The college fair has always had its share of flaws. It’s loud; it’s crowded; the booths run out of brochures; all of the presentations happen at the same time; only local universities attend; the most popular colleges leave too early; it’s too far away from home. However, the next generation of college fair has arrived. At www.collegeweeklive.com, students have convenient, online access to virtual college fairs that include over 200 colleges and universities from across the world.
Virtual fairs are usually held once every few months, and each lasts about two days. They feature live Q&A sessions with admissions representatives, digital college brochures, keynote presentations on topics ranging from financial aid to standardized testing, and many other interactive events. Additionally, the website frequently hosts regional fairs, such as the upcoming “Texas Day,” and presentations by individual colleges. Unlike the videos on other college admissions websites, most of collegeweeklive.com’s presentations utilize a videoconference-type format that allows viewers to interact directly with the presenters. The website also keeps a temporary archive of all of its events for students who are unable to view them live. Access to both live presentations and archives is free, and the site has minimal technical requirements (the interface is an Adobe Flash application that can operate on almost any web browser). The registration process also allows students to opt-into receiving news and scholarship offers from College Week Live’s partner college admission websites.
With more than 25,000 students attending its last virtual fair, www.collegweeklive.com is a fast-growing source of college admissions information. It is a convenient way for prospective students to either discover new colleges or narrow their existing list of schools before making campus visits.
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.
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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