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Tips for Dealing with PCS in College
- Get enough sleep/rest. Sleep deprivation makes everything worse. (Trust me, I almost died from it once).
- Plan your schedule with breaks between classes
- Find organizational strategies that work for you. I use a planner for everything and I absolutely love it. Here’s a list of planners I recommend: Day Designer, Passion Planner, Plum Paper
- Talk to your professors about PCS and your specific situation early in the semester. They’ll be able to help you more and show more empathy if they know from the start.
- Find a supportive friend group. Balance social and academic pursuits so you do not drive yourself insane.
- Don’t forget to eat. I forgot to eat for a week and gained all my calories from tea and coffee. It did not end well!
- I am always armed with tylenol and Excedrin Tension Headache (I cannot take an NSAID so this is the only form of excedrin I can take). I also always have reglan and zofran. I alternate the prescription and OTC medications.
- Have a medication reminder on your phone or pill bottle itself
- Get accommodations and use them. I have gotten so much help and support from the Disability Resources Services at my university. Read up on what types of paperwork they need on their website before leaving for school.
Tips For the College Application Process
Life hacks for college applications!!!
SUMMER BEFORE JUNIOR YEAR AND JUNIOR YEAR
1. SAT/ACT prep
2. Make list of schools you’re interested in and why. Note their application release date (some are live in July) and application type (common app or their own application). Also note their admission statistics.
3. Take entrance exam
SUMMER BEFORE SENIOR YEAR:
1. Write personal statement
2. Fill out your common app (BEST THING I EVER DID WAS HAVE THIS FINISHED AT THE END OF MY JUNIOR YEAR). If you haven’t taken entrance exams yet or are still trying to do better, still fill it out because you can always just type in the numbers.
3. If a school you’re interested in releases their app over the summer, just do it as soon as it’s released.
4. Prepare answers to short answer questions such as “why do you want to attend this university” and “what makes you unique” and “what are you passionate about”. These are usually 100-200 words so pretty short.
5. Continue test prep if necessary.
SENIOR YEAR
*the first six weeks of senior year suck and are so hard but it sucks for everyone. Keep your head up because you’ve been through worse.*
1. Finish up entrance exams
2. Finish all applications
3. Don’t get lost in the senior year bullshit that always occurs. You’re stronger than that.
4. You WILL get in somewhere that’s a great fit for you. Don’t buy into stereotypes or acceptance rate snobbiness. Just love where you’re applying and don’t listen to negativity. Never let anyone make you feel bad about where you’re applying. I did not apply to any Ivy League school despite being a double legacy at Penn. I love Pitt and it’s a better school for me. Find what’s best for you.
6. Don’t fall into the senioritis trap. Keep your mind sharp and be prepared to starve college well. Slacking off may affect your performance in college.
Claire's Concussion Journey 