Archive for November, 2009
We’ve long known that college campuses are a popular place for—um—herbal refreshments, but Med Grow Cannabis College in Michigan puts all the others to shame with their hemp-focused curriculum. But stop the car, Harold and Kumar—this college goes way beyond giving you the satisfaction of saying that you are in marijuana school.
According to its website, Med Grow Cannabis College offers “professional training for the medical cannabis industry.” In addition to whatever extracurricular fun people derive from marijuana, the plant has been proven to relieve or reduce a variety of medical ailments. Marijuana is still an illegal substance in the United States, but many cannabis proponents believe that it should be legalized at least for medical purposes. Some states, including Michigan, have legalized medical marijuana and are allowing “caregivers” to grow it for medicinal purposes.
Enroll in one of the six-week courses at Med Grow and you’ll run into your share of stoners, but you’ll also meet up with people who recognize the medical marijuana industry as a legitimate and lucrative business opportunity. The New York Times reports that one Med Grow student has never even smoked marijuana before, but he’s not letting his lack of experience get in the way of a new career.
I once tried to grow basil and parsley in my kitchen window and failed miserably. Although I’m sure that I could pick up a trick or two in one of MedGrow’s horticulture classes, I doubt my newfound knowledge would translate to using herbs in Italian cooking. Wait, I stand corrected: at Med Grow, there is a class called Cooking and Concentrates, in which I can learn over 200 recipes for meals that list cannabis as a main ingredient.
That would sure make for an interesting holiday meal with my family.
–Barbara Bellesi
November 30th, 2009
If you are an aspiring college football player, you can cross Northeastern University off your list of potential schools to visit–there won’t be a football team on campus next fall.
Officials at Northeastern University have announced this week that the Huskies football team has been cut from their Division I lineup. The team hasn’t had a winning season in the six years that Rocky Hager has been head coach, but the university says that the team’s mediocre record is not the reason for the cut.
In a letter to the Northeastern community, athletic director Peter Roby wrote: “We do not define success merely through wins and losses. Instead, we recognize that success comes from creating a positive student-athlete experience. The primary motivation for this decision was based on the significant obstacles to providing this experience for our football players.”
Roby goes on to say that Northeastern’s primary task is “focusing future resources on programs—both academic and non-academic—where the university can achieve and sustain leadership.” Which sounds to me that since the football team wasn’t leading the division, it’s not worth the university’s financial support. So perhaps wins and losses ARE the reason after all.
It’s going to be a somber Thanksgiving for the football team and its fans. I know the decision had to be announced at some point, but doing it as the players left campus for the long holiday weekend has to hurt.
So what happens to Division 1 football players when their team goes belly up? Ask each of the 87 Northeastern football players, and you might just get 87 different answers. Northeastern is still making good on the players’ scholarships—what the New York Times is calling a “buyout”—and will allow the former players access to the academic support and athletic training available to them as student athletes. Northeastern University has great academic programs, but that is of little consolation to the young men who arrived on campus ready to play—and ready for a shot at the NFL.
Transferring to a different Division I school is always an option, but most football scholarships are reserved for incoming freshmen. For those students determined to play on the gridiron, chances are they will be scrambling to fill out transfer applications in the upcoming weeks. Of course, not every team member will have a future in the NFL, but for those who were heading down that path, this news must be a nightmare for them.
If there’s a lesson to be learned here, it’s that college athletes need to have a feasible Plan B in place. Whether it’s a team getting cut or a career-ending injury, players should have a “what if?” scenario in place just in case their dreams of playing, pro or otherwise, get taken away from them. For some Northeastern players, their football days will end here, and they’ll transform into “regular” college students. For others, there will be serious discussions of what to do next at the Thanksgiving table tomorrow.
–Barbara Bellesi
November 25th, 2009
If you feel bad about the few pounds you might gain from all the good food you’ll be eating over the holiday season, think how the students at Lincoln University might feel.
All students with a BMI (body mass index) of 30 or higher at this Pennsylvania college are required to complete a fitness course before they are eligible to graduate. Lincoln, a historically black university, has made this decision based on research that shows high rates of obesity and diabetes among black people. The campus mandate is effective immediately—which means overweight seniors have just one more semester in which to take the class in question.
According to the Lincolnian, the campus newspaper, students are not too pleased that the administration is taking such a strong stance when it comes to their health. A campus poll indicates that 3 out of 4 students are against using body weight as a factor for graduation.
Granted, Lincoln University is not requiring its students to achieve a certain BMI for graduation; the administration is simply making them take a class that will help them combat obesity. But as any college student knows well—particularly graduating seniors—there are enough requirements already for graduation, and this new one might cause conflicts in class scheduling.
What do you think—is Lincoln University right in its concern for its students, or is it overstepping its bounds and discriminating against the obese? Weigh in on the matter with a comment below.
–Barbara Bellesi
November 24th, 2009
Many of us have been fortunate enough to learn from a teacher who inspired us to work hard and succeed (my high school French teacher comes to mind). Hollywood is certainly no stranger to the inspiring-teacher storyline. Still, these big-screen teachers remind us of the power of educators to help us change our lives for the better. Here’s a roundup of our favorite movie teachers:
1. Hilary Swank, Freedom Writers
In the grand tradition of films about inner-city high school students and the teachers who inspire them, Freedom Writers chronicles a true-life story that reduces me to tears. Maybe I’m a sap, but I love tales of teachers who invest themselves in kids that everyone else has written off. They remind me that no one is beyond redemption.
2. Megan Follows, Anne of Avonlea
When the headstrong Anne Shirley takes a teaching post at an upscale all-girls’ finishing school, she’s determined to forge past the prejudices of the snobby community. She accomplishes it through her trademark spunkiness, mischievousness, and downright stubbornness. Who doesn’t cheer when the underdog comes out on top?
3. Robin Williams, Dead Poets Society
No top-teacher roundup would be complete without a nod to the Captain himself. When the unconventional instructor teaches a group of repressed prep school boys how to read poetry and become their own men, women swoon. Carpe diem, baby.
4. Twink Caplan, Clueless
In this loose interpretation of Jane Austen’s Emma, Miss Geist is one of those impassioned teachers who motivate her rich, self-absorbed students to get involved in meaningful community service. When the erstwhile dowdy teacher finds love (and inspires her sweetie to go easier on the students), I want to cheer. Nice teachers don’t always finish last.
5. Kevin Kline, The Emperor’s Club
It’s Dead Poets Society at first glance – the elite all-boys’ prep school, the dedicated teacher, the demanding father – but on closer inspection, we see an educator who faces major ethical dilemmas and doesn’t always take the high road. There’s something especially moving about a flawed teacher who still makes a major impact.
6. Whoopi Goldberg, Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit
I love singing along to this flick about a former nightclub singer who agrees to teach music to save a struggling parochial school from closing its doors. Helping her students discover their voices, Whoopi coaches them all the way to the state choir championship. If the students’ renditions of “Joyful, Joyful” and “Oh Happy Day” don’t make you stand up and sing, I don’t know what will.
7. Jon Voight, Conrack
It’s the 1970s, and a young white teacher has the gall to insist that a group of black kids (tykes through teens) be treated as intelligent, valued human beings. (No one had previously taken the time to tell them what country they live in or how to add two and two.) The real-life radical teacher transforms his students into informed citizens who can maintain proper hygiene, swim to survive, and discover the world around them.
8. Charles Xavier, X-Men
The legendary comic book figure starts Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters to teach mutants how to explore and control their powers. His goal is to bring about peace between mutants and humans and protect society from antagonistic mutants like Magneto. Helping students embrace their uniqueness and bring peace on Earth? That’s what I call an amazing teacher.
9. Michael Vartan, Never Been Kissed
A hot English teacher who plays hockey in the classroom and hangs out at his students’ favorite clubs gets automatic cool points. And when he demonstrates his willingness to give a deserving student a second chance, he wins our hearts forever.
10. Christine Lahti, Gross Anatomy
She’s a no-nonsense med school professor who’s got a good reason for insisting that her students see past the diagnosis to the hurting patient. If she can get through to one cocky med student in particular, she should win Teacher of the Year. I wish some of the doctors I’ve visited would take a lesson from this flick.
Who’s your favorite high school teacher or college professor in the movies?
–Robyn Tellefsen
November 23rd, 2009
Let’s play a new game called “Are You Smarter Than an SAT Workbook?”
Okay, so it’s not really a game, but it is a real scenario for students who bought Mastering the SAT Math. According to Jeffrey Newman, a math tutor, there are around 36 errors in the book that is published by Wiley—a company that normally enjoys a legacy of producing excellent educational resources. Newman’s concern for students—and their SAT scores– prompted him to inform FOX News in New York and help spread the word to those who are using this book.
This is not the first time in publishing history that a book has ever had mistakes in it, but we’re not talking about one or two glitches here: 36 mistakes means getting an entire section wrong on the SAT! Errors were also found in the SAT Math Workbook by Barron’s (yet another publishing titan), as well as in The Official SAT Study Guide, 2nd Edition by the College Board. Yes, the College Board—you know, the people who CREATED the SAT. Hmm.
Of course, there WOULD have to be problems with math. If you are anything like me, a gal who was waiting to declare English as her college major since the day she was born, trust me—we need all the help we can get when it comes to numbers.
Without a doubt, more test prep errors will pop up, which shows that to err is certainly human, although that is not much help to college-bound students. Barron’s is offering a free replacement for the book, Wiley says you can return theirs, and College Board will probably do something similar. But all that does is leave you unsure of which book to pick up next—and as you know, studying for the SAT must go on.
Remember the student who sued her college when she couldn’t get a job? Time will only tell if students will begin to sue publishing companies when they don’t get into college.
–Barbara Bellesi
November 19th, 2009
Don’t be stressed if the college to which you’ve applied uses what’s called a “holistic” admissions process. Confused? Well, at these schools, grades and test scores alone won’t guarantee your spot. Admissions folks are factoring in how they think you could help create a diverse and multi-talented student body–which is very good news for you and your college applications.
The NY Times reports that this process tends to help students whose GPA, class rank, and test score are less impressive, but who bring something extra, such as a unique talent or having overcome an obstacle.
Mike Gargano, vice president of the Louisiana State University System, says the holistic review process has become a more common practice at public universities. The process, which some criticize, generally allows admissions folks to better understand your academic and personal attributes, he says.
Here are three big things Gargano suggested students and parents should know about the process as you’re finishing applications or waiting a school’s decision.
1. Understand all the factors
Standardized test scores and trends in high school grades, core college prep curriculum, Advanced Placement and IB courses, and honors courses are all part of a holistic review. Gargano says the process also looks at internships, membership in academic societies, band, and student government, and other leadership skills shown through those organizations or community service. Also considered: your family’s income levels and whether you will be the first to attend college.
2. Perfect the essay
The essay can sway an admissions panel, but only if you’re able to demonstrate strong writing skills and the ability to articulate a point of view and support it with facts.
3. Turn your busy schedule into a key advantage
You need to explain how your participation in activities developed new skills and how it will contribute to your learning at a particular school. Too often, the student provides a laundry list of activities and thinks the admission counselor will deduce that from their participation they have learned something, Gargano says. But you need to make the connections for the counselors–like how you learned better time management through participation in sports, which will help you perform better academically in college.
–Lori Johnston
November 18th, 2009
You may think that the private college or university on your list (or maybe in the back of your mind as a dream school) is too expensive. But that may no longer be the case, as some private schools are cutting tuition and offering more financial aid to entice students.
This move is having an impact on public schools, which are having to cut positions and enrollment, as well as make other changes due to state budget cuts. The L.A. Times reports that there’s a growing effort by private schools to use special deals and other efforts to attract quality students as California’s state schools struggle with reduced enrollment.
It’s not just a California trend. I’m aware of other state schools that are seeing private schools snatching up some of their smartest and most accomplished candidates because of hefty financial assistance.
Here’s an idea of some of the offers:
- Florida’s Barry University is offering a 20 percent tuition discount for its adult and continuing education programs if you’re a displaced worker
- The University of San Francisco plans to offer a 50 percent discount on general education classes, beginning in January 2010
The National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities says no student should rule out private higher education because of the published price. It reported in October that schools also are:
• matching public university tuition or student aid programs.
• introducing or expanding programs that replace loans with grants.
• launching three-year bachelor’s degree programs.
• guaranteeing graduation within four years, which saves money.
• offering tuition assistance for laid-off workers.
Those efforts may be working, as total Fall 2009 enrollment at the association’s more than 900 schools is expected to increase, with some schools setting records.
Hopefully you’ll be able to benefit from this, too.
–Lori Johnston
November 17th, 2009
This week, “Dancing with the Stars” heads into the semifinals, with Kelly Osbourne, Donnie Osmond, Mya, and Joanna Krupa remaining to duke it out on the dance floor with their partners. Of course, I’ll have to be content with watching it all from my couch, since my invitation to dance on the show must have once again gotten lost in the mail.
“Dancing with the Stars” is a popular show on lots of college campuses, particularly those with ballroom dance teams. That’s right—well before America ever saw former NFL players wiggle their way through a complicated dance routine, college ballroom dancers have set the floor ablaze with their own graceful movements.
Don’t think you have to go to one of the most expensive colleges in the country to strap on those dancing shoes, either. If we have learned anything from the number of reality TV dance competitions on the airwaves today, it’s that dancers can be found anywhere. From the elite Ivies to large state schools, ballroom dance teams are twirling their way across many campuses. Check out some of the colleges and universities that have teams—are any of these schools on your dance card?
Carnegie Mellon University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
University of Connecticut
University of Massachusetts—Amherst
Utah State University
State University of New York, Stony Brook
New York University
Brandeis University
Claremont Colleges
San Diego State University
North Carolina State University
Arizona State University
Brooklyn College
Case Western Reserve University
College of William and Mary
In addition to participating in dance competitions, many of these schools and others also offer lessons. Being a college student by day and a ballroom dancer by night sounds like a perfect 10 to me.
–Barbara Bellesi
November 16th, 2009
Sometimes I get so frustrated at Simon, Paula, and Randy on “American Idol.” I think the singer sounds great, but the judges say he or she lacks the “it” factor. Or they let singers through who don’t fit with what I think reflects an “American Idol.”
Regardless of your taste in music, you can learn a lot by watching this show if you are applying for college. College admission panels, in a way, are like the “American Idol” judges–they’ve got only a few minutes to learn about you and make a decision that could impact the rest of your life.
College admission expert Shannon Meairs shared with us her “5 Reasons Why Getting Into College is Like ‘American Idol’.”
1. You must be a standout to make it to the next round. You’ve got to stand out in a good way, not by showing up in a costume and singing like a dying animal, Meairs says. Most high schoolers don’t know how to make themselves look like a star. Fewer know how to express it through a written essay, a few short answer questions, and some recommendations, but those that do have the best chance at getting in.
2. If the judges can’t figure you out within two minutes, you’re forgettable. An admission officer has less than two minutes to review an application, which is not a lot of time to convince your dream school to admit you, Meairs says. The best applicants know their story, deliver it efficiently and cohesively, and leave the admission officer wanting more.
3. Know and leverage your strengths. To get into college, follow the successful steps of “American Idol” contestants and create a unique personal brand. Play to your strengths and mitigate your weaknesses, Meairs says. You all have one – it just takes some soul searching.
4. Forget being humble. We all remember “American Idol” contestants who lacked confidence and stage presence, and they are constantly reminded of their blah performance. Being boring and safe is the kiss of death when applying to college, Meairs says.
5. Don’t take harsh criticism personally. We cringe at the thought of being told we’re the most dreadful thing Simon has seen all year, she says. If you think Simon’s tough, think about those who are part of the admission committee day after day, month after month. Instead of being another random name on paper, give the committee a reason to send you to the top – and straight to their school.
–Lori Johnston
November 12th, 2009
Today is the day that we honor our veterans, but truthfully, those brave men and women deserve our thanks every day of the year. Many of these individuals got their start in their branch of service because of their college’s ROTC program. If you want to serve the U.S., but also want to go to college, read on.
What is the ROTC? The ROTC stands for Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. It is a program offered by many colleges and universities across the country that prepares students to become commissioned officers in the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marines after graduation. (The Coast Guard has its own academy plus an Officer Candidate School, but no ROTC). For those who are already enlisted, the ROTC offers opportunities to earn a college education and a commission as an officer during active or inactive duty.
Many individuals looking towards careers in the military opt for campuses with an active ROTC, because admission to the program ensures that most or all of their college expenses will be paid, in addition to a modest monthly stipend. In exchange for their scholarships, ROTC students must agree to serve their chosen military branch for a certain number of years, usually at least four.
If you are ready to search for colleges with ROTC programs, The CollegeBound Network can help. Check out our articles and directory of colleges that will help you make the very important decision to serve in the U.S. military.
–Barbara Bellesi
November 11th, 2009
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