Are you tight on funds and looking for ways to save on college books? You just may find that renting textbooks is the best decisionthat you can make.

All too many college students find themselves spending hundreds of dollars on books each quarter/semester and either selling back their books for a faction of the original cost or keeping them for years as they collect dust.

The following are 5 Quick Reasons Why Renting Textbooks Makes Sense:

1. You pay a fraction of the price for the term. You’ll be amazed at how much you can save. If you have no desire to keep the book after your final examination, there is really no reason to pay top dollar.
2. Shipping is Free. When you rent from ValoreBooks.com, shipping on college textbooks is always free both to your dorm/home and back to the warehouse. The process is 100% hassle free.
3. You choose how long the rental will last. You can rent a text book for as long as you’d like. The price goes up and down based on the duration of the rental. Finally, you can be in control of how much you pay for textbooks!
4. Books are in great condition. All rentals are fully examined before they’re shipped to you, so you never have to worry about getting a trashed book.
5. You’ll help to save trees. Renting is great for the environment. You and your friends can make a difference, so spread the word!

Have you ever rented a college textbook? We’d love to hear how the process went for you! Feel free to share your comments or ask questions on our Facebook wall.

Now that Labor Day Weekend is over, you may be convinced that it’s time to pull yourself together and prepare yourself for the manygrueling weeks of studying ahead. Your efforts in college have a lot to do with your energy levels. Looking for ways to find more energy without taking a gnarly over-the-counter energy supplement that keeps you up for days? The following may help you out:

1.        Greens. Go to your nearby holistic health store such as the Vitamin Shoppe and find a greens supplement like Greens Plus. Not only does eating greens rich in chlorophyll give you energy, they boost the immune system and can even work as a mood enhancer.

2.       Protein. Sometimes college life is so busy that it becomes quite easy to ignore your diet. Protein is essential for brain power. Make sure you are getting enough throughout the day, especially in the morning. Fish is one of the best proteins you can get because of its high contents of omega fatty acids.

3.       Water. In order to have maximized energy levels, water is one of the most important pieces of the puzzle. A dehydrated body makes you feel sluggish and actually slows down thinking processes. Try drinking at least 8 cups a day. You may even consider carrying a large water bottle with you to your classes.

4.       Exercise. In order to gain energy, you really need to put out energy through at least 20-30 minutes of exercise at least 3-4 times a week. Choose a variety of exercises that you enjoy such as running, yoga, cycling, etc.

5.       Sleep. All-nighters are needed once in a while during college life, but it is best practice to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep a night. You’ll be amazed at how much better you’ll do with your studies and social life by getting enough rest!

In addition to the ideas above, you may want to check out The Juicing Bible. This book is awesome for the student on the go. It includes recipes for energy gaining juices and smoothies that you can make at home.

Have any ideas of your own for gaining energy naturally? Share away on our Facebook wall!

You probably already know by now that each and every professor is a unique creature with a different set of quirks, expectations and requirements. Some are willing to bend over backwards to help you understand difficult concepts while others can be quite inaccessible. Also, there are those who gear their entire course around difficult exams, while others provide tons of course work for balance. There is no single formula for connecting with each professor, but we hope these ideas will help you excel in your classes:

• Carefully observe your professor. Watch him or her carefully as they try to explain class structure and their expectations. Try to determine if your professor is a people person or more of an introvert. Does he or she seem easy-going or more like a drill sergeant? By understanding what makes your professor tick, you can better connect with them and meet their requirements.
• Engage your professor before or after class. It is an excellent idea to come early to class or stay late to get to know your professor. Don’t forget that you’re not only going to college to get a grade, but you are also there to learn as much as you can. You’ll be amazed at what doors can be opened when you engage your professor. You may even be able to inspire him or her to meet up with a handful of students for a professor/student dinner. By knowing your professors, you will gain important insights in your classes and life in general. Plus, recommendations from top professors go a long way when you begin seeking a job!
• Ask plenty of questions. Bestselling author Timothy Ferriss in his book The 4-Hour Workweek shares that when he was in college he would ask tons of questions to make sure he was on-track. In fact, he would set meetings with his professors before tests and prior to paper deadlines to drill them with questions. This propelled him to the top of his class at Harvard!
• Notes & recordings. Dare yourself to deeply focus on every word your professors utter during class. Most likely a large percentage of test questions are gone over in class. Becoming a master note taker will save you tons of time when preparing for examinations and assignments. As a backup, you can also audio record all lectures.

We hope the above ideas will help you in your efforts, and invite you to share ideas of your own! What techniques do you use to master your professors and ace your classes?  Post away on our Facebook page.

Have you recently found yourself staring off into outer space during important lectures, reading without comprehension orwishing you could study for more than a handful of minutes at a time? Don’t feel like you’re alone if you are lacking focus! We at Valore Books were college students ourselves and understand how many diversions there in college life.

In an attempt to help you gain much needed focus, we’ve developed the following five tips for helping you get grounded:

1.      Make a daily and weekly priority list. Keep your list where you can see it at all times and check off completed items. You will be amazed at how much energy you’ll gain when you’ve finished a task with flying colors.

2.      Get enough sleep. Try to sleep for between 7-8 hours an night. It is nearly impossible to focus when your mind is filled with cobwebs due to exhaustion.  To get enough sleep, you’ll probably need to forego wild parties during the week and ask your buddies to go back to their own dorm rooms/apartments after a certain hour.

3. Exercise is a must. Schedule in 3-5 days of workouts per week. There’s a powerful connection between mental clarity and exercise. The less you exercise, the more likely you’ll be sluggish and full of silly excuses for not being able to focus.

4. One thing at time. We dare you to put aside all distractions when you begin a task. It’s nearly impossible to fully focus when one second you are studying, the next texting a message to a friend, and the next checking out your Facebook page. In fact, the mind becomes quite frustrated by constant interruptions. It is much more rewarding to finish one activity and then move on to the next.

5. Five Minute meditations. Each morning before you get out of bed and/or when you go to bed in the evening, set aside five minutes for meditation/silence. This exercise helps the mind decompress and makes way for focus. Each day you are surrounded with music, ringing cell phones, lecturing professors, talking friends and other stimuli that tires out your brain. Taking five minutes to recharge your brain’s battery will go a long way.

We hope these ideas will help you gain more focus in the days to come.  Plus, we’d love for you to share your own tips on finding focus. Please visit our Facebook page and post your ideas on our wall.

Are you anxious about an upcoming paper and need some tips? If you are a bit nervous, you aren’t alone. It’s actually a known factthat one of the most dreaded aspects of college for many students is writing term papers. Experts have revealed that fear (also known as resistance) is the number one culprit of writer’s block.

Believe it or not, writing papers can actually be an interesting process and rewarding. In an effort to help you write a stellar paper, we have compiled the following 7 Tips:

1.      Narrow down and define your topic. Take time to really think about your topic and make it as defined as possible. When a topic is overly general, it is difficult to find the right sources, write a concise argument and effectively support the paper’s premise.

2.      Develop an outline. Once you’ve defined your topic, you should outline your entire paper. An outline should include your introduction, main points, support for your main points and conclusion. The more detailed you get, the easier and faster it will be to write.

3.      Solid sources. Make sure that you locate plenty of great sources to help validate your topic and arguments. It is a good rule of thumb to gather more sources than you will use, read them thoroughly, make notes, and discard sources that don’t provide the support you need.

4.      Format correctly. Become a pro at using the required format (as prescribed by your professor). Whether using MLA, APA or any other format type, the more you know about formatting the better off you are. There is nothing that irks a professor more than receiving a wrongly formatted paper.

5.      Be creative. If you really want to stand out from your fellow students, don’t be afraid to get creative when making your arguments. Keep in mind that professors have to read through numerous papers. An innovative paper is usually more than welcomed!

6.      Proofread. When you have finished your paper, make sure that you carefully read through each sentence for grammar and spelling errors. Also, make sure your paper flows well and is easily understood. To be extra certain, it’s a great idea to have a friend serve as your proofreader for the term. Sometimes proofing your own work can be quite a challenge – that second pair of eyes can make all the difference in the world.

7.      Ask for guidance when needed. Some professors are more than willing to offer help when you become stuck. They may even offer to read through your paper and offer suggestions before you turn in a paper. Take advantage of this opportunity if possible.

We wish you luck as you embark on the writing of your next paper. Also, if you have any other tips you’d like to share; we’d love to hear them! Visit our Facebook wall and share away.