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We’re back with one of our favorite recurring blog topics! Take a look at some of the interesting, thought-provoking, or just plain silly things that college-bound students are tweeting about these days:
–The CollegeBound Network
Add comment November 30th, 2011
Add comment November 23rd, 2011
College students can’t wait for Thanksgiving break, a time to reunite with family and friends and take a break from school. Sleeping, watching movies, eating home-cooked meals … it’s all part of the plan.
You’ll likely be experiencing those same things next year, as a freshman in college heading home for the holidays. But if you see what’s been happening at colleges and universities all month – before students left for their break – there’s a big focus on giving back. From traditional volunteer activities, such as making meals for the homeless, to more unique efforts, here’s a look at some schools where the students took time to give back.
Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
During “Turkeypalooza,” Wake Forest students, faculty, and staff volunteer to cook Thanksgiving meals on campus and deliver them to area non-profit groups.
Wake Forest students at last year's Turkeypalooza.
Adelphi University, Garden City, NY
Students whip up some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to donate to a local soup kitchen. The school’s community service organization, C.A.L.I.B.E.R., make 231 PB&Js alone during the month of November. Students belonging to Greek organizations on campus participate in the soup kitchen’s adopt-a-family program, whose goal is to create Thanksgiving meals for 11 families.
Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI
Members of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity recently picked up bags of groceries left on doorsteps by giving families, collecting 6,000 pounds of food for a food pantry that assists poor seniors who live alone.
Creighton University, Omaha, NB
An annual Thanksgiving dinner hosted by the school’s Freshman Leadership Program raises money to benefit Precious Memories, a non-profit focused on children. Each year, the dinner raises about $2,000.
McDaniel College, Westminster, MD
During National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness week (Nov. 12-21), the school’s Social Work Action Team (SWAT) participates in a variety of activities that include collecting donations during a healthy food drive at a football game.
Chestnut Hill College, Philadelphia, PA
CHC is one of the colleges that participates in the Philly community’s Empty Bowl Dinner, which raises money for the Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network to provide food and shelter to homeless families. Students help during the dinner in a variety of ways, such as serving soup and clearing tables.
Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Students’ annual Give Some Warmth drive collects new or gently used mittens, hats, and scarves.
Western New England University, Springfield, MA
The school’s United & Mutually Equal Club (U&ME), a multicultural group, holds an annual Children’s Holiday Party for more than 200 preschoolers, who each get a free gift from Santa and participate in activities such as face painting, music, and storytelling.
Washington & Jefferson College, Washington, PA
For Homelessness and Hunger Week, students volunteer for the Fall Food Share at a local grocery store, asking shoppers to collect specific items to be donated to the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank. They’re also participating in “Bean Bags to Bag Hunger,” a corn toss competition to benefit a local food bank.
Purchase College, SUNY, Purchase, NY
Students in two residence halls have organized two events: a winter clothing drive to collect hats, gloves, scarves, and sweaters, and a food drive for a local food bank.
Wow! That’s a lot of good work being done on college campus, and it’s just a small snapshot of how students are giving back around the country. If you’re already involved in activities like this in high school, it’s great to see that there’s the opportunity to continue to help others when you head off to college.
–Lori Johnston
Add comment November 23rd, 2011
Yesterday, The CollegeBound Network had one of the most entertaining hours in the history of our #collegebound Twitter chat (cohosted by the great people at Parliament Tutors, by the way). The topic was the SAT vs. ACT debate, and we had more than a few laughs.
How can test prep be so entertaining, you ask? Well, when you get a great conversation going and add some slap-happy people to the mix (it is a short holiday week, after all!), mirth and mayhem ensue!
Our good Twitter friend @akilbello started the trend of funny analogies. You won’t find these on the SAT or ACT, but they are a reminder that you need to keep your sense of humor as you study for entrance exams. Enjoy!
More laughs from @akilbello:
SAT is to ACT as McDonalds is to Burger King
ACT Science is to Science as Chicken McNuggets are to Chicken
SAT is to college admissions as gold fronts are to dating
From @MEFATweets
Tests are to grades as hamburger is to Angus Deluxe Bacon & Cheese
We got in on the act with this one:
Bad test taker is to SAT as Nicki Minaj is to walking in high heels. (AMAs reference)
… and we added a few more today.
Skipping breakfast is to taking SAT as empty gas tank is to road trip.
Oxygen is to survival as #2 pencils are to answer grid.
Taking the ACT is to taking the SAT as annoying is to annoying.
Yes, these tests are a necessary evil of the admissions process. It helps to laugh about it, though, so add your own fun analogy below. Better yet, join us next Monday at 4pm ET as we tackle a new college-bound topic!
–Barbara Bellesi
1 comment November 22nd, 2011
Today’s guest post comes from one of the friendly tutors at Parliament Tutors. Want to ask a question or clarify a point? Join us today for our #collegebound Twitter chat, which will be cohosted by Parliament Tutors!
An important item on the college-bound student’s preparation checklist is the decision to take the ACT or the SAT (or both.) Fortunately, there are factors to consider that will help to make this decision process easier:
The Obvious Choice
Most importantly, students need to know the admissions requirements for the college(s) they are hoping to attend. Although most schools will accept either test, a few schools will only accept one or the other. This information may help make your decision very easy. If you know the schools’ preferred college entrance test, you’ll make the correct choice.
Note: Some top universities will require up to three SAT Subject Tests (SAT II) if you choose the SAT route. For the ACT, the test is offered in two versions: with writing and without. Many top schools will require that you take the test with writing, which again is something to research with your school’s admission office before signing up for your test.
If your schools alternate between requiring the SAT and ACT, be sure to sign up for both.
Narrowing it down
Let’s say your school(s) don’t have a preference–now what do you do? Let’s look at the characteristics of the tests to see which test is a better fit for you. Choosing which of these two tests is right for your skills and study habits can increase your likelihood of scoring high enough for the top universities, as well as make the standardized testing process much less stressful.
Test Purpose
The intention of both the ACT and the SAT is to measure what students have learned in high school courses. This difference is reflected in the types of questions asked and what is expected of the student’s test taking abilities.
The SAT is an aptitude test, meaning that it is testing ability, rather than learned information. The test questions are designed to determine knowledge through the student’s capability to think through the question to get the answer.
The ACT is more of an achievement test, meaning that it is testing information that has been learned. The ACT measures knowledge with direct, clear-cut knowledge testing questions.
Think about your high school experience. Which classes had tests that fit these testing styles? How did you do? Spending some time reflecting on your high school testing experiences is a wise step in making this important decision.
SAT and ACT score comparison
Test Characteristics
There are differences in the characteristics of the SAT and ACT that could make a difference to you as a test-taker and should be taken into consideration when making your choice.
● ACT questions tend to be more straightforward
● SAT has a stronger emphasis on vocabulary
● ACT tests more advanced math concepts
Test the Test
Before you buy a car, you take a test drive to make sure the vehicle meets your needs. You can do this with the college admission tests, too.
Both tests offer pretest options (see chart below.) By participating in these pretests, you can get a realistic first-hand idea of how each test works for you. You will get the feel for the testing experience and what to do with the results. Results from the ACT and SAT can be compared; although they are scored differently, there are comparison charts that provide equivalency information. (SAT-ACT Concordance Tables)
Additionally, there are online sites with sample tests characterizing the ACT and SAT. Although the testing environment is not the same as that of a testing center, a student can gain some understanding for the feel and character of the tests by taking these practice tests.
Yes, this is a big decision, but it does have a default answer, if needed. If the colleges on your wish list do not have a preference and if these characteristics and strategies don’t help you with your decision, simply take both tests and cover all your bases. Good luck to you in your college admission process!
Anne N. is a SAT Tutor for Parliament Tutors in Des Moines, IA. Parliament Tutors offers private tutoring and test preparation for all subjects and standardized tests. Check Anne’s recent article, “Whether to Retake the SAT or ACT?”
1 comment November 21st, 2011
Our hearts are with the Oklahoma State University community today as it mourns the loss of women’s basketball team coach Kurt Budke and assistant coach Miranda Serna. Both were on a recruiting trip and were killed when their single-engine plane crashed near Perryville, Arkansas.
Also killed in the crash were pilot Olin Branstetter, a former Oklahoma state senator, and his wife, Paula. There were no survivors.
Oklahoma State’s president Burns Hargis was quoted at a news conference: “This is our worst nightmare. The entire OSU family is very close, very close indeed. To lose anyone, especially these two individuals who are incredible life forces in our family, it is worse beyond words.”
–Barbara Bellesi
Add comment November 18th, 2011
By now, you probably already know if you thrive on stress in school, and if so, going to a college known for being a stressful environment is perfectly OK with you.
If your personality doesn’t handle stress well (with results ranging from stomach aches to depression), considering the stress level at a college could be really important in your college search. A school’s competitive environment is something to look into as you weigh other factors, like tuition, before sending in an application. Your choice may be a prestigious school, but a pressure-filled one, too.
Not surprisingly, costly private schools top a 2011 list of most stressful colleges. At the top is Columbia University in New York City, followed by Stanford University in California, and Massachusetts’ Harvard University (first in The Daily Beast’s competitiveness rank and acceptance rate rank).
The 50 schools on the list got the highest rankings in categories that the American College Health Association finds contributes to stressful college campuses: tuition, acceptance rate, overall academic competitiveness, crime, and the difficulty of its academic programs.
From the moment you send in that college application, stress can rise. But it could be even greater for students applying to schools on the list, since so many high school seniors want to get into those universities.
Is a college’s stress-inducing environment something you’ve considered during your college search or should consider? Let us know in the comments section below!
–Lori Johnston
2 comments November 15th, 2011
Comedians are known for finding humor in virtually everything, which is why it’s refreshing to see both “The Daily Show” and “Saturday Night Live” take the high road with the Penn State scandal.
Check out what Jon Stewart had to say about Penn State:
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Penn State Riots | ||||
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And look at Jason Sudeikis’ funny bit during “Weekend Update.” I’m giggling, but there’s a serious message here:
When comedians aren’t finding any humor in the situation, you know it’s bad. Join me at 4PM ET today on Twitter to discuss the Penn State scandal.
–Barbara Bellesi
Add comment November 14th, 2011
I’ve been trying to figure out all week how to best write about the Penn State sex abuse scandal. As a higher education blogger, it’s natural for me to focus what the allegations hold in store for the future of the university; however, in doing that, I realize that I am not focusing on what should be the bigger picture: the alleged victims of football coach Jerry Sandusky’s horrible misdeeds.
College football is a kind of religion to some people, and I can understand the fierce loyalty that students, alumni, and fans feel for Joe Paterno, head coach of Penn State’s Nittany Lions. At the same time, if allegations are true, then Paterno is indeed very much at fault for not reporting the sexual abuse to the police. Penn State itself is certainly acting as though they are true, and Paterno, as well as college president Graham Spanier, have been dismissed for participating in the coverup.
Coach Joe Paterno with Penn State football players.
Penn State is obviously a sports-minded university. But it is, first and foremost, a university. The majority of students who attend Penn State do so to get an education. In that light, the football team is a very small part of the school as a whole. Which is why it’s so terrible that the school’s 156-year-long legacy is being so tarnished right now.
I’d like to think that coverups of this magnitude are not the norm; that we will not see a rash of similar allegations on campuses across the country, in a similar way to what happened with the Catholic Church sex abuse crisis. Therefore, if I were a student entertaining the idea of attending Penn State in the fall, I might seriously reconsider my application.
Penn State’s executive vice president and provost, Dr. Rodney Erickson, said in a statement posted on the school’s website: “This is one of the saddest weeks in the history of Penn State.” This might be true–but it’s nothing compared to the emotions felt by the abuse victims and their families.
–Barbara Bellesi
1 comment November 11th, 2011
When you’re on a campus tour, be sure to check out for yourself all the spots where college students spend time studying. Some stake their claim in spots for hours, preparing for big tests or writing major papers, while others grab theirs for just a few minutes to cram before a test.
Here are 11 spots where you’ll find college students studying – and you may be joining them soon!
1. Outside on the quad
On sunny days, students gravitate outside to soak up some rays while hopefully also soaking up some knowledge. Nice grassy spots on campus, at your school’s intramural fields, or at local parks or nature trails help you make an afternoon of studying. Bring along a picnic and a Frisbee for (hopefully short) study breaks.
2. Bars
Before the music gets blaring at bars and clubs near campus, some students chill out midday with a textbook or their laptops. Some are 18 and up; others are 21 and up. Beverages and food are available, and some students of legal age choose to study with a beer or glass of wine, too.
3. Libraries
At your college, you’ll quickly learn which libraries are most conducive for studying and which ones are best for socializing. At some schools, even certain floors of a library have no-talking zones, while others are open to groups who need to discuss class notes or information for class projects. If you need to get some intense studying done, look for the libraries where graduate students hang out, like a school’s law library, and see if they allow undergraduate students in.
4. Gyms
Working out can be a great stress reliever, and it’s common to see students on treadmills and elliptical machines with reading materials or homemade flash cards in hand. If you’re into weights, reading a few pages also is a way to take a break between sets.
5. On the job
Some jobs in college offer environments where, when there’s no customer or work assigned by your employer, you can hit the books. Maybe it’s working at the library, a movie theater, or checking IDs at a dining hall.
6. Coffee shops
You may already be doing this as a high school student, but coffee shops remain one of the most popular spots for studying while in college. The java keeps flowing while you learn, and there’s often free wireless Internet access. But beware – it can be costly choice for endless lattes or frozen coffee drinks, so think about your budget. Also, seating can be limited, especially near all-important outlets for laptops.
7. Student centers
Although some student centers are tempting environments, with movie theaters, eateries, and video game and pool rooms, they also offer plenty of seating and big tables for studying, as well as rooms you and your study partners can reserve. Some student centers are open 24 hours a day, particularly during finals week.
8. Your dorm room
Sometimes you just want to stay put. So close the dorm room door, get away from Facebook, don’t worry about finally cleaning or making the bed, and see how much you can get done. Your dorm also may have study rooms for you to get away, if your roommate is keeping you from focusing on school, but make sure it’s not a party scene in those rooms.
9. Vacant classrooms
Some buildings keep their classrooms open for studying, even after class is over. Just make sure you’re allowed to be in the rooms before setting up for studying.
10. Near your professor’s office
Especially a good idea if you need help on an assignment, park yourself outside your professor’s office or in a study room nearby, timed when the professor has office hours.
11. Memorial gardens
Some campuses have designated gardens, chapels, and cemeteries in memory of former students and faculty. Although it may seem morbid, the spaces are created for reflection. So the more quiet, reserved settings are spots where studying happens too, especially since there’s often benches or seating.
–Lori Johnston
1 comment November 10th, 2011
Follow our smart and savvy CBN bloggers as they guide you through every step of your quest to find the right college. Whether it’s figuring out that FAFSA, making sense of the SAT, or simply dishing gossip about celebrity smarty pants, they’ve got you covered. But be warned—these bloggers are fully caffeinated and know how to use their social media powers for both good and evil! So, whaddya’ say — do they get an A+?
