I believe I was only person from my high school graduating class to attend my college. I graduated from a high school in suburban Chicago and had friends heading off to schools such as University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Northwestern University. My decision to attend the University of Georgia was based on my family’s Southern connection and the fact that I felt its journalism program was strong enough to kick-start my career.

So it’s interesting to hear the recent debate and data about whether it really matters where you go to college. The New York Times has covered the college choice topic in depth with viewpoints from a variety of college officials and higher education experts, and it’s really interesting to read their perspective.

One study cited by the Times and other publications involves recent data by the National Bureau of Economic Research, which determined that students graduating from a college known for high SAT entrance scores didn’t benefit from higher post-graduation income. In fact, the study found that students who chose not to attend or who were not admitted into elite schools are more likely to earn high incomes later than students who do.

Schools tout top rankings and other measures of their success – and it’s a barometer that you and your parents may be using. Sure, it’s impressive to say you graduated from an elite private school on your resume. But when it comes to your college choice, it’s not about the prestige, the high rankings that a school holds, or its famous alumni (remember that some celebrities, politicians, authors, and others attended schools that are not household names, too).

In short, it’s what you make of your education, not where you go to get it, that will define your success.

Attending an elite school – or any school, for that matter – and not getting involved in campus or career organizations is a big misstep. It’s just plain lazy. Saying you’re a graduate of a certain school likely won’t matter if you haven’t done anything with the opportunities you were provided. Instead, embrace those campus experiences! Look for a school where you can be active in your major by taking challenging classes and taking advantage of opportunities for jobs or internships that are related to your potential career.

Being active as a student at the University of Georgia helped me throughout my career. Yes, I have used my school’s name to connect with alumni for jobs, but those connections were a result of my hard work in college–and that ended up being more important than the school’s reputation alone.

–Lori Johnston

We’ve made your list and we’re checking it twice. We’ve scoured the sites and stores to find dorm room gear, media accessories, books, and more that’s perfect for the future college student, or as a fun surprise for your favorite college student who is home for the holidays.

The best part? Each one of the 10 items on our gift guide is less than $50!

Listen in Style
Ear buds are essential, especially when you’re on the bus around campus and want to avoid hearing people talk loudly about their crazy weekends. Among the many choices is Wicked Audio’s candy-colored Jaw Breakers line, for $19.99. They’re available at stores such as FYE, Fry’s Electronics and Verizon Wireless.

Bath Basics
Liven up your bathroom, especially if you have to share with someone, with this Roxy Go See Dots Bath Rug ($19.99) from Bed, Bath and Beyond. It’ll give any dorm room a more modern and mature style that is still really fun. There also are bath accessories, towels, and bedding in the same line, if you want a look that’s all put together.

Non-Required Reading
Two books caught our eye on this year’s holiday must-read list. One is all about Lady Gaga – titled simply Gaga (by Johnny Morgan, $24.95) – filled with photos of the pop star and her jaw-dropping outfits.

Then, your favorite “The Hills” fan might love to get Lauren Conrad Style, in which the student-turned-clothing designer shares tips about her trendy looks (by Lauren Conrad with Elise Loehnen, $19.99).

New Notebooks
Sure, you may do most of your studying and socializing on the computer, but embrace paper a little bit, even if it’s just for doodling or jotting down quick notes, or if you want to journal about your freshman year. Moleskine’s collection of soft-cover notebooks comes in sets with two different shades of colors (like green and lime, blue and navy, pink and rose, etc). Its Volant line of notebooks range from $5.95-$17.95, depending on the size.

Lunch Box
The childish superhero and Barbie lunch boxes need to remain at home. But this stylish Bento Box ($14) from London-based black + blum provides a sleek way to carry your lunch to campus, especially if you’re watching your budget or trying to keep away from the Freshman 15. It will hold sushi as well as pasta, rice and other favorite foods, and the fork clips on, too.

Pillows with a Purpose
The Giving Collection Pillow Covers feature inspiring phrases and come with a charitable effort. For every one sold, PBteen will donate $5 to a variety of organizations, from Do Something to the Student Conservation Association to the Surfrider Foundation to the Special Olympics. Our favorites are XOXOXOXO, Dream Big, and Love Your Ocean ($29).

Save Some Space
Neat freaks can’t resist plenty of items from The Container Store, and we know college is all about making the most of a small space. So one useful but chic item is its flip flop and sandal holder ($12.99) that uses a grosgrain ribbon to hold your spring and summer footwear.

An Adult Sippy Cup
A must-have college accessory is a reusable water bottle like that from Camelbak, sold at Dick’s Sporting Goods, REI, Bass Pro Shops, and bookstores around college campuses. It’s an eco-friendly and healthy decision all in one, especially if you want to stay hydrated during back-to-back classes or on your hike through campus. The limited edition bottles for Water.org – co-founded by Matt Damon – cost $18.99-$24.99, and about $10 of every purchase goes to provide clean water for people worldwide.

The Ultimate Drink Holder
Target’s beverage tub is perfect for late-night parties and study sessions, or honestly, if you just need something to throw your clothes or other items into if all you want to do is fall into bed. The steel tub ($14.99) comes in a variety of colors, such as red, pink, teal, and green.

–Lori Johnston

If you’re asking for an iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad for Christmas, or if you already have one of those, you’ll want to check out the college-focused phone apps to make your college search, application process, and even waiting to hear about admission a little easier.

Here’s a look at just a few of the types of apps colleges and companies are creating to get their information into your hands.

Campus Tours

No more pulling out a big ol’ campus map and making it known to everyone on campus that you’re a lost little high school student. Schools like University of New Haven (see screenshot at right), College of Charleston, Stanford University, University of Florida, and University of Oregon put campus maps and contact info available in a free app. The virtual college tours offer a great way for juniors to get their feet wet or for seniors to reaffirm their choice.

Also, maps of more than 400 campuses are available by Logical Dimension, for 99 cents on iTunes. You can find out how long it takes to drive, walk or take public transit to spots on campus with the apps as well. The popular University of New Haven app was created by YourCampus360, which also has apps for Syracuse, Wellesley, University of North Dakota, and many other schools.

Application Status

Instead of waiting by the computer for an e-mail acceptance notice (or by the mailbox, like I had to do), there are no-cost admission apps offered by schools such as the University of Georgia. Participating schools allow you to check your application status and more from the palm of your hand, but you’ll need to resist the temptation to do it every minute!

Campus Life

Newsweek’s list of cool apps for college students includes Apartments.com, a free app which can help make the rental search easier.

Interviewing Help

If you’re preparing for college or already in school, an app by Career Services at Texas Christian University provides career-focused assistance related to interviews, etiquette, and more. And some of the information could help as you’re going through scholarship interviews, too! The TCU app has more than possible interview questions and possible responses, along with a breakdown of dining etiquette, too (remember, no elbows on the table!).

Expect more apps to be more available as more schools try to get information out to students in as many ways possible.

—Lori Johnston (Delaney Young contributed)

Sometimes going green requires a concerted effort, like committing to purchase products solely from eco-minded businesses or recycling when your community doesn’t make receptacles readily available. Other times, though, making a difference is a no-brainer – especially when sustainable choices are as close as your college parking lot.

Car Sharing
Wouldn’t it be great to have a car when you need one but not have to deal with the hassles of ownership? Colleges across the country are jumping on the sustainable transportation bandwagon by partnering with companies offering car sharing services. Car sharing allows students to pay hourly or daily rates to get self-service access to cars in reserved spots on campus whenever they need them. Whether through Zipcar, U Car Share, Connect by Hertz, or Enterprise’s WeCar, students benefit from the convenience, flexibility, and freedom that car sharing provides. Each company varies in its particular payment structure; rates may include gas, insurance, roadside assistance, and maintenance. I can just imagine how beneficial car sharing must be in my hometown, NYC, where parking is at a premium and car insurance is sky-high.

Carpooling
Carpooling is not a new concept, but it can be tough to find people who are going your way. Zimride, a carpooling community, offers a convenient alternative to posting notices on bulletin boards across campus. Zimride’s Carpool for Universities is working with more than 40 colleges and universities to make ridesharing a success in their communities. You can even combine car sharing with carpooling – if you’re a Zipcar member, you can post your reservations on Zimride, too.

Benefits of green transportation (by the numbers):

• Each shared car takes 15 to 20 personally owned vehicles off the road, reduces parking congestion, and improves air quality.
• According to Zipcar, its service alone saves more than 32 million gallons of crude oil per year.
• Compared to car-owning students, car-sharing students can save more than $500 per month.
• Zimride schools have reduced their carbon emissions by about 500,000 lbs. per year.
• Students and faculty at Zimride schools have saved more than $200,000 per year in vehicle operating costs.

Green School Spotlight
Some schools are pulling out all the stops to go green. Cabrillo College in Aptos, CA, maintains a website featuring a variety of incentives to take advantage of green transportation options. As part of the school’s Go Green campaign, students, faculty, and staff who pledge to use sustainable transportation at least once a week for one month are eligible to win prizes from local businesses. Through the school’s zero-interest bicycle loan program, students can borrow $200 to $500 interest-free for a year to purchase a bicycle and related equipment for biking to and from school. And through Ca$h for Carpools, commuters who drive alone to work or school can earn $25 each by forming a new carpool; successful participants will also be entered into a drawing for a year’s worth of fuel.

If car sharing, carpooling, or other sustainable transportation alternatives were available on your campus, would you take advantage of them? Sound off below!

–Robyn Tellefsen

I’ve been noticing more and more college students updating Facebook by letting their friends know whether they’re at a local Mexican restaurant, a certain campus building, or elsewhere around town.

It turns out that one college is promoting the use of Facebook Places on campus, and it’s not just because it wants friends to hang out together.

Instead, the University of Kentucky wants students to check in to spots on campus in hopes that the name of the school will keep popping up on the Facebook news feeds of friends and family members in high schools, a school official told Advertising Age. The school has placed wooden pointer signs, resembling the tab in the Facebook Places logo, on campus to encourage students to check in.

The school’s Facebook Places info page also focuses on how it wants to protect students’ privacy and shows students how to adjust their settings to that only friends know. The privacy issue has some students and even groups like the ACLU concerned, however.

University of Kentucky student Kelsey Hayes, vice president of the student body, says: “I think the way UK is promoting Places is pretty cool. It’s unique, and it will hopefully get students, especially freshmen and those new to campus, to engage with each other. It’s also a great way to help get them acquainted with campus.”

You have to give University of Kentucky credit for noticing another Facebook trend and trying to use it to reach out to potential students. The main question is: Will seeing a school’s name on your Facebook news feed make you more curious about the university of college?

–Lori Johnston

If you want to find out what a college is really like, check out its YouTube channel. Schools that maintain a strong presence on the uber-popular video-sharing site feature more than just courses, lectures, and commencement speeches. So turn up the volume and tune in to some of the coolest college YouTube channels and viral videos we found.

UCLA
“Student Life” is one of dozens of playlists on UCLA’s YouTube channel, showcasing what it’s like to live and study at the school. resTV videos, from the Residential Life Television Studio, feature fun shows like “Cool Rooms,” highlighting students in their living spaces; and “Audio Feed Remix,” dedicated to making music videos for student bands.

Viral college video: The official women’s rugby club team gets fancy to play its annual Prom Dress Rugby game.

Emory University
In the “Emory Looks at Hollywood” series, profs share their insight on the physics behind “Iron Man,” the sociology of “Sex and the City,” finding spirituality in “Avatar,” and more. Another playlist highlights study abroad experiences in Uganda, France, Tibet, and other regions.

Viral college video: All the school’s a cappella groups and concert choirs perform Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” featuring a cameo of the college president as Vincent Price.

The Culinary Institute of America
The world’s premier culinary college features YouTube playlists for all four of its campuses (New York, California, Texas, and Singapore) as well as incredibly useful videos that explore world cuisines and feature seasonal and holiday recipes from professional chef-instructors.

Viral college video: Learn how to make a floral bouquet out of cupcakes – a Mother’s Day fave.

Carnegie Mellon University
CMU features “Prospective Student Videos,” a genius way to offer quick takes on some of the Pennsylvania school’s top programs. Students can also tag their own videos to be considered for the channel’s super-fun “Student Vids” playlist.

Viral college video: The little yellow student-developed robot “Keepon” dances to the song “I Turn My Camera On” by Spoon.

Purdue University
Playlists on Purdue’s YouTube channel highlight groundbreaking research at the Indiana college, “Boiler Bytes” TV episodes, clever public service announcements about computer security at Purdue, and more.

Viral college video: The Compliment Guys, two Purdue undergrads, set up shop every week on campus to brighten the day of everyone who walks by. The guys even took their campaign on the road for a 10-city tour in the summer of 2009.

Berklee College of Music
At the online school of Berklee College of Music, top YouTube playlists include must-see instructional videos for guitar, bass, songwriting, and music production.

Viral college video: Stefan Lessard, bassist for Dave Matthews Band, takes viewers backstage at the band’s summer 2010 tour and talks about life on the road. The seven-part interview highlights music education, life as on online student, navigating the music industry, how DMB achieved fame, and more.

Vassar College
In Vassar’s “Off the Cuff” two-minute lecture series, profs take the challenge of quickly addressing topics like the truth about zombies, life on other planets, and the science behind belief. And in “Got a Question?” an improv videographer asks students tough questions like “What did you learn today?” and “If Vassar were an animal, what would it be?”

Viral college video: The Barefoot Monkeys, Vassar’s juggling and acrobatic troupe, practices juggling clubs – and knives.

University of Minnesota
A gem among the school’s many cool YouTube playlists, the “Expert Perspectives” series features profs discussing topics like Michelle Obama’s impact on American fashion; why we like horror movies; and engineering drug-free cannabis.

Viral college video: Fascinating research in the school’s College of Education and Human Development illustrates what (very cute) babies can teach us about perception.

What are your favorite viral college videos?

-Robyn Tellefsen

Happy Earth Day!

I don’t know about you, but I’m enjoying Earth Week at The CollegeBound Network. We’ve been hearing from our friends all across the higher education universe about the great things colleges and universities are doing to preserve Mother Nature.

While it’s not necessary to break the bank when it comes to initiating greener living on campus—after all, recycling paper and plastic is a cheap and easy way to begin—a growing number of colleges and universities are setting aside a good chunk of their budget for eco-friendly initiatives, which include constructing LEED-certified buildings and dorms.

What’s LEED, you ask? It stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a designation that means the building in question meets the strict green standards as set by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)—the same organization that recently teamed up with The Princeton Review to produce the Green College Guide.

Check out these dorms that LEED, um, lead the way in greener living:

The Eco House at Westminster College in Fulton, MO is not just a place to live, but to learn. It houses three to five students who are chosen to live there for a year based on their personal commitment to the environment. For one of the two semesters, each student must complete an internship that requires them to maintain the house and design an environmentally focused program that can be employed by the campus.

At Meredith College in Raleigh, NC, The Oaks, a suite-style residence hall, opened in time for Fall 2009. It was the first new dorm to be built on campus since the 1970s, but boy, did they catch up quickly with the times. The building, which features four-bedroom and two-bedroom suite layouts, earned LEED Silver certification. It’s pretty cool to know that a building with such traditional architecture on the outside could have such a great environmentally friendly space on the inside.

Emerson College’s Piano Row Residence Hall and Campus Center, is a breath of fresh air in an otherwise bustling city. There’s a lot going on in this building that’s located on the corner of the Boston Common, but it’s all environmentally friendly; in fact, the “Living Green” learning community calls Piano Row home. Also at home in Piano Row are the men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball teams, who play in the Bobbi Brown and Steven Plofker Gym located on one of the floors of this LEED-certified structure.

At Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, six out of 10 freshmen dorms are LEED-certified. An ongoing project at Vandy involves building brand new buildings that are LEED-certified, as well as embarking on renovations of older buildings to make them greener. Vanderbilt was one of 10 schools recognized by U.S. News & World Report for having green dorms, which is sure to attract future environmentally minded students.

If the school you are attending in the fall doesn’t have any LEED dorms to choose from, don’t fret: you can still make your own dorm eco-friendly. Check out these three green ideas courtesy of Planet Green:

1. Use a BPA-free water bottle to stay hydrated.
2. Plug all dorm appliances and electronics into power strips.
3. Opt for fragrant plants rather than air fresheners that plug in.

How are you celebrating Earth Day today and (hopefully) every day? Leave a comment below.

–Barbara Bellesi

Hi CollegeBounders!

We’ll be attending the 140 Conference today at the 92nd Street Y in New York City. The 140 Conference all about the social network phenomenon that is Twitter. More specifically, it is a two-day conference packed with engaging speakers and events that allow Twitter users to listen, share, and interact with others.

There is a long list of great people lined up for tomorrow, but we’re especially looking forward to hearing Ann Curry, Donny Deutsch, and Ivanka Trump. We’ll also keep an eye out for MC Hammer, who will also be in attendance. (Yup, that’s how we roll at The CollegeBound Network).

We’ll have a lot of fun networking at the conference tomorrow, but we’ll be thinking of our college-bound readers out there, too. So please log on to Twitter tomorrow and follow our tweets, which will feature the hashtag #140 conference. We’ll be live tweeting from @CollegeBoundNet and @CollegeSurfing, as well as from our own personal accounts: @GinaLaGuardia, @DawnPapandrea, and @TheWriteWoman (Barbara had the nerve to go ahead and be different with her Twitter handle).

Tweet ya later!

–The CollegeBound Network