What I Considered When Choosing a College
We asked current college students what factors they thought about when applying to college. Watch this video to find out what they said.
College Sites: To Trust Or Not To Trust
Some people choose to follow in the footsteps of their parents and apply for the same university that their parents (or another relative) went to. Some students have known what university they have wanted to go to since they were in junior high. Most, however, spend time in their senior year of high school looking online at college websites – and when part-time jobs and extra curricular activities are involved, that free time is a precious commodity.
Dumb Mistakes Made by a Valedictorian
When someone says “valedictorian,” you probably think of somebody who has it all together. But just because they have a great grade point and worked their tail off during the last four years, doesn’t mean they know everything about the admissions process. Read the rest of this entry →
The Money Tree
I remember back in the 80’s when Reebok came out with their new “pump” style sneakers. The shoe had a rubber ball shaped pump at the top of the tongue, and when you squeezed it, the sneakers would inflate around your heels. If I was ever going to dunk the basketball, the Reebok Pumps were my ticket. Of course when I presented the situation to my parents, I got the same response I always got when I asked for money…”do you think money grows on trees?” My dreams of playing professional basketball were shattered.
Now that I’m taller, and a financial aid director, I’m starting to believe that my parents were wrong. Perhaps money really does grow on trees. Read the rest of this entry →
Skills for the 21st Century Economy
With a looming recession in the news, you might be wondering: Will I be able to get a job after college? Or, if you are already working, will I loose my job in this economy? Well, you probably better start thinking about what skills you’ll need for the 21st Century. Read the rest of this entry →
Scholarships: What Every Student Should Know
Almost as soon as you start thinking about college, the money questions won’t be far behind. As the price of higher education continues to skyrocket, more and more students seek scholarships to help pay for school. Thousands exist, but how do you get them? Read the rest of this entry →
Networking: The Student’s Secret Weapon
Getting a second degree (or finishing your first) can be a great tactic during a recession. You make yourself more employable and sit out the worst of a lackluster job market.
But there’s another secret recession-buster that works especially well for students-networking. Creating a strong network of “who you know” is one of the best ways to find a great job more quickly. And students are in a unique position to start creating a great network that you can rely on throughout your professional life.
Be Smart - Start a 529 Plan
I know there are plenty of parents out there that are saving to pay for the college education of their children. First of all, I think that is a noble and honorable thing to do and I applaud parents who are doing it. Your children will be better off because of your intuitive thinking and fiscal intelligence. Read the rest of this entry →
Choosing a Major: Passion is the key
If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is a compromise. –Robert Fritz
Going into college, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life and to be completely honest, I still don’t. But I thought I was supposed to. I thought every college student knew what they wanted for life. But, over the last couple of years, I’ve discovered differently.
“Sit Out” the Recession and Go Back to School?
There’s an old piece of advice-when times are good, prepare for the bad, and when times are bad, prepare for the good. Along these lines, with a recession predicted (and maybe already here, especially in some parts of the U.S.), is this the right time for you to go back to school?
NIU Violence: What Can YOU Do?
On Thursday, February 14th, tragedy struck the Northern Illinois University campus in DeKalb, Illinois. Our hearts and thoughts are with the victims, families and all those on the campus. This event leaves many of us asking what’s going on in our high schools and colleges? But, we should quit asking what’s going on in our schools, and start asking what’s going on in our society, communities and homes that drives people to take such drastic action?
What Every Student Should Know About College Apps
College applications. Two words guaranteed to strike fear and anxiety into the heart of every high school senior. All the information, dates and pressure are enough to drive you crazy. As someone who’s been there and done that, every student should follow this list of college application tips to help you stay sane:
myUsearch List of College Advice
I am one of the co-founders of myUsearch and I graduated from the University of Colorado- Boulder in 2003. If I would have read this before I went to school, I would have saved myself a lot of pain and heartache. Read the rest of this entry →
College Ups and Downs
One student from Santa Clara gives advice to high school students preparing for college.
College Rankings: What a bunch of………….
We all see the college rankings published by corporations, such as U.S. News and World Report, Princeton Review and many more. Are these fair and honest? Do they have the best information to rank a school? Are they influenced by money?
I cannot answer these questions, but I do know that I’d rather learn about a college from students, professors, and others who are ACTUALLY part of the college. It’s just like buying a TV. I want to take advice from people that have actually experienced what I’m looking for.
Advice for First Generation College Students
Whatever you can do or believe you can, begin it. Boldness has genius magic and power in it. –Goethe
There is nothing easy about being a first generation college student. Let me just say that up front. Honestly, there is nothing easy about being a college student period, but a first generation college student has it a little more difficult.
Regional v. National Accreditation: Why You Should Care
Most students don’t even think to ask whether their school is regionally or nationally accredited, but this can be a huge mistake. Intuitively, you would think that nationally accredited programs provide more than regionally accredited programs; however, this isn’t necessarily the case. Both accreditations have their ups and downs and both are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. So make sure to read this article so you don’t kick yourself later.
Best Scholarship Sites on the Web
I have spent countless hours researching the best scholarship sites and I now have a serious appreciation for scholarship searchers. There are so many scholarships out there and there is not one single place to find them. This list is by no means complete, but it is a list of the best scholarship sites I have found so far.
How to Choose a College Search Website
If you have come to this website, it’s most likely because you were searching for a college on the internet. And if you haven’t figured this out already, there are a lot of crappy sites out there. But don’t worry, there are actually some good ones too. There are about a handful of online resources that provide an unbiased matching process. Read the rest of this entry →
Online Graduates See 14% Increase in Pay
A recent pilot program in New Jersey took a group of single parents and 117 of 128 women graduated and graduates achieved an average pay increase of 14%.
