Knowledge Knuggets

25 Things Every Student Needs to Know Before Starting College

Editor — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:40:17 +0000

The transition into college from high school, from another college, or from work — if you’re an adult student — can be stressful. For younger students, the stress and excitement often comes from leaving home for the first time. For older students, the stress is more financial, as you doubt whether or not you can afford to expand your college experience. You may not know which college is best for you, or if you need to attend a college campus or take on an online degree. In all cases, you can take certain steps to ease that leap into the classroom. You can make that step easier to take if you are prepared to learn more about yourself, about what you want from your college experience, and about your resources.

Know Yourself

What is your learning style? Are you a visual, auditory, or tactile learner? Are you a concrete thinker or do you use your intuition? If you know your learning style, you can adjust your study habits to be most productive and build on your strengths. The Paragon Learning Style Inventory (PLSI) is a self-administered survey that provides a very reliable indication of your learning style and cognitive preference.
Assess your skills and interests. If you know what you like to do, how can you integrate that experience into a career? At Mapping Your Future, you can learn more about how to assess those activities and how you can use that knowledge to create your goals.
Know your goals. Why are you going to college? Every profession, from firefighting to CEO, can benefit from higher education. The wages are better for those who attend college, and the chance of advancement in your profession becomes higher, too.
Prepare yourself academically. If you’re in high school, enroll in the classes that can support your future goals. Practice good study habits, and work on your writing skills. Contact your guidance counselor to learn more, and talk about the recommendations provided by ACT, The College Board (SAT), and the U.S. Department of Education. These sites can help you determine the best courses to take for your goals.
Don’t let disabilities stop you. Although you may not have the same access to the same opportunities as your non-disabled peers, improvements to campuses and the addition of online courses and degrees can help you achieve your goals. You can do it!
Obtain a high school diploma or a GED. Adult students can look into getting a General Educational Development (GED) certificate if you don’t have a high school diploma; try searching online for “GED certificate” and your state’s name.
Take stock of your personal inventory. If you are in high school, don’t forget to include all your extracurricular activities. If you are an adult, your experiences may count as credits at some colleges. Learn more about College Credit for Life Experience (CLEP).
Start preparing now. If you are in middle school, high school, or in college and thinking of a higher degree, learn what you can do to smooth your path. College.gov offers a road map for students to prepare for going to college.

Financial Issues

Save for college if you can. Some of the resources you have available for funding college are listed below; however, it’s good to have a cushion for unforeseen expenses.
Assess your financial situation. If you’re younger, sit down with your parents to talk about college and learn how they can help you. If you’re an adult, you also can learn more about how you can receive aid. In all situations, learn more about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The questions on this document can help you prepare for what you need to know.
Use calculators to help determine your approximate college costs. FAFSA4caster can provide you with an estimate of your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which is an index that colleges use to determine what types of student aid you may receive. Using your EFC, FAFSA4caster will determine what types of federal grants, loans, and work-study you might qualify for and will provide you an estimated award amount for each.
Learn about grants and scholarships. No matter what course of study you choose, the government and other organizations have money available for students. Usually, you must have financial need, or you must have excellent grades to obtain any funds. Grants and scholarships are important, because — in most instances — you do not need to repay this money if you meet the funding requirements.
Check out all financial resources. The government provides a list of all the resources you can use to find scholarships, grants, and funds for college.

Select Your School

Get to know different types of schools. You may have choices among public, private, professional and technical schools, theological or other professional schools, and distance learning. Choose what fits you.
Begin to choose your colleges. When you do, learn more about the financial aid they can offer to you. Do they have scholarship or payment plans? Can you get a job on campus? Talk to the financial aid administrator at every school to learn all the requirements you must follow.
Check your choice’s accreditation. If you attend a school that is accredited, your degree is worth more. You can use those credits to obtain more education down the road. Use Peterson’s to learn more about your choices.
It’s never too early to choose college. In order to turn students’ college dreams into action-oriented goals, the American Council on Education, Lumina Foundation for Education and the Ad Council launched the KnowHow2GO campaign in January 2007. This multiyear, multimedia effort encourages 8th through 10th graders to prepare for college using four simple steps.
It’s never too late to choose college. But, you might want to ask yourself some questions about your goals, finances, and support. About.com has some great questions with links to help adult students.
Use credible sites to learn more about colleges and your lifestyle. One site, BrainTrack, is recommended as a great resource to learn about education, schools, and careers. School data comes from governments, colleges, and other publicly available sources, as well as BrainTrack’s own research staff.

Achieve Success

Learn how you might obstruct your own success. Choosing college can be stressful, and you might construct roadblocks to your own success out of fear of failure. Find someone to talk to. A counselor is a great resource, and so are family, friends, and older students who have been through your experiences.
Learn how to manage your time. Through organization, keeping your eye on your goal, and knowing how much you can handle and when you can handle it, you can learn how to manage your time.
Catch up on technology. If you’ve avoided computers or software programs because they seem too difficult, now’s the time to take some basic computer classes. Many libraries offer these classes free of charge. Other resources can include friends and family members who can help you learn how to handle computers for college. You also can find many online resources that are free and informative.
Be wise about the number of credits you take, especially the first quarter when it is easy to be overwhelmed. But, be aware of the credits you’ll need to earn your degree…make sure you can earn them all within the time you’ve allotted to earn that degree (often two-four years).
Ask for help. Your professors are there to help you learn. Additionally, they can help point you to tutors who might be of assistance if you feel overwhelmed by any given subject. Check with your college counselors, too; for instance, The University of Chicago has a tutor program just for students, available to students who wish to have additional assistance in chemistry, economics, mathematics, physics, biology, and writing.
Take time for yourself! If you’re experiencing burnout, look back at all the successes you have had and all the roadblocks you’ve conquered. Take a deep breath and imagine what it would be like to finish college and accomplish your goals. Take some time for yourself and socialize to relax. Making friends is part of the college experience.

20 Highest-Paying Jobs With an Undergraduate Degree

admin — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 13:30:29 +0000

You’ve probably heard that the key to a better paying career is to attend college and get a degree. However, the truth is that, in some professions, you need more than an undergraduate degree to succeed. Indeed, some degrees aren’t worth the amount of student loans that you have to take out in order to complete them. In some cases, you have to go on to get a graduate degree or professional degree to make it worth your while. And, for some professions, even having a Ph.D. won’t lead to a high paying career!

Other undergraduate degrees, though, are another story. In some cases, you can start out with a high salary — and see superior earnings for the rest of your working life. Get an undergraduate scholarship, and your return on investment is even better, since you won’t need to repay as much in loans. If you want to really take off with a great career, you might want to consider earning an undergraduate degree that will qualify you for one of 20 of the highest paying jobs you can do with an undergraduate degree.

It’s hard to pinpoint, exactly, which jobs are the highest paying. One of the things you can do is visit a web site, like Salary.com or Payscale.com, that offers insight into what the average pay is for different jobs. Realize, though, that actual pay will differ according to the company you work for, where you end up living, and other factors. Our list includes information from Payscale, looking at the starting median annual salary (our list is ordered by starting salary), as well as what you might expect to make about the middle of your career.

Petroleum Engineering: If you are interested in working with the engineering aspects of petroleum production (and this can include natural gas as well as oil), this might be the job for you. Learn about exploration, and estimate the recoverable volume of a potential find. Starting median pay: $93,000. Mid-career median pay: $157,000.
Chemical Engineering: You might be starting to notice a trend: Engineering jobs are high paying. Chemical engineering deals with the combinations of different substances to make something new. If you like chemistry, this might be the job for you. Starting median pay: $64,800. Mid-career median pay: $108,000.
Aerospace Engineering: Design planes, spaceships and other vehicles and devices for the air. This is often an exciting job that deals with making air travel more efficient — and space travel more of a reality. Starting median pay: $59,400. Mid-career median pay: $108,000.
Nuclear Engineering: Work with the smallest particles on earth, and build better reactors. Even though nuclear isn’t huge, it is still a specialized field, and many cities get their power from nuclear reactors. It’s also a big field in Europe. Starting median pay: $63,900. Mid-career median pay: $104,000.
Electrical Engineering: You can make a good living if you understand how to properly apply electricity and electromagnetism. Electrical engineers work in many different fields, including telecommunications, electronic device design and engineering, and more. Starting median pay: $60,800. Mid-career median pay: $104,000.
Applied Mathematics: If you know how to take mathematical methods and apply them to different scientific areas, you could make a great deal of money. Applied maths are also useful in different industries, and in business. You can use your higher math skills in a number of ways that can benefit you. Starting median pay: $56,400. Mid-career median pay: $101,000.
Biomedical Engineering: With medical technology advancing so fast, it helps to have those who understand engineering principles on hand. In this profession, you can apply engineering to medicine and biology. Starting median salary: $54,800. Mid-career median salary:$101,000.
Computer Engineering: Build better computers, and learn how to make them work better. You can encourage the advance of computer technology — and be well paid for it. Starting median pay: $61,200. Mid-career median pay: $87,700.
Software Engineering: Improve software so that it does more, and maintain it. Software engineering is all about making better programs, that do more, and may even have specific functions. Starting median pay: $56,700. Mid-career median pay: $91,300.
Computer Science: This job involves understanding computers, how they work, and how they can be used to improve life. It’s a more general field, but one that pays reasonably well. Starting median salary: $56,200. Mid-career median salary: $97,700.
Civil Engineering: This type of engineering deals with the design of different civil structures, such as buildings, roads, sewer systems and more. Starting median salary: $53,500. Mid-career median salary: $93,400.
Management Information Systems: Provide information meant for effective management. You will coordinate technology, information and people to ensure that everything is done efficiently and effectively. Starting median pay: $50,900. Mid-career median pay: $90,300.
Physics: If you have an undergraduate degree in physics, there are a number of different science jobs you can have, from applied development, to research. Starting median pay: $50,700. Mid-career median pay: $99,600.
Construction Management: Get a degree in construction management, and you can direct others as they complete different projects. Coordinate work schedules and duties, and work with a number of different stakeholders. Starting median pay: $50,400. Mid-career median pay: $87,000.
Statistics: If you know how to interpret data, and then communicate it in meaningful ways, you could have a career in statistics. Statisticians are used in almost every industry, from government work to education to science to construction. Starting median pay: $50,000. Mid-career median pay: $93,400.
Information Systems: This field deals with the way information moves through different systems, and deals mainly with computers. Learn about information architecture in computers, and put that knowledge to good use in your career. Starting median salary: $49,300. Mid-career median salary: $87,100.
Economics: “The dismal science” isn’t so dismal when you consider pay. Analyze the way goods, services and money move through society, and you could do reasonably well. Starting median salary: $48,800. Mid-career median salary: $97,800.
Finance: Different careers in finance can provide you with pretty decent pay. From financial planning, to accountancy, to making loans, you might do well in such a field if you have the right skills. Starting median salary; $47,500. Mid-career median salary: $91,500.
Mathematics: Different jobs with a mathematics degree can be rewarding. This might include work in different industries, as well as teaching — math teachers are in high demand. Starting median salary: $46,400. Mid-career median salary: $88,300.
Government: Get a degree related to government service, and you could do a number of things, at various levels of government. Starting median salary: $41,500. Mid-career median salary: $88,300.

50 Amazing Online Study Resources for College Freshmen

admin — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 13:00:17 +0000

Studying for an undergraduate degree can be one of the most painstaking yet rewarding experiences of your life. While the decision on what to study and where can be immensely difficult to answer, there are easy answers to some of college’s toughest questions.

Because studying for a degree shouldn’t be as hard as it sounds, we have collected 50 amazing online study resources for college freshmen. They can help you tackle everything from entrance exams to complex mathematical questions. You may question what you study as a freshman, but with their help, how to study is easier than ever.

Amazing General Online Study Resources for College Freshmen

Check out these study sites first for all kinds of help.

Spark Notes
Made with the student in mind, there is tons of study help here. They come in the form of notes, test preparation, and more. The site also has loads of distractions such as college blogs and videos.
Grade Saver
Are you one of the thousands of students that didn’t get accepted into Harvard? At this site, you can still study like a Harvard student by checking out guides written by them. In addition to online and in print study guides, you can also get essay writing help.
Cliffs Notes
The little black and yellow guides were for the older generation. Now you can visit the official site for Cliff Notes and get all sorts of online help. There are a variety of subjects from literature to math and even test prep.
Pink Monkey
There are over 400 guides to help students of all levels study here. They include notes, reviews, and more. There are also message boards with more help.
Hippo Campus
This site aims to teach with the power of digital media. Stop by to get help on every subject from algebra to statistics. You can even create your own custom study page.
Study Guide Zone
Get study guides from literally A to Z here. They have special guides for everyone from business students to medical. College freshmen will especially appreciate the undergraduate test study guides.
Study Guides and Strategies
The serious student will enjoy this site. With no frills, it contains guides to both studying and learning. You can even choose which language you would like to study in.
How to Study
Need study help on how to study? Then stop here to learn to make the most of your brain power. They even have a special section for college students.
eNotes
Along with the usual tools, this site offers discussions on studying along with the option to send in a question to the community. Choose from literature, history, math, and many other subjects to get the usual guides.
Shmoop
Study just like teachers do on this site. They have homework resources, test prep, and even their own point system. You can also get teacher’s editions here.

Amazing Online Study Flashcards for College Freshmen

Heralded as one of the best ways to study, use these online study resources to make and view flashcards.

Quizlet
Thousands of users come here every day to create and share flashcards. Stop by to get them in every subject from languages to professional careers. They also have a mobile app.
Study Stack
In addition to flashcards, you can also get other similar study tools here. They include matching games, crosswords, hangman, and others. There is also a special option for Facebook.
Brain Flips
They bill themselves as the “world’s smartest flashcards.” Take on the challenge by checking out the very latest additions on the homepage. You can also sift through the already created decks and even options for business.
Flashcard Exchange
Stop here for web-based flashcards. Over 400,000 have done so to add to the database of over 40 million. You can also get flashcards especially for iPhone or Android.
Flashcard DB
These free flashcards offer spaced repetition for better learning. They even offer two styles: the Leitner System and Graded Space Repetition. You can also check out their blog with more.
Flashcard Machine
The most recently created flashcards are listed on the right hand of the page as well as the top contributors. The ability to use images in flashcards is also helpful. New features include the ability to save study sessions and create files.
Cue Flash
See which topics are the most popular with a visit here. Current ones include sociology and U.S. history. The virtual flashcard system also allows you to share with your friends.
Cramberry
Use this site to “study less, remember more.” A registration helps you create and share online flashcards while still accessing their database. They also have an app for iPhone and iPad.
Study Perfect
Sick of all this sharing? Then stop here to download software to make your very own flashcards from textual to graphic. They even offer a free trial.
Personal Educational Press
If you just need a simple flashcard creating tool, stop here. They allow you to easily create your very own flashcards for languages, math, and more. Simply create and print.

Amazing English Online Study Resources for College Freshmen

Use the below to help you study literature, poetry, and more.

Free Book Notes
They have meticulously scoured the web to track down and index free book notes, cliff notes, study guides, book summaries, chapter summaries, and analysis. Get the top 50 book titles with a visit, or use the search to find your work.
Book Rags
Both students and teachers will enjoy the study guides and lesson plans available here. The left hand column has the newest and most popular guides available with a click. You can also use the site to get quizzes, essays, and biographies.
Novel Guide
They are a premier free source for literary analysis on the web providing study guides as an educational supplement. Tools include literature profiles, metaphor analysis, and other fancy guides any college freshman could use. There is even a short video to show how to use them to the fullest.
Bookwolf
Get a whole study resource for free here. They have tons of book notes with many new ones being added on a regular basis. There is also help for the SAT, ACT, and GRE.
Cummings Study Guides
All the world’s greatest literature can be studied here. They have special study guides by author such as Shakespeare and Edgar Allen Poe. There are also plays, poems, essays, and more.
The Best Notes
In addition to the regular book notes, they also offer chapter summaries for those who don’t want to read the whole thing. They have an index from A to Z of all the titles they offer, along with the newest on the homepage. You can also check out the 60 most popular in the right hand column.
About Poetry
A little different from the above, this is more of a blog than study site. However, Margery Snyder and Bob Holman have tons of poetry expertise to be found on here. A few must reads include “Summer Poems” and “Memory and Nature.”
Bibliomania
You can both read your work and get study guides all on one site here. They have over 2,000 classic texts, as well as notes, author bios, and more. There are also reference books and religious texts for the viewing.
Greek Mythology
If studying the Greek gods, stop here for help. They are a comprehensive database of every god, creature, and myth in the Greek world. You can even check out creative study tools such as family trees and recipes.
Today in Literature
Now that you’ve read all these works, what to make of them? Stop by this leading publication to get expert analysis on many recent and classic works. You can also subscribe to get their newsletter with more.

Amazing Math Online Study Resources for College Freshmen

One of the most challenging subjects in college doesn’t have to be with the help of these online study resources for math.

The Math Forum
This online study tool is provided by Drexel. They have problems, puzzles, online mentoring, research, and much more. You can also Ask Dr. Math, get problems of the week, and other tools.
Paul’s Online Math Notes
He is a math teacher at Lamar University. However, you don’t have to be one of his students to get the many useful math notes, which are a must for college freshmen. They include an algebra cheat sheet, trig cheat, and others.
Purple Math
If algebra is what you’re facing as a college freshman, click here. They write their lessons with the student in mind and include quizzes, worksheets, and more. There are also forums where you can ask and answer questions.
AAA Math
Stop here for a comprehensive set of interactive arithmetic lessons. Choose by subject from algebra to statistics and many in between. There are also similar sites for other study areas.
Math.com
All sorts of math help for all sorts of students is featured here. Hot topics currently include fractions, exponents, and percents. You can also choose math help by level.
College Board
This site has loads on what to expect from college. In this special section for math, they describe the description of the college mathematics exam. You can also download study guides and get other online resources.
Math Help Forum
Still need help on math? Then stop here to get loads of help from this active, online community. Topics include pre-university and post-university math.
Calculate for Free
Got math problems but no calculator? Then stop here to get free calculators in math, science, and other subjects. There is also an option for mobile devices.
Easy Calculation
Need a specific math calculator? Then it’s probably on this site. Choices include statistics, trigonometry, matrix, and others.
Subnet Calculator
For most college freshmen, this kind of math is too soon. For the other kind, there is this calculator that can do complex math. There is also a guide on how to use it as well as other calculators.

Other Amazing Online Study Resources for College Freshmen

These online study tools have even more for college freshmen.

Project Gutenberg
Need a book but don’t want to travel to the library? Stop by this humungous database to see if the book is public domain. You can download it with a click, read it online, or even get options for Kindle.
Bartleby
Similar to the above, they also feature public domain books. However, their focus is exclusive to prominent works of literature. They also have Harvard Classics and other popular series.
Merriam Webster
In the olden days, a copy of the latest version of this dictionary was required to be in every college freshmen’s backpack. Now you can visit the site to look up the word of your choice. There are even trends and words seen on screen.
Dictionary.com
Similar to the above, you can find loads of words here. There is also a thesaurus, flashcards, and more. Audio pronunciation is also a key feature.
Encyclopedia.com
Instead of going to your local library, use this site to look up a term online. They search over 100 encyclopedias, dictionaries, and more to bring you the answer. They also have current events and news.
Encyclopedia Britannica
If you still need the word of an in print encyclopedia, but online, click here. It is the official site of Encyclopedia Britannica. There are loads of options such as for math, science, and even children.
The Literary Encyclopedia
Did you read something in a work of literature but don’t understand it? Then stop here to look it up on the online encyclopedia. Do a quick search or check out their newest articles.
Thesaurus
If you need a thesaurus, stop here. The site allows you to type in a word and get loads of synonyms and even a few antonyms. They also have a mobile app.
Blue Letter Bible
If going into college studies for a religion major, stop here to get an online study tool for the Bible. They have charts and quotes, along with many guides. You can also get daily motivations, quotes, and more.
Spanish Dict
If studying or minoring in Spanish, this is the online study tool for you. They have a Spanish to English dictionary and even free video lessons. There are also flashcards and areas to send in your questions.

Although the above 50 amazing online study resources for college freshmen have loads of help for educational purposes, there are also many other questions they can’t answer. However, students with questions on grants or scholarships can get help online or at their school’s counseling office.

50 College Admissions Experts Worth Following on Twitter

admin — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 13:53:39 +0000

These days, getting into college is a matter of competition. Even getting into a good online undergraduate program can be tough in some cases. In order to learn how to get into the school of your choice, it can help to have guidance from an expert in the field of college admissions. If you look online, you will find plenty of sources of information related to getting into college.

If you want some tips from college admissions experts, you can visit their blogs or follow them on Twitter. Indeed, Twitter is a great source of information when it comes to learning more about the college admissions process. While you may have to pay for more individualized coaching, starting out with Twitter can be of benefit, especially since many of these experts can help you with scholarships. Here are 50 college admissions experts worth following on Twitter:

Individual College Admissions Experts

These are individuals who can help you with your college planning efforts. Learn how to get into college, and get great tips for filling out applications.

@Jeannie Borin: Founder of College Connections keeps you updated on the latest college admissions news and tips.
@jeannettewebb: This college consultant can help you develop what you need to get into college.
@gotocollege: Twitter feed of the About.com guide to college admissions. Great information on getting into college.
@PreppedPolished: Twitter feed of Alexis Avila, the founder of a college counseling and test prep company. Great information and insights.
@CollegeCounsel: Judi Robinovitz counsels you about getting into college, especially as admissions relate to standardized test scores.
@tutorsteve: This SAT tutor can help you get into college.
@MichaelCCR: Practical college counseling advice, as well as useful links to college admissions news.
@myUsearch: Elizabeth Kraus is the co-owner of myUsearch, and helps students find — and get into — colleges that work for them.
@CollegeBlogs: Journalist Lynn O’Shaughnessy offers helpful information on getting into college.
@juliavtaylor: This high school counselor shares helpful information about getting into college.
@Knewton_Nina: Tweets about customized test prep and other issues at the intersection of technology and education.
@JamieDickenson: These tweets are protected, but if you can get in, you might be in luck.
@feliciagopaul: Follow the tweets of this education specialist and founder of College Funding Resource.
@TheUofMe: Mike Deutsch offers insights, tips and hints on college admissions.
@RWolosoff: College search expert that helps students get into school, and provides admissions counseling.
@GenYCoach: Helpful counseling tweets about getting into college and finding academic success.
@Collegenavigate: Educational consultant Julie Manhan helps students get into college.
@College_Connect: Lynette Mathews provides individual counseling and information about college admissions help. A great way to learn more about college.
@collegeadvisors: Independent college consultant helping students get into college, and go through application process.
@CollgeJumpStart: Susy Brown provides insights into finding the right college for you, and then getting into it.
@CollegeBasics: Tips on the college application process. Also includes information on getting financial aid from Jan Rideout.

College Admissions Companies and Organizations

Find out what it takes to get into college with help from these companies and organizations that focus on college admissions.

@InsightEduc: This education consulting company offers insights into the process, and news on where to go to learn more.
@EdgeCollegePrep: As you might imagine, this company is all about getting you into college.
@mycollegeguide: Insights on standardized testing, getting into college, and more.
@NACAC: Professional organization for education counselors and others who work in the student services industry.
@ThePrincetonRev: Information on colleges, test preparation and admissions topics. Great resource for news.
@NCSCA: This is the feed of the North Carolina School Counselor Association. Plenty of news about school, education and getting into college.
@grockitcollege: Prepare for the SAT with help. Good scores mean better college admissions opportunities.
@NYStudentFinAid: Information on getting financial aid as part of college admissions.
@The_Ivy_Coach: Company that helps students get admitted to Ivy League schools. Provides hints and insights into getting into college.
@IHEadmissions: Insights into college admissions from a higher education leader.
@mycolleges: Helpful hints for college admissions aimed at those who want to go back to college.
@College_Experts: The international organization for college counselors. Plenty of good news, tips and more.
@TheCollegeGuide: A great way for students to get advice from each other about getting into college.
@CWMuse: Helpful hints on staying on the college track. Great ideas for getting into college.
@Kaplan_Kids: Tweets aimed at helping parents help their kids do what is needed to get into college.
@LinkUpBlog: College admissions news, tips and links to help you and your student get ready for college.
@getaccepted: Twitter feed about college admissions, along with the opportunity to ask experts about what is happening in the world of college applications.

College Admissions Counselors and Experts at Schools

Get information straight from the source. These college admissions departments offer helpful insights for specific schools.

@megs0124: This college admissions counselor provides helpful information and more from WCU in North Carolina.
@sncadmissions: A great feed from St. Norbert College, providing general insights in getting ready for college.
@UMBCadmissions: Josh, admissions counselor at UMBC offers great inside information on college admissions topics.
@hutchinscc: College counseling topics and news from the Hutchinson School for girls.
@Road2College: Former admissions counselor shares inside information on getting into college.
@uofcpsac: The Twitter feed from the University of Chicago admissions office. Great insights if you are looking to get into this prestigious school.
@BYUIADMISSIONS: Learn about deadlines, applications and get good tips from this Twitter feed.
@ylsadmissions: Interested in Yale Law School? This is the Twitter feed for you. Application materials, deadlines and helpful hints.
@UAHuntsville: Learn more about getting into college, and get specific information on the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
@Go2UAA: The University of Alaska Anchorage offers deadlines, tips and insights that can help you get into college.
@UTHAdmissions: If you are interested in getting into medical school — especially at the University of Texas at Houston — this can be a good Twitter feed to consider.
@ucdavis: The official Twitter feed of the admissions office at the University of California in Davis. A great resource for undergraduates looking to get into college.

25 Essential Free iPhone Apps to “Kindle-ize” Your iPhone

Editor — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 02:24:51 +0000

Why buy a Kindle or even the iPad when you already own an iPhone or an iPod Touch? With the ability to download over a dozen free ebook readers into your iPhone or iPod Touch, you have the system beat. You even can download a free Kindle reader to “Kindle-ize” your phone (this effort to “kindle-ize” your iPhone is far too easy…). For college students, this means having books and other resources right at your finger tips. This saves time as well as increases convenience for studying on the go and having resources readily available.

The following list of twenty-five essential and free iPhone apps to “Kindle-ize” your iPhone (and iPod Touch) is filed in alphabetical order under three categories…one for ebook readers, another for other tools that can perfect your iPhone reading experiences, and the final category filled with sources for free books.

eBook Readers

B&N eReader: Barnes & Noble bookstore makes a world of books as convenient as the iPhone in your hand with this app. While complaints have been made about the price of B&N ebooks, you can gain access to a few pages of free books at B&N, along with a download of their free reader.
BookShelf: This is an easy-to-use electronic book reader for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Available through the AppStore, BookShelf — when paired with the ShelfServer application (available at the link) on your desktop — allows you to download books from your computer to your phone easily.
BookShelfLT: The ebook reading features of BookShelf (above) in a free, ad-supported package. Users of BookShelf LT may cary up to 10 books at one time. Delete some files and download others as often as you like. Access thousands of free books — from the classics of literature to the newest Creative Commons licensed SciFi.
EZ Reader: A simple app that allows you to read and delete books in your library. You also can change font size and color and the background is tunable.
EZ Reader Plus: The Plus version of the EZ Reader includes all the books in the EZ reader library. This list is updated, and keyword searches are included.
First Hebrew eReader with Ram Oren bestseller: The “Dafdef Reader” (browsing in Hebrew) includes precise layout engine that includes Hebrew language Hyphenation, justified columns with quality fonts.
Iceberg BookShelf: Enjoy this reader that has an in-app bookstore with full access to the entire Iceberg Library. Use the bookshelf to store and organize all your Iceberg titles.
iPDF: Save your ebooks and PDFs for offline reading with this app. This reader is billed as the “world’s slimmest ebook and PDF reader, exclusively for the iPhone and iPod Touch.”
iReading: This is a completely free online eBook reader and library designed especially for iPhone and iPod Touch platforms.
Kindle for iPhone: This free app allows Apple iPhone and iPod touch owners to read Kindle books using a simple, easy-to-use interface. Wirelessly transfer the books to your iPhone or iPod touch, and enjoy Amazon’s low prices to boot.
Readdle: This app provides readers with 50mb to store ebook content in a variety of formats.
Reader: This new ebook Reader app functions completely offline. Includes basic features such as instant live bookmarking and text-size manipulation as well as advanced features such as one-touch page scrolling, screen inversion for night time use and, if you preload your book, it will be fully available offline.
Reader Lite: From an organized bookshelf interface to the crisp fonts scientifically proven to speed up your reading, this app provides you with an option to check out books from a free public library. You also can add your own books.
Scrollbox: Read books on your mobile device regardless of network connectivity. You can upload your ebooks and have acces to them from any browser, although this app was designed primarily for the iPhone. Take a look at the library, too.
Stanza: Use this free app for the iPhone and iPod Touch to download from a vast selection of over 100,000 books and periodicals to read on your phone. Font sizes and colors, portrait mode or landscape, justification, line spacing, and hyphenation are under your control. Purchased by Amazon in 2009, but remains a freestanding app.
TextOnPhone: iPhone, iPod touch and Facebook users can view electronic books (ebooks), text files, and documents on the go using an iPhone-friendly interface when browsing TextOnPhone.com. The site is accessible for reading only from iPhone and iPod touch; it is accessible from any browser for uploading texts, books, poems, documents, and lyrics.
Wirdy: Take your books and PDFs on the go, for reading and reference anytime, anywhere. You also can search a boundless library of books and PDFs from all over the world and from every possible subject matter.

Tools

Books in my Phone: This site formats and packages books so you can read them on any java-enabled phone. Their book reader program is integrated with each downloadable book.
Calibre: Use this free and open source ebook library management application to sync to just about any ebook reader. You even can download news from the Web and convert it into ebook form. Downloads for Windows, OS X and Linux.
eBooksExplorerMAX: Most web pages can be transformed into text for easy viewing without the need to zoom. When a text file (ebook) is detected, a link is provided to read it using the built-in ebook reader.
PDFGeni — Free PDF search Engine for iPhone: This app is not new, but it can prove useful to find PDF files across the Web.

Free eBooks

Note: Many free ebook sites contain books that may pertain to high school and/or early college classes. Take advantage of these free offers to lighten your student budget burdens.

Free-eBooks: You can browse by author or category to find numerous free ebooks at this site.
Internet Archive: Thousands upon thousands of books, including genres in fiction, nonfiction, research books and much, much more. You can read these online or download betas in Kindle (get the reader in the first category) or in PDF.
ManyBooks: Get a slew of free ebooks from this site. Browse by title, author, genre or even by language.
Project Gutenberg: This site contains over 30,000 free ebooks that you can read on your iPhone and iPod Touch.

25 Essential Android Apps for College Students

Editor — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:06:18 +0000

Now that you have an Android, how will you use it to ace those college courses? The following list of twenty-five essential Android apps for college students might provide you with a few clues. From study guides and study tools to a few socializing apps, you have a range of utilities to help you maneuver through classes and around campus. The best part? These apps are free.

The following list is categorized, and each link is listed alphabetically to show that we do not favor one app over another.

Study Guides and Tools

3banana: apture your thoughts, ideas and notes as well as photos and other information on the go, and your notes will always be with you and in sync. As a bonus scroll down this linked page to take a look at AK Notepad. AK Notepad makes it easy to jot down a thought on your Android phone, and offers a reminder feature that can be set with any note. Both apps offered by Snaptic.
Android SMS Backup: Why lose all your notes, photos and more? Simply use this app to back your SMS card up to your Gmail. Easy as pi.
Astrid: This is a to-do list and task tracking system that is simple and easy to use. You can get a free online backup with Remember the Milk.
ColorDict Universal Dictionary: This app is a compatible universal dictionary for Android. Search words and idioms in many dictionaries at once, and you don’t need an Internet connection to search.
Droid Scan: You’re at the library and you need to use the scanner…why wait in line when you have this app? This app turns your smart mobile device into a portable document scanner by using perspective correction to convert images captured with the built-in camera into high quality scans.
Gdocs: This app allow you to connect to your Google Docs account for easy access on the Android or on any computer. You have multiple accounts support, PDF viewer, automatic document syncing and more with this app.
GPA Calculator: Stay on top of your GPA for grants and scholarship applications with this Android App. You can calculate, monitor, and manage your Grade Point Average. New features may support Facebook and MySpace applications.
Knowledge: This is a must-have app for any student. Ask whatever you want to this knowledge engine and store the results for later use. Topics include math, culture, sports, weather, physics, chemistry, weather, socioeconomic data, nutrition facts and much more.
MyPocketProf: Be paper-free and organized with this app. It allows you to copy and synchronize notes as well as organize and share those notes. The program comes with live updates that alert you to when friends or classmates share new materials with you. You also have the option of an “Exam Learning Mode” with courses.
Offiviewer: No need to worry about opening documents with this app. It opens PDF, Word (doc, docx), Excel (xls, xlsx), PowerPoint (ppt, pps, pptx), OpenDocument and RTF. It needs a good Internet connection to do server-based document rendering.
ShareYourBoard: Go ahead and take whiteboard photos with your phone. This app will take the shote, improve readability and extract all the information you choose. You can save the processed whiteboard images and edit comment and share with your friends or keep it private.
StudyDroid: This app is designed for use on the G1, and is an open source flashcard application. You create the flashcards online and then download them to your phone.
Voice Recorder: Why take notes when you can record the lecture?Recordings are saved directly to the users MicroSD card which means you won’t bog down your systems internal memory, while still maintaining record times for hours on end if needed. You also can preset a time to record option and search for your recordings by title or by date and time.
Wapedia: This app supplies the fastest way to access the million of articles at Wikipedia and many other wikis on your Android. It is ad-supported freeware, so be aware.

Specific Courses

Elements: This app is a little periodic table with a more data per element than you probably need for chemistry and/or biology. This is the free version. The priced version, SciencePal ($1), includes more data.
GeoQuiz: Bone up on your geography, from capital cities and flags to natural extremes like the highest of the high and the coldest of the cold.
handyCalc: Use this calculator for basic input and calculation and for advanced math calculations. It is a powerful app – download it for free to see what we mean.
Mathdroid: This app can turn your Android into a scientific calculator with full on-screen history and multi-line display. Perfect for algebraic entries.
SkyScape Medical Resources: Medical students can snag three free resources for the Android here — RxDrugs, Outlines in Clinical Medicine ()CM) and the Archimedes set of medical calculators. The MedAlert service is also part of this installation, and you can easily add free MedStream channels (such as MedWatch and CDC Spotlights).
StatDist: This app calculates densities, probabilities, and quantiles of common useful continuous and discrete distributions. Useful for statistics students and for quick calculations.
TOADCARD: This is a quick IT reference guide, developed by Monroe College information tech students for IT students. Also includes searchable reference manuals for Windows, Mac, Linux and Cisco IOS commands.

Socialize

AppShare: Share your favorite apps (such as the ones listed here) with classmates, new friends or even with professors for brownie points. Just select the applications you want to share, select the recipient and click send.
College Football Live: Plusmo’s College Football Live provides complete coverage of all college football games right on your Android phone. you can access live play-by-play updates, the latest polls and stunning game-time photos, this is a must-have for all college football fans.
Loopt: New on campus? Use this app to connect to friends and new classmates to see where they are and what they’re doing. This app contains a map, list and a share option. You must have a Loopt account to use the app.
Route Recorder: Getting lost can be fun when you have time to kill, but college offers little time for killing. Use this app to record multiple journeys, photos and more so you can find that great (cheap) restaurant again or that hole-in-the wall used bookstore.

Top 14 Social Media Sites for College Students

Editor — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:39:46 +0000

Do you feel alone with your psych studies? Or, perhaps you’d like to join a social networking group that focuses on students, but that doesn’t focus on students from your school. The number of college networking sites is growing, from college-based online social networks that focus on various schools on campus to sites set up by other college students to meet other students from around the world.

The following list of twenty-five social media sites for college students is categorized from study helps to sites where you can socialize while you rate and compare your experiences. Each link within those categories is listed in alphabetical order to show that we do not favor one site over another. And, while some sites charge for their services, you might look at these sites as ones that you may use throughout college and into your career.

Study Helps

Box.net: Many college groups use this site to collaborate, share information and to socialize. You can incorporate Zoho for editing, Facebook for sharing files with friends and picnik to edit photos plus many more services. This is not a free social networking site, but it may be worth sharing the bill to gain independence.
Campusbug: Submit questions for answers, form study groups, organize, research format bibliographies, chat, create flashcards or just waste away the day with games. It’s up to you how you use this site for your college activities.
Carmun: Work with others in study groups or work by yourself to build that bibliography for your thesis or paper. This site allows users to save online sources and URLs, insert footnotes, format a bibliography, generate that bibliography and works with over 200 college and university libraries to make your searches easy.
Cramster: This community and networking site is all about homework help for math, science, engineering and business classes for both high school and college students. Educators, parents and subject enthusiasts work with students toward the common goal of helping students excel in classes.
Evernote: You’ll love the simplicity of this site, where you can snag notes, images, information and tag it all for easy reference. Or you can just capture information through your phone or by email, and Evernote will automatically process, index, and make all that information searchable for you. This system recognizes handwriting, which may provide you with a clue as to its value. Plus, you can share, collaborate or keep your information private, depending upon how you want to use this site.
GradeFund: Do you like being rewarded for your GPA? Sign up at this social networking site and then invite family, friends and organizations to learn more about you and your achievements. The higher your grades, the more money you may earn for that effort.
LibraryThing: Catalog your books from over 690 world libraries, get free early reviewer books, and join for free or for a $25 per lifetime membership. This site is both a valuable resource for study materials as well as an addiction that can last a lifetime.
Wikispaces: Use this site to build a wiki for your study group. You can try it free before you spend anything on the collaborative effort, but for the price of a cup of coffee per month you can be guaranteed some privacy.

Major Focuses

AlleyDog: This is a new but growing social media site for psychology students from around the world. Get in on the ground floor to build a network that you can use after you graduate.
College Art Student: Join this network to show your work, to offer and get critiques and to join a group focused on the various niches in the art field.
Connotea: This is a free online reference management tool and community for researchers, clinicians and scientists to organize, share and gather information. In the process, you can build a ‘library’ that you can share in full or in part with others.
Footnote: Use this community site to find and share historic documents for your studies. It’s a great site for history buffs, researchers, military historians and students who need primary documents for history classes and more. You can use the site for free to gain limited access to documents, pay a monthly fee or go for the full year price to use the entire community site.
Green College Network: This is a shared platform for students, teachers, college groups and corporates that all share a desire for a greener future. This community might appeal to environmentalists as well as to students who want to connect to a student-driven community for the environment off campus.
Social Media Law Student: One goal driving this site is to connect lawyers to new technologies in hopes of making the practice of law easier

Top 50 Blogs By Undergrad Students

Editor — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:45:29 +0000

How difficult is it to blog and attend school as an undergraduate? It seems that most student blogs are not current, or they have long spaces of inactivity as these students attend to life as they know it. But, we managed to pull together fifty blogs by undergraduate students and categorize them by philosophers, traveling students, entrepreneurs, college admission bloggers and independent student newspaper bloggers.

The links are listed in alphabetical order within each category to show readers that we do not favor one blog or blogs over others.

Philosophers (serious and cynical)

A Student of English: An English undergrad who is about to embark on a grad degree. This blog is a ‘testing ground’ for literary, philosophical and cultural efforts both serious and sophomoric.
Assorted Daydreams from the A.D.D. Generation: Kini is a student, a recluse and a willing writer who focuses on college life and life in her New York abode.
Do I Smell Coffee? This UCSD student loves Kate Spade handbags, she’s majoring in communication and international relations, and her writing is impeccable. This is her first year in college, and her insight is broader than her professed love for television and coffee.
Experimental Error: This blogger is an undergraduate student minoring in physics. Although physics is a focus, he brings his thoughts on the philosophy behind the science as well.
Mike English dot Net: Mike is an undergraduate theology student with diverse interests including music, writing, programming and philosophy.
Florida Student Philosophy Blog: This blog’s contributors consist of undergrads as well as grad students and alumni from philosophy departments throughout the state of Florida. One gift from this blog is its long list of links to other philosophy sites.
Not Another Nursing Student Blog… This mental health nursing student is cynical, antisocial and sarcastic. She’s well on her way of becoming another Nurse Ratched if she can continue to hone her skills.
The Music Plays You: This blog belongs to a serious older student who has changed majors. And, he likes to mess with cheaters. And, he seems to be something of a geek.
Weblog of a Christian Philosophy Student: Will is a student in Melbourne, Australia, and his blog focuses on Christian aspects.

Travel Abroad

Because Time Has No Roll Back: Daniel was born and raised in Sundanese land. Now he’s in Jakarta to continue his studies.
Chris Allen’s Epic Blog: This blogger is eighteen-years-old, a Web designer, all around computer geek and – now – a student nurse in the U.K. One of the first projects in his nursing career is to blog about his student experiences.
Ding’s Blog: Travel to Malaysia with Ding as he attends college and watches television and movies in dorm rooms. He also eats.
Ineffableness: Denice, Also known as “Chiz,” is a Christian Chinese-Filipino blogger who is an undergraduate student at Ateneo. She currently focuses on Ninotchka Rosca’s book, The State of War.
Inside and Out: Yurieca blogs about her college life and lifestyle in Indonesia as she studies life science and technology.
Island Med Student: Kendra is a fourth-year medical student who studied on the island of Dominica, but who now is located in Brooklyn, New York. while this blog chronicles Kendra’s experiences, she also shares images of her island adventures and of Brooklyn.
Let’s Talk Turkey: This student was in Turkey, but now is headed to Istanbul. The blog entries are entertaining and personal and you have a chance to view some great photos, too.
Rach’s Inferno: This U.K. student is an atheist who loves show tunes, books with happy endings and The Twilight Saga.
The Tracey Times: Tracey is a student in Dublin, Ireland, and she uses her blog as an active diary that chronicles her thoughts, life and college experiences.
The Traveling College Student: Twelve American students living together in 1 house for 3 months…in Iceland. Jump on for the ride.
Vince’s Blog: Vince is a college student studying about security technology in the computing field in Malacca (or, Melaka) in Malaysia.

Entrepreneurs

Charade: Megan is a creative writing student, a budding “budgeter” and general life enthusiast who began a blog that showed other female students how to be fashionable on a budget.
Chris Johnson: This blogger, designer, developer and entrepreneur also is an undergraduate college student in Rochester, New York.
Freeculture: This organization was founded by two Swarthmore students after they sued voting-machine manufacturer Diebold for abusing copyright law in 2003. Now, students from across the country are involved in this organization and its blog.
Hack College: Yes, this undergraduate student-generated blog is about life as a college student, how to work your computer like a pro and how to get the most from open source software. But, it’s also about entrepreneurship and expansion, as this blog grows from its original site in the U.S. into the UK.
HermanTheBold: Patrick is a full-time engineering student in Australia who is studying software development and gaming.
Let Me Know: This blog, with a majority of undergraduate students on its team, focuses on helping students across India find opportunities of various kinds – internships, workshops, seminars, conferences, tech-fests, literary events and much more.
Patchworks: Led by a group of passionate undergraduates, Patchworks has launched a series of social entrepreneurship ventures which target to amend social perceptions of the society and to encourage social cohesiveness. This project is under the umbrella of the Nanyang Technological University.
Tech Talk: This site, which is filled with great Internet tips and tricks, was created by Harsh Jha, an undergraduate student at BTech-IT at Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad, India.
The Student Blogger: Not only is this site for college students, it was created by a college student – an eighteen-year-old student who is worried about paying off his student loans while in college…
Undergrad Entrepreneur: Peter Kao is an undergraduate student at the University of Waterloo, studying systems design engineering. A glance at his blog reveals his aspirations as an entrepreneur.

College Admission Student Blogs

NOTE: Dozens of colleges embrace student blogs and see them as a powerful marketing tool for high school students. Some efforts appear to be pure marketing drivel, while others are worth reading to learn more about college life. According to a 2007 article at Boston.com, MIT prefers to hire students who already have their own blogs. Cornell pays $50 a month, while Johns Hopkins and Olin College enlist volunteers.

Amherst Blogs: Several Amherst, Massachusetts students provide their college experience insights on this blog page located in the admissions section.
Boston College Blogs: These blogs are divided by school and, currently, consist of five blogs updated by undergraduates.
Cornell University Blogs: These undergraduate bloggers publish uncut and uncensored blog entries.
Johns Hopkins Blogs: These bloggers bloggers document their day-to-day lives

Top 50 Blogs to Help You Apply for College

admin — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:40:58 +0000

You probably know that some sort of education beyond high school is necessary in today’s world. However, getting into college has become more challenging than ever. You face more competition, and there are increasing numbers of people who find that financial aid is limited. In the end, you need to be a little more attractive to a school than the next potential student. Here are 50 blogs that can help you apply for college:

Blog Posts on Choosing the Right School

Before you apply, you need to decide which school is right for you. There are a number of great blog posts that focus on helping you determine which school is best for your. You should narrow your focus to one or two of your first choices, and apply to another two or three — just in case. These posts can help you determine which schools to apply to.

myUsearch: This blog has a number of helpful posts. It is primarily focused on helping you figure out where you fit. A college match quiz is a fun way to target your search.
American Issues Project: Thomas Sowell goes through a number of items that might come up as college students decide where they fit best.
Top Colleges Blog: A post on “Choosing the Right College” has a helpful bullet list of things to look for.
NCSA College Athetic Scholarships Blog: This blog focuses on college athletics — and there is a great post on finding the right fit aimed at college athletes.
Family Education: There is a great post on using self-evaluation to help you choose the right college for you.
Hipp0Campus Blog: Another solid post on the process of choosing which college to attend.
SuperCollege.com: A cool 10 step guide on choosing the right college for you.
Quint Careers blog: Provides helpful insight into how to choose a college that will benefit your career for years to come.

College Admissions Blogs

Here are some helpful blogs that can provide you with insights and hints into the college admissions process, and how to get in.

Allen’s College Admissions Blog: This is the About.com blog on getting into college. A great deal of helpful information on the admissions process.
Not Your Average Admissions Blog: This blog offers a look “beneath the surface” at the college admissions process. This blog is written by the dean of admissions at George Mason University.
The Ivy Coach: This is a blog aimed at helping people interested in getting accepted to Ivy League schools.
Accepted Admissions Almanac: Looks at how to get accepted into different programs, and helps you figure out the best way to approach getting into college.
College Admissions Blog: This blog from Admissions Consultants can help you figure out what to do to get into the college of your choice.
College Admissions Help Blog: Offers useful hints and information on how to ace your college admissions.
Omniac Education: This blog provides a number of helpful hints on getting into college. It should: it’s written by an education consulting firm.
College Admissions Counseling: This blog provides helpful hints on applying to different programs.
The Campus Commons: This blog is aimed more at helping international students get into college. Helpful hints on taking the TOEFL, making sure paperwork is in order and other useful topics.

Test Preparation Blogs

Before you get into college, there are a number of tests you need to take. These blogs can help you with your test preparation, so that you make a solid showing.

Test Prep: This is the About.com blog on test prep, and it contains test tips, as well as information on the ACT and SAT.
ePrep: Test taking ideas and tricks, as well as information on the SAT, ACT and PSAT. Also includes a section on vocabulary.
Top Test Prep: Provides hints on test preparation, as well as information on boot camps and mock exams around the country.
CollegeTreasure.com: This blog offers information mainly on the SAT and the ACT, as well as comparisons of the two, and how to understand the scoring.
PrepMe Blog: This blog focuses on test preparation.
Boston Test Prep SAT Tips: Blog aimed mainly at helping you improve your SAT test-taking.
TotalGadha GMAT: Preparation for taking the GMAT and increasing your chances of MBA admission.
LSAT Blog: This blog, based in NYC, has a number of helpful hints to help you “ace the LSAT.”
GRE Test: This blog aims to help you do well on the GRE test to help you get into grad school.

Financial Aid and Scholarships Blogs

You will probably need help defraying the cost of college. These blogs and blog posts can help you find financial aid and scholarships.

Paying for College: This blog is mainly aimed at Virginia students, but it contains useful information for anyone who is college-bound.
The Student LoanDown: This blog from Wells Fargo helps you understand student loans, as well as offering information on managing debt while in college.
Financial Aid Blog: This blog is offered by NAIS and provides information on all types of financial aid.
Scholarships.com blog: Scholarships.com has a blog with helpful information on obtaining scholarships and grants.
Financial Aid News: Learn about the latest happenings in financial aid. But be warned: It’s biased toward the student loan industry.
The Financial Aid Blog: This blog is done by CollegeScholarships.org and offers helpful information on student loans, grants and scholarships.
International Financial Aid Blog: This blog is aimed at international students who need a little help with paying their college costs.
Go Financial Aid Blog: A blog about all types of financial aid to help cover college costs.

Graduate School Blogs

Done with your undergraduate work and looking to get into grad school? Here are some helpful blogs to help you get into grad school.

Adam Markus: Graduate Admissions Guru: This blog is chock full of good information on applying for grad school.
The Graduate School Blog: This blog is mostly about the grad school at the College of Charleston, but it includes plenty of good info on getting into any grad school in the country.
Graduate School: About.com has a great blog on graduate school, and how to get in.
So you want to go to grad school?: This LiveJournal blog offers answers to common questions about grad school, and getting into grad school.
Graduate School Application: This blog helps you figure out what grad school is all about, and how you can get in — if you decide it’s right for you.
Milano Grad School Blog: A blog about life at Milano The New School for Management and Urban Policy, but applicable just about anywhere.
The GradCafe Blog: Insight into life as a grad student, and applying to grad school.

College Life Blogs

Learn what college life is really like before you go. Also, prepare for what awaits you, and learn a few more interesting tricks to help you get into school.

CampusGrotto blog: This blog focuses on how you can get into college, and the make the most of your college years.
College Life: This is About.com’s tak on college life, and how to adjust after you get in.
Zen College Life: Helpful hints on getting into college, and preparing you for success once you’re there.
Surviving College Life: A look at what you should do once you get into college.
College Being: Get into college, and learn how to continue success while there.
College Students: Information on getting into college, living large while at college, and coping during the summer break.
The College Puzzle: Even though it’s written by a Stanford professor, this blog contains good information to help any student or aspiring college student.
The College Solution Blog: Learn about how to get into college, how to be successful in college, and what to do when you’re done.
Playing Your A Game: This is a blog designed to help students of all ages find success in college.