myUsearch blog

You’ve done everything you were supposed to do: you have applied; you have been admitted to at least one great college/university; you have always dotted every “i” and crossed every “t”. And now you want your rightful rest. You think you have earned it, right? I’m sure you’re not considering anything unreasonable, miss a few days of school here, a few homework assignments there, sleep a little in class, stop reading the literature . . . I know where you’re coming from. Trust me. I do. This is what I have to say about the dreaded (and all too familiar) “senioritis”:

 Senioritis photo by SPCbrass 

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Today we have a guest post from Jennifer Cohen, the President and Chief Word-Nerd at Word-Nerd.com SAT Vocabulary Prep.

The SAT can strike fear in the hearts of parents and students alike.  Knowing that one test can have a major affect on your future can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be a source of dread. With the right preparation, you can score well.  Here are a few general tips for getting on track with the SAT: 

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More than ever a college education is a necessary component for a successful career. College is expensive and many deserving young people and their families find the rising cost of tuition an overwhelming prospect. Even when considering “affordable” colleges many families experience sacrifice and hardship. Yet the cost of not attending college will often result in even greater financial hardships for those who make that choice.

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Congratulations, the schools you thought would be a good fit for you have accepted you.  Now you are faced with the challenge of deciding which one of those “good fit” colleges is actually the right college choice for you. Read the rest of this entry →

Today we have a guest post from Ryan Krug over at Mindfish.com. Ryan Krug, a Stanford grad who rocked the SAT when he applied to college, is the co-founder of Mindfish.com, a test prep site that offers expert advice, forums and an SAT Quest game to help students master the SAT and boost their chances for college admissions.

Although the standardized test process is fraught with challenges for many student and parents, it can be a smooth journey if approached in the right way. The following are several of the most common test prep blunders to avoid.

Photo by Robert S. Donovan 

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In many cases being a mom means more than being the family nurturer, sometimes it also means being the family’s source of financial support. Putting food on the table may be a combined effort or, in the case of the single mom, a sole responsibility. Having a job with good pay, benefits, and flexibility significantly reduces the struggle to raise a family. In order to find good jobs, one needs the education employers require. Yet, for many mothers, even those who stay at home and raise children on one income, returning to school can be financially challenging. How can these women get the education they need in order to enter the workforce? How can they gain access to careers that will give them the pay and benefits they need? Scholarships for mothers may be a viable option. 

Photo by Octopushat

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Ask anyone connected to a senior in high school if it’s harder to get into college these days and you are likely to get a resounding “Yes”.  However, if you take a look at the reality of college admissions in terms of numbers, you might find yourself hesitating for a moment before you answer that question. Read the rest of this entry →

Does this scenario sound familiar?  You get home from school and grab the mail out of the mailbox in front of your home to bring inside.  It’s the usual junk mail, catalog or two, bill for your Mom or Dad.  But then you notice something different.  Something addressed to you!

Let’s be honest.  You are probably only used to getting a card from Grandma on your birthday and maybe a cell phone bill (but you probably get that online).  Something addressed to you that isn’t one of those two things must demand your attention, right?

The next day you get home … and there are 2 things addressed to you.  The next day 5.  The day after 10.  What are these wonderful pieces of mail I am talking about?  Well if you are a high school junior or senior you know … I’m talking about the mounds and mounds of brochures from colleges that you are probably getting on a daily basis.

Photo by gerlos  

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If you’re considering online schools for a college degree, you probably have a lot of questions. One of the things prospective students find most confusing is college accreditation. What is the difference between regional and national accreditation? Is college accreditation really necessary? And what does it all mean to you? Read the rest of this entry →

The politics of it all can be awfully muddy, but the question at hand is whether college affordability will come back down to Planet Earth during the Obama years.

 Photo by Steve Rhodes 

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From wind turbines that provide power to their campuses, to student-run organic farms that provide the produce you find in the dining commons; colleges all over the country are stepping up to the challenge of making their campuses more sustainable.  But where do the colleges you are considering rank when it comes to their overall commitment to sustainability?

 Photo by The Truth About… 

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“I am majoring in finance, but I’m worried about finding jobs in finance after I graduate. Should I change my college major?”

One of the biggest reasons for going to college is to acquire a degree that will provide you with better job opportunities and better pay. When the economy is suffering and unemployment rises, students often become concerned that their education may not be their ticket to success. In fact, immediately after the financial crisis and the dramatic events that took place on Wall Street, many students intending to go into the financial sector decided to pursue other college majors. But, should they have? You might be wondering if you should change your college major due to economic conditions. A review of the following questions should help you decide: Read the rest of this entry →

The cost of a college degree is getting more expensive every year.  According to College Board, the average four-year public college charges a tuition rate of $7,020 and the average tuition cost of a four-year private college is $26,273.  That’s a lot of money.  And while there are resources out there to help families cover their college expenses, who has the time to research these opportunities?  It’s tough.   The purpose of this blog is to simplify your life.  If you follow these quick tips on financial aid, your college financing process will be a lot easier.  Let’s get started…

Photo by Borman 818  

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If you are going to college, you are already making a difference in the world. Learning and educating yourself is the best way to honor your passion and establish a framework for looking at the world in an intelligent, conscious way. Some people will argue that one college major is more important than another–that one college major say, international relations, is better suited toward affecting people on a global scale. But I believe it is a matter of your dedication that determines the impact of your college major.

Photo by Woodleywonderworks

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As the spring semester kicks off, you might be feeling like it’s time to shed the extra pounds you gained during your first semester of college. Fighting the Freshman 15 can seem overwhelming, but don’t get discouraged. Small changes can make a big difference and you can start your battle by avoiding, or at least limiting, these five Freshman 15 causing foods.

Photo by Francisco Javier Martin 

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It may seem like there’s already too much to keep in mind when you are looking at colleges, but there’s one more very important thing you need to consider: university accreditation.  It’s not something you may hear a lot about, but it’s definitely a factor you need to pay attention to. Read the rest of this entry →

I have spent the last few weeks sifting through the scholarship essays submitted for the scholarships for mothers that we are about to award, and I feel it’s my duty to pass on a few tips to you.

Photo by lethaargic

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People who start college later in life or return to complete what they’ve left unfinished usually have something quite valuable – life and business experience. Shouldn’t they get credit for the knowledge they’ve acquired along the way? Some colleges will give you just that. Whether you have military experience, have owned a small business or have held jobs in healthcare, sales, IT, or any other field, you may be eligible for college credits based on the learning and experience you have acquired outside the college campus.

 Photo by glenmcbethlaw

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One of the things I have noticed students admitted to college starting to ask is, “How many students are admitted to my major?” or “How many students do you accept each year?”.  While valid questions, these answers need to be placed in the right context.

What many students may or may not realize is that the landscape of applying to colleges have changed.  The University of New Haven is not alone in an increase in the number of applicants to the school.  While we have seen a tremendous surge in applications over the last 3 years … many universities have seen a steady increase in applications as well.

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Now that the majority of college application deadlines have come and gone, there are some students whose lights seem a bit brighter, and others, a bit more dim. So how do you make sure you are one of those bright students who beat the college application clock? Here are a few tips to help you make your college application deadlines.

 Photo by Wili Hybrid

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