College Assignment Tracker

Posted on January 15, 2025

In college, there are tons of assignments from multiple classes that all use a different format to set up their course planner for the semester. It’s because of this that I like to make a spreadsheet with all my assignments for the semester. Making an assignment tracker sounds like a daunting task, but I promise it’s a lot easier than it sounds. 

1. Create a Google spreadsheet (I’m sure there’s a way to do this in Excel too but I unfortunately lack those skills)
2. Create two headers: “Assignments” and “Due Dates”
3. Go through each course and write down all the assignments for the semester as well as their due dates. 
4. Assign a color to each class (this makes it aesthetically pleasing)
5. Select all the assignments and due dates (don’t forget to select the header row too)
6. Click “Data” (it should be right below the title of the sheet)
7. Click “Sort range” and then “Advanced range sorting options”
8. In the pop-up box, click “Data has header row” and then under “Sort by” click “Due Date” 
9. Click “Sort” and voila, you have your semester assignment tracker!
10. You can make a note of when you complete assignments by either using the strike-through or check box feature

These are just the basic steps to do it, but I like to organize mine even more by adding in my tests/quizzes, too, and bolding them with red text so they stand out. I also like to make a box around the week I am currently on so I don’t get overwhelmed by future assignments. I still check the course planners once a week to make sure due dates haven’t changed and update accordingly but I have found this spreadsheet so helpful in mapping out my week and even getting ahead on assignments. 

I hope this helps!

-Simran 

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New Year’s Resolutions

Posted on January 14, 2025

It’s a new year, which means the start of a new semester is upon us. I had an absolutely incredible first semester and I want nothing more than to make my second semester even better. So, here are some goals of mine to improve my college experience. 

Use My Flex Swipes

Like many other students, I didn’t make the most of my flex swipes. Flex swipes come with your meal plan and can be used at on-campus dining locations that aren’t the three main dining halls. My meal plan came with 75 flex swipes in addition to my regular dining hall meal swipes. At the beginning of the semester, I was frugal with my flex swipes because I thought 75 wouldn’t be enough to last me the whole semester. However, I was very wrong, and at the end of the semester, I had WAY too many and didn’t want them to go to waste. So, like every other student who had done the same, I raided the Clinton Street Market snack aisle and stocked up on enough chips and Powerade to last me all of next semester. I’ve learned my lesson and will definitely be using my flex swipes more regularly next semester. 

Go to Rec Center Classes

I’ve been to the rec center multiple times, but I’ve never attended any of the free workout classes they offer. I just looked at the website, and there are so many fun options to choose from that I can either go to alone or bring a group of friends to join me. 

Explore Iowa City/Coralville

I go into Iowa City’s downtown area quite often, but I usually go to the same few places. Next semester, I want to try new restaurants and coffee shops in addition to going to my favorites. I also want to go to Coralville since I’ve only been there a few times and know there is lots to do and explore there, too. 

-Simran 

 

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Traveling Home for The Holidays

Posted on December 30, 2024

Since I live 1,885 miles from Iowa City (I Googled it), I always get asked how I deal with traveling. Even though it is so far, I haven’t had any issues, and travel days have been relatively simple (knock on wood). The Cedar Rapids Airport is only a 30-minute car ride from campus, and it is super easy to get an Uber to take you. People at the airport are super friendly and help to ensure your travel day goes smoothly. Once you get through security, there is a Java House pop-up (my favorite coffee shop in Iowa City) that I can never resist grabbing a pre-flight beverage. The airport only has 13 gates, and it only takes about 5 minutes to walk from one end of the terminal to the other, making it nearly impossible to miss your flight. Once you get on the plane, all you have to do is sit back and relax, which I usually do by watching a movie or taking a much-needed nap. I only have 1 connection either through Phoenix, Denver, or Chicago, and those are also pretty easy to navigate even though they are larger airports (just make sure to give yourself enough time). And in a quick 7-hour travel day, I am home for the holidays!

I hope everyone is enjoying spending time with their families and having some well-deserved time off!

-Simran 

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Surviving My First Ice Storm

Posted on December 30, 2024

At the end of my first semester, I experienced what t is apparently classic Midwest weather: an ice storm. This is when it rains, but the temperatures are below freezing, so it immediately turns to ice when it hits the ground. This turned campus into a giant ice rink. While this sounds like fun, nobody had a pair of ice skates, so it was really just an inconvenience. Crossing the street between my dorm and Burge Market Place, which usually takes 30 seconds, took me a few minutes because I was scared of falling. I was eventually able to successfully make it to the other side (unlike some other people I saw). I think the real trick to surviving an ice storm is minimizing how much you go outside (stock up on microwaveable meals) and having a good pair of boots!

 

 

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Hawkeye Football

Posted on November 26, 2024November 26, 2024

As the fall semester comes to an end, so does the football season. So far, I have been to 5 Iowa football games, each one being an incredibly fun and unique experience. I had only been to one college football game before Iowa, and it was definitely a disappointment compared to the energy in Kinnick Stadium. Everything from the fans eagerly waiting outside the stadium to the Hawkeye Marching Band’s halftime show to the infamous first-quarter children’s hospital wave makes any game day at Iowa unforgettable. It is during the football games, with thousands of fans adorned in black and gold surrounding me, that I feel most like a Hawkeye.

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Iowa City Visitors

Posted on November 5, 2024

Last weekend, I was delighted with a visit from my best friend from high school, Jasmine. I had been counting down the days until I could see her again and was so incredibly excited to show her my favorite parts of Iowa City. Here are some recommendations of what to do when you have visitors, whether it be friends, family, or a significant other.

Walk Around Iowa City:

This is one of my favorite things to do even when I don’t have visitors, but it is always more fun with company. We probably spent hours walking around Iowa City’s outdoor Ped-Mall, exploring all the cute local shops and listening to music provided by the local troubadours.

Restaurants/Cafes:

Use your friends’ visiting as an excuse to go to all the restaurants you don’t have time for during the school week. My favorite place to take people is The Encounter Cafe for brunch (their cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate are out-of-this-world good).

Pentacrest Picnic:

With the weather still being semi-nice (depending on the day), you might as well take the opportunity to show off the best sunset in Iowa City. Listening to music and catching up while watching the sunset from the back of the Old Capitol building is the perfect way to end your busy day with friends.

I hope everyone has as much fun with their visitors as I did with mine!

-Simran

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Why I Believe the Pentacrest is Perfect

Posted on September 27, 2024

Anyone who knows me well knows that I have an obsession with desire paths. If you don’t know what that is (none of my friends here did until I told them), Merriam-Webster defines a desire path as “an unplanned route or path (such as one worn into a grassy surface by repeated foot traffic) that is used by pedestrians in preference to or in the absence of a designated alternative (such as a paved pathway).” If you want to dive deeper, here’s a great article by The Guardian. Anyways, as weird as it sounds, when I first arrived on campus, I was excited to stumble upon desire paths everywhere I went since college campuses are notorious for them. While I did encounter a few (usually where sidewalks needed to be wider to accommodate larger friend groups), I was pleasantly surprised to find that the University of Iowa’s Pentacrest has man-made desire paths! What I mean by this is that where it would be likely for a desire path to be formed, there are already paved walkways. It’s almost as if they were designed with the natural flow of human movement in mind. For this reason, I believe the Pentacrest is absolutely perfect!

Thanks for letting me geek out for a minute!

-Simran

 

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A Week to Remember: On Iowa! Top 5 Moments

Posted on September 3, 2024September 18, 2024

First post!!!!!!

I can’t say enough how much I LOVED On Iowa! week. My Google Calendar was packed with events from friendship bracelet-making parties to a drag show to a farmers market adventure. The University of Iowa orientation team really thought of it all when it came to events anyone and everyone could find enjoyment in. While I attended 26 different events this week, here are my top 5:

1. Kickoff at Kinnick

   

   The walk over from the East to West side was gruesome in the heat, but it was well worth it for the time I spent on THE Kinnick turf (like where they play football)! During this Hawkeye football boot camp, we learned cheers and songs and even did our first wave to the children’s hospital (it was dark out, but we could see their flashlights pressed against the windows). There was a fireworks show and lots of food!

2. Poster Sale 

   
   
   I desperately needed more posters for my wall since I only brought three, so this sale in Hubbard Park came at the perfect time! There were a variety of posters that could suit anyone’s interests (sports, movies, music, and more). They also came in different sizes, which is perfect for filling in the gaps on your poster wall. I was able to grab a Lana Del Rey, Picasso, and Tame Impala poster, all of which complement the posters I already had.

3. Friendship Bracelet Making Party

   
   This was a MUST for any Swiftie or craft enthusiast. I think I sat there for a total of three hours making both bracelets and friends. I made a Hawkeye-themed bracelet for each of my roommates so we could match at football games. There was also a surprise: felt to make name pennants for our dorms! I’m not the most artistic person, but I was able to successfully make a cute one (well, at least it’s pretty from a distance).

4. Drag Show
   
   

   The drag show was SO much fun! My friends and I were able to stand right up to the stage, which made the night even more exciting. There were three queens and a king who each performed two songs. There was even a bonus performance where audience members were brought on stage to dance their hearts out to HOT TO GO! by Chappell Roan. 

5. Silent Disco

   
   
   I had NEVER gone to a silent disco before this night, and let me tell you that I will DEFINITELY be going again (especially if Iowa hosts it)! The line to get in was huge, but luckily, we got there 40 minutes early and were some of the first people in. We had the option to switch between a green, red, and blue channel. I personally switched between green and blue, but red also had a few bops that I stayed for. I think I heard HOT TO GO! by Chappell Roan at least five times throughout the night, and I am not complaining!

I hope everyone had just as much fun as me during On Iowa! week and is settling into their classes!
-Simran 

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