Get advice about going to college from people who know all about it!
I always look at two things when researching colleges – retention and graduation rates. A retention rate tracks how many freshmen come back for sophomore year. A graduation rate measures how many students graduate in four, five and six years. These numbers hint at the overall well-being of a college. When I see low retention and graduation rates, I wonder what is happening at that school that causes so many… Read More
As I’ve met with students this year, several have indicated that they would like to know more about campus life. This question is perfectly valid, especially if the student is the first in his or her family to go to college. My instinct is to answer students with a resounding “College is awesome!” but I realize that this statement still doesn’t indicate what campus life is like. Instead, here is… Read More
Unemployment Rate by Education Level Bachelor’s or higher – 4.4% High school diploma – 10% Less than high school diploma – 14.3% Source: June 2011 Bureau of Labor Statistics Average Earnings in 2009 Master’s degree – $87,913 Bachelor’s degree – $68,812 Associate’s degree – $49,835 High school graduate – $39,937 Less than high school – $30,958 Source: www.postecondary.org Number of college graduates needed to meet national job growth demand by… Read More
The ability to persevere through difficult situations will be important to your success in college. In college, fear can hinder students from doing their best. The anxiety that arises from personal, social and academic situations can distract you from your goals. If you don’t have the necessary skills to persevere through your fear, that’s when you’re most at risk to stop trying or quit. So, how is perseverance learned? Here… Read More
I love to read. It started at a young age with books like Where the Wild Things Are, The Cat in the Hat, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and The Tickle Octopus. My mom and dad read to my sister and me before bed and on Sundays. I remember also listening to Rabbit Ears on NPR for the latest edition of tall tales and exciting narratives. When I got to high… Read More
My last post touched on things that students typically consider when choosing a college – prestige, price and courses. I spent some time explaining that there’s much more to it than that. Now, I want to give you advice on choosing a major. My college education had its cool moments, but I wish I had taken more time to match my interests to my major. I encourage you to… Do What You… Read More
I work at a high school in Missouri. When students tell me what colleges they want to attend, most of them are recognizable – University of Missouri, University of Kansas, University of Texas, University of California-Los Angeles. I also see popular local schools come up as well. Sometimes, names like Yale and Harvard are thrown into the mix. A motivated student has the ability to thrive in any college environment and can be quite successful… Read More
At the high school I work at in Kansas City, we go on a lot of campus tours. Every month, I gather a group of students and invite them to come along to a local college or university. Kansas City is a pretty good location – several types of colleges are within driving distance. A campus tour experience, in my opinion, is one of the best ways to develop a… Read More
How many students consider the academic environment when they’re looking at colleges and universities? I know that, when I was a senior in high school, I didn’t think about how much it would change. Working as a college adviser in a high school now, most of the questions I’m asked have to do with areas outside of the classroom. But the school and its professors make a big difference in your college education…. Read More
College may seem far away. Do you know where to start? Sometimes it’s overwhelming to think about what can be done to prepare for college. So, no matter what grade you’re in, here are a few easy steps that you can take TODAY! Set up a campus tour Visiting a college campus is a great way to figure out how you fit in with the student body. Tours allow you… Read More