Are Only High Paying Majors Worth The Time? January 24th, 2012

You’ve probably heard a good deal about the wildly increasing price tag of a university or college degree.  This is not to state that there are still not great deals in education to be found, but there is no doubt that these deals are far harder to find and require much more research than in days past.

All of this has left people wondering not just how to survive college or college dorm life, but whether or not they should attend college in the first place.  Additionally, many students are also wondering if they should only attend college if they are going to major in a career with a “big pay day.”  Increasingly, people are beginning to question whether or not college makes sense for everyone.

While there is no denying that the job market is far tougher than in the past, some other facts are also undeniable.  College graduates still earn far more than those with just a high school degree.  Those who go on and get professional degrees earn even more than those who earn college degrees.  Or stated another way, college still does pay.

Yet, the world is full of people with graduate degrees working minimum wage jobs.  This is a fact of life and a reflection of the current economic situation which is, unfortunately, likely to continue for some years to come.  So what is a student considering college to do?

No matter what kind of college degree you get, you will be more employable than those without a college degree.  This is just a fact. While you might be thinking twice about a degree without a big payoff, you’re still better off with a degree of some kind.

Not all high-paying degrees are right for everyone.  After all, a job that makes you truly miserable is one that you will not do forever.  Many people don’t actually stay with the careers that they are trained to do.  The reason for this is that once they enter the workforce and enter their chosen career, they hate it.  The money looks great on paper, but they discover after they begin the job that it’s not for them.  This is definitely a factor for every student to consider and here is why.  College degrees can be expensive, and professional degrees can be doubly so.  The last thing you want is to be stuck with a massive college bill without a career path to pay for it.

So on one hand you are better off with a college degree, but you also have to consider how much your degree will allow you to earn when you graduate and how much your college debt will be.  All of this underscores how important it is to have good advice and a knowledgeable mentor or two.  Also investigating all of your options is essential.

You can find the right college for your needs and one that will help you plot out your future career.  Just remember to plan well in advance, and weigh all of the choices before making a decision.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Career Colleges, Choosing a Major, College Classes, College Search, Preparing for College | No Comments »

The Practical Benefits of Studying Abroad January 21st, 2012

Between financial aid for college tuition and learning how to find scholarships, you might feel as though you have your plate pretty full.  There are definitely many different factors that go into making the switch from high school to college, but it is also a good idea to be looking ahead as well.  One way to look ahead to is think about issues such as studying abroad.  In this article, we will explore why to study abroad and the variety of practical benefits that come with making this decision.

Studying abroad comes with a very wide range of real world, practical benefits.  If people understood the potential values of studying abroad, they wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss it.  Of course, there is no doubt studying abroad will not serve you in the end if you just use your time studying in another country as little more than an excuse to party in a different place.  However, if you take studying abroad seriously, you will benefit.

Increasingly in today’s global marketplace employers are looking for well-rounded individuals that understand more than the confines of their local area or insulated small town.  The old ways of doing business are gone, and they are not coming back.  The sooner that you realize this fact the better off your job prospects will be.

Finding ways of distinguishing yourself in a competitive marketplace is often difficult especially in a tough job market.  One of the best ways for young college graduates to distinguish themselves is to have interesting points on their resumes.  Being skilled at video games might cut it when unemployment is at a record low, but in a fierce job market resumes need to be a little meatier.  If you can point to your time studying in a foreign country it can help you stand out from the crowd.

A major benefit to studying abroad is that it gives you options to easily distinguish yourself further.  You can point to the language and cultural skills that you acquired as well as social connections that you developed.  Further, studying abroad gives you an opportunity to volunteer or intern with foreign companies.  This helps show prospective employers that you are ambitious, driven, thinking ahead and can adapt to new situations.  Doesn’t that sound like an employee that you would want to hire?

You may even have the opportunity to perfect your knowledge of a foreign language.  Some study abroad programs offer immersion classes that can assist you to learn a new language much more quickly.  Needless to say, your ability to speak a language fluently can really help you when it comes time to look for a job.

If you can find a way to study abroad during the time you are in college you should consider it.  Just make sure that you think through what you will do with your time once in your new country.  Invest that time wisely.  If you do something like volunteer and/or intern, even if it is only for a couple of hours a week, you may see ample rewards.  Above all, ignore those that seek to tell you that studying abroad isn’t for you.  You should make that determination on your own.

Tags: ,
Posted in Study Abroad | No Comments »

Community Colleges – A Great Option to Consider January 19th, 2012

One of the single most important parts of the transition from high school to college is being prepared.  Clearly, you should work hard to find financial aid for college tuition and direction federal student loans; however, if you are unable to afford college or your grades didn’t allow you to get into any local colleges or universities, don’t panic.  It is important to remember that you still have options for receiving an education.

Millions of people have successfully used the community college system.  You can attend community college to receive further education and even transfer to a four-year college or university later on.

Here are two good books on the topic of community colleges.

Community College by Susan H. Stafford

Okay, you didn’t get into the college of your dreams or you just can’t afford to go.  That doesn’t mean that you should just give up on your dream of getting a college degree.  College graduates earn far more over the course of their lifetime than those with just high-school diplomas.  This book is valuable in that it gets students and parents thinking about community college, which stands out as an important often overlooked resource.

Going to a community college can save you a staggering amount of money, and this book has most of what you need to know to begin the community college process.  There are many misconceptions regarding community college, and Community College by Susan H. Stafford is rather effective at clearing some of them up.  Another reason this book is a winner is that it doesn’t just state, “go to a community college” but instead gives you concrete reasons to do so.  This is done by showing how community colleges can tie into creating new career and earning opportunities.

If you think that your college dreams are over, then pick this book up.  It will remind you that you can, in fact, return to college at any age with very little money.

The Community College Guide: The Essential Reference from Application to Graduation by Joshua Halberstam and Debra Gonsher

The Community College Guide: The Essential Reference from Application to Graduation by Joshua Halberstam and Debra Gonsher takes a slightly different approach to community college than other books.  Halberstam and Gonsher’s approach goes beyond making the solid case for community college and gets directly into the “nuts and bolts,” such as transcripts and financial aid concerns.

Anyone considering community college will find this helpful; however, you will definitely skip over some sections.  At times the handholding might seem excessive, but ultimately there is no denying that this book is worth the effort, just be prepared to do some serious skipping and skimming.  Any book that makes a case for the value and worth of the community college system is one that is worth reading and supporting.

Both of these books can help outline the community college experience and what it has to offer.  Remember that you should be able to find a community college in your area.  In addition, you will also find many dedicated people at your local community college that are eager to help guide you, so seek them out and ask for help!

Tags: , ,
Posted in Career Colleges, Choosing a College, College Admissions, College Life | No Comments »

5 Ways to Go Green When Packing for College January 17th, 2012

Getting ready to go off to college is one of the most exciting rites of passage in a young person’s life. College is the beginning of your independence, when choices and actions become sole responsibility of you. To start off your college career and life of independence on a green note, consider these tips for going green when packing for college.

Chemical-Free Cleaning Supplies
Of course you will want to keep your dorm room or apartment clean. Cleaning supplies can be very expensive, and they contain chemicals that are harmful to the environment and harmful to your health. Allergies, asthma and other respiratory conditions can be made worse by the chemicals in cleaning solutions. To avoid polluting water sources and keep your surroundings sparkling clean at the same time, consider homemade cleaning supplies, which are much cheaper than and just as effective as the expensive, ready-made kind. Instead of a variety of cleaning supplies, pack a gallon of vinegar and a box of baking soda and a couple of empty spray bottles and use these recipes for making your own cleaning solutions.

All-Purpose Cleaner
Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda with 1/2 gallon of water in a spray bottle and store. Don’t worry that the vinegar will make your dwelling smell: once it dries, it’s odor-free. This cleaner is perfect for bathroom and kitchen fixtures, countertops, dining tables and virtually any other surface on which you would use a pre-made chemical cleanser.

Carpet Stain Remover
Mix equal parts vinegar and water and spray it on the spot. Allow it to sit for 5 or 10 minutes, and then scrub with a sponge or brush using warm, soapy water.

Wall Cleaner
Apply baking soda straight to a mark on the wall using a sponge. Scrub and rinse.

Deodorizer
To keep the air in your room smelling fresh and clean, mix 2 tablespoons of lemon juice with 4 tablespoons of baking soda and place in a small decorative dish on a table to absorb odors.

Dishwasher Soap
Dishwasher soaps contain phosphates, which encourage algae growth in fresh water sources and choke out the wildlife. An effective replacement for dishwasher powder is to mix equal parts of borax and baking soda. Use it as you would use any commercial product.

Warm Bedding & Clothes
To keep your heating bill in check over the winter and save energy, be sure to pack some warm lounging clothes to wear while you’re hanging out at home. A comfortable hat will keep body heat from escaping through your head, and a pair of wool socks under warm slippers will keep your feet toasty. Consider a set of high-quality thermal underwear to put on under your sweats for extra warmth, and then keep the thermostat at 68 degrees. A down comforter will keep you extra warm at night, allowing you to turn the thermostat down to 62 while you sleep. These strategies can save you 40 percent in heating costs, and a lot of natural gas to boot.

Rugs & Window Treatments
Rather than purchasing rugs and window treatments derived from oil-based materials, consider sisal, wool or cotton for your rugs, cotton for your curtains and wood for your blinds. Rugs will help keep your space warm in the winter. Open your curtains or blinds during the day to allow the sun to heat your space, then close them at night to keep the warmth in.

Take Your Bike!
Even if you have a car, be sure to take your bike to college. Campuses are generally bike-friendly, and urban college neighborhoods are usually packed with stores, shops and services that you can often more easily bike to than drive to. You’ll not only save on gas, but you’ll also combat the classic Freshman 15, a common weight gain that is widely seen during the first year of college.

Power Saver Electrical Cords
Many electronics, such as your coffee pot, computer peripherals and game consoles, continue to use electricity after you turn them off. Take a power saver cord with you and plug in your computer peripherals, such as your printer, modem, scanner and monitor into one power strip and turn it off when you’re not using your computer. Not only will you save energy, you’ll also extend the lives of your accessories.

Author Bio:  George Dennis is president of King Shade and Window, a home improvement company that carries a range of custom roller shades.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in College Life, Fun Stuff, Housing, Preparing for College | No Comments »

How Do You Handle College Advice When You Don’t Agree? January 14th, 2012

When it comes to your college career and your career goals, more than likely there are many people wanting to give you advice and lots of it.  Quite often people will put pressure on you to follow their advice, whether its friends or family.  If they can’t recognize that their advice is useless or even downright bad, what are you do to in such a situation?  What do you do when college advice goes beyond financial aid and grants or how to find scholarships and instead dives deeper into your decision making process?

Dealing with a pushy relative who wants to give you college advice can be quite tricky.  Few of us actually state, “Hi there, find a college for me,” but the fact is that family members will try to tell you what to do and even pick out your college for you.  If you have someone trying to make this decision for you, here are a few tips for handling the situation.

Tip One-Show Why Your College Pick is Better

The first option is to prove that your college selection is better than what they have in mind.  For example, you can demonstrate that your preferred school is higher ranked in a particular program than the one your relative is suggesting.  Keep in mind that stating, “But my school is a better party school,” isn’t likely to work very well. Don’t try that one!

Tip Two-Apply to Many Different Colleges

Whatever you do, never apply to just one or two schools, as this can leave you without a school altogether.  Further, by applying to several universities and colleges, you will give yourself some wiggle room as you will be able to state, “But I did get into…”

You Can Always Ignore the Advice

Ignoring a relative’s advice on college is a lot easier if he or she is not paying for attendance.  If your parents are paying for your college and they are expecting you to attend a given school but you hate their idea, you are in a tough situation.  However, there is still hope.  After the first year, you can explain to them in more detail why the school isn’t right for you.  At that time, you can transfer to another program.

Remember that People Want to Help

You have to be the one who lives your life, and that means you need to make your own decisions about where you will go to college and what you will major in at college.  With that stated, however, try and remember that the people who are giving you advice about college only want the best for you.

In the end, take in the advice and listen carefully to the logic behind it, as this is very important.  If the logic is sound and based on facts, then it is worthwhile.  However if the college advice you receive is really just someone’s opinion then that is a different story.  Ultimately, you want to be happy with your college experience.  Finding that happiness might just mean ignoring the advice that you’ve been given.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Choosing a College, Choosing a Major, College Search, Preparing for College | No Comments »

Don’t Overlook These 4 College Issues January 12th, 2012

You probably realize that a multitude of factors go into having a successful college experience.  College and college life is complex, and you will want to prepare for that complexity to the best of your ability.  This article will take a look at some of the overlooked factors relating to college.  Thinking about these factors well in advance can make a positive difference in the quality of your overall experience.

Issue #1 Surviving Dorm Life

You might feel that your worries just go on and on.  After all, you have to find the right college, pick the right major, figure out what to take to college, find a college by major, etc.  Surviving dorm life is a mixed up soup of all of these concerns and many more.

Many of the variables regarding college life are, to an extent, out of your control.  For example, picking your roommate and deciding what your floor mates will be like is usually out of your hands.  This situation is one that is largely out of your control, as you are being given new friends (and potentially enemies) who are not even your choice.

Yet, learning to deal with all kinds of people, many of which you may never have dealt with before, is a major life experience.  One good way to survive dorm life with your mind and spirit intact is to embrace this as a learning experience, and make yourself scarce when everything becomes too stressful.

Issue #2 Pet Friendly Colleges

Another overlooked factor is that of pet-friendly colleges.  If you are very attached to your pet, then you want to know that you can bring your little ball of furry happiness along for the ride.  This overlooked factor involves a little research and asking the right questions.  Just don’t wait until the last moment to find out policies at pet friendly colleges.

Issue #3 Should You Study Abroad?

Why study abroad?  This question is often asked too late in a college student’s careers.  The end result is that studying abroad turns out to simply not be on the table.  Financial and academic issues can sometimes interfere.   However, studying abroad can potentially be rather beneficial, as it affords considerable life experience and is a great way to improve your resume.  Is it worth considering?  You bet, just try and find an option for studying abroad that works for you.

Issue #4 What to Take to College?

Imagine showing up for college only to realize that you’ve left some very critical items off your list and out of your suitcase.  Feeling unprepared on this level never feels good.  However, the odds are that you will be able to replace what you forgot, with one notable exception.  If you have items of sentimental value or personal items that are not easily replaced, for example, a dental retainer, you might have a problem.  So think ahead about what items are essential and difficult to replace, and you will avoid some serious panic.

All of the points that we have discussed in this article have a common thread.  Pre-planning and organization stand as keys to making the transition from living at home during high school to living at college an easy and relatively painless one.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in College Life, Housing, Preparing for College, Study Abroad | No Comments »

Learn How to Survive College, It Can Be Done! January 10th, 2012

Are you worried about surviving college?  You shouldn’t lose sleep feeling that you are somehow unusual for feeling this way.  Most people are worried about making the transition to college, especially if they are going away to school.  No matter what your relationship is with your family or what you think your relationship may be, the fact is that you know what to expect from your home life.  College, on the other hand, marks the transition into the unknown.

You can learn how to survive college, and the first step in the process is to realize that your college life experience will be different from high school.  This is true whether you go away to school or continue to live at home.

Your first survival tip is to realize that you are on your own. This means that no one will force you to study.  Many colleges and universities, particularly state schools, have high flunk out rates.  Now you can’t exactly learn how to survive college if you flunk out, can you?

Getting good grades is, of course, all about studying, but it is also about realizing that as a freshman in college you have to show that you have the discipline to get your work done on your own.  In short, one of the single biggest hurdles for learning how to survive college is to realize that you have to study and that it is up to you to make sure that it happens.

Surviving College Dorm Life

College dorm life can be complicated as well.  You should be open and ready to make new friends.  Yet, you have to realize that there is nothing magical about your college dorm life.  Regardless of what you’ve seen in the media, college dorm life is just like the real world.  There are good people, bad people, indifferent people and everything in between.  This means that the same logic and caution that you’ve used in the real world to date still applies in college.

You shouldn’t show up to college and think, “Wow, I am in college now I can trust everyone.”  That is a recipe for disaster.  You might get lucky, but you will be tempting fate.  A big part of learning how to survive college is keeping your brain turned on and making good decisions.  It is possible to still have a great time!

Financial Aid for College Tuition

Worrying about grades may seem like a full-time job, but you may also have no choice but to worry about other things.  One of the factors that you shouldn’t lose sight of is financial aid for college tuition.  If you can’t pay for college, then you certainly won’t be “surviving” college, as you won’t be there.  This means that you will have to keep an eye on tuition related issues.  College tuition is going up, and it is going up very rapidly.  A good part of surviving college is finding a way to keep your student loans under control so that you are not repaying these loans when you are 75 years old.

Tags: , ,
Posted in College Life, College Search, Paying for College | No Comments »

Time Management at College January 7th, 2012

Yes, there is an easy way to make college much more difficult and lower your grades.  Poor time management is a killer, and you want to avoid it if possible.  All the time you invested in test prep tutoring, studying for the SAT, and researching financial aid for college will seem pointless if you flunk out.

Many schools like having a high flunk out rate.  You won’t hear this fact mentioned very often, but for a variety of reasons its true.  Otherwise they would enact measures to lower the rate.  In fact, a high freshman flunk out rate is often worn by a school as a badge of honor that indicates the “toughness” of their given institution.  Yet, the fact of the matter is that there are a lot of factors that go into a high flunk out rate, so it doesn’t necessarily mean that the institution is that tough.  The point is that you do need to be aware of this factor and adjust accordingly.

Using your time correctly when in college is extremely important.  If you are partying constantly and still passing your classes, then you’ve learned something valuable.  If this is the case, either you’ve picked a major that is far too easy for you or perhaps you should pick up a second major.  Perhaps you even need to think about transferring to a different college or university altogether if the classes are that easy!

Try and remember that someone is paying for your college education.  If that someone is you, well, you want to get the most out of your money, don’t you?  Keep in mind that you may be paying off your college loans for an extremely long time.

How do you make the most out of your time in college?  Believe it or not, you already have many of skills that you need to manage your time properly.  In high school you probably had to balance your time between school, homework, extracurricular activities, home responsibilities and fun.  So you already have some idea of what you should be doing in terms of time management.  Don’t forget those lessons.

Time management in college is different, however.  In part, this is due to the fact that you have less oversight than you did in high school or in other words, “you are on your own.”  Further, if you go away to school, that means that you won’t have your parents watching over your shoulder to make sure that you get your work done.

All of this freedom may feel great, and you might get pulled into all the potential fun of college dorm life.  Just remember that you do need to correctly balance your time.  Consider creating a schedule and sticking to it.  This is one way to make sure that you don’t become a flunk out statistic for someone to brag about at a cocktail party!

By organizing your time carefully and thinking through what you need to do each day you will give yourself an edge.  Managing you time is easier than it sounds, and it takes less time than you might suspect.  However, it bears repeating that most of the hard work of college is setting aside the time to do the work in the first place.

Posted in College Life, Preparing for College | No Comments »

How to Eat Healthy While at College January 5th, 2012

Hopefully, you have already given some thought to how to eat healthy at college.  This issue is more important than it might seem for a wide variety of reasons.  At the top of the list is that dreaded and quite real, “Freshman Fifteen.”  If you were thinking that the Freshman Fifteen was some kind of myth, think again, because it is quite real.  Often being away from home for the first time goes hand in hand with poor food choices.  Let’s see how you can keep the Freshman Fifteen from becoming a problem for you.

Beware of Fast Food

The first step you should take is to make sure that you have adopted healthy food choices before you go to college.  In this way, you will know what you should be eating.  Not all food is equally good for you, and that means that there are many foods that you should avoid.  Processed food and junk food should be off your food list, but this could present a problem.

Unfortunately, it is a very sad commentary on the higher education system in general that unhealthy food choices are literally everywhere.  For example, these days, fast food restaurants, are not just near college and university campuses, but have been placed in central areas at many universities.  This change most definitely has played a role in increasing waistlines and the global obesity epidemic.

Why is it such a “big deal” that there are fast food establishments on your college campus?  For starters, it makes it very difficult for students to eat a healthy meal.  After all, if you’re not accustomed to preparing your own meals, you might be extremely tempted to “grab something,” and odds are you will use nearby options.  Fast food is also cheap as well, and you might not have a great deal of money at your disposal.  Third, if you are pressed for time, you are much more likely to take advantage of whatever options are available.

What Can You Do to Eat Healthy Food at College?

You’ve put a lot of time into test prep tutoring and thinking about how to survive college, and the last thing you want to do is ruin your health when you arrive at college.  So what should you do?  Here are a few ways to eat healthy and avoid the Freshman Fifteen.

Five Eating Healthy Tips

  1. Look for healthy options at your school, as they may exist.  Taking the time to know what they are could pay off.
  2. Don’t assume that food that “looks” healthy is indeed healthy no matter where it comes from.  This means asking for nutritional information.
  3. Prepare your own food.  This way you know what you are eating!
  4. Preferably before you go to college, know what healthy food options are out there, and learn to prepare some healthy meals of your own.  You may think that you have “better things to do,” but eating good food will help you feel better, look better, sleep better and maybe even perform better while in college.
  5. Use your food budget wisely.  This means be a smart shopper and look for deals.

Tags: , ,
Posted in College Life, Preparing for College | No Comments »

Finding A Mentor January 2nd, 2012

You may have never considered finding a mentor, but it can be a very worthwhile and valuable experience.  All of the issues that you are currently worried about regarding trying to find the right college can be brought into greater clarity if you can find the right individual to assist you.  But how does one go about finding a mentor to help with college?

If you are successful in finding a good mentor, you will be able to gain the assistance of someone that can help you even beyond how to survive college.  A great mentor will be able to help you with your career as well.  The first step in finding this resource is to take a mental inventory of the accomplished people that you know.

You might discover that you already know someone that is accomplished and that you think would be a solid mentor.  The main thing that you want to look for is someone whose opinion you respect that you believe will give you advice you can trust.

Since we are specifically discussing how to get into college, it is best that you find a mentor that has personally gone through this process.  After all, you want good advice specifically on how to survive college, financial aid and grants, how to find scholarships and other college related topics.

As you take inventory of the people that you know or have access to, consider if there is one or two people that stand out.  In fact, it may be possible to have several people mentor you in different ways.  This is more common than you might think, as it is a very practical approach and option.

If you are having trouble finding a mentor, reach out to friends and family.  For example, you might have a friend who has a parent that is a doctor, college professor, or who has an MBA or a range of other valuable academic experience.  This presents an opportunity to get some experienced advice. Since you want to find the right college, experienced advice is a must.

Ultimately, there are lots of options for finding a mentor.  In addition to asking your friends and relatives if they know someone, you can always ask your teachers and school facility.  Two great people to talk to are your school principal and vice principal.  They will appreciate your enthusiasm. Most likely, they have also attended graduate school.  The odds are that they may know someone (perhaps a retired associate) that would be willing to mentor you.  You never know what might happen if you find a mentor that is a retired school superintendent or principal with thirty-five years of experience!

Quite often people will surprise you in their willingness to help.  Remember that your own preconceived ideas about what is and is not possible may influence your outcomes.  If you believe that finding a mentor that will help you through the process of getting into college is impossible, then you are making your search harder.  Be optimistic!  People generally appreciate it when young people show initiative and indicate that they are taking something seriously, especially anything education related.  You can use this fact to your advantage.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Choosing a College, Choosing a Major, Personal Statement | No Comments »

« Older Entries