Posts filed under 'Advice'
When I was making my college decision, I visited Athens, Georgia with my dad and knew the University of Georgia was the spot for me.
It wasn’t just about what degrees the school offered or its reputation in academic and athletics; I fell in love with the vibrant, pedestrian downtown that was just across the street from campus. It had trendy shops, small local restaurants, and clubs and music venues that hosted so many popular bands that Rolling Stone called it the #1 college music town.
You’ll find cities with colleges and universities among those of Kiplinger’s Best Cities for 2009, which looks at factors such as job stability and growth. These and other kinds of “best cities” lists are worth looking at as you consider where you’re going to call home during your college career.
Athens, home to the University of Georgia, comes in at #5 on the list and had 34,180 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in fall 2009.
The top city on the list – Huntsville, Alabama–offers students the University of Alabama at Huntsville, a research-intensive institution with 10,000 students.
Washington D.C. – #3 on the list – boasts more than 15 schools surrounding our country’s center of government. They range from Georgetown University to Howard University to American University to theological seminaries and smaller community colleges.
At #8, Austin, Texas, also has a collegiate atmosphere and a happening music scene, as host of the annual South by Southwest music festival. It’s also home to one of the largest public universities in the U.S. – the University of Texas at Austin – which has a staggering amount of students, nearly 50,000.
Madison, Wisconsin, #7 on the list, also boasts another large state university, the University of Wisconsin-Madison with 42,030 students.
Another school I considered – University of Virginia, with 21,057 students – is in Charlottesville, Virginia, which comes in at #4 in Kiplinger’s list. In Olympia, Washington, The Evergreen State College attracts about 4,600 students annually. #2 on the list, Albuquerque, New Mexico is home to The University of New Mexico, which had a record enrollment of 34,674 students enrolled at its campuses in fall 2009. Flagstaff, Arizona at #9 offers schools such as Northern Arizona University, and North Carolina State University is in Raleigh, N.C., #10 on the list.
For me, the town atmosphere and setting was a plus in making my college decision. It could be for yours, too.
–Lori Johnston
November 3rd, 2009
If you are in the midst of a college search, you’ve probably got about a half million facts and figures running through your head. Some people might be founts of information when it comes to sports stats, but you instead are able to recite on command a host of enrollment figures, average SAT scores, and admission rates.
One figure that you might have come across in your careful research is the student-faculty ratio. A very important figure on any campus and a source of pride for many colleges and universities, the student-faculty ratio is a good indicator of what your academic life will be life at the school of your choice—that is, if you know how to look at it correctly.
The student-faculty ratio should not be confused with class size, but unfortunately, many students do just that. Rather, a student-faculty ratio is an equation of how many students are on campus in relation to how many faculty members there are at a given time. For example, if a college says that they have a 12-1 student-faculty ratio, this means that for every 12 students on campus, there is currently one faculty member. However, this does NOT mean that all of your classes will have 12 students in them. Large universities that boast low student-faculty ratios are particularly confusing, since chances are good that you will walk into a lecture hall for an intro class and be greeted by a hundred other students.
There’s no doubt that a low student-faculty ratio is desirable. A low ratio means that a college or university is working diligently to ensure that there is enough faculty on hand to teach both required courses and higher-level electives in their programs and that class size, particularly as you get further into your major, is kept at a minimum.
But again, the ratio can be misleading. Colleges often count part-time adjuncts into the mix, and at many colleges, adjuncts comprise a large number—if not the majority–of the faculty. This is nothing against part-time faculty, of course, but when you research a college, it’s important to remember to consider how many tenured faculty are on campus. Since adjuncts are often paid meager salaries and are not eligible for tenure, colleges look to them to fill in the gaps for low-level classes, leaving the published and more experienced profs to teach the upper-level curriculum.
However misleading, the student-faculty ratio is still the best figure for quantifying academic life, as average class size can be even more confusing. After all, it is possible to be one of 200 in a lecture hall and then one of only 10 in an advanced seminar; between these two numbers, the average class size is 105, which is not true!
While schools large and small like to flaunt their low student-faculty ratios, beware of the schools that don’t make this info readily available—it could mean a high ratio. While a high student-faculty ratio isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker, it is something that should weigh in on your decision, since this could mean a shortage of classes each semester or, worst-case scenario, a possible termination of smaller, less popular academic programs.
Learning about a school’s facts and figures are a great way to get a snapshot of what campus life is like, but—and we know you’ve heard this before—there’s nothing better than seeing it for yourself. When you call to schedule a campus visit, ask about sitting in on a freshmen class to see what it’s like for yourself before you make your final college decision.
–Barbara Bellesi
October 26th, 2009
Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander, a former University of Tennessee president, is bringing the idea of three-year degrees back into the news with this week’s column in Newsweek.
As a parent of a 3-year-old, I’m already dreading how much it’s going to cost to send my son to college and applaud any plan to cut those expenses, which will continue to escalate. From a financial standpoint, the idea of three-year degrees, which a College Bound previously pointed out is already offered by some schools, has some merit.
But one benefit of the four-year degree is that it benefits self-starters and highly focused students as well as those who are lacking direction during their first couple of years in college.
Some students are able to gain duel degrees or even start working on post-graduate work with the four-year scenario, allowing them to squeeze every drop out of their college career. Others arrive from high school unsure of a career focus and it takes time for them to determine their major or to develop a passion in a particular area.
Packing a college education into three years also could hinder opportunities to study abroad, and some schools have significantly increased those programs in the past decade. I’ve seen students travel around the world, to destinations as varied as England, China, Italy, and Antarctica, and come back not only with new relationships, but also a more worldly view that aids them in their studies and career paths.
Most students I know already don’t pursue internships until between their junior and senior years, and the possibility of losing out on those opportunities could be harmful upon graduation in the form of closed job doors. Those experiences are crucial, I believe, to getting hired and being competent to handle the first year in a career.
Alexander advocates steps such as making summer classes mandatory as ways that would enable students to graduate earlier. As I see college students stress about their weekly load of tests and projects, I fear that being forced to go to school year-round could lead to burnout. They need those breaks, even though as a working professional, I’m envious about those long naps and the possibility of even just a week of nothing to do but watch movies or read.
The three-year degree’s financial benefits are obvious, but to reach to that point, more would need to be done, starting as early as the middle school and high school level. The main question is how to get students focused on their careers earlier so that they enjoy a fun but knowledge-filled college education that sets them on a professional path earlier than their parents, siblings and bosses.
–Lori Johnston
October 22nd, 2009
Car companies slash prices. Clothing designers offer discounts. Restaurants offer two-for-one deals. It seems that when it comes to spending your hard-earned money, there are a lot of deals out there to help you save more.
Except, of course, when it comes to college.
Here’s something you’ll never see: Bachelor’s Degree ½ off! Or: Buy A Degree and Get a Master’s for Free! In fact, colleges are doing the exact opposite of slashing prices—they keep on raising them. And because students recognize the value of a college education, they’ll pay the price—however high it might go.
The Washington Post reported today that public universities raised their fees by 6.5 percent and private schools upped theirs by 4.4 percent. Granted, colleges are allowed to accommodate for inflation, and a degree from a public college is still a great bargain at twice the price, but that doesn’t do anything to eliminate the sting of these increases.
Unless you’ve got the cash in the bank to cover your whole college bill in the first place, students rarely pay tuition in its entirety. Scholarships, grants, and other financial awards do their part to chip away at the monstrous debt, but most students have resigned themselves to the fact that they will have monthly loan payments for years after graduation.
Aside from winning the lottery or being adopted by Madonna, there’s not much else you can do to avoid the cost of higher ed. Some schools are taking pity on their students and are introducing three-year degree options, but others, like Harvard, will always have a mile-long wait list no matter how high the price goes—and it will continue to go higher.
Has the rising price of college made you rethink your academic goals? Let us know.
–Barbara Bellesi
October 20th, 2009
Good news for those of you looking to become a teacher in the next few years: the Department of Education will be looking to hire an estimated 1.7 million new educators by the year 2017.
It’s nice to see encouraging employment numbers in the midst of a recession, isn’t it?
What is less encouraging is the reason for the teacher shortage. Not only are baby boomers retiring from the classroom in droves, but new teachers are also being driven away from the profession by low salaries. There’s no doubt that when it come to professional careers, teachers are at the lower end of the payscale, but ask any veteran teacher why they continue, and they’ll tell you that their interaction with the students is what keeps them coming back year after year despite a paltry paycheck.
A new website, MyTeacherMyHero, has been launched to honor teachers for a job tremendously well done and to educate those who are thinking of becoming teachers. The site features videos of individuals expressing their thanks for a special teacher who has been an inspiration in their lives. MyTeacherMyHero is sponsored by MAT@USC, the very first Master of Arts in Teaching program that is solely online and is offered through the prestigious University of Southern California’s Rossier School of Education.
Anyone can upload a video, but the first round of videos features some pretty big names from various industries. Craig Newmark, the brains behind Craigslist, is one video to check out, as well as the ones starring musician Sean Paul, HBO President Sue Naegle, and Habitat for Humanity CEO Jonathan Reckford.
I’m thinking of posting a video message for my all-time favorite English teacher, Eileen Finn. While she couldn’t possibly predict when she taught me in 7th grade that I’d be a blogger, she did encourage my writing, and for that, I’m very thankful.
–Barbara Bellesi
October 19th, 2009
Students could be getting the shaft in health care reform.
The bill approved earlier this week by the Senate Finance Committee has some people, including the American College Health Association, worried that it leaves out college-sponsored student health insurance plans. The ACHA says the bill’s language is unclear and ambiguous about how the college-sponsored plans should be treated.
The group has asked Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), the committee’s chairman, to make clear that nothing in the proposed legislation is intended to preclude or inhibit the continuance of those student health insurance plans and that colleges will retain the ability to mandate comprehensive coverage levels for their students.
If not, it says 9 million college students could be impacted.
Some college students I know are dealing with the swine flu, seasonal flu, or other illnesses that threaten to keep them away from classes or add to the stress of writing papers and studying for exams. Some experiencing sickness at school for the first time have the extra frustration of figuring out if they have insurance, what it covers, and where they can seek treatment.
While we wait to see what happens with health care reform and the impact on students, go ahead and investigate what your insurance situation is like now, or what you may need to do if entering college next year.
• Check if your school offers insurance plans for students at subsidized rates. Data shows that 71 percent of four-year private schools and 82 percent of four-year public institutions offer student insurance plans, according to a March 2008 Government Accountability Office report. You may already be paying for insurance, but take a look at the plan before you seek treatment from a doctor that may not be covered and incur a big expense. Those plans typically cover treatment at a university health center.
• Ask if you are covered as a dependent under your parents’ health plan.
You may have certain requirements to fulfill, in terms of credit hours. And the plan may not cover certain physicians in the town in which you are attending school.
• See if your employer offers health insurance. This could depend on the number of hours you work or your time on the job, but it could be a smart option to get affordable coverage.
College and university students comprise about 10-12 percent of the nation’s 45.7 million uninsured U.S. residents, according to a report by Aetna Student Health using GAO data. About 37 percent of uninsured young adults were carrying medical debt, as of 2007 data.
There’s enough financial pressure during college to have to worry about mammoth doctor’s and hospital bills as well. We’ll have to see what changes health care reform brings about, but there are ways to pursue getting coverage until then.
–Lori Johnston
October 15th, 2009
The traditional college freshman is 18 years old. But here at The CollegeBound Network, we are declaring shenanigans on the idea of what is “traditional.” In fact, I am going to pretend this blog is a mountaintop, and I’m going to shout out this message:
YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD TO GO TO COLLEGE.
Maybe you decided to work a few years before heading off to college. Perhaps you have a child who is in college. You might even have a grandchild who is in college. Age is a state of mind, 
and when it comes to enriching your mind, you are simply never too old to study for your college degree.
Colleges have enough tradition as it is. From fight songs to crazy mascots to secret fraternity and sorority handshakes, rest assured that a college’s long and illustrious history will not be tarnished when a non-traditional student arrives on campus. Many of the oldest colleges and universities pride themselves on having vibrant and diverse campus populations, which means that they will be more than happy to welcome older students. (And by older I mean wiser, more mature individuals who are focused on college and are eager to grow personally and professionally).
While it may seem hard to return to school after an absence from the classroom, non-traditional students actually have the upper hand on campus. Whether you’ve been away from school for two years or 22, the hiatus has allowed you to reflect on what you want out of life and how college can get you there. And since you are most likely financing your own education, chances are you’ll want to benefit from every dollar you spend by showing up at every class, ready to squeeze every drop of wisdom possible from your professors and fellow classmates.
Consider Nola Ochs, the 90-something woman who earned her degree after taking one class at a time for years. Or Ken Mink, the 73-year-old who not only returned to college, but also to the college basketball court. These students made headlines, but there are many more non-traditional students who are forging a new tradition of their own by breaking down the age barriers in the classroom.
Think you might be ready to stage your own comeback? In the upcoming weeks, check out our sister blog, CollegeSurfing, for some inspiring stories of adults returning to college.
–Barbara Bellesi
October 13th, 2009
If you are like most students, figuring out how you’re going to foot the bill has become even more important than deciding which college you will attend. But should your impending tuition bill be the ultimate factor in your big decision?
It is true that college is one of the best investments you’ll ever make—if not THE best. But that doesn’t mean that you have to wind up in the poor house while you wait for that investment to mature. Here are a few important questions to consider as you make your decision:
What is your major? Don’t panic. It’s OK if you have no idea what you want to study. But for those of you who do, make sure you take your future career aspirations into consideration. Want to be a business major? Well, once this economy behaves itself again, you’ll be able to score a good salary coming out of school. Want to become a teacher? It’s an awesome career choice, but know that you’ll never command a Wall Street salary. Plus, most states, if not all, require a master’s degree to remain certified, so grad school is not exactly a choice anymore—and that means loans, loans, and more loans for you.
A paycheck should not sway your passion, but it should give you a reality check. Yes, you might very well have the talent to be the next big thing, but as any E! True Hollywood Story will tell you, even the A-listers had some lean years before they made it big. Check out the Bureau of Labor Statistics—it’s a great source for employment and salary information.
Do you want to attend graduate school? I know, it’s frustrating to think of a second degree when you haven’t even earned your first one. But if grad school is indeed a blip on your radar at this point, then you need to weigh it as an additional cost.
In fact, that’s exactly the predicament I found myself in when I was applying to college. I was accepted to what I believed was my dream school, which just so happened at the time to not award ANY merit scholarships. So I was looking at financing all four years of college. (Note to younger self—what were you thinking?) I knew that grad school was a possibility for me, so I ultimately passed on my first choice and accepted a scholarship offer at another college on my list. To my happy surprise, that college turned out to be my dream school. Sure enough, four years later, I enrolled in grad school, and I was very glad to have fewer undergrad loans to repay.
Are you loving life in your home state? You already know that state schools offer the best bang for your buck—an excellent education with major tuition perks for state residents. But did you also know that some state schools offer even more benefits to those students who remain in the state after graduation? A number of states have noticed a massive exodus of students after graduation, and in order to keep more of those well-educated residents, state universities–and even the states themselves--are offering additional scholarships to sweeten the deal. Some states even have the endorsement of their celebrity residents. Longtime Maine resident Stephen King used his speech to the graduates of the University of Maine to encourage them to make the state their permanent home. So if you enjoy living in your home state and plan on spending some quality time there after graduation, then do yourself a huge favor and check in with the state schools to see if you can cash in on some of that loyalty.
These questions are a good start, but don’t stop there. When it comes to your (and your parents’) hard-earned money, you should have lots of questions about how best to spend it. Got any you can’t answer? Post them in the comment section below.
–Barbara Bellesi
October 8th, 2009
Last night I had the pleasure of joining the Girl’s Night Out event (GNO) on Twitter. Hosted by Mom It Forward, GNO set lifelong learning as its topic, but discussion eventually covered everything from juggling school while handling children to getting your own kids into the college of their dreams.
Whether the participants were thinking about school for themselves or someone else, one thing was certain: GNOers love learning and they know that the conventional college answers may not be the right solution for every budding student. That’s why it’s important to take a look at all your options, from online schools and continuing education, to career schools and certification.
If you’re interested in checking out what the panelists had to say on all these topics and more, you can use Search.twitter.com to find all tweets marked with the GNO hashtag (#GNO). You can also check out the “Moms Back at School” page for more up-to-date info on bringing an education back into your life or head over to Mom It Forward and enjoy more discussion about last night’s GNO.
And if you’re not already doing so, make sure to follow us on Twitter!
– Genevieve M. Blaber
March 4th, 2009
Colleges can change a lot over the years, but one thing that doesn’t seem to change is the complaints college students make. Every day I go through dozens of college blogs and articles that ring out with the same moans and groans that I and my peers made back in the day. So here, in no particular order, are five common college complaints you’ll have and how you can solve them.
1. I’m so exhausted! Why do colleges have to schedule classes at nine in the morning?
Most workdays and offices open at 9 am so if there’s a time to get used to it, college is your best bet. Make an effort to ditch the weekday partying and get to bed early. And try not to pull out the (lame) excuses if your professor notices your consistent tardiness.
What Not to Say to Your Professor: Tales from College Faculty
10 Simple Things You Can Do To Conquer College
2. I’m never leaving my dorm again. The Freshman 15 is the worst thing ever!
Yes, it pretty much is — but there’s plenty you can do to ward it off or beat the pounds you already gained. Forgo the fast food, cheap eats, and Cup ‘o’ Noodles, and make time to eat healthy. Try walking around campus more too.
Just Say “No” to Excessive Weight Gain
Nutrition 101: Your Syllabus To Healthy Eating
3. I have so much reading to do. There’s no way I’ll have time for all of this!
I’ve been guilty of this complaint too, but here’s a secret: practically no one reads all of the assigned reading materials in college. The key is to become a master of scanning, using your class notes as a guide to what to read and what to skip. If you do have the time, go back and read everything thoroughly and whatever you do, don’t procrastinate!
The Procrastination Monster
Six Steps to Collegiate Success
4. My college is a bureaucracy. I hate it. Nobody ever helps me.
Colleges are gigantic institutions and, while they care for you as student, they don’t imbue any one administrator with the power to solve all your problems. You’ll have to go through a chain of command, be shuffled between multiple people, and repeat your story ad nauseum, but it will help you build your self-confidence, communication skills, and independence.
Getting in the Door of Waitlisted College Courses
Survival Tips From College Students
5. I had friends in high school but I can’t seem to make any here.
While it’s not your fault, on a big college campus you’ll have to do some legwork if you ever expect to have a social life. Join clubs that you’re actually interested in, chat up classmates before and after class, and take a chance and sit down at someone else’s table during lunch. Your new best friend could be around the corner.
Join the Club: Extracurriculars Can Help College Feel More Like Home
Self-Esteem and the College Student
– Genevieve M. Blaber
February 19th, 2009
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