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College students always need one thing: more money. While a cash gift is always easy and appreciated, it’s not the only option. Students can use many small things daily to make their lives easier. Students are generally focused on their studies and just learning about how the adult world works. They may not think about the things that make their lives easier or life’s little necessities. That’s where family members and friends with experience come in. 

If you are getting ready to send your college student back to campus, or to their new school for the first time, it’s essential to make sure they are prepared for the changes they will face. Whether it’s ramen gifts or a new laptop, there are certain essentials that your college child should have. Let’s take a closer look at a few useful gift ideas for college students.

Portable Tool Kit

Having the right tools to take care of small repairs is essential for your college student. Most of the maintenance will be taken care of if your student lives in the dorms. But, if they live off campus, dozens of small things will need to be fixed along the way. A portable tool kit is a perfect gift to help your college student face these challenges. An effective kit will have a multi-head screwdriver, pliers, utility knife, and a level. These basic tools will help get the job done for your college student. 

Ramen Gift Set

College kids are not likely to be gourmet cooks. They want fast and easy meals that fill their bellies without much fuss. Before sending your college kid back to school, give them the gift of ramen noodles. A case of mixed ramen flavors is the perfect gift for busy students. College kids can easily make a cup of ramen in their dorm rooms without spending extra money on take-out foods. 

Pepper Spray Keychain

Most college students are new to navigating the outside world. Many young students tend to be naive about the dangers around them. To help keep your child safe on campus, you can give them a key ring with pepper spray. These discreet tools can be used in an emergency and can even save a life. 

French Press

Most college students live on coffee and snacks. Daily takeout coffees can be expensive and beyond the budget of students. Gift them a French press to help your college kid get a good start on the day. No need for large, bulky plug-in coffee makers if you have a french press. Simply buy your favorite ground coffee blend and let it brew. 

Cord Organizer

Every college student uses technology, including smartphones, laptops, and tablets. All these things need to be constantly charged. If your student is in the dorms, they may have just a few electrical plugs. A cord organizer can help your student keep all their gadgets charged without a maze of cords crowding their room. 

Gifts for college students don’t have to be limited to cash and gift cards. Consider one of these useful gifts for your college student this year. 

As much as a student should always think critically when studying, certain subjects require more concentration than others. Such subjects include those in the science field. If a student does not apply critical thinking in Biology, Mathematics, Chemistry, and Physics, they are doomed to fail.

Unlike art subjects like Geography and Religious Education, science subjects are the foundation of school life. That could explain why in the real world, every important field propelling human life is revolving around sciences and mathematics. Hence the need for critical thinking.

I can guess what could be going through in your mind: What is critical thinking all about? What does it encompass and how does it help students in biology and other sciences? Well, just relax. In this article, we will take you through all you need to know which will eventually melt your doubts away. So let’s dive in.

What is Critical Thinking?

We can simply say that critical thinking is the ability of someone to think in a rational and well-organized manner with a perspective of understanding a certain concept. It is critical thinking that helps you to separate from normal ideas, fiction, and facts. It enables you to understand what you believe in.

It enables you to identify, analyze, and fix any flaw in our way of thinking. I know you may have heard that critical thinkers are not many and of course, that is right. Why? This is because this is an art that takes time and practice.

In a science class, every student is expected to develop their critical thinking skills even if they don’t want to become critical thinkers. But did you know there is no way you can become a good biology student without thinking critically? The two are inseparable.

Before I take you through some of the benefits of critical thinking in a biology class, what are some of the steps to critical thinking that you can start implementing today as a biology student? Let’s take a glance at that.

Simple Steps to Critical Thinking

  1. Come up with the problem – critical thinking usually springs from an identified problem. Have a question that you want to narrow down and concentrate on it until you get the answers. That’s what science subjects are all about.
  2. Research – this step can be down in various ways including collecting views from other people to know their way of thinking. Get the opinions and arguments or great authors.
  3. Analyze your research – ensure the information you have gathered is reliable and from reliable sources.
  4. Identify any assumptions – ensure that you go through your answers to identify any favoritism and biases.
  5. Pick the important information – since you have a lot of information, it is time to get the best of the best. Get only the most relevant and significant information.
  6. Get to your conclusion – weigh all the decisions and ideas you have made and come up with the right conclusion.
  7. Present – your audience wants to hear what you have been doing for weeks and months. It is time to present your work.

As you can see from the above steps, critical thinking is a process. If a biology student wants to become a doctor, they need the above skills in coming up with a cure to accurately treat their patients.

Benefits of Critical Thinking to a Biology Student

It enhances their ability to solve problems

A biology student is prepared to be solving the health needs of society. Critical thinking in a biology class enables the student to develop such skills even before they step into the corporate field.

It develops independence

A biology profession is the one the society depends on. They are built to equip others and provide solutions. Critical thinking enables them to start being independent, a skill that will be needed in their career life.

It stirs curiosity

Curiosity is the mother of innovation and creativity. As a biology student becomes curious to know how a certain organ functions, they get deeper in their analytical and research skills. With that, they gain more understanding of the subject. When critical thinking is instilled in the life of a biology student, they automatically become lifelong learners who are explorative. That is required in science.

It enables creativity

Without creative thinking, there cannot be creativity. This is a skill that every student in our era needs to survive in it. It only takes a creative person to transform a system that has been in the same for decades, such are the creative thinkers. Since we want a transformed medical system, developing biology students who are creative thinkers is the preliminary step to a transformed future.

It enhances the level of responsibility

If our millennial biology students will not be taught how to be responsible, the health industry will be a collapsed entity in the next few decades. The only way to make them responsible is by making them critical thinkers.

You can tell that the importance of critical thinking among biology students cannot be overemphasized. It surpasses their classroom lectures and goes to the future of society and the country. It is a necessary life skill to develop.

 

Everyone should have at least one bank account as it helps them comprehend the value of money. Children too can have bank accounts from an early age. Once they turn 18, they must change their account to adult checking accounts which would exclude parental supervision. Every teenager and young, adults should have his or her own checking account as it teaches them how money functions. A college student might find a checking bank account extremely useful in their busy life. There are different types of bank accounts but the checking accounts are the ones that are in daily use. 

What is a checking account? 

A checking account is a bank account that lets you use a debit card, credit card and checks to withdraw money from the account. It is an account where you primarily keep money in order to take them out. It is not like a savings account where you should put a good chunk of capital and let it sit for a while. A savings account gives you dividend while checking account does not. So, the objective of checking account is to deposit and withdraw cash. Opening a checking bank account is simple and effortless. It takes a few minutes to open a new checking account. 

The differences between checking and savings accounts: 

There are a few distinctions between the two accounts. Let us examine that here briefly. A checking account enables you to write checks while the savings account does not. The savings account is for essentially long term investments. Checking accounts let you issue a debit card, credit card and draw checks from your bank account, while the savings account does not. Checking accounts can be free or there might be a monthly fee to keep your account active but most of the savings accounts are free and they give you a rate of interests on your money. It is important to note that a checking account can be linked with any savings account that you might have. 

Importance of a checking account:  

As mentioned before, everyone should have a checking account. It assists in keeping the financial matter in order. Students can pay their college tuition fee from the checking account. They can also go to various online portals to buy books which are not available in the market. When they do online shopping they will make use of the checking account. Whenever one orders something online, they need to pay via debit or credit cards. The world has progressed to a digital platform, there are money exchanging portals such as Amazon Pay and Google pay. This online money exchanging outlets are linked with a checking account. So, it is quite imperative in today’s world to have a checking account to your name. 

When you are young, it is expected that you might not have a lot of cash with you at your disposal. But there might be things that you need for your growth in life. Checking account will let you have a credit card which in turn will give you the freedom of purchasing items beyond your reach. Of course in due time you need to fill the gap and reimburse the money in the bank. Having a bank account with a good credit score can also help you get the loan you need to start your own start-up business. 

It is therefore advisable that everyone should have a checking account to their name in the bank. It will certainly make one’s life smoother.

More than 83,000 Indian students received Canadian study permits in 2017. A report by India Today said that Indians are now turning to Canada for their educational needs because of its high-quality education at affordable tuition costs.

On average, Indian students will only pay an average of CAD 6,838 annually for an undergraduate degree and roughly CAD 7,086 per year for graduate programs. Moreover, studying in Canada for Indian students is also on the rise because of favorable visa requirements and tolerance towards foreigners.

Other than that, studying in Canada provides Indian students with ample research opportunities and development. Keep in mind that the Canadian government offers excellent support for research in fields like agriculture, medicine, environmental science, technology, and telecommunication.

Likewise, the multicultural environment in Canada also cultivates a friendly living environment for foreign immigrants. Indians make up 3.8 percent of Canada’s population with more than a million Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) and Non-Resident Indians (NRI).

Perhaps the biggest motivator for the rise of study in Canada for Indian students is the country’s peaceful atmosphere. According to the Global Peace Index, Canada is the sixth most peaceful nation around the world.

Interestingly, Canada also provides immigration opportunities through the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PWPP). Technically, the PWPP service enables an international student to stay and work in the country for up to three years after their graduation.

Through organizations like A-Canada and the PWPP initiative, Indians can gain significant international work experience, which can prove vital in applying for a permanent residency in the future.

How Can I Go To Canada For Education?

Indians studying in Canada will need to join an International English Language Testing System to determine the student’s proficiency to communicate with residents. Standardized tests like Graduate Record Examinations and Graduate Management Admission Test may also be needed.

Besides that, Indian students might have to obtain a Canadian study permit, which acts as their student visas for the duration of their stay. However, students taking degree programs that only last for six months or less won’t need a permit to study.

Other than study permits, Indians should also acquire two academic references, evidence of English language proficiency, passport-sized photographs, statement of purpose, certificates or achievements, and portfolio of works for design, architecture, and art students.

How Can I Get A Scholarship In Canada?

Indian students who wish to get a full scholarship with Canadian universities must work with immigration agencies like A-Canada to enjoy scholarship benefits.

Usually, these organizations work with institutions like the Ontario Graduate Scholarships, the Ontario Trillium Scholarship, and Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship to help students get scholarship sums that are enough for tuition, miscellaneous, and books.

Basic eligibility requirements for scholarship grants include a valid study permit or post-graduation work permit, proof enrollment at a Canadian tertiary institution, and membership at the Canada Visa Study Hub.

Nevertheless, you may also be asked for proof of residency and first-class average depending on the scholarship institution. More often than not, these scholarships range from CAD 7,000 to CAD 14,700 based on the field and the duration of the study.