The end of summer is nearing for many. The only indicator is the start date of classes bearing down upon us; Lord knows it’s not the weather. If your first day of class is coming up, take a minute to think through what you’d like your semester, year, or entire college experience to look like and maybe heed the advice of those of us who made enough mistakes to offer you a few useful tips.

1. Don’t write off the first day of class as “pass out the syllabus day.” Many of us assumed it was a pointless day that guaranteed early release and that’s all we focused on. Instead, listen closely, ask questions, and if needed, go directly to the registrar’s after class and drop it while it’s still refundable.

If it’s early in your college career, you can replace that class with another credit – one that’s worth your time, one that you’ll care more about. Those classes are expensive and time consuming; if you don’t jive well with the professor or care enough about the content, find a class that better suits you. Read the rest of this entry »

College is not always the best option for everyone. We often hear this, and for most people, it brings to mind someone who will do better learning a trade or skill. However, Taylor Wilson is an exception to this standard. At 18, he has already built a working reactor and plans to build nuclear fusion reactors. Here’s the kicker: he doesn’t plan on going to college and he’s received a $100,000 grant not to do so.

“I’ve got some technology that will really change the world, so college right now is not the best option for me,” Wilson said.

The grant Wilson received is called the Thiel Fellowship, created by Peter Thiel for individuals under 20 years old. Thiel is an investor in Silicon Valley who thinks that students shouldn’t be pursuing an expensive university education, but should instead be learning about and developing breakthrough technologies. Thiel seems to think that by encouraging students not to go to college he will inadvertently also be lowering the unemployment rate and amount of student debt that face many 20-somethings.

“You increasingly have people who are graduating from college, not being able to get good jobs, moving back home with their parents,” he said. “I think there’s a surprising openness to the idea that something’s gone badly wrong and needs to be fixed.” Read the rest of this entry »

With summer enrollment nearing its end, it’s now do or die. You’re asking yourself: Should I or shouldn’t I take a class this summer?

You may be still weighing the options. Do I want to have a relaxing break, or do I want to graduate sooner? Let’s ease the decision making and examine the pros and cons of summer classes.

Pro: You can lessen your fall and spring burden if you take a few credit hours during the break. Students often find it easier to spread out their heavy load to three semesters. If your traditional semesters are too hectic, this may be the option for you.

Con: The summer catalog is typically scarcer than your fall and spring ones. If you don’t have a flexible work schedule, it may be hard to find a class that you can attend.

Pro: Summer classes often have a more relaxed atmosphere, so some students still find that they have a stress-free summer. Read the rest of this entry »

If your college doesn’t have Sex Week, your campus is behind the times. The trend started at Yale in 2002 and just last month, Harvard hosted its very first.

In the last week of March, Harvard offered a student-run program of all things sex, including panel discussions, lectures and information tables.

Sex Week provides a balance of education on sexual health and pleasure. Students can listen to panels on bondage, gay and lesbian sex, and the ethics of pornography. Traditionally, sex education’s main focus has been on the transmission of STDs, safe sex, and rape prevention.

“I think that what our generation is doing is really trying to address these issues in a way that respects individual experiences and beliefs and identities,” said 23-year-old Samantha Meier, one of the two student planners of the event at the university. “And I see Sex Week as a part of that.”

At a time when surveys reveal students are having less sex than past generations, college campuses across the country are trying to prepare them for the experiences to come.

“I think there’s this hook-up culture at Harvard where people assume that everyone’s having sex all the time, and that’s not necessarily true,” said Suzanna Bobadilla, a 21-year-old junior at the university. Read the rest of this entry »

You may know what to say, but do you know how to say it?  That’s often the mishap that college students and grads have when they’re emailing someone they want to impress.

If you’re anxious about emailing your professor or potential employer, don’t fret. Read these tips to impress and earn the respect of the recipient.

Your emails must be formal if you want to leave a good impression. Save smiley faces and phrases like “LOL” for your BFF. Contractions and abbreviations are OK for the most part, but texting lingo must never be used.

You’re a sharp, young adult, so write like one. Use proper punctuation and complete sentences. There’s no room for grammar mistakes in such emails, so read it over at least two times before you send your message.

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Although having a car in college is a major convenience, it can come with some headaches too. Things like parking tickets and auto theft may have you wondering if having a car on campus is worth it.

Want to avoid these nuisances? Read these tips to keep you, your valuables and your car safe.

Leave it in your trunk, or take it with you: Even though your campus parking lot may be staffed with security patrol, college parking lots are still a hot stop for auto theft. Thieves may have sense of when most students are in class. Also, they may also know what time of day security is and isn’t making their rounds. If you don’t want to take your valuables with you to class, lock them in your trunk. At the very least, make sure your items are not in plain sight.

Always park in well-lit areas: Take as many precautions as possible, especially if you’re getting out of class late. Parking lots are one of the most common places for muggings to occur. Well-lit areas usually mean that there are security cameras close by to deter such criminal activity. Also, since there’s safety in numbers, always walk to your car with at least one other person.

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College admissions is a shifting landscape: from the tests you need to take to the ways you apply. That’s why we’re delighted that an updated edition of our favorite college guide, College Is Yours, is now available.

College Is Yours 2.0 is written by Ph.D. Patrick O’Connor, a college counselor and past president of the National Association for College Admission Counseling. He lays out a plan to help students stress less over the application process, while still reaching for their highest aspirations. The book also offers advice on how to highlight high school achievements, fund your education and tips for parents.

The new edition is not only updated to reflect recent changes in the process of applying to college, but also includes nearly twice as many chapters. Don’t worry, College Is Yours 2.0 won’t add to your workload. It’s written like a good admissions essay: easy to read, on topic and in 600 words or less.

“Some information about testing was out of date, since nearly every college now accepts the SAT and the ACT, and I went into much more detail about what to keep in mind when applying online,” explains O’Connor. “There’s also significantly more coverage on writing essays, applying for financial aid, and how to make sure you make it through senior year in a healthy state of mind, ready to make the most out of high school.”

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If you’re ready to declare a major, this single thought may be lingering in your mind: Should I or shouldn’t I attain a double major? Sure, it could mean more job opportunities and higher pay, but a double major could also mean twice the stress and a hefty tuition bill.

To ease such torment, read these pros and cons of double majoring, and decide the right path for you.

Pros:

• As a prospective employee, you’re more marketable. Having a double major shows that you’re flexible and well-rounded in more than one area of study. For instance, foreign language as a second major, specifically Spanish, is always a huge plus with employers. With this tough job market, a double-whammy could mean that you’ll get hired straight out of college.

• It may be the only solution if you’re equally torn between two majors. It’s likely that if you don’t follow your destined education path now, you’ll head back to school after you graduate. Going back isn’t the worst thing in the world, but it’s tough to do when you’re working a full-time job. It’s best to get your degrees out of the way now while you have education on the mind.

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If you’re not living in the dorms, you’ll likely feel left out and unsure how to make friends. I struggled to make friends my freshman year of college, with my commute being more than a half hour. It wasn’t until my sophomore year that I started to spend more time on campus and eventually got to know some students on campus.

Meeting new people can be a challenge, especially if you don’t live on campus. Read these tips that will help you make instant friends.

Join a club: Try to find a club or student group that coincides with your major. Not only will you likely meet people that take the same courses, you’ll make a strong connection with people who share the same interests as you. Sports teams also offer a great way to meet students who have a common interest with you.

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I hear it all the time: “A graduate degree is the new bachelor’s degree.” Meaning, to get ahead in your chosen career path, you not only need four years of schooling, but six. However, recent studies show that even grad school won’t benefit everybody.

“I expected to get out of grad school and find a job fairly easily, even in the down economy,” said Eric Peters, who earned a master’s degree in 2009 from Radford University. “What I found after applying to more than 150 jobs was that experience weighs far more than education. And I’m talking paid full-time experience, because I had four internships under my belt when I graduated that didn’t seem to matter very much.”

Peters, who got his degree in corporate and professional communications, learned after some extensive job-hunting that experience out ways education in the communications field. In the end, he settled for an entry-level position, which are generally reserved for young, inexperienced workers.

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