Posted on Thu, Feb 09, 2012
By Taylor Cotter
StudentAdvisor Staff
Valentine’s Day can be rough in college. I learned this the hard way – forgetting to make reservations, having to order off expensive prix-fixe menus, and dealing with the freezing cold! Now, I try to make Valentine’s run as smoothly – and cheaply – as possible. Whether this is your first date, long-term relationship, or just a weekend out with friends, here are some tipsto have a Valentine’s Day that’s cheap, romantic – and actually fun.
1. Go out on the 13th.
Just by pushing your Valentine’s date up one day, you avoid massive crowding at restaurants, expensive menus, and the unspoken pressure of having a date on February 14th. You can steer clear of ordering the non-optional appetizers, desserts and drinks and share a meal at your favorite restaurant, ordering off the regular menu.
2. Find a free event.
All cities and college campuses have regular events put on by students or community groups; this might be something that you and your significant other rarely make time to check out. Even if it’s just an A Capella concert, improv show, or a local high school is putting on a musical, finding time to do something free and entertaining can be a fun date, and something special.
3. Go out for dessert.
You might not want to shell out fifty dollars or more for a nice restaurant and expensive dinner, but you can still have the romantic experience of a Valentine’s date. Check out the dessert menu at a normally expensive restaurant. Even the fanciest and most expensive restaurants don’t often have desserts that cost more than $10 – and there’s always something romantic about eating a really great dessert.
4. Explore your city.
I’ve lived in Boston for four years now and haven’t even seen half of the city’s attractions. Chances are, wherever your college is, there are tourist attractions, museums or landmarks that you have yet to see. Use Valentine’s Day to take an adventure across your town and cross a couple items off your college bucket list. Your college ID might also give you free admission to some museums.
5. Play with dogs!
You might live in a college residence hall, but that’s no excuse to not want puppies in your life. Most animal shelters allow people to come in and play with the dogs (and cats!) for a little while. It’s a great way to give the animals a little exercise, as well as a great way to spend a few hours getting to know your date. You’re guaranteed to have fun picking out and giving names to your future dogs.
6. Find a free class.
Many gyms, dance studios and karate studios offer one free (or discounted) class to those who are interested in learning. These free passes can let you and your date try out a new skill or hobby, or just the opportunity to spend some time fooling around! The best part of this date is that you might discover something you’re great at, or want to continue learning.
Any ideas that we missed? Let us know in the comments or tweet at @StudentAdvisor!
Posted on Wed, Feb 08, 2012
By Dr. Elizabeth Tice, Ph.D.
For StudentAdvisor.com
The continued growth of online and distance learning has been driven by student demand, technology, a troubled economy and demographic changes. Its rapid expansion is closely tied to the growth of technology, the Internet and other new ways of delivering knowledge to more students beyond the previous boundaries of place, time and expense.
In recent years, traditional schools have begun to add online curriculum. Community colleges are adding online courses both to meet student demand and to control education costs. Students are driving demand everywhere, starting in middle school.
Earlier Adoption of Online Learning
Online universities have begun collaborating with school districts to accelerate the adoption of online education in middle schools and high schools. For instance, in San Diego County, Ashford University worked with the Office of Education to launch a new online algebra course in early 2011. Hundreds of students are now benefiting from the pilot program.
Online College Enrollment Growing at a Faster Rate
The 2011 Sloan Consortium study from Babson Survey Research Group, “Going the Distance: Online Education in the United States 2011,” reported that higher education enrollment grew by 0.6 percent in 2010. In contrast, online college classes grew by 10.1 percent. More than 6.1 million students were enrolled in at least one web-based class in the fall 2010 semester, with online enrollment now representing 31.3 percent of total enrollment. From 2002 to 2010, online learning has grown at a compounded annual rate of 18.3 percent, versus just over 2 percent for overall higher education.
The Perception of Quality in Online Higher Ed
Perceptions of quality are on the increase as well. According to the Sloan study, 67 percent of respondents said online college classes were “the same or superior” to face-to-face classes, up from 57 percent in 2003.
Continued advances in technology will enable universities, high schools, and middle schools to better connect with students in new ways. Course materials can be updated 24/7 and delivered via smart phones, computers and tablets rather than waiting for expensive updates to be printed and stocked in the traditional bookstores. New devices and free applications help students access classes from almost anywhere (recent Ashford graduates include members of the armed forces completing degrees while deployed in Afghanistan). Social media platforms encourage group participation and networking at all hours, creating a sense of community and connection with the faculty.
What the Future Holds for Online Education
In summary, online education will continue to grow because of its many advantages: in technology; rapid development of innovative curriculum; a broad array of accessible faculty; and an increasing variety of choices for students to advance their careers through college education under circumstances of their choosing.
This continued growth and increased sophistication of online education at all levels will provide major benefits to students, the economy, traditional and online schools, and society in general.
Dr. Elizabeth Tice is president of Ashford University, offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs online and on-campus in Clinton, Iowa. With an annual enrollment of more than 90,000 students, Ashford University is defining the modern college experience by combining the heritage of a traditional campus with the flexibility and effectiveness of online learning.
Considering Ashford? Read Ashford University reviews.
Posted on Tue, Feb 07, 2012
By Veronica Garcia
StudentAdvisor.com Staff
When it comes to paying for college, many of us are drawn away from the daunting task of having to fill out the FAFSA. We want to get some money for college, but the thought of having to sit at your computer for hours upon hours looking through your parents tax forms does not sound like a fun way to spend an afternoon.
But don't put it off for too long! Colleges have a limited amount of grant and scholarship money to distribute to students. The longer you wait to get your FAFSA in, the more you risk missing out on crucial financial aid options.
Some of you might be wondering if filling out the FAFSA takes a long time. In fact in the StudentAdvisor Q&A section students ask about this a lot!
“The first time you fill out a FAFSA it will probably take between one and two hours to complete. They ask for a lot of information and it takes awhile to get through. One way to get through it faster is to have all the information you need ready before you sit down to do it. You can take a look at their website for requirements ahead of time, but you'll need things like your tax records and or your parents' tax records if you are a dependent. The good thing is that in later years you can complete it really quickly, probably in 15 minutes, because they save your information and most of it will be the same from year to year.”
“Filling out the FAFSA online is a breeze. If you have everything you need to complete the entire form in front of you when you begin, it should take you no more than 30 to 45 minutes to complete. And, you also have the option of saving your progress when filling out the form and coming back to it later with all the previous information saved. Once you complete the form online, you will receive confirmation via email when your form has been processed.”
See? It's not too bad! So what are you waiting for? Go do that FAFSA!
Posted on Mon, Feb 06, 2012
By Sam Coren
StudentAdvisor.com Staff
Trying to decide on a college? Reading college reviews from students and alumni can be a huge help! Find out what you can't learn from admissions websites or a glossy viewbooks and brochures. Want to know where you can get the latest insider info on the schools you're researching? StudentAdvisor has reviews on thousands of 4 year colleges, community colleges, and vocational schools throughout the US.
Here's a sampling of some of our most recent college reviews posted by students and alumni:
UC Davis Review
The Good:
Rigorous courses, friendly staff for the most part, good sports stuff, lots of nature and large campus.
The Bad:
Not easy to get an internship, not as much financial aid as lower ranked UCs, crowded classes without seats, walking down the street is like playing Frogger on Hard with the bicycles, some of the buildings are very worn-down and creepy at night or in winter, not diverse student body, rampant bicycle thefts and ancient lab equipment.
Would I do it again?
No, As a STEM transfer student I would avoid this school due to difficulty acquiring internships or volunteer work mandatory for grad school. Also there is not enough support for transfer students or acknowledgement of their existence by staff.
Read more UC Davis reviews.
Post your own UC Davis review.
Columbia University Review
The Good:
The core curriculum is challenging but worth it. Beautiful campus. Students are extremely intelligent. The history faculty is excellent.
The Bad:
Course load can be overwhelming. It's easy to get lost in a sea of students. The computer science department is too theoretical.
Would I do it again?
Yes, The core curriculum taught me so much. The campus is self-contained even though it's in the middle of the city. I received two Bachelor's degrees from Columbia: History and Computer Science. I think that the quality of the history faculty is much higher than that of the CS department.
Read more Columbia University reviews.
Post your own Columbia University review.
Fairfield University Review
The Good:
Excellent teachers who were very engaged with the students. I also enjoyed living on the beach my Senior year and the close proximity of FU to NYC holds many benefits.
The Bad:
Being from San Diego, Connecticut winters are cold. I also sometimes had a feeling the administration (not the teachers) were out of touch with the student population. Another dislike was the administrations obsession with keeping students away from beach housing, which has been an integral part of student life since the schools founding.
Would I do it again?
Yes, I met great people and got a valuable education. Fairfield also has a great party scene.
Read more Fairfield University reviews.
Post your own Fairfield University review.
Photo: TaÃs Moraes
Posted on Fri, Feb 03, 2012
By Taylor Cotter
StudentAdvisor.com Staff
Claremont McKenna College Admits to Exaggerating SAT Scores of Admitted Students
A senior administrator at Claremont McKenna College admitted to falsifying records of SAT scores of their admitted students. The administrator, allegedly Richard Vos, vice president and dean of admissions, had been falsifying these records since 2005. According to the New York Times, the SAT scores reported to U.S. News Report and other college ranking websites were inflated by 10-20 points. The school had been ranked as the ninth best liberal arts college this year. Though Claremont McKenna is the most prestigious school to be discovered falsifying records, they join Iona College, Villanova Law School and University of Illinois Law School as universities that have deliberately skewed their statistics to to inflate their rankings.
(Thanks to Jeremy L. for contributing this story.)
Vassar College accidentally accepts students
Last Friday, 76 students received acceptance letters in error from Vassar College. The students, who saw a test letter sent out accidentally from Vassar admissions, was sent to 122 early decision applicants. After retracting the mistake, only 46 of the 122 applicants were actually accepted. Vassar is refunding the $65 application fee for these students, though some students, parents and families are considering legal action against the college.
Maryland plans to cut swimming and diving teams, six other sports
The University of Maryland plans to cut men's and women's swimming and diving, unless the teams can raise $11.6 million by June 30 - 59 percent more than the entire fundraising sector of Maryland Athletics has raised. The "Save Maryland Swimming and Diving" booster club has raised over $1 million and has plans to raise as much as $4 million, but does not project coming close to raising the eight years of funds needed. Parents, students and supporters are meeting with legislators to begin talking about the complex legalities of the issue. After cutting swimming and diving, Maryland's plans include cutting men’s tennis; men’s cross-country, men’s indoor and outdoor track, women’s water polo, and acrobatics and tumbling.
Former Law Students Sue Law Schools Over Misleading Job Statistics
Fifty-one law school graduates from around the country have sued their alma maters for being misleading with their statistics about job placement. The graduates claimed that, though these schools touted high employment statistics, they didn't report that most of these graduates are employed in jobs that do not require a law degree. The graduates further allege that the school's data, some which claim over 90 percent of their graduates have jobs, does not correlate with the national data that claims 60 percent of lawyers that are employed. The twelve schools being sued are Albany Law School, Hofstra Law School, California Western, Golden Gate University, Southwestern Law School,; University of San Francisco School of Law, IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, DePaul University College of Law, The John Marshall Law School, Florida Coastal School of Law, and Widener University School of Law.
Posted on Wed, Feb 01, 2012
By Dean Tsouvalas
StudentAdvisor.com Editor-in-Chief
More than ever, it’s crucial that college grads know that they will not only be competing with their fellow classmates for jobs - they’re also competing with graduates all over the world. Understanding the global market and economy is imperative for students looking to start their job search.
Here are three ways students can be prepare for a global marketplace and become well-rounded global citizens:
1. Utilize opportunities that are available.
Most universities make it easy for students to study or intern abroad. “Students should investigate the offerings of their college or university. What are the study abroad options? Are there short-term international travel opportunities available? Certainly study abroad is a great way for students to help develop their global mindset, but it is not the only way,” said Sarah Fatherly, dean of university programs and interim associate vice president for academic affairs at Otterbein University in Westerville, OH.
Students that can’t fit a study abroad into their schedule should consider summer or winter break abroad opportunities – these are usually less demanding and allows students to experience the best parts of an abroad trip in a short period of time.
2. Go deeper than tourism!
“To be a liberally educated person means that you have to open yourself up to new cultures, new languages, new ways of interpreting reality and seeing the world,” said Dr. William Felice, professor of political science at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida, who teaches a summer course on the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. To be globally prepared means you’ve dug deeper into a new culture than simple tourism, he said. It’s crucial to remember that studying abroad is more than a vacation – it’s an experiment in cross-cultural understanding and developing relationships.
Make sure to spend time cultivating knowledge and skills related to the culture, as well as making friends and keeping in touch with students from the country.
3. Make time for reflection.
It’s not enough to just experience new cultures, says Scott Manning, director of cross-cultural programs at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pa. “It’s necessary to think about what effects those experiences create.”
Students should think about how they can extend the learning experience after they return from abroad. “Consider how to keep in touch with the new culture, such as learning a language, reading online media from that country, or starting a service project to strength connections between the two cultures,” he says.
He suggests students also offer to share their adventures with other members of the campus community. “Talking about it is the best way to learn more from it,” Manning explains. “Students who give presentations on campus or in the community do a great service, but it also helps themselves to process their experiences.”
Posted on Tue, Jan 31, 2012
By Taylor Cotter
StudentAdvisor.com Staff
As the college basketball season heats up, we wanted to take a closer look at some of the sport’s most competitive adversaries. University of Kansas and University of Missouri duke it out ever year in their "Border Showdown," a sports rivalry with rich historial roots dating back to the 1850s.
Besides one of the nation's best basketball contentions, what else do these schools have to offer? Find out how Kansas vs Missouri compare off the court and read their college reviews:
Location: Lawrence, Kan.
In State Tuition: $7,167
Out of State Tuition: $18,150
SAT Scores: n/a
Acceptance Rate: 91%
Undergraduate Population: 20,343
Student-To-Faculty Ratio: 19 to 1
Student Body Make-up: Male 49%, Female 51%
The Good: Lawrence is a beautiful town and the campus is both picturesque and thriving.
The Bad: Campus is spread out and on the top of a hill, so it can take a while (and a workout) to get from class to class.
Learn more about what Kansas students have to say. Read University of Kansas reviews.
Location: Columbia, Mo.
In State Tuition: $7,368
Out of State Tuition: $19,383
SAT Scores: Math 530, Verbal 540
Acceptance Rate: 80%
Undergraduate Population: 24,834
Student-To-Faculty Ratio: 18 to 1
Student Body Make-up: Male 47%, Female 53%
The Good: Mizzou has a thriving student life with more than 50 Greek groups and hundreds of other student organizations.
The Bad: Weather in Missouri can be unpredictable, extreme and dangerous.
Get the inside scoop from Mizzou students. Read University of Missouri reviews.
Posted on Mon, Jan 30, 2012
By Taylor Cotter
StudentAdvisor.com Staff
Are you overwhelmed by the number of books out there that promise to clue you in on the nerve-racking college admissions process? Us too! But every now and then one college admissions book comes along and proves itself to be a real "game changer." College Admission: From Application to Acceptance, Step by Step, a comprehensive guide for parents and students in the throes of the college application process, is one of the few college admissions books to earn our StudentAdvisor seal of approval. Authors Robin Mamlet, former Dean of Admission at Stanford, Swarthmore and Sarah Lawrence, and Christine VanDeVelde, journalist and parent, took a critical look at the college application process, and shared best practices for finding and getting accepted into the "right-fit" schools.
Admissions Pointers for Every Kind of Student
The book covers everything from becoming college-bound as a young student, to deciding where to apply, to actually applying, to deciding where to go and how to pay for it. One of the things we love most about this book is that Mamlet and VanDeVelde address a wide variety of student-specific issues, such as learning disabilities, home-schooled students, undocumented students, legacy students, in addition to issues pertaining to art students and student-athletes. No matter what concerns students and parents have about getting into college, they'll find practical pointers and a list of action items for almost every situation.
Real Admissions Advice from Real College Admissions Professionals
Who better to learn about the wild world of college admissions from than a bunch of actual Deans of Admission? In addition to their wealth of experience, the authors include a litany of deans of admission from over 50 college and universities, half a dozen financial aid officers, high school college counselors, professors, teachers, college students and experts in college admissions and parenting.
Some of the most valuable advice is for students that have barely started thinking about life after high school – 9th and 10th graders. Mamlet and VanDeVelde prepare them for the adventure that is to come – making sure that they’re focused on, not blinded by, the college application process:
“The hype surrounding college admission has spun so far out of control that headlines hawking tutoring, test prep, and a campus visits for students in elementary school are commonplace. When a magazine for Harvard alumni set out to produce a tongue-in-cheek guide to preparing a child in utero for admission, the editor complained it was almost impossible to satirize the subject because every ridiculous recommendation they came up with was actually in use.
So when should the college application process really begin?
Elementary school is way too early. But students and parents can also make the mistake of starting way too late. For most students, the formal application process will begin in the junior year of high school Before that, most students should simply enjoy being in high school – discovering who they are and exploring what they like to do. Rod Skinner, direct of college counseling at Massachusetts’ Milton Academy, says, “Build a life and the colleges that work for you will come.
Very First Steps: Freshman and Sophomore Years: During the freshman and sophomore years of high school, there are a few things that students can and should do. But these things should be done in the spirit of being aware of college as a goal and making decisions that keep doors open – not with a fat envelope in mind.
Checkpoints:
- For most students, the college admission process will begin in junior year.
- During 9th and 10th grade, students should pay attention to course work and grades, find and invest in some extracurricular activities they love, and spend a good dose of time daydreaming.
- Too much pressure to perform can have serious negative consequences for health and learning.
- For families who will be applying for financial aid (and this is the majority of families), keep saving and practice good record keeping.
Reprinted from the book College Admission by Robin Mamlet and Christine VanDeVelde. Copyright © 2011 by Robin Mamlet and Christine VanDeVelde. Published by Three Rivers Press, a division of Random House, Inc.
Posted on Fri, Jan 27, 2012
By Sam Coren
StudentAdvisor.com Staff
Thought you were comfortable adjusting privacy settings on your Facebook profile after the last round of changes? Get ready: privacy settings are about to change yet again for the social networking juggernaut. While some users have had Facebook's new Timeline-style profile through the developer application, it has finally started to roll out officially to all users this week.
But there's more to this slick new photo-centric Facebook profile than meets the eye. WCBV Boston's Newscenter spoke with StudentAdvisor's Dean Tsouvalas and Ashley Jones in addition to Emerson College student Anum Hussain about Facebook Timeline's privacy issues:
What you should do once you get Facebook Timline:
When your profile transitions to Timline you have 7 days to delete posts and pictures before they get published to your new profile.
- Go through post by post starting with the year you joined Facebook and click the pencil next to each post to adjust the settings.
- Use the "View as" feature (accesible via the on the bottom right of your cover photo) to preview what certain friends are able to see.
- Log out of Facebook to see what's viewable on your public profile to a user who isn't signed in.
- Be mindful of the privacy settings on each new post you publish - if you posted a public update the next time you go to post something, it may still be stuck on the "Public" setting.
Posted on Thu, Jan 26, 2012
By Dean Tsouvalas
StudentAdvisor.com Editor-in-Chief
Now that applications are in, it's time for college-bound students to start applying for financial aid to help fund their education. Yesterday I sat down with Gene Lavanchy of Boston's Fox 25 Morning News Show to discuss ways students and parents can land the best possible financial aid package. While the process of applying for aid may seem as easy as just filling out the FAFSA there's actually a lot more to it! So what can you do to ensure you're setting yourself up to receive the most aid?
Learn more about the 7 ways to get the best financial aid package for college:
1. Fill out the FAFSA! It all starts with the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
One study showed that 53% of eligible families did not bother applying for aid through the FAFSA leaving millions on the table. Colleges use the FAFSA to determine your eligibility for government funded financial aid such as grants and federal student loans. Schools will also determine if you qualify for need-based scholarships based on your FAFSA score. You can do it all online at FAFSA.gov. DO NOT pass on filling out the financial aid paperwork if you think you won’t qualify
2. Proof read your FAFSA (at least 3 times) to avoid these common mistakes:
- Listing incorrect Social Security Number or Driver’s license
- Leaving blank fields – enter a ‘0′ or ‘not applicable’ instead of leaving a blank. Too many blanks may cause miscalculations and an application rejection.
- Using commas or decimal points in numeric fields – always round to the nearest dollar.
- Listing marital status incorrectly – only write yes if you are currently married. They want to know what your marital status is on the day you sign the FAFSA, or Renewal FAFSA.
- Listing parent marital status incorrectly – the custodial parent’s marital status is required; if they’ve remarried, you’ll need the stepparent’s information too.
- Leaving the question about drug-related offenses blank – if you’re unsure about something, find out before you submit your FAFSA instead of leaving it blank. A conviction doesn’t necessarily disqualify you from getting aid.
- Forgetting to list the college – obtain the Federal School Code for the college, you plan on attending and list it – along with any other schools to which you’ve applied.
- Forgetting to sign and date – if you’re filling out the paper FAFSA be sure to sign it. If you’re filing electronically, be sure to obtain your PIN from www.pin.ed.gov. Your PIN is your electronic signature and will always be assigned to you only.
3. Make sure your parent has as little cash in checking, savings and other cash-equivalents as possible on the day you file your FAFSA.
The final set of questions on your FAFSA will ask about the money you have on hand. Make sure that you and your student have as little money in checking, savings and other cash-equivalents the day you file the paperwork. It also helps to pay off as many bills as possible before filing the paperwork.
4. Your student should always file a tax return, even if he or she is not making any money.
A tax return that says $0 can actually work in his or her favor, as it demonstrates a need.
5. Understand that grades have little to do with financial aid awards.
Many parents assume their child must have good grades to qualify for grants and scholarships. This is inaccurate. Most colleges award a majority of their grants based on financial need, not merit. Merit scholarships comprise less than 2% of the total “pot.” Although it’s fun to talk about merit scholarships, the big money - more than 98% - is in the need-based financial aid system.
6. Don’t wait on your acceptance letters before applying for aid!
Financial Aid is on a first come, first serve basis. You don’t need to be accepted to a college before you can submit your FAFSA – you only need to list which schools you have applied to. Typically, for first year students, colleges mail their financial aid reward statuses to students a few months after the application deadline to accepted students.
7. Be sure to compare financial aid packages from different schools closely.
Do not be afraid to read between the lines on financial aid reward letters. It’s not uncommon for “expensive” private colleges to offer better financial aid packages than state schools. Examine the gap (if there is one) between the financial aid package and the cost of attendance for each school to see how well the package meets your need. Break down how much money is coming from grants, federal loans, scholarships, and work-study. Grants and scholarships don’t have to be paid back. Work-study money must be earned through part time employment during the school year and students must pay taxes on it. Loans need to be paid back and different families can take on different amounts of debt. Remember – federal loans are less expensive and have more benefits than private loans.
REMEMBER:
You must fill out a FAFSA every year you are in school, but if you apply online, you can re-use your FAFSA-on-the-Web PIN each year you apply for federal financial aid.
Make sure you fill in every year for every child you have in college starting in January of their SENIOR year in high school to ensure you have a chance at receiving the most aid.
