Thanks to the help of my wonderful Resident Director at Bryant University, Samantha Powers, I was provided with 10 great tips on how to survive finals week. I’m sure Final-Examsevery college student is going through the same stress right now and thought this would be great to share with everyone.

1. Don’t panic by making too much of the final, but start studying early.

Check what the final is worth in each course. Remember, it is only one component of your final grade. If it is worth 20% or less, you probably won’t be able to bring your final grade up or down by more than one grade level.

2. Don’t be too relaxed or make too little of the final.

On the other hand, sometimes the final is a big part of your final grade (30% or more), in which case it is more likely to make a significant difference in your final average. You should try to do as well on the final as you possibly can. It is better not to go into the final with the idea, “I just need to get x number of points to keep my B (or whatever it is) average.” It may not be possible to calculate this accurately anyway.

3. Make time for “renewing” activities.

This is NOT the time to stop exercising or doing other things that you find enjoyable. Pace yourself! You will study more effectively if you spread things out and take breaks.

4. Use an effective study method. Know what type of exam you are taking.

The key to effective retention is repetition, and not overloading your brain (it can only absorb so much in an hour). Whatever you do, don’t do it all in one long cramming session. Which brings us to:

5. Get enough sleep and “hide”.

Don’t pull an “all-nighter.” You will do better if you are rested, and cramming often leads to a superficial and confused knowledge of the material you have studied. Study in an out-of-the-way place.

6. Resist the urge to party on “off” days.

Instead, if you have a break in your exam schedule, use it to get a head start on the exams coming up. This can be a time to catch up on missed reading. REMEMBER: if you party, you will need to recover! And research has shown that people who engage in high-risk drinking deaden their cognitive skills (ability to recall and organize information, etc.)

7. Arrive on time for the exam.

Be especially careful about setting your alarm the night before!

8. Read all of the directions of the exam carefully.

Read things thoroughly. When you are finished, resist the urge to leave. Re-read your exam first.

9. Don’t worry about others finishing earlier than you.

This could mean ANYTHING. It often means these students have written a mediocre or poor exam. Take the time YOU need.

10. When the exam is over let it go!

Forget it! Move on to the next one, or go enjoy the break! If you do have major concerns, make an appointment to see your professor at a mutually convenient time.

From Bucci Insurance, we wish you the best of luck on finals. Study hard, Winter Break is just around the corner!

Sharmin Attaran. She’s the professor at Bryant University that everyone knows, even if they haven’t had her. Her Consumer Behavior class is one that disappoints students- only on registration day when it has already reached capacity. It is one of the few that are really interactive, engaging, and (at least for me as a marketing major), exciting. Today Professor Attaran is featured in the Providence Journalfor her research in social media. She explains the more popular social networking sites and what they’re typically used for. “It’s like going to a party. Are you the type of person who stays with one group, or do you mingle with everyone to get the most out of the experience?” She explains how social media is a two-way street, if you haven’t had much excitement on your account lately; it’s probably because you haven’t started a conversation!

Her research in social media, her life experience, and the excitement she has for what she does, all contribute to her lessons in the classroom. As a former student and now an intern at Bucci Insurance as the Social Media Manager, I can say I have learned a lot from her class and have already been able to apply it the “real world.”

Great work Professor Attaran! We wish you the best of luck with your continuing research.

Bryant University, in Smithfield, Rhode Island, has really put forth a lot of effort to see their students succeed. They offer so many tools and resources to assist people in all areas of their life, whether it is personal, academic, social, or career searching needs, there are places to go and so many people to help. When it comes to your personal life, Bryant has awesome counselors, a health services center right on campus, dozens of workshops throughout the year to better yourself, and highly trained RAs that are always willing to help. The Resident Assistant position in itself is such a great opportunity and all students interested in it should apply. I have had such a great experience being an RA which has led me to building strong relationships with people I otherwise would not have, gaining valuable life skills, and learning so much about myself.

For the academic side of things, Bryant has The Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) which is a building that has a room and tutor for every subject offered. They host writing workshops, study groups, and a place for students to get away and do their work. There are so many academic clubs on campus and just about every single student is in at least one. The Bryant Marketing Association, International Business Association, CEO, and Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) are just naming a few.

As a senior I especially appreciate all the help Bryant offers when it comes to career searching. A few times a week there are workshops, mock interviews, and info sessions that are held on ways to build our resume, improve our interviewing skills and find the job you’re looking for. There are career counselors, and numerous alumni that are always willing to help out and guide you through the process.

Finally, “Bryant at Night” and The Student Programming Board are two groups that work hard to put on events that Bryant students enjoy. Just last night we had the rapper, Common, come speak to us about pursuing your dreams, and that wasn’t a once in a life time occasion for us! Bryant is constantly coming up with these great ideas that really enhance our experience there. Whether it’s a late night barbeque, or a trip to Boston, we always have the chance to make our time at school a memorable one.

Bucci Insurance is thankful for the support and dedication Bryant University has for their students which has resulted in a great internship and intern (if I do say so myself)!

Hey that’s me! Although it took a lot of pep-talking from Nick Brown and Alicia Collins from Astonish Results, I was finally able to build up the courage to speak in front of the camera. This awesome duo has been interviewing insurance social media managers, like me, all over New England. I was their fourth stop and definitely not their last. With their videos they are trying to capture a different side of the insurance world and let others know that it can be fun. So far, they have portrayed different perspectives from each interview;  one being a family connection within the business, another being a marketing major who is now getting licensed in insurance, and mine being the balance of work and college and how it has helped with my work in social media.

They don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.  They have a goal of changing the perception of the insurance industry so that people can enjoy getting involved with it and build better relationships with their insurance company. I have no doubt that they will succeed!

Check out my interview below and Astonish’s Insurance Marketing blog!

So this is it, senior year- I never thought this day would actually come! The summer is officially coming to an end and I’m heading back to Bryant University. While classes don’t actually start until September 7th, I will be spending the next week in RA training. This past January I was hired as a Resident’s Assistant and was re-hired for the 2010-2011 school year. I’m so grateful and excited for this opportunity. I have met a lot of great people through the program and it has taught me a lot about myself.

Although I will probably be busier than ever between school work, being an RA, continuing with Bucci Insurance, and taking the position of head coach for the North Kingstown High School Gymnastics Team, I’m looking forward to it being my best year yet! I’ll be sure to take advantage of every opportunity that comes my way and spend time with those that mean most to me.

From here on, I plan on incorporating experiences and events going on in the Bryant community and gymnastics team into the blog. I also hope to introduce Bryant to some of the things I’ve learned about social marketing through this internship. I have high expectations for this year and do not doubt for a second that they will be met.

Bryant University is known for their exceptional reputation in the College of Business but their success is expanding much further than that. “Bryant students are natural entrepreneurs and they’re constantly looking for ways to make an impact. The campus is bursting at the seams with their activities, “says Rich Hurley the assistant director of Bryant’s Center for Student Involvement. In a news letter issued in the spring by Bryant University, three students were recognized for their exceptional ways of “learning by doing good.”
Kristina Pires ’10 began mentoring a first-grade student in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, as a requirement for a sociology course and before she knew it, it became a passion of hers. Pires continued mentoring the same girl all four years of her college career. It was a learning experience she could not have gained in the classroom and ultimately led to her career path. When she talks about her motivation to do positive work she says, “It’s a gift I wish for everyone-finding a cause you’re passionate about and following it to do good.”
Marisa Bono ’11, who is the same year I am, is a student recognized throughout all of campus for her upbeat personality and her going green initiative. After persistent contact with the Special Initiative Committee, she and 40 other student volunteers have been approved for additional receptacles outside each resident hall. She believes, “If recycling is a conscious part of life here at Bryant, it will carry over to other aspects of our lives as we go forward.”This aspiration has also lead to Bono’s career path in social entrepreneurship.

Bryant University

Matt Veves ’10, a finance and entrepreneurship major, recently assisted Bryant in helping organize the Social Entrepreneurship Rhode Island Summit, a daylong conference at the University that features nationally known experts on social entrepreneurship. What is so amazing about this event, however, was that it was not driven by administrators but by Veves himself.
It are student like these that are personalizing their learning experience at Bryant to make it what they want and are doing so by “doing good.”
Bucci Insurance is proud of these students and would like to congratulate them on such exceptional work!

Hello readers! My name is Khiara LaBrie and I am the newest addition to the Bucci Insurance Group! I was just recently hired as the Social Media Engineer which I was so fortunate to have found through my school, Bryant University. I will be returning to Bryant this fall as a senior and completing my degree in Business Marketing- I cannot believe how fast time has gone by. I have had so many great experiences throughout my college career and have worked numerous rewarding jobs that I feel will contribute greatly to my latest position.

Khiara LaBrie in the Galapagos Islands

Some of the experiences I am most proud of are that I have traveled to Panama, Ecuador, and the Galapagos Islands, I competed gymnastics for 14 years and I have coached the North Kingstown High School Gymnastics Team for the past three years. I interned at BZ Results, a digital advertising company, and I currently hold another internship position at Eident Sports Marketing which I am thrilled about.

I am a local Rhode Islander and thoroughly enjoy everything this state has to offer. I hope to share the same passion with all of you and use this blog as a way to keep all of our readers updated on up and coming events happening in our area (such as the Great Chowder Cook Off that takes place this Saturday in Newport!) as well as made aware of important insurance topics in the news.

Looking forward to this next great experience and spending my summer with Bucci Insurance in Rhode Island!