But let’s move on and NOT focus on the stress of exams. Instead, concentrate on some basic preparation that should help ease some of the pressure, courtesy of Dorsey Schools. As the externship concerns hands-on, work environment testing, this list pertains to any classroom tests you may have coming up.

Let ‘Study Tips 101’ begin.

1. Ask questions. Don’t be embarrassed to ask the teacher what some of the topics on the exam will be, or to ask for help if you don’t understand something. After all, that’s what the instructor is there for.
2. Review by rewrite. Read the notes you have taken in your career training programs. Then, go back and rewrite them. Seriously. Your mind will work with the physical activity of writing, strengthening your memory.
3. Time is of the essence. A common impulse is to either do a ‘cram for exam’ session or study morning, noon and night. Remember these two words: pace yourself. Begin your study routine at least one week before the exam. Take a couple of hours each day, while you are fresh and awake, to go over notes and lessons. Your memory will improve and be stronger, by not being overloaded. Also (and this may be obvious), topics that are more difficult should be allotted more time in the study session than those that you know better and feel more confident with.
4. Where and how to study. Keep free from any distractions. Turn your cell phone off for a couple of hours so that you won’t be distracted by the ring-tone, as well as avoiding the temptation to text during the study time that you have allotted for yourself. Unplug your computer or tablet (unless of course, they are instruments needed for studying). Listening to music or the sound of the television may or may not be conducive to good study – depending on what helps you to focus.
5. Break time. This is tied in with Tip 2, to some extent. Remember to take an occasional break from the task of studying. Stand up, walk around and stretch for a couple of minutes. But then, get back to studying (don’t get too comfortable in break time!).

These fundamental tips apply to any and every course of study, whether it is the Culinary Academy, School of Beauty, or HVAC program of the Dorsey School (or any school, anywhere).

For more information, check ‘How to Study‘ on wikihow.com, from where the information for this blog was gathered. Practice these, think positive, and get a good night’s rest!

Dorsey Student - Sonya

Dorsey Schools Culinary Academy graduate, Sonya Riley, speaks about her experience at Dorsey, the career she loves and gives a piece of advice to current students:

I chose to study Culinary Arts simply because I love to cook ─ but I didn’t realize how much I would gain from the experience at Dorsey Schools.

I didn’t choose Dorsey, it chose me; the program was affordable and convenient. I felt that Dorsey not only prepared me for the culinary world, it opened my eyes to a whole new career. My experience while attending Dorsey Culinary Academy was great. I met interesting people and was introduced to a whole new world of food. Upon my completion of the program, I was offered a job in food management. I am currently the food director for a Charter School district. This has not only been a great opportunity but for the first time in 20 years, I have job with full benefits that I enjoy coming to everyday.

My advice to current Dorsey students is to stay with your program of choice. Don’t give up, and know that in 48 weeks you can start a journey you’ll never regret.

The Expo, to be held between noon and 7:00pm this Saturday, the 20th, at The Palace, will feature everything from cooking demonstrations to sampling, and even contests. The students of Dorsey Schools will gain experience in the preliminaries of food preparation – seeing that all the ingredients, cookware, and other necessary items are in place and immediately at Mr. Valastro’s disposal as he prepares the cupcake dishes. Additionally, these students will also assist those instructors who will be providing demonstrations in various culinary topics, such as healthy cooking and local neighborhood dining.

It goes without saying that the Dorsey students who are participating in this event will have a memorable Saturday in store for them. A special thank you and shout-out to John Piazza, the Culinary Arts Program Director of Dorsey Schools, for helping them work toward their career goals with the inclusion of this dream-project event.

Those who are interested to know more about the “What’s Cooking Detroit Food & Cooking Expo” may call 248-377-0100 or http://www.whatscookingdetroit.com/. Here’s to great dining in Michigan!

Seek Out Your Career Services Department
Most career schools have employment assistance that is part of their Career Services Department. These services are most often free, so check out what they have to offer. These assistance services may include everything from recruitment between students and prospective employers, to resume preparation.

Use Social Media Sites
Students have a great advantage with being part of Facebook, Twitter, and especially LinkedIn. Post about yourself, your classes, and what you have accomplished as a student. But remember, using a social media platform may prove to be a double-edged sword. Don’t lie. Don’t be negative. Be honest about the fact that you are just starting out. You never know who your contacts (or their contacts) may be looking for.

Engage in Volunteer Work
So you are not working – yet. Consider getting involved with a volunteer organization in your community. The volunteer work you choose to participate in doesn’t necessarily have to be related to the career program your training for. By becoming active in volunteer work, and mentioning it in your resume or online social posts (but please don’t brag!), contacts – and potential interviewers or recruiters – will see that you are not just waiting for a job to drop in your lap, and that you have a sense of purpose and responsibility.

So, those are a few concrete tips to pursue in beginning your career search. You’re still in school, so start with these three. By keeping yourself active and visible to your career service resources and whoever they may know, you could better your chances of making career connections faster and more easily. Good luck!

I have always loved to cook and Dorsey gave me the opportunity to earn a certificate in the culinary profession and fulfill my life passion. I chose to attend Dorsey Culinary Academy because it is a great program, combining 90% of hands-on training with 10% of class time. The course time was also convenient with my schedule. I feel I was well prepared for my experience in the field, as well as on the externship offered by Dorsey, because the chefs at our school helped me and answered any questions or concerns I had. Plus, all the “school” work that was done beforehand prepared us as we moved on to our externships. To this day, we still have the choice of consulting with our chefs about any concerns we have while working in the field.

I have to thank Chef Jeremy Abbey, Chef Daniel Vallone and Chef Tom Pavlock. Their guidance and support never left me feeling alone, and I thank them for all the help along my way. My advice to current and potential students at the Dorsey Culinary School is to never give up – try your hardest to achieve your goals and become what you always wanted to be. There is no one who can stop you.

Britni McDaniel, Medical Assistant Student

I chose to attend the Medical Assistant Program at Dorsey Schools because my goal is to further my education in the medical profession and Dorsey provided me with the first steps in obtaining that goal. Dorsey Schools made me feel as though I could achieve my dreams while still remaining close to home. The instructors and staff of Dorsey exposed me to real professionalism in the medical field. I was taught to have confidence and developed a strong work ethic during my externship.

Now, I feel as if I can accomplish the world! I plan to get my bachelors in nursing and pursue my education in forensic sciences at Wayne State; with my ultimate dream of attending John Hopkins for medical school. If I had to give any advice to current Dorsey Students it would to be to respect and listen to the instructors and staff because they have your best interest at heart.

Have you made great strides in your career? Are you employed in a job where you have been able to apply the skills you acquired? Perhaps you would like a referral. All of these topics, and more, may be found at the Alumni tab.

At Dorsey Schools, school may be out when you graduate, but the experience of what you learned should last a lifetime. To help it last, visit the Dorsey Schools page on Facebook and look for the Alumni tab!

Two concerns that may be holding you back are money for tuition and the time it will take to attend school. But here are some things to consider…

It is true that paying for an education is costly. Procrastinating is costing you more money. By this time next year, tuition costs will only rise, so why wait? And to answer the money question with a question: are you aware of the financial aid offerings at Dorsey Schools? Yes, there are a number of scholarships, grants and loan programs that you may be qualified to apply for. But remember – act now.

So, now there is the question of time. What part of the day can you take classes? The answer is that with morning, afternoon and evening classes available at Dorsey, the time frame is yours for the choosing. But remember – act now. Here’s why. If you begin your career training in January for a 12-month education (that’s right, that’s as long – or short – amount of time that is required), you can graduate in December and be available for work at the beginning of a new year when employers are hiring.

There are only two things in this world that can’t be taken from you – who you are and what you’ve learned. Dorsey schools can provide you with the opportunity to improve both. With career training programs offered at Dorsey’s medical training school, culinary/hospitality school, HVAC training school, dental assisting school, legal school, computer training school, and even Dorsey’s very own School of Beauty, the range of possibilities is great indeed.

So now imagine what you are doing next New Year’s Eve? Maybe it will be the eve of a great new beginning in a great new career.

Affordable education, flexible class schedules, and a variety of career training programs – all at Dorsey Schools. But remember – act…oh, you already know!