Between deciding what colleges to apply to and then filling out your college applications, getting into college is stressful. On top of selecting, applying and getting accepted into a college, there are the ever-dreaded standardized tests. Most schools base their acceptance of a student on their high school GPA, high school extracurricular activities and standardized test scores. Each college varies on which version of standardized test that they require for acceptance, whether it be the SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) or the ACT (American College Test) but standardized tests are a must for the college-bound student.

The stress of these tests is huge, but reading the scores can be just as intimidating. Prior to taking your test of choice, (it doesn’t hurt to take both, if you are still undecided) you can arrange to have your scores sent directly to the colleges and universities of your choice, but you’ll want to know your scores, and what they mean, to see if all your hard work paid off.

For those taking the SAT, the following information can help you become comfortable with reading your SAT test scores so that you’re ready when you receive them. Read the rest of this entry »

If you are going to be attending college in the state of Texas this school year, you need a meningitis shot before you can move into your on-campus apartment or dorm room.

There is a new state law in Texas that all entering freshmen have to have this shot prior to moving into their dorm rooms. Unfortunately, despite the many efforts of colleges in Texas to get this information to their incoming students, several of them still have not gotten their shots, and are unable to move to campus until they have provided the documentation showing they have received it. Aside from getting the shot, there is also a 10 day incubation period that all students must go through, which means that even if you get the shot four days before you’re supposed to move in, you still will not be allowed into the dorms until day 10.

Schools have made every attempt to stay on top of reminding students about getting their shot. They have enclosed reminders in acceptance letters, made mention of the law during orientation, sent out emails and letters and even made phone calls to students’ homes. Some of the major schools affected by this new law include University of North Texas, Texas A&M University, Southern Methodist University and the University of Texas at Austin. Unfortunately, students have still been falling short on getting their shots. North Texas has the highest number of students without shots at eight percent. Read the rest of this entry »

When it comes to the crème de la crème, Vogue and Condé Nast produce the fashion bibles, so it would come as no surprise that the annual Teen Vogue Fashion University is what young fashionistas consider the most important educational seminar of their pre-professional pursuits.

Founded in October of 2006 the program hopes to educate 500 American teens about the business of the fashion industry.

A weekend-long event held this year October 22-24, 2010, TVFU offers more than 30
classes, marketing seminars, hands-on workshop, design contests, concerts, private shopping events and lectures from industry insiders, the world’s top fashion designers, bloggers, entrepreneurs, stylists, keynote speakers and celebrities. The program also includes interview and job-hunting advice and resume tips. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re planning on going to medical school then plan on taking organic chemistry, physics and the Medical College Admission Test, also know by its notorious acronym, the MCAT. That is, unless you apply to the Humanities and Medicine Program at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, located in Manhattan.

The medical school has roughly 35 openings a year for undergraduates who studied humanities or social sciences instead of the typical hard-science pre-medical courses.

Those accepted to Mount Sinai forgo organic chemistry, physics, calculus and the MCAT. Instead, these pre-med students are briefed in both physics and organic chemistry during summer training operated by Mount Sinai. To get in, they must have a certain SAT score, provide two well-written personal essays and meet certain high school and college G.P.A requirements. Read the rest of this entry »

Going back to college can be a difficult decision to come to for those that have been out of school for a long time. The idea can seem almost pointless when someone has plenty of on-the-job training and doesn’t want to take the time to sit through a bunch of classes.

But there is the possibility of using your life experience to obtain college credits towards a degree. This can be a great solution for older working adults, but be careful when attempting this. There are several sham universities out there that would be happy to take your money and send you a fake college degree based on your life experience.

There are a few options for receiving genuine college credit for your life experiences though. Some schools will actually consider awarding credit for experience, so it’s important to be in touch with your college advisor. Keep in mind that you will not be able to get a degree based only on life experience, so if you see something offering that, it’s probably bogus.

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The LSAT, or Law School Admission Test, is a test that anyone wanting to go to law school must take for admittance. The LSAT is a standardized test that typically takes a half-day to complete and is only given four times per year. There are five sections of multiple-choice questions on the test, each taking 35 minutes to complete. The multiple-choice questions of the LSAT fall into one of three categories: reading comprehension, analytical reasoning and logical reasoning. Being able to successfully answer these types of questions helps measure your perceived level of success in law school. One of those sections is actually not scored, and that section is typically used to introduce possible new test questions.

There is also an essay, or writing sample, portion of the test that takes 35 minutes. Although the writing section of the test is not counted towards an overall score, it is sent to all of the schools that students are applying to for admission. Read the rest of this entry »

Did you know that there are about 125,000 schools across America? And not included in that count are home school programs offered online.

Here is a list of some of the country’s most reputable home school programs:

1. Laurel Springs is an accredited private distance learning school that was established more than 25 years ago to provide resources for home school families. They also have tutoring programs and tailored curricula for families living abroad.

2. iQ Academy offers a standards-based curriculum backed by supportive teachers, guidance counselors, staff and a learning coach.

3. K12 offers an individualized approach emphasizing students mastery of core concepts while offering more than 700 subject lessons, online seminars, training sessions, a mentorship program and parental community forums. Read the rest of this entry »

Toy Story 3 Spoiler Alert!

Toy Story is one of those movies I feel like I grew up with. It’s one of the few I can remember going to see in the theater as a kid, and one of the few I made sure to own on DVD.

I was thrilled to hear that Toy Story 3 was releasing this summer. I’d heard the plot line was going to send Andy to college, so I was curious how the story would handle it. When the movie opened and the nostalgic home videos by Andy’s mom of him playing as a young boy started rolling, I cried. I admit it, I started crying. Maybe there’s some residual from having recently had a baby, and maybe I’ve just got a soft spot for remembering those carefree days myself. Read the rest of this entry »

I wanted to apply to colleges across the country, but I had no idea how to contact those colleges nor did I want to drive to four different states. I ended up applying to only a few colleges, and only after I talked with college advisors for at least an hour each. It was a stressful, time-consuming process.

College Week Live is trying to make this process easier for students. College Week Live allows students to get college application tips and advice from college admission officers from the USA, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, all in one web-based location. College Week Live features college application experts who give presentations on everything from preparing for the SAT to paying for college. There are also actual college students available for video chat, so prospective students can hear what campus life is really all about. Read the rest of this entry »

For years, Walmart has been criticized for not offering its employees the benefits they deserve. Luckily, it seems like the mega-store that specializes in everything from kitchen dishes to lawn care equipment is taking a step in the right direction.

According to the New York Times, Walmart has partnered with American Public University, an online school with about 70,000 students currently enrolled. Although Walmart scholarshipshave been offered to students in the past, this new partnership will allow some of Walmart’s employees to earn college credits in fields such as retail management or logistics, just by working their jobs. Walmart employees will also receive a 15 percent discount on tuition, while Walmart has pledged to invest another $50 million in tuition assistance for those employees who participate.

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