For international students in the workplace, however, many of these English idioms are gibberish. What is a “dog-eat-dog” industry, for instance? Or a store that charges “an arm and a leg”?

Money — its lack, extravagance, necessity — is the root of most English idioms such as these. To “make a killing,” for example, is to pull in a large profit. To “make ends meet” is to do something for extra income: a part-time job, freelance work, a yard sale.

If you’re not making a killing, you may have to become a “penny pincher” or (worse) a “tightwad;” the former is a frugal person, the latter a stingy one. If your bankroll is fat enough, however, you can afford to live “high on the hog,” i.e in luxury.

Even people living high on the hog are likely to bemoan “highway robbery” once in a while; if you’ve ever bought something at inflated prices – a hundred dollar postcard, say – you’ve been a victim of highway robbery, according to the English idiom.

These kinds of cons are “a dime a dozen” (meaning common), so be on your guard. And bargains are often anything but; that cabbie who moonlights as a plastic surgeon might seem like a sweet deal, but remember: “you get what you pay for” (the English idiom warns that if you invest in unreliable services or products and they’ll inevitably disappoint).

When considering a dubious purchase, it’s probably best to “take a rain check,” that is, reserve the item for later pick-up. Impulse shopping is satisfying in the moment, but once you’re home and surrounded by “everything but the kitchen sink” (the English idiom meaning a lot of unnecessary stuff), you’re sure to feel a bit queasy.

After baseball, money is America’s national pastime: making it, spending it and, above all, talking about it. These English idioms offer a great introduction to American English, so use them freely.

In other words: “go for broke” (risk everything).

Want to learn some more English idioms? Read about idioms on college campuses, travel idioms, and American slang words!

*Note: A “dog-eat-dog” enterprise is one that’s competitive and aggressive. An “arm and a leg” is charging or paying a large sum of money.

The contents of your college portfolio are key in determining whether or not you will get in.

While your grades and SAT scores are still important, the college portfolio is what illustrates the range of your aesthetic abilities.

In the New York Times article Portfolio Prep, Daniel Grant gives helpful suggestions to make your college portfolio more marketable, regardless of whether you’re pursuing fine arts, fashion, graphic design, architecture or illustration.

If you’re putting together a college portfolio for a visual arts program, take a look at these insider tips that are sure to impress admissions officers.

The More Range the Better

A college portfolio should contain fifteen to twenty drawings, paintings, collages, small three-dimensional works (or photographs of these).

Melissa Morgan, admissions counselor at the Tyler School of Art at Temple University in Philadelphia, says in the Times article that she needs to see “a range of drawings and other media that show [her] the depth and range of a student’s talents.”

Don’t just stick to one style or medium!

One College Portfolio For All Fields

Regardless of what you choose as your college major, you’re applying for the Bachelor’s of Fine Arts degree. Ultimately, admissions officers want to gauge your drawing abilities.

Different universities and professors will value different aspects of your work. Some are more concerned with technique, others place a greater emphasis on concept.

The content of the college portfolio, however, generally doesn’t change. To be sure, find out the specific college portfolio requirements for the university you’re applying for!

How Does Your Portfolio Fair?

To help you perfect your college portfolio, many institutions hold college fairs in which they hand out information regarding their visual arts programs, answer your questions in brief interviews and (most importantly) evaluate your college portfolio.

Check if a campus near you holds a National Portfolio day. These are fantastic opportunities for you to get some critical analysis that you can use to improve your college portfolio for when the real application process begins.

College Portfolio Prep Classes Work

A college portfolio prep class gives you the necessary tools to push your portfolio ahead of the pack. You will have the opportunity to do observational drawing with a nude model, something high school classes don’t offer.

The admissions officer will immediately recognize this and realize your dedication for having worked harder than the average applicant.

A college portfolio prep class is also fun! Unlike vocabulary and strategy memorization in SAT prep class, a college portfolio class is a real art class that focuses on the final product: your portfolio.

A college portfolio is the most important element in application for a BFA degree. If you’re serious about pursuing visual arts, make your college portfolio as sharp as possible.

In the New York Times article Up to Their Ears in Debt, Samantha Stainburn questions the popular belief that graduate school is a good place to “hide out” while the economy reestablishes itself.

While statistics say that students with graduate degrees earn higher top average salaries than those with bachelor’s, this may not be reason enough to pursue an advanced degree in this economic state.

So is going to graduate school right for you? Consider these pros and cons before you decide.

Pros of Going to Graduate School:

1. Higher Salary

If you have an advanced degree, you will statistically earn a much higher salary than with a bachelor’s degree. For example, the Times article says that graduates with a higher degree will earn:

• 15% more with a master’s in engineering
• 54% more with an MBA
• 175% with an MD

2. Loophole to Current Employment Climate

As we all know, it’s not the best time to be job hunting.

Going to graduate school can push back your employment start date to a time when the economic forecast improves. Higher education can also contribute  to your marketability once you’ve graduated.

3. Scholarships are Still Available

Despite the shrinkage in the financial support system, going to graduate school is still possible with merit-based scholarships, particularly for international students.

Since foreign students don’t qualify for federal loans, many US graduate departments offer international student support and are eager to draw high-ranking candidates from abroad with scholarship money.

Cons of Going to Graduate School:

1. Loans Are a Risk

Grants and scholarships for going to graduate school are limited, which make loans the primary source for tuition payment. It has never been more obvious that borrowing large amounts of money is dangerous – you may be in way over your head once you complete your degree, and you may not be able to afford to pay off your debt.

One place to look for financial aid is StateUniversity.com’s guide for grants and scholarships.

2. No Guarantee of Employment

Once you receive your diploma, you will immediately expect to find employment. Before going to graduate school, however, consider the possibility that the economy may not improve as drastically as you’d like by the time you graduate. Top-paying employment may not be as readily available as you’d expect.

3. Work Experience Is More Valuable

Many companies value related work experience on your resume above an advanced degree in virtually any field you are pursuing. A few years of work experience can bring you closer to your dream job than going to graduate school.

Graduate school continues to be a great investment in your future. In the current economic climate, however, you might want to think twice before purchasing a GRE prep book and going to graduate school

Many colleges offer early application programs that send you a decision around late December, instead of in April. But these early programs, like early decision and early action, can differ in some big ways.

So how do you know if an early application program is right for you?

When to Apply Early Decision

If you apply to a college with an early decision program, the results are binding. That means if you get in to a school early decision, you’re required to go there.

You can only apply to one college early decision, and you must withdraw your applications to other colleges if you’re accepted.  This might limit your options, especially if you want to compare financial aid packages.

Sometimes a higher percentage of early decision applicants get in to selective schools than are accepted during the regular round. This is partly because schools want to increase the number of students that will definitely accept their offer of admission.

This sounds like a great way to get accepted, but early decision students can be more competitive than the regular decision pool, so your chances aren’t always better.

In the end, remember to apply early decision only if you’re confident the school is the one for you.

When to Apply Early Action

Applying early action also lets you get a decision in December, but it is non-binding. That means that even if you’re accepted to a school early action, you don’t have to go there.

There are two types of early action: single choice and non-restrictive. What does this mean for you?

1) Early Action Single Choice

Applying early action single choice allows you to apply to as many schools as you want in the regular admissions round, but to only one school early – no other early decision or early action applications allowed.

If you have a favorite school, but would still like to apply to other colleges, early action single choice can help. It shows your favorite school that you’re interested but keeps your options open – especially if you want to compare financial aid from other colleges.

2) Non-Restrictive Early Action

Colleges with non-restrictive early action allow you to apply to as many schools as you want, any time you want. This means you can apply to several schools with early action policies at the same time.

If you’re not quite sure what school is right for you, but you still want to get some news early, consider applying early action to a few schools with non-restrictive programs. Hearing back from them can give you an idea of what colleges to consider as safety, match, and reach schools during the regular decision round.

When to Apply Regular Decision

Applying early isn’t for everyone – sometimes applying regular decision is the best bet.

If you want to show your first semester senior year grades on your transcript or need more time to take the SATs and ACTs, consider waiting for the regular round.

Recently, some schools – including Harvard and Princeton – ended their early application programs. Always be sure to check in advance with each school before sending your application!

You’re in luck!

University Language is looking for campus correspondents: a few good bloggers to share their perspectives on college life and applying for college for our blog, newsletter and website.

Whether you’re in California or Connecticut, studying anything from art to economics, we want to hear what’s happening on your campus.

Every college experience is unique – and packed with great stories. You might let us know:

• the most important thing you packed for school.
• your college’s craziest tradition.
• the best college course you ever took.
• your favorite spring break, sports match, local hangout – any topic is fair game!

Campus correspondents gives you great experience for your resume – plus, you’ll help incoming college students as they prepare for college life themselves!

Interested? Let us know!

Send an email to contentmanager [at] universitylanguage.com with the subject “Campus Correspondent.”

Make sure your message includes:

• your name
• your school
• 3 topics you would like to blog about
• a note letting us know why you would be a great campus correspondent (300 words or less)

You could see your name here soon!

• test date reminders
• application tips
• hints on how to succeed in college
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What’s more, Facebook gives you the opportunity to interact directly with us– tell us what you’re interested in hearing about, ask us questions and have some fun!

Become our fan on Facebook and get in touch! Tag us in your college photos, share your experiences as college applicants or new college students, and get ahead with University Language.

Most colleges require you to submit your scores from either the SAT or the ACT with your application, and many publish the average SAT scores for the middle 50% (25th-75th percentile) of their accepted applicants every year.

These colleges represent a range of options all over the country: public and private schools, tiny classes and overflowing lecture halls, liberal arts colleges and research institutions. They also display a range of average SAT scores.

The thing they have in common? They offer some of the best undergraduate educations you can get!

More Than an SAT Score

Preparing for your SATs and doing your best on the test is important, but there’s more to college admissions than getting a top SAT score. Even at these schools with high average SAT scores, many students with perfect scores are passed over in favor of students who have proven their abilities in other ways.

If you’re considering some of these top schools, their average SAT scores can serve as your testing goal. But remember to put as much effort into the other parts of your application as you do into your test scores - your other materials can convince admissions officers that you’re the perfect fit for their school!

Other posts you may be interested in:

Average SAT Scores at Ivy League Schools

Average ACT Scores at Ivy League Schools

Average ACT Scores for Top Schools

Whether you’re a night person and want to sleep in all morning, or you want to maintain daytime responsibilities, like a full-time job, part-time job or an internship, night classes might be for you.

But before you make your decision, consider these pros and cons of college night classes.

Pros of College Night Classes:

1. Ability to Hold Your Daytime Job

It would be great if we could all afford not to work and devote all our attention to keeping up our GPA’s! Unfortunately, that’s not always possible. College night classes allow you to work a daytime job and save some money while still earning your degree.

2. Time for an Internship

Want to have some work experience in your field before graduating? An internship is a great way to go about it. Internship hours are usually during the regular work-day schedule, so college night classes allow you to have the flexibility necessary to intern during the day.

3. More Sleep in the Morning

High school students often complain about their difficulty with morning classes, claiming that they’d ace their exams and have wider attention spans if classes were held at a time that better agreed with their internal clocks. College night classes give you the opportunity to prove it! Schedule your classes when you feel you are best able to perform and retain information for a more rewarding class experience.

Cons of College Night Classes:

1. Mental Strain of College Night Classes

After a long day at work, you need willpower to convince yourself to go to class rather than home to relax. Further brain-strain in the evenings can be difficult. You might even consider leaving work early on the days you have class to give yourself some rest.

2. Little Time for Homework

Though held at night, college night classes are like any other in the sense that you will be assigned homework. Finding time to complete homework between work and class can be difficult and stressful.

3.  A Cut on Sleep Hours

Sometimes held as late as midnight, college night classes can keep you up late. Between lectures and homework, you might find yourself running on empty by the time you have to go to work in the morning. Make sure you don’t overestimate your endurance, as this might be physically tolling.

Take classes when you feel your brainpower is at its strongest, be it day or night. Spend some time evaluating your schedule and see if college night classes are right for you!

College towns are often dominated by the campus, with students making up a large part of the city’s vibe. But college neighbors can contribute a lot more to its nearby cities than that!

Take a recent list of the top 25 college neighbors: schools across the country that make an effort to help their communities. The colleges range from large public schools to small private colleges and everything in between.

What colleges earned the top spot?

The University of Pennsylvania and the University of Southern California tied for first place for their commitment to helping the surrounding community.

Check out the full list of best college neighbors:

How to Be a Good College Neighbor

Colleges were ranked by Dr. Evan S. Dobelle, president of Westfield State College, based on the various contributions to their neighbor cities.

A contribution isn’t only money – a college neighbor can also affect the community by student and faculty participation in volunteer efforts, and by involving local residents in the life of the college through employment or outreach.

Get involved in your college community to make your college a good neighbor!

Public Ivies are colleges that have many of the benefits of Ivy League schools- stellar academics, famous faculty, dynamic students, and top-notch facilities – but are public colleges rather than private ones.

This means Public Ivies can sometimes offer something Ivy League universities can’t – a lower price tag, especially for students applying in-state.

What is a Public Ivy?

The idea of a “Public Ivy” appeared in 1985 in a college guidebook by Robert Moll, an admissions officer at top schools around the US. Moll listed the public schools that he thought represented the elite eight of public universities:

• College of William & Mary (Virginia)
• Miami University (Ohio)
• University of California (All Campuses)
• University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
• University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
• University of Texas – Austin
• University of Vermont – Burlington

These Public Ivies were known to give the most bang for your buck – and they still do today, 25 years later.

But there are more great public schools than just that handful. Take a look at the top 5 Public Ivies that Moll left out:

1. University of Virginia

The University of Virgina has a lot of things that no other Public Ivies – or any Ivy League schools – can compete with. Designed and founded by Thomas Jefferson, the college was also the first to offer philosophy programs – now a staple of liberal arts colleges.

The school tops all Public Ivies in fellowships, with more Rhodes Scholars than any other state school. It also has similar traditions to the Ivy League, with a number of secret societies on campus.

2. University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign

If you’re walking on the campus of this Public Ivy, you might think you’re at Harvard or Yale. That’s because its design is based on a series of campus quads, like many Ivies’ are.

A leader in the sciences and engineering, the University of Illinois has the 4th largest library in the US – behind only Harvard, Yale, and another public ivy – UC Berkeley.

3. University of Wisconsin – Madison

Student life at the University of Wisconsin is one of the most dynamic of the Public Ivies, both on campus and off. It’s the only school in the US with two daily newspapers, and its football team has a huge following.

Students can be found at the on-campus Rathskeller pub, discussing politics and philosophy like the Ivy founders did.

4. University of Washington

One of the oldest universities on the Pacific, the University of Washington brings the tradition of Public Ivies to the West Coast. The campus has its own unique history, originally designed for the 1909 World’s Fair.

The school also has something no other Ivy can boast: a TV channel  dedicated just to research and academic subjects. Scholars from all around the country use this Public Ivy’s station to broadcast their work to the world.

5. New College of Florida

In its sunny climate, the New College of Florida seems a world away from the chilly New England schools of the Ivy League. But this new Public Ivy has a lot in common with its counterparts to the north.

Founded in 1960, the New College focuses on academics and independent research. Without graduate students, professors focus only on undergrads. No grades here – instead, professors give written reports on student progress.

If you’re considering the Ivy League, think about these Public Ivies. You might discover a school that gives you the academics, campus life and traditions you want – at a much nicer price.