Archive for March, 2009
According to The New York Times, many of the top colleges and universities in the nation are reporting that they’ve received significantly more applications than last year – despite the recent economic downturn. Although it’s encouraging to see so many high school students going for the gold, this increased turn-out translates to a lower acceptance rate and possibly more challenging admissions race.
Harvard University (Cambridge, Massachusetts), for instance, has seen a record-high of 29,112 applications this year but will only admit seven percent of all applicants – a one percent drop from last year. Similar statistics can be seen with other top schools: Brown University (Providence, Rhode Island) had 21 percent more applications; Columbia University (New York City), 13 percent; and Yale University (New Haven, Connecticut), 14 percent. (Though these colleges did not release their anticipated acceptance rates for this year, students will start to find out as of tomorrow when they start e-mailing decision letters to applicants.)
Stanford University (Palo Alto, California) also experienced a 20 percent increase in applications from last year, and expects to admit an all-time low, although they would not release an exact prediction as of yet.
– Genevieve M. Blaber
March 30th, 2009
Amazing! Never thought I’d see my name next to old Bill Shakespeare.
– Ashton Kutcher, @aplusk, via Twitter
Well, to be honest, Ashton, neither did we! But it seems the world of academics is trying to get a little more pop-culture relevant each day – or at least in the UK, it is. According to The Guardian newspaper, cited in this Australian article, the British government is pushing to reinvent the curriculum for primary schools by making classes more tech-savvy.
While all the old subjects and staples will still be present, teachers will be encouraged to be more flexible, integrating lessons on Wikipedia, blogging, podcasting, and even – yes, Ashton – Twitter. (Though I thankfully doubt the courses would focus on analyzing Ashton’s latest tweets on the merits of chest hair.)
Naturally, there are already some detractors popping up to put down the overhaul. John Bangs of the National Union of Twitterers sorry, Teachers, accuses the government recommendations of jumping on the latest trends. That’s a bit over-simplified. According to the article, the report stresses the importance of studying these networks in order for students to familiarize themselves with effective global communication. Students would also have to improve their typing skills and – let’s all be thankful – their spelling as well.
So count me on the side of the UK government. The sooner kids learn how to effectively and safely use the Internet, the better.
And as always, check out what’s happening with the CollegeBound Network on Twitter!
– Genevieve M. Blaber
March 26th, 2009
The letters “S-O-S” rarely stand for anything good, but today that changes thanks to Sallie Mae’s new private loan, the Smart Option Student Loan. Compared to private loans offered by other companies, the Smart Option Student Loan will let students pay off loans nearly a decade sooner than they would have under normal circumstances while saving approximately 40 percent off what they would have paid.
The key to these fast savings — or rather, the catch? Instead of hitting students with the bill upon graduation, the Smart Option Student Loan lets students start paying off the loan’s interest while they’re still in college. (Not that everyone can do that, but if you can it’s a viable option worthy of further exploration.) Though nothing goes towards the principle amount, according to Sallie Mae — and, OK, the math — doing that on a monthly basis can substantially decrease the amount you will ultimately owe upon graduation.
Consider this, if you take out a $10,000 loan at a 6% annual interest rate, you’ll owe an additional $600 in interest at the end of your freshman year. By the time you graduate, you could owe nearly $3,000 more on that first loan thanks to that 6% rate –- and that’s only considering one of four loans! (Each year of schooling is considered a separate loan when it comes to calculating interest.)
Students who can swing a monthly payment while in school can get a head start on paying that interest down. So rather than let four years of it hit you where you least suspect it, Sallie Mae’s Smart Option Student Loan lets you nip things in the bud. Sallie Mae estimates that a student with an initial loan of $7,700 could save nearly $9,000 by applying for the Smart Option Student Loan as opposed to other offers for private loans. Another A+ perk? It enables those who are able to make monthly payments to build up their credit score.
On a personal note: I had a student loan very similar to this when I was in college and it made my loan payments so much easier to handle once I had graduated. The only problem was that, by my senior year in college, both my tuition rate and interest rate had jumped enough to make the monthly payments a little more than I had anticipated. What helps though, is to put some money aside during your first two years of college and apply this chunk of change to any additional interest you may owe during your third and fourth years. Remember, during the first year of your Smart Option Student Loan, you’ll only being paying down the interest on one loan, but by your senior year, you’ll only be making payments on four.
For more info, visit Sallie Mae’s Education Investment Planner.
– Genevieve M. Blaber
March 23rd, 2009
Vanguard University (Costa Mesa, California) received one heck of a tip this month when campus lunchroom regular, Bruce Lindsay, left his entire estate to the struggling institution. For the past 70 years, Lindsay had been a fixture of the university, eating three meals a day at the school cafeteria while students and faculty surrounded him to talk and hear his tips on living a frugal life.
Having survived the Great Depression, Lindsay certainly knew what he was talking about and lived by his own advice. Up until his death, he enjoyed free coffees from the bank and free meals from Vanguard University after he was declared a student advocate by a former university president in the 80s.
Now, instead of helping out students by lending a much-needed ear, giving advice, and appealing to campus officials on their behalf, Lindsay’s legacy will be the estate, worth an estimated several million dollars, that he willed Vanguard University. The money will go towards paying off the school’s $42 million debt as long as officials honor Lindsay’s last request: that some of his money be put towards the creation of a new dining hall for Vanguard University.
– Genevieve M. Blaber
*Picture courtesy of The Los Angeles Times.
March 10th, 2009
The media has more than done its job of portraying spring break as a by-the-numbers week of partying, drinking, and fun in the sun. But not every college student is down for spending a week just relaxing and even those who are, don’t always do things by the book. Just take a look at these four examples of spring breaks with plenty of style:
mtvU Spring Break 2009
What: Concert series
When: March 8 – 21
Where: Panama City Beach, Florida
Plenty of spring break parties will borrow tunes from today’s top artists, but how many can actually boast that they’ll have them playing live? mtvU Spring Break 2009 is the place to be if you’re looking for just that. Students from across the country will enjoy the surf and sand while top artists like Flo Rida, All American Rejects, and Panic at the Disco give live performances.
Mission: Possible
What: Community service
When: March 7 – 14
Where: Denver, Colorado; Jonestown, Mississippi; St. Louis, Missouri; Browning, Montana; Portland, Oregon; Knoxville, Tennessee; and Neah Bay and Tacoma, Washington
Rather than flying off to beaches and resorts, 102 students from around the country will take part in the Mission: Possible program’s community initiatives. Working with children, teens, and schools in the area, these students will have the chance to cleanup and improve the community to which they are assigned. They’ll also get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn about a new culture from the inside-out.
Adult Swim Presents: The Williams St. Country Fair and Beach Party
What: Fair and beach party
When: March 12 – 16
Where: Panama City Beach, Florida
A free fair full of fun, games, and all of your typical carnival accoutrements, the Adult Swim Presents: The Williams St. Country Fair and Beach Party also boasts a few one-a-kind staples of its own. Not only will the hip-hop group Jozi be performing, but the comic duo of Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim (Tim and Eric Awesome Show) will as well.
Alternative Spring Break
What: Environment service project
When: March 14 – 21, and March 22 – March 28
Where: Grand Canyon National Park, Montana
Want to spend a week at one of the most beautiful places our country has to offer? Then Alternative Spring Break in Grand Canyon National Park is the destination for you. Sixty students, split into two one-week sessions, will meet to walk the park’s trails, work on vegetation projects, and clean up graffiti.
– Genevieve M. Blaber
March 6th, 2009
Last night I had the pleasure of joining the Girl’s Night Out event (GNO) on Twitter. Hosted by Mom It Forward, GNO set lifelong learning as its topic, but discussion eventually covered everything from juggling school while handling children to getting your own kids into the college of their dreams.
Whether the participants were thinking about school for themselves or someone else, one thing was certain: GNOers love learning and they know that the conventional college answers may not be the right solution for every budding student. That’s why it’s important to take a look at all your options, from online schools and continuing education, to career schools and certification.
If you’re interested in checking out what the panelists had to say on all these topics and more, you can use Search.twitter.com to find all tweets marked with the GNO hashtag (#GNO). You can also check out the “Moms Back at School” page for more up-to-date info on bringing an education back into your life or head over to Mom It Forward and enjoy more discussion about last night’s GNO.
And if you’re not already doing so, make sure to follow us on Twitter!
– Genevieve M. Blaber
March 4th, 2009
