Posts filed under 'School Tools'
Once you get in to college, you probably think you’re done reviewing all the ridiculous education rankings. Not so for those looking ahead to grad school.
For law school and b-school hopefuls, however, the rankings review might not be as bad as you think.
The hot-off-the-press 2009 print and online editions of “Best 174 Law Schools” and “Best 296 Business Schools” may appear daunting at first glance. But The Princeton Review’s annual guidebooks are chock full of fun lists that are mostly based on student input. It’s kind of like having a grad school insider give you the scoop on what each school is really like. Each guidebook lists the top 10 schools in 11 categories.
So if you’re interested in the best business school for career prospects, you would click on Stanford University (Stanford, CA). Or if you want to be aware of the toughest law school to get into — the only ranking in the books based entirely on school-reported 
data — you would take note of Yale University (New Haven, CT).
Both books include lists of schools that are the toughest to get into and that present the best career prospects, best classroom experience, and most competitive students.
The b-school ranking categories also include best administered, best campus environment, best campus facilities, best professors, greatest opportunity for minority students, greatest opportunity for women, and most family friendly.
The law school categories also include best environment for minority students,
best quality of life, candidates for Center for American Progress Fellowships? (or, students lean to the left), candidates for Heritage Foundation Fellowships? (or, students lean to the right), most diverse faculty, most welcoming of older students, and professors rock (legally speaking).
Remember, the schools are ranked from their students’ perspective. So the guidebooks can serve as a sort of shorthand for you. Say you’re a minority student interested in Badabing U., but it didn’t make the list of the top 10 schools for minority students. That’s your cue to follow up with the school and get your questions answered directly.
It can be dangerous to take grad school rankings at face value. But if you take the guidebooks and online listings for what they really are — a guide — you’ll have a valuable tool to determine how various schools rate in the areas that matter most to you.
For those looking toward law school or b-school: Do you plan to review the rankings first?
-Robyn Tellefsen
October 8th, 2008
Hold up! Just because classes are starting and reading lists are hitting you left and right, doesn’t mean you should head to the bookstore right now to buy every single book your professor mentioned. As upperclassmen already know, it’s not unusual for a prof or instructor to change the booklist midway through a course, leaving you stuck with an obscure publication on Austrian philosophy in the process. Your best bet is to ask your professor what books you absolutely need the first month and pick up the rest as you need them.
Don’t settle for your high-price campus bookstore or stoop to downloading materials with P2P (peer-to-peer) file sharing networks either. There are plenty of alternative ways to get the books you need for the prices you can afford, the only trouble is deciding amongst them. Enter DealOz (www.dealoz.com). Formerly known as CampusI, DealOz is an easy-to-use service for comparing the price and shipping options for tons of booksellers online. Enter the title, ISBN, keyword, or author name, and DealOz will return a list of sites that offer the book as well as the rates that they charge for shipping and the book price itself. DealOz will even give estimates on shipping times and alert you if any coupons are available — both must-haves if you’re short on time and/or money.
The perks don’t stop there either, with DealOz offering to send you e-mail alerts when a bookseller offers your ideal preset price and the ability to compare bookbuying options via text message. I test drove the service, searching for a not-exactly well-known book on Korean cinema that I had purchased for full-price when I was in college, and sure enough DealOz gave me the info and coupon code I’d need to get the same edition for six dollars less on Half.com. With no need to sign-up (the site directly links you to the bookseller when you want to order) and no additional fees, DealOz seems like a great deal for your college book needs.
– Genevieve M. Blaber
September 10th, 2008
As school begins, you’ll want to be sure that you have all the tools you’ll need to be successful, right at your disposal. And theClassConnection is a great find for the start of the 2008-2009 school year!
TheClassConnection was designed by two students in 2006, who were working on a student project at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It’s a free online resource for students in high school, college, and graduate school that aims to help students boost their GPAs by using study tools and lecture notes from other students that may help kids better understand the material and study well. Think of theClassConnection as a “digital trapper keeper” and the path to good grades. And what’s even better is that theClassConnection believes in their ability to help you so much that if you don’t boost your GPA, they will give you $1,000 in private tutoring with SmartThinking.com.
Dave Sargent is the Chief Marketing Officer of theClassConnection and thinks it’s a great tool that will help students be even more successful than they were in the past. “People have been talking about the web and computers taking education to the next level since the dawns of PCs,” he says. “Yet hardly anything has been developed that actually helps students study more efficiently. We wanted to create the first academic network that allowed students to organize and streamline every part of their academic life online. That’s why we started theClassConnection.com.”
Some helpful tools and features of theClassConnection include digital flashcards, online storage of files, the ability to organize study groups, tutors, and more. If you’re having an issue with a class or particular subject, it’s almost certain that there will be some sort of help on theClassConnection.
TheClassConnection is a social networking site for students and even professors who want to have more in-depth discussions and share ideas without ever having to trek to the library during those cold winter snowstorms for a study sesh. It’s convenient, it’s helpful, and it’s guaranteed to help students do better. Work harder this year and use theClassConnection in the process on your quest for success.
-Amanda Fornecker
September 2nd, 2008
An hour past midnight and I was just a page away from finishing my term paper; due the next day. I’m sure it would have been a great paper but Microsoft Word had other designs at that moment — namely crashing and taking my paper with it. When I finally loaded my “recovered” file, I found that not much had been recovered. My 10 pages of hard work had turned into 300 pages of random gibberish, the occasional asterisk, and a strange sentence that was either from my first draft or just my Mac taunting me.
Fortunately, I had an understanding professor — but that’s not always a guarantee in college. To avoid having your papers lost to a digital black hole consider these back-up plans:
The Easy (and Lazy) Way
E-mail
Why? It’s the easiest and cheapest method for saving your files to a secure place. As you work on your papers make a habit of sending back-up copies to yourself via e-mail. If you’re using a POP3 account your document will be saved to your inbox and sent box, while an IMAP account will save an extra copy to a remote e-mail server.
Any perks? It’s the height of portability. If your computer or printer should break down, simply hop on another computer and access your e-mail to grab the last sent version of your paper.
How much can I save? As much as you need, unless your e-mail provider has data limits on attachments or mailbox space.
How much does it cost? Free.
The Cheap (and Kitschy) Way
The USB Flash Drive
Why? Long gone are the days of floppy disks; in their place stands the USB flash drive. Smaller than the conventional CD and far more portable — you can place it in your pocket or buy models that hang from necklaces and keychains — 
the USB flash drive is the perfect place to store your important school docs.
Any perks? Not only can you easily access your files and encrypt them if necessary, you can also express your individuality thanks to the numerous novelty designs on the market.
How much can I save? Depending on the USB flash drive you select, you could have anywhere from 64 MB to 32 GB of space.
How much does it cost? As much as $100 or as little as $7.
The Pricey (and Best) Way
External Hard Drive
Why? The ultimate form of computer back-up, an external hard drive has the power and the space to accommodate all your files and applications. It’s essentially the same as your computer’s internal hard drive except it’s as easily detached and reattached as your average USB flash drive or Firewire device.
Any perks? Although it’s not the easiest thing to carry around, thanks to a protective case and its own cooling system, external hard drives are often smaller than your desktop computer or laptop and take up little desk space. 
You can even leave it connected to your computer all day, setting the drive to automatically copy and update files according to what you’d like.
How much can I save? External hard drives can range in size from 30 GB to 500 GB.
How much does it cost? Most will run you from $90 to $300.
For more college-relevant tech tips check out our article, “Manage Time the Techie Way.”
– Genevieve M. Blaber
August 7th, 2008
You’ve seen them — bulletins sent in the mail or galleries linked on school websites — and they’re all filled with the same things: happy, smiling students of every race and color who are either walking around campus or deeply engaged in a professor’s lecture.
But just how accurate are these microcosms of college living? According to recent research headed by Timothy Pippert, an associate professor of sociology from Augsburg College (Minneapolis, Missouri), not very.
Using a random sampling of 371 college and universities, Pippert studied various promotional materials and found that schools often over-represented the number of minorities on campus. For example, while black and Asian students comprise 7.9 and 3.3 percent of the average college student body, respectively, their presence in college bulletins and other materials amount to 12.4 and 5.1 percent of students portrayed.
The effect can be two-fold, gain the interest of students who are interested in attending a diverse college and make minority students feel more welcome. But does this penchant for picture diversity constitute a conspiracy to lure in students? What do you think?
– Genevieve M. Blaber
July 11th, 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 representative 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
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
Heading off to college for the first — or last — time? Then check out our top five must-have college essentials. Running the gambit from practical to plain fun, these gifts will make a perfect addition to any wishlist.
Practical Gifts
Gift Idea: Amazon Kindle
Textbooks, novels, newspapers — with so much to read, study, and carry, life as a college student is anything but easy on your back or the environment. But what if you could conserve all that ink and paper into a lightweight, easy-to-hold device that stores 200 book titles, newspapers, and even blogs? You’d be thinking of the Amazon Kindle. Fresh off the assembly line, it’s the latest in e-book readers and boasts an on-the-go wireless connection for downloading digital data. From catching up on required readings to finding out the latest with RSS feeds, keeping up-to-date with your reading has never been so easy.
Price: $399
Website: http://www.amazon.com
Gift Idea: Webster’s New World Dictionary on USB Drive
Feeling perspicacious? Need to measure an apogee? Want to expound upon the finer points of anthropomorphism? If any of these phrases has you confused then it’s time to boot up your word knowledge. In college you’ll need the right language skills whether you’re writing papers, taking exams, or just trying to figure out what your professor’s saying during lecture. But before you start lugging around a three-pound dictionary wherever you go, check out Webster’s New World Dictionary on USB Drive. You’ll find polysyllabic words instantly deciphered with the click of a mouse thanks to this device that holds all the intricacies of the English language in an easy-to-carry — and transfer — electronic form.
Price: $42.99 - 64.99
Website: http://www.centon.com/usb/websters
For Fun Gifts
Gift Idea: iKaraoke
Searching for a way to bring life to your next dormroom party? Look no further than the iKaraoke by Griffen Technology. It’s an iPod add-on that takes your favorite tunes and turns them into instant karaoke classics by removing vocal tracks before it sends the signal to your stereo. With the mere flick of a switch you can be rockin’ out to your pipes singing the latest top hits. And if you really want to feel like you’re hitting the stage, turn on the reverb for some authentic echoing. It’s the perfect gift whether you’re an aspiring American Idol or simply want the craziness of a karaoke bar without the high prices.
Price: $49.95
Website: http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/ikaraoke
Gift Idea: Smarty Pants for the Wii
No dorm is complete without a Wii videogame console and the party games to go with it. That’s why you’ll want to add Electronic Arts’ latest offering, Smarty Pants, to your holiday videogame wishlist. Combining trivia with the Wii’s interactive motion sensors, the game asks you to put on your thinking cap and your dancing shoes. You’ll go from answering questions about the periodic table of elements to using the Wii-mote to “crank” the in-game spinner, and with up to four people playing at the time you’ll work up some laughs as you hone your competitive edge.
Price: $49.99
Website: http://www.ea.com/smartypants/
Practical and Fun!
Gift Idea: Speaker Frames
If there’s one uniting factor amongst college dorms across the country, it’s that they’re all small. Painfully, excruciatingly, small. So in the spirit of college students who have to save space by doubling up on item uses — look mom, it’s a combination crate/table/footstool! — American Science & Surplus store is now marketing the Speaker Frame. It’s your average everyday 5″ x 7″ wooden picture frame with an added feature: a speaker hidden in the back. Snag a set and get ready to conserve desk space while adding a touch of pizzazz to old high school photos.
Price: $29.50 each
Website: http://www.sciplus.com/singleItem.cfm/terms/13980
- Genevieve M. Blaber
December 12th, 2007
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