Archive for the ‘Before Leaving for College’ Category
Beat Senioritis! Beat Senioritis!
If you are a high school or college senior, you’ve been in school at least 13 years. Maybe more! Since kindergarten you’ve been learning, doing homework and surrounded by academia. It’s no wonder you’re growing tired of it. It’s no wonder you have…SENIORITIS!
Senioritis symptoms include a lazy approach to homework, blatant ignorance towards the future and refusal to do anything other than celebrate then end of high school or college. The problem is, you’re not done yet. You still have to graduate and, like it or not, those grades still matter. So, how can you combat the desire to sit with the TV instead of doing homework? Here are 6 ways to avoid classic Senioritis symptoms:
Be active! Don’t be a lazy bum – getting physical exercise will help keep your mind sharp and give you more natural energy to tackle finals (that you still have to take) and big projects (that you still have to do) so you can still graduate.
Create a bucket list! Are there things you’ve never done in your home town or college’s town? Do them. Your final year as a college student means you still have a sweet student discount on shows and exhibits. Take advantage of these. Go to a restaurant or event that you always said you’d try but never have. Now is your chance!
Take a fun class! For college seniors who need an extra couple of credits, taking a fun class like Acting 101 or Drawing as a fun alternative to a class that requires a paper or one giant exam. Even if you don’t need the credits, taking a class outside your major will be refreshing. Pick something that genuinely interests you and do it with some friends. Make it all fun and no fuss. For high school seniors who are bored silly, take an art class at the local park district!
Try an internship or job! It may sound daunting, but if you are sick of schoolwork, actual work will flex different brain muscles and help prepare you for post-graduate studies and interviews. It will give you a sense of purpose and a place to be. If your Senioritis is so serious that on more than one occasion you’ve watched a “Real World” marathon instead of completing a necessary paper, an internship might be just the thing for you. Internships aren’t just for the summer, either. Many companies still need extra work done during the fall and winter.
Visit the Career Center. Sometimes Senioritis stems from a place of denial (I’m not graduating!) or fear (What can I possibly do once I graduate?). Visiting your counselor or Career Center will give you insight on what you might want to study in college, or for college seniors, finding a job post-graduation. This may ease any apprehension you have about the future. You also might realize that those final projects do matter if you have a career goal in mind.
Make time for both fun and school! Senioritis happens for a reason – everyone wants to have fun and celebrate the end of high school or college. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that! You need to make time to congratulate yourself for a job well done. Allow for celebration, just make sure you’ve got all your ducks in a row for graduation.
Need more tips on avoiding Senioritis? Check out this!
Friday College Town Hall
In Friday College Town Hall, we post a question about college, and you leave an answer in the comment field.
Today’s question:
Lynn O’Shaughnessy of The College Solution recently blogged about these statistics:
According to an annual UCLA survey of freshman, only 15.5% of freshman attend schools more than 500 miles away. Nationwide, 73% of students attend their own state schools.
Should more students try looking for colleges outside of their states? Do the advantages of staying in-state outweigh the advantages of going out of state?
Have a thought or an answer? Leave a reply below.
We’ve also asked our @Cappex Twitter followers to chime in! Here’s what people are saying on Twitter:
Comments: 9 Comments »
7 College Campus Stereotypes
I bet you all the spare change on my desk that when you get to college, you will come across at least five of the seven stereotypes I’m about to explore.
Nobody likes to be grouped into a stereotype, but sometimes, the truth just speaks for itself, and definitely in the case of a college campus. I’m not sure if it’s something in the soft serve of the dorm cafeterias or what, but there’s something about a college campus that universally produces these stereotypes in sleeper cells who, before entering college, showed little to no sign of the following stereotypes until after they fully move into their dorms and say ‘goodbye’ to their parents:
1. Library Sleepover Guy/Girl
This character is the one who strangely prefers the claustrophobic space under a desk in the university library over the down comfortable and padded mattress of their own bed. Why would this be? Good question, and it’s fairly difficult to answer, coming from a pro-bed disposition, but I believe it has something to do with the cozy atmosphere of a library, especially if you’ve been in there for hours. The soft whispers, the fall-leaf crinkle of pages turning, the hypnotic melody of your peers typing term papers, the asbestos in the walls, you know. It’s certainly enough to get you to doze off–not to mention that you’ve been in there for 29 hours already and have just gone mad and are confusing the library for your bedroom.
2. Guy Who says “Work hard; play hard” Way Too Often
This phrase should’ve burnt out with the 80s, but unfortunately, it’s going strong among a small population. This person likes to, well, work hard, and then play hard. They’re usually the ones somehow able to function with a level 5 hangover. Allowing them to, you know, workhardplayhard.
3. Mr./Ms. Moocher
Whether it’s another precious Diet Coke from your mini fridge, or notes from American Culture 101, there is always somebody willing to catch a free ride. Sure, one Diet Coke is nothing. But soon, the Diet Cokes add up and eventually you’re basically helping your friend slide through class without lifting a finger–or buying the text book! Did that metaphor get mixed up? You get it.
4. The Unexpected Party Animal
This person was on 24-hour patrol by their parents before shipping off to college. The freedom is often jarring and catapults this usually in-bed-by-9pm type into crazy party animal behaviors. Don’t worry though, they’ll get the balance sooner or later.
5. Wait, They’ve Found Signs of Life Outside the Greek Bubble?
What’s most interesting is that even though nobody’s born into the Greek system, a certain group of people completely disregard the life they led before going Greek and treat non-Greek people as if they’re lost puppies without homes. Let them live in their little dream worlds. It’s cute and stupid. But mostly cute. And also stupid.
6. The Unassuming Genius
This is the best one. You’ll be asking a homework question to yourself out loud, like “Wait, so what’s the dif between diamond and graphite?” And your roommate who happens to be watching Real Housewives of Orange County because that’s what she does ALL day, says, “They are chemically identical–completely carbon-based– but their bonding patterns, graphite being held together like sheets, and diamond created from 4 incredibly strong covalent bonds result in completely different materials. The graphite in your pencil is writing this all down because the sheets can slide off easily since they’re only held be weaker Van der Waal bonds,” she says without looking away from the television. Kinda nice to have on tap.
7. Person Who Thinks That They’re the Only One in a Hard Class with A Lot of Work
This stereotype cannot get it through their heads that they are not the only ones on campus to be in a class that requires some hard work. It’s really annoying, but usually these types have a bunch of other redeeming qualities you can concentrate on. Usually.
Any stereotypes we’re missing? What would you be considered on campus?
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College Resources & Scholarships for Students with ADD / ADHD and Learning Disabilities
Going through school as a student with ADD / ADHD or a learning disability can be more of a struggle than a lot of people can really wrap their heads around. For these students, traditional school and teaching methods might not be as effective, and even though the smarts are there, the process in which they’re trying to process the information is not totally compatible with their brains.
And the funny thing is, is that students with ADD/ ADHD and/or learning disabilities aren’t really outliers in the education system. Around 4% of all students have learning disabilities and approximately 3-5% have ADD / ADHD. There is obviously some overlap there, but that means that in a classroom of 24-30 students, at least one will have ADD / ADHD.
What you and everybody needs to know is that having a learning disability or ADD / ADHD does not make a person stupid. Their brains just work differently.
So even if you’ve struggled with traditional school, there are higher education options out there in form of scholarships (yay!!!) and resources (woo hoo!!!).
You are not alone, and here are some links to prove it:
Scholarships for Students with ADD / ADHD & Learning Disabilities
Novotni Scholarship – for students with ADHD
Shire’s ADHD Scholarship Program – for students with ADHD
Saralu Belkofer Scholarship – for students with learning disabilities, including ADHD
LD Resources Foundation Award Programs – for students with learning disabilities
Youth Achievement Award – for students with learning disabilities
Anne Ford & Allegra Ford Scholarships – for students with documented learning disabilities:
Learning Through Listening (LTL) Awards – for students with learning disabilities
Lime Connect Fellowship Program – for students with disabilities
College-Specific Resources for Students with ADD / ADHD & Learning Disabilities
The Johnson Scholarship Foundation
The foundation provides grants to their partner institutions in order to award scholarships to students with disabilities who are attending those institutions.
Landmark College in Vermont
This is the college of choice for students with learning disabilities and/or ADHD – the entire educational program is designed to meet the needs of special learners:
Online Resources
Attention Deficit Disorder Association
Council for Exceptional Children
Edge Foundation – Coaching for Students with ADHD
Friends of Quinn.com – Where Learning Disabilities Meet Support
Learning Ally – Making reading accessible for all
Learning Disabilities Association of America
National Center for Learning Disabilities
National Resource Center on ADHD
Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities
What has your experience with ADD /ADHD or learning disability been?
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Pros and Cons of Following Your High School Sweetheart to College
Here’s a story my mom told me:
Bobby and Betty Ann were THE COUPLE. Like, all of CutiePatootieville just thought that they were the bee’s knees and would be together forever. Senior year of high school was flying by, and Bobby and Betty had to decide what their next move would be.
See, Bobby wanted to be an astronaut. And there was only one school in the entire nation that offered a bachelors in astronaut.
Betty Ann wanted to be a crocodile hunter–don’t let the polka-dot purple dress or the rosy red cheeks fool you–Betty was a beast when it came to Australian wetlands. But, there was only one school in the entire nation that offered that degree and it was NOT the same school that offered Bobby’s dream.
So the couple compromised and went to State where they were both so unfulfilled that they broke up, individually wound up in prison for robbing banks (what a crazy coincidence!), and to this day dream about space and crocodiles–just look at their tattoos!
Anywho, that’s a true story. People warn against following your high school sweetheart to college all the time, and people ignore it alll the time.
So, I thought it’d be the best idea ever to draw out the pros and cons of this situation. If you have others, please leave a comment in the field below!
Pros
Something familiar
Going off to college is akin to moving into an alien civilization on Mars. There are new maps to figure out, new people to remember, a totally new academic language to translate…I can go on forever. Having your dude/dudette there to commiserate with you and/or hold your hand while growing accustom to the Martian culture can be very helpful in your transition.
He/She can introduce you to knew people
“Betty, meet Betty. Isn’t that funny? You two have the same name! You’ll probably wind up being best friends!”
Sometimes having your Bobby introduce you to a couple people winds up being so much easier than actually doing the bulk of the work yourself!
Avoid the long distance relationship
Sure, Skype is amazing. But, when you need that shoulder to cry on, you will destroy your computer if you get too much salty water on it.
College advice
If your boyfriend/girlfriend has already gone to college a year ahead of you, then they are basically a gold mine of information. Use them!!!
Getting to be with your boyfriend/girlfriend
Self-explanatory
Cons
Living in their shadow
Getting to college after your boyfriend/girlfriend has been there a school year often means that you’ll be following them around like a puppy dog for an undisclosed amount of time. Unless you’re comfortable constantly standing behind your boyfriend/girlfriend’s shoulder nodding your head as if you’re included in the conversation with his friend that you’re actually not included in, then be weary of a life in the shadows.
Not making decisions based on your needs
Following your sweetheart to college illustrates how much you are willing to sacrifice for that person. It could lead to making choices that actually hurt your goals and dreams.
Straying from academics
If you follow your sweetheart to college, they obviously take a priority in your life. Maybe even ahead of why you’re at college in the first place.
Stalled independence
Being in a relationship from high school to college with the same person can stunt your growth as an individual. A little single life where you make your own decisions for your future will make you stronger to stand on your own.
Comments: 5 Comments »
5 Ways to Write a Great College Paper
Over the weekend I began going through the ever-growing tower of past schoolwork I’ve kept from high school and college. I read through probably a hundred different papers I’ve written over the years. With each one, a little flood of pride swept over me–Wow, I knew what ‘Defenestration‘ meant?–and, ultimately decided to keep a bunch of them (and by ‘a bunch of them’ I really mean every single one).
You’re probably reading this post as a cry for help from my secret hoarder life, but it’s not (it is), it’s really not (I had to tunnel through my hallways filled with every newspaper since 1987 just to get to my room filled with 48 cats).
No, we’re talking about great college papers. With hindsight being 20/20, I was able to see what made some of my college papers works of, dare I say, genius, and others just kinda lumps of complicated words that didn’t really add up to much in the end.
Here’s my words of wisdom, which include the comments scribbled in the margins from professors who’ve read my papers:
1. You need to stop procrastinating now!
This one’s a bit obvious. But hey, here’s the simple fact: If you start your paper 5 hours before it’s due, chances are it will not be thoroughly researched, thought through, or finely edited. I’ve had my share of “let’s watch this marathon Law & Order all day and start writing at midnight” experiences. It shows in the work. If you start your paper when it’s assigned, you’ll have a chance to write an outline, fine-tune your thesis, and even sleep on your ideas. Letting your ideas marinate a bit will help them grow stronger, or will help you realize what works and what doesn’t. Give yourself the gift of time!
2. I’m confused, what’s your thesis?
Sometimes the things our teachers told us in high school don’t quite sink in. If that’s the case with what they taught you about a thesis, it’s definitely time to learn what a thesis is. The thesis in your paper is the argument you’re making. It can be as simple as “Juliette was stupid” or “Hamlet was a nutjob.” You can argue whatever you want, but it has to be a strong and interesting enough argument to carry through your entire paper.
3. Do you even know what this word means?
Avoid trying to sound smarter than you are. You are probably a very smart person. Using words because they sound esoteric will turn your paper into something pedantic and alien. Your teachers don’t care how much you can impersonate an academic voice as much as hearing YOU argue your thesis smartly and thoughtfully.
4. Did you read the book? I’m seriously concerned you didn’t read the book.
Read the book. They always know when you don’t read the book.
4.5 Please never write an essay in 15 pt Comic Sans Again. Please, I beg you.
5. Where’s the proof?
Once you have your thesis, go back carefully through the text to come up with evidence. Think of yourself as a little Sherlock Holmes and gather all the evidence you can for your argument. The proof is in the pudding. And in this case, the pudding is the text, not your memory of it.
Do you have any tips for writing a great college essay? Leave a comment!
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Friday College Town Hall
In Friday College Town Hall, we post a question about college, and you leave an answer in the comment field.
Today’s question:
An increasing number of U.S. students are taking a semester to study abroad.
How important, or unimportant, is leaving campus to live among a different culture for a student’s education?
Leave your answer in the comments below or tweet at @Cappex to chime in (we’ll post your answer below).
Comments: 4 Comments »
To Ignore or Not to Ignore College Rankings
Anything that comes in a list of best to, uh, less than best, is fun. I’m not quite sure about the science behind this, but I’m pretty certain somewhere down the line the answer to all war will be solved by producing a massive “Best Of List” to captivate the world’s attention and distract from war for centuries.
The rankings that caught our attention this week came from U.S. News & World Report’s annual college rankings. They’re certainly fun to look at, to compare and contrast, and see who’s winning the race. But, in reality, is the college ranking system really all that accurate or dependable?
Of course, the schools that made this year’s 2012 top 10 colleges ranking are undoubtedly superb schools–Harvard, Princeton, Yale, etc. (you can probably fill in the rest yourselft)–but is there any such thing as the one, singular best college in the nation for every student?
Of course not.
There’s also something that smells a little fishy with the rankings. According to Michael N. Bastedo’s column in the Chronicle, the percentage of responders to the U.S. News survey is declining every year.
On top of this, there is a clear conflict of interest in how the rankings are produced. A huge percentage of the survey takers are college admission folks. Why would college leaders want to give positive evaluations to their competition? It’s like asking you to vote for your opponent in the student body president election.
Another issue is that rankings don’t necessarily mean that much despite the amount of significance we place on them. There are so many schools that are overlooked because they’re not as well known, a lot smaller, in stranger places, whatever the case may be, that leads them to be overshadowed year after year in the college rankings.
If you’ve created a profile on Cappex and connected with your college matches, you were probably pleasantly surprised at how some of your college matches are schools you had never heard of before.
So, yeah, rankings are super fun to look at. And I bet it doesn’t feel too badly to make the top ten list. But, when it comes down to choosing a college, college rankings barely skim the surface of how good school will be for you and your career.
How does this post rank in your blog post rankings?
How important are college rankings in your college decision? Leave a comment!
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College Football Top 20 Fun Facts
It’s that time of year where everyone’s catching the college football bug. Whether you’re a fan of the game, or just a fan of school spirit, you can’t help but get excited about all the “RA RA” on campuses across the country.
So without further ado, here’s a list of fun facts about the schools in college football’s top 20. If you visit or apply to any one of these school’s, you need not worry about what you’ll be doing on Saturdays:
1. University of Oklahoma (Norman, OK)Fun fact-The Oklahoma administration prides itself on the aesthetic appeal of its 3,000 acre campus which has a lot of Native American influence.
2. University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL)
Fun fact-Alabama’s mascot is “Big Al” the Elephant. His origins date back to 1930 when a sports writer heard a fan yell ”Hold your horses, the elephants are coming!” as the first team ran onto the field.
3. Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge, LA)
Fun fact-The school was founded in 1853 as the Louisiana State Seminary of Learning & Military Academy.
4. Boise State University (Boise, ID)
Fun fact-Their football team plays on blue astroturf that is nicknamed “The Smurf Turf.”
5. Florida State University (Tallahassee, FL)
Fun fact-It was declared in 2010 to be a “Budget Ivy” university by the Fiske Guide to Getting into the Right College.
6. Stanford University (Palo Alto, CA)
Fun fact-The College’s official name is The Leland Stanford Junior University and has an endowment of 13.8 billion dollars. Stanford also boasts having 16 Noble Prize winning graduates.
7. University of Wisconsin (Madison, WI)Fun fact-The popular comedic news source “The Onion” was founded by Wisconsin students on campus in 1988.
8. Oklahoma State University (Stillwater, OK)
Fun fact-Historically renowned programs include its College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources and the College of Veterinary Medicine. The College of Engineering is also internationally renowned in the fields of architecture and mechanical engineering.
9. Texas A&M University (College Station, TX)
Fun fact-A&M ranks in the top 20 American research institutes in terms of funding and has made notable contributions to such fields as animal cloning and petroleum engineering.
10. University of Nebraska (Lincoln, NE)
Fun fact-As of 2009, the University’s cafeterias no longer provide trays to the students, a program implemented to reduce organic waste and save money.
11. University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC):
Fun fact-South Carolina has been recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for its research and engagement,has received a Top-10 ranking from U.S. News & World Report for being “most promising and innovative,” and for decades has received annual recognition for its prestigious undergraduate and graduate International Business programs.
12. University of Oregon (Eugene, OR)
Fun fact-UO is the home of the Oregon Bach Festival, a donor-supported program of the University and the only major music festival affiliated with an American university.
13. Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, VA)
Fun fact-Tech is one of the few public universities in the United States that maintains a corps of cadets.
14. University of Arkansas (Fayetteville, AR)
Fun fact-The University of Arkansas recently completed its “Campaign for the 21st Century,” in which the university raised more than $1 billion for the school, used in part to create a new Honors College and significantly increase the university’s endowment.
15. Michigan State University (East Lansing, MI)
Fun fact-MSU pioneered the studies of packaging, hospitality business, telecommunication and music therapy. Today its study-abroad program is the largest of any single-campus university in the country, offering more than 200 programs in more than 60 countries on all continents including Antarctica.
16. University of Florida (Gainesville, FL)
Fun fact-Florida was ranked second in Kiplinger’s 2009 “Best Buys of Education” (behind the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill).
17. Ohio State University (Columbus, OH)
Fun fact-Students and alumni often refer to OSU as The Ohio State University. “The” is actually an acronym that stands for Tradition, Honor, and Excellence.
18. West Virginia University (Morgantown, WV)
Fun fact-A new Mountaineer Mascot is selected each year during the final two men’s home basketball games. The new Mountaineer receives a scholarship, a tailor-made buckskin suit with coonskin hat, and a period rifle and powder horn. The mascot travels with most sports teams throughout the academic year. While not required, male mascots traditionally grow a beard.
19. Baylor University (Waco, TX)
Fun fact-Baylor was originally founded as a Southern Baptist college by the first Baptist missionaries in Texas.
20. University of South Florida (Tampa, FL)
Fun fact-USF is one of the nation’s top centers for the advancement in research of treatments for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases.
Have you been watching college football? Who are you rooting for?
Comments: 3 Comments »
Friday College Town Hall
In Friday College Town Hall, we post a question about college, and you leave an answer in the comment field.
Today, in honor of the 10th anniversary of September 11th, we ask this question:
In the decade since 9/11, many of the millennial children who were in elementary school during the attacks are now in college or beginning their college searches.
How has your memory of 9/11 changed through these ten years, and what significance has it had on your role as an American student?
Leave your answer in the comments below or tweet at @Cappex to chime in (we’ll post your answer below).
Comments: 8 Comments »
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