Archive for September, 2011
I had thought that National Louis University’s Groupon for a college course was pretty cool, but the news about Seton Hall University sort of blows it out of the water.
The New Jersey university is planning a two-thirds discount tuition incentive for early applicants who meet these outstanding qualifications: top 10% of their high school class and either a combined score of at least 1,200 on math and reading portions of SAT (no less than 550 on either) or an ACT score of at least 27. The discount currently equates to about $21,000 shaved off the tuition bill.
It gets even better: New Jersey residents have long enjoyed the in-state tuition rates of the state university, Rutgers, but this proposed discount evens out the two tuition bills. About 70 percent of Seton Hall’s undergrads hail from New Jersey, so that will make for a lot of happy students. But the happiness will extend outside the borders of the Garden State, too, because the price reduction will now make Seton Hall the less expensive option for out-of-state students when compared to Rutgers out-of-state rates.
The New York Times reports that Seton Hall is the first school to offer a tuition discount of this magnitude. Considering the amazing potential the school will have to amass a stellar incoming class next year, it only remains to be seen if other schools will follow suit.
I have young cousins who live in New Jersey and who are pretty darn smart. I can only hope they stay that way–and that Seton Hall’s policy stays this way, too.
–Barbara Bellesi
September 30th, 2011
A company called Escuchame (“Listen up!” in Spanish), which bills itself as “a virtual, global, bilingual Community of Smart Latinas,” has released a list of over 350 college scholarships for Hispanic and Latino students.
The list is worth its weight in gold if you’re a Latino or Hispanic college-bound student looking for ways to finance your education, but it’s free when you register (also free!) on Escuchame’s website. There, students will find the name, award amount, description, eligibility requirements, deadlines, and contact information for each of the scholarships; the list is also available in Spanish.
Deborah Aguiar-Velez, Escuchame’s co-founder and chief executive producer, decided to gather the scholarship information after speaking to many Latino students and their parents. “Everyone kept asking the same questions,” she says. “‘How can I afford to go to college? How can I compete for scholarships when I don’t even know what scholarships are out there?’ [Escuchame] knew we had to step up and fill this need.”
Escuchame plans to update the list regularly, so if you hear of a new scholarship, feel free to give them a heads up by emailing the team at escuchame@escuchame.org.
Co-founder and Chief Technical Officer Raquel Velez says, “People are spending hours online, looking for scholarships, when really they should be focusing on studying and applying to schools. Having a centralized list that’s freely available makes the whole process of finding money for college easier on everyone.”
Makes perfect sense to me. Buena suerte!
–Barbara Bellesi
September 28th, 2011
One of the things we love about college is that when it comes to style, you can be yourself. But on college campuses this fall, some students are getting attention for their unstylish garb. It’s not just students’ gossiping, but enraged football fans complaining about some of these fashion faux pas. That’s because certain college football players are wearing new Nike and Under Armour uniforms with questionable color combinations and non-traditional designs.
In their defense, these players have no choice – it’s the decision of the school to have them wear the new jerseys, pants and helmets, sometimes for one game, but possibly throughout the entire season.
U-G-L-Y This ain't got no alibi. It's ugly!
The buzz about these college football uniforms is bringing even more attention to longtime college football powerhouses and nationally ranked teams. Boise State (a rare all-white look), Georgia (some said they looked like Power Rangers), and Oklahoma State (especially the all gray ensemble) are among the schools whose new uniforms caused negative comments from fans. Others, like Navy, Army, and LSU have avoided the same type of outrage.
Whether people love the uniforms or hate them for being so ugly, we love that the furor over football fashion is giving more attention to schools like Maryland, which isn’t known for their football programs. Some thought Maryland’s odd garb (see photo above), with the helmets and jerseys split down the middle to reflect the state flag, looked like the colorful attire of the knights at Medieval Times – the joust-filled dinner venue. The uniforms – seen during a nationally televised game in early September – was just one of 32 different combinations from Under Armour, and more than a few spectators got dizzy looking at them.
Of course, one would hope that you’re not going to choose a school based on a football uniform or even how fashionable students are on campus. But consider the fuss over football uniforms as just one more way to learn about more schools and college life.
What do you think? Offensively ugly or much ado about nothing?
–Lori Johnston
September 22nd, 2011
Stop the insanity! If I have to hear about one more person’s nude photos getting “leaked” onto the Internet, I’m going to Super Poke my eyes out. (Which, by the way, I hear Facebook is thinking of getting rid of poking?)
I’m no Steve Jobs, but I do know a little bit about computers. And I know that when you delete something from your laptop or from Facebook, it’s never really gone. The same goes for cell phones. And the thing about hackers is that they enjoy hacking just about anyone’s cell phone. So while it’s embarrassing that Scarlett Johansson‘s personal photos ended up on websites all over the place, chances are we’ll forget all about it when she delivers her next incredible film performance.
For the rest of us “regular” folks, however, we need to be doubly careful. Sure, if my phone or computer gets hacked–not that I have incriminating photos on either of them, mind you–most of the world won’t know or even care. But the people I care about will be affected if I’ve gone and taken any stupid photos, and even more importantly, my actions could have a negative, lasting effect on my life. I could forever be known as “The girl who…” by everyone from my boss to my neighbor to my first grade teacher.
Really, the thought of it sends shivers up my spine.
Without an ounce of goody-two-shoesness in my tone, I’m telling all of you college students: Don’t be stupid. And if you are, keep it off of Facebook. And Twitter. And YouTube. There are currently too many “I told you so” lessons being taught right now, and unless you want to be the instructor of your own lesson, learn from other people.
–Barbara Bellesi
September 20th, 2011
As a kid, you learned to look both ways before you cross the street, and it’s a guideline that shouldn’t be ignored once you’re in college. But year after year, students on campuses across the country are injured or even killed in accidents while walking on campus. Sometimes it is the drivers’ fault, but there are cases when students get in the way of danger by jaywalking, being distracted while texting and walking, or losing their focus when running into a friend on a busy street.
Being safe on campus is not just something that students attending college in a city need to consider. On suburban and even rural campuses, there are so many things that could put you in danger – buses, bikes, cars, scooters, and even other students rushing to get to class on foot.
You may have searched safety on campus when you were applying to colleges, but government data about crimes doesn’t include the incidents that happen when students are hit by vehicles. Last year, a student at UConn was killed by a campus bus. At a lot of schools, current students can easily pick out spots where jaywalking is common, which could lead to injuries. The tragedies are so common that some schools, such as Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY have had guards monitoring crosswalks to prevent jaywalking.
Police at Valdosta State University in Georgia this month are giving $112 tickets to students and other caught jaywalking in an effort to make the roads safer, according to WCTV.
The University of Minnesota in April ticketed more than 120 people (the fees were $100) for jaywalking on campus. One student told a TV station: “For me, it’s changed the way I walk. I used to just go when there weren’t any cars. Now, I look both ways and make sure there are no cops around.”
We’re proud, just as you are, that you are attending college, and we want you to have a safe and wonderful experience on campus. So while you’re rushing to reach class on time, or are ready to get back to your dorm room or apartment, don’t let a lack of focus on the streets keep you from being safe while on campus.
–Lori Johnston
September 19th, 2011
Just when you think you got high school figured out, it’s time to start thinking about college. Many high school students are wasting no time at all and are starting their college search during their sophomore year.
A recent study by Eduventures finds that 42 percent of high school students start looking at colleges as early as the second year of high school. The Boston company quizzed about 11,000 high school juniors and seniors in the U.S. to get their results.
Starting early is not a bad idea. In fact, getting a jump start on discovering which colleges and majors are of interest to you and how much it could cost to attend can help relieve some of the college search stress during your last year of high school. So go ahead: start thinking about whether a community college, public university, or private college is best for you. And don’t forget: starting early gives you more time to visit schools.
But starting early doesn’t mean students are narrowing the choices down more. The survey found:
• Almost 20 percent of students are now applying to 10 or more colleges and universities. (That’s a LOT of application fees!)
• The mean number of applications for high school seniors increased from 6.3 to 7.3 since 2008.
At the start of your search, you may be lured by a college’s glossy brochure showing a picturesque campus and giving an enticing overview of the reasons that you would want to attend. But as students get closer to high school graduation, the survey found them relying more on websites to get information about schools. The survey also says something you might have already suspected: Social media outlets are becoming more common among juniors and seniors. In fact, a whopping 44 percent are using YouTube channels and 41 percent are using Facebook pages.
Did you start looking at colleges as a sophomore? How much have you relied on Facebook, YouTube and other social media in your college search?
–Lori Johnston
September 15th, 2011
Today, U.S. News & World Report released the 2012 edition of its always-anticipated, much-criticized college and university rankings. (I forgot to write it on my calendar, otherwise I would have baked a cake to celebrate.) But before you break out into your school’s fight song in honor of its being on the “it” list, or lament the fact that one of your choices didn’t make the cut at all, consider a few things:
Yawn. The Ivies always make the list. Do we really need a magazine to tell us that Harvard and Princeton are great schools? No. And I’m fairly certain that the admissions office at Yale isn’t exactly breathing a collective sigh of relief to know that the Bulldogs once again made the cut and that students will be applying this year, all because they are on the list as one of the best national universities. Tell us something we don’t know, for crying out loud…
The rankings are really just a bunch of lists that add up to….? It would be truly an accomplishment if there were one school that came out on the very top of a long, long list of colleges and universities across the country. It would then definitely earn the right to streak naked across its own campus screaming, “I’m the king of the world!” or something. But that’s not how USN&WR works, unfortunately. They divide colleges and universities into lists according to whether they are public or private, national or regional, big or small. Does this make for more manageable reading? Definitely, But depending on to which types of schools you’ll be applying, you won’t even pay attention to some of the lists. And there’s never enough room for all of the “good” schools that are on the list, which means…well, just keep reading.
Do NOT panic if your choice isn’t on the list. Again, there’s a formula at work here, and schools can slip up and down the list–as well as on and off–from year to year. Keep in mind that a good school will give you the proper education you need to succeed in life, but the other definition of “good school”–and a mighty important one at that–is that it is a good match for you.
So what exactly is the formula for these rankings? Don’t get me wrong: I love that both my undergraduate and graduate alma maters–Wagner College and Emerson College–made the list for top regional universities, but I don’t exactly know how they did it. And I don’t get much clarity from the explanation in the FAQs section of how USN&WR compiles their data. Hmm. Just what are the “16 areas related to academic excellence” anyway?
What do you think? Did you even know the rankings came out today, or did you stay up all night waiting for them to arrive like Santa Claus? Let us know what you’re thinking in the comment section below.
–Barbara Bellesi
September 13th, 2011
At last Princess Beatrice is in the news for something other than her questionable taste in fashion that was on display at her royal cousin’s wedding this summer: The 23-year-old daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson graduated from Goldsmiths College a BA Honors degree in history and the history of ideas.
Check out Bea with her proud parents. For royals, don’t they look normal?
For me, this news item evoked two reactions:
1. Even a mortarboard and tassel is better than that ridiculous Philip Treacy number.
2. What in the bloody heck is “the history of ideas”?
While I can’t even begin to explain the first one–though I am on the hunt for a Treacy replica as part of my Halloween costume this year–I have a much better shot at the second one, thanks to a quick visit to the Goldsmiths College website. The history and the history of ideas program is described as such:
This degree combines a broader study of history in general with a more specific focus on the nature of ideas and their role in history, their impact on the historical process, and their relationship to material and economic conditions, political power-structures, philosophy, art, religion, literature, science, and sexuality.
Bet you’re awake now with that last word, huh?
I was still a bit confused, and I thought maybe this was a program that got lost in translation as it traveled across the pond. But as it turns out, the University of Washington just happens to have had a program in Comparative History of Ideas for the past 30-odd years. The departmental website describes the program in this way:
By introducing students to the interrelation of ideas and society, Comparative History of Ideas demonstrates the need to consider intellectual problems from many perspectives. The goal of the program is to provide the tools of critical thinking to each student. The program hopes to engender an attitude of personal engagement and creativity within students. We encourage them to think for themselves, and to think critically about the world and the categories we use to understand it.
So, it’s a program that teaches critical thinking about . . . other people’s critical thinking? Still stumped, I checked out the course list for the upcoming year. Wow! It’s got classes in everything from feminist theory to media studies to animal ethics to…hip hop. OK, so the hip hop course still has be stumped, but overall, it sounds like like a really interesting program that probably required tons of research and writing. I definitely see how this program goes hand in hand with the history department–just not sure what type of career this might lead to for the royal graduate.
As it turns out, Princess Beatrice doesn’t really know, either. According to a spokesperson, Princess Beatrice will be taking on a series of internships to strengthen her skills in business and philanthropy. Brilliant.
–Barbara Bellesi
September 12th, 2011
As a New Yorker, I’m constantly reminded of the tragic events of 9/11. I live on Staten Island, and when I’m driving through the streets, I often see two sets of street signs: one for the official name of the street, and another memorial sign that displays the name of a 9/11 victim. American flags now fly from buildings, homes, and even cars at all times of the year, not just for the 4th of July. And of course, there’s that gaping hole in our iconic skyline, as well as in the hearts of everyone who lost loved ones that day.
We’ve got so many visual reminders of 9/11 in New York City on a regular basis that it’s easy for us to forget that the rest of the country mourned that day as well, and that they will be joining us to commemorate the 10th anniversary of that tragic day on Sunday. And we sometimes forget that they’ve been joined with us ever since that day and have created memorials all throughout the country.
Colleges and universities in particular have commemorated the victims and heroes of 9/11 in some very touching ways. Over the past decade, schools have planted trees, erected statues and monuments, and funded scholarships in the memory of 9/11 victims. Many schools will also be honoring the 10th anniversary of 9/11, including these schools:
The University of Denver will sponsor a “tolerance picnic” similar to what was held 15 days after 9/11. At the time, anti-Middle Eastern sentiments caused restaurants serving Middle Eastern cuisine to see a marked decrease in customers. The university’s chancellor at the time, Dan Ritchie, held a campus picnic that was catered by nine Middle Eastern restaurants in Denver. This unifying gesture will be repeated this year on September 12, when the dining halls will close for lunch so that the meal can instead be catered by Middle Eastern restaurants in the area. Additionally, a tulip tree stands near the Sturm College of Law in memory of 1996 law graduate Mari-Rae Sopper, who was a passenger on Flight 77 that struck the Pentagon.
Two alumni of Susquehanna University—Colleen Supinski ’96 and Chris Vialong ’93—were among those we lost a decade ago. In 2002, the university dedicated a memorial to them on campus. Since then, SU purchased a 124-pound piece of debris from Ground Zero, and it will be added to the memorial as part of a rededication ceremony on September 11.
At Roanoke College, the Sigma Chi house has a plaque in memory of Stephen LaMantia, who was one of the many Cantor Fitzgerald employees who died on the 105th floor of the World Trade Center’s North Tower. The fraternity also offers a scholarship in LaMantia’s name for Roanoke students “whose parents have died in the line of duty.”
Another Cantor Fitzgerald employee, Frank T. Aquilino, is memorialized with a scholarship at his alma mater, York College of Pennsylvania.
Matthew T. McDermott, an Eckerd College alumnus who perished when the towers fell, is honored by his alma mater with an annual golf tournament. This is a fitting tribute to McDermott, who was a passionate golfer, and the tournament has raised more than $150,000 in funds for an endowed scholarship in his name. The scholarship is awarded annually to a senior on the men’s and/or women’s golf team who has demonstrated leadership both on and off the golf course.
The University of Rochester is home to the Jeremy L. Glick Memorial Scholarship. Glick was one of the brave people aboard Flight 93 who helped thwart attempts to crash that plane into the U.S. Capitol. Glick was a member of Alpha Delta Phi fraternity, and so the scholarship in his name is awarded to students in fraternities or sororities demonstrating financial need.
Please share in the comments section any of the other countless ways in which colleges and universities honor the victims of 9/11.
–Barbara Bellesi
September 9th, 2011
We’ve had some very wet weather in the New York this week, and I have to say I’m very glad to be tucked away in my office instead of trekking across a soggy campus. It was never fun for me to do so when I was a student, and I can’t imagine it’s a barrel of monkeys now. However, college girls have one thing that I didn’t have: RAIN BOOTS.
When I was in college, if you walked around in the rain with anything else but an umbrella and maybe one of those pullover windbreakers, you’d most likely get ribbed by everyone, including the professors. But now, wearing knee-high boots is not only a practical thing to do, but it’s also really cool. And with so many designs to choose from, you have a good chance of picking one that is uniquely suited to your style and personality. Take a look at some of these (all available at Target, by the way):
The Biker Boot
What it says about you: You can be edgy AND have dry feet.
Who wears it best?: Theatre majors
The Camouflage Boot
What it says about you: You’re ready for anything, though you can always hide in a trench if necessary.
Who wears it best?: Student athletes
The Hello Kitty Boot
What it says about you: You are as girly as they come.
Who wears it best?: Cute sorority girls
The Urban Boot
What it says about you: You really, really, really heart NYC.
Who wears it best?: Anyone but a New Yorker
The Old-School Boot
What it says about you: You enjoy letting your inner child out to play in the puddles.
Who wears it best?: Elementary education majors
The Fire-Engine Red Boot
What it says about you: You are confident and have lots of friends, who are now able to spot you from across campus.
Who wears it best?: Club presidents
The Argyle Boot
What it says about you: You are preppy and don’t care who knows it.
Who wears it best?: Spectators at college polo or crew meet, preferably wearing a string of pearls and a sweater tied around the shoulders.
The Plain Black Boot
What it says about you: You are practical, and this boot will coordinate with every outfit you own.
Who wears it best?: Accounting majors
What do you think? Leave a comment if you agree with my choices or would prefer to give this post the, uh, boot.
–Barbara Bellesi
September 8th, 2011
Previous Posts
I had thought that National Louis University’s Groupon for a college course was pretty cool, but the news about Seton Hall University sort of blows it out of the water.
