A lot is said about US College Rankings and if they are in fact relevant to the college search. As a representative for a small, comprehensive, liberal-arts based university in Connecticut, I am constantly encountered with questions about how the University of New Haven “ranks” against other schools. As you begin (or even conclude) your college search, it is important to concentrate on a different word than “rank” … That word is “fit”.
Today we have a guest from Emily Goll. Emily is a graduate of Whitman College with a degree in English literature. She currently lives in Seattle, Washington and writes for GuidetoOnlineSchools.com, a publisher of accredited online college and online degree information.
The reputation of your college is incredibly important. It will help to determine the rigors of your academics, the jobs you are eligible for, and the quality of faculty that teach at your school. As a result, most graduating seniors who hope to attend a four-year institution spend the months before their applications are due pouring over books and magazine articles that feature college rankings.
Such articles and books cover everything about a school from the cost of tuition, to the student to faculty ratio, to the academic rating, and to the admissions selectivity rating. Not only do these types of lists help students narrow down their choices, but they paint a clearer picture of the schools for each individual. This can strongly help a student make a well-thought out, informed decision when choosing where to obtain his or her bachelor’s degree.
Distance Online Learning vs. the Conventional Campus Route
Today, distance online learning is becoming increasingly popular. Rather than attending classes on campus, many people are obtaining a degree by attending college online. Advancement and employment opportunities are at your fingertips with online education, whether you’re considering jobs in healthcare, sales jobs, or a career in finance. Still, many people question, “is an online degree acceptable to employers?” The answer is, yes. Online degrees are as good as degrees earned the conventional way and are suitable for employment. In fact, there are many colleges that offer both and these institutions consider the degrees to be identical.
I was just reading an article this morning about women’s professional tennis and the flaws in its ranking system. This time of year, I also see weekly reviews with different people giving their opinion about the various ranking systems in college football. There are computer programs that use data analysis, coaches votes, win/loss and strength-of-schedule ranking systems, and different ranking systems based on the weight of each different criteria. Honestly, I find it to be a bit of overkill. But, what about US college rankings? So how do the US college ranking systems work? Which US college ranking organization is most reliable? (more…)
You’re planning to continue your education beyond high school and perhaps you’re a little confused about which degree is right for you and your career goals. This post aims to give a simple breakdown of the different types of degrees out there:
Do you want a new puppy? Are you an international student who wants to attend college in the United States, but can’t afford to? Whether you are coming from abroad, or an uncodumented/illegal alien living here in the United States, there are resources out there to help you find the money to fund your education. Whether you are an undergraduate (enrolling after secondary/high school) or a graduate student (you have attended a college or university and want to continue your studies), this article provides links to help you begin your search. Also, my labrador just had a litter of puppies, and they need a home.
*A hint first: START YOUR SEARCH EARLY! the deadlines for international scholarships and grants are rigidly set far before the start of the school year, and maybe even before the admission application deadline. *
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?
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.
In order to take full advantage of the benefits your military service has provided you, you should leave no stone unturned. Fully investigate every benefit available to you and how best to use them.
Congratulations! You worked hard, got involved, and did a great job on your applications. You have good reason to be proud, but now you also have a bit of a dilemma: you were accepted to more than one college that you thought would be a good fit for you. So, how do you choose? (more…)
Whether you’re looking to jumpstart your higher education or enhance your career, an online education may be the way to go. Does college seem too expensive? Do you live far away from a college or university and can’t commute or move at this point in your life? Does the nearest school not offer the type of courses you need? There are many advantages to an online education, and thanks to the Internet, almost anyone can pursue a college degree. Read on to find out why an online education might be the best option for you.
As you are trying to figure out what type of college to attend, size should be a part of your consideration. Large universities and small colleges are different in many ways, and either option might work well for you depending on what you’re wanting out of your college experience. It’s really up to you and your interests. Considering that I work at a small liberal arts college, I’m admittedly biased toward the small college experience. Even so, I think it sensible to think about all the benefits that small colleges can offer you. Let’s take a look…
Today’s post is from our newest guest blogger, Sara Fowler, and admissions insider from Colorado Mountain College.
I grew up in the mountains of Colorado, in a town that draws crowds year-round for pretty much any outdoor activity you can imagine – tourists came to ski, hike, kayak and bike in my backyard.
I worked, like most of my friends, in the coffee houses, restaurants and shops in Glenwood Springs throughout high school. And when I talked to visitors in our area, they often mentioned that they wished they could live their outdoor vacation lifestyle forever. I guess no one ever told them they could.
Hopefully in these coming weeks, students across the country will be finding out that they have choices for their college future. Although students will only enroll in one university at a time, long gone are the days when students apply to only one school. The majority of high school students nowadays have the option of two or more colleges to attend. I’d like to imagine a hypothetical situation where, say, all universities on your student’s list are . . . free! And, for the sake of this post, let’s imagine they are.
When choosing a college, most people consider the college’s location, academic performance, admissions standards, etc., but what about the college’s study abroad programs? As our world grows increasingly global, study abroad programs are becoming more popular and important every day, but how should study abroad programs affect your college choice? To find out, I interviewed Dana Davies, Vice President of Enrollment for Arcadia University, ranked #1 in the nation for the percentage of students who study abroad.
People always give the same criteria for choosing a college. I remember this from my days as a bright-eyed high school student eager to find the perfect college. Since those days long, long ago I’ve grown old and wise. And by old and wise, I mean I’m almost finished with my freshman year, and after all the mixed feelings about my experience so far at the school I finally decided to attend, I can emphasize some important, and not always obvious, criteria that every high school student should consider when choosing a college.
Soon after high school seniors hear Pomp and Circumstance play at their graduation ceremony, they are off to a new land and a new experience called college. But how do you get to that point? You might begin your college search by opening up a map and thinking about exciting destinations. With over 4,000 colleges and universities throughout the 50 states, your choices are endless. You can chose to live in virtually any part of the country. You might prefer a mountain setting or to be near a beach. Some students pick a metropolitan area like New York City whereas others look for a rural, small town setting. But before you decide on where you want to live, make sure your college offers the right academic programs for you. This post will help you think about how to balance your location interests with your academic interests. Here is my top 3 list of how to incorporate location into your college search process. And if you get to the bottom of my post, I’ll tell you how location played into my college search process.
In 2006, a worker with an associate degree earned about 33% more than one with just a high school diploma, and about 48% of jobs on demand were the “middle-skill” jobs that associate degrees cater to. If you want to further your education beyond a high school degree but you can’t or don’t want to pursue a traditional four-year degree right now, this may be the perfect time to think about getting an associate degree.
Trekking up hills under the scorching sun. Walking across campus through the pouring rain. Visiting college after college until you’re bleeding their school colors. Are countless hours of campus visits really worth it? You can find anything and everything you need to know about any college or university with the click of a mouse… so why visit at all?
Are you in the process of choosing a college? The current recession is affecting students and colleges everywhere. Many students are looking for more affordable options and some are even transfering from their current college to other schools with lower tuition. I caught up with one University of Colorado at Boulder student who is transfering to an in-state school to save money. Check out this video to find out how the economic crunch is affecting America’s college students.
Has the economic downturn made you re-think your college choice? Share your experience and visit myUsearch.com to find your college match.
Soon after high school seniors hear 
