Listen to me, a professional writer: School and university teach you bad writing habits. One of those bad habits is padding out your work to reach a minimum page count. Anything you do to “cheat” at your page count, by making less text look like more, is an act of noble rebellion. And the new font Times Newer Roman is an excellent, hard-to-detect tool for padding.

For many people, your flatmate is the first person you’ve had to share such close quarters with who isn’t related to you. They might be less annoying than a sibling, but you won’t have parents there to mediate disputes. Here’s how to get off on the right foot with the person who will sleeping under the same roof as you.

When I was in school, I didn’t think of restaurant food in terms of single meals. I always tried to order dishes I could stretch into future meals because, like most university students, I was a little poor. The ability of any given dish to be a future meal has a lot of factors.

I am two things in the morning: angry and nauseated. I have always been this way, even as a youth, which made getting to physical chemistry at 7am all the more difficult.

Frying an egg for breakfast was simply not an option, but I’d be so hungry during lecture that I’d end up eating my lunch (usually a ham sandwich) for breakfast. Then it hit me: why didn’t I just make two ham sandwiches?

Chrome: When I was in university, my least favourite part of writing research papers was figuring out how to write the bibliography. Citing sources is tedious and can get confusing if you have to work in a handful of different styles. This week I came across a Chrome extension that I wish I had in university that handles the heavy lifting for you, at least for websites.

This year Dr Joyce F. Brown celebrates her 20th year as president of New York's Fashion Institute of Technology, the SUNY arts and business school whose high-profile alumni include Calvin Klein, Carolina Herrera, Joel Schumacher, Frankie Knuckles, Nina Garcia and Michael Kors. Before becoming the first woman and the first African-American to serve as president of FIT, she was vice chancellor of the City University of New York, New York City deputy mayor for public and community affairs, and a professor of clinical psychology.

We talked to Dr Brown about how she got here, how she works, and how to make decisions in an academic environment.

When I headed off to university (longer ago than I care to admit), my dad and I made a deal where he would cover 90 per cent of the cost of tuition and room and board, provided I maintained a 3.0 GPA, didn't move in with any boys, and we sat down before every semester and talked about my career goals and financial plans after university. That last part I hated when I was 18, but I think was something that set me up for success, and I'd recommend anyone that is paying for their child's tuition (or even if you aren't) to do.

I get it -- textbooks are weighty tomes that feel like they're more useful as a defensive weapon than an engaging read. But it's still important to actually read them instead of treating them as a "find the potential-test-answer" word search.

I struggled with writing papers as a student, but then one day I became an instructor and had to read this garbage. Geez, guys.

Harvard University recently rescinded its acceptances of 10 students for posting "obscene memes". Evidently some members of the class formed a Facebook group in which they posted images and memes that mocked the Holocaust, sexual assault and child death (child death aimed at particular ethnic groups, as if plain ordinary child death weren't bad enough); were busted for it; and are... going somewhere other than Harvard for university.

They sound like great kids, right? Leaders of men.

For $US100 ($136) a year, you can pay for a widget to screen your social media accounts for embarrassing posts that could damage your chances of getting a job or getting into university. Startup BrandYourself provides online reputation management software that allows you to "minimise negative search results and build a positive web presence".

Many high school students get part-time jobs to help pay for expenses or start saving for university. In her book Make Your Kid a Money Genius, author Beth Kobliner suggests students shouldn't work more than 15 hours a week, though, citing a University of Michigan study.

Exams can drain your focus and mental energy fast, so it's best to get the tough stuff out of the way first. This super simple approach to test-taking can help reduce your stress and improve your test scores.

Fighting off the freshman fifteen doesn't mean your choices are limited to treadmills and weights. University fitness centres are filled with surprising, fun amenities to help you get in shape, develop healthy habits, and even de-stress before a big exam. Best of all, for many students it's all free or heavily discounted.

Throughout my four-year college education, I held a number of jobs, both during the school year and in the summers when I returned home to where I'd grown up. My roles ranged from restaurant server to writing-center staffer. When it came time to cobble together my first professional resume, I was initially nervous about my lack of real-world experience.

Most university students are neither layabouts nor high-achievers, but instead fall somewhere in-between. Despite the best of intentions, it's all too easy to skip the occasional class for more socialising and/or bedtime. If this sounds depressingly like you, here's a foolproof tip that should galvanize you into attending each and every class from now on...

Since students are super-busy writing papers, studying, and surviving finals, the GoCollege Weblog says that you shouldn't have to venture far off campus to get a good job. In fact, one of the most in-demand positions is a campus network technician. Many colleges also offer a "residential network" program, also known as ResNet, where students can get help from fellow students on computer network troubleshooting issues (wired or wireless) at any time of the day. All you need is to make an appointment. Benefits include working face to face with college students and being able to maintain a real flexible schedule. What other jobs do feel are ideal for college students? Share your past positions or best tips in the comments. The Best Jobs for College Students

If you've been hard at work in school and haven't had the time to study for an exam, then perhaps you should set aside time the night before to cram for the exam. Depending on what type of learner you are, you may feel comfortable cramming by rereading your course notes, reviewing summaries in college textbooks, recording critical information into a tape recorder (or computer), or applying memorization techniques. Quiz yourself to review the information you've retained. Sure, it might be better to space out your studying over a few days, but if that option fails, cramming might be your only option—and these suggestions should get you on your way. What are your best cramming techniques? Let's hear them in the comments. How to Cram for a College Exam

Web learning site Education Portal points to 10 universities (and semi-universities) that offer free online writing courses. Covering everything from fiction and screenwriting to technical documentation, the offerings range from course notes and texts to full lecture videos. For anyone looking to get started in the field or just explore their creative side, it's a helpful list of resources to keep in mind. For more higher learning at very low prices, check out Wendy's trip through the .EDU underground and ten universities with free online courses. 10 Universities Offering Free Writing Courses Online