Students and their parents often experience “sticker shock” when it comes to the price of college textbooks. Students can end up paying over $1000 in the course of a year if they choose to purchase all new textbooks. If you happen to take courses that have an additional lab or supply fee, that amount could be even higher. The good news is that you now have a money-saving option: you can rent your textbooks online.
Photo by pmc cormi
Today we have a guest post from Josef Katz from Straighterline, a company that offers a new way to complete your required college courses online with convenient and affordable online college courses that you can take on your own schedule.
“Do you really think that in 20 years, somebody is going to put on their backpack, drive a half hour to the University of Minnesota from the suburbs, haul their Keister across campus, and listen to some boring person drone on about Econ 101 or . . . is there another way to deliver the service other than a one-size-fits-all monopoly provider that says, `show up at 9:00 o’clock on Wednesday morning for Econ 101?’ Can’t I just pull that down on my iPhone of iPad whenever the heck I feel like it, from wherever I feel like? And instead of instead of paying thousands of dollars, can I pay $199 for iCollege instead of $.99 cents for iTunes?”
- Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty interviewed on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, June 10, 2010. CLICK HERE to see the interview.
A lot of people think you just have to be smart to go to college, but you also have to be courageous. You have to be brave enough to step into the unknown to try something you’ve never done before. But before you take that next courageous step, make sure it’s not a blind one. (more…)
One of my wife’s good friends from college (Columbia University) recently came to visit for a weekend. Quick background: this friend happens to be a former private college counselor; she is currently enjoying life in the admissions office at a top, private school in Wisconsin. Aside from all of their hilarious memories shared (though I have heard them many times, they still make me laugh), I was offered some very interesting insight on their Ivy League experiences and the “pressure to find a ’successful’ career” as they remembered it, for many months leading up to graduation day.
Photo by adobemac
If you don’t stock up on snacks, you’re going to be eating the guy across the hall’s peanut butter out of a jar with your finger at 2 AM. I’ve been there and it’s a bad scene. Attempts to save money or prevent the ‘freshman 15′ by not buying healthy snacks for dorm rooms most always backfire. The truth is that you are going to get hungry, and you need to eat. If you don’t surround yourself with healthy choices, you will be forced to make unhealthy ones in the middle of writing your term paper–just the time when you need a proper source of energy.
Photo by The Seanster ‘93
myUsearch asked me to create a Top 10 College Tips list for 2009. Often the best advice is the common sense advice – work hard, follow through, improve on your weaknesses, and harness your strengths. I think you’ll find some of these ideas throughout the following list. I’ve included college tips for those who are entering college, currently in college, and graduating from college – so there’s a little something for everyone. I hope you find these tips and the accompanying articles helpful. So without further adieu…..I present my Top 10 List of College Tips!
Photo by Ann Dabney
Choosing a college can be very stressful. The college’s reputation, cost of tuition, college major options, location – all of these points are important to consider, but what are the important things that people forget to consider? Here is a list of 5 frequently forgotten facts to consider before you make your college choice:
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College. That one word alone is the definition of being broke! As a college senior, I can tell you that no matter how many part-time jobs you take on, you are still going to be lacking when it comes to cash flow. It takes some longer than others to run out of their high school savings, but you’ll be sure to find out the true value of a dollar during your time away. So how can you make the last $5 you have for the week (and it’s only Monday) last until Friday’s pay check? I’ve learned some simple tips on how to find college deals and making that dollar go further.
Photo by Goldberg
As a sophomore, I am sad to report that the battle against the freshman 15 does not end after the first year of college. I still find myself tempted by the option of eating ice cream for breakfast, lunch and dinner, finding time to go to the gym can seem impossible when my to-do list is filled with reading assignments and problem sets, and it’s just too easy to take comfort in a bag of potato chips at 2 a.m. But after a year in college, my friends and I have learned a thing or two about staying healthy and preventing weight gain.
Freshman 15 pizza picture by titanas
There’s a belief among some students that senior year is a time to take easy classes. Well, I hate to be the one to break it to you, but if you really want to go to college that’s the last thing you should do. It seems that every year the same erroneous ideas regarding applying to college manage to make their way into students’ conversations. They are part of what I refer to as “Hallway Mythology”.
Photo by Kevin Walter
This week, myUsearch.com has the privilege of hosting a very special carnival. I know what your thinking. Mmmmm….elephant ears and cotton candy, ferris wheels and six foot stuffed animals. But we’ve got something even better than deep fried dough and spindles of refined sugar. We’ve pulled together all of the best college bloggers to create one long list of college advice - The Carnival of College Admissions. And unlike elephant ears that are 719 calories with 32 grams of fat per serving, you can have as many links as you want and you won’t even gain a pound! Eat up!
Photo by edenpictures
Some things, like going to class, seem obvious. But there is a huge temptation to skip class in college. There’s a lot of other things to do that you might find more interesting than, say, “density functional theory.” Unlike high school, many college classes don’t take attendance. And if you’re living away from home, your parents aren’t there to make sure you get to class.
Photo by rofltosh.
Last week, our friends over at Unigo published a great back to school guide with a ton of tips for college freshman, including links and videos with helpful advice for those of you starting college for the first time. After checking this out, it made me wonder what tips I’d give to college freshman. As a wise old sophmore in college, I think it’s my duty to tell you a few things.
Here are some basic tips for your first year away from home.
Image courtesy of foundphotoslj.
Last month, the Princeton Review released their annual college rankings, listing off the nation’s biggest party schools, best college towns and nicest dorms. And while you may be thinking about those factors as you shop for schools, maybe it’s worthwhile to look ahead: PayScale.com recently released an interesting report of college graduate salary statistics. Is your dream school worth the price of tuition?
Every year, more and more students choose to apply online - a trend I’m happy to see as we become more environmentally responsible. However, in some students’ minds, online applications seem to trigger a response that says, “It’s just another online form. How hard can it be?” The truth is, it’s not “just another online form”. It’s your chance to make a great first impression - or not. (more…)
Four years of high school felt like forever. You work your way up from being a tiny freshman to a big bad senior through endless homework assignments, cliques, school dances, breakups, sports teams, puberty, and the dream of graduation day. It seems like just yesterday that I was walking across that stage receiving my diploma… that’s how fast the last 3 years have gone by. In less than a month, I’ll be a big bad senior again. A college senior! I almost can’t believe it. So what was college really like when I look back on it?
Collegeboy photo by weifly
As summer is coming to an end, high school seniors will begin to think about applying to college. Having worked in college admissions for over 10 years, I’ve seen my share of stupid mistakes from students in completing their college applications. While many professionals will give you advice on how to construct the perfect application, few will share the unfortunate errors with you. Today’s blog will cover the top 5 mistakes that I’ve seen. (more…)
I’d like to let you in on a little secret: I am usually assigned topics to cover for this blog and I, naturally, follow my grand-master’s guidelines to the “T”. However, this month, no such luck. I was told to write on anything– ANYTHING that I choose. I’m picturing my high school seniors who come to me saying that they’re choosing to write their college essay using the Common Application’s prompt, “Topic of your choice”. So I guess I will take the advice I often give them and “be specific”. I would like to talk about how important it is for students to become their own advocates in the college application and admission process.
Photo by theparadigmshifter
It’s true that many students change their major several times before graduating. So why do so many experts advise you to to compare the quality of your intended major when it comes to choosing a college?
Here’s a look at why choosing a major before freshman year might actually matter–and why it might not.
photo by Jonathan Ng
