Deserve Your College Success

During the American Revolution, John Adams famously said: "We cannot guarantee success, but we can deserve it." College is much the same way. While you can't control all of the mitigating factors, you can set yourself on the road to success by following the above guidelines.

Take responsibility. Set goals. Work out a schedule system. Commit to your schedule with discipline and punctuality. Participate actively in class and in your study groups. Manage your feelings. These are the keys to your success in college. Good luck!

Work out a Schedule System

You need a planner and/or a calendar. Some students hang a large wall calendar in the dorm room. Others carry a planner, like a DayTimer or DayRunner. Today, most students use a PDA of some kind. Pick the system that you're most comfortable with, and stick to it.

Incorporate all your class times into your planner, PDA, or calendar. And keep it updated regularly, with all your appointments (social, study groups, etc.) and assignments.

Set College and Career Goals

Talk to your parents. Sit down with your academic advisor. With her input, write out a draft "Business Plan" for your life. What are your general career options? These should influence your choice of a college major and your selection of classes.

It's important that you study the economy and the marketplace, and position yourself accordingly. Don't just take classes based on your interests. Think in terms of supply and demand. What does the marketplace want and need? Based on that, narrow down your choices.

You may not know exactly what you want to do, but you should have a pretty good idea what you don't want to do. Based on your general direction, you can identify many of the core classes (prerequisites) that you'll need to take. Write those down, and work out a timetable for when you want to finish them.

Include internships, finances, living arrangements, and other factors in your planning. As Zig Ziglar has famously and often said: "Don't be a wandering generality. Be a meaningful specific."

Take Personal Responsibility

The days of bringing a parent note to your teacher are over. Not only that, but some of the accommodations offered in high school (while you were still a minor) may not be available in college. University and college life is more "sink or swim" than high school. It's therefore time to step up to the plate and give it your all.

Don't make excuses. Learn from your setbacks. Adjust your work habits. Improve your study skills. Do what you need to do to make yourself the very best student possible.

College Back to School Success Tips High Performance, Low Stress Strategies for Today's Student

College students are under a lot of pressure today. They are faced with many demands and distractions. If you're in college, these tips will help you survive and thrive.

College can and should be one of the most exciting periods in your life. It can also be one of the most challenging and stressful periods of your life. You can help guarantee your success as a student by following some simple, straightforward principles and strategies. These college back to school success tips are designed to help you reduce your stress, while increasing your performance.

The Post-Application Process: Making the Final Choice

The final phase of the process is the Decision phase, which begins immediately after the last applications have gone out. During this phase you must keep yourself out of trouble even if you've been accepted to your school of choice, as graduating seniors have a tendency to indulge in activities which could jeopardize admission status. Keep applying for scholarships if necessary. As spring rolls around, so does college visit season, and you should begin by touring those schools you feel most confident about.

Once decisions come back, usually in May or April, sit down with family to cut the list of schools down to a more manageable size and gather as much information as possible on those schools you feel strongly about, using online or text resources. With this information in hand, the final choice is ultimately yours, albeit with strong input from parents or friends.

College can be a fun, liberating time in your life, but it will also be a time of uncertainty and doubt. Remember this as you begin the application process, and don't give up hope. Hundreds of thousands of teenagers just like you go through the same paces each year, and before you know it, you will find yourself eagerly awaiting the results of your efforts and the beginning of a new phase of your life.

Getting Ready and Applying

Next comes the Preparation phase, which should take place one to two years before graduation. This phase is spent enrolling in AP or College Prep classes (if offered), studying for and taking the SAT and PSAT, seeking out recommendations, narrowing down the criteria you will use to choose your final list of schools, and discussing financial matters with parents or other benefactors.

The Application phase is when you finalize your list of potential schools, decide on early admissions or action, and put together the information for your applications, which will include transcripts, test scores, an essay, teacher recommendations, and endless forms. You might also want to begin applying for scholarships or federal aid if you unsure of your financial situation. Early Admission applications are due in October or November, while the most common date for all other applications is January 1st, although many schools have application dates later in the month or in February.

The First Step: Is Higher Education Right for You?

The Consideration phase begins, in theory, the moment you begin to think about life after high school. Even if you have no plans to continue your education, it is wise to maximize your options after graduation by maintaining a high GPA, staying out of trouble, engaging in extracurricular activities, and finding employment, even if it is only a part time or minimum wage job.

The most important thing, however, is making the choice to seek higher education. While every individual has his or her own set of variables that factor into this decision, in the United States a college degree is fast becoming a prerequisite for most careers and substantially increases job opportunities upon graduation.

In addition, the oft-talked about "college experience" is something commonly seen in movies and on TV but only truly understood by those who have experienced it. Many college students enjoy the interim period between high school and the working world, which allows them to ease into living independently of parents or adjusting to a new environment

College Admissions 101 An Introduction to the Application Process

An introduction to the college application process, broken down into four distinct phases. An outline of each phase and what to expect.

Congratulations! This article will provide a basic overview of the college application process from beginning to end. While it is possible to write whole volumes encompassing every possible step on the path to enrollment, in the interest of time and brevity one can divide the application process into four distinct phases.

Core Courses

Also called preparatory courses, core courses are classes that prepare students to take college level curriculum. As a minimum students need to create a four year course plan that includes the following:

• Four years of English, including literature and composition
• Three years of math, including algebra I & II and geometry
• Three years of laboratory science, including biology and chemistry
• Three years of social studies/science, including geography, U.S. History, and world cultures
• Two years of the same world language

The above courses are minimum requirements; however, students should strongly consider taking as many years of the aforementioned classes as possible. Core courses provide the rigor and preparation high school students need to be successful at college. These courses will provide skills such as analyzing, reasoning, discussing, evaluating, deconstructing, and outlining.

Course Prerequisites for College

In order to be considered for college admission, high school students need to take specific courses. Colleges have common course admission requirements

Navigating through the college admission process can be daunting. The most important element of preparing for admission is to ensure that the proper high school courses are completed. Four year course planning should begin in the eighth grade as students register for ninth grade classes. The plan simply outlines courses to take in high school.

Career Advice

Looking for a career change? Trying to get your first job? Just out of school? Recently been downsized? You've come to the right place!

Stay tuned for career tips and hints, as well as suggestions to help you get where you want, when you want - in your ongoing career. Future articles will cover job searches, resumes, applications, cover letters, interviews and career sites - as well as how they pertain to your lifestyle and personal goals.

Please drop me a line anytime via email, and put "Suite" in the subject line. Also, be sure to visit my articles, blogs and discussions.

Note: If you'd like an honest review for any book and/or video, please contact me at careeradvice@suite101.com - if you're just looking for some kind of bloated puffery- give one of those "pay-per-blogs" a try.

How to Apply for the Achieve Scholarship

Students interested in applying for this award can access information on the Minnesota Office of Higher Education website. Eligibility requirements and directions can be access on this site. NOTE: This scholarship is only for Minnesota Students.

With the higher costs of college tuition, families need more financial assistance. The Minnesota Office of Higher Education offers a scholarship that most Minnesota students can receive. The award encourages students to take a rigorous high school curriculum and rewards their efforts to pursue further education. While the scholarship will not cover full tuition, it can help offset the costs on books and fees.

Minnesota Coursework Requirements Defined

Most Minnesota students will complete the Minnesota Coursework section for the Achieve Scholarship. The following are the courses covered under this section:

• Four years of English/Language Arts
• Three years of specific math
• Three years of laboratory sciences
• Three years of social studies
• Two years of the same world language

Defined Rigorous High School Curriculum

Most colleges require applicants to complete a minimum number of required high school courses. This practice is to ensure that the incoming student has had a minimum level of exposure to knowledge and can complete the rigor at a college level. The Achieve Scholarship Program permits students to complete at least one of four defined rigorous high school study categories.

1. Successful complete coursework defined under the State Scholars Initiative
2. Successful test at a three of better on two or more Advanced Placement or four or better on two or more International Baccalaueate exams
3. Successful completion of Minnesota Coursework Requirements
4. Successful completion of six specific college credits under the Minnesota Post-Secondary Enrollment Option

Eligibility to Receive the Achieve Scholarsh

There are six primary requirements to receive this scholarship:

1. Be a United States citizen or eligible non-citizen
2. Be a resident of Minnesota
3. Graduate from a Minnesota high school
4. Complete the FAFSA form
5. Have a family adjusted gross income of less than $75,000
6. Complete a rigorous high school curriculum

Premise of the Achieve Scholarship

Students who complete a rigorous high school curriculum are more prepared for college than those who do not. Certain high school courses lay the foundation to success in completing college courses and thus completing college. This scholarship knowledges students who complete specific courses with a scholarship to be applied at a Minnesota college.

Minnesota Students Eligible for New Scholarship

The recent economy has left a gloomy outlook for financing a college education. The Minnesota Office of Higher Education offers students a boost to pay for tuition.

The Achieve Scholarship is a new program to reward Minnesota students for taking a challenging high school curriculum. Students that meet the criteria will be provided a one time $1200 scholarship to use at most Minnesota post-secondary institutions.

Outline of the Book

This is a very user friendly resource. The book lists over 100 different majors in alphabetical order. With each major the book lists matching colleges,which then are divided into three categories: Most Selective, Highly Selective, and Selective. Furthermore, the colleges are coded as small, moderate, medium, large, or extra large enrollment size. Additionally, the back of the book contains all of the colleges previously mentioned and the average SAT and ACT scores of the schools.

Background of the Book

Frederick E. Rugg is a former high school counselor. While in practice he received the same type of question from parents and students pertaining to colleges - what colleges have the best (fill in the blank) major? Rugg, through extensive research and surveying of school counselors, developed a book that is focused on matching specific majors to colleges with the best programming.

Book Review-Rugg's Recommendations Resource to Assist Families in Choosing a College

Ever wonder which colleges have the best education in certain majors? Rugg's book can assist students to compile college lists based on majors.
One of the best resources on the shelves of school counselor offices is Rugg's Recommendation on the Colleges by Frederick E. Rugg. The book provides a simple manner to which students can view interested majors and the institutions that provide a degree in that area

College Level Examination Program

Another program sponsored by the College Board is the College Level Examination Program or CLEP. High school students can demonstrate their knowledge in one of 34 subject areas by taking a CLEP test. These tests are available to any student and no special requirement is needed. If a high school does not offer AP courses but still teaches rigorous subject matter, CLEP testing offers students an avenue to demonstrate their knowledge at a college level.
CLEP tests are offered at several testing facilities around the United States. Costs for the exams are around $80 and an additional fee for the testing center, usually around $20. Some states, like Minnesota, are offering to pay for students to take up to six CLEP tests for free through June 2009. The score on the exam is converted to a scale score where 50 is recommended for college credit. Once again, each institution has the final decision in determining how to handle these exam scores for actual college credit.

Advanced Placement Courses

Advanced Placement courses, or AP courses, are designed by College Board. The classes are constructed to teach students at a more rigorous level than general high school courses. AP teachers must go through specific training and deliver the elements of the class in a specific manner. Concepts of the courses must include the fundamentals of a college level education: readings, discussions, analysis, projects, and papers.
Each year in May, students in AP courses may elect to take AP exams. The exams are standardized by College Board and cost around $90 a test. Students take the exam and receive a score from a 1 to a 5. Generally speaking, colleges will consider scores of 3 or higher for college credit. Each institution has their own policy regarding accepting AP exam scores for college credit.

How to Earn College Credits in High School

College credit can be earned while still in high school. Knowing the opportunities available can reduce the cost of college tuition
Today's high school students have the advantage of earning college credit while still in high school. These opportunities usually come at a low cost to families, and sometimes they are free. The following are some of those opportunities.

College Reading Lists How Exposure to Literature Can Lead to College Admission and Success

Required high school English classes do not provide enough literature exposure for college preparation. Students must expand their exposure to the multiple genres.
Robert Needleman once penned, "Literacy widens a person's world; illiteracy narrows it." Literacy is not simply the ability to read; literacy includes exposure to cultures, language, and ideas beyond one's own background. Preparing for college and being successful there requires one to be open to new ideas and to be able to compare and contrast ideas to one another. Colleges expect students to come to their institutions with a minimum level of literacy, or exposure to experiences and literature. Some may contend that an increase in independent reading assists in increasing ACT/SAT scores.
Reading lists for the college bound are abundant on the internet. Most lists contain 50-200 different titles. These lists are only a guide and don't suggest that every title must be read. Here are some of the different genres on most lists:

Landing a Job after College

Adjustment to college is hard, but making the adjustment from college into the real world can sometimes be even harder.
There will be the handful of people who will gladly assert “changing from college to real life was a breeze”, and maybe for those people it was. For everyone else, here are a few tips on how to transition professionally from college to the real world.

Top Campus Crimes

Crime offenses will vary from campus to campus; however, there are several common crime activities that are present on most campuses. The most severe crime is murder/manslaughter. This number is usually relatively low or at zero for most campuses. Families may be concerned about this category; however, compared to most small cities and towns of similar populations, the number is usually at a lower rate. Campuses are now required to have crisis plans, including mass texting and emailing, to warn students of any potential high risk situations occurring on campus.
The next common crimes are sexual offenses. These offenses are categorized as forcible and nonforcible. Most of these offenses include the presence of alcohol and/or drugs. Student may unsuspectingly place themselves in vulnerable situations when alcohol and/or drugs are being use.
Other campus criminal activities include robbery, theft, assaults, and arson. Incidences within these categories tend to have higher occurrences than the previously mentioned offenses. The higher offenses are usually burglary and theft. College students who leave personal items unattended, like backpacks full of electronic devices and other high priced items, are more likely to experience theft. Additionally, unlocked dorm rooms can also be a haven for burglary.

Crime on Campus

Even though college investigation can be daunting, students need to also research security measures on campus and crime offenses. Being fully aware of these details can provide a safe college experience

Miami University Student Profile

Among Ohio's universities, Miami has a reputation for high standards. This is true. Of all Ohio’s public universities, the entrance criteria for students wishing to attend Miami at Oxford are probably the highest. According to Miami's Office of Admissions, last year, 15,000 students applied for 3,727 spots in the freshman class. Among the students accepted, 37% were in the top 10% of their graduating classes, and 21% scored 1300 or higher on their SATs.
Miami also has the reputation for being an all Greek School. This is not true. Of the total student body, only one third are involved in fraternities and sororities. While Greek life is a vital part of the university, so are the 300 intramural and club sports teams, the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity, and wide variety of music and theater opportunities open to the entire student body

Miami University Oxford not Just for Frat Boys

Miami University in Oxford Ohio has been providing a high quality, post secondary education for in-state and out of state students for 200 years. In 2008, U.S News and World Reports ranked Miami 27th among the top public universities in the U.S. The entrance requirements are rigorous, but for students with the credentials, Miami is a great deal both economically and academically. And contrary to popular belief, Greek Life does not rule the campus. The majority of Miami students are not involved in fraternities and sororities

How to Decide on a College

Soon to follow are invitations to an open house for admitted students. For students who follow today’s trend of applying to multiple schools, the college search process is not over yet. They now have to settle on one.
They have a month to sort through those acceptance letters and make a final decision, as most schools require students to make a commitment, and send in a deposit, by May 1.
Visit the Campus AgainOne good tool for helping students decide is the open house for admitted students. Aware that students today send out many more applications than did their parents (College Board recommends students apply to between five and eight schools), colleges and universities have designed programs specifically to aid admitted students in making a decision.
The open house for accepted students is designed to give them a more personal look at not only the school, but the program of study they might be considering.
Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, is one of many schools that will be inviting admitted students to return to campus in April. Prospective students can attend workshops on such topics as the college’s honors program, meet with a panel of students, introduce themselves to a staff member, or attend a class

“The real focus is for students who have narrowed us down to one of their top choices,” said Keith Hrasky, associate director of admissions for Saint Anselm in a phone interview on Mar. 30, 2009. The school, which has spots for 530 in its freshman class, expects 400 students, and their parents, to show up for the open house on April 17.
DePauw University, in Greencastle, Indiana, goes “all out” for admitted students in its open house, scheduled this year for April 18, according to Shalon Kegg, assistant director of admissions and events coordinator in a phone interview on Mar. 30, 2009.
Not only is each department represented by faculty members, but alumni show up too, to help give prospective students a glimpse of what it was like for them.
“Visiting our campus is the ultimate way to gauge if a student is the correct fit,” said Kegg.
Chat Online with Enrolled Students If students can’t make it to campus for a final visit, many schools also set up a web site especially for admitted students, and students should take full advantage of them.
At Saint Anselm, for instance, accepted students can log on to their own web site, and chat with currently enrolled students about classes, social life, athletics or any other topic they want, as well as ask questions and share concerns.
Parents should encourage their child to connect online with faculty, students, alumni, coaches and anyone else the college makes available. They may be entering the home stretch, but it is not yet time for college-bound students to sit back and relax. If possible, they should make one final round of college visits before committing to a school.
Remember, you've already been accepted. The school wants you. It’s now up to the students to choose the college that will be the best fit.

HBCUs as a College Option

The United States boasts over 3000 different colleges and universities. One factor that may be important to students is the diversity makeup of the campus. HBCU’s offers a campus environment that is predominately black, which can encourage African-American students to matriculate to college.
What are HBCUsWikipedia defines HBCUs as "institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before 1964 with the intention of serving the black community.” These colleges were initially designed to segregate the black community and white community in terms of education. After 1965’s desegregation laws, HBCUs have been opened to all populations.
Why are HBCU’s ImportantHBCUs offer African-American students an option to attend a college where the majority of the other students are also African-American. The National Center for Education Statistics reports that in 2005, 12.7 percent of the African-American seniors in high school matriculated to college. This is in comparison to the 65.7 percent of white students.
In order to raise the rates of African-American students to attend college after high school, colleges offer incentives and programming to meet the needs of the students. HBCUs offer a campus of other African-American students to support one another. Traditionally, HBCUs must have a predominate number of African-American students than any other population.
Another important aspect of HBCUs is that they are highly supported financially by African-American organizations. The Thurgood Marshall College Fund and the United Negro College Fund are both critical organizations that finance African-American student’s college education at HBCUs.
Where are the HBCUsThe majority of HBCUs are located in the southern part of the United States. Currently there are 103 identified HBCUs, most of which are located in Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina.
Types of HBCUsHBCUs offer both coed and single sex campuses. Some of the more popular coed campuses are Fisk University, Howard University, and Xavier University of Louisiana. Single sex campuses include Spelman College and Morehouse College.
Overall, students who wish to be a part of a college that has a high proportionate African-American student body, high percentage of African-American professors, and substantial financial aid dedication to its students, then an HBCU can be a great match. HBCUs actively recruit potential students, so students who make the initial connection with the college can expect a committed partnership on the part of the HBCUs.
To locate a listing of HBCUs, consider using College Search Englnes. College Navigator has a specific search option for HBCUs.

Top Ten Universities - Life Sciences and Biomedicine

Harvard University
University of Cambridge
University of California,
Berkeley University of Oxford
John Hopkins University
University of California,
Berkeley Stanford University
Imperial College London
Yale University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
McGill University (Canada )

Top Ten Universities - Natural Science

1. University of California,
2. Berkeley Massachusetts Institute of Technology
3. University of Cambridge
4. Harvard University
5. Princeton University
6. California Institute of Technology
7. Stanford University
8. University of Oxford
9. Cornell University
10. Yale University

The Full Top Ten Universities List

1. Harvard University (US)
2. University of Cambridge (UK)
3. University of Oxford (UK)
4. Yale University (US)
5. Imperial College London (UK)
6. Princeton University (US)
7. California Institute of Technology (US)
8. University of Chicago (US)
9. University College London (UK)
10. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US)