FIND COLLEGES BY:

Jonathan Liebman, the CEO of Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts, wrote in the September/October 2008 issue of Career College Central  about the fear many students have of success. He points out that many students are the first in their families to graduate from college. Naturally, these students often second guess themselves. What will life be like in this new career? What will change? Do I deserve to be more successful than my parents? Will success cause resentment and pull me away from my childhood friends?

The opportunities an education gives you will introduce you to new people and new experiences. Venturing into uncharted waters can be intimidating but, with a little bravery, you can create a better life for yourself. There is no easy answer to make it through the tough times. Each situation has its own complexities and needs to be addressed in a unique way. But there are some tips that can help you through tough times.

1. Be confident - People trust and react positively to those who are confident, but not cocky. Hold your head high and take pride in what you’ve accomplished. Not feeling very confident in your new role? Fake it. Soon enough, you’ll find that your confidence is sincere.
2. Think of your kids - If your parents did not go to college, it can feel like you are rejecting the life they worked hard to provide. Pretend that you decide that, out of respect for your parents, you decide to not go to school. Fifteen or twenty years from now, your children would be in the same position you are in now. What would you want them to do - have the same challenges you faced without an education, or would you like them to go to college and have a successful career? Most parents strive to provide a better life for their children than they had. It is honoring their sacrifices to take advantage of the opportunities you have.
3. Let go - In order to get what you want out of life, sometimes you need to cut ties with things that are holding you back. If a loved one is not encouraging you to be successful and talking to them about the situation doesn’t help, consider cutting back on the time you spend with them. That can be very tough to do, but if they truly have your best interest at heart, they’d want to help you succeed.

Change can be scary, but success shouldn’t be. Be brave, and don’t let temporary setbacks keep you from the life you want for you and your family.

Are you questioning whether or not college is for you? Do you have concerns or doubts?  When I made the decision to attend college, finance was my number one concern. Other fears included wondering if I could handle the the college workload, if I was choosing the right program or the right school, if my family would support my decision and and many more. 

This kind of fear and self-doubt can prohibit many people from going to a college which can vastly improve their lives.  A new website, www.college.gov identifies these common concerns and shows ways to overcome them. There are testimonials from students across the country that have triumphed over challenges such as peer pressure, lack of family support, and financial barriers. Against the odds, these students made college a reality.

More features of the website:

• Create your own roadmap.  No matter what year you are in high school, www.college.gov can create a personalized road map that will layout detailed steps necessary for getting to college.  You can keep the roadmap on your computer, or print it out and put it on your wall or in you locker.  Either way, this roadmap can put you on the path towards college!
• Find the school for you.  Universities, community colleges, or vocational schools, whatever you are looking for, this website can help you find a school to fit your lifestyle.
• Why go? What to do? How to pay?  www.college.gov  helps you realize reasons for going to school such as, increasing your income, finding your passion, proving your potential, growing with help and support, and lifting your family.  It also shows you the step for getting into college and payment options.
• Information for everyone. The website is geared towards high school students but also gives information to parents, families, teachers and counselors.

What sets this website apart from other education sites is that it was made by students for students.  The creators of this website have pinpointed real concerns that high school students have about going to college.  Through their college roadmap, they give us the tools to overcome those obstacles. 

Anyone can make their dream of attending college a reality.  www.college.gov is one tool that can help.

Are you struggling to make a decision about your future? Luckily there are people out there who are more than willing to help you make a smart decision. Keep in mind, there are also people out there who are more than willing to give you their two cents worth of advice when it may not be worth a penny. Who’s opinion counts?

KEY Colleges writer Michael Mackie provides a “semi-comprehensive list of people to avoid when making life-changing college decisions” in his article “The Five Worst People to Listen to … About a College Education.”

In every student’s life there comes a time when they ask themselves, “Am I doing the right thing?!” High school is an exciting time, but it’s also a time to be mindful of the future. Figuring out the who/what/when/where of college can be daunting, especially when everyone and their brother has an opinion on what school is best for you.

Find out whose advice you SHOULD’NT take into consideration on KEY Colleges.

A high school senior was fighting back tears in her guidance counselor’s office. Despite her 92 average, the girl had been rejected by her top three college choices. Another senior, already clad in a new Northwestern T-shirt, interrupted to give his counselor a thumbs-up. He was in.

And so it has gone over the last few weeks, as colleges send their decisions and counselors console, cheer up and otherwise try to help this year’s seniors navigate the end of the admissions process.

“It’s a bittersweet time,” said Susan Buchman, a counselor at Byram Hills High School in Armonk. “You get some kids who are ecstatic because they got into their first choice school, and then there are disappointments. And you get parents who are very upset. They were hoping their kid was going to get into a certain school so that they could put the sticker on the car.” Read the rest of this entry »

Social networking sites are constantly adapting to fit the needs of both high school and college students and now colleges are using these online communities as a resource as well. In The New York Times article Make New Friends Online, and You Won’t Start College Friendless,” Robert Alexander, assistant vice president of enrollment management at Tulane, said reading the group discussions in Facebook was a good way for the university to learn students interests and concerns. Tulane has created its own online group for admitted and prospective students as well.
Read the rest of this entry »

Will colleges continue to award merit-based aid in the years to come? Some schools believe the increasing numbers of low-income students will spur a shift in the use of institutional dollars. USA TODAY’s article “Colleges taking another look at value of merit-based aid,” discusses the potential change in scholarship recipients, as well as how some schools are only rewarding need-based aid already.

By Mary Beth Marklein, USA TODAY

Good grades and high test scores still matter a lot to many colleges as they award financial aid.

But with low-income students projected to make up an ever-larger share of the college-bound population in coming years, some schools are re-examining whether that aid, typically known as merit aid, is the most effective use of precious institutional dollars. Read the rest of this entry »

As mentioned on MSN Careers in the article Job Outlook for Class of 2007, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) predicts college hiring will increase by 17.4 percent in 2007. This is the fourth straight year that new graduate hiring is expected to grow by a double-digit percentage.

According to the fall preview of NACE’s “Job Outlook 2007″ survey, employers cite company growth, retiring employees and high job turnover as key reasons for the rise in hiring.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ “2004-2014 Job Outlook for College Graduates” identifies seven prominent career fields that will have significant openings in the years ahead two of which tie in closely to school guidance counseling. Read the rest of this entry »

Freshmen come and fresh-men go every year at all universities, from the major public institutions to the small private ones. Some manage to make a connection with their professors - maybe not necessarily becoming the best of friends but establishing an in-the-classroom relationship that ultimately benefits their grade. The overwhelming majority of students, though, sit at the back of the lecture hall and disappear before the instructor has a chance to learn their names.

Since this issue of KEY Magazine is devoted to helping you survive your first year of college, our editorial staff decided to get some insights into what a college professor expects from you. We decided to go straight to the source. As a professor of journalism at a major Big 12 division school, Gerry Cain squared off with hundreds of timid college freshmen. Here are his responses to some common questions on the minds of most new college students.

Q. What are some guidelines for writing an e-mail to a professor?
A. Specific and to the point. Profs have little time and a lot of committee meetings to at-tend. However, don’t mistake brevity for informality, which should be kept to a minimum - it is a professional relationship you’re building, after all, not a friend you’re inviting over for pizza and beer!

Q. How do you get to know a professor in a large lecture class?
A. Introduce yourself … often! Stop and talk briefly after class (again, we’re probably on our way to a committee meeting). And re-introduce yourself - first name, at least - with each encounter. We’re bad with names. Repetition helps.

Q. What is the best way to get on a professor’s good side?
A. Come to class prepared to discuss the subject du jour … and engage in discussions. So few do it that we seek out those to converse with just to make class more interesting … if only to our-selves.

Q. How much do I need to interact with a teacher outside of class?
A. Again, lots. If you haven’t had at least three brief encounters and one sit-down in his/her office with each of your profs, there’s little chance we’ll remember you come time for letters of recommendation. And you will want LORs.

Q. How important is class participation?
A. Very, very important. Speak up. Be heard. Often.

Q. How much interaction do you expect from a student in class?
A. Lots. Whether you agree with us or not, we at least would like the chance to have some interaction with you in class. It’s just more fun that way.

Q. What are some ways I could stay involved in a big classroom?
A. Participate in the discussion. If you’re not prepared to talk about the subject, at least come prepared knowing what the subject of discussion will be. Then toss a re-lated question or comment out in class just to let us know you appreciate our time and efforts to educate you.

Q. What is the best piece of advice you could give to a student?
A. Find something in every class and every assignment that broadens, enlightens or excites you. That is what the college experience is (supposed to be) all about.

Ten Questions to Ask Your Guidance Counselor by Grace Fleming:

It is a sad fact of life that high school counselors are often overworked. Often, one beleaguered counselor is responsible for hundreds of students. For this reason, you should plan counselor visits carefully, and know the right questions to ask when the opportunity arises.

It is the student’s responsibility to inform the counselor of his or her career and college goals. Smart students will visit the counselor’s office early and as often as possible.

Why? The more familiar you are to a counselor, the better advice you are likely to receive. It’s not that the counselor will play favorites, it’s just that (s)he is more likely to think of you if your face shows up in the office frequently, and is more likely to call on you when a scholarship offer appears in the mailbox .

This list can help you determine the questions that are relevant to your education goals. Read the rest of this entry »

In the article, ‘Eight Summer Reads for the Career Conscious,’ Kate Lorenz outlines recommendations for career-conscious individuals who are reading for both pleasure and profit. However, as a fan of hot summertime days, I suggest these ’summer’ reads for the bitter cold days of winter. After all, what’s better than curling up under a blanket with a good book? Well, maybe you should include a cup of hot chocolate and glowing fireplace for the ultimate experience.

Check out the recommendations below for the best books for job hunters, best books to enlighten (and impress) and the best books for personal effectiveness. Read the rest of this entry »