasons.  That way your determination will get you through it.  If the time is right for you to return it will be rewarding.

(If you are not interested in earning a degree but want to take classes in your field of interest to develop your profession or are endeavoring in a life-long learning experience, you can take non-degree courses as well.)

There are several colleges and universities offering a continuing education program and nontraditional student programs.  Look into colleges that you are interested in or is convenient for you.  If you are worried that this decision doesn’t fit your lifestyle needs, don’t let that stop you.  Talk to the people in your life, seek their support.  Your family and friends will support your decision.  

After you’ve looked into colleges you are interested in, try to attend their information sessions, or visit the admissions office and ask questions.  It may take some time to gather all the records you will need.

You’ll need to access old test scores, transcripts, immunization records and recommendations letters.

•  Transcripts and old test scores should be sent directly from your previous college to your college of choice.  (Unless you apply to return to the same college you dropped out of)
•  If it’s been more than eight years, your SAT scores may no longer be acceptable. You may have to take the entrance exam.
•  You may need to access your old high school transcripts or GED test results.  Have them sent directly to the college you are applying to.
•  You’ll need to submit your immunization records once admitted.
•   It is recommended that you apply for financial aid at the same time.
•   Don’t let these steps scare you.  Take care of it.
•   Once you get it done, you’ll feel better.

Write your college essays, gather two recommendation letters from colleagues and send out your applications.  Remember that most colleges and universities are always looking to expand the campus diversity.  Some professors enjoy having the perspective of older students in the classroom.  Keep this in mind.

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By Rona Ramjas

A few words from the Campus Clipper –

The Campus Clipper not only help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create these amazing E-Books, but we give them a platform to teach others. Follow each new blog post to read a chapter of our various books and to learn how the Campus Clipper can help you follow your dreams!

Craving student savings while you catch up on your reading? Click on the link to download the Official Campus Clipper Coupon Booklet! And check out our newest YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during this year’s Welcome Week.

Before I start, I’d like to give a quick shout out to the Campus Clipper. The Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. The company helps support students in so many ways, from their coupon booklet to their Official Student Guide. Now, on to the blog!

In this post, we will discuss how find a support group on campus. You’ll need a buddy that you can relate to.

During my first semester back at school, I had to take a workshop on adjusting to college life as a non-traditional student.  The Dean of Students mentioned forming a buddy group with other students like myself.  At the time, I thought it was silly.  Later that year when I found myself struggling and the challenge was mounting, I began to reach out to other students like myself.  I slowly came to understand the Dean’s advice.

Fortunately for me, as it is a time when most adult students are returning to school, I had two close friends who had just enrolled into college.  I met with them, talked with them about school and discovered that they were experiencing the same obstacles and reactions as I was.  It took a load off our shoulders to know that there were others who were in the same situation.  It was a comfort to relate to them.  Knowing that you are not the only one experiencing challenges makes a big difference.

~~~~~

By Rona Ramjas

A few words from the Campus Clipper –

The Campus Clipper not only help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create these amazing E-Books, but we give them a platform to teach others. Follow each new blog post to read a chapter of our various books and to learn how the Campus Clipper can help you follow your dreams!

Craving student savings while you catch up on your reading? Click on the link to download the Official Campus Clipper Coupon Booklet! And check out our newest YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during this year’s Welcome Week.

Before I start, I’d like to give a quick shout out to the Campus Clipper. The Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. The company helps support students in so many ways, from their coupon booklet to their Official Student Guide. Now, on to the blog!

In this post, we will discuss how you’re ahead of other students. You already have social and professional skills.

It isn’t enough to have academic merit to be completely successful. There are other important factors that can lead to success.  Social skills, confidence, ingenuity, and having a social network are great attributes that an older student may have.

For some, college can be more rewarding as an adult because you have gained these attributes.  Your life experience is what will help you with your college achievement.  You are ahead of the other students in your class because of this.  We all have different needs to succeed than what the educational system accommodates.

Another reason why you’re ahead of the game is that you are studying for yourself and not for your parents.  This decision to return to school is yours.  You know what you want and will be determined to achieve it.  And most likely you are paying for it, so you will really understand the value of and education.

You already know what’s out there in the world and you know what to expect when you graduate.  Even though you may end up working in the same field as you were before, you know that once you do graduate you will be making twice as much with a degree.

When I asked Danielle what she finds most rewarding about being an older student, she said;

“I truly look at my education as a gift, a privilege, something I relish and enjoy.  I want to learn and immerse myself in my studies.”

I share the same feeling as Danielle; I enjoy learning and now that I am one year away from graduating, I am also thinking of going to graduate school.  I am eager to continue my studies.

As challenging as it has been, being an older student, I can’t say enough how rewarding it has been.  It truly has been one of the most rewarding experiences.  It is more than just knowing that I will have a higher income, it has been a deeply satisfying process and that has giving me a sort of comfort in finding my place in the world.

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By Rona Ramjas

A few words from the Campus Clipper –

The Campus Clipper not only help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create these amazing E-Books, but we give them a platform to teach others. Follow each new blog post to read a chapter of our various books and to learn how the Campus Clipper can help you follow your dreams!

Craving student savings while you catch up on your reading? Click on the link to download the Official Campus Clipper Coupon Booklet! And check out our newest YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during this year’s Welcome Week.

Before I start, I’d like to give a quick shout out to the Campus Clipper. The Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. The company helps support students in so many ways, from their coupon booklet to their Official Student Guide. Now, on to the blog!

In this post, we will discuss how returning students’ needs differ from that of an 18 year old student. How does one balance their personal life, social life and college life?

If you have a full time job or a family, returning to school can incredibly taxing. It requires multitasking. You have different needs from that of a younger college student. Your lifestyle is different. Make a schedule around your life depending on what works for you. If you have a full time job, begin with one or two classes. You will be busy but you can still have time for self and family. You’ll just have to learn how to manage that time.

While you don’t have to completely sacrifice your personal and social life, you will have to learn how and when to say ‘no.” You will not be able to make it to every social event or family dinners. You will be less available so choose when to say no.

Commuting could be a challenge as well. While most college students live on campus, older students have to commute. Make sure that you can manage your time. Riding the train or bus can be a valuable time to read or catch up on studying. Make use of that time.  If you have to commute a long distance, schedule your classes so that you don’t have to go to campus every day; try to schedule your classes in one or two days.

Talk to your professors. Let them know your situation and take advantage of their office hours to ask questions to help you keep up with the class. You’d be surprised at how receptive your professors can be to your situation and maintaining a relationship with them will be a great help for you.

I spoke with Danielle, a thirty five year old student and a mom with three kids.  She says that balancing her time is by far the most difficult aspect of being a full time student, a full time mom and wife.

“There are times when I spend too much time on my work, and other times when I neglect my work to spend time with my family.  Unfortunately, no matter what I am doing- whether it is finally getting ahead in my studies or having some fun family time, I am always plagued by guilt.”

Danielle is learning how to take it one day at a time. The beginning was challenging but she is adjusting. She says that when she is in school, she is completely immersed in her studies, and when she is at home, she devotes herself to her family. During midterms and finals, she makes school her number one priority and has finally accepted this as not being a bad thing, but as necessary at the moment.

“When it comes to balancing time, I’ve accepted my limits. There is only 24 hours in a day and only so much that I can do. If I have a paper due, the dishes in the sink can wait. And there have been times when I’ve regretfully declined invitations to family gatherings because I’ve had to study for an exam.”

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By Rona Ramjas

A few words from the Campus Clipper –

The Campus Clipper not only help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create these amazing E-Books, but we give them a platform to teach others. Follow each new blog post to read a chapter of our various books and to learn how the Campus Clipper can help you follow your dreams!

Craving student savings while you catch up on your reading? Click on the link to download the Official Campus Clipper Coupon Booklet! And check out our newest YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during this year’s Welcome Week.