Posts filed under 'General'
Facebook has been known for its social networking capabilities, but what if someone told you that you could prep for the SAT right on their site? Kaplan, one of the leaders in entrance exams test prep, now has a Facebook application where you can practice for the SAT or ACT, while at the same time continue to socialize.
Kaplan’s FB application includes links for SAT and ACT practice and a link to create your very own SAT or ACT quiz. There are informational links included. These links hold key dates for SAT and ACT registration, as well as a Kaplan Admissions Interactive Timeline. But along with all the standard study prep items, Kaplan’s FB application also has two fun items – a game known as a “spit-cab-u-lary” and a “SmashWall”.
The “spii-cab-u-lary” tests vocabulary skills for the SAT and even allows you the chance to challenge your friends. The “SmashWall” is a bit different. This application was not made for test prep but instead as a form of stress and anxiety relief . Items used for this wall are referred to as “smashables”.
I recently checked through this application myself and have found it to be very helpful for anyone currently preparing for the SAT or ACT. Kaplan’s application is great for studying and fun. To see exactly what this application is all about, visit www.facebook.com/kaplan.
- Priscilla Rodriguez
June 30th, 2008
If you’re like most soon-to-be college students, chances are there’s a philosophy course waiting in your future. While you may recoil in horror at the notion of studying things like utilitarianism and deontology, the truth is that looking at the world through a philosophical lens can be fun and — dare I say it? –- enlightening.
Still skeptical? Then maybe you should try easing yourself into the realm of philosophical discussion with the help of the Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series. Each book from this ongoing collection is dedicated to analyzing a different cultural icon or show within the entertainment world. 
Chapters are written by college professors from across the nation and are as educational as they are representational of fandom at its finest, with everything from character motivations to plotlines discussed.
Case in point: After reading just two chapters of Batman and Philosophy: The Dark Knight of the Soul, I’ve been introduced to classical and contemporary thinkers like Thomas Hobbes and Judith Jarvis Thomson — all in the course of pondering popular Batty topics like why Batman is better than the Man of Steel, and Bruce Wayne’s motivations for ever donning the cape.
In short, the Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series is a perfect easy-to-understand crash course in philosophy cushioned by a topic you already love. Where else will you be able to read about the philosophical implications of hot shows like 24, Lost, Family Guy, The Office, and even The Daily Show?
– Genevieve M. Blaber
June 25th, 2008
It’s not unusual to hear about kids taking more pains to cheat than to study – there are even entire movies written around the concept as in the case of “The Perfect Score” – but a high school student in Orange County, California may have recently taken things to the extreme.
Known for his Cs and Ds at the prestigious Tesoro High School, 18-year-old Omar Khan now has to deal with some heavy math. There are 69 criminal charges pending against him — and they’re all related to an alleged scheme to turn lackluster grades into sterling As! Using everything from identity theft and spyware, to the old standby of and breaking and entering, Khan is alleged to have broken into his school’s computer databanks to up grades for himself and a dozen others.
While these charges may seem petty when taken on their own, together they result in nearly four decades of jail time. Though it’s doubtful Khan will get even half that amount if convicted — a few years of jail and community service is far more likely — it’s still a high price to pay for what could have easily been gained through a few hours of studying.
So maybe next time Khan will try cracking some books before he has to crack open a jail cell. With his leet hacking skills and computer prowess he could have easily embarked upon a lucrative career in technology. And trust me, “career criminal” doesn’t sound half as good as “computer systems analyst” to a prospective employer.
– Genevieve M. Blaber
Update: Looks like Khan had a “study buddy” in all this. Fellow student, Tanvir Singh, is suspected in connection with the cheating scandal and will turn himself in next week.
June 20th, 2008
In between your studying for the SAT or your prepping to pack for your brand new dorm, take a break this summer and check out some cool products that will keep you stylish, comfy, and ready to roll.
Juicy Technology
Green is one of the hottest colors in fashion this summer. So why not get a green laptop?! Dell Inspiron notebooks have come out with citrus lime and lemon colors so you not only can talk to your friends online and do research on schools or dorm room accessories, but also can make a light and airy summer fashion statement. The Dell laptops start around $499, and like all computers you can have them custom-built to cater to your needs. There are more than just lemon and lime colors too, for all those guys out there! So definitely check these out today for a fun and useful tool that you can bring along to school.
Summer Tunes
Listen to the newest Coldplay or Madonna CD on your 3G iPod Nano this summer. And as you tan by the pool or beach or play some hoops with the boys, forget those bulky iPod dock radios. Use Audiowrapz by iFrogz. This 100 percent silicone protective cover has a speaker built directly into it and is available at Wal-Mart for the retail price of $20. And you won’t have to stick those earbuds in either (although you can always do so for privacy). This product is even great beyond the summer because it’s something you can use no matter where you are. Put it on while you’re doing homework or to have a mini-dance party after class.
The Maine Attraction
Take along your summer accessories in a light summer bag by Ann Veronica. These canvas bags are all one-of-a-kind, handmade, and from Maine. It’s great for the beach or as you’re just running out to keep all your essentials together. There are a variety of patterns for this 100 percent heavyweight cotton canvas. Some of these include circles, flowers, crabs, vintage lace, toy boats, and more! The company was founded in 2003 and makes different kinds of bags, including totes, beach bags, tennis racquet covers, and even some headbands. For a convenient summery bag check out Ann Veronica Handprints.
-Amanda Fornecker
June 12th, 2008
I’ve only been out of NYU for a year and already there are new trends jumping from campus to campus. While some of these are completely new (sustainability, what?), others are ripped straight from fads of yesteryear — yeah I’m looking at you, Harry Potter.
In no particular order, here are three college trends that are picking up speed today:
1. Quidditch Conquers Campuses
I didn’t start reading Harry Potter until I was in high school, but once I did I couldn’t help but be intrigued by the game of Quidditch. Taking place hundreds of feet in the air while players swoop around on flying brooms, it was hardly the kind of sport you’d catch on ESPN, but these days college students are spreading a down-to-earth version of the magical pastime. Occupying a real grass field — although players refuse to give up their obviously non-flying brooms — college Quidditch is a reasonable departure from the “real thing” and comes complete with a Golden Snitch who, enacted by a student, walks around campus to avoid capture by players.
2. Coed Cohabitation
I admit it, I never lived on campus, but the few times I stayed over at friends’ dorm rooms I could sense that there was either a real camaraderie that developed between roomies or genuine enmity. While living with a stranger can help you learn to coexist with others, it can also be stressful if you’re not compatible, so why not let students choose their own roomies? Many colleges today do, and several more are beginning to accept friends of different genders deciding to room together. Though usually offered on a limited basis, and to students who already know each other, coed dorming seems to be catching on and can be a comfy alternative for friends who know and trust their would-be roomie.
3. Student Sustainability
While some students waste resources, others take the time to recycle — but there’s another group of students on campus who are making the move to shake up they way they live. Termed “sustainability” this practice is an entirely new shade of going green with students changing everything from how much electricity they use to what temp they leave the thermostat on. The focus of a recent New York Times article, Oberlin College (Oberlin, Ohio) has a dorm full of students who compete against each other’s shower times and utilize worm composting to cut down on waste. Although not every campus has an entire dorm dedicated to sustainability, many colleges are making the move to integrate some of these initiatives into the way they run things at large.
If you’re interested in reading more on college trends — past and present — then take a trip to CollegeBound.net’s trend section and then get started on your college search.
– Genevieve M. Blaber
June 10th, 2008
I always think to myself that by the time I get married, have kids, and send them off to college, the price of tuition will really be astronomical. As the cost of higher education continually rises (and the average private, four-year university tuition sans room and board is already $23,712 according to the CollegeBoard), what will tuition costs be like in a few years or even next year for that matter? The cost from last year has already risen 6.3 percent so where are we headed?!?!
TuitionBids.com aims to control this problem by helping students with affordable loans. Loans are important because they help you pay for school, but you must be aware that these need to be repaid over a period of time. So picking the right loan is crucial to your post-college debt management.
TuitionBids.com was founded in 2007 to “reform the higher educational lending industry,” according to their site. The site’s co-founder and CEO, Keith Alliotts, used to work with credit reports and always saw student loans on their credit. “What bothered me was that it became common practice for me to see this debt on people’s credit well into their 30s and 40s,” he says. “This is when I decided to do something about it.”
The site provides students with loan options by having lenders “bid” on the best loan for the student. TuitionBids.com will take the student through a step-by-step process to help them understand what loans will be best for them. From there students can start the process by clicking on the “Let the Bidding Begin” button. It is at this point where the student will fill out a detailed application.
“When the application is complete, TuitionBids.com does the rest,” says Alliotts. “The borrower then has the choice of up to six lenders and can decide which they would like to speak to.”
In essence, TuitionBids.com tries to narrow down the loan choices that will get you started (and continued) on your college career. And it’s easy to find any old loan, but TuitionBids.com aims to secure the right loan especially for you. “It is extremely important for all students to make sure they get the right loan because the average student holds onto their loan for approximately 19 years,” says Alliotts. “This debt becomes tremendously burdensome for the student and in a lot of cases delays their ability to purchase a home, car, etc.”
Once the right loan becomes available, a load is certainly lifted off a student (and parent’s) shoulders. It is then that the student can go on with the educational process and apply themselves. Alliotts offers up his advice: “Students need to get educated on this process so that they can make a more informed decision when it comes to borrowing money for school.”
With the escalating costs of education, we could use help somewhere. So check out TuitionBids.com and let them alleviate some of your stress. And if you haven’t quite chosen your school yet, let us help you conduct your search now!
-Amanda Fornecker
May 22nd, 2008
Yesterday was Earth Day but that doesn’t mean that you can’t keep on keeping green today and tomorrow. Living green will not only help the Earth, it can also help tighten your budget — a concern shared by plenty of college bound students. With that in mind here are a few tips for staying green during college:
1. Use Canvas Bags: Chances are you won’t be buying as much as you did when you lived at home, so why waste a few plastic bags when you can be prepared with your own canvas ones? Doing so will help keep plastic bags from hitting the landfills. If you find that you must use plastic bags, make an effort to later reuse them as trash bags, lunch bags, and even laundry bags.
2. Skip the Laundromat: While most people would rather go the automated route, handwashing can be gentler on delicate fabrics and clothing while also conserving electricity and water in the process. Not sure you want to get your hands wet? Then opt for a device like the Wonderwash Washing Machine which can clean small loads of laundry with the turn of a handle and zero electricity.
3. Create a Homemade Lamp: Sure, you can find dozens of happening styles at places like Ikea and other stores, but nothing compares to making your own one-of-a-kind lamp. How-to instructions and kits are available both on the Internet and at your local crafts store. Recycle vases and glass jars to create the base of your unique lighting fixture. (Interested in more tips for decorating dorms on the cheap? Click here.)
4. Don’t Write-Off Refillable Pens: By this stage in your education you’re probably used to purchasing bulk bags and boxes of pens at the beginning of each school year. But what happens to all of that plastic once you’ve run out of ink? They write their way into the trash. Though it may not seem like much, all those pens do add up — so consider buying a refillable pen instead. When the ink’s done you’ll only have a small tube to throw away, rather than an entire pen.
5. Think Outside the Margins: Your elementary school teacher taught you to always write inside the margins of the paper, but when all you’re doing is taking class notes there’s no point in wasting paper. Ignore that red line and start writing — or doodling — near the edge of the paper. You’ll be surprised by how much extra material you can fit on every page.
– Genevieve M. Blaber
April 23rd, 2008
Lengthy novels, obscure phrases, and unfamiliar metaphors — combine them all and you may have a tough time landing a 4.0 in your college lit class. But don’t stress yet. There are plenty of ways to boost your reading comprehension and your grades. While study groups and study guides (like CliffsNotes and SparkNotes) are classic strategies, Internet-savvy teens like you might be interested in the next level of studying: Book Glutton.
Created as a type of social marketing network for bookworms, Book Glutton (www.bookglutton.com) lets users create free accounts and then download and discuss literature with each other. Although these free e-books are limited to works that are in the public domain (e.g. Voltaire’s “Candide”), students will find that many of their required readings are offered on Book Glutton. Presented in an online reader format, each book has a real-time chat box in which users can discuss their interpretations and views. Book Glutton members can also add notes to a book, allowing future readers to benefit from their insight as well.
As for the social aspect of the site, Book Glutton members create profiles, friends lists, and join and create reading groups — a handy solution for college students who want to create study groups but who can’t always meet on campus. Aspiring writers can even choose to upload their own works for discussion and review by others.
Still in its beta version, Book Glutton seems like a promising way for college students and lifelong bibliophiles to learn and share.
Psst! Want more tips for getting good grades in college? Then be sure to check out “10 Simple Things You Can Do to Conquer College.”
– Genevieve M. Blaber
April 4th, 2008
Nothing should hold back students from attending college. Scholarships are important for any student applying to college. But some may need the help more than others. Those who have lost a parent in some capacity may benefit greatly from certain scholarships tailored specifically to these students. Check out three such scholarships below.
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Scholarship
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Description
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Apply By
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| Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund |
Students who are the son or daughter of U.S. Military personnel who was killed in action may apply for this award. Money awarded may be used on more than just tuition. Some of these things include books, room and board, or extra fees. |
Friday, July 18, 2008 |
| Life Lessons Scholarship |
College students and high school seniors can submit an essay or video (you’re 15 times more likely to win if you create a video) about losing a parent or guardian, how it has affected you, and how insurance has played a role throughout this difficult time. |
Friday, April 18, 2008 |
| The Ulman Cancer Fund |
There are three types of scholarships within this fund that are available to those who have a parent with cancer or have lost a parent to cancer. You must demonstrate medical hardship, financial need, and use your experience to influence the lives of others. |
Saturday, May 10, 2008 at 5p.m. |
-Amanda Fornecker
March 20th, 2008
For those who want a lot of college information in one place, but can’t necessarily travel all the time, check out a virtual college fair! CollegeWeekLive is a two day online event that showcases different schools, panels, and guest speakers to give students a perspective on getting into the right college.
Attendance is free at this virtual college fair by CollegeWeekLive and includes participation by at least 200 colleges across the country. You don’t even need to get out of your pajamas to attend this - how much more convenient can you get?!
The site is set up like a typical college fair and has you walk through the event and pick a booth to learn more about a particular school. Parents and counselors can even attend. Check CollegeWeekLive out today so you can sign up for the sessions on March 25-26, 2008 from 12:00p.m. EST - 11:00 p.m. EST.
Get going on your college search today from the comfort of your own home!!
-Amanda Fornecker
March 19th, 2008
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