College - U. Got It?

Exercise Your Right!

Victory speeches, caucuses, primary elections. What does it all mean? Whose side are you on?? Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John McCain, Mitt Romney.. the list goes on and on. But if you think that it’s too late to get into the action for the 2008 elections, think again. There’s still time to get election-educated (on top of being school-educated) so you’ll be able to vote in the all-important general election in November.

There are many resources to help you through the process. Don’t you want to have some sort of say in electing YOUR president for the next four years?! Get on it now!!

First, you need to make sure you are registered to vote. You can do this online through various outlets, including Rock the Vote. You must be 18 years of age to register. It’s your right as an American citizen to vote so be sure to exercise that right as soon as you can. This is an important election that can really go any number of ways. Raise your voice!

Second, check out the candidates and what they stand for. Do you even know what you stand for? For a question-and-answer quiz that lists the main issues Americans are concerned with, take a look at http://www.govote.com. After you finish the quiz, the site matches you up to the candidate that agrees with you most. You can also see how you compare to other candidates. It’s a great jumping off point. You can also get politics updates sent to you daily by signing up for the New York Times politics email newsletter.

January is already half over… Get educated and get going immediately!!

-Amanda Fornecker

Add comment January 16th, 2008

A Talent for Scholarships

There’s a chill in the air and a new year to tackle, so what should the first thing on your agenda be? How about filling out some scholarship applications? Before you balk at the thought of writing essay after essay remember that not all scholarships are created equal. While scholarships have traditionally focused solely on academic achievement, more and more are asking students to demonstrate their unique talents and abilities.

Case in point: the BMI Foundation, Inc.’s Fifth Annual peermusic Latin Scholarship. Rather than writing a paper, students age 16 to 24 submit original songs and instrumental competitions that fit into a Latin genre of music, for the chance to win a $5,000 scholarship. It’s the perfect opportunity whether a student is an aspiring musician, singer, or songwriter, or simply has a love of music and a desire to supplement their college funds.

If you start your scholarship search the smart way, you’ll find plenty of other opportunities like this one. Just be sure to keep on your toes and avoid potential scholarship scammers that may head your way.

*** For more info on the BMI Foundation, Inc.’s Fifth Annual peermusic Latin Scholarship, visit www.bmidfoundation.org. The deadline is February 8, 2008 so get a move on!

- Genevieve M. Blaber

Add comment January 16th, 2008