Well, here it is: the last summer before you start college. (How did the time go so fast?!) Some teenagers choose to work full-time during the summer so they have a little extra cash on hand in the hall. Some choose to party and hang out with their friends during July and August. But what should a college-bound kid do before taking the leap?
Photo by ClickFlashPhotos.
Here are a couple helpful tips.
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.
Photo of mountains near Forth Lewis College in Durango by adamscarroll
College: It’s not just about the hours of lectures and endless reading assignments. It’s not just about getting good grades and living on your own. There’s a social aspect too. Before I went to college, I had person after person tell me what a “well-rounded” individual I would become. What did they mean? What would I encounter that I didn’t already experience in high school? Well, they sure were right. Not only did my wide range of classes, level of independence, and countless amounts of activities shape who I’ve become, but I had to learn to balance a social life as well. Sometimes, your social life can be just as demanding as your academic one.
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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.
Photo by m00by
Starting this fall at Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania, all graduates will be spending at least two weeks off-campus studying abroad in order to fulfill requirements for graduation.
Photo by Al Ianni.
It’s probably the most frequent question asked across college campuses or by anyone you know when you’re starting college. It’s also a topic that’s been debated over and over — does your major really matter? Read the rest of this entry →
While college applications have been submitted and most schools have stopped accepting new applicants (though some still continue to accept applications indefinitely), you are wondering what can be done to alleviate your anxiety, right?
The new GI Bill effective in August will cover a veteran’s tuition up to the price of the most expensive public undergraduate institution in the state (based on in-state tuition), even if the student is at a private college.
In one part of the bill, called the Yellow Ribbon program, private colleges that cost more than the most expensive public option (or public schools looking to cover more tuition for out-of-state students) can develop a matching program with the Department of Veterans Affairs. The college would establish how much tuition they’d be willing to cover for how many students, and Veterans Affairs would also match that. Yellow Ribbon is meant to be a nod of respect to veterans, but how many colleges are actually likely to jump on board?
Have you ever heard the saying, it’s ”location, location, location?” Although location shouldn’t be the driving force behind the college search process, it is nonetheless an important variable to consider. As you’ve probably noticed, colleges reinforce their location in their publications. With striking photos of mountains, skyscrapers, or grassy quads, college viewbooks and websites play up their schools’ location. With all these great photos, you might ask yourself, where is the information on academics? Is there more to a school’s campus than the scenery? Obviously, the answer is yes, but you shouldn’t shy away from taking advantage of a college’s environment. College is perhaps the best four years of your life. It’s an opportunity for you to expand your intellectual and social horizons. It’s one great experiment. Follow me on a journey of how to make most the going to school in paradise. Read the rest of this entry →
Back to the Books?
The “R” word. We hear it every day. the recession has probably affected your employment situation in one way or another. How can you land a new job or hold onto the one you have in this economy? Competition is fierce and upper-handed employers pick and choose from top, experienced talent. There’s no time like the present to better your qualifications, so you’re heading back to college, right? STOP.
Photo by just make it (gone again!)
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?
Photo by Marquette University
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.
The U.S. Census Bureau recently released its report on Educational Attainment in the United States. Educational attainment is still far from equal among Americans, but the percentage of the population graduating from high school and college appears to be rising steadily. The report is primarily based on two sources, the 2007 American Community Survey and the Current Population Survey. It provides data for educational attainment by demographics such as age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin. While the report shows many positive trends in education, some of the information reveals shocking gaps in educational attainment. Read on for some of the highlights of the report. Read the rest of this entry →
Your son or daughter is a senior. They’ve sent in their college applications- maybe they’ve even been accepted to their dream university. So, what next? Before you and your child start shopping for their new dorm bedding, there are a few things they should know before venturing into Big Bad College Land. Here are a few lessons they might find helpful.
Photo by Alicia Nijdam.
In today’s competitive job market, going back to school to get a degree is not only a good way to sit out the recession, but it will also make you more competitive when the recession finally comes to an end. Have you been thinking about going back to school? If you’re like most people, you’re probably thinking about it, but something just keeps holding you back. There are a few roadblocks most students hit before going back to school, read this to find out how to overcome them.
Since the dawn of time (or, at least since the dawn of higher education), students have been burdened with having to carry loads of textbooks with them. Many of these textbooks are extremely heavy and very expensive.
Image by Amanda Munoz.
Big. Medium. Small. Colleges and universities come in all different shapes and sizes. Picking out the right college is like finding that perfect pair of jeans. You know that those jeans won’t fit anyone the way that they fit you. To find a college for you, you’ve got to do some shopping.
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The year 2008 is (finally!) over and and we’re almost a month in to 2009. But 2008 was a really great year for some helpful college tips.
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Need some money for college? Did you take the SAT or ACT? Consider applying for the myUsearch scholarship. All you have to do to apply is respond to the question: “The SAT/ACT doesn’t measure me…..or does it?” But don’t slack, the deadline is March 1st!
Photo by Vanessa
By now you have probably scoured the internet for scholarships and sent in your CSS Profile and FAFSA in order to apply for financial aid. Still searching for ways to pay for college? Roll up your sleeves, get ambitious, and keep an open mind as you consider these 5 creative ways to pay for college. College is expensive. If you want to graduate without the burdens of being deep in debt, consider some of these options.
Photo by jtyerse
