College and University Blog
Resources, help, and insight for your college experience
Nationwide Twitter Chat: Debate on Significance of Student Governments on Campus
CollegeNews.com reported that today several campus leaders took to debate via Twitter to discuss the roles and significance of student government among college campuses.
Jaime Escalante, Legendary Teacher, Dies at 79
Legendary teacher who was portrayed by actor Edward James Olmos in the film, Stand and Deliver, died on Monday. His quest for tougher standards and accountability for both students and educators should serve as a lesson to us all.
Credit Cards and College Students Are a Dangerous Mix
The envelopes probably started arriving in your mailbox a few weeks into your first semester of college. The promises are tempting; you’ve got to admit that much. After all, it’s hard to say no to things like “No application fee!” “You’re pre-approved!” “Free gift!” Citibank, Bank of America, Chase, HSBC, Discover … the choices seem almost endless.
NCAA 2010: A Lesson in Humility
In my entire life, the only moment I have ever enjoyed March Madness was when my high school team went to state. That was the ONLY time I have ever cared or been mindful of basketball outside of the NBA. This year, however, it seems that my world is being rocked to the core with news of NCAA March Madness through Twitter, friends, and… sermon analogies.
Volunteer Work Helps Others as it Helps You
With summer quickly approaching, you might be trying to plan a vacation, schedule a few summer courses or line up a part-time job. Have you ever considered volunteering along with your other summer activities? Most high school students do volunteer work because they think it might help them get into college or earn scholarships, but the majority of them quit doing it once they actually begin college. That’s too bad, because volunteer work is a great way to meet new people, gain new experiences, and learn about yourself all while helping others and giving back to the community!
College Students Living With Disabilities
It’s unfortunate, but the word disability can be a vague description of so many things that some people aren’t even certain what it means. A disability is a broad term used to describe something that causes a person to live with an impairment, disease, or disorder that limits their abilities. Unless you or someone you know is living with a disability, you probably haven’t given much thought to the issue. College students with disabilities may be singled out by others on campus and treated differently. I remember occasionally seeing people in wheelchairs around my college campus, but at the time I didn’t really pay much attention to them or think about what they were really going through.
Stay Safe on Campus
In 2007, a Virginia Tech student named Seung-Hui Cho killed 32 people and injured countless others before ending his own life on the Virginia Tech campus. This shooting massacre was a horrible tragedy and a sad reminder that anything can happen anywhere at any time, even when you’re in a place you consider to be safe, such as your college campus.
The Value of Joining Professional Organizations
If you have never considered joining a professional organization, why not? There are multiple benefits of joining a professional organizations while you are still a student. Read on to learn about what some of those benefits are!
Microsoft One Note - a Virtual "Trapper Keeper"
Students who are unorganized and unprepared run the risk of being left in the dust at school. Microsoft One Note will help even the most unorganized students stay on top of schoolwork by keeping useful information at their fingertips.
Fired Over Facebook
It seems like everybody and his brother has a Facebook account these days – literally! In early February 2010, the social networking super-site celebrated its sixth birthday and made an exciting announcement: the site was surpassing the 400 million-user milestone. Along with this piece of news, Facebook published a rather impressive list of statistics.
Healthcare and Education - Strange Bedfellows Indeed!
Who would have guessed that the recently passed Healthcare Package also included education reform worth billions of dollars? Read on to find out how it will affect your financial aid next year.
Using Social Media to Gain Employment
In case you haven’t noticed, I just wrote a blog regarding the potential dangers of social media and your job search or your job status. A New York Times article from August 2009 even reports that “According to a new study conducted by Harris Interactive for CareerBuilder.com, 45 percent of employers questioned are using social networks to screen job candidates — more than double from a year earlier, when a similar survey found that just 22 percent of supervisors were researching potential hires on social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and LinkedIn.”
Eenie Meenie Miney Moe ...
With Which E-Reader Should I Go?
Moving Out After College
It’s your final year of college and graduation is so close you can almost taste it. The moment you’ve been waiting for! No more dorms! No more all-night study sessions! Well … that’s true. The end of college also means that it’s time for you to figure out where you’re going to live, find a job, start paying off your student loans … in other words, if you thought you were broke during college, just wait! The real world is waiting for you and things aren’t always pretty.
Wikipedia Goes Offline Due to Server Meltdown
For those of you who, today, were planning on trusting in Wikipedia to save you from your english exam, today will not be that day. At around 2:45 ET, the site’s servers shut down to dodge further damage due to an overheating complication, giving off a navigation error. (No, it wasn’t your internet connection.)
Health Care Reform and Its Impact on College Students
This past Sunday’s events in the House of Representatives is, undoubtably, one of the most controversial and historical events in U.S. law making. After the bill’s journey through many revisions and a Senate vote, the whole nation watched when the health care reform bill won by a 219-212 vote in the House, leaving its supporters celebrating and its critics uncertain about the future of America’s economy and its ever-increasing dependency on the government.
There are many, however, that have no idea what the bill says or how it will impact their future in healthcare.
Choose Your Major Wisely
When I was a student, it never failed. As soon as someone learned that I was in college, I knew the question was coming. It didn’t matter who was asking- one of my mom’s friends, a new co-worker at my part-time job, the receptionist at my doctor’s office, or another college student. As soon as those three magic words “I’m a student!” left my mouth, I was immediately asked, “What’s your major?”
Expand Your Horizons by Studying Abroad
If you’ve ever daydreamed about seeing the Eiffel Tower or wondered what it would feel like to walk down the streets of London, spending a semester abroad may be the perfect chance for you to make your wishes come true.
In 1923, a young University of Delaware professor named Raymond W. Kirkbride made the extremely unusual move of sending eight of his students to study in Paris, France. He coined this practice the “Foreign Study Plan” and studying abroad has become an increasingly popular way for students to experience new cultures in a hands-on manner ever since.
E-Readers: Deciding to Bite the Hand
Do you pledge allegiance to the printed book? Have you been hesitant to jump in and purchase an e-reader? Take the journey with me, a former book editor, as I decide to become a “traitor” to the industry that has fed me well for so many years.
Living On Campus vs Off Campus
To some students, “going to college,” literally means just that – they’ll be leaving home and going away to school. Every August, thousands of recent high school grads leave home for the first time to start college. The chance to live on your own for the first time while gaining an education is an exciting opportunity, but it could seem a little overwhelming at first.
Spring Break News Wire 2010: The 'Alternative Spring Break' for College Students
A growing number of college students have seemed to be more interested in spending their spring break in humanitarian efforts as opposed to the spring break cliché of lounging on sun-soaked beaches.
For five years, the United Way Deloitte has sponsored what is being called the ‘Alternative Spring Break,’ and now colleges and universities have jumped on board with their own alternative spring break humanitarian programs—North Carolina University, Great Falls University, and Wayne State, to name a few. (HuffingtonPost)
Hundreds of college students across the country will spend their spring break helping rebuild devastated areas in gulf states where damage from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita is still prevalent. Others will spend their week in impoverished urban areas in American cities, while other groups will even travel abroad.
Avoid the Freshman Fifteen
I recently attended my 10-year high school reunion. Sure, everyone looked older, but I noticed another common trend – just about everyone I saw had packed on a considerable amount of weight. It was kind of ironic to see the former cheerleaders and track stars looking so plump. College weight gain is pretty common. It’s often jokingly called the Freshman Fifteen, even though many new students gain weight without gaining the full fifteen pounds.
Don't let Discussion Boards be the Downfall of your Grade!
Don’t dismiss your online discussions as students often do. Dynamic discussions divide the “star” students from the “so-so” students in an online class.
iPad for Students Justifying Your Purchase
Are you waiting for the release of Apple’s iPad on April 3rd? This can actually be a great tool for students and professors alike. Read on to learn about how academics can use the iPad to make life in higher learning a little bit more livable.
Spring Break News Wire 2010: Spring Breakers Warned of Traveling to Mexico
An estimated 10,000 college students will mostly likely make their way down to Acapulco this spring break despite numerous warnings and appeals from the state government to college students to avoid Mexico.
Quick Student Loan Info
Very few students can afford to pay for their entire college education without some kind of financing. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, two-thirds of 4-year undergraduate students earning a Bachelor’s degree in 2007-2008 had at least some student loans. Their average student loan debt? Over $23,000. Those statistics don’t even take students who leave college without graduating into consideration. If you’re part of the majority and have your own student loans, it’s important to know which types of loans you have.
Save on College Textbooks
Scholarships and loans are a great way to put money toward your tuition and expenses, but you may not have enough financial aid to cover all of your books and supplies. There are plenty of easy money-saving tricks to take into consideration as you earn your degree. “A penny saved is a penny earned”, right?
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day: From Reverence to Revelry
Every year on March 17th, the world remembers the patron Saint Patrick, missionary to the Irish…or do they? The question should be, after celebrating, do they remember anything at all? I find it fascinating how a holiday rich in history and folklore can evolve into a celebration of luck, leprechauns, four leaf clovers, and whiskey.
Graduate School Admissions and the GRE
The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is a very important link from undergraduate to graduate studies, and for some business and graduate-level schools, it is an admissions “must do.” Its purpose is to evaluate an undergrad’s readiness for graduate school based on all areas of mainstream academics. If you are considering moving on to your MBA and haven’t yet put the GRE on your radar, now may be the time.
Don't Be a Doormat
Intimidation is a tricky thing. It could mean that someone is threatening you or being verbally or physically abusive in order to “keep you in line.” It might make you feel so belittled that you’re willing to keep your mouth shut just to avoid embarrassment. No one should tolerate threats or abuse, but keep in mind that some forms of intimidation may work to your benefit. For example, if you’re intimidated by the thought of failure because you don’t want to feel disappointed, you may push yourself a little harder than usual in order to guarantee your own success.
Choosing an Online College
Are you confused by what to look for when choosing an online college? You are not alone – the choices can be downright dizzying! Read on for some tips on how to make sense of it all.
Choosing a Minor Can Make a Major Difference
Don’t overlook the benefits of declaring a minor while in college …it might turn out to be one of the most important decisions you make in your college career!
Dare to Be Different
The other day I was browsing Amazon for some new books and I came across “Fitting In Is Overrated: The Survival Guide for Anyone Who Has Ever Felt Like an Outsider.” This book by Leonard Felder, Ph.D. is a guidebook offering stories and tips to help people who are different blend in with the masses. I also ran across “What You Think of Me is None of My Business” by T. Cole-Whittaker in the same category.
Making the Decision to go from On-Ground to Online School
There aren’t many students who haven’t taken at least one online class, but if you are one of the few and proud, read on before you jump into an online class or program for the first time.
Getting to Know You
When I was in elementary school, I remember that we always made name tags to display on our desks for the first few weeks of school. This was an “art project” that helped the teacher learn everyone’s names. Unfortunately, this practice seems to taper off in elementary school. We don’t have to wear name tags in college (at least not at any of the ones I’ve attended!) and it might be a little bit difficult to meet new people, especially if you’re an adult student that isn’t on campus full-time.
The Cultural Phenomenon of the Lying College Student
In a recent conversation with a friend, I was surprised by what she was describing as a “cultural phenomenon of college-aged liars,” and convinced by her logic that it is completely realistic. It is easy for me to believe that college and all it entails can cultivate an unwitting liar. I can understand how the pressures of deadlines, parents, activities, etc., can instigate scads of little fabrications to ease the load of college life. However, I have seen time and time again how those little white lies become habit, and habits are very hard to break
Not Enough Hours in a Day
As you might have read in some of my other blogs, I went to college straight after my high school graduation. I was in my late teens and early twenties, going to classes during the week and working as a cashier in a grocery store on the weekends. Considering that I only worked on Saturdays or Sundays when school was in session, all that I had to worry about during the week was attending my classes, going to any necessary meetings, and doing homework.
Now that I’m a little older, I look back and laugh at myself when I remember how I always complained about being busy. Sure, I was a full-time college student taking fifteen or even eighteen credit hours per semester, but in actuality that meant I sat in classes for four or five hours a day and had a lot of free time on my hands. I was busy, I went to class and had to study, but my daily routine also included a lot of television and napping.
One of the biggest problems facing non-traditional (adult) college students is time.
College pays off in more ways than one!
With tax time upon us, make sure that you are getting all of the credit you deserve!
To the Lonely Commuter Student,
Dear Commuter Student,
Feeling lonely? Because of your circumstances, I submit to you a very realistic appreciation for the challenges of alienation and isolation that you might face on a college campus which should otherwise offer you the greatest community of relationships and networking than any other environment.
Finding Your Perfect College
If you’ve decided to take the plunge and go to college, good for you! A higher education can open doors which you never even knew existed. Now that you are ready to begin, you probably have a few different types of higher-learning institutions to consider.
Community colleges are found in most areas, but you may have a traditional four-year university nearby as well. Vocational schools (which are also sometimes called tech schools or trade schools) are also an option to consider.
There are benefits and drawbacks to each of these institutions.
An Early Internship Can Help Solidify Your Choice in Major
There are big choices in life, and there are little choices in life; in fact, life’s mantra is “choice.” The secret to choosing is choosing wisely, granted many good decisions are made out of previously made poor ones. So, when it comes to long-term, life-affecting choices like your career, it may be wise to discerningly and carefully examine your options before jumping into a decision. One way to help the bemused college student in choosing a major amongst of sea of alternatives is an internship.
The Value of Education
Since I was in college for my Bachelor of Arts, I have heard people refer to “perpetual students” in a negative manner, as if they were “hiding” from the “real world.” No doubt, some of them were. It was the early nineties, and much like now, there were many people out of work and wondering what their next move would be. Don’t be too concerned with what people say or think. Unlike the stock market or real estate, education is always a good investment.
Show Me the Money
Nobody’s perfect. We all have regrets— regrets about things we’ve done and regrets about things we wish we had done differently. As we look back on our lives, a lot of us wish we had followed a different path when it came to our education. Some people were given the chance to attend college yet opted not to take advantage of the opportunity, and others dropped out of school for various reasons but never returned.
You might be one of those people, but fear not – it’s never too late to go back to school.
Age Ain't Nothin But a Number
As the economy continues to sag and more and more of us are facing the unemployment line, the thought of returning to school is a tempting idea for many people. Adult college students, or non-traditional students, as they are sometimes called, are typically adults over the age of 25 who are going to college to complete their degree or begin college for the first time. Many non-traditional college students have full-time jobs and attend classes in the evenings or on weekends. Many online college programs are available as well.