CampusGrotto.com - The Inside Source at College

How to Become an Early Riser

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:28:14 +0100

It can be dreadful trying to wake up for that 7 or 8am class. In those early mornings it can be very tempting to want to sleep in, especially if that class is in the lecture hall with hundreds of other students. No one will know you're not there, right?

College is a demanding, always on-the-run lifestyle that doesn't leave much time for sleep. That reason alone is why Starbucks and Red Bull energy drinks are a big part of keeping us awake and giving us the energy we need to survive the day.

A typical weeknight in college may keep you up until 2am, whether it be due to studying, partying, or other social event. Regardless if you can't fit in what you consider is an ample amount of sleep in one night, it is still imperative that you're getting up and going to class. It's the reason you're going to college in the first place. Don't let all that money spent on tuition go to waste.

Here are a few tips to help you get up in the mornings when you find yourself tempted to sleep in and skip class.

Get up at first instinct
As soon as your alarm wakes you in the morning, immediately get up and get out of bed. Don't "think" about sleeping in, because you probably will. The longer you lay there half-asleep the more you'll want to keep hitting snooze and the more time you'll find a way to convince yourself to sleep in. Fight off these temptations and awake with a bright outlook on the day.

Place your alarm clock away from your bed
This forces you out of bed. No matter how tired you are, it can't be satisfying trying to snooze to an alarm going off in your room. When an alarm is placed near the bed, sometimes it can be easy to subconsciously reach over and continually hit the snooze button. Placing the alarm clock away from the bed helps you accomplish #1, which is getting out of bed as soon as you're awake.

Stretch or Exercise
After following the advice of #1 and #2, it can still be tempting to want to go back to bed. A little blood flow and movement can help wake up your mind and body. This is also good advice for people who wake up with not much of an appetite in the mornings. A little exercise should make you hungry, which is good as I'm told breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

Don't eat before going to bed
I am not sure what effect food digestion has on falling asleep, but that's not what this article is about. What we're talking about is waking up, and being hungry in the morning is what gets me up and out of bed.

Set coffee to brew in the morning
If you have an automatic timer on your coffee pot, set it to start brewing just before you're set to wake up. This way when your alarm starts going off, the smell of coffee will start to wake your brain and help get you in morning mode. For those who can't function without their coffee, it also means you have a hot cup waiting for you as soon as you're out of bed.

Open the Curtains/Blinds
Doing so will allow sunlight to come into your room in the morning. Seeing this natural light will help convince your brain that it's time to get up. If your room gets bright enough, sometimes you won't even need to use an alarm clock to let you know morning has come.

Set your alarm to music
Set your alarm to music rather than that annoying beep. If you wake up grumpy (because of that annoying sound) you're more likely to roll back over and go back to bed. Set it to a music station that you'll enjoy and that you know will get you out of bed, and it might just put you in a better mood to start your day.

Stay motivated
A lot of people are just lazy and choose to sleep in. It is important that you are motivated for the day to begin. Those that dread the day ahead will not want to wake up in the mornings. Wake up early in the morning wanting to be productive, and in doing so you'll feel better about yourself and your accomplishments throughout the day.

Get a Clocky Alarm Clock
If all else fails, consider this product that is sure to annoy, but will do its job of getting you out of bed in the morning. The Clocky is an alarm clock with wheels that runs around the room when the alarm goes off and doesn't stop until you find it and shut it off. A device like this easily takes care of tips 1-3 on this list.

I know some mornings can be difficult, but it is important that you're getting up on time and going to class. Some people are more effective at their work in the mornings, so maybe even try waking up an hour or two earlier than you normally would and being productive. But it's true, some people are just not morning people. If this is the case for you, try not to schedule any classes before 10am.

Preview: The HP DV2 Notebook

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:36:01 +0100

The HP Pavilion dv2 Entertainment Notebook computer has just arrived in for review. The dv2 is the newest 12-inch notebook from HP which hopes to fill the void between low-performance netbooks and high-priced ultra-portable notebooks. At first glance, the dv2 appears to be the perfect notebook for college students, given its affordable price and impressive specs.

When it comes to notebooks, I'm a big fan of ultra-portables and the new dv2 looks promising. The model we�re looking at is Moonlight White (also available in Espresso Black).

Let's briefly take a look at some reasons this notebook would be great in a college setting:

Looks: All I can say is WOW! Unboxing the dv2 was a jaw-dropping experience. This notebook looks sharp! The glossy look of the Moonlight White is impressive.

Power (Specs): The dv2 comes loaded with Windows Vista Home Premium and packs everything a typical student needs: speed, storage and entertainment. The dv2 will fit all your needs from gameplay, watching/listening to movies and music, and easily being able to handle all school work in a conveniently portable manner.

Price: A price of $699.99 makes it affordable when compared to other notebooks. The dv2 also packs some impressive specs compared to cheaper alternatives such as netbooks.

Entertainment: The dv2 is a perfect mobile entertainment center. It includes HP MediaSmart, a slick interface which makes movies, videos, music, photos, and live TV just a click away. The sound is actually pretty crisp and clear for the small built-in notebook speakers.

Size and Weight: The dimensions of 11.50 in (L) x 9.45 in (D) x 0.93 in (min H) and a 12.1� widescreen display makes it easy to carry around. For those of you that are worried 12.1" is too small, have no fear. I had the same thought when I purchased my first ultra-portable notebook and feel it�s the perfect size for taking it with you on the go. It comes in weighing just under 4 lbs (with 6-cell battery).

Check out some of these other cool features of the HP dv2:

External Blu-ray ROM with DVD burner. Having an external Blu-ray DVD drive helps keep the unit thin and lightweight.
Bundled with Windows Vista Home Premium (64-bit) with Service Pack 1.
320GB Hard Drive.
AMD Turion Neo X2 Dual Core Mobile Processor (1.6 GHz 1MB L2 Cache).
4GB DDR2 SDRAM.
12.1" Diagonal WXGA High-Definition BrightView Widescreen display.
Built in HP Webcam.
ATI Mobility Radeon HD Premium Graphics 3410 with 512mb DDR2 dedicated graphics memory.
802.11a/b/g/n wireless and Bluetooth.
5-in-1 Digital media reader.
6-Cell Li-ion battery.

Inputs

1 HDMI
3 USB 2.0
SD card reader
Headphone/microphone jacks
VGA-out
Ethernet port

An ultra-portable usually means a smaller-sized notebook with good battery life. Because it's not a full-size notebook, the keyboard is only 92% of its original size, but is still easy and enjoyable to type on and pretty sturdy (with no flex).

We'll get a better look at this notebook over the next couple weeks, but first impressions are:

This thing looks amazing! The moonlight white glossy look is so nice I almost don't want to touch it for fear of getting fingerprints on it. You could use the track pad as a mirror with its chrome finish.

Great value. For the price this looks like a great deal for what�s all included.

Pretty strong chassis: thin, light and well built. This notebook can survive the daily wear and tear from students who plan on carrying it around with them everywhere.

With its price and performance specs, I foresee the HP dv2 being a great notebook for students because it is compact and lightweight, affordable, and equipped with a powerful processor. The dv2 is available for $699.99, which I think is a fair price for what you�re getting. It should be a popular choice for budget conscious students this upcoming school year. Some of you who are considering netbooks for their cheap price, may want to pony up a little more cash and highly consider the dv2 from HP.

Stay tuned for a full review of the unit coming soon.

Until then, check out these reviews of the dv2:
NotebookReview.com
CNET

Review: SimpleTech Signature Mini Hard Drive

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:48:57 +0100

When it comes to school work on your computer, nothing is more important than safely saving and storing your data. I�m sure you have heard many horror stories (or maybe experienced them yourself) of students losing all their work because of hard drive failure. There are even stories out there of students going to far extremes to protect their work.

Here comes a product that will safely store all your important files and has a large enough capacity to store all of your music, photos and other media as well. Typical students opt for bargain thumb drives of 2-4 GB, but the problem with those is that they typically fill up fast and reach full capacity, forcing the user to get and carry around an additional thumb drive or delete past work/files that they may or may not need again.

Why not have in your possession a storage device that is lightweight and still has more than enough storage space for whatever you need? Enter the SimpleTech Signature Mini. A beautiful Black Cherry colored external hard drive with a whopping 320GB of storage space.

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You don't need to be a tech genius to use this product. It is very simple to use...simply plug in the provided USB cord to a computer and you're ready to start transferring files. The device also includes software that will automatically backup your files.

The Signature Mini is available in 9 different colors with capacities of up to 500GB. Colors include the cleverly named "flavors" of blueberry, black cherry, kiwi, bubble gum, marshmallow, espresso, cool mint, ice, and cayenne.

Size and Portability
While yes the Signature Mini is technically "pocket-sized", it�s not something you'd want to be carrying around with you all the time. But, it�s lightweight design makes it easy and convenient for on the go, as it won�t weigh down your backpack or messenger bag. The product is pretty durable, making it appear heavier than it is. You could drop this thing and not have to worry about damaging anything.

When the Signature Mini is placed in your pocket, it is noticeable, but doesn�t get in the way when walking thanks to its smooth and lightweight design. It fits nicely in both the front and back pockets of your pants, but I personally preferred the front pocket, not only for comfort reasons, but also in case I forget it�s there and decided to sit down. Because it is so lightweight, sometimes you may forget that it�s actually in your pocket.

With its thin compact size, the Signature Mini can easily be hidden or stored away to wherever your liking.

Product Details

Dimensions: 5.25" x 4.5" x 1.5".
Weight: 5.8 ounces.
Designed by Pininfarina, maker of Italian sports cars.
USB 2.0 powered.
Has a �Velvety� feel to it.

Pros

3 year warranty.
Lightweight and Durable.
More storage for your dollar.
Easy to use.
Stylish and elegant looking.
Included software automatically backs up your files.

Cons

Bulkier than your typical thumb drive.

Cost
The Signature Mini we reviewed (320GB Black Cherry) retails for $109.99, but searching around, you can find it for under $100. This is a fair deal on a cost per GB basis. You can't put a price on piece of mind knowing that all your data and files are safely backed up. Everyone needs some sort of portable storage device, so it may be worth it in the end to spend a little extra and get more bang for your buck. Stop wasting your time with 2-4 GB thumb drives.

Uses
The Signature Mini would be good for students and grads looking to store all their college digital files ranging from class assignments to their favorite MP3s. If you are doing a lot of work on different computers, the Signature Mini would be the ultimate storage device for easily being able to access all of your work by simply plugging the device into a USB port. With storage capacities ranging from 160GB to 500GB (160GB, 250GB, 320GB, 500GB), it should provide more than enough space to store just about anything.

For more visit:
Simpletech.com/products/storage/signature-mini

Review: Ice Booze Vertical Ice Luge

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:51:53 +0100

Need more entertainment at your parties and get-togethers?

Here we will take a look at the Ice Booze Vertical Ice Luge, something you may want to consider as an addition to your next party.

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Here is a product that will ensure drinks and shots stay cold, on top of adding a great conversation piece and center of attention to any party or gathering. For you sports fans, this would be quite the attention-getter at tailgate parties as well.

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Ice luge parties can be a fun theme party where typically a 3-foot long block of ice is purchased and channels are carved into the block where drinks are to be poured and channel their way down the other end of the ice block and into the mouth of the person at the other end.

The Ice Booze has the same effect, in a more portable, do-it-yourself manner.

Typical ice luge parties can get pretty messy. A large ice block sitting on the edge of a table means water runoff gets everywhere and is a pain to continually have to clean up. Rather annoying, especially when you�d rather be partying with your friends.

The Ice Booze, when used with the optional drip tray, means no mess for you to deal with. You could let the ice sit for hours and not have to worry about a puddle forming below your ice block.

A traditional ice luge party usually involves ordering a 300-pound block of ice, which depending on how and where you get it, can be pretty spendy. Then the block must be team-lifted to the point of the party destination, carefully to ensure that it is not dropped. Upon placement of the ice block, channels are carved into the ice where the "liquid" is to be poured, creating the ice luge effect. A lot of prep work for one party.

With the Ice Booze you�re getting a more manageable way of creating the same effect that an ice luge has. Making the ice yourself means less expense and time spent on this hassle in the future. Freezing the ice in the Ice Booze takes about 1.5 days in your typical freezer, and when ready can easily be moved to your party location (The dimensions are: 14.55" x 9.91" x 9.84").

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The product promises to deliver fun and excitement to any party. One thing this product will surely provide is a cold rush of liquid to the recipient at the end of this device. The ice does a good job of cooling down any liquids that pass through it.

Package contents

Ice Booze Plastic Mold (2 pieces).
(2) 18" long flexible tubing.
(2) Clamps with hex head bolts.
Allen wrench.

Optional add-ons include the drip tray with an LED light module that will make your ice formation glow in color.

Cost
Ice Booze: $49.95 + $9.99 s&h
Ice Booze with drip tray and LED light module: $69.95 + Free Shipping

Assembly
Construction of the Ice Booze is fairly simple:

1. Attach the tubes to the nipples.{mosimage}	2. Assemble mold pieces together.{mosimage}
3. Slide clamps over shell and tighten bolts.{mosimage}	4. Fill to first water line. Freeze completely.{mosimage}

There are a total of four freeze lines on the mold. Repeat the freezing process for each line until completely frozen solid. The complete freeze process will take about a full day or two to freeze.

Using the Ice Booze
When the freezing process is over, remove the clamps, plastic mold, and tubing. Now the Ice Booze is ready for use. When pouring liquid into the top of the ice, Ice Booze recommends attaching pour spouts to your bottle like bartenders use to prevent the liquid from spilling.

Pros

Cool lighting effects when used with the LED light module.
Cools drinks/shots as they pass through ice.
The size is small enough to be portable.
Using the provided drip tray means no mess. Melting ice and drink runoff goes out the drain/tubing.
Unlimited usage. Assuming you�re not too rough on the product, it can be used over and over again.

Cons

Can't use at spur of the moment. It's use at a party must be planned out in advance to allow freeze time. It takes about a day or two to completely freeze the water used to make the ice luge. (Exception: if you freeze the ice block before hand and keep in your freezer until needed. Note that the Ice Booze unit will take up a good portion of your freezer space).
Pour holes on top of ice are small. This is why pour spouts are recommended. It may make things easier if the holes are carved out a bit more, so it's easier to pour drinks/shots into.

Other Usage Observations

Liquid rushes out fast sending a cold rush straight to your head, so be prepared.
The ice doesn�t melt as fast as you think it would, so you should be able to use it for the full length of a party.

Quotes from users:

"A very entertaining drinking prop."
"A lava lamp of liquid greatness."

Conclusion/Final Thoughts

At first glance, the price of the Ice Booze may seem quite a bit considering what this product does, but where you are getting your money's worth is on the reusability factor, and considering the fact that if you do want an ice luge for your party, they can be pretty expensive when purchased through an ice supplier. But, overall the Ice Booze would be a great addition to any party. I'd definitely recommend it with the LED light kit, as it adds much more to the wow factor.

Want more info? Read more about the Ice Booze at icebooze.com where tips, directions and party pics are posted.

Saving Money: 50 Tips for College Students

Thu, 14 May 2009 07:00:00 +0100

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Being a college student usually means living and surviving on a cheap budget. Some of you may be pretty good at pinching your pennies and getting by, while others take out student loans and get themselves further into debt. Either way, all of us could use some additional advice and ideas on stretching our dollar just a bit further.

Check out these 50 ideas on ways to save money:

FOOD & DRINK

Learn how to cook your own meals, it's healthier and you'll save money.
Don't get a meal plan, the cafeteria food isn't usually that great anyways.
Bring your own snacks/water to class instead of buying them on campus. Stay away from vending machines.
Bring your own lunch to school. If you do it right, you can usually make it a healthier lunch than what is offered in the cafeteria.
If you have a meal plan, actually use it.
Eat Ramen Noodles.
Don't get soda when you go out to eat.
Don't go to Starbucks.
Buy food in bulk. Get a Costco card with your roommates and get bulk discounts.
Find events on campus that offer free food for attending. Follow those "Free Pizza" signs!

HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES

Have a roommate (so you can split expenses).
Shop at Walmart, Dollar Stores, and thift stores.
Shop at garage sales on the weekends for any household items you may need.
Put on more layers of clothing instead of turning up the heat.
Buy generic brand items.

TEXTBOOKS

Buy used textbooks.
Buy textbooks online. Maybe even consider buying the e-book version of the textbook.
Check the library for your required books, you may get lucky!
Sell back your textbooks.

TRANSPORTATION

Use public transportation. Being a college student, you can usually ride for free or at a reduced rate.
Don't get a car. They are a huge expense and cost a lot in insurance and gas.
Ride your bike. Except for commuter students, no one needs a car on campus for daily use.
Live close to campus and use the campus shuttles to save on gas.

ENTERTAINMENT

Instead of hitting the clubs, try and find house parties.
Keep an eye out for free activities on campus. Most college campuses have free entertainment almost every night. For example: some colleges have a weekly movie night that is free to all students.
Borrow movies from the library. The library has a large collection of movies for students to check out.

COLLEGE EXPENSES

Fill out the FAFSA every year.
Take a look at your college bill. Certain fees are optional. If you won't be using your college's fitness center, remove the fee.
Depending on dorm prices, it may be cheaper just to get an apartment. (See: Most Expensive College Dorms)
Don't buy anything from the school's bookstore. Some of the prices they charge are outrageous.
Go to a community college and get your core classes completed, then transfer to a 4-year college for required classes for your degree. Make sure all your credits will transfer.
Do not use student loans for anything that is not school related. It's tempting to rack up your credit and loans, knowing you'll eventually pay it back. However, you have no idea how the economy will look when you graduate and you don't want to be in massive debt while job searching.
Test out of classes. For a small fee you can usually take a test to fulfill certain class requirements. Think of the cost you'll save on tuition.
Finish in three years if you can.
Apply for financial aid early.
Get good grades so you qualify for certain (typically merit-based) grants and scholarships.
Work as a Resident Advisor and get free room and board.
Take as many credits as allowed every term.
Research your school for scholarships. That means taking a look at the website, contacting the admissions office, scholarship office, and faculty to see what�s available. Use every resource you have to get the big scholarships while keeping your eyes open for smaller, but still substantial ones. Look for scholarships in the area of your major. Most professional organizations will have scholarships to encourage students to stay in that field.
Take advantage of student services. There are plenty of free programs that assist you while going to school. From health care to transportation, there are many different ways to save money.
Take advantage of things that are already paid for, such as on-campus meals and library services.
Get a job first and have your employer pay for your schooling.
Don't go to these colleges.

MONEY TIPS

Only buy what you need. Don't buy on impulse.
Don't get a credit card. It's not necessary and you'll end up paying a high interest rate.
If you do decide to keep a credit card on hand, pay for things with cash as much as you can. Don't run up credit card bills for trivial things.
Open up a savings account that earns interest.
Keep track of everything you spend. It really helps to know what you have coming in and going out.
Take advantage of student discounts.
Not only should you try to save money, but you should also try to make money! Get a campus job. There are several jobs that have very little responsibility, believe it or not, and many times you can do your homework during this time. There are typically many jobs available on campus and most are pretty flexible with your class schedule.

Other Resources:

Frugal Law Student's 180 Money Saving Tips
Tired of Ramen Noodles? 27 Penny Pinching Survival Tips For College
Clever Dude's 12 Tips for Saving Money in College
118 Ways to Save in College
40 Money Tips for College Students

College Complaints

Wed, 06 May 2009 14:25:13 +0100

We surveyed over 1000 college students nationwide and asked them what their biggest complaints about college were. Here are the most popular answers that were given about what students hated most about their college.

Parking. The school's parking situation sucks and the parking rates are crazy.
The price of textbooks! You spend hundreds of dollars on them and only use them for a few months. It seems like such a rip off.
The cafeteria food is gross.
Having to take mandatory prerequisites and electives.
7am classes.
College is too expensive.
The school is too big; too many students.
There is a lack of community feel at a big college.
When TA's end up teaching most of the class instead of the actual professor.
When the professor publishes their own textbook and requires it for their class. Seems so unfair.
Being homesick.
Being forced to abide to the school's meal plan.
Student fees that aren't covered by tuition scholarships.
The time constraint it has on you. College is a lot of work to handle all at once.
The Dissertation process is a nightmare.
Hate being away from family.
Having a roommate.
Not getting enough privacy.
There are too many distractions on a college campus.
Having to walk long distances across campus.
Having to walk through the snow in the winter months.
Students go a little wild at first because they aren't used to being on their own.
All the required reading homework.
The pressure on students to complete their degrees in a specific time frame.
Too much to do and not enough time to do it.
Being broke all the time.
Homework keeps you so busy, it's hard to hold down a job.
Not getting enough sleep.
Construction on the school buildings. It is such an eyesore on campus.
There is too much focus on sports.
Some teachers are primarily interested in research, and they are not very good at teaching.
The lack of independence when you live in the dorms.
College (in general) places too much of an emphasis on academic success and not enough on professional development.
I wish there was more effort put into guiding students on how to pick their majors.
I disliked the fact that sometimes it was hard to get the classes I wanted.
My college did not help me to find employment.

College Advice: 100+ Tips for Survival

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 01:59:00 +0100

College is no cakewalk. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to get that degree and maintain a respectable grade point average. Let's not mention that you'll also be balancing that with all the social aspects and other distractions that are present on a college campus. Yes, the path to graduation may be a rough and rugged road, but with the right attitude you can survive the ride. {mosimage}

Follow these tips to help you on your journey.

Study Tips

Take advantage of office hours. They are there for a reason. It's your chance to get one-on-one help from a highly qualified teacher. If you are struggling in class, there is no reason why you shouldn't be going to your teacher's office hours.
Don't fall behind. Don't procrastinate. College school work is very fast pace and it's very difficult to catch back up.
Use a study group rather than a late night cram session.
Make sure you find yourself a nice study environment. Dorm rooms are not an ideal place to clearly focus on your studies.
If things get loud, use ear plugs.
Learn the material the very first time it�s presented rather than having to cram every time there is a test.
Finals week will be hell, make sure you are prepared.
The best test preparation is a good night of sleep and a good breakfast.
Stay organized and manage your time efficiently.
Keep good class notes. Use web 2.0 note taking tools if you need to.
Actually read the textbook. You bought and paid for it, so read it. This is usually the material that is on the exams.
Don't cheat on your exams. This is a very serious offense in college.
Have a good laptop. Its pretty much a necessity in college nowadays.
Set clear goals for each class.
Keep a to-do list of assignments and other projects.
Prepare for college-level work. The amount of writing and reading required can be overbearing.
Sit towards the front of the class. It will improve your grade, encourage interaction and your standing/recognition with the professor.
Ask questions in class. Or, provide input in ongoing class lectures.
Use the library. It's full of useful resources.
Don't cite Wikipedia in your research papers.

Student Finance

Student Discounts - Shop at stores and restaurants that give a student discount w/student ID.
Shop around for textbooks. Buy used or from a cheaper online textbook store.
Consider renting textbooks or buying in digital form to save money.
Check the library for your required books. You may get lucky!
Ride the bus. Some buses let you ride for free as a student.
Sell back your textbooks.
Apply for financial aid early.
Take advantage of things that are already paid for, such as on-campus meals and library services.
Use school resources - Colleges have video equipment, computers, movies, books, etc for your use.
Don't use a credit card unless you know what you're getting yourself into.
Don't be afraid to take out student loans. If you work hard in college you will be able to pay them back.
Learn to survive on a college budget by penny pinching.
Don't drive. You'll have pretty much everything you need within walking distance.
If you're an overachiever, take the maximum allowed credits per quarter, and get most out of your tuition.
Take advantage of free stuff, just be careful when it comes to things like signing up for a credit card.
Apply for college scholarships. Many scholarships are fairly easy to obtain and only require a written essay.
File your FAFSA on time.

Social Life/College Life

Make a real effort to get to know more people. This is a new beginning for everybody and a great place to make new friends. Be outgoing and ready and willing to meet new people. These people are in the same boat as you.
Spend your first year of college in a dorm/residence hall. While it may be crowded, it's a great place to easily make new friends.
Get involved on campus and join organizations that interest you. Another great way to meet people and give you student leadership experience.
Befriend upperclassmen. They're pretty good at giving advice and getting you into good parties.
Make friends with your RA. It might keep you out of trouble.
Be able to handle alcohol and know your limits (if you do decide to drink).
Thursday is the new Friday.
Maintain. For many college students, it's their first time away from parents. This formula can lead to some wild times.
Don�t give in to peer pressure. Whatever you may think, you are not in college to drink and party.
Learn how to say NO. When it comes to drugs, partying on a study night, etc. Have the courage to tell your friends no.
Try and get along with your roommate. You don't want any awkwardness between you two.
If you don't like your roommate, get a new one.
Expect to deal with all kinds of people. There is a greater diversity of people in college than there was in high school.
Your friends will change a lot over the next four years. Let them.
Make your housing plan for next year well in advance, so you have plenty of time to look if you choose to live off-campus.
Don't wear pajamas to class. I still don't know why some people walk out of their houses looking like that.
Balance work, school and social life - A schedule that doesn't leave time for sleep.
Go to college football games. Even if you don't like football, you'll have fun.
Join an intramural team. It's fun, competitive and another great place to meet new people.
Unless you two are really serious, lose the long distance relationship.
Keep in touch with parents. They'll miss you and can comfort you in this time of change.
Rush the fraternities/sororities. It's not for everybody, but at least check it out.
If you decide to go Greek, don�t pledge during your first semester. Most students find that their GPAs go down during the semester they pledge, so if you do, take an easier load of classes.
Make friends with students, professors, and other influential offices on campus. It can really help you when networking later.
Use facebook, just not all the time.
Be careful to what you post publicly on your facebook or MySpace profile.

Selecting Classes/Majors

Before selecting your major, consider taking a few related classes or even doing an early internship to make sure it's actually something you want to do.
If you can't decide on a major, take classes that will interest you.
Take a wide variety of classes your first two years, that's your experimental phase. Take the courses that interest you and some that don't. Give your mind and soul opportunities to be bent in directions you would not ordinarily choose. You may just find something you love that you didn't even know existed or that you thought you hated.
Select classes carefully - Read the syllabus, check out the teacher and maybe even sit in on a class session or two to see if it's fit for your liking.
Check out prospective teachers through online professor rating services.
Don't schedule early morning classes if you're not a morning person. It becomes very tempting to skip that 8am class in the lecture hall.
Take a few classes on subjects that you enjoy!
Register for your classes as soon as possible, because classes fill up fast.
Take a few classes outside your major. It'll open you up to new ideas/people.
If you don't want to continue on for a master's, make sure you pick a degree where a masters isn't needed to be competitive in the workforce.

Health/Personal Safety Tips

Learn how to cope with stress. College can be very demanding.
Maintain a healthy diet. Don't be a victim of the Freshman 15.
Learn how to relax and take breaks. Your time at college goes by quickly.
Take advantage of your school's fitness center. Fight off that freshman 15!
Wear sunscreen.
Wear sandals in the showers.
Wear comfortable shoes. Prepare to do a lot of walking around campus.
Familiarize yourself with the rules/policies of the university. Every campus has its own set of rules and regulations, and they are usually pretty good at letting you know what they are. Guidelines, restrictions, rules and regulations of all kinds can usually be found in your student handbook.

General College Tips

Top Ramen - Learn to love it. It's the perfect food for the college student who's strapped for time and cash.
Be on time for each class. Don't be known as the one who always comes in late.
College is living in a small cramped room with tons of work, not getting enough sleep, not getting good healthy food, and having to deal with various stresses and negative externalities.
Learn to love teamwork. It is the new frontier in most college classes.
Get to know your professors. Getting to know them on a more personal level may increase your standing in class and always helps come grading time.
Going to class is important. College is expensive, so better get what you pay for.
If you do buy your textbooks at the bookstore, wait a couple of days into the term to avoid the long lines.
Wait to buy your books until after you go to class and get the syllabus. The bookstore has a list of the books you will need for each class, but that list is not definitive.
Sit towards the front of large lecture halls. Sitting in front makes it easier to pay attention and see whatever is on the overhead projector. It is also easier to understand the point the professor is trying to make if you can see him or her. The people who sit in the back tend to fool around more and do worse in the course.
Take college serious from the start, it's not high school anymore.
Become familiar with PowerPoint. I used it a lot in college.
Be open-minded. Self-explanatory.
Ask yourself, why are you going to College?
Carry your student ID with you.
Set goals on what you want to achieve from going to College.
If you are driving to campus, get there early (before 8am) so you won't have problems trying to find a parking spot.
Parking is always a problem and you will get parking tickets.
Practice parallel parking. Prepare for a tough parking situation where you'll have to squeeze into tight spots.
Take advantage of free help on campus from professors, career counselors, Ombudsman office, etc.
Go to class!

Career Tips

Work on your networking skills. It's one of the keys to getting a job after college.
Take advantage of internships. Most of my successful friends got their feet in the doors of companies where they still work by doing internships.
Start looking for a job/career while you're still in college. So many students graduate without having a clue of what to do.

7 Creative and Uniquely Designed Graduation Announcements

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:29:02 +0100

With graduation ceremonies just around the corner, many soon to be graduates have a lot to get done before their big day. One item on this massive to do list is sending out graduation announcements. Students send out these graduation announcements to family, friends, and relatives to notify them of the time and place of the ceremony (and to say, "Hey, I'm graduating so send money!").

Announcements sold through the school can often be expensive and include way more than is needed. If you are the creative, do-it-yourself type, you can make these yourself and make them look pretty good at the same time, all while saving money.

The ideas here for making your own graduation announcements are pretty much endless. Here we'll take a look at 7 creative and uniquely designed graduation announcements to help spur your imagination.

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You can see how the use of photos in graduation announcements really adds a personal touch and is much better looking than the mass produced graduation cards. The examples shown here range from the elegant and stylish to the witty and humorous.

Guide: Renting an Apartment for the first time

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 19:26:19 +0100

Deciding to rent an apartment is something that many college students decide to do during their time away from home. If you do not rent one while in school, then renting a place of your own is something you will probably be doing shortly after graduation. Before you make that commitment and sign your name on that lease, there are a few things you should probably know and think about first.

Affordability

What can you afford? Evaluate your budget so you know how much rent you can afford without overextending yourself financially. If you found an apartment that you like, but the rent seems out of reach, then consider a roommate. A roommate can split the bills with you, making a once expensive apartment, more affordable.

Utilities

Be sure to check what, if any, utilities are included as part of your rent. Sometimes landlords will pay for the water and heat for a tenant, whereas other landlords will not pay for any utilities. There are even a few landlords out there who will pay for all utilities for their tenants. This is something you should know before renting so that you can estimate your monthly budget accurately. Also, you can usually call utility companies before you move into a place, and they will usually be able to provide you with an estimate of how much you�ll be paying each month.

Location

When checking out apartments, check the location. Make sure it is close to school or work. Make sure you will not have a long or out of the way commute to class. An apartment may be really cheap to rent but may be far away from your daily lifestyle. Keep location in mind when searching for that new place to call home. If you are looking for a place in a certain area of a city, maybe pick up a local community paper and browse classified listings. These free and focused community papers cover a specific suburb or section of the city and can help you get to know the area better. You can also search websites like Craigslist and Apartments.com that offer advanced search features.

Restrictions

When you rent, you are under the restrictions of the landlord of the property. You must abide by their rules, which are usually outlined in the lease you sign. Some landlords will not allow pets, while others are more concerned with noise restrictions. If you are renting a room in someone�s home, you should check to see if you can have visitors sleep over or any other rules concerning others not residing in that room.

Credit Score/Background Check

Know that when it comes to renting an apartment, there will almost always be a credit report and background check done on you. This is why places have application fees, because it costs money to run these reports. Have too many unpaid bills, or a history of getting into trouble with the law and you can find yourself denied on your application. Because you are a first time renter and don�t have much of a history, you may find that in some cases you will need a co-signer on your application. This will depend on many things, such as the policy of the rental agency, your credit score, and whether or not you have a job.

Read the Lease Before You Sign It

Read every line of your lease before you sign. This is important because it will contain the rules that the landlord requests by which you abide. The lease will contain what pets you can have, if any, what utilities you are responsible for, how much your rent is, when a late fee is charged, and what conditions you can break your lease, if at all. It is very important you understand these conditions, as once you sign the lease you are entering into a contract. Typically a renter may feel pressured to quickly sign the lease, but take your time and be sure to read all fine print in anything you sign.

When You Finally Move In

When you find that first place and sign your lease, be sure to go through the apartment and note any damages. It is even better if you can get your landlord to perform this �walk through� with you. If you find anything unusual, such as a water spot on the ceiling, stains on carpets, or anything that could be blamed on you, then notify your landlord immediately. Once you move in and start residing in the apartment, you will usually be responsible for any damage to the apartment, beyond typical wear and tear. When you move out, anything that the landlord deem needs to be fixed may be deducted from your security deposit. Therefore it is important to keep the apartment in good condition so that you are not charged for any unnecessary expenses.

Renters Insurance

It is important that once you start renting, you obtain renters insurance. Renters insurance is fairly inexpensive. This minor expense will insure your valuables against damage from fire or burglary. If you have pets, then most landlords usually require renters insurance. After recently shopping around for renters insurance, I have found State Farm seems to offer the best renters insurance policy for the dollar. It is especially important for you to get covered if you have valuable items such as laptops, stereo equipment, and jewelry.

Renting your first apartment is exciting and rewarding but also a huge responsibility. With some discipline and organization, your first apartment renting experience can be satisfying as well as a huge learning experience.

Motivational Graduation Speeches

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 17:02:29 +0100

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It's a big duty for a graduation speaker to get up on stage and preach their words of wisdom to the graduating class. They must do this while not being boring, being part funny, and being inspirational to the listeners.

While being "funny" during a speech is not necessarily a requirement, you will usually find the speaker cracking a joke or two at the beginning of the speech to loosen up both the speaker and the audience.

It can be hard to keep an audience's attention for 10-20 minutes, especially with the graduates, who probably have a million thoughts running through their heads and are sweating to death in their graduation gowns.

Typically, a commencement speaker will include a parable in their speech and follow it up with some motivational words of advice for the graduates' future and career.

After analyzing several college graduation speeches, we have collected this list of highly motivational commencement speeches.

Steve Jobs Stanford University 2005

Steve Jobs gives a pretty serious speech to Stanford graduates about his life; from getting fired from Apple in 1985 to his near death experience from cancer.

Best Line:
Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma � which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.
Full speech transcript here.

J.K. Rowling Harvard University 2008

Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling spoke to Harvard graduates on June 5, 2008. The speech is a bit long (about 20 minutes total), but so inspiring. She even throws in a few inside jokes for all you readers of Harry Potter books. Rowling covers the importance of imagination, overcoming poverty and failure, and the roles they play in success.

Best Line:
If you choose to use your status and influence to raise your voice on behalf of those who have no voice; if you choose to identify not only with the powerful, but with the powerless; if you retain the ability to imagine yourself into the lives of those who do not have your advantages, then it will not only be your proud families who celebrate your existence, but thousands and millions of people whose reality you have helped change. We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better.

Barbara Kingsolver Duke University 2008

Author Barbara Kingsolver shares her advice on how to live a full and happy life with her speech, �Your Money or Your Life�. If you find the time, you should definitely read the speech all the way through.
Best Line:
You will be told to buy into business as usual: You need a job. Trade your future for an entry-level position. Do what we did; preserve a profitable climate for manufacture and consumption, at any cost. Even at the cost of the other climate � the one that was hospitable to life as we knew it. Is anyone thinking this through? In the awful moment when someone demands at gunpoint, �Your money or your life,� that�s not supposed to be a hard question.

Download the audio version of this speech.

Randy Pausch Carnegie Mellon University 2008

Randy Pausch was a professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon. He was told he would only have 3-6 months left to live due to pancreatic cancer... he gave this speech on month nine. Pausch passed away just over 2 months after he gave this speech.

Best Line:
We don't beat the reaper by living longer, but by living well, and living fully � for the reaper will come for all of us. The question is: what do we do between the time we're born and the time he shows up.

Conan O'Brien Harvard 2000

Conan pretty much tells his life story, from starting out after graduating from Harvard and taking a job at Wilson's House of Suede and Leather, to landing the spot as the host of the late night talk show. His main point is to go out there and take chances; don't be afraid of failure.

Best Line:
So, that's what I wish for all of you: the bad as well as the good. Fall down, make a mess, break something occasionally. And remember that the story is never over.

Full speech transcript here.

Steven Colbert Knox College 2006

Although this speech from Steven Colbert is quite humerous, it's also quite motivational.

Best Line:
You are about to start the greatest improvisation of all. With no script. No idea what's going to happen, often with people and places you have never seen before. And you are not in control. So say "yes." And if you're lucky, you'll find people who will say "yes" back.

Full speech transcript here.

Russell Baker Connecticut College 1995

American columist and author Russell Baker presents his speech: �10 Ways to Avoid Mucking Up the World Any Worse Than It Already Is.�
Best Line:
So when you get out there in the world, ladies and gentlemen, you're going to find yourself surrounded by shouting, red-in-the-face, stomping-mad politicians, radio yakmeisters and, yes sad to say, newspaper columnists, telling you 'you never had it so bad' and otherwise trying to spoil your day. When they come at you with that, ladies and gentlemen, give them a wink and a smile and a good view of your departing back. And as you stroll away, bend down to smell a flower.
Full speech transcript here.

Guy Kawasaki Babson College 2000
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This speech is a great read for future entrepreneurs. It was given at Babson College, who has one of the best entrepreneurship programs in the country.
Best Line:
Playing to win is one of the finest things you can do. It enables you to fulfill your potential. It enables you to improve the world and, conveniently, develop high expectations for everyone else too. And what if you lose? Just make sure you lose while trying something grand. The unexamined life may not be worth living, but the unlived life is not worth examining. Make sure your life is worth examining.
Full speech transcript here.

Cal Ripken Jr. University of Delaware 2008
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You will rarely find someone with as much heart, soul, and dedication as former baseball player Cal Ripken Jr. He holds the record for the most consecutive games played, a feat that requires much love and passion for what he does. Although he never went to college himself, he offers some great advice to live by.

Best Line:
As you meet those challenges, I hope you will think about three ideas which have guided me along the path that my life has taken thus far, and which may take some of the apprehension out of the choices you make. First, find a career that is your passion. Second, persevere to be the best you can be as you perform your tasks. And, third, strive to be a good person in all you do.

Full speech transcript here.

Top 8 Greatest School Pranks Caught on Video

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:01:33 +0100

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With April 1st here, many of you out there may be thinking at the moment of a cool and funny prank you can pull on some of your friends or fellow classmates at school. Well, in honor of April Fools� Day, we searched the web and collected a selection of some of the funniest pranks ever pulled at school. Most of these college pranks take place either in a classroom setting or in a dorm room. Maybe some of these ideas will spur your imagination and give you an idea for a practical joke, just don�t get yourself into too much trouble.

Remember these 3 simple rules when it comes to April Fools� Pranks at School:

Make sure its funny.
Don�t go too far.
Keep yourself out of trouble.

Top 8 Greatest College Pranks Caught on Video

Upside Down Dorm Room

12 students in a matter of 9 days, managed to turn an entire dorm room upside down.

College Ninja Assault

A ninja wreaks havoc through many college lectures.

Superman Prank

Superman gets his call during a college lecture and rips into his uniform in front of the class.

Ghostbusters Lecture Hall Prank

Students dress up as the Ghostbusters and chase a ghost throughout many college lecture halls.

Broadway Musical Lecture Prank

A student stands up in the middle of class and starts singing a Broadway style musical.

Foiled Dorm Room

Students cover an entire dorm room with aluminum foil.

Powerbook Start up Sound Prank

A student interrupts a quite study area with his laptop.

College Basketball Game gets Rick Rolled

Student puts on a show at a college basketball game, performing "Never Gonna Give You Up" by Rick Astley.

Review: Chegg.com Textbook Rental Service

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:26:00 +0100

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Does it bother you when you spend hundreds of dollars at your local college bookstore on books for your current semester? Does it bother you even more to find out that you get pennies back during the buyback period for what you paid so much for? Well if you are like many other college students who buy books and get frustrated when they find out that the book they paid $150 for is only worth $20 at buyback, then maybe renting textbooks would be an option for you.

I recently had the chance to try textbook rentals out for myself. Of course, since I was so use to purchasing textbooks, I was hesitant to try out rentals, but I gave it a shot anyway. I used Chegg Textbook Rentals for my books last semester. Overall, my personal experience with Chegg was positive. There were only a few things that bothered me about them, however it was not bad enough to make me stop doing business with them.

How Chegg Works

So how do textbook rentals work? With Chegg, you go onto their site and enter your ISBN number for the book that you need. They will display the book information if they have it in their inventory for rental. Keep in mind that they do not have every single book available for rent, however so far I have not had an issue with lack of inventory. Once the book information is displayed, you have the option to rent the book for a semester, quarter or summer session. You can even alter the dates to match the class dates for your school. Once you have the book you want, you do the traditional checkout by entering your credit card information for payment of the rental. You will receive your book within seven to ten days. You will also be given the return date when you are due to send your book back to Chegg. There are no shipping charges for returning books back; you just log on to Chegg, print out a label and return the book(s) via UPS.

Money Saved

When I first checked out Chegg�s rental prices, I was a little skeptical. The prices were so cheap that I thought it couldn�t possibly be right. I just did not understand how a brand new textbook at my college bookstore cost $160 but Chegg was going to rent it to me for a semester for $55. However I ordered the books anyway and my total rental for four classes was $232. I rented books for four classes. The cost of the books for me to purchase brand new from my college bookstore would have been $562.

Customer Service

Chegg�s customer service department is excellent. I had an issue where I did not receive a specific book that I ordered. I sent an email to Chegg through their �contact us� link on their website. Within twenty-four hours, I received a phone call from one of their customer service representatives offering to help resolve my issue ASAP.

Going Green

Chegg has jumped on the going green bandwagon and for every book that you rent, they plant a tree to try to preserve the environment. It is true that we are destroying our planet and Chegg is trying to do their part to save it.

Other Important Notes

Chegg has a buyback program. If you have college textbooks, you can see if Chegg will purchase them. You will receive cash or a Chegg credit.
The books that Chegg rents are in excellent condition. The ones I had even looked brand new and there was no writing or highlighting in any of the books I used.
Chegg has a purchase option. You are able to convert your rental to a purchase by paying additional charges.
There is a thirty-day refund guarantee, just in case you drop a class or your class is canceled for some reason.
Chegg does charge late fees for late returns so keep that in mind when renting your book. However in my experience, the return date for my book was three weeks after the last day of the semester so there was no reason for my book to be late getting back to Chegg.

My only complaint with Chegg was that they send some of their books via third party shippers. So you may order five books and receive two from Chegg, one from another company, and the other two from another company. They do advise that you may receive multiple shipments, however they try their hardest to be sure you have tracking information for each of the shipments.

Overall, Chegg is a great alternative for students on a budget. It is perfect for students who do not keep their textbooks for reference and for students who do not write in their books. Before you buy, check out Chegg for rentals. You may save yourself a chunk of change simply by doing what people have been doing throughout time: borrowing.

College Urban Legends

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 10:33:26 +0100

College urban legends are stories students and professors like to tell, partly for humor and partly to drive fear into others. In each urban legend, there seems to be a hidden message warning ignorant college students of dangers and legends on a college campus. These hidden messages can either be cautionary advice or positive motivation to do something.

Here are some of the more popular college urban legends known in popular culture:

Aren't you glad you didn't turn on the light?

In this urban legend a female college student who was studying all night in the library returns to her dorm room at 2 a.m. to get some sleep before her test in the morning. She thinks her roommate is sleeping, so she doesn't turn on the light for fear of waking her up. In the morning when she goes to wake up her roommate, she is terrified at the sight of blood, and she sees her roommate lying there slaughtered. She falls to the floor in fear and notices a note written in blood on the mirror that says, "Aren't you glad you didn't turn on the light?" It has been suggested that a group of resident advisors started the rumor in order to keep students from inviting strangers back to their rooms.

Kidney Thieves

This legend involves a male student who attends a party and has a few drinks. He meets an attractive girl who invites him to go to another party. He agrees, and they end up partying throughout the night. He blacks out and in the morning wakes up completely naked in a bathtub filled with ice. He starts to get out of the tub and notices a note written in lipstick on his chest that reads, "Call 911 or you will die." After calling 911 and being examined, he finds out that his kidneys had been stolen. They are worth about $10,000 each on the black market. Apparently, the second party had been a setup and the people involved were medical students trying to make a little cash.

Holiday Break Dorm Murder

This story involves two female roommates who decide to stay at their college dorm over the holiday break. One of the roommates ends up going out on a date that night, while the other girl decides to stay in and go to bed. Later that night, the girl sleeping is awakened by scratching noises at the door, along with light moaning and gurgling noises coming from the dorm hallway. The girl gets scared, so she locks the door and quietly hides in the closet until the morning. When the girl finally opens the door, she discovers her roommate dead in the hallway. Her throat was slit, and there were scratch marks on the door where she had been clawing to try to get in the room.

Halloween Massacre

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There are many tales of a Halloween massacre that takes place on school grounds. Typically, legend has it that a psychic predicts on a TV show that a serial killer will strike at a college campus on October 31. Supposedly, the murderer will kill dozens of students. Some say the psychic appeared on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," while others claim it was on the "Late Show with David Letterman." Some have even said that the killer will wear the mask from the Scream movies.

The legend is especially known at colleges like Michigan State University, University of Minnesota, and University of Wisconsin, specifically because it was also rumored that the murderer will hit a campus that starts with the letter M or W. However, no Halloween massacres on any campus have ever been reported to date.

Med School Cadaver

A Medical student got assigned to work on a cadaver for an in-class dissection. Upon looking at the dead body, the student realizes it is a relative of hers. This actually turned out to be a true story, taking place in 1982 at the University of Alabama School of Medicine, when a student realized one of the cadavers for the class was her Great Aunt.

Which Tire?

Two friends decide to go out partying all weekend instead of studying for their upcoming final. Since they weren't prepared for the final, they decided to use the excuse that they got a flat tire and couldn't make it back in time for the test. The professor decided to let them retake the test. During the rescheduled exam, each student was placed in a separate room to take the test. The first question was a simple 5 point question. However, the second question of the test asked "Which Tire?", and was worth 95 points. Obviously the professor was trying to catch the students in a lie and fail them on the test. Parts of this legend are actually somewhat true, as something very similar happened in Professor Bonk's Introductory Chemistry class at Duke University decades ago.

Do you even know who I am?

A student gets caught still working on a test after time had been called by the instructor. The student gets up to turn in the test, but the teacher won't accept it because the student continued working after time had been called. The student then asks the teacher if he even knows who he is --- The teacher answers, "No". The student replied, "Good," and quickly stuck his test into the center of the pile of tests on the desk and ran out of the room.

This scenario was also played out in the movie Slackers:

Student wins car by reading his textbook

This is one of the few urban legends on this list that is true. In 2001, a student from Yale University was reading the fine print in his textbook and found a publisher�s note congratulating him for being thorough and offered a chance to win a car if he sent his name and address to the publisher. Sure enough, he did just that, and being one of only five students to submit their name and address for the giveaway, he was selected as the student to win a 1965 Ford Thunderbird. Pretty sweet deal!

The School Library is Sinking

Since the 1970s, a myth has spread around many college campuses that the library is sinking into the ground because the architect forgot to factor in the weight of all the books in the library. An opposite version of this myth has also surfaced occasionally that when books were discarded, the library began to rise. Funny as it may be, this urban legend is not true.

Statues come to Life

The claim of this legend is that statues on campus will come to life when a virgin walks by. This legend has been spread across various college campuses for many years.

Here are some of the statues that are said to come to life when a virgin walks by:

The University of North Carolina has a memorial statue for alumni who died fighting for the Confederacy in the Civil War. The statue is a bronze soldier named Silent Sam. Legend has it that Silent Sam will shoot his rifle if a virgin passes by.
According to urban legend at the University of Tennessee, if a virgin walks under the statue of The Torchbearer, the flame will go out.
The University of Maryland�s terrapin mascot Testudo will sprout wings and fly away if a virgin ever graduates from the university.
The stone lion statues at the Universities of Missouri, University of Michigan, and University of Cincinnati will roar if a virgin walks between them.

These are general college-related urban legends. There are many other school specific urban legends out there.

This is part three of a three part series that includes college myths, college admission myths, and college urban legends.

College Admission Myths

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 10:30:30 +0100

The college search and application process is a long grueling process. Because choosing a college is such an important decision, it is imperative that there are no misunderstandings when it comes to the application and decision making process. In the following article we will take a look at some of the most common college admission myths, and the truths that lie behind them.

Myth: If you haven�t heard of a college, it can�t be good.
Truth: There are hundreds of colleges out there, so you may not hear about or be familiar with many of the different universities this country has to offer. Most people only know of certain colleges because of where they live or the colleges that get the most publicity, usually from college sports or college rankings. Many great colleges do not get exposure where it counts: Academics.

Myth: You should base your college decision on college rankings.
Truth: These rankings should not be used as your guide on what colleges to apply to. In reality, despite the amount of press coverage rankings receive, they don't mean very much. Only 46% of schools returned the questionnaire which counts as 25% of the total rankings of U.S. News & World Report's college rankings.

Myth: The earlier you send in your college application the better.
Truth: At most schools, it does not matter when you send in your application, so long as it gets there before the application deadline. Sure, it�s a good idea to prepare and have your application ready, as well as any admission essays complete ahead of schedule, but don�t think you�re increasing your chances by turning in your application months before the deadline. Only those students who apply with early decision can increase chances of admission by applying early.

Myth: You won�t get into college with a below average SAT score.
Truth: There are many factors admission offices look for in its applicants. Your test scores will be used in combination with your grades, class rank, activities/leadership, and the type/difficulty of classes you took in high school. Of course there are schools out there that don�t require a test score at all for admission. As long as you took a somewhat challenging course load and put up decent grades, you should have nothing to worry about.

Myth: It�s better to get good grades than take challenging courses.
Truth: Taking advanced courses and getting passing grades indicates to a college that you can handle challenging courses. A challenging course load with some AP courses will help you get into more selective colleges.

Myth: The more extracurricular activities the better.
Truth: The three main things (most) colleges look at are GPA, test scores, and admission essays. A ton of extracurricular activities will not necessarily make up for poor grades or a low test score. Among a pool of similar applicants however, a solid track record of extracurricular activities can give one student an edge over another. Colleges prefer students who show passion and interest in an activity. If you are enthusiastic and show leadership qualities in a certain activity, it can certainly help.

Myth: Minorities are shoo-ins for admission.
Truth: In most cases, checking the box on the application declaring your minority status will not increase your chances of admission. However, minorities may be able to strengthen their case for admission by using their first hand experience in the form of the admission essay. Perhaps explaining to admissions officers how you overcame your minority status and went on to be successful can help.

Myth: Being a legacy increases your chance of admission.
Truth: Put it this way�apply to more colleges than just the one(s) your parents went to. Having a parent who attended the school you're applying to carries only some weight, depending on the college. If anything, there may be even more pressure on you. What value a legacy does have is determined by each individual school and how much your parent(s) gave to the university in the form of donations.

Myth: If you�re a sports star you�ll get a free ride through college.
Truth: Just because you are/were a sports star in high school does not guarantee that you�ll get a free ride into college. College teams can only offer a certain amount of scholarships, and you�ll be going up against a lot of demand/competition. Some athletes even �walk on� to a sports team, hoping to later be offered a scholarship the next year. Being a sports star is no easy ticket, if anything, there will be more academic requirements expected from you.

Myth: Only the top students receive financial aid.
Truth: If you are admitted and show financial need, colleges will make it possible for you to pay for it with grants, scholarships, and loans regardless of how great of a student you are. The only time this myth may be true is when it comes to merit-based scholarships.

Myth: The more you save for college the less financial aid you'll receive.
Truth: While savings does count as a portion of the family's assets in determination of financial need, the federal government does not count all of the assets, just a fraction.

Myth: Public colleges are cheaper than private colleges.
Truth: This may seem true at first glance with the college�s advertised sticker price, but in many cases a private college can usually offer you more financial aid, making it a cheaper option.

Myth: Visit a college after you�ve been accepted.
Truth: While this is a good idea, many prospective students don�t explore and visit colleges BEFORE they apply. The problem with this is they apply and get accepted to a college, only to later visit and realize it�s not a good fit for them. If you can, visit both before and after you apply and get accepted. Yes, this will cost more money travel wise, but choosing a college is a lifetime decision and one you don�t want to mess up.

Myth: Once you�re accepted, you have nothing to worry about.
Truth: Wrong! Slack off on your school work and you�ll get poor grades, which leads to academic probation. If you don�t keep your grades up, you can be kicked out of school.

Myth: You need to pick a major before you begin college.
Truth: It is good to have a general idea of what you want to do (as it helps in your college search), but you usually don�t have to declare a major until the end of your sophomore year. Certain colleges are obviously better for certain degrees/majors. Once you do decide on a major, be sure to do an internship related to the career early in your path to obtaining a degree. This way you get a feel for the type of work, and you�ll know if it�s something you want to do for the rest of your life.

Myth: You need to decide on a career before you choose a college.
Truth: College is your time to explore. Don�t rush into your decisions, you can choose a major in your sophomore year and still complete the degree in four years. Lots of students decide what they want to get into after taking a few electives that stir up their interests.

Myth: You have to go to college if you want a good job and make lots of money.
Truth: College is not about getting a job. Sure, it helps, but know that there are many successful people out there with no college degree at all.

This is part two of a three part series that includes college myths, college admission myths, and college urban legends.

College Myths

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 19:15:43 +0100

There are many misunderstandings when it comes to college, and therefore there are many common myths about college as well. Whether it is due to wrong assumptions in popular culture, or just rumors spread by fellow college students, in the following article we will reveal the truths to the many myths that surround college.

Myth: If your roommate dies, you get all A's.
Truth: Although many schools will sympathize with you and understand this would be a traumatic situation, no school has a policy that awards a 4.0 GPA to a student whose roommate dies. There are a number of variations of this myth, one being students thinking they receive a 4.0 only if their roommate commits suicide. There is no truth to this myth. If something this horrible did happen, students would probably be offered counseling, but not a 4.0. This myth is portrayed in the movie Dead Man on Campus.

Myth: Best friends should never room together.
Truth: This is a borderline one. Rooming together has strengthened friendships and it has broken others. The only one(s) who will honestly know the answer to this one is you and the friend you are considering rooming with. Know that any roommate will get on your nerves at times and you will have to work out issues. If you still can�t decide, you and your friend should request the same dorm/floor, but separate rooms. This way you will have your space (somewhat) and easily get to know and make new friends.

Myth: You won�t get homesick.
Truth: There are many mixed feelings and emotions when you go off to college for the first time. The thought of being off on your own can get overwhelming at times, as you learn to handle this new feeling of independence. Many get homesick for a number of reasons. This is why you will see some students going back home every so often to get some home-cooked meals, visit with parents, and see friends and siblings back home.

Myth: Long distance relationships can work.
Truth: It is possible to make it work, just know that it�s going to cost you a lot of time, effort, money, and missed opportunities. It is tough and there will be some rocky times, but if it was meant to be, then it will all work out. You will meet a whole new group of friends in college, so no one knows what to expect. Just don�t spend your college life talking on the phone every night for multiple hours. There is too much to do in college.

Myth: The Freshmen 15 happens to everyone.
Truth: While the Freshman 15 comes true for many freshman, not all students will gain 15 pounds their first year in college. Students aren�t living at home anymore getting those full course meals, and are instead eating lightly and cheaply. Granted fast food intake and cafeteria food consumption goes up (the main causes of the freshman 15), but students tend to spend their last dollar(s) on textbooks, not proper calorie intake. Besides, many students can actually appear that they are in better shape after their first year of college, rather than looking like they gained 15 pounds. This is because students (mostly males) tend to grow into their bodies.

Myth: Ivy League schools are full of rich kids.
Truth: Not at all. Although Ivy League schools are traditionally considered expensive and only for the elite, it�s the smart ones who know that any student can get in and be able to afford it regardless of their parents income class. Even Harvard recently made changes to their financial aid packages to help lower and middle-class families be able to afford a Harvard education easier.

Myth: Ivy League Schools are expensive.
Truth: Contrary to popular belief, the Ivy League schools are affordable. Granted they are more expensive that your typical state college, know that most of the Ivy League schools offer excellent financial aid packages. Did you know Harvard is only the 118th most expensive college in the nation tuition wise?

Myth: Sororities are outlawed at certain colleges because of brothel laws.
Truth: This myth is false. There are many students across the country who are convinced their university lacks a sorority because of this non-existent law. Some municipalities have old laws that prohibit a number of women living together in order to prevent the establishment of brothels. However, sororities and other college housing are exempt, as are other reasonable situations where lots of women might live together, like a dorm at a women's college. Some municipalities do have zoning laws prohibiting more than a certain number of non-family members from living together, but not even in those cases would a household in violation of these codes be labeled a brothel.

Myth: College is like the movie Animal House.
Truth: Believe it or not, most students go to college to study. While many make partying a weekly thing, it�s those that do it every night who end up struggling with their grades and/or fail out of class and end up on academic probation. While a good college theme party is fun every now and then, one of the biggest tests of college is being able to balance academic work with your social life. Live a little, but know why you went to college in the first place.

Myth: Beer before liquor, never been sicker.
Truth: As soon as you reach more than a handful of drinks, it really doesn't really matter in what order you drank them�odds are, you're going to be sick the next day. Granted mixing doesn�t help, just know what your tolerance level is and try and maintain.

Myth: These will be the best years of your life.
Truth: How many times have you heard that from your parents? Many adults look back on college as a time when they were free from most real world responsibility, and now they are stuck in the daily grind of the working class. College isn�t always the best time of your life per se, just enjoy the freedom you have while you have it. This is your time to figure out who you are as a person (being away from home for the first time) and what type of career you want to go into. Make every minute count. Learn how to properly balance school work, activities, and a social life.

Myth: College is like high school.
Truth: College is not like high school at all. The work and requirements are more intense. Many students who come into college don�t take it seriously (mostly those that come from high schools with grade inflation) and get less than stellar grades, or worse yet, end up on academic probation their first year in college. Take studying, homework, and class attendance seriously and don�t get distracted by all the social life (partying) in college.

Myth: College lasts four years.
Truth: Only about 1 out of 3 students complete college in four years, and about half complete it in six. If you plan to be out of college in four years, learn what your college�s four-year graduation percentage is. There is nothing wrong with taking five years to get your degree.

Myth: It�s better to get good grades than to take challenging courses.
Truth: What you really want to take in college is classes that will benefit you, help you grow, and be useful in your career after college. Of course, you�ll have the courses required for your major, but almost all majors leave time for electives. This way you can pick and choose classes that may be interesting to you. See our list of recommended courses students should take.

Myth: The more extracurricular activities you do, the better.
Truth: You only have time for so much. When it comes to extracurriculars, less is more; you already have enough to keep you busy. Picking a few select activities and clubs and engaging in them deeply is better than being a part-time member in lots. Remember its quality, not quantity. Pick a club or activity or two and show great interest and involvement. The leadership skills in these organizations are really what�s going to help you in the long run.

Myth: Your college degree will be your ticket to your dream Job.
Truth: By the time you graduate, there will be many college grads just like you competing for the same job at that top Fortune 500 company. A problem that many grads find coming out of college is that they lack the experience that employer�s desire. Yes, you got a college degree�Congratulations! Just remember everyone has to start somewhere. This is why you should start looking for a job well before your graduation and/or do internships at companies in fields you are interested in working in.

Myth: Your major determines your career.
Truth: Sure an Engineering degree sounds a lot better than a History degree. There are still many excellent career opportunities for graduates from any major, as long as you can show potential employers that you know how to learn and can adapt to the field. There are many college grads out there who end up in a career totally different from their major.

This is part one of a three part series that includes college myths, college admission myths, and college urban legends.

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