For almost all students, freshman year in college is an exciting, tiresome, and overwhelming experience. Every student has a list of things that he or she would like to have known before going into freshman year; here is mine:
Moving In
·Student deals aren’t really deals. Most package deals are filled with shoddy merchandise and are only marginally cheaper than buying higher quality items from a retailer. Before you commit to buy bedding sets or bathroom packs, compare prices with Walmart or Target.
·Don’t buy expensive electronics or furniture! Your friends, your roommates, and your roommates’ friends will all use them throughout the year (probably without your permission), and your all-leather desk chair and Xbox 360 will quickly be reduced to ruins.
·Pack lightly. It reduces clutter in your room and makes going home for breaks a lot easier.
·Buy a student insurance policy. They’re cheap and can really put your mind at ease.
·Let your parents help you on move-in day (that’s move-in DAY, not move-in DAYS). It’s especially helpful if they bring a car to drive you and your new friends to IKEA and K-Mart.
Academics
·Think outside of the box, but don’t go crazy. Many upperclassmen will tell you that freshman year is a time to explore and take a plethora of new courses.While this is true, make sure that you adequately prepare for your major. In other words, if you plan to major in economics, don’t start sophomore year having taken nothing but underwater basket weaving courses.
·Avoid the freshman academic slump. It’s real and will consume your GPA in the blink of an eye.
Living
·Introduce yourself to everyone. You all got into the same school; you were made for each other!
·Enjoy camp college! The grace period between the opening of dorms and the beginning of classes can be really fun, especially for freshmen.
·Don’t be afraid to throw a party in your room; be afraid to throw a party in your room every week. A nice get-together that’s within university rules can help you to meet new people, but if you become known as the “party guy,” you’ll start to meet the wrong type of people and spend countless hours cleaning your dorm.
The above advice will help you to navigate your freshman year. However, perhaps the biggest tip that I can give an incoming freshman is not to precisely follow all of my tips. Your freshman experience is just that, yours!
This article was contributed by Dakota Meyers, who just completed his freshman year at Yale University and is a regular contributor to the CollegeTreasure.com and AdmissionHook.com blogs. He is a 2009 graduate of Hoisington High School in Hoisington, KS. At Hoisington High, he won varsity letters in debate, speech, scholars’ bowl, and band. He won the 2009 3A Kansas State Championship in extemporaneous speech.
At Yale, Dakota intends to major in Economics and Mathematics. He writes for the campus publication Business Sphere and is an active member of the Yale chapter of Nourish International. He also participates in the Yale Political
Union as a member of the Independent Party.
As a current college student, Dakota has first-hand experience with the college admission process.
Increasing college and university costs make decision-making more and more pertinent for younger students.
Tuition outpaces the rate of inflation and has for more than 30 years. With most colleges and universities releasing data that indicates increases at 5 percent to 6 percent in tuition and fees, most students need to stick with a four-year plan of attack. Students unsure of majors can cost themselves or their parents for a fifth year of college. In today’s money, for tuition alone, a fifth year of college at a private institution will cost $35,636 (including room and board) and at a public institution, $15,213 (including room and board at an in-state rates).
While there seems to be no end in sight for increasing college costs, being better prepared when entering those college or university doors may mean big savings. According to MyMajors.com founder Dr. Fritz Grupe, failing to get started on time with a highly structured major such as engineering or computer science, may make an extra year of studies necessary, costing not only an extra year of tuition, but also books, lodging and meals, lost wages and a delay in beginning “real” life.
Grupe says about 80 percent of incoming first-year students lack focus and that indecision can be expensive. To help undecided students, especially those finishing the last couple of years in high school, Grupe created an interactive Web site that unites school experience and personal values to recommend majors. The majors are for consideration and direction, plus the site features other information about coursework and the jobs they could lead to and other resources to find success in those specific majors.
Grupe says most students can be helped, including those who fall into categories like “naïve,” “indecisives,” and “the clueless.” These are students that think they know what career they would like, but careers and majors are not the same things. Perhaps they cannot see how to make the transition from the career they want to a major that will get them there. Maybe they simply do not know what majors are available. Or they are students who waffle on all decisions and are overwhelmed under the weight of so much data. Still others lack direction.
The Web site www.MyMajors.com may just be that resource designed to aid students and to recommend majors that appear to be good ones based on the student’s high school experience and personal values. In providing direction, Grupe’s creation may provide tangible savings for the student and parents.
Are you interested in joining the armed forces? Do you need money for college? Consider joining an ROTC program. These programs are designed to teach military tactics as well as to promote leadership and character. The core regimen consists of two years of special elective classes, exercises, and workshops. Students may participate in this regimen without committing to serve in the armed forces. Those who commit to serve after college may elect to take an additional two years of courses and apply for ROTC scholarship aid.
The Army, Navy, and Air Force each have their own ROTC program, and eligibility requirements vary by branch. However, to participate in the core regimen, students generally must:
Meet physical fitness requirements
Maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher
Score at least 19 on the ACT or 920 on the SAT (excluding the writing section). The Navy and Air Force require slightly higher scores.
Enroll in a college or university that offers an ROTC program (this includes nearly all major institutions).
Attend ROTC courses and exercises for two to four years. In most cases, ROTC courses count as elective credits.
Additionally, in order to receive scholarship aid, students must:
Apply for aid. The application includes a basic online component, a counselor certification, a personal statement, a resume, a physical fitness assessment, and an interview. The application focuses entirely upon merit rather than financial need.
Commit to serve (usually between five and ten years) in the armed forces after college. This often includes a term of active duty service followed by service in a reserve unit. In most cases, students may opt-out of a scholarship after freshman year without having to complete the post-graduate service requirement.
Meet standards of academic merit, extra curricular activity, and leadership experience similar to those required by a college application
Applicants are selected based on merit and intended field of study, with priority generally given to technical fields. Scholarships are available for both high school seniors and college underclassmen. Details about scholarships vary by military branch, but most include a yearly tuition payment ranging from $3,000 to full tuition, up to $900 per semester for books, and monthly stipends for living expenses. Most scholarships have applications deadlines in December and January and recommend that students apply early. Interested college students should talk to their school’s ROTC representative. High school students should talk to an academic advisor or local recruitment officer.
For more information, visit the following websites:
ROTC scholarships require a steep post-graduate commitment. Students looking only for financial aid should explore other options before the ROTC. However, for those interested in joining the military, an ROTC scholarship is a great way to pay for college.
Undoubtedly, the campus visit is the most important step in choosing a college. Regardless of what appears in a university’s website and brochures, the visit is certain to give prospective students a much more realistic image of campus life; trust me, even colleges in up-state North Dakota tend to represent their campuses with pictures of students studying outdoors during a warm summer day.Aside from this, college visits also increase a student’s chance of being admitted. Most schools track the number of times a prospective student has contacted the institution; thus, students who visit the school’s campus tend to appear more serious applicants than those who make no contact with the university. That’s not to say that it will work miracles. But in a competitive applicant class, a previous campus visit could tip the scale in your favor.
In planning your visit, the first thing you should consider is the time frame. Although it’s tempting to visit colleges during the summer, you should try to schedule visits during the academic year. A majority of your college experience depends on your fellow students. Thus, you want to see a college when those students are actually on campus. Also, you should avoid visiting several different colleges in a short amount of time; after awhile they all blend together.
Take note of the different options that a school offers for campus visits. All colleges offer guided tours of the campus. A student usually leads the tour, reciting a scripted account of campus life but perhaps speaking candidly at times. Often, a Q&A session with an admissions officer will follow. Most colleges offer tours nearly year-round Monday through Saturday. Additionally, many schools offer half-day and open house programs. These events usually include a tour, an information session, a meal in the student dining hall, and faculty or student panels. Some schools also offer overnight programs, in which a prospective student stays with a current student, sits-in on classes, eats at campus dining halls, and attends student events. Most universities only conduct open houses and overnight visits at certain times, so be sure to schedule these well in advance. Of course, prospective students also have the option of taking an unofficial visit, in which he or she walks through campus without a guide. It is best to mix both official and unofficial visitation. Attend official tours and Q&A sessions so that your visit is included in your admissions file; however, don’t let info sessions form your entire opinion. Be sure to walk around campus, taking note of activities and talking to current students about their college experience. Pick up a newspaper and flip through it. Look at flyers and the dates of campus events – if most parties occur on Wednesdays and Thursdays, there must be a reason, and it could affect your college experience. It is particularly important to have a meal in the college dining hall if possible; it allows you to get a feel for the campus’s social atmosphere. Observe how students act toward each other, whether everyone is studying (an inevitability during mid-terms and finals) or talking, and what they talk about. Almost every student will be happy to speak with you for a few minutes about campus life and their decision to attend that college.
To make the most of your visit, be sure to plan ahead. First, think deeply and decide what about a college matters most to you. Don’t find yourself in the middle of a tour thinking, “this college has a great Greek life… maybe I’ll like to party.” Next, be sure to take notes about each college you see. You don’t need to be “that kid” who transcribes the entire Q&A session, but you should take a few notes about the campus immediately after your visit. Note things that are important to you, these could include: the dorms (their condition and how many people share a bedroom and bathroom), how safe you feel on campus (whether there are blue phones or other safety mechanisms, whether parts of campus seem dangerous at night, and whether student transit runs during the night), how stressed other students seem, whether they share your interests, whether the college has mainly small classrooms or large lecture halls, whether the library has a large selection of books on hand or depends on an interlibrary loan system, whether or not undergraduate research opportunities are available on campus, the condition of campus athletic facilities, how far shopping outlets and grocery stores are from campus (you likely don’t want to live out of your suitcase for four years). Also, take down the name of your tour guide and the admissions officer with whom you spoke and send a follow-up email or thank you note. If the college’s application or interviewer asks about your previous contact with the college, use some of these names when recounting your visit; this adds authenticity to your account and makes you seem like a more serious applicant. For students with a laptop or smart phone, it is a good idea to make a spreadsheet that includes the college’s name, its contact information, the date of your visit, notes about the tour, information session, and other meetings, the names of the officials whom you have met, and notes about the campus. This allows you to better distinguish between colleges; without it, they all begin to blend together.
The primary objective of college admissions is not to find the “best college” but to find the best college for you. The visit is a pivotal step in achieving this, and a well-planned visit will help you with both picking the right college and being accepted.
Many students believe that they won’t be eligible for scholarships unless they’re the valedictorian or a star athlete or got a perfect score on their SAT. What these students don’t realize is that today there are scholarships for almost any skill or unique quality you can think of. You no longer have to break the state track record or win a national science fair to get money for college. Now you can earn scholarship money simply for having an unusual hobby or distinctive trait, for anything from knitting to being left-handed and from duck-calling to being interested in space and science fiction! Take a look at these weird, interesting, and fun scholarships we found and remember that applying for scholarships, just like the whole college admissions process, isn’t about being the world’s most perfect student but about highlighting your personal strengths and abilities.
Scholarships just for being you:
Tall Clubs International (TCI) Scholarship
This scholarship is for those who have always been asked to get things down from the top shelf. Tall Clubs International (TCI) offers a $1,000 scholarship for tall people, the Kae Sumner Einfeldt Scholarship. Women who are at least 5’10” and men who are at least 6’2” are eligible. Candidates must be under 21 years old and plan to attend college in the fall.
Little People of America Scholarship
By contrast, The Little People of America scholarship is an award given to future and current students who are 4′10″ or less in height attending a college or vocational school. Prizes range from $250 to $1,000—sometimes more. Although one does not have to be a little person to apply, the greatest preference is given to LPA members who have been diagnosed with a form of dwarfism. Students with dwarf-diagnosed family members and those who demonstrate financial need are also given preference.
Scholarship for Left-Handed Students
For those in the company of greats like Albert Einstein, Picasso, and Jimmi Hendrix, Juniata College offers the Frederick and Mary F. Beckley Scholarship of up to $1,000 for left-handed students.
Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship
Do you delight in finding new ways to cook tofu? Do your parents roll their eyes at your “meat is murder” bumper sticker? If so, you might be eligible for the Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship. High school seniors who promote vegetarianism in their schools and communities are eligible to win one of the group’s two $5,000 scholarships.
National Beef Ambassador Program
For those fonder of big macs than veggie burgers, a few lucky award winners will get the chance to represent the beef industry, and will receive a college scholarship. The National Beef Ambassador Program (NBAP) is a speech and interview competition for students between the ages of 16 to 19. Winners can earn between $250 and $2,500.
Twins Who Don’t Mind Seeing Each other for 4 More Years
Several schools offer scholarships for twins: Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Georgia, waives tuition for one twin when both enroll, Lake Erie College in Painsville, Ohio, offers half-off tuition for each twin, Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, has 45% discounts available on tuition for female twins only, Carl Albert State College in Oklahoma offers the Paula Nieto Twin Scholarship, George Washington University in Washington, DC gives a 50% discount for the second sibling, Randolph-Macon Women’s College in Lynchburg, VA gives a 15% discount, Sterling College in Kansas offers a 50% discount for each twin, and West Chester University of Pennsylvania offers the Bonnie Evans Feinberg Scholarship for twins.
Last Name Scholarships
A number of schools offer scholarships for students with particular last names. The Zolp Scholarship is restricted to students at Loyola University in Chicago who are Catholic and whose last name is Zolp. The good news is, the scholarship provides full tuition for four years; the bad news is, have you ever heard of anyone named Zolp? Texas A&M University pays full cost of attendance at for anyone whose last name is Scarpinato by birth or marriage. The John Gatling Grant provides scholarships for students who were born with a surname of Gatling or Gatlin to attend NC State University. The scholarship provides up to $9,000 for in-state students and $18,000 for out-of-state students. The Van Valkenburg Memorial Scholarship awards $1,000 to students with the Van Valkenburg name or a similar variation . Even Harvard University has several scholarships based on the student’s last name, including Baxendale, Hudson, Thayer, Downer, Bright.
Money for that unique hobby you never thought would pay off:
Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest
Students who can quack their hearts out for 90 seconds using four calls: hail, feed, comeback and mating and can win big ducks, I mean, bucks for higher education (we couldn’t resist a least one bad pun). Seriously though, The Duck Calling Contest awards $1,500 to the best duck-calling high school student. The first runner-up receives $500, the second $300 and the third $200 in scholarship money.
Patrick Kerr Skateboard Scholarship
Now how to land a kickflip? Could you do Ollies in your sleep? The Patrick Kerr Skateboard Scholarship awards one $5,000 and three $1,000 scholarships to skateboarders who are high school seniors with a GPA of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale and submit an essay on how skateboarding has had a positive impact on their lives. Recipients must enroll as a full-time undergraduate at an accredited college or university the fall after high school graduation.
Writers and Illustrators of the Future Contest
In our first scholarship for sci-fi enthusiasts, student authors and artists can submit science fiction stories and/or illustrations to be considered for this award of up to $4,000. An entry consists of three black and white works illustrating a science fiction or fantasy story with no recurring theme. Entries may not have been previously published. Should the artist win the Illustrators Contest with their first entry, he is then sent a story from the companion L. Ron Hubbard Writers of The Future Contest for which to render an illustration. This illustration then becomes his or her entry in the yearly Grand Prize competition. Three winners are selected each quarter and are awarded $500 each; the yearly Grand Prize winner is awarded $4000.
American Welding Society Scholarships
Student welders familiar with trade skills such as allied joining, brazing, soldering and thermal spraying are eligible for this scholarship. The American Welding Society Foundation offers numerous scholarships to students interested in welding-related education or training programs. Award sizes depend on the scholarship.
SPAACSE Scholarships
The Society of Performers, Artists, Athletes and Celebrities for Space Exploration, Inc. (SPAACSE) offers two $1,000 scholarships: The SPAACSE Galaxy Music Scholarship for graduating high school seniors who are pursuing an interest in space music as a means of expressing the beauty and inspiration of the universe and The SPAACSE Liliane Webb Art Scholarship for graduating high school seniors who have an interest in space art.. The music submission must be recorded on either a cassette or CD and should be 4-6 minutes in length.
Candidates for the art scholarship must provide an original two-dimensional space artwork to be considered for this award. Candidates must also include a 1-2 page description of prior artistic and other school activities and awards.
Knitting
If you know the different between a knit stitch and a purl stitch and your friends make fun of you for having a grandma-hobby, you may be able to get scholarships. The American Sheep Industry Association sponsors four scholarships for applicants who submit a sample of an article of clothing they created completely with wool. Philadelphia University also offers the Bernard Steur Scholarship for textile engineering students with an interest in knitting. Also, The National Make It Yourself with Wool (NMIYWW) competition awards $2,000 and $1,000 scholarships for knitting wool garments. Winners are selected based on the appropriateness to the contestant’s lifestyle, coordination of fabric/yarn with garment style and design, contestant’s presentation, and creativity.
David Letterman Telecommunications Scholarship
Because David Letterman was a C student at Ball State University, he established a scholarship at his alma mater that is awarded to telecommunications majors based strictly on the creativity of a submitted project, rather than a student’s GPA. The awards are intended for average students who nevertheless have a creative mind. Projects may involve a variety of media, including written work, research, audio, video, graphics and film. The winner receives a $10,000 scholarship. The first runner-up receives $5,000. The second runner-up receives $3,333.
Aspiring Children’s Television Stars
Similarly, The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences awards three $10,000 scholarships annually in the name of the late Fred Rogers (yes, Mr. “It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood” Rogers) to college students pursuing a career in children’s media.
Rodeo
At last those lasso skills can rope you some money. Institutional awards, like Colorado State University’s rodeo scholarships, are usually reserved for students on the school’s rodeo team. Private awards, like the San Angelo Rodeo Scholarship, give students more flexibility in their college choice, but often have other requirements, like county of residence.
Puppetry
The Connecticut Guild of Puppetry offers the Margo Rose Scholarship for students involved in puppetry who wish to attend the National Puppetry Conference. The American chapter of the theatre organization Union Internationale de la Marionette, offers scholarships for students with experience in puppetry to study at the Institut Internationale de la Marionnette in Charleville-Mezieres, France. Since puppetry degree programs are rare, most scholarships in this field are for private programs or for puppetry studies within a theatre arts department. Pinocchio would be proud.
Chess
Chess stars could turn their winning moves into money for college. Several colleges, including Texas Tech University, the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) and the University of Texas at Dallas, offer promising chess players up to four-year, full-tuition scholarships. The United States Chess Federation provides information on chess tournaments and available chess scholarships, both college and privately-sponsored. Casual chess players, be warned, these scholarship programs are often very competitive.
Rugby
Rugby may not be an official sport at most U.S. universities, but it can still help pay your college costs. Rugby scholarships are offered at New Mexico University, Texas A&M University, Saint Bonaventure University and many other colleges. Playing rugby can also send you abroad. The Center for International Studies offers a rugby study abroad program for students to study for one or two semesters in Wellington, New Zealand and play in a local rugby club. A $500 scholarship is available to make this program more affordable. Check with USA Rugby for more rugby scholarships.
United States Bowling Congress (USBA) Scholarships
Yes, bowling congress. And each season, bowling associations, councils, tournaments and proprietors offer over $6 million in scholarship money. Some of these programs include the Chuck Hall Star of Tomorrow Award for $1,500 per year for three years, the Annual Zeb Scholarship for $2,500, the Alberta E. Crowe Star of Tomorrow for $1,500 per year for three years, the Youth Ambassador Award for $1,500, and the Gift for Life Award for $1,000.
Bagpipe Majors at Carnegie Mellon
One of the least competitive scholarships in the U.S.—it’s not unusual for there to be zero applicants—is the Carnegie Mellon University Bagpipe Scholarship. It offers $7,000 per year to a student who intends to major in bagpiping. You even get a kilt subsidy.
Just plain unusual scholarships:
Duck® brand duct tape Stuck at Prom® Contest
The Duck Brand Duct Tape Stuck on Prom Contest is open to students ages 14 years or older who are attending a high school prom in the spring. Entrants must enter as a couple and attend a high school prom wearing complete attire or accessories made from duct tape. The submission must include a color photograph of the couple together in prom attire. The winning couple gets $3,000 each towards college and some cash for their school to boot. Other prizes include $1,000 for second place, $500 for third, and Duck Tape sportswear for honorable mentions. The winning couple will be selected based on a variety of criteria, including originality, workmanship, quantity of Duck Tape used, use of colors, and creative use of accessories.
Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year (SAMMY) Award
If you demonstrate excellence in academics, athletic performance, leadership and community service, and like to sport a milk mustache, this is the scholarship for you. Candidates must also be a resident of one of the 48 contiguous states or the District of Columbia. Each of 25 winners receives $7,500 in scholarship money, a designated place in the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex and a role in a USA Today Milk Mustache special.
Students for Organ Donation Youth Leadership Award
Candidates of this awardmust have made a commitment to raising awareness of organ donation and transplantation. Selection is based on effectiveness, leadership, creativity and sustainability of efforts. Applications may be based either on a report of previous events that have successfully raised organ donation awareness, or a detailed and realistic plan to raise donor awareness. One or two $500 to $1,000 scholarships will be awarded.
Evans Scholars Foundation Scholarship
Where would golfers be without their caddies? Not very far. For all of their help, caddies are finally being rewarded by the Evans Scholars Foundation. Each year, the Western Golf Association awards scholarships to more than 200 student caddies. Scholarship winners are required to reside in the scholarship house at each participation college. They must also demonstrate academic merit, financial need, exceptional character and, of course, a great caddie record.
Klingon Language Institute Award
Don’t worry, you don’t need to be a Klingon-loving Trekky to apply. The Klingon Language Institute (KLI) awards this $500 scholarship award to one graduate or undergraduate student each year. The scholarship was created to encourage the study of and achievement in the area of language. Applicants must be nominated by a school department and must demonstrate academic merit. Submissions should include the nomination letter, two recommendation letters, a resume and a statement of future intent.
The National Candy Technologists Scholarship
The American Association of Candy Technologists (AACT) awards a $5,000 scholarship to sophomore, junior and senior students who demonstrate an interest in confectionary technology. The award is paid in two $2,500 installments to winners who attend an accredited four-year college or university. Applicants must earn a 3.0 GPA and be majoring in food science, chemical science, biological science or a related field, and, of course, be a bit of a chocoholic.
National Marbles Tournament Scholarship
This isn’t your friendly game of marbles—this game is for keeps for the eight to fourteen-year-old players who compete. The King and Queen of Marbles (yes, that’s what they call the winners) will each receive $2,000, and, to calm things down a bit, a sportsmanship award of $1,000 will also be granted. The eight pages of rules, albeit in large child-like print, will show you just how serious these competitors are.
The Spirit of the Hiram College Hal Reichle Scholarship
Here is some chicken soup for the college student soul. This scholarship is administered by the Secret Society of Serendipitous Service to Hal, otherwise known as SSSSH. Hal Reichle had a history of secretly surprising people with sweet gifts. He was a modern-day Santa Clause and SSSSH is convinced that Hiram College has more of them. It’s about time being nice got you some cash!
In the last year, many families have decided that they would allow allow their children to apply to in-state state schools. As I have often said, this needlessly limits options, because many private schools offer scholarships that bring their net-cost in line with that of a state school, despite the fact that their sticker price is much higher. In addition to researching merit scholarships, students in some states have the option of taking place in a regional state program. In these programs, if a major is not offered in the student’s home state, but is offered at a state school in another state within the program, the student can attend for a reduced rate. The tuition depends on the program but typically ranges from in-state tuition to 1.5 times in state tuition. Here is a summary of the different regional state programs available in the United States.
If a major isn’t offered in your home state, but is offered at a school in another state, you are eligible for reduced tuition. Typically it is 1.5 times in-state tuition. One thing to watch out for is if you change your major to a major that is not offered in the program, you need to pay back the difference in tuition. You can check the various majors that are available on the website, www.nebhe.org. The only schools that participate are state schools. They offer Associates and Bachelors degrees through the program.
Participating States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
This is the most generous of the programs, as participants pay in-state tuition at participating institutions. Also, if you end up changing your major, the tuition change will be effective for the semester when you make the change, but you might not need to pay back retro-active tuition savings. To learn about the schools and majors available through this program visit, www.sreb.org.
Participating States: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware,Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia.
Note: Florida, North Carolina, and Texas only participate for graduate programs.
The Midwest Student Exchange Program operates on the same premise as the other programs, that is if a major is not offered at one of your in-state state schools you qualify for a reduced tuition at another participating state school. Unlike the other programs, the MSEP includes some private schools as well. Students qualify for 1.5 times in-state tuition at the state schools and for a 10% tuition reduction at participating private schools. Learn more about the program at www.mhec.org.
This program consists of state schools, and like the other programs if a major is not offered at one of the state schools in your home state, but is offered at another participating institution, you are eligible for reduced the tuition. The tuition in this program is 1.5 times in-state tuition. Learn more about the program at www.wue.wiche.edu.
Participating States: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.
In this video James Maroney, founder of First Choice College Placement and CollegeTreasure.com, talks about college as a valuable lesson in the decision making process. He covers the factors students should use to help choose a school as well as the sources they should use to evaluate the colleges.
Now that summer has officially ended we are in the midst of many of the annual rites of fall: changing colors of the leaves; college football; and college applications. For many, the debate rages over whether or not they should apply Early Decision. Todd Johnson tells you what you need to think about before applying early decision to a college in his post Is Early Decision Right For You? at College Admissions Counseling. Another hotly debated issue is that of college rankings. Admissions expert Brady Norvall shares his perspective on whether you should consider us college rankings when choosing a college in his post Ranking the US College Rankings posted at myUsearch blog. Also, as students stare at their college applications they are often faced with the question of “What do you want to do after college?” Nissim Ziv presents What Career is Right For Me? Finding the Right Career Path posted at Job Interview Guide. Just as there are many new career paths, there are also many new majors available at universities. Saying, “Some of the hottest new college majors need some decoding — learn what subjects like sustainability and health informatics are all about,” Dawn Papandrea does just that in Decoding Emerging College Majors posted at CollegeSurfing Insider.
Chris presents Distance Learning Colleges and Universities posted at MJJ Party, saying, “Distance learning colleges and universities offer unique solutions to unique situations, and may be worth looking into for many.”
JoeDale presents Accelerated College Degrees Online posted at Online Accelerated Degree Colleges, saying, “Are you interested in Accelerated College Degree Programs that allow you to earn an accredited degree at an accelerated pace? Compare universities offering accelerated classes and programs now.”
While most students are focused on what they hope to do in the new semester, Brett J Callahan presents Five Back-to-School Do NOT’s posted at 2East: The College Living Blog. Also, back on campus many students are feeling a financial pinch and might be tempted to look for credit cards. For these students, Jim presents Best Student Credit Cards posted at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity. In order to save money, many students are considering moving off campus. Across the country, many new students are just tussling with their first college exams and term papers. Don’t worry freshman,Carolyn Friedman gives you useful web tools that will help you earn the grades your parent’s will be proud of while you are secretly having the time of your life as a freshman at 75 + Useful Web Tools for Your First Year of College posted at Online Christian Colleges, Tom Tessin gives tips you can use if you’re looking to find an apartment around the college campus in Apartments for College Students ? Finding One posted at FCC Student Blog. With the recession, many non-traditional students are heading back to school as well. Read about going back to school at age 40 when softmelon presents Back to School posted at The Den of Psychosis. Here are some other resources:
Need-based financial aid deadlines are just around the corner, but there is no time like the present to start researching scholarships. Chris presents All About the Tylenol Scholarship posted at MJJ Party. One of the keys to financing a college education is to start saving early. Patrick @ Cash Money Life presents Open New Ohio 529 Account to Get $200 in Bonuses posted at Cash Money Life, saying, “The Ohio 529 College Savings Plan, CollegeAdvantage, is offering a generous sign up bonus for new accounts. You can easily earn a couple hundred dollars to go toward your college savings.”
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One surefire way to make a good impression with during your interview is to let the hiring manager know you’ve done your homework to learn about the company. This demonstrates your serious interest in the position and the business.
As a job search coach, I am surprised at how few people actually investigate prospective employers, and yet, it’s so easy! Check out these resources:
1. Visit the company website and read the home page, mission statement, “about us” section and any news posted. Learn about the business and what other positions are open.
2. Search the web to see what kind of media coverage they’ve received. Look for press releases and other news in daily papers, business periodicals, or blogs.
3. If the business is publicly held, look for an annual report which details the financial picture. Check out wwww.AnnualReports.com to download the report as a pdf file.
4. Search the Internet for customer complaints to get a full picture, although you probably won’t bring this up.
5. Look for key players on www.Linkedin.com and review their profiles. You may know people in common who can answer questions or even the person you’ll be interviewed by.
Before your next interview, read everything you can about the company. Work those facts into your questions and answers when possible. The more you know, the better your chances of speaking intelligently about why you are a good fit and the right candidate for the job.
