Archive for May, 2010
Our first #CollegeBound Twitter chat was a resounding success, and we’re pumped for our second on next week. Because of the Memorial Day holiday, we’ll be meeting on Twitter on Tuesday at 4PM EST instead of Monday, but after this week, we’re back to our regularly scheduled tweeting.
The topic for the next chat is “If College Is in My Future, What Do I Do Now?” We’ll be discussing things like:
- How to manage the application process/transition to college
- Tools for researching colleges, scholarships, and financial aid
- What to do if you see the value of a college degree, but never considered yourself “college material”
Again, we’ll be teaming up with students, counselors, and anyone else who needs/has advice about making the transition to college. And while @CollegeBoundNet works with traditional students right out of high school, don’t forget about our cool sister site @CollegeSurfing, a trusted expert in helping adults return to school to finish their degree.So whether you are fresh out of high school or have taken time away from the classroom to pursue a career or raise a family, we’ll be ready with answers for you at #CollegeBound chat.
Enjoy the long Memorial Day weekend (thank you, servicemen and women!) and we’ll see you on Tuesday at 4pm EST!
–The CollegeBound Network
May 28th, 2010
If you are a regular TV watcher, these last two weeks have probably been very bittersweet for you, what with all the season and series finales. “American Idol,” “The Biggest Loser,” “Celebrity Apprentice,” and “Dancing with the Stars” have all crowned their winners, and although you might have been on top of the world with the results, one burning question remains: What’s next?
It’s actually pretty similar to graduating from high school. One minute you’re flying high, excited that you have completed another chapter in your life, but the next minute, you find yourself looking ahead, wondering what else life has in store for you.
Graduation is just around the corner for many of you, and we hope that you enjoy your special day. We know that you are excited for college, but that will be here before you know it. For many of us at CBN, college was the quickest four years we’d ever experienced, as it will be for many of you. It’s natural, of course, to be looking ahead to the future, but we still wish that everyone would just stop and smell the roses every once in while.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given? Here are a few quotes from famous people about graduating:
There is a good reason they call these ceremonies “commencement exercises.” Graduation is not the end; it’s the beginning.–Orrin Hatch
A man who has never gone to school may steal from a freight car; but if he has a university education, he may steal the whole railroad.–Theodore Roosevelt
Don’t live down to expectations. Go out there and do something remarkable.–Wendy Wasserstein
Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.–Judy Garland
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.
You’re on your own.
And you know what you know.
You are the guy who’ll decide where to go.
–Dr. Seuss
–The CollegeBound Network
May 27th, 2010
My sister and I are four years apart, so when I graduated from college, we held a dual graduation party to celebrate her high school graduation, too. Our poolside party at our house in the Atlanta area is something I still remember, because it was a time for friends, family, and friends of family to stop by after the graduation festivities and celebrate our accomplishments.
One of my college roommates, Atlanta Journal-Constitution mom blogger Theresa Walsh Giarrusso, says she’s hearing that one trend this year is group parties. These are catching on partly to share the costs of the event and to allow students to hang out with each other rather than being at separate parties.
Party City also is reporting an increase in home-based parties, instead of expensive extravaganzas elsewhere. Families want to throw a memorable celebration that’s fun and budget-friendly, says Lisa Laube, president of Party City.
Are you being invited to group parties, or are you planning a group party of your own? Whether you’re the star of the party or have a full calendar of friends’ festivities, here’s a sneak peak of two trends Party City sees in 2010 graduation parties:
• It’s all about the graduate.
It may be embarrassing, but some of the party décor may incorporate photos or old art projects of you or your friends. And you’ll definitely find or be using decorations that tie into high school interests, whether it’s a particular sport or the drama club.
• You can make memories at the party, too.
Autograph-friendly stuffed animals, t-shirts, or other items allow friends and family to leave fun messages or advice for the future.
Enjoy the celebrations!
—Lori Johnston. Additional reporting by Robert Inskip.
May 26th, 2010
We’re still flying high today over the success of our first #CollegeBound Twitter chat yesterday. We were joined by some great tweeps both in and out of higher education: counselors, advisors, parents, students, and even an education reporter or two (thanks, @USATodayCollege!)
The hour sped by, and the discussion continued after the official chat was over. It’s got us really excited for the next chat, but we were reminded that next Monday is Memorial Day, and most people (including us) will be grilling and sipping cool drinks in the backyard instead of talking higher ed. Oh well. We’ll just have to plan our next chat for Tuesday, June 1, instead of Monday.
In the meantime, here’s a copy of our Twitter chat transcript to give you an idea of what good stuff went down yesterday. Twitter chats are typically relaxed and laid back, and we’re hoping that those of you who were just observing (what we Tweeps like to call “lurking”) will feel free to jump into the discussion next time.
As always, we’ll keep you posted about our next social media endeavors, but until June 1, you can visit us on the blog to get your daily fix of college admissions info.
–The CollegeBound Network
@CollegeBoundNet
May 25th, 2010
In between your discussions of the “Lost” finale and your gossip about that train wreck that is Lindsay Lohan, we’re hoping that you’ll join us today at 4 PM EST for our first-ever #CollegeBound chat on Twitter. We’re tweeting it up already at @CollegeBoundNet, but don’t worry—we’re saving our energy for later today.
If you’re new to Twitter, you might have wondered what the # in front of certain words or phrases mean, like #CollegeBound. This is a hashtag, which is Twitter’s way of making it easy for users to follow a specific topic. So no matter where you are in the Twitterverse, you can do a search for a specific hashtag and catch up with the conversation.
Once you sign up for an account on Twitter, you can stay on the site and tweet, but there are many other applications that make the experience tweeter, um, sweeter. Here are a few that we like to use:
Tweetdeck. Similar to a spreadsheet, but much cooler, Tweetdeck helps you keep track of many different topics and hashtags.
Tweetgrid. A no-frills way to follow several hashtags at once. We know you’ll love Twitter, which is why we’ve made a Tweetgrid that’s already set up for #CollegeBound.
Twitterberry. UberTwitter. Tweetie. Just some of the ways that you can stay in touch with Twitter on your Blackberry, iPhone, or other snazzy kind of smartphone.
Even if you don’t consider yourself tech savvy, you’ll find that Twitter and all its related applications are simple to use. Which is great, because when it comes to interacting with other cool people like yourself, who needs technology to get in the way?
Think of Twitter as a huge party where there’s room for everyone and you can actually hear what other people are saying over the music. If this sounds good, we’ll see you at 4 PM EST today. #CollegeBound gets you in the door!
–The CollegeBound Network
@CollegeBoundNet
May 24th, 2010
As a college-bound senior, you’ve probably established a daily habit of checking the mailbox on a daily basis for news from colleges. Now that you’ve been accepted to college, I’m sure there’s a fairly steady incoming stream of mail from your chosen school. While you should really open every envelope and read carefully the information your school is sending you, I’d like to point out three specific envelopes for which you should be on the lookout:
Health Insurance. Without question, YOU CANNOT BEGIN CLASSES WITHOUT PROOF OF HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE. Therefore, you MUST pay attention when the school sends you information regarding health insurance. When I was a student, this wasn’t a problem for me because I was covered by my parents’ insurance plans through their jobs. But now that many parents are, unfortunately, out of work, this also means that insurance coverage has probably been compromised for your family. If you are not covered under your parents or guardians, then you must purchase the plan offered by the school. So it’s not difficult to get the insurance, but you do have to remember to fill out the paperwork and provide payment so that you are indeed covered by the first day of classes.
Freshmen Orientation. In short, you don’t want to miss Freshmen Orientation. Why? Because it is a great introduction to your new campus and can do a world of good when it comes to getting rid of those pre-college butterflies. When I went to Wagner College, my freshmen orientation was held the weekend I moved in. Small colleges like Wagner can do this, but large universities, like Boston College, have ongoing orientations throughout the summer in order to break up the incoming class into smaller groups. Regardless of what your school does, make sure you a) register for Orientation and b) do everything in your power to be there. In addition to getting to know your campus, this is a great time to meet new people, including your roommate, so that you actually have friends on campus before you even start classes. So be sure to plan your summer jobs and/or vacation around the dates of your Freshmen Orientation. Hey, if busy actress Emma Watson was able to attend hers at Brown, I think you can attend yours!
Placement Exams. If your AP exam results don’t already place you in higher-level classes, then make sure you pay attention to any placement tests that you must take for certain core courses, such as writing, math, or foreign language. Schools usually make it quite convenient for you, offering exams during Freshmen Orientation or even online. You don’t have to study for them, but do make sure you take them. In college, time is of the essence, and you don’t want to waste time and tuition money in intro-level classes, where you risk being bored to tears because you already know the curriculum.
College is all about challenging yourself, but don’t let those challenges stem from the fact that you got behind on your college paperwork. Just as you did when you were applying to schools in the first place, try to keep your paperwork as organized as possible. While you might have struggled to organize a dozen schools’ worth of information just a few months ago, you now have just one college to contend with—your college.
–Barbara Bellesi
May 20th, 2010
Are you on Twitter? Do you enjoy tweeting with others who are looking at colleges or thinking about going back to school? Where do you start? What do you need to do? How can you navigate through all the resources and information out there? If there’s anything Twitter is good for, it’s to connect with others to tweet out the stress, the questions, the concerns, and then get the answers you need from those in the know.
Mark your calendars for The CollegeBound Network’s #CollegeBound chat, beginning Monday, May 24th at 4:00 p.m. EST. For a solid hour, you can hop onto Twitter, use and follow the #CollegeBound hashtag, and join the conversation. Joining us on our weekly Twitter.com chat forum will be other college-bound students of all ages, along with college admission reps, career experts, and current college students. #CollegeBound can hook you up with people who have “been there and done that” when it comes to college so that when it’s your turn to crack the books, you will be all set for an amazing college or career school journey.
We hope you’ll join us for our first #CollegeBound chat, “Preparing for College,” which will give you a sneak peek at researching schools, figuring out what path to follow, and getting your all your initial questions answered. And we won’t leave you hanging; each week will feature a new #CollegeBound chat that features a different college topic… Follow @CollegeBoundNet and @CollegeSurfing, and tune in on Twitter each Monday at 4 p.m. EST.
If you’ve got a college topic that you’d like to learn more about, tweet us @CollegeBoundNet and let us know what’s on your mind. And to unofficially RSVP to #CollegeBound, put your Twitter handle in the Comments below. And here’s a customized TweetGrid for you to use!
See you there!
WIN! Send this Tweet prior to the event, and you’ll be entered into a drawing for one of two $50 Amazon gift certificates:
Thinking about going back to school or worried about getting into college? Join #CollegeBound chat on Mon., 5/24 at 4 p.m. EST http://bit.ly/bETW5R (pls. RT)
May 18th, 2010
The “Survivor” finale aired Sunday night, and Sandra Diaz-Twine did it again – winning $1 million for a second season and beating fellow villains Russell and Parvati.
Although I was rooting for one of the heroes or one of my favorite villains like “Boston Rob” to win, I felt a little better about Sandra after seeing what she noted as one of her big accomplishments on the “Survivor” website: “Graduating from community college where I received an associate’s degree in business administration.” The school was Fayetteville Community College in North Carolina.
I’m not sure how much she learned in community college about outwitting, outlasting, and outplaying, but she joins other college-educated “Survivor” contestants and winners. In a way, contestants on reality shows like “Survivor” expose their colleges to potential students, but is it for the best?
Parvati Shallow graduated from my alma mater, the University of Georgia, in 2004, and when she won the $1 million prize in the “Survivor: Micronesia-Fans vs. Favorites” season, that got her a spot on some lists of famous alumni from the school. But getting this distinction by playing dirty and using sex appeal to win? It’s not the best perception that you want connected to your college.
Other contestants from this season also listed their collegiate connection. Stephenie LaGrossa, who I wished would have made it further in the competition, noted on the show’s website that her personal claim to fame is: “Being a three-time NEC (North East Conference) All-Conference selection, NEC Scholar/Athlete Award recipient and Female Athlete of the Year nominee in lacrosse at Monmouth University.” Rob Mariano, or “Boston Rob,” earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Boston University in 1999, and maybe what he learned when pursuing that degree might be part of the reason why it’s so fun to watch him play the game.
And probably one of the most famous survivors – in terms of TV success, at least – is Elisabeth Hasselbeck, the outspoken, award-winning, ultra-conservative co-host of “The View.” She graduated from Boston College in 1999 with a fine arts degree. Hasslebeck’s honors have included the Boston College Distinguished Alumni Award, and she’s got to give some of the credit to her TV career to her participation in “Survivor: The Australian Outback,” where she made it to the final four. While Hasselbeck didn’t stir up much controversy on “Survivor,” although she’s often in the midst of it now, most recently for her comments about Erin Andrews’ skimpy outfits while performing on “Dancing with the Stars.”
Hasselbeck and other public figures – including contestants on reality shows – may think their college years are behind them, but when you graduate from a school, your name is forever linked with that college or university. And in times of success or controversy, it may even influence how potential students perceive those schools.
–Lori Johnston
May 18th, 2010
It’s Monday! Woo hoo! Finally!
Was that convincing?
Seriously, even if you love your job like I do, Mondays are still ranked #7 when it comes to favorite days of the week. Which is why I completely understand that high school seniors who have already been accepted to college are already more or less on summer vacation—at least in their head, anyway. But the truth is there are several more weeks of class, and you need to push yourself just a little bit further to get through them.
Last week I blogged about the dangers of senioritis and how colleges across the country have been known to rescind admission should this “illness” get the better of you during your final semester. Boy, did that get a reaction. The blog was tweeted and retweeted on Twitter, and I even got a personal email from an admissions counselor thanking me for encouraging students to keep their game faces on until that final exam or paper is turned in.
The bad news is that colleges and universities can and will hold bad academic behavior against you. The good news is that this is completely avoidable and happens only in extreme cases. But if I can bring up some more bad news (it is Monday, after all), it’s that admission, while extreme, is not the only thing that is at stake for slackers. Scholarships, the icing on the cake that is college admissions, are even more vulnerable, and in my humble opinion, even more devastating to lose.
When I was a teacher, I knew a student who completely tanked during the final quarter of her senior year of high school and had her scholarship revoked by a competitive college that she had worked so hard to get into in the first place. To me, this would seem to hurt even more than having my admission revoked, because the college is basically saying, “You can still come to our school, but we no longer believe that you will be a good return on our investment.” Ouch.
This is no urban legend, folks. Ask any admissions or enrollment counselor to back my sad story up. I did for you: Jane F. Dessoye, executive director of enrollment management at Misericordia University in Dallas, PA weighed in on the topic of senioritis:
“There may be some financial ramifications to staying focused [during the final weeks of senior year],” she says. “The Scholarship Committee at Misericordia University, for instance, will revisit a student’s academic scholarship when the final transcript is submitted. In instances where a student’s grade point average improves from the time at which the scholarship was first offered, the scholarship may increase in value.”
Increased scholarship funds—good. Scholarship rescinded—very, very bad. So what’s a tired high school senior to do? Dessoye has some advice (juniors, take note, too):
- Stay motivated; maintain good study habits; develop a study schedule and stick to it.
- Take challenging coursework (e.g. AP coursework) that forces you to stay focused. If possible, take a college level course.
- Participate in extracurricular activities: continue your involvement in clubs, volunteer activities, athletics, etc.Consider a shadowing experience for the major in which you are interested.
- Reward yourself when your study goal is achieved!
Except for the “reward yourself” part, Dessoye’s advice involves work, as it should. Keep in mind that you have the summer to rest and rejuvenate, but for now, hard work has its benefits.
–Barbara Bellesi
May 17th, 2010
The Twitterverse is abuzz with ecstatic high school seniors who have heard back from their colleges and are getting ready to make plans for the fall. We hope you are one of them! Check out some of the more amusing tweets we’ve seen in the past few days:
@Lilypinkx Got into college wooohoo!
@maraudess Ahh I got into college =) YAY
@ShansWonkyDonky dude! I got into college!! *happy dance*
@KindlyUnspokenn was so excited that she tried to share her news with a certain Hollywood celebrity. Here’s what she tweeted to @KimKardashian: I got into college!!!! 
not that you would care! Lol. I’m just really excited! A reply would make my day even better!!!
We’re not a Karadashian, @KindlyUnspokenn, but we care. And we are excited along with you.
Over the next weeks and months, college-bound students will have countless questions and concerns about campus life next year. Juniors, you’re next in line, and we are gearing up for another round of college advice. So here’s our question: What can WE do for YOU? What are your most burning questions about college life?
Whether you find us on Twitter, leave a post on our Facebook wall, or simply leave a comment below, let us know what makes you excited/nervous/happy/confused about heading off to college and we’ll help you get through it.
–The CollegeBound Network
May 14th, 2010
Previous Posts
Our first #CollegeBound Twitter chat was a resounding success, and we’re pumped for our second on next week. Because of the Memorial Day holiday, we’ll be meeting on Twitter on Tuesday at 4PM EST instead of Monday, but after this week, we’re back to our regularly scheduled tweeting.
