My Study Tips

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As we approach the end of the semester and, unfortunately, finals, I thought I’d take a moment to share study tips that I’ve learned during my first few months at Iowa.

  1. Plan out your week
    I always find it helpful to write down all the assignments and tests I have for the week so I can see them all in one place. I personally have my due dates for the entire semester written down in a spreadsheet, but you can also just do this week by week. This makes me feel less overwhelmed by all my assignments and helps me map out when I want to study for upcoming tests. 
  2. Find your favorite study spots 
    Your environment can really affect how productive your studying is. I rarely study in my room because I would be too tempted to lie in my bed instead of doing my work. Get out of your room and try out some different study spots! I personally like to study at the bottom of the IMU, the Stanley Lounge, and the Blank Honors Center. 
  3. Study without distraction 
    This last one might seem obvious, but it is harder than you think. I am someone who loves being surrounded by friends, but when it comes to studying, I know I will never focus on my work with them sitting next to me. I’m not saying a study date with your friends is always a bad idea, but if you have a super important paper or midterm coming up, sometimes it’s best to let yourself work alone so you can truly focus. I do, however, like to study with my friends if we have the same test coming up or if there are just a few low-focus assignments I need to complete. 

I hope these tips help you as much as they’ve helped me!

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Hawkeye Football

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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.

University of Iowa’s Kinnick Stadium filled with Hawkeye fans.

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Iowa City Visitors

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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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My First Fall

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Being from California, I have never experienced the magical moment when the leaves change colors, and the air gets just a little bit colder. Since I was little, my falls have always been filled with warm weather and trips to the beach. So you can imagine my excitement when I finally got cold enough to wear my favorite sweater, and I walked outside to find red leaves dotting the usually green trees. Fall has officially reached the University of Iowa, and it is absolutely breathtaking. 


I hope everyone’s fall is as off to a wonderful start as mine!
– Simran 

 

 

 

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Why I Believe the Pentacrest is Perfect

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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

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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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