Tag Archives: college

college guidance, Guest Posts, social networks

Top 5 Social Media Tips for Students

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Students who effectively use social media create an advantage for themselves with colleges and in the future job market. They can digitally network with professors, alumni, and fellow students before, during, and after college. Every student should invest some time in building their online presence. The days of MySpace are over, though, and your social profiles speak volumes to anyone who finds them. You never know if a college admissions rep, recruiter or employer will Google you before offering you an opportunity. For this reason, a professional filter should always be applied.

Here are my top five tips for college-bound teens and college students jumping into the social media river.

  1. Try new things. Facebook and Twitter are the basics. Consider expanding your reach by signing up for accounts on LinkedIn, Tumblr, or any other platform that intrigues you. And if you get your hands on a Google+ invitation, give it a test drive.
  2. Mind your audience. If you are using your social media for professional networking, then remember that anyone (uncle, co-worker, teacher, etc.) can find what you are saying. (Everyone from my grandmother to my boss can see my tweets.) Even if you “protect your tweets” or have really tight Facebook privacy settings, nothing is private. Anyone can take a screenshot of anything they see on Facebook, or retweet you into the twittersphere for all to see. There have been countless examples of people losing their jobs or even being denied admission because of inappropriate posts on social networks. Make sure you’re not one of them.
  3. Don’t be afraid to say “hello!” Social media has created the world’s largest networking event. Feel free to offer comments, ask questions, and challenge opinions. Never lurk in the corner.
  4. Speak clearly and carefully. Avoid spelling and grammar errors; watch out for foul language. If you want to be taken seriously, make your posts reader-friendly.
  5. Leverage your presence. If you’ve invested time in building your online influence, then make sure people know it. Put links to your social profiles on your resume, or consider building a personal website. Whatever your major or intended major, be it Dance, Sociology, or Marketing, your digital presence will set you apart.

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Adam Britten is a recent graduate of Syracuse University, where he worked as a member of the school’s social media team. In the fall, he’ll be pursuing a Master of Digital Marketing. He maintains the blog www.genYspot.com.

parenting, test prep

What “EdTech” Means to a New Parent

There have been a lot of new developments in my life recently.  I started a new job working with an online and mobile test prep company known as TestSoup that makes flashcards for a variety of different standardized tests.  I am learning about marketing, social media, and (of course) education.

But perhaps the most significant change in my life recently (within the past year and a half) is that now I am a parent, and am viewing the world through a very different set of eyes.  It affects everything, but mainly it forces you to look at everything in the long term.  When you go through something, you wonder how it will be for your child when he or she goes through it.

This is exactly what happened at the end of last month, when TestSoup attended its first conference: ISTE 2011.  Not only was it TestSoup’s first conference, it was mine as well.   It was an interesting experience, I must confess.  Lots of walking, lots of talking, and lots of hand-shaking.  There were other things too, but those are the three that stood out the most.

As I wandered around the conference, gawking at the amazing educational technology (EdTech) tools available these days, I couldn’t help but imagine what it will be like when my child goes through school.  What will schools be doing five or ten years in the future?  What are they doing now?

As it turned out, there was an entire section of the conference devoted to answering that question, and it was in that section that I spent most of my time.  I wanted to learn all I could about what these schools were doing.  Of course, I wanted to tell them how TestSoup could help them by offering their schools free access to our online test prep materials.  But in talking to people about what I could offer them, I ended up learning boatloads about what they were already doing for their students.

Some of these projects sounded absolutely out of this world.  Building a 3D replica of a botanical garden that you navigate on a computer?  Awesome.  Constructing and programming robots over the internet with students from Korea?  Amazing.  Helping Elementary School students run their own online newspaper?  Incredible.

These were the types of assignments that I hope my child will complete when he is in college.  Heck, these are the types of projects I would be happy to do now.  The face of education is changing, and we owe it almost entirely to technological advancement; to EdTech.

If you are a parent of a college-boud teen or current college student, I strongly encourage you to get involved and see what kind of EdTech can be adopted by their school.  There’s some very, very exciting stuff happening.

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This guest post was contributed by John J. Walters, Director of Marketing for TestSoup, the premier provider of online and mobile test prep solutions.

admissions

Is college really attainable for everyone?

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If you work hard in school, study and do your best you should be able to get into a good college. At least that’s what I told my kids who were from a middle class background. But what about the disadvantaged and those who don’t have parents in their corner cheering them on.

Here’s a quote from an article called, Where Poor People Don’t Go to College, and Why posted a few months ago in the Washington Monthly:

Asking why low income people don’t make it to America’s most exclusive colleges is sort of like asking why low income people don’t buy more BMWs. It’s because the price of the good largely prohibits the economically disadvantaged from purchasing that good.

It’s a sad fact that the elite tend to fare well and the disadvantaged aren’t afforded the same opportunities.Here’s an infographic that says it all:

Rags to Rags - Riches to Riches

admissions, college guidance, college planning

Getting In-The Zinch Guide to College Admissions

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When Gil Rogers at Zinch asked me if I would be interested in getting an advance copy of this book I jumped at the chance. First of all, I love reviewing books for parents. Secondly, I knew it was going to be quality material and I was excited to get my hot little hands on a copy.

I’ve read plenty of books on college admissions. Some are so scholarly heavy that you need a degree to figure them out. Others are so shallow you can find most of the material in your teen’s high school handouts. Zinch’s book is neither of the above. It’s geared toward the student, but is also extremely valuable from a parent’s perspective. Zinch reminds the student that while the college process often involves the entire family, the final choice must be their own. I agree with this whole heartedly. Every parent should grasp this truth.

Since this book is jam-packed with information, it would be difficult to speak about all of it. Suffice it to say that Zinch covers EVERYTHING from beginning to end. It’s an invaluable resource to have for your student (especially at the beginning of the process), because it walks them through admissions step by step.

Following are some of the highlights (and my favorite parts):

  • The Truth About College Admissions-This chapter alone is worth the cost of the book. They debunk the myths about college, college rankings, and tell you the things colleges don’t want you to know. Superb!
  • Behind the Scenes-This chapter goes into great detail about what goes on in a college admissions office. As a parent, this chapter will be an eye opener. If you’ve ever wondered what goes on, Zinch spells it out!
  • College Input-One of the impressive components in the book is the input Zinch includes from actual specific college admissions officers. It helps you see how they think and how they view the process.
  • Social Media-Zinch recognizes the importance of social media and how it can affect the college admissions process. The book talks about your student’s online presence and reminds them that Google never forgets.
  • The Hook-This is the first book that I’ve seen that talks about “marketing” the student to the colleges. Zinch explains how important this is in order for your student to stand out.
  • The Application process-Since this is the most important part of college admissions, the book goes into specific detail about every aspect of the application with step-by-step guides and tips.
  • Three Case Studies-This is my favorite part of the book. Zinch takes three college applicants of different backgrounds and academics and presents their entire application to various colleges for review. The colleges then give their recommendations for acceptance, wait listing or rejection, giving you insight into the “whys” of the decision, along with how they came to their decision. It’s a wealth of information for both students and parents.

The book reads easily and provides many highlighted examples related to each chapter topic. Zinch tells the reader in the first few pages how to use the book:

  1. Read it. (to get an overview of the entire process)
  2. Ask your parents to read it. (to liberate the student and parent from the myths surrounding college admissions)
  3. Start early. (they recommend no later than junior year—I say freshman year)
  4. Role play. (put yourself in the role of the admissions officer and evaluate each one)
  5. Reread the appropriate chapter. (refer to the information as you need it)
  6. Work smarter, not harder. (the book provides you with the tools you need to be prepared)

If you are a parent of a college-bound teen (that means even middle school) you should pick up a copy of this book. Amazon has it on sale now for $9.86 and you can get a sneak peek inside the book as well. If you pick up a copy, let me know what you think. You can also post your comments on Twitter using the hashtag #GettingIn.

dorm life, Guest Posts

Top 5 Forgotten Dorm Room Supplies

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In the frenzy to get your child ready for college, it is easy to forget about some pretty important dorm room staples either because things are hectic, or because they just slip your mind. Here is DormCo’s list of the Top 5 Forgotten Dorm Room Supplies that are a must-have for any incoming college freshman.

#5 – Alarm Clock

It seems silly to say, but when purchasing the furnishings for your child’s dorm room, alarm clocks are often forgotten amongst the “bigger” items such as bedding and storage options. I had multiple friends who had to run out and buy alarm clocks when they arrived on campus in the fall, so be sure not to forget this dorm necessity. Going for an alarm clock that has an MP3/iPod player included will eliminate the need to buy an expensive iPod dock, and your child can wake up every morning to their favorite tunes as well!

#4 – Area Rug

Although a rug is not exactly necessary, it adds a nice touch to your child’s dorm room and makes the space more comfortable and inviting. What better way to afford them with a sense of home than with a plush rug complete with a trendy design? Have your child pick out a rug they like, and if they already know their roommate, see if they’d like to ask them his or her thoughts on a rug choice. Getting your roommate’s opinion on communal items from the get-go will start your child’s living environment off on the right foot.

#3 – Wall Art

There is nothing more mundane and unwelcoming than bare, white walls. Many students accumulate posters, pictures, and wall art as the year progresses, but starting out with one or two will ensure that your child’s little slice of home away from home is personalized. Recently, Peel N Stick wall art has been the new “thing” for college students since it’s so versatile and fun, and it’s worth checking out if you haven’t already.

#2 – An Iron

This was the least owned item out of all the dorm supplies my friends and I had, yet one of the most useful – multiple times. While people claim that irons are unnecessary, or that you only need them if you’re a business major, in fact there are many circumstances where being able to iron a blouse or pair of slacks will prove to be very useful.

#1 – Bed Toppers

Unless you’re familiar with the ins and outs of dorm shopping, you may not know about bed toppers. Whether you choose a feather bed topper, memory foam, or an egg crate, you can easily provide your college-bound kid with a good night’s sleep. When classes get stressful and sports become overwhelming, your child will be grateful that you got them this bed necessity – it will help them sleep restfully, night after night.

 

Snag these 5 dorm necessities, on top of the obvious staples, and your child will be set for school come August! For an amazing selection of dorm supplies at stellar prices, be sure to check us out at http://www.dormco.com!

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Today’s guest post is from Alexis McKenzie, Customer Service, Marketing, and Social Media for DormCo.Com

college planning, parenting

Providing tools for the successful student

UPDATE: We had a wonderful Twitter party last night. The winner of the Suite was @ChaCha572. The suite will be heading her way soon! Thanks everyone for your enthusiasm and support–especially @TheOnlineMom @TheTechDad and @geekbabe for hosting the party and making me feel welcome.

Here’s your chance to WIN this AMAZING creative tool

Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 Master Collection.

Register for #TheOnlineMom ‘s Twitter chat on her site and join us on#TheOnlineMom ‘s Twitter Chat TONIGHT at 9PM EST where one random person will win a FULL copy of this marvelous student tool.

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Parents are always looking for ways to help our students be successful. In today’s technological age which spurs unbridled creativity in our students finding and providing the proper tools to enhance and

support their creativity can be not only difficult, but expensive. When I find a product or service that can help, I like to pass the information along to my parent readers. Adobe C5.5 Master Collection is one of those products.

You may have a high school student that is planning for college, or a current college student that needs these tools to be productive throughout their college career. As a user of Adobe products for almost 15 years, going back to Adobe Pagemaker, I know how effective these products can be in today’s age of lightning fast media, social sharing, and enhanced technology. Having a copy of this product in your student’s arsenal can give them the edge in creating flash presentations, streaming videos, high-quality graphic presentations, and smoking web content.

Here’s what’s inside:

  • Adobe Photoshop CS5 Extended
  • Adobe Illustrator CS5
  • Adobe InDesign CS5.5
  • Adobe Acrobat X Pro
  • Adobe Flash Catalyst CS5.5
  • Adobe Flash Professional CS 5.5
  • Adobe Flash Builder 4.5 Premium Edition
  • Adobe Dreamweaver CS5.5
  • Adobe Fireworks CS5
  • Adobe Contribute CS5
  • Adobe Premiere Pro CS5
  • Adobe After Effects CS5.5
  • Adobe Audition CS5.5
  • Adobe OnLocation CS5
  • Adobe Encore CS5
  • Adobe Bridge CS5
  • Adobe Device Central CS5.5
  • Adobe Media Encoder CS5.5

As you can see from the list, this is a computer geek’s dream, not to mention any student could benefit from these programs in their creative arsenal.

Once you’ve familiarized yourself with the collection by following the link above, you can purchase it by following this link: Purchase Adobe C5.5 Master Collection

Note: There is a STANDARD edition available as well which includes the basics: Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Acrobat, Bridge, and Device Central.

If you have a college graduate in your household, don’t wait until it is too late! Buy Adobe C5.5 Master Collection while you still can–get it at student pricing until May 31st.


college planning, extracurricular activities

Summer Activities to Prepare for College

Nowadays, grades are not enough to impress colleges. Universities seek well rounded students who have the potential to contribute positively to their school and society. Students preparing for college should engage in different activities that will set themselves apart from the crowd. As students are always busy with papers and exams during the school year, summer is a great time for them to participate in activities that will impress colleges.

Volunteer Work

Caring for the Community

Volunteer service is a great way for high school students to show colleges they care about their communities and want to make a positive impact on society. Volunteering is also indicative of a student’s interests and personality traits. For example, tutoring elementary school kids, working in hospitals, and cleaning public parks suggests a student is compassionate and dedicated.

Work Experience

Community service is also a way to explore career options and potential majors. Volunteering allows students to obtain hands on experience in a professional field and develop work skills, such as discipline and teamwork.

 

Paid Work

Exploring Career Options

Like volunteer work, a summer job or an internship is a great way to explore different careers and develop traits that colleges look favorably upon. There are many internships available for high school students in research firms and major businesses. These are opportunities to network and see what the work field is like. A summer job is also a great way to develop work and financial responsibility. Whether it is at a major company or at a grocery store, a summer job will teach high students how to talk and act around employers and customers. This shows colleges that a student is a hard worker, dedicated, and willing to learn.

Saving up for School

A summer job can also help pay for school expenses, such as tuition, textbooks, and rent. While financial aid is available in the form of loans, scholarships, and grants, every penny counts.

Test Preparation and College Visits

Although it is summer, high school students should not forget about their academics. Summer is a prime time to enroll in test preparation courses for the SAT and/or ACT. This is also the time for students to research universities and see which schools would be a good fit for them. Colleges also host campus visits during the summer for potential students. This is the best way to learn about different campuses, talk with admissions staff, and explore what kind of programs are offered at a certain school. Universities also take note of high school students who attend their college visits and contact their staff; such dedication and curiosity always looks great on a college application.

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Today’s guest post is by Louise Baker. Louise blogs about getting an online degree at Zen College Life. Her most recent post looked at the best medical coding and billing schools.

 

Uncategorized

5 lessons the college-bound can learn from the news about Osama Bin Laden

You had to have your head buried in the sand the last 12 hours if you didn’t hear the news about Osama Bin Laden. Even though it’s been over 10 years, the news of his demise brings nothing but extreme pride to our country. I began thinking this morning about all that it took to make this come to fruition and the lessons we can all learn from this drama that has unfolded the last 10 years; especially as it applies to the college-bound teen.

  1. There are consequences to all of your actions

    2. Every action in our lives has a consequence–good or bad. If you sow anger, evil, negativity and violence, you reap the same. If you sow honor and dignity while treating others with respect, you will be rewarded. It’s as simple, and complicated, as that. Bin Laden sowed hatred for America and its people. Today we know that Bin Laden has suffered the consequences of his actions.

  2. Never give up

    3. In spite all the rumors of his death, America never stopped looking for either the man, or the proof of his death. Ten years are a long time to keep up the fight. What can you learn from this? All throughout your educational career, you will have ups and downs. Your grades may falter. You may feel like there are so many others more talented than you. You may feel overwhelmed and outgunned. But never give up.

  3. Be proud of who you are

    4. On September 11, 2001, every person in this country came together and was proud to be an American. The same is true today. One of our enemies has been defeated and our country has struck a blow for freedom. Be proud of who you are, embrace your goals, and proceed with fortitude and conviction.

  4. Don’t forget the sacrifice of others

    5. Many American lives were lost in the pursuit of this outcome. Many families paid the ultimate sacrifice in this fight against terrorists. This is a victory for them today as well. Your parents and families will sacrifice much for you during your pursuit of higher education. Don’t forget their sacrifice and always be grateful that they put great value in your education.

  5. Perseverance always pays off

    6. The American military never gave up. They believed their purpose was worthy of their sacrifice. They persevered amidst all the negative attacks from our enemies and achieved a positive outcome. If you persevere through the college admissions process, do your best, and work toward your goals, success will be your ultimate victory.

Today is a day to reflect and remember, but it’s also a day to rejoice that justice has been served and one of our greatest enemies can no longer attack our freedom. Take this time to use the lessons outlined, apply them to your life, and remember that success comes when you move toward your goals.

college guidance, college planning, Uncategorized

Narrowing down the final college choice

May 1st is quickly approaching and high school seniors are faced with the looming decision–which college will I attend? Following is a guest post from freelance writer Mariana Ashley about using specific factors to make that final decision.

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Hopefully all of your hard work paid off and you were fortunate enough to be accepted into every college that you applied for. While this act alone is cause for celebration, this is where the hard part comes in: you can only commit to one university.  But narrowing your choice to the final one can be both difficult and stressful, especially because you want a school that will be able to meet both your educational, financial and social needs/wants in the best way possible. To help you make one of the hardest decisions you will have to make in your early life-time, consider these factors listed below.

College Tour

One of the easiest ways to select a school is to physically go to the campus and look around. Granted not all students have the time or the means to visit each school, especially those that are located on other sides of the country, but physically looking at a school is much better than viewing it through a pamphlet. If you can’t make the physical trip, utilize sites that offer college visit videos and connect with students on those sites.

Location and Size

You also need to factor in the location of the school. Do you want to be a short 2-to 3-hour drive so that you can come home a few weekends, or do you want to attend a school that is in another state so that you can live in a new surrounding? Also, do you want to attend a school that is located in the city or a small rural college town?  Do you want to attend a big school or a small intimate school?

Programs

By far one of the most important factors that should influence your decision is looking into the programs offered at the school.  Is the school known for offering an exceptional program in the field you are pursuing? Are there any notable graduates? What about the professors? What are their exact credentials? Even if you are unaware of what you would like to major in knowing that the school has a lot of options and great professors is beneficial.

You may also want to consider graduation and retention rates, as well as whether internship programs and career services are offered.

Social

While social interaction shouldn’t play the biggest role when selecting a school, it still matters. With that said, do a little research and see what sort of extracurricular activities and clubs are offered at each university. For instance, if you already know that you want to join a particular fraternity or sorority, does a chapter exist on that particular campus? Or, if you know that you want to attend medical school later on, are there tons of great health related organizations that will help you get in? Some also consider sporting teams because they want to attend a school that is filled with champions—but please don’t let this sway your decision too much.

You might also want to look into the demographics of the school. Do you want to attend a school that offers a lot of diversity or would you rather go to a school that has one group of people? Do you want to go to a school that has a reputation of being liberal or conservative? Demographics can play a huge role in regards to making friends. But whatever you do, don’t make a decision based on the fact that all of your high school buddies are going to a particular school. You need to attend the school that is best suited for you.  Be assured that if you are separated from your high school friends, you will be able to keep in contact with them while making other new, last-long friendships in college.

Costs

By now you should at least have your top two choices. This is where financial costs will help you select your top choice. So, which school can you actually afford to attend without going into years worth of financial debt and which school has offered you a more appealing financial aid award package (if you qualify)? Make sure to investigate additional charges and fees and whether commuting will burn a whole in your pocket. Also find estimates for housing options and see which school would be more cost-effective.

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This guest post was written by Mariana Ashley, a freelance writer, who particularly enjoys writing about online colleges. She loves receiving reader feedback, which can be directed to mariana.ashley031@gmail.com