"Many professionals join alumni chapters at costs that could easily reach $1,000," she says. In addition to joining fees, there are event fees. Regional and national sorority conventions that give graduates an opportunity to meet members of all ages of their chapters from other colleges, but it costs money to travel to and participate in these events. Kendrick adds that supporting various fundraising efforts throughout the year and purchasing expensive paraphernalia can further add to alumni expenses.
Career Advantages
Fraternity and sorority members are more likely to graduate and, as a group, have slightly higher GPAs than their non-Greek peers. Beyond graduation, if you nurture the social connections you'll develop as a member of the Greek system, you can have access to a lifelong network that can help you get a job and advance in your career. Numerous politicians, Fortune 500 executives, Supreme Court justices and American presidents belonged to fraternities or sororities.
The Bottom Line
The expenses associated with Greek life may not be that different than what you'd pay as a non-Greek student purchasing the school's room and board package and participating in other extracurricular activities, such as sports, clubs, university-wide events and social gatherings. Also, Greek scholarships are sometimes available to help offset college expenses. Expenses do vary significantly by chapter, so if money is a concern, find out as much as you can about the costs you'll face before you pledge, and decide whether those expenses are worth it for the experiences you'll have and the connections you'll gain through Greek life.
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Overall Fraternity/Sorority Basics Pt. 2
Fines
Some chapters impose fines on individual members for breaking rules. You might have to pay up if you miss a mandatory meeting or activity, or don't meet GPA standards. Recruitment infractions can also result in fines, which might cost $50 per violation. Members may also be fined for not doing assigned housework or for drinking alcohol at events where alcohol consumption is not allowed. Some chapters allow these fines to be paid in service hours. Also, Greek houses can face fines for fire code violations, trash violations and failure to submit required paperwork on time. In a worst-case scenario, a house could face expensive police fines for violations of city laws, such as serving alcohols to minors and exceeding house occupancy limits during parties.
Social Expenses
Expenses associated with social activities can be difficult to estimate before joining a sorority or fraternity. They can vary significantly by chapter but they're also the expense you technically have the most control over. However, just because it isn't mandatory to donate to every charity event and buy a new dress for every dance and a new t-shirt for every function, doesn't mean you won't feel like these expenses are required when you're overtly or subtly pressured into them. Social expenses can add hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to the cost of "going Greek."
You might be expected to spend money on clothes with your chapter's colors and letters, gifts for your brothers or sisters, event tickets, outings to restaurants and bars, limousine rentals for formal nights out and professional event photos. In some chapters, you could face pressure to buy designer clothes and accessories to maintain the group's self-styled image.
Alumni Expenses
Students who take to heart the lifelong membership component of the Greek system will find themselves with sorority- and fraternity-related expenses long after they graduate. "Adults spend an astronomical amount of money as members of alumni chapters of fraternal organizations, especially in the African-American community," says Crystal L. Kendrick, president of Cincinnati marketing firm The Voice of Your Customer.
Some chapters impose fines on individual members for breaking rules. You might have to pay up if you miss a mandatory meeting or activity, or don't meet GPA standards. Recruitment infractions can also result in fines, which might cost $50 per violation. Members may also be fined for not doing assigned housework or for drinking alcohol at events where alcohol consumption is not allowed. Some chapters allow these fines to be paid in service hours. Also, Greek houses can face fines for fire code violations, trash violations and failure to submit required paperwork on time. In a worst-case scenario, a house could face expensive police fines for violations of city laws, such as serving alcohols to minors and exceeding house occupancy limits during parties.
Social Expenses
Expenses associated with social activities can be difficult to estimate before joining a sorority or fraternity. They can vary significantly by chapter but they're also the expense you technically have the most control over. However, just because it isn't mandatory to donate to every charity event and buy a new dress for every dance and a new t-shirt for every function, doesn't mean you won't feel like these expenses are required when you're overtly or subtly pressured into them. Social expenses can add hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to the cost of "going Greek."
You might be expected to spend money on clothes with your chapter's colors and letters, gifts for your brothers or sisters, event tickets, outings to restaurants and bars, limousine rentals for formal nights out and professional event photos. In some chapters, you could face pressure to buy designer clothes and accessories to maintain the group's self-styled image.
Alumni Expenses
Students who take to heart the lifelong membership component of the Greek system will find themselves with sorority- and fraternity-related expenses long after they graduate. "Adults spend an astronomical amount of money as members of alumni chapters of fraternal organizations, especially in the African-American community," says Crystal L. Kendrick, president of Cincinnati marketing firm The Voice of Your Customer.
Overall Fraternity/Sorority Basics Pt. 1
Joining the Greek community means "opportunities for leadership development, service, brotherhood, academic achievement, networking and social engagement," "a home away from home" and "an opportunity to belong to one of the world's largest lifelong, personal development organizations," according to the North-American Interfraternity Conference, a trade association representing 5,500 men's fraternities at more than 800 U.S. college campuses.
In the 2010-2011 school year, the most recent year for which data are available, more than 300,000 men belonged to undergraduate fraternities, gave 2.25 million hours of community service and raised $14.6 million for charity. The National Pan-Hellenic Conference, which represents 2,986 women's fraternity and sorority chapters on 655 campuses, says women's fraternities provide value beyond the college years, by helping individuals develop their potential "through leadership opportunities and group effort." While you may not be able to put a price on benefits like these, you can put a price on the many expenses associated with membership.
Room and Board
The room and board expenses associated with belonging to a sorority or fraternity vary by school and chapter. At the University of North Carolina (UNC), for example, the average cost for a fraternity member's room, board and dues is $2,970 per semester but ranges from $1,600 to $5,000. For sorority members, the average cost is $2,987 per semester and the range is $2,575 to $3,407. Living in a Greek house is not necessarily more expensive than living in student housing and buying a university meal plan. For example, in Westwood, the upscale Los Angeles neighborhood where UCLA resides, Greek housing can actually save students money. The costs for both seem to be steadily rising as well, but there are ways to combat rising college costs.
New Member Dues and Active Member Dues
At UNC, new members pay $600-$900 in new member dues in the semester when they join. Thereafter, the average cost is $200 to $300 per semester. Dues consist of chapter dues, national dues and pan-hellenic dues. This money helps cover expenses, such as liability insurance, house upkeep, scholarships and social events. Some chapters have payment plans that help members meet their dues obligations.
In the 2010-2011 school year, the most recent year for which data are available, more than 300,000 men belonged to undergraduate fraternities, gave 2.25 million hours of community service and raised $14.6 million for charity. The National Pan-Hellenic Conference, which represents 2,986 women's fraternity and sorority chapters on 655 campuses, says women's fraternities provide value beyond the college years, by helping individuals develop their potential "through leadership opportunities and group effort." While you may not be able to put a price on benefits like these, you can put a price on the many expenses associated with membership.
Room and Board
The room and board expenses associated with belonging to a sorority or fraternity vary by school and chapter. At the University of North Carolina (UNC), for example, the average cost for a fraternity member's room, board and dues is $2,970 per semester but ranges from $1,600 to $5,000. For sorority members, the average cost is $2,987 per semester and the range is $2,575 to $3,407. Living in a Greek house is not necessarily more expensive than living in student housing and buying a university meal plan. For example, in Westwood, the upscale Los Angeles neighborhood where UCLA resides, Greek housing can actually save students money. The costs for both seem to be steadily rising as well, but there are ways to combat rising college costs.
New Member Dues and Active Member Dues
At UNC, new members pay $600-$900 in new member dues in the semester when they join. Thereafter, the average cost is $200 to $300 per semester. Dues consist of chapter dues, national dues and pan-hellenic dues. This money helps cover expenses, such as liability insurance, house upkeep, scholarships and social events. Some chapters have payment plans that help members meet their dues obligations.
Cons of a Fraternity
Cons:
Although the Greek life has many advantages, there are some disadvantages.
For starters, fraternities and sororities require membership fees. For example, the national initiation dues of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity are about $265 in addition to the annual fee of $130. While these fees may seem relatively small, they’ll probably seem like a lot more after you’ve just finished paying all your other college expenses.
This next downside is probably the single most publicized aspect of Greek life: partying. To some, the frat and sorority parties are the best part of the deal and, according to a college alcohol study by the Harvard School of Public Health, 4 out of 5 five members of Greek life were binge drinkers. Statistics like that could mean that at one of those awesome Greek parties you could drink so much you pass out and never wake up.
Another extremely publicized downside of Greek life is hazing. Hazing is a lot more rare in today’s society, due to the many anti-hazing laws that exist in 44 of the 50 states and anti-hazing policies that have been established in many Greek chapters. However, a few hazing cases still occur in many colleges in the U.S.
In one of these cases reported, a college sophomore at Cornell University ended up in a body bag as a result of hazing. The student, George Desdunes, was tied up and quizzed on fraternity lore and traditions, and for every question he got wrong he was force fed drinks. The next morning George was found on the fraternity house’s coach, and by then he’d already died of alcohol poisoning.
Admittedly, cases as severe as this don’t occur every day, but it only takes extreme cases of hazing to permanently end your college experience.
Most of these pros and cons in this article are generalities and just because they are listed here doesn’t necessarily mean that you might encounter them at your fraternity or sorority.
That being said, I hope this article helped you get a better picture of the Greek life and make a decision about whether or not to pledge.
Although the Greek life has many advantages, there are some disadvantages.
For starters, fraternities and sororities require membership fees. For example, the national initiation dues of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity are about $265 in addition to the annual fee of $130. While these fees may seem relatively small, they’ll probably seem like a lot more after you’ve just finished paying all your other college expenses.
This next downside is probably the single most publicized aspect of Greek life: partying. To some, the frat and sorority parties are the best part of the deal and, according to a college alcohol study by the Harvard School of Public Health, 4 out of 5 five members of Greek life were binge drinkers. Statistics like that could mean that at one of those awesome Greek parties you could drink so much you pass out and never wake up.
Another extremely publicized downside of Greek life is hazing. Hazing is a lot more rare in today’s society, due to the many anti-hazing laws that exist in 44 of the 50 states and anti-hazing policies that have been established in many Greek chapters. However, a few hazing cases still occur in many colleges in the U.S.
In one of these cases reported, a college sophomore at Cornell University ended up in a body bag as a result of hazing. The student, George Desdunes, was tied up and quizzed on fraternity lore and traditions, and for every question he got wrong he was force fed drinks. The next morning George was found on the fraternity house’s coach, and by then he’d already died of alcohol poisoning.
Admittedly, cases as severe as this don’t occur every day, but it only takes extreme cases of hazing to permanently end your college experience.
Most of these pros and cons in this article are generalities and just because they are listed here doesn’t necessarily mean that you might encounter them at your fraternity or sorority.
That being said, I hope this article helped you get a better picture of the Greek life and make a decision about whether or not to pledge.
Pros of a Fraternity
There are a few big decisions most college freshman must make after they’ve decided on the college they want to attend — like where to live, when to schedule classes, and whether or not to join Greek life.
Although it may seem unimportant, whether or not you join Greek life will greatly affect your college experience in many ways.
Hopefully this article can help you get a better perspective of the Greek life and help you decide if it’s the right choice for you.
Pros:
One of the most obvious benefits of fraternities and sororities are the friendships, brother/sisterhoods and connections that come with being a member. The friends that you gain during your time at a fraternity or sorority are usually lifelong and the connections can you give you an advantage over your competition when you enter the job market.
Also, being in a fraternity or sorority will look good on your resume. Despite the bad rap they get in the media, most businesses believe that fraternities and sororities produce responsible members of society.
Another great thing about Greek organizations is that they can help students get and keep good grades throughout college; because most of them require a certain GPA to become a member.
For example, in order to become an Alpha Elipson Phi member at the University of Maryland, you are required to have at least a GPA of 2.9.
Plus, if you happen to be one of those people who like to give back to their community, then you’ll probably love Greek life. Community service is one of the main aspects of fraternities and sororities.
The last and possibly greatest advantage of Greek life is the housing, which is often less expensive than the university housing, and allows you to live with people who you have something in common with.
Although it may seem unimportant, whether or not you join Greek life will greatly affect your college experience in many ways.
Hopefully this article can help you get a better perspective of the Greek life and help you decide if it’s the right choice for you.
Pros:
One of the most obvious benefits of fraternities and sororities are the friendships, brother/sisterhoods and connections that come with being a member. The friends that you gain during your time at a fraternity or sorority are usually lifelong and the connections can you give you an advantage over your competition when you enter the job market.
Also, being in a fraternity or sorority will look good on your resume. Despite the bad rap they get in the media, most businesses believe that fraternities and sororities produce responsible members of society.
Another great thing about Greek organizations is that they can help students get and keep good grades throughout college; because most of them require a certain GPA to become a member.
For example, in order to become an Alpha Elipson Phi member at the University of Maryland, you are required to have at least a GPA of 2.9.
Plus, if you happen to be one of those people who like to give back to their community, then you’ll probably love Greek life. Community service is one of the main aspects of fraternities and sororities.
The last and possibly greatest advantage of Greek life is the housing, which is often less expensive than the university housing, and allows you to live with people who you have something in common with.
College vs. University Pt. 2
Education
This is, perhaps, the most notable difference between university and college. Simply put, a university education tends to be highly academic, even abstract - it teaches you how to think critically about the world around you. On the flip side, a college education focuses more on applied knowledge and hands-on learning - college teaches you how to do something in the world.
This obviously carries over into classroom instruction. In university, you'll likely sit in a room with 200 other people, listen to a professor talk, and then do some readings and hand in a few highly intellectual essays and assignments. In college, classroom instruction often takes the form of the students learning how to do something and then getting up and actually doing it - taking apart a car engine, designing a magazine advertisement, building a computer.
Both forms of learning have pros and cons - university grads sometimes find themselves unsure exactly what it is they're trained to do in the "real world", whereas college graduates might find their program was too focused and wish they could have gotten a taste of a broader range of topics.
For the best of both worlds, you might want to consider entering one of the growing number of joint programs being offered through university and college partnerships across the country. In these types of programs, you generally spend a year or two in college to earn a diploma, and then another couple of years taking university courses to earn a bachelor degree. This balanced route might best prepare you for the future by fostering both practical and intellectual skills.
Program Value
Because universities tend to be bigger institutions, with more course options and longer programs, they've come to be seen as the more prestigious post-secondary choice. In fact, in the eyes of some employers a university degree is still seen as being more valuable than a college diploma. Just having it on your résumé might be enough to get you a job, when put up against a college-trained applicant.
There are also plenty of statistics saying university grads make more money in their lifetimes than college grads, although this might have more to do with the initial career choices those grads are making than with where they went to school. After all, a doctor (who went to university) is going to make more than a mechanic (who went to college). On the other hand, a college-trained journalist and a university-trained journalist might still make about the same amount of money in the field.
In the end, it really all comes down to personal preference - which school and program do you feel will give you the best launch-pad for your future? The best way to find this out is to do lots and lots of research - talk to former students to find out if they think they wasted their time taking a certain program, and ask potential employers what kind of an education they'd suggest.
This is, perhaps, the most notable difference between university and college. Simply put, a university education tends to be highly academic, even abstract - it teaches you how to think critically about the world around you. On the flip side, a college education focuses more on applied knowledge and hands-on learning - college teaches you how to do something in the world.
This obviously carries over into classroom instruction. In university, you'll likely sit in a room with 200 other people, listen to a professor talk, and then do some readings and hand in a few highly intellectual essays and assignments. In college, classroom instruction often takes the form of the students learning how to do something and then getting up and actually doing it - taking apart a car engine, designing a magazine advertisement, building a computer.
Both forms of learning have pros and cons - university grads sometimes find themselves unsure exactly what it is they're trained to do in the "real world", whereas college graduates might find their program was too focused and wish they could have gotten a taste of a broader range of topics.
For the best of both worlds, you might want to consider entering one of the growing number of joint programs being offered through university and college partnerships across the country. In these types of programs, you generally spend a year or two in college to earn a diploma, and then another couple of years taking university courses to earn a bachelor degree. This balanced route might best prepare you for the future by fostering both practical and intellectual skills.
Program Value
Because universities tend to be bigger institutions, with more course options and longer programs, they've come to be seen as the more prestigious post-secondary choice. In fact, in the eyes of some employers a university degree is still seen as being more valuable than a college diploma. Just having it on your résumé might be enough to get you a job, when put up against a college-trained applicant.
There are also plenty of statistics saying university grads make more money in their lifetimes than college grads, although this might have more to do with the initial career choices those grads are making than with where they went to school. After all, a doctor (who went to university) is going to make more than a mechanic (who went to college). On the other hand, a college-trained journalist and a university-trained journalist might still make about the same amount of money in the field.
In the end, it really all comes down to personal preference - which school and program do you feel will give you the best launch-pad for your future? The best way to find this out is to do lots and lots of research - talk to former students to find out if they think they wasted their time taking a certain program, and ask potential employers what kind of an education they'd suggest.
College vs. University Pt. 1
There are a lot of things to consider when making the decision between a university or college program, but when you boil it all down, there are really four main differences between the two:
Time
In general, a university undergraduate degree will take longer to finish than a college program. Most undergraduate degrees take about three to five years to complete, while a college diploma program can range from around nine months to two or three years. If you want to get out of school and into the workforce as quickly as possible, than college is likely the right choice for you.
The structure of the university versus college school day is also something to consider. In many university programs, students have a lot of leeway in creating their own schedules, resulting in days where you might have three or four hours of classes, followed by days with none.
College classes, on the other hand, are often fairly fixed and the school days can be pretty intensive. Similar to high school in some ways, a college schedule might have you at your desk from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. all week. If you're juggling school and work, this could wreak havoc with your schedule.
Cost
University programs are not only longer than college programs, they're also more expensive overall. Not only are you paying for an extra year or two of education, but yearly costs at a university can be double what you'd pay for a college course. For example, in the course I took (a four-year joint program between the University of Winnipeg and Red River College) I paid about $2,000 tuition for a year at the college and over $3,500 for a year at the university. Over three or four years, this difference in tuition can definitely add up. Do the math and figure out your finances before beginning a program of study.
Time
In general, a university undergraduate degree will take longer to finish than a college program. Most undergraduate degrees take about three to five years to complete, while a college diploma program can range from around nine months to two or three years. If you want to get out of school and into the workforce as quickly as possible, than college is likely the right choice for you.
The structure of the university versus college school day is also something to consider. In many university programs, students have a lot of leeway in creating their own schedules, resulting in days where you might have three or four hours of classes, followed by days with none.
College classes, on the other hand, are often fairly fixed and the school days can be pretty intensive. Similar to high school in some ways, a college schedule might have you at your desk from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. all week. If you're juggling school and work, this could wreak havoc with your schedule.
Cost
University programs are not only longer than college programs, they're also more expensive overall. Not only are you paying for an extra year or two of education, but yearly costs at a university can be double what you'd pay for a college course. For example, in the course I took (a four-year joint program between the University of Winnipeg and Red River College) I paid about $2,000 tuition for a year at the college and over $3,500 for a year at the university. Over three or four years, this difference in tuition can definitely add up. Do the math and figure out your finances before beginning a program of study.
Basics of Public Universities
In the United States, most public universities are state universities founded and operated by state government entities; the oldest being Rutgers University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and The University of Georgia, although the overall oldest school now designated as public is The College of William & Mary (founded in 1693 and first considered private). The University of South Carolina (1801) is the longest continuously supported public university. Every U.S. state has at least one public university to its name and the largest states have more than thirty. This is partly as a result of the 1862 Morrill Land-Grant Acts, which gave each eligible state 30,000 acres (120 km²) of federal land to sell to finance public institutions offering courses of study in practical fields in addition to the liberal arts. With the help of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the High Education Act of 1965 and the Education Amendments of 1972, public universities became even more accessible for women, minorities and lower income applicants. Several examples of state-funded universities considered to be top-tier on a worldwide basis can be found in the University of California system. Their top institutions include Davis, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles (UCLA), and Berkeley. Many U.S. public universities began as teacher training institutions and eventually were expanded into comprehensive universities. Examples include UCLA, formerly the southern branch of California State Normal School; Arizona State University, originally the Tempe Normal School; the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, formerly Milwaukee Normal School; and Missouri State University, formerly Southwest Missouri State Teachers College.
States generally charge higher tuition to out-of-state students. The higher fees are based on the theory that students from the state, or much more often their parents, have contributed to subsidizing the university by paying state taxes, while out-of-state students and their parents have not.
It has never been determined whether the U.S. Constitution would allow the federal government to establish a federal university system; the only federally chartered public universities that currently exist are the United States Service academies and military-associated educational institutions administered by the United States Department of Defense. In addition, Georgetown University was the first federally chartered private university in Washington, D.C. (1815), and was later followed by other colleges and universities in the District of Columbia, including Gallaudet University (1864), Howard University (1867), and American University (1893).
Historically, many of the prestigious universities in the United States have been private. Some public universities are also highly prestigious and increasingly selective though; Richard Moll designated such prestigious public universities Public Ivies. At schools like the University of Michigan, UCLA, the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Virginia, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the College of William and Mary, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a vast majority of the departments are consistently highly ranked.
Public universities generally rely on subsidies from their respective state government. “The historical data for private and public institutions reveal that public institutions have always been more dependent on external support than have private institutions.” Recently, state support of public universities has been declining, forcing many public universities to seek private support. The real level of state funding for public higher education has doubled from $30 billion in 1974 to nearly $60 billion in 2000. Meanwhile, the percent of state appropriations for the cost of schooling per student at public university has fallen from 78% in 1974 to 43% in 2000. The increasing use of teaching assistants in public universities is a testament to waning state support. To compensate, some professional graduate programs in law, business, and medicine rely almost solely on private funding.
States generally charge higher tuition to out-of-state students. The higher fees are based on the theory that students from the state, or much more often their parents, have contributed to subsidizing the university by paying state taxes, while out-of-state students and their parents have not.
It has never been determined whether the U.S. Constitution would allow the federal government to establish a federal university system; the only federally chartered public universities that currently exist are the United States Service academies and military-associated educational institutions administered by the United States Department of Defense. In addition, Georgetown University was the first federally chartered private university in Washington, D.C. (1815), and was later followed by other colleges and universities in the District of Columbia, including Gallaudet University (1864), Howard University (1867), and American University (1893).
Historically, many of the prestigious universities in the United States have been private. Some public universities are also highly prestigious and increasingly selective though; Richard Moll designated such prestigious public universities Public Ivies. At schools like the University of Michigan, UCLA, the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Virginia, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the College of William and Mary, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a vast majority of the departments are consistently highly ranked.
Public universities generally rely on subsidies from their respective state government. “The historical data for private and public institutions reveal that public institutions have always been more dependent on external support than have private institutions.” Recently, state support of public universities has been declining, forcing many public universities to seek private support. The real level of state funding for public higher education has doubled from $30 billion in 1974 to nearly $60 billion in 2000. Meanwhile, the percent of state appropriations for the cost of schooling per student at public university has fallen from 78% in 1974 to 43% in 2000. The increasing use of teaching assistants in public universities is a testament to waning state support. To compensate, some professional graduate programs in law, business, and medicine rely almost solely on private funding.
How to Maximize Potential at College Pt. 2
2. Form Study Groups
Secondly, start forming study groups with two to three individuals in a class. You will be able to not only build friendships, but you will be able to utilize these relationships as resources and support in that class, if necessary.
Time Management – Time is Money
The value of time at college is as valuable as the money you put into it. You can choose to be wise with your time or not. Either way, it passes, and once it does, there is no gaining it back. You will have, typically, four years to complete your degree, glean from academia what you need in order be successful in the work world, make friendships to increase your network of people, and grow. Spending your time outside of class in your dorm will get you nothing but an intimate relationship with your carpet. On the flip side, spending your free time drunk will have its own slew of bad results.
Be diligent about your time spent on weekends and your free time. Join a club or extra-curricular activity; make a list of “to-do’s.” Most importantly, find a balance. If you are the type of person that tends to overdo your schedule, be careful not to burn yourself out. The main focus in this segment is to treat time with value, to abstain from idleness, isolation and irresponsibility.
Career Focus
Some might argue that going into your first year of college without a career focus is absolutely acceptable as the first couple of years should be spent focusing on courses in general education. It is my belief that having some sort of interest or vision of what you would like to study and/or become going into your first two years of college can be beneficial and in some ways necessary.
Benefits of an Early Career Focus:
1. General Education Can Become Tedious
General education courses are simply extensions of what you’ve learned in high school. The tediousness of continuing these subjects for two more years, likely, can be overbearing for some and cause them to drop-out. If, with a career focus, you can incorporate some classes that are material to your interest, you can add a little more excitement to the rigors of schoolwork.
2. More Time to Decide and Network
If you have a career focus early on, it allows you to have more time to determine whether or not this is an area of interest for you. Additionally, it gives you more opportunities to become involved on campus in your field of interest, to intern, and meet people who have common pursuits.
Conclusion
College is a time for growth. By making the decision to attend a four year school and pursuing a degree you are automatically maximizing your potential in life. Take extra steps to maximize your potential at school so your life investment will invariably come out with topmost return!
Secondly, start forming study groups with two to three individuals in a class. You will be able to not only build friendships, but you will be able to utilize these relationships as resources and support in that class, if necessary.
Time Management – Time is Money
The value of time at college is as valuable as the money you put into it. You can choose to be wise with your time or not. Either way, it passes, and once it does, there is no gaining it back. You will have, typically, four years to complete your degree, glean from academia what you need in order be successful in the work world, make friendships to increase your network of people, and grow. Spending your time outside of class in your dorm will get you nothing but an intimate relationship with your carpet. On the flip side, spending your free time drunk will have its own slew of bad results.
Be diligent about your time spent on weekends and your free time. Join a club or extra-curricular activity; make a list of “to-do’s.” Most importantly, find a balance. If you are the type of person that tends to overdo your schedule, be careful not to burn yourself out. The main focus in this segment is to treat time with value, to abstain from idleness, isolation and irresponsibility.
Career Focus
Some might argue that going into your first year of college without a career focus is absolutely acceptable as the first couple of years should be spent focusing on courses in general education. It is my belief that having some sort of interest or vision of what you would like to study and/or become going into your first two years of college can be beneficial and in some ways necessary.
Benefits of an Early Career Focus:
1. General Education Can Become Tedious
General education courses are simply extensions of what you’ve learned in high school. The tediousness of continuing these subjects for two more years, likely, can be overbearing for some and cause them to drop-out. If, with a career focus, you can incorporate some classes that are material to your interest, you can add a little more excitement to the rigors of schoolwork.
2. More Time to Decide and Network
If you have a career focus early on, it allows you to have more time to determine whether or not this is an area of interest for you. Additionally, it gives you more opportunities to become involved on campus in your field of interest, to intern, and meet people who have common pursuits.
Conclusion
College is a time for growth. By making the decision to attend a four year school and pursuing a degree you are automatically maximizing your potential in life. Take extra steps to maximize your potential at school so your life investment will invariably come out with topmost return!
How to Maximize Potential at College Pt. 1
When a person considers making an investment, he has to consider several things, the cost, the return, and quite possibly the risk of failure. Attending college with prospects of gaining a degree is an investment. There is a cost, and there is a return. There is also a possible risk of failure. When you keep in mind the steep price of tuition for most colleges, failure should not be an option, and an eye for success should be the primary motivator. However, what does definitive success look like to a person wishing to gain a return on a college investment?
What many college students or high school students do not realize is that just because they graduate with a degree and a high grade point average, they should not necessarily define their success based on those accomplishments. As high school prepares a student for college, college prepares a student for the career world. How is it, then, that so many college graduates are working jobs not even closely related to the career they studied while at school?
There are many different dynamics within this topic that could give reasonable answers to that question, i.e., unstable economy, etc. In whatever way, a college student should not lose hope in his or her efforts to heighten their chances for career success pertinent to their study interests. It is up to the student to maximize his or her potential for success. Here are some tips:
Get Involved – Take Initiative
The popular platitude “get involved” will most likely sound like a broken record, and the wisdom in this message will diminish each time this piece of advice is offered. However, most college graduates will attest to the importance of getting involved at school. Why? Because it opens the door to networking, and you will find soon enough that networking is a treasure to your future career success.
The responsibility you have is to take initiative in getting to know people around you. This can be a difficult task for some, but there will come a time when breaking out of a comfort shell is mandatory. I have found that graduates, looking back on their college experiences, who passed on opportunities to branch out and welcome people into their life have had regrets.
Here are some examples of ways that you can get involved with your fellow class-mates:
1. Networking Websites
If you don’t have a Facebook profile, get one. Facebook is a tool specific to networking. Start with adding to your queue of friends every one of your classmates. This is an easy way to start building relationships and keep on top of upcoming events on campus, etc.
What many college students or high school students do not realize is that just because they graduate with a degree and a high grade point average, they should not necessarily define their success based on those accomplishments. As high school prepares a student for college, college prepares a student for the career world. How is it, then, that so many college graduates are working jobs not even closely related to the career they studied while at school?
There are many different dynamics within this topic that could give reasonable answers to that question, i.e., unstable economy, etc. In whatever way, a college student should not lose hope in his or her efforts to heighten their chances for career success pertinent to their study interests. It is up to the student to maximize his or her potential for success. Here are some tips:
Get Involved – Take Initiative
The popular platitude “get involved” will most likely sound like a broken record, and the wisdom in this message will diminish each time this piece of advice is offered. However, most college graduates will attest to the importance of getting involved at school. Why? Because it opens the door to networking, and you will find soon enough that networking is a treasure to your future career success.
The responsibility you have is to take initiative in getting to know people around you. This can be a difficult task for some, but there will come a time when breaking out of a comfort shell is mandatory. I have found that graduates, looking back on their college experiences, who passed on opportunities to branch out and welcome people into their life have had regrets.
Here are some examples of ways that you can get involved with your fellow class-mates:
1. Networking Websites
If you don’t have a Facebook profile, get one. Facebook is a tool specific to networking. Start with adding to your queue of friends every one of your classmates. This is an easy way to start building relationships and keep on top of upcoming events on campus, etc.
9 Ways to Maximize College Experience
1. Solve Problems
Find something your passionate about and work to improve it. Dan Rockwell suggests, “gathering together” with other students to solve problems.
2. Take Risks
Get comfortable with discomfort. Don’t jump out of the 2nd story classroom (like my friend did at Wake Forest he’s stupid, but fine), but do wise things that scare you. Will Lukang says, “take risks and push yourself out of your comfort zone.” Mario Marquez shares, “Look for the uncomfortable and controversial situations, the hot potatoes that the majority will stay away from.”
3. Learn who you are
You will do great things, and many silly ones. Learn from it all. Keep reflecting on, and refining, your values. Learn to lead and lead to learn. And as Alaska Chick says, “Walk the talk and do what you say.”
4. Volunteer
The most consistent advice I received is “volunteer.” Get involved. Spend time in the community.
“Get involved in the college’s outreach programs. Most colleges have programs to tutor high school students who are not passing graduation exams, community clean-up programs, political activist groups, debate groups, open theater programs get involved. Being in college can be about so much more than just getting a degree for what’s next.”
~Joy Guthrie
5. Build a Network
Hang out with all kinds of people. Find your niches, but don’t limit yourself. That weird guy may be up to something fantastic. It’s great to build a network of diverse communities. Network extensively through social media and make genuine connections. Mike Henry, Sr. suggests, “select friends carefully.”
“Grow your leadership skills in the place that sparks your passion – opportunities are everywhere. If you don’t feel the click, keep exploring until you do.”
~Alli Polin
6. Learn Extra
Attend the free lectures. Take crazy courses unrelated to your major. Listen with your heart. Take a full course load. Stay up late talking with your friends about what they are learning. Donald George suggests, “develop a variety of leadership skills and apply the most appropriate approach to fit that specific situation.”
7. Find Mentors
Invest in getting to know your professors. I have a few lifelong mentors (now friends) that began as professors. Help them with their research. Drink coffee with them. You will be amazed at the opportunities that can emerge. Also find mentors in the community and in areas of interest. Connect with mentors across all walks of life.
“Find leaders you look up to and ask them to mentor you. Serve on their teams so as to watch, observe, and learn. Work hard, build good relationships, and after your studies are done, volunteer your heart out.”
~David Dye
8. Learn Think, Write and Speak
Take classes that challenge you to organize and articulate your point of view. Take lots of writing and speaking classes. Consider an improv or other theater class. Get really comfortable in front of people. If you hate public speaking, keep taking classes until you don’t.
9. Work Hard
Dan McCarthy shared a combination of quotes from Chuck Yeager and Vince Lombardi: “There’s no such thing as a natural-born leader. All great leaders got that way from hard work, not from some endowed gift.“ Thank goodness. Don’t cheat yourself with the easy way out. Or as Pop Pop says:
Find something your passionate about and work to improve it. Dan Rockwell suggests, “gathering together” with other students to solve problems.
2. Take Risks
Get comfortable with discomfort. Don’t jump out of the 2nd story classroom (like my friend did at Wake Forest he’s stupid, but fine), but do wise things that scare you. Will Lukang says, “take risks and push yourself out of your comfort zone.” Mario Marquez shares, “Look for the uncomfortable and controversial situations, the hot potatoes that the majority will stay away from.”
3. Learn who you are
You will do great things, and many silly ones. Learn from it all. Keep reflecting on, and refining, your values. Learn to lead and lead to learn. And as Alaska Chick says, “Walk the talk and do what you say.”
4. Volunteer
The most consistent advice I received is “volunteer.” Get involved. Spend time in the community.
“Get involved in the college’s outreach programs. Most colleges have programs to tutor high school students who are not passing graduation exams, community clean-up programs, political activist groups, debate groups, open theater programs get involved. Being in college can be about so much more than just getting a degree for what’s next.”
~Joy Guthrie
5. Build a Network
Hang out with all kinds of people. Find your niches, but don’t limit yourself. That weird guy may be up to something fantastic. It’s great to build a network of diverse communities. Network extensively through social media and make genuine connections. Mike Henry, Sr. suggests, “select friends carefully.”
“Grow your leadership skills in the place that sparks your passion – opportunities are everywhere. If you don’t feel the click, keep exploring until you do.”
~Alli Polin
6. Learn Extra
Attend the free lectures. Take crazy courses unrelated to your major. Listen with your heart. Take a full course load. Stay up late talking with your friends about what they are learning. Donald George suggests, “develop a variety of leadership skills and apply the most appropriate approach to fit that specific situation.”
7. Find Mentors
Invest in getting to know your professors. I have a few lifelong mentors (now friends) that began as professors. Help them with their research. Drink coffee with them. You will be amazed at the opportunities that can emerge. Also find mentors in the community and in areas of interest. Connect with mentors across all walks of life.
“Find leaders you look up to and ask them to mentor you. Serve on their teams so as to watch, observe, and learn. Work hard, build good relationships, and after your studies are done, volunteer your heart out.”
~David Dye
8. Learn Think, Write and Speak
Take classes that challenge you to organize and articulate your point of view. Take lots of writing and speaking classes. Consider an improv or other theater class. Get really comfortable in front of people. If you hate public speaking, keep taking classes until you don’t.
9. Work Hard
Dan McCarthy shared a combination of quotes from Chuck Yeager and Vince Lombardi: “There’s no such thing as a natural-born leader. All great leaders got that way from hard work, not from some endowed gift.“ Thank goodness. Don’t cheat yourself with the easy way out. Or as Pop Pop says:
Things to Keep in Mind Pt. 2
Sports
When you envision your college years, do you see thousands of fans cheering your school’s basketball team on to the big win? One of the advantages of going to a large university is the athletic program. If you are a sports fan, attending an NCAA Division I school with high-profile players and games might factor into your decision. Part of attending one of these schools is the excitement created with televised games, pep rallies, and homecoming. Even if you are not a sports fan, large universities offer plenty of other clubs, events, and activities.
Instead of a packed sports arena, do you see a group of friends spending a Saturday afternoon tossing a Frisbee or getting involved in intramurals like a rugby club? You might find a more subdued sports scene at smaller colleges. That being said, plenty of smaller colleges hold their own even as D-I schools, and there are fierce rivalries among many small schools. While only a few hundred fans may be cheering, they can have the same spirited intensity as thousands. And you’ll probably know many of the people in the stands. There are large and small colleges and universities for all types of sports fans. There are no wrong answers; it depends on what you prefer.
Extracurriculars
Size can have a big impact on extracurricular activities. In general, the larger the college, the more types of activities are offered. If you’re interested in a relatively obscure activity, you’re more likely to find it offered at larger colleges. On the other hand, it can be more difficult to “break in” to popular activities on a larger campus. After all, the more students there are, the greater your competition.
If you come from a small high school where you always got the starring role in the musicals, at a big college, you might find that you are cast as a bystander for your first few productions. Yet, by your senior year you could be starring in your own university musical theatre production.
At smaller colleges, students may find it easier to get involved and stand out in extracurricular acti-vities. While small colleges usually can’t offer the variety of activities that a large college can, the quality of the programs are usually equal. Whatever suits you best is your answer.
Social life
The effects of a college’s size on student social life are similar to those on extracurricular activities. Larger schools have a greater variety of social options, and small colleges may have fewer options, but larger student participation in any one event.
You may find that smaller colleges seem friendlier, but only because you’re likely to run into the same people more often. On the other hand, once you make a few friends, even the largest campus begins to feel like home.
One thing is true—you can make a big university feel smaller, and a small college, larger. At a big school, you can become very involved with your major, dorm, and extracurricular activities to create a tight-knit community. Conversely, some small schools are located in or near cities, other colleges, cafés, and attractions, which can expand students’ social and cultural horizons immeasurably.
The best way to figure out what size college appeals to you is to visit a variety of colleges—small, large, urban, and rural campuses. Remember, each school has a “personality,” and experiencing the campus is the best way to gauge if it’s a good fit for you.
Although size does have a significant impact on many aspects of college life, general statements can never capture the unique environment and community of an individual college. No matter what college you choose, your personality, interests, and choices will make your college experience different from anyone else’s.
When you envision your college years, do you see thousands of fans cheering your school’s basketball team on to the big win? One of the advantages of going to a large university is the athletic program. If you are a sports fan, attending an NCAA Division I school with high-profile players and games might factor into your decision. Part of attending one of these schools is the excitement created with televised games, pep rallies, and homecoming. Even if you are not a sports fan, large universities offer plenty of other clubs, events, and activities.
Instead of a packed sports arena, do you see a group of friends spending a Saturday afternoon tossing a Frisbee or getting involved in intramurals like a rugby club? You might find a more subdued sports scene at smaller colleges. That being said, plenty of smaller colleges hold their own even as D-I schools, and there are fierce rivalries among many small schools. While only a few hundred fans may be cheering, they can have the same spirited intensity as thousands. And you’ll probably know many of the people in the stands. There are large and small colleges and universities for all types of sports fans. There are no wrong answers; it depends on what you prefer.
Extracurriculars
Size can have a big impact on extracurricular activities. In general, the larger the college, the more types of activities are offered. If you’re interested in a relatively obscure activity, you’re more likely to find it offered at larger colleges. On the other hand, it can be more difficult to “break in” to popular activities on a larger campus. After all, the more students there are, the greater your competition.
If you come from a small high school where you always got the starring role in the musicals, at a big college, you might find that you are cast as a bystander for your first few productions. Yet, by your senior year you could be starring in your own university musical theatre production.
At smaller colleges, students may find it easier to get involved and stand out in extracurricular acti-vities. While small colleges usually can’t offer the variety of activities that a large college can, the quality of the programs are usually equal. Whatever suits you best is your answer.
Social life
The effects of a college’s size on student social life are similar to those on extracurricular activities. Larger schools have a greater variety of social options, and small colleges may have fewer options, but larger student participation in any one event.
You may find that smaller colleges seem friendlier, but only because you’re likely to run into the same people more often. On the other hand, once you make a few friends, even the largest campus begins to feel like home.
One thing is true—you can make a big university feel smaller, and a small college, larger. At a big school, you can become very involved with your major, dorm, and extracurricular activities to create a tight-knit community. Conversely, some small schools are located in or near cities, other colleges, cafés, and attractions, which can expand students’ social and cultural horizons immeasurably.
The best way to figure out what size college appeals to you is to visit a variety of colleges—small, large, urban, and rural campuses. Remember, each school has a “personality,” and experiencing the campus is the best way to gauge if it’s a good fit for you.
Although size does have a significant impact on many aspects of college life, general statements can never capture the unique environment and community of an individual college. No matter what college you choose, your personality, interests, and choices will make your college experience different from anyone else’s.
Things to Keep in Mind
Class size
The size of the college or university affects the size of classes. It is not unusual for freshman students at a big university to take notes along with hundreds of other students in a huge lecture hall. These classes may work if you like being somewhat “under the radar,” prefer a bit of anonymity, and are comfortable learning in a large group. In this case, the student-filled lectures might be just right for you.
At a small school, you will find yourself in a more intimate setting: small classes support student participation. These classes foster greater interactions between classmates and professors, generally more so than the lecture hall scenario. This environment might be what you prefer. Of course, both small and large colleges and universities offer lecture-style and small classroom-style interactions. At larger universities, the classes generally get smaller when your field of study narrows as an upperclassman, like senior capstone courses. Think about these different learning environments and where you feel you would be the most successful.
Faculty
A college’s size impacts professors and student-faculty interactions as well. Large universities often have professors who are at the top of their fields—renowned researchers, writers, and experts. But undergraduates may not have much contact with these professors. Instead, a graduate student “teaching assistant” (TA) may run smaller, more focused seminar classes to review what the professors lectured on during the main class meeting time.
Sometimes this is a good thing, because TAs might have more time to work independently with students and may be highly skilled at communicating the material since they are still students themselves. This practice is something to consider if a campus with distinguished professors is an important factor to you.
At smaller colleges, particularly those without graduate programs, you may not run into as many “big-name” research professors, but you will likely have far more interaction with the faculty. Many small colleges strive to foster mentoring relationships between professors and students.
Courses
Large universities have a wide variety of classes in more disciplines than you can imagine. They may even have a law school or medical school attached to them as well. You will have access to many majors, minors, and concentrations. Big schools may be more likely to offer dual-degree programs, in which you can graduate with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree. This expansive learning environment means you can test a broad range of subjects and find what interests you the most. And you can pursue your academics with excellent professors, massive libraries, and well-equipped labs and facilities.
Small schools may not offer the sheer variety of courses, but there are other advantages to obtaining a top-notch education with individual attention and guidance. At some smaller colleges, you may have the opportunity to work with your academic advisor more closely to level-op a curriculum specifically designed for you. You will be supported and
encouraged by the staff and faculty, some of whom will likely become friends or mentors. Though the library may be smaller, it will become your favorite place to meet friends and study in a cozy corner.
The size of the college or university affects the size of classes. It is not unusual for freshman students at a big university to take notes along with hundreds of other students in a huge lecture hall. These classes may work if you like being somewhat “under the radar,” prefer a bit of anonymity, and are comfortable learning in a large group. In this case, the student-filled lectures might be just right for you.
At a small school, you will find yourself in a more intimate setting: small classes support student participation. These classes foster greater interactions between classmates and professors, generally more so than the lecture hall scenario. This environment might be what you prefer. Of course, both small and large colleges and universities offer lecture-style and small classroom-style interactions. At larger universities, the classes generally get smaller when your field of study narrows as an upperclassman, like senior capstone courses. Think about these different learning environments and where you feel you would be the most successful.
Faculty
A college’s size impacts professors and student-faculty interactions as well. Large universities often have professors who are at the top of their fields—renowned researchers, writers, and experts. But undergraduates may not have much contact with these professors. Instead, a graduate student “teaching assistant” (TA) may run smaller, more focused seminar classes to review what the professors lectured on during the main class meeting time.
Sometimes this is a good thing, because TAs might have more time to work independently with students and may be highly skilled at communicating the material since they are still students themselves. This practice is something to consider if a campus with distinguished professors is an important factor to you.
At smaller colleges, particularly those without graduate programs, you may not run into as many “big-name” research professors, but you will likely have far more interaction with the faculty. Many small colleges strive to foster mentoring relationships between professors and students.
Courses
Large universities have a wide variety of classes in more disciplines than you can imagine. They may even have a law school or medical school attached to them as well. You will have access to many majors, minors, and concentrations. Big schools may be more likely to offer dual-degree programs, in which you can graduate with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree. This expansive learning environment means you can test a broad range of subjects and find what interests you the most. And you can pursue your academics with excellent professors, massive libraries, and well-equipped labs and facilities.
Small schools may not offer the sheer variety of courses, but there are other advantages to obtaining a top-notch education with individual attention and guidance. At some smaller colleges, you may have the opportunity to work with your academic advisor more closely to level-op a curriculum specifically designed for you. You will be supported and
encouraged by the staff and faculty, some of whom will likely become friends or mentors. Though the library may be smaller, it will become your favorite place to meet friends and study in a cozy corner.
Pros and Cons of Uniforms
The pros and cons of school uniforms statistics are deeply influenced by the arguments of schools and parents in favor of children wearing school uniforms and those who do not agree with the idea. Arguments that determine the pros and cons of school uniform statistics are the following;
• School uniforms costs less as compared to preferred clothing of the child.
• Students reduce the pressure of deciding what dress to wear each morning to going to school.
• Encourages a discipline.
• School uniforms improve student’s attendance.
• Children are free to concentrate on their lessons.
• Students have less time to prepare and get ready for school in the morning.
• School uniforms decreases the possibility of violence within the school premises.
• School uniforms decreases the pressure of wearing trendier brands.
• Students reduce the pressure of deciding what dress to wear each morning to going to school.
• Encourages a discipline.
• School uniforms improve student’s attendance.
• Children are free to concentrate on their lessons.
• Students have less time to prepare and get ready for school in the morning.
• School uniforms decreases the possibility of violence within the school premises.
• School uniforms decreases the pressure of wearing trendier brands.
ARGUMENTS AGAINST SCHOOL UNIFORMS
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton is perhaps the most influential and advocate of wearing school uniforms. However, the pros and cons of school uniforms statistics are deeply varied among schools and parents across the Unites States. Among every debate about to wear or not to wear school uniforms, there are always two sides of the argument. People who were against school uniforms say:
• Uniforms detract the student’s individuality.
• Schools must be the place where diversity is observed.
• The cost of school uniforms is prohibitive, especially when a family has more them one school aged child.
• School uniforms are a financial burden to low income families.
• A child wearing uniform can be the target for bullying of students from different schools.
• Uniforms can decrease the child’s comfort level and attentiveness while attending lessons.
• Enforcing rules to wearing school uniforms is extremely difficult, especially to public schools.
• Schools must be the place where diversity is observed.
• The cost of school uniforms is prohibitive, especially when a family has more them one school aged child.
• School uniforms are a financial burden to low income families.
• A child wearing uniform can be the target for bullying of students from different schools.
• Uniforms can decrease the child’s comfort level and attentiveness while attending lessons.
• Enforcing rules to wearing school uniforms is extremely difficult, especially to public schools.
PROS AND CONS STATISTICS
According to current 2013 pros and cons of school uniforms statistics, 23% of schools across the United States are enforcing their students to wear a uniform. The leader of the school uniform pro-advocates, New Orleans has 95% of all public schools that require a uniform. The cost of uniforms makes up 1 billion dollars in back to school sales.
According to current pros and cons of uniform statistics, anti-school uniforms are more comfortable to the idea of implementing dress codes. Dress codes can give students the opportunity to have their own identity and stay comfortable without on their attire. However, pro-uniform advocates are not contented to this idea as students can have the opportunity to violate school rules. On top of that, other students can have the freedom to wear the attire they want even if it distracts other students within the campus. In addition, students can wear attire that can lead to a bad impression to school if they are outside the school campus.
As time continuous to go on, it seems that the pros and cons of school uniforms statistics remain indistinct. The pro and anti-uniform advocates are battling which among them are right. Parents, especially moms may have varied opinions about the issue, but 95% of school teachers believe that wearing a school uniform can promote a positive learning environment to children, and can even improve behavior of students.
Finding the Right Fit Pt. 2
Type
The different types of schools on your list can often be overlooked when you're considering college criteria, but you should keep in mind that all colleges and universities are not the same.
The different types of schools on your list can often be overlooked when you're considering college criteria, but you should keep in mind that all colleges and universities are not the same.
- What do they devote time and resources to: research or teaching and learning?
- Do they have a speciality in one specific area or are they known for providing a broad education?
- Are they single sex or coed?
- Do they have a religious affiliation?
- Are they public or private?
There are also historically Black colleges, Hispanic-serving institutions, schools with co-op programs, and many with large evening and part-time programs. A college guide typically provides important facts about each school's type and characteristics. Your options are almost limitless and your personal learning style, preferences, and available resources will help you find the place where you'll best succeed.
Cost, scholarships, and financial aid
The cost of college is one thing that most parents think about during the college search process. Not all colleges and universities have the same price tag and there are a variety of ways to cut your costs. Most schools offer financial aid, scholarships, and work-study programs, aside from student loans.
The cost of college is one thing that most parents think about during the college search process. Not all colleges and universities have the same price tag and there are a variety of ways to cut your costs. Most schools offer financial aid, scholarships, and work-study programs, aside from student loans.
Consider your special talents outside of the classroom. You may qualify for a full ride if you can carry a tune or a football (or both), while making the grade. Even if you don't get a full ride, every little bit helps.
Public universities often offer much lower tuition rates to in-state students, but their fees to out-of-state residents are usually similar to private schools. Private institutions charge everyone the same tuition, but they often have privately-funded scholarships, so it's worth applying even if the price tag seems too high.
A school's tuition isn't necessarily the exact amount you'll pay, because it doesn't reflect financial aid or extra expenses like housing and books. But it's still wise to check out tuition figures when considering college information, as it may expand or diminish your options, depending on your financial situation.
Finding the Right Fit Pt. 1
Identifying basic colleges and universities criteria
Starting your college search with the basics will help you identify the colleges that will best suit you academically and personally. Each of us has unique needs and values, and what is important to you may not matter to someone else. Take location, for instance. If you don't want to be more than 100 miles from home, then schools on the other side of the globe are out! The same goes for school size, cost, and other basic college criteria. By identifying your needs early on, you can eliminate hundreds of schools and focus on the things that will make your school a perfect fit.
Geography
Obviously, academics play a huge role in determining the right school for you. But so does location. Where do you want to study? Is year-round sunshine a must for your mental health, or does the call of the winter ski season require a more diverse climate? Perhaps you hope to compose essays in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, or maybe you prefer the comforts of home. College is both an education and a journey, so consider what type of location you hope to experience when exploring college information.
Obviously, academics play a huge role in determining the right school for you. But so does location. Where do you want to study? Is year-round sunshine a must for your mental health, or does the call of the winter ski season require a more diverse climate? Perhaps you hope to compose essays in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, or maybe you prefer the comforts of home. College is both an education and a journey, so consider what type of location you hope to experience when exploring college information.
Setting
You should also consider the ambience of your surroundings when choosing a college. If you can't live without nightlife, think city! If you're into the great outdoors, you might want to go rural. There are colleges in every environment you can imagine, from tiny towns in Minnesota to the middle of Manhattan.
You should also consider the ambience of your surroundings when choosing a college. If you can't live without nightlife, think city! If you're into the great outdoors, you might want to go rural. There are colleges in every environment you can imagine, from tiny towns in Minnesota to the middle of Manhattan.
If you've always lived in the suburbs, an urban campus can be an adventure. But after a few weeks, will you yearn for grassy fields and open space? On the other hand, if you're used to malls and movie theaters and choose a college in a rural area, will you be racing into the student center at midnight, desperately seeking noise, lights, and people? When examining the options in a college guide, think about where you grew up and how much of a change you want.
Size
Don't forget to consider the sizes of the schools in your college search. Colleges come in all sizes, from a school in California that enrolls only 26 students to a university like Penn State that can enroll 30,000 or more. Which one is better? That depends on you.
Don't forget to consider the sizes of the schools in your college search. Colleges come in all sizes, from a school in California that enrolls only 26 students to a university like Penn State that can enroll 30,000 or more. Which one is better? That depends on you.
- Did you go to a small high school or a large one?
- Did you grow up in a city or a rural area?
- Do you like being places where everybody knows you, or do you like the anonymity of a crowd?
Large schools typically have large campuses, as well as a healthy selection of student services and things to do; a small college may offer individualized attention, as well as a more intimate and personalized experience. You might even want to think about how far you want to walk to get from one class to another. Even those little details of college info may affect your decision.
Guide to Choosing the RIGHT College Pt. 2
6. Investigate the job connections: Developing a four-year plan to land a job is easier with a robust campus career services center, a vital tool for students that can differ widely by college, Roth says. Try to glean specifics about job fairs, on-campus interviews, and even the number of students per career counselor at the school.
"How often can [a student] actually get into the career service office to talk to somebody?" Roth recommends asking. "Can they get in there once a semester, or are they going to be lucky to get in there once during the whole four years that they're going to school? You can judge a college to some degree by the number of career services people: Is the college putting their money in a place that will actually help the students?"
7. Compare financial aid packages: Though many schools have yet to release full financial aid offers, parents and students can begin to explore their financial options through free tools like the one offered by SimpleTuition. By inputting tuition and sources of aid, loans, and cash, the tool shows users what a monthly loan payment will look like after graduation at up to three schools simultaneously.
"Colleges with higher sticker prices might actually not be much more expensive on a monthly basis," says Kevin Walker, cofounder of SimpleTuition. "Having those numbers in hand when you make a decision among the schools you're thinking about can be really helpful."
8. Compromise: As the deadline nears and tensions rise, students and parents may butt heads over a college decision. "Communication is the key," says Doug Badger, director of admission at Grinnell College. "Students and parents need to sit down and really talk about…the pieces that are serving as roadblocks to some consensus, and step through them piece by piece." In many cases, parents should advise without becoming overbearing or making the student's decision themselves, experts say.
9. Don't take rejection personally: You shouldn't dwell on a rejection letter, even one from a dream school, counselors assert. "It's hard for somebody who has their heart set on something at 17 or 18 years old to find out that they didn't get what they want," Roth, the college coach, acknowledges.
"But all you can do [as a parent] is empathize, sympathize, and try to point out to them that there are other alternatives. There is always another way." An even worse result, counselors say, is letting disappointment stymie the decision you still have to make.
10. Don't procrastinate: May 1 is rapidly approaching. "What you see is: 'It's a difficult decision, so I'm going to put it off,'" InsideTrack's Coplon says. "Start the work now. Spend the next few weeks doing some really serious work to make the right decision."
"How often can [a student] actually get into the career service office to talk to somebody?" Roth recommends asking. "Can they get in there once a semester, or are they going to be lucky to get in there once during the whole four years that they're going to school? You can judge a college to some degree by the number of career services people: Is the college putting their money in a place that will actually help the students?"
7. Compare financial aid packages: Though many schools have yet to release full financial aid offers, parents and students can begin to explore their financial options through free tools like the one offered by SimpleTuition. By inputting tuition and sources of aid, loans, and cash, the tool shows users what a monthly loan payment will look like after graduation at up to three schools simultaneously.
"Colleges with higher sticker prices might actually not be much more expensive on a monthly basis," says Kevin Walker, cofounder of SimpleTuition. "Having those numbers in hand when you make a decision among the schools you're thinking about can be really helpful."
8. Compromise: As the deadline nears and tensions rise, students and parents may butt heads over a college decision. "Communication is the key," says Doug Badger, director of admission at Grinnell College. "Students and parents need to sit down and really talk about…the pieces that are serving as roadblocks to some consensus, and step through them piece by piece." In many cases, parents should advise without becoming overbearing or making the student's decision themselves, experts say.
9. Don't take rejection personally: You shouldn't dwell on a rejection letter, even one from a dream school, counselors assert. "It's hard for somebody who has their heart set on something at 17 or 18 years old to find out that they didn't get what they want," Roth, the college coach, acknowledges.
"But all you can do [as a parent] is empathize, sympathize, and try to point out to them that there are other alternatives. There is always another way." An even worse result, counselors say, is letting disappointment stymie the decision you still have to make.
10. Don't procrastinate: May 1 is rapidly approaching. "What you see is: 'It's a difficult decision, so I'm going to put it off,'" InsideTrack's Coplon says. "Start the work now. Spend the next few weeks doing some really serious work to make the right decision."
Guide to Choosing the RIGHT College Pt. 1
1. Revisit your short list: Accepted to more than one of your top choices? That's an enviable position to be in, though it might not feel like it. As you weigh several appealing options, think back to why you applied to each, counselors recommend.
"It's always very key to bring them back to, 'How did you initially identify the schools that were a good fit for you; why did you choose this particular school; and how does this match up against schools B, C, and D on your list'?" says Erika Coplon, director of the College Admissions Coaching program at InsideTrack.
2. Rank your priorities: Make an extended list of pros and cons, Weichman instructs his clients. Identify several aspects of college life—the size of the school, for instance, or the strength of the athletic program—and numerically rank each by importance to you. When "you get a number out of it," he says, "You can see how much more it really weighs on their mind."
3. Go back to school: Students and parents should have no unanswered questions by the time they send their deposit to a school, experts say. While an initial campus visit is a good time to check out the dorms, sample the food, and get a feel for campus life, students and parents should take a list of 10 to 15 additional, in-depth questions with them on a second trip, recommends Bob Roth, college and career coach and author of College Success: Advice for Parents of High School and College Students.
4. Focus on your endgame: For the Lopresti family, and many others like them, finding a school involves balancing cost, academics, and campus life. Though Mrs. Lopresti admits she is drawn to schools with bustling atmospheres, "my husband, the logical one, would say, 'Think about why you're going, and make the best decision for where you want to be four years from now,'" she says. "Keep your eye on the end: where you want to be in your career [and] where you want to be financially. That has to weigh into it."
Ideally, a high school senior should have at least a vague career path, Roth claims. "In many cases, students go to college not knowing what they want to do," he says. "I think it's extremely important to try to narrow it down before you pick the college. We all know from any early age whether we're good in math and science, whether we're good at business—we have to begin to understand ourselves a little bit better, and I think many students don't take the time to think about that."
5. Delve into the departments: Students and parents may look to college rankings to help make a decision, but don't forget that academic prestige can be examined on a smaller scale. A school that excels in biology, for example, may have a less regarded history department.
"It's always very key to bring them back to, 'How did you initially identify the schools that were a good fit for you; why did you choose this particular school; and how does this match up against schools B, C, and D on your list'?" says Erika Coplon, director of the College Admissions Coaching program at InsideTrack.
2. Rank your priorities: Make an extended list of pros and cons, Weichman instructs his clients. Identify several aspects of college life—the size of the school, for instance, or the strength of the athletic program—and numerically rank each by importance to you. When "you get a number out of it," he says, "You can see how much more it really weighs on their mind."
3. Go back to school: Students and parents should have no unanswered questions by the time they send their deposit to a school, experts say. While an initial campus visit is a good time to check out the dorms, sample the food, and get a feel for campus life, students and parents should take a list of 10 to 15 additional, in-depth questions with them on a second trip, recommends Bob Roth, college and career coach and author of College Success: Advice for Parents of High School and College Students.
4. Focus on your endgame: For the Lopresti family, and many others like them, finding a school involves balancing cost, academics, and campus life. Though Mrs. Lopresti admits she is drawn to schools with bustling atmospheres, "my husband, the logical one, would say, 'Think about why you're going, and make the best decision for where you want to be four years from now,'" she says. "Keep your eye on the end: where you want to be in your career [and] where you want to be financially. That has to weigh into it."
Ideally, a high school senior should have at least a vague career path, Roth claims. "In many cases, students go to college not knowing what they want to do," he says. "I think it's extremely important to try to narrow it down before you pick the college. We all know from any early age whether we're good in math and science, whether we're good at business—we have to begin to understand ourselves a little bit better, and I think many students don't take the time to think about that."
5. Delve into the departments: Students and parents may look to college rankings to help make a decision, but don't forget that academic prestige can be examined on a smaller scale. A school that excels in biology, for example, may have a less regarded history department.
15 Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a College
1. Rushing the process. Finding the right college takes time and effort, not to mention research and an often lengthy application process. Waiting until the last minute or just “falling into a college” is never a good idea. It takes the most important factor out of the equation—you.
2. Being a follower. Following a boyfriend, girlfriend, best friend to the college of their choice may seem like a good idea at the time because you want to be near them, but this is one of the most pivotal points in your life, too. You need to remember to make the best decisions for yourself and, if your relationships are strong, they will outlast time and distance anyway.
3. The legacy lure. We’re aware the commandment states “Honor thy father and mother.” However, only considering colleges your parents, siblings or other family members went to in order to follow in their footsteps may not be in your best interest. It’s always better to explore your options and find the right fit for your personality.
4. Rebellion. In contrast, only considering colleges your parents DON’T want you to go isn’t beneficial either. Sometimes, they have some good insight that may help you decide on what may be best for you. Don’t choose—or not choose—a college out of spite. This is sure to lead you down a path of regret. Choose a college based on what you want, not based on what someone else doesn’t.
5. You’re a die-hard fan. We’ve all got our favorite teams, but let’s remember that just because they have a great sports team does not mean it’s the right educational fit for you. After all, you’re there to learn, not cheer them on. You can be a fan anywhere, but you can’t learn everywhere.
6. The temptation to party. So, it’s a great party school but is it a great learning environment? While you may be itching to get out on your own and party like a rock star, that’s really not what college is about. Remember, when choosing a college that you want to choose somewhere what you can have a healthy social atmosphere but a setting that’s conducive to the real goal at hand—learning.
7. How a student body looks. You’ve heard the student body is attractive. So what? Maybe you like this, maybe you’re worried you won’t fit in, either way, you should ignore these stereotypes because they probably are just that. Also, the attractiveness of a student body shouldn’t really make a different in your decision on where to get an education.
8. Assuming the worst. Not applying to certain schools because you assume you won’t be accepted underrates your potential and potentially limits your future. Come on, you guys, we have reach schools for a reason. You never know what you can achieve if you don’t try, so at least make an attempt.
9. Location, location, location. Whether you’re a homebody who wants to stay close or an escape artist who wants to get as far from home as possible, the location should be a factor in choosing a college, not the sole decision maker.
10. Cost obsessions or carelessness. Forgetting to consider the cost or only considering the cost as a factor are two major issues to avoid. While cost is a huge hurdle, there are many other factors to consider as well and students should not be blinded by this one aspect. Reversely, students who are applying for financial aid or whose parents are paying for college should not neglect to think about cost completely, as costs can add up quite quickly.
11. Not visiting. Experiences are relative and one person’s dream college could be another’s nightmare. This is why going by what you’ve been told is never a good idea. A person very different from you could have had a positive or negative experience that you likely would not have had. Also, only looking at the website or relying on a college’s advertising is a mistake because they tend to idealize college life and students get unrealistic expectations of what campus is like. It’s always better to visit and experience the college—or one very similar to it—for yourself.
12. Relying on reputation. Just because it’s a “highly-ranked”, “prestigious” or a “designer” school doesn’t mean it’s the right school for you. Don’t always assume that the difficulty of getting into the school equates to the quality of education you’ll receive. Some students need smaller classes and more one-on-one interaction to thrive in a learning environment.
13. Pushy parents. Letting your parents decide which college is right for you, or being forced by your parents to attend a certain school is not healthy. You need to think about what you want out of a college. After all, you’re the one attending the school.
14. Having a one-track mind. Maybe you’ve wanted to go there since you were little and you’ve already decided there is only one right school for you. But not investigating all your options is a huge mistake. You can still attend you’re number one, we’re just asking you to check out the others, too. Just because you think it’s what you want doesn’t mean you can’t ask questions and, believe us, you can never ask too many!
15. The college specializes in your current major. That’s right, we said current. Choosing a college solely because of a specific major or career path is a major (pun intended) issue because, odds are, your major will change several times. There’s nothing wrong with that, we just want you to be prepared with a school ready to accommodate all your dreams, whatever they may be.
Cons of an Online Education
Barriers to effective distance education include obstacles such as domestic distractions and unreliable technology, as well as students' program costs, adequate contact with teachers and support services, and a need for more experience.
Some students attempt to participate in distance education without proper training of the tools needed to be successful in the program. Students must be provided with training on each tool that is used throughout the program. The lack of advanced technology skills can lead to an unsuccessful experience. Schools have a responsibility to adopt a proactive policy for managing technology barriers.
The results of a study of Washington state community college students showed that distance learning students tended to drop out more often than their traditional counterparts due to a lack of motivation from peers and teachers. When someone is enrolled in traditional schooling, they are constantly being held to very high standards in order to achieve success.
Distance Learning benefits may outweigh the disadvantages for students in such a technology driven society however before indulging into e-learning a few more disadvantages should be considered. Not all courses required to complete a degree may be offered online. Health care profession programs in particular, require some sort of patient interaction through field work before a student may graduate. Studies have also shown that students pursuing a medical professional graduate degree who are participating in distance education courses, favor face to face communication over professor-mediated chat rooms and/or independent studies. However, this is little to correlation between student performance when comparing the previous different distance learning strategies.
Finally, there may also be institutional challenges. Distance learning is new enough that it may be a challenge to gain support for these programs in a traditional brick-and-mortar academic learning environment. Furthermore, it may be more difficult for the instructor to organize and plan a distance learning program, especially since many are new programs and their organizational needs are different from a traditional learning program.
Some students attempt to participate in distance education without proper training of the tools needed to be successful in the program. Students must be provided with training on each tool that is used throughout the program. The lack of advanced technology skills can lead to an unsuccessful experience. Schools have a responsibility to adopt a proactive policy for managing technology barriers.
The results of a study of Washington state community college students showed that distance learning students tended to drop out more often than their traditional counterparts due to a lack of motivation from peers and teachers. When someone is enrolled in traditional schooling, they are constantly being held to very high standards in order to achieve success.
Distance Learning benefits may outweigh the disadvantages for students in such a technology driven society however before indulging into e-learning a few more disadvantages should be considered. Not all courses required to complete a degree may be offered online. Health care profession programs in particular, require some sort of patient interaction through field work before a student may graduate. Studies have also shown that students pursuing a medical professional graduate degree who are participating in distance education courses, favor face to face communication over professor-mediated chat rooms and/or independent studies. However, this is little to correlation between student performance when comparing the previous different distance learning strategies.
Finally, there may also be institutional challenges. Distance learning is new enough that it may be a challenge to gain support for these programs in a traditional brick-and-mortar academic learning environment. Furthermore, it may be more difficult for the instructor to organize and plan a distance learning program, especially since many are new programs and their organizational needs are different from a traditional learning program.
Benefits of an Online Education
Distance learning can expand access to education and training for both general populace and businesses since its flexible scheduling structure lessens the effects of the many time-constraints imposed by personal responsibilities and commitments. Devolving some activities off-site alleviates institutional capacity constraints arising from the traditional demand on institutional buildings and infrastructure. Furthermore, there is the potential for increased access to more experts in the field and to other students from diverse geographical, social, cultural, economic, and experiential backgrounds. As the population at large becomes more involved in lifelong learning beyond the normal schooling age, institutions can benefit financially, and adult learning business courses may be particularly lucrative. Distance education programs can act as a catalyst for institutional innovation and are at least as effective as face-to-face learning programs, especially if the instructor is knowledgeable and skilled.
Distance education can also provide a broader method of communication within the realm of education. With the many tools and programs that technological advancements have to offer, communication appears to increase in distance education amongst students and their professors, as well as students and their classmates. The distance educational increase in communication, particularly communication amongst students and their classmates, is an improvement that has been made to provide distance education students with as many of the opportunities as possible as they would receive in in-person education. The improvement being made in distance education is growing in tandem with the constant technological advancements. Present-day online communication allows students to associate with accredited schools and programs throughout the world that are out of reach for in-person learning. By having the opportunity to be involved in global institutions via distance education, a diverse array of thought is presented to students through communication with their classmates. This is beneficial because students have the opportunity to "combine new opinions with their own, and develop a solid foundation for learning.". It has been shown through research that "as learners become aware of the variations in interpretation and construction of meaning among a range of people [they] construct an individual meaning," which can help students become knowledgeable of a wide array of viewpoints in education. To increase the likelihood that students will build effective ties with one another during the course, instructors should use similar assignments for students across different locations to overcome the influence of co-location on relationship building.
The high cost of education affects students in higher education, to which distance education may be an alternative in order to provide some relief. Distance education has been a more cost-effective form of learning, and can sometimes save students a significant amount of money as opposed to traditional education. Distance education may be able to help to save students a considerable amount financially by removing the cost of transportation. In addition, distance education may be able to save students from the economic burden of high-priced course textbooks. Many textbooks are now available as electronic textbooks, known as e-textbooks, which can offer digital textbooks for a reduced price in comparison to traditional textbooks. Also, the increasing improvements in technology have resulted in many school libraries having a partnership with digital publishers that offer course materials for free, which can help students significantly with educational costs.
Within the class, students are able to learn in ways that traditional classrooms would not be able to provide. It is able to promote good learning experiences and therefore, allow students to obtain higher satisfaction with their online learning. For example, students can review their lessons more than once according to their need. Students can then manipulate the coursework to fit their learning by focusing more on their weaker topics while breezing through concepts that they already have or can easily grasp. When course design and the learning environment are at their optimal conditions, distance education can lead students to higher satisfaction with their learning experiences. Studies have shown that high satisfaction correlates to increased learning. Students who are enrolled in distance education with high satisfaction in their online coursework are then motivated intrinsically to learn, which often means that their performance in class will improve. For those in a healthcare or mental health distance learning program, online-based interactions have the potential to foster deeper reflections and discussions of client issues as well as a quicker response to client issues, since supervision happens on a regular basis and is not limited to a weekly supervision meeting. This also may contribute to the students feeling a greater sense of support, since they have ongoing and regular access to their instructors and other students.
Distance learning may enable students who are unable to attend a traditional school setting, due to disability or illness such as decreased mobility and immune system suppression, to get a good education. Distance education may provide equal access regardless of socioeconomic status or income, area of residence, gender, race, age, or cost per student. Applying universal design strategies to distance learning courses as they are being developed (rather than instituting accommodations for specific students on an as-needed basis) can increase the accessibility of such courses to students with a range of abilities, disabilities, learning styles, and native languages. Distance education graduates, who would have never have been associated with the school under a traditional system, may donate money to the school.
Distance Learning may also offer a final opportunity for adolescences that are no longer permitted in the General Education population due to behavior disorders. Instead of these students having no other academic opportunities, they may continue their education from their homes and earn their diplomas, offering them another chance to be an integral part of society.
Back to the Basics of Education
As far as historian's can tell, education has made this world a survival of the fittest. Only the strongest and smartest can prosper. Within the last 15 years in Georgia, legislation has been passed to ensure every child can take advantage of an education regardless of financial obstacles. Education in its purest form of learning in which the knowledge, skills, and habits of a group of people are transferred from one generation to the next through teaching, training, or research. Education frequently takes place under the guidance of others, but may also be autodidactic. Any experience that has a formative effect on the way a child thinks, feels, or acts may be considered an educational experience in and of itself. Education is commonly divided into stages including lower school, middle school, upper school, college, and then graduate school. Around the world children are deprived of an education and this causes much controversy regarding weather or not foreign policy should involve education.
A right to education has been recognized by some governments. At the global level, Article 13 of the United Nations' 1966 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights recognizes the right of everyone to an education. Although education is compulsory in most places up to a certain age, attendance at school often isn't, and a minority of parents choose home-schooling, e-learning or similar for their children.
A right to education has been recognized by some governments. At the global level, Article 13 of the United Nations' 1966 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights recognizes the right of everyone to an education. Although education is compulsory in most places up to a certain age, attendance at school often isn't, and a minority of parents choose home-schooling, e-learning or similar for their children.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)