Posts filed under 'Advice'
Your dream college may be looking at information about you on your Facebook page (24% percent of colleges said in a Kaplan Test Prep survey they do). So use social media to your advantage to find out information about the school you may be attending.
Here are 10 things you can learn from a college’s (official) Facebook page.
1. Campus happenings.
You’ll get a sense for big events on campus and what their student organizations are doing – it can be a big help as you try to envision what it may be like to be a college student at that school.
2. Big news.
From new majors to sports victories, you’ll find updates that show how this school is doing more for students and being successful, too. They’ll also have news about alumni – UCLA’s Facebook page, for example, congratulated 1990 graduate Alexander Payne who directed “The Descendants,” which won the Golden Globe for best drama in January.
3. Basic information.
If you’re touring a school and need the address for the GPS, it will be there. Or get directions, phone numbers, official website urls, and even a contact e-mail for more information.
4. Photos.
From shots of campus landmarks to student activities to sports teams, it’s a great place to see what this campus is like.
5. Videos.
Relive big moments or watch interviews with professors and students to learn more about the college.
6. Events.
Learn about events for prospective students and current students so you can plan a campus visit or tour.
7. Student activities.
In addition to information about student groups and activities being posted on the wall, you’ll find the “likes” section on pages like the one for Spelman College, a historically black college and university for females in Georgia, can have links to campus organizations, fraternities and sororities, and other school Facebook pages.
8. Other social media connections.
On the Facebook page, some schools will have listed their Twitter username, so you can follow them there, too.
9. Deadlines.
From application info to big dates throughout the year, some colleges have these details posted on Facebook
10. Answers to questions.
Students may post questions about activities, financial aid and tuition, majors, or other topic that you may be wondering about, too. The answers on Facebook show another way that schools are connecting with students and applicants today.
Those are some big reasons to add Facebook to your research when you’re looking at prospective schools.
February 6th, 2012
Want college success? Find a mentor.
Mentors can be students who are older than you, a minister or Rabbi, or your boss in a part-time job. But often you can enlist a professor to become your mentor, and it’s one of the reasons why class size (for your major) is important.
One of the best opportunities to find a mentor is in a smaller class where the instructor can get to know you.
My professor and mentor, Conrad Fink, a former foreign correspondent and executive for The Associated Press, inspired three decades of journalism students at the University of Georgia. He sadly died this month after battling cancer, but he taught me a lot. Among his lessons, I learned some of the key things you can look for when choosing a mentor.
Professor Conrad Fink (seated, left) sitting next to me when I was a student at the University of Georgia.
1. Respect.
Some students were fearful of Fink at first because of his gruff nature and intimidated in a way by his long history in the industry, where he covered wars and other major news events. In the small classes, you couldn’t hide from Fink and what he had to say about your writing, or avoid being questioned during class discussions. But any intimidation soon turned to admiration and a desire to make him proud of my accomplishments as a student and journalist.
2. An open door.
College professors will let you know about their office hours, and you’ll want to take advantage of that. With Fink, we could stop by to soak up his “war stories” or to get his thoughts on where he saw us finding our place professionally. I also noticed that former students always visited to catch up with him – it showed the special relationship he had with his students. I often stopped in, even when I wasn’t taking his classes. As an adjunct professor now at UGA, I appreciated my chats with him and was always hoping he would be proud of where I had taken my career.
3. A challenge.
He always pushed me to work harder and do better as a student journalist and after I graduated. In the days after his death, many of his former students have referred to one of his quotes: “The door is always open, the traps always set.” The mementos that lined his office walls, from photos to excuses why students couldn’t make it to class, also showed us that we needed to keep entertaining him and hold his interest.
4. A generous spirit.
When Fink got annoyed at his students, he showed it by kicking our desks or narrowing his eyes and trademark bushy eyebrows at us in frustration. But those actions showed me he cared about more than giving me a grade. He wanted me to mature as a person and as a journalist. His generosity was evident in how he provided opportunities for us to network with other journalists, and made it possible for us to attend industry events across the country. When I expressed interest in a certain area of journalism, he connected me with his brother who could provide insight. At the same time, when I backed out of an internship he helped set up for me for an opportunity at a magazine, I had to mend the relationship by letting him know I appreciated his help, but believed this was the right choice for me. (He still thought I was wrong, though, but he respected my decision.)
5. Relationship beyond the semester.
It will be rare for you to find a professor that you will keep in contact with after the semester is over, or after you graduate. But if you can find one person who will be there for you, they can provide amazing counsel as you mull job offers or take steps in your profession.
College gives you access to the best minds, but it’s up to you to seek a relationship that goes beyond your grade. Carving out a mentor relationship can be well worth the time and effort it takes, so give it a shot.
-Lori Johnston
January 23rd, 2012
Hey kids, it’s your friendly CollegeBound Network bloggers here. How ya feeling in this new year so far? By now, you probably have your college applications finished and submitted by now, and if not, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
Sorry, that’s what we’re here for. To give you some tough love about the college admissions process. We want to see you succeed in your college goals, and it if means we have to use our Caps Lock key every once in a while, we will.
Join us on Monday for our first #collegebound chat in 2012. We’ll dish about all the stuff that’s on college-bound students’ minds these days. See you there!
(And just to toot our own horns, the folks behind the Plan for College blog think we’re pretty cool! Thanks, guys!)
–The CollegeBound Network
January 6th, 2012
A lot of people like to get organized in January, and when you’re preparing to go to college, there are some key things students need to during the first days and weeks of the year, too. Maybe you’re already suffering from senioritis, or feeling overwhelmed by all the details required in the college application process. But take a deep breath and don’t let those gray winter skies (unless you are lucky enough to live in a state with perpetual sunshine) get you down. Instead, attack January with a new attitude looking to the future – graduating high school and going to college.
Remember all the school work you did during the fall? It may be a hazy memory for you, but many colleges want to look at your fall semester results as part of the college application process, according to CollegeBoard. One of the reasons for doing so is that colleges want to make sure you kept up your grades and didn’t drop any classes, so be proud of yourself if had a strong semester! And be sure to put this at the top of your to-do list: Ask your counselor to send your fall semester grades to colleges with your application in their hands.
As soon as Jan. 1 hits, you also can send in your application for federal aid for college, known as the FAFSA. Getting it in as soon as possible (and filled out CORRECTLY) is not just good for federal grant and loan money, but it will put you in the running for state- or school-based scholarships, grants, and loans, which can be granted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Submitting the FAFSA online also allows you to cut out any extra time it would take for your paperwork to be received.
Those are two big steps for high school seniors in January, and getting them done can make a huge difference when it comes to getting into the college of your choice and affording tuition next fall.
–Lori Johnston
January 2nd, 2012
Don’t you wish there were a Black Friday when it came to tuition and paying for college? You probably wouldn’t think twice about camping out to get discounted or free tuition or to get your books, dorm expenses, food, or other costs at a cheaper price.
We haven’t seen any colleges or universities giving Black Friday or holiday specials yet–in fact, it’s actually the opposite, with tuition at most schools on the rise. But federal financial aid is available, in the form of loans and grants that can ease the cost of college–not to mention make it a little easier to spend at holidays.
December’s the time to get started pursuing financial aid. Think of it like this: Working on your financial aid application now is just like planning ahead for that big Black Friday sale at Target, Best Buy, or Wal-Mart.
The chaos that is Black Friday.
So before you’re out of school for winter break, ask your guidance counselor for a copy of the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form, or you can pick one up at a local library or the financial aid office at a college in your town. Or just download the form. You can’t submit a FAFSA until after Jan. 1, but it’s a good idea to get a jump on that deadline by filling it out over your holiday break. Urge your parents to get a head start, too, by filing their taxes as soon as possible after Jan. 1; it will mean you can use the most accurate income info on the form (estimates can be used, if necessary) and make that priority deadline.
–Lori Johnston
December 8th, 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
November 15th, 2011
Is this what your Monday looks like?
Ours does, too.
If you’re a college-bound student, chances are that most days feel like Mondays to you. But since today is Monday, we think you should give yourself a break and join us at 4PM ET today on Twitter for our weekly #collegebound chat. Yes, we’re there most Mondays at 4, but today’s even more special, because we’ll be talking about the things that STRESS OUT OUT. More importantly, we’ll also be discussing ways to combat the stress that doesn’t involve harming stuffed animals or joining a fight club. See you then!
–The CollegeBound Network
November 7th, 2011
Students of all ages have been known to contract a case of the back-to-school jitters. Fear of the unknown can even lead to some serious pre-college stress. But take a deep breath — every fear has its foil….
Enter The CollegeBound Network! We may not have a cape or a stake to take to the heart of college admissions, but we are equipped with weapons of mass information!
After all, the more you know, the better off you are. (Just think about how the “smart” girls are the only ones to usually survive in all those horror films!)
Sign up now for our daily blog feed to arm yourself with the knowledge you need to ward off any college-bound evils, and then download our FREE guide to “Surviving the College Jitters!”
U. Got It? Get It! Good…
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
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