Posts Tagged ‘College Life’

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Community Colleges – A Great Option to Consider

Thursday, 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!

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

Don’t Overlook These 4 College Issues

Thursday, 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.

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

Learn How to Survive College, It Can Be Done!

Tuesday, 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.

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

The 5 Pros And Cons of Study Groups

Monday, December 26th, 2011

Forming a study group for the SAT has some big pros, but it also has a few cons as well.  SAT preparation can be complicated and it’s a major step in your life.  Pretending that it isn’t a big deal might be tempting, but it really isn’t in your best interest.  If you take a “whatever” attitude towards studying for the SAT, you are doing harm to your friends as well, as you may influence their study habits and behavior.

It is vitally important that you realize with total clarity that despite what anyone ever told you, you are not competing against your classmates and friends on the SAT exam.  This kind of thinking is primitive, foolish and highly misguided.  Millions of students take the SAT exam every single year!  The thought that you are competing against your friends is silly and you shouldn’t fall for it.  If someone tells you that it’s a “dog eat dog” world and that this applies to the SAT, well, they just don’t know what they are talking about.  Remember that so many students take this test that any actual competition between you and your classmates is beyond trivial.

Once you realize that there is no real, actual competition between you and your friends and classmates, the option of cooperation opens up.  Why study alone if you have friends that are better at given subjects than you are?  By cooperating with one another, it is possible to not just break down the SAT exam, but to also pull on one another’s strengths and help with one another’s weaknesses as well.

Study Group Pros

1) Learn more as you can break down the test and study materials and split them up.
2) Pull on one another’s strengths
3) Get help with your weaknesses
4) Learn to see the test and test questions in different ways
5) Pull on collective resources, such as study guides and so on.

Study Group Cons

Unfortunately there are some cons to forming a study group for the SAT.  Let’s take a look a few of these cons.

1) There will be differing levels of seriousness among your friends.
2) There is a risk that your study sessions could deviate into socializing instead of working.
3) Not everyone will pull his or her weight equally.
4) Egos may get in the way and interfere with overall progress.
5) People may not stick with the study group long enough to get the desired results and to justify the time it took to start the group in the first place.

Whether or not you should form a SAT study group depends greatly on the quality of people that you can pull into the group.  Even if you get great people in your group, you may still find that the group dynamic doesn’t work.  In the end, you have to play this one by ear and see how it develops.  However, if your SAT study group is successful, you could really benefit a great deal.

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Posted in College Admissions, College Life, Preparing for College, SAT/ACT Test | No Comments »

Dental Plans Cheaper Than A Semester’s Worth of Pizza

Saturday, December 17th, 2011

Like most college students, you’re probably waiting until the holidays to schedule your regular doctor checkups. Winter break is slowly approaching, your parents might be pestering you about scheduling a visit to see your hometown dentist when you’re in town. You, on the other hand, probably have better things to do during your short respite from school responsibilities.

It’s no surprise you’d rather be spending time with your friends and family instead of visiting the dentist’s chair. As nice as some dentists can be, you still cringe at the thought of being subjected to the scraping, forceful flossing and general gum prodding. However, missing those regular checkups can cause dental issues like aching teeth and sensitive gums, as well as lead to an increase in serious health problems, including cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease and diabetes. But what should you do if it’s a lack of dental insurance, rather than fear of the dentist’s chair, that prevents you from getting a regular teeth cleaning?

Luckily, there are dental plans available for individuals and students that will let you get your pearly whites cleaned without breaking the bank. For example, DentalPlans.com lets you search for plans in your area and view savings you can expect with each plan. Rates vary depending on your area, but most individual plans are available for $100 to $150 per year — less than you’ll probably spend on pizza in a semester. Avia Dental is another company offering student dental service, with plans starting at only $8 a month.

Another alternative is to see if your college or university has its own dental school. Many times, dental schools allow students to use their dentistry services at a discounted rate. While dental patients will need to wait longer than if they were visiting a traditional dentist, the fees are greatly reduced as you’re having a dentistry student perform the services. (Don’t worry; the students are closely supervised by faculty members who are trained and board-certified dentists.)

You can also see if your college or university offers its own form of dental coverage. New York University offers dental services to university students, as well as their spouses and children, and also includes discounts for orthodontic treatments.

With all these options available for student dental services, nothing short of a crippling fear of the dentist chair should keep you from your regular cleaning. Waiting too long for dentistry services could mean even more painful restorative dentistry procedures, like root canals. So, kiss Nana hello during the holidays this year, help yourself to an extra slice of pumpkin pie and schedule your regular cleaning.

About the Author
Amy Moczynski is the marketing associate for 352 Media Group, a web development and digital marketing company.

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

Making the Mental Transition from High School to College

Thursday, December 8th, 2011

High school and college are not the same thing.  Whether you continue to live at home during college or move to another state (or even another country!), college is still different in a wide range of ways.  You’ve probably put a lot of work into getting ready for the SAT; perhaps you have taken test prep tutoring or maybe even pre college summer programs.  Taking these steps is definitely smart especially if you are looking for financial aid and grants.  Yet, it is also very important that you realize and make plans for the fact that high school and college are radically different.  Having the proper mental outlook will serve to make your transition from high school to college a smoother one.

Living On Your Own

Regardless of whether or not you are living at home or go away for college, in a very real sense, you will be on your own.  In high school, you may have had a degree of assistance in how you were performing.  Your teachers, parents and guidance counselors were all keeping an eye on whether or not you were “on track” or were having problems.  College comes with a newfound level of freedom, but that also means a degree of responsibility.  College professors don’t care if you pass their class or not.  In high school, you may have had teachers that wanted to pass you and wanted to see that you had good grades.  But don’t expect this to happen in college!  In college, you are expected to be an adult and look after yourself.

Another aspect of this new freedom is that you may not have the adult or parental supervision that you once enjoyed.  This can lead to all sorts of decisions that you might not otherwise have made in the past.  Understanding that you are entering a new phase of your life and mentally taking steps to keep your “wits” about you is something you need to do in advance.

You Will Likely Be Studying More

Every college experience is different, but one common discovery among college freshmen is that there is more work involved.  The odds are excellent that you will be studying more hours in order to get good grades.  You may have found that you were able to get through high school with a modest level of work, but in college this may not be the case.  This means that you might not have as much free time as you once enjoyed.  However, over time, you will learn new time management skills, which will help take some of the stress out of your college workload.

Being mentally prepared for a new situation can be difficult, but working to prepare yourself ahead of time can serve to reduce the stress level.  Every new situation comes with a degree of stress, fear and confusion, but taking the time to simply acknowledge and realize that college will be different from high school is one of the best steps you can take to ensure a smoother transition.

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Posted in College Life, Preparing for College | 2 Comments »

5 College Essentials You May Have Forgotten

Thursday, November 24th, 2011

It’s likely that a few months into your first semester, your newly independent (but financially dependent) self will have to make that call home explaining how you forgot the necessities that weren’t on the “college necessities” list your mom started slaving over months before sending you off. Who would have thought when you loaded the car with the essential college gear — from new bed sheets and plush mattress toppers to warehouse-sized shampoos and conditioners — you would still have to make that pleading call home asking for more “essential items” you need to live?

Being a college student, I found myself making the exact same call to my parents a couple of months into my first semester. So here are the top 5 items that are necessities, but are not often thought of, when you’re getting ready for the next 4 years of your life.

Mini toolkit
Toolkits seem to be attached to men’s sides, but if you’re a woman, it may not be the first thing on your mind to pack. My dad brought up his tool kit to help me decorate the ugly white walls of my dorm room in an effort to make it more “homey,” but he ended up taking it back home when he left. Chances are you’re going to want to hang up something more than just taping a poster on your wall. This Apollo 39 pink toolkit from Target is the perfect aid to spice up your drab room. Don’t worry: They do come in different colors.

Rubber sandals
If you are living in a dorm with community showers, rubber sandals are a great and cheap way to keep your feet clean while cleaning the rest of their body. Havaianas sandals are comfortable, fairly priced and come in a college series if you want to show your school pride while you shower

Scooters
While a bike is a cheaper alternative than scooters, if you’re living off campus or at a school with lots of hills, riding a bike will actually take longer than walking. Bikes are also the number one stolen item on college campuses. Scooters are a great way for you to easily get around campus and run errands, like go to the gym or the grocery store. Road Rat Motors has a great selection of gas and motor scooters in different colors. They’re also store your scooter for your during winter break or summer when you’re not on campus. While they’re not stolen as often as bikes, it’s still a good idea to invest in a padlock chain system that can’t be cut through. Good insurance is also a must.

Mini Fridge
Even if you have a meal plan, having dorm snacks are a must. You’ll be working up an appetite in the late hours of the night, sometimes, you don’t feel like (nor is it safe) to walk all the way to your car or scooter parked at the freshman lot. Walmart will have the best prices ranging from $69.99 and up, depending on what size and compartments (freezer/fridge combo) you’re looking for. You can also check Craigslist for used ones, as former students who lived in dorms will be looking to part ways with theirs.

Skype Premium
If you get homesick for family and friends or are living too far for a quick trip home on the weekends, Skype Premium is a great investment for live group chat.  You can call and video chat with four of your friends who are in different schools at once or talk to grandparents and parents at the same time. Subscriptions can run by the month, by three months or a whole year.

About The Author
Kelsey Bohannan is a freelance writer who writes for the 352 Media Group, a digital marketing and web design company.

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Posted in College Life, Guest post, Preparing for College | 2 Comments »

Are Extracurricular Activities Worth It?

Thursday, November 10th, 2011

One key point that must be made about extracurricular activities is that the sooner you begin doing them the better off you will be.  If admissions counselors feel that you got involved at “the last second,” your activities will be seen much differently than they would have been if you’ve been involved for years.  In this article, we will look at why extracurricular activities can be very worthwhile when it comes to getting into college.

College Admissions Can Be Quite Competitive

It can be difficult to truly understand how competitive college admissions can be without first understanding the number of students that are applying right along with you.  For example, in 2010 Harvard received more than 30,000 applications!  This amount is particularly alarming when you take into account that the school only accepts 1,600 freshmen each year.  These statistics can be a bit scary, but that doesn’t mean you should give up on getting into the school of your choice.  Instead you need to focus on finding different ways to help yourself stand out from the crowd and a great way of doing so is to take part in extracurricular activities.

What Kind of Extracurricular Activities are the Best?

Deciding what kind of extracurricular activities are the best for you can be quite tricky.  In part, the answer lies in what you feel the most like doing.  You don’t want your extracurricular activities to feel like a burden and nothing but extra work.  If you take this path, you may not get the results you ultimately want.

It is an easy trap to pick the extracurricular activities that you feel admissions counselors will want to see, but there is a problem with this approach.  For example, if you don’t like the extracurricular activities that you pick and are only becoming involved in them because you think these activities will “look good” on your application, you may not stay involved.  If you don’t stay involved for a substantial amount of time, the end result will be that your extracurricular involvement was of no real help in the long run.

The Three Ways Extracurricular Activities Help

A good aspect of extracurricular activities is that by participating, teachers will have an opportunity to get to know you better.  This factor can translate into a great letter of recommendation.  A second way that extracurricular activities can help your efforts to get into your college of choice is that those activities will give you something additional to discuss during your college interviews and on your applications.  Finally, extracurricular activities will help you demonstrate to admissions counselors that you got involved in your school community and did not just “drift through.”

Three Ways Extracurricular Involvement Scores You Points

1) Teachers get to know you better and that means better letters of recommendation
2) You will have more to discuss in interviews and on applications
3) Extracurricular activities show that you get involved

Are There Times You Should Not Participate in Extracurricular Activities?

Usually participating in extracurricular activities is a good idea, but there are exceptions.  If you think your grades will suffer as a result, you should skip the extracurricular activities.  Additionally, if you are working a part-time job after school, you likely shouldn’t stretch yourself so thin.  Ultimately, extracurricular involvement should boost your chances of getting into one of your top picks.

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Posted in College Admissions, College Applications, College Campus, College Life, Extracurricular Activities, Preparing for College | No Comments »

How To Live With A Diabetic Roommate

Tuesday, November 8th, 2011

You’re moving into your new apartment or dorm room for college and just met your new roommate. You don’t know each other, but figure that overtime, you will become great friends. One day, you notice there is a prescription left on the counter for insulin. You figure it must be your roommates, but you don’t know how to approach the subject of diabetes. What should you do?

Scenarios such as this one occur to college students every year, and it is important to learn how to approach the subject of diabetes. The number of people living with diabetes has increased drastically over the years, so the likelihood that this could happen to you is greater than ever. Matt Tutelman has had a similar experience. Having been a diabetic in college, Tutelman has great advice for someone who may want to approach the subject with their roommate.

First, your instinct may be to want to ask your roommate if they have diabetes; however, it is important to let your roommate tell you in their own time and in their own way. People differ and the subject may be more delicate to one person than another. They will tell you as soon as they feel comfortable enough to approach the subject.

Once your roommate is comfortable enough to tell you, be open to learning about how to test for blood sugar and how insulin shots are administered. In college, Tutelman taught his roommate how to administer a shot and check for blood sugar in case there was an emergency. Tutelman recalled there was even a time where his roommate checked for his blood sugar, while he was sick and sleeping, because his roommate was concerned.

You may want to get them a medical ID bracelet, assuming they don’t already have one. Tutelman said the best benefit of one is peace of mind. It will ensure your roommate that if a medical emergency were to occur, others would know of their condition. You don’t have to settle for something clunky that looks like a hospital bracelet. Companies today provide stylish types that don’t even look like they contain medical information, like these fashionable medical ID bracelets from Hope Paige. With the holidays approaching, these would also be a great, inexpensive present.

Another issue for a diabetic college student may be dealing with their diet. Tutelman was diagnosed before he came to college, so he already had a healthy-based diet. But for someone who has been newly diagnosed, you may want to keep-in-mind that maintaining a healthy diet is important for them, especially if they struggle with getting into the routine of eating healthy and remembering to take their insulin. If they seem to be feeling ill, don’t be afraid to ask them if they have remember to taken their insulin. It is best to be alert and supportive at the same time. The American Diabetes Association has some great tips on eating healthy for diabetics that you or your roommate can reference.

About the Author
Becky Bennett is a freelance writer who writes for 352 Media Group, a digital marketing and Web design company.

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Posted in Choosing a College, College Life, Guest post, Housing | No Comments »

Should You Go to A College Near Home?

Saturday, October 29th, 2011

Deciding where you should go to college is clearly not an easy decision.  Of course, sometimes this decision will be made for you in terms of what colleges and universities accept your application. However, the odds are good that you will have a variety of options, especially if you applied to numerous schools, (and this is something you should do!)

Once you know what colleges and universities have accepted you, choosing your final pick can be tough.  One of the factors that can impact this decision is trying to decide whether or not you will pick a college near home or one that is farther away.  You might feel that it’s an easy choice.  In fact, maybe you have been dying to get as far away as you can from your parents for as long as you can remember.  But before you make a final decision, take a look at the pros and cons.

The Emotional Factor

One factor to consider is whether or not you are emotionally ready to move very far away from home.  Often people believe that they are ready, only to discover that they wished they were closer to home once it’s too late.  Even if you are happy to be away from your parents, you may feel that you are too far away from your friends.  One way to check out how you truly feel about moving away from your friends and family is to do a “dry run” where you visit your prospective new campus for a few days alone.  If you stay at the campus and still feel great about the idea of attending school away from home, this will help you make your decision.

Reputation and Quality of Education

A second factor to consider is where you feel you can get the best education.  If you get into two colleges but one is clearly better for you or has a better reputation, then this is something to consider.  The college with the better reputation may open up better job opportunities down the road.

Money, Money and Yes More Money

A third factor is cost.  Many students choose to live at home while in college to keep costs low.  You may be ready to strike out on your own, and that is understandable. But take into account the soaring costs of a 4-year college degree; you will want to at least consider how much you could save by staying at home.  Now on the flip side, there is no denying that your college experience will be drastically different if you don’t move away to go to college.  Ultimately, this can be a tough decision.  On one hand you have saving lots of money and on the other hand you have the freedom that comes along with moving away from home.

Apply Early and Apply Often!

In the end, having multiple schools to choose from is a very good situation to be in.  If you do want to have the luxury of picking between a college near home and one that is farther away, you should apply to many different colleges and universities so that your options will be open.

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Posted in Choosing a College, College Campus, College Life, College Search, Housing | No Comments »

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