Is the dream of a college degree being pushed further out of reach for many Americans?  A new report shows a troubling trend, as financial aid sources simply can't keep pace with rising tuition.  Experts cite that higher education is experiencing a "seller's market", as the graduating high school class of 2009 was the largest in history.  More demand = higher cost.  Tuition and fees at private 4-year schools increased 4.4% while public schools experienced a 6% spike over the prior year.  Lack of sufficient financial aid options means more borrowing for students/parents to bridge the gap.

CLICK HERE to read the entire article.

Are you planning on taking the October 10th SAT Exam?  The extended late registration deadline is coming up soon.  Please be sure to register no later than September 25th.

Click here to register.

 

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has approved 10 digital textbooks that meet the state standards for math and science. The books are free to download, equipping teachers of the cash-strapped state with high-tech, no-cost educational tools in difficult economic times.  With some textbooks costing schools up to $100 a piece, Schwarzenegger claims the digital textbook initiative could help put hundreds of millions of dollars back into state coffers.  Opposing voices argue that students with insufficient access to PCs both in-school and at home could be disenfranchised. Proponents of the plan counter that books can be printed out and placed in binders to ensure access to everyone.

CLICK HERE to read the entire article.

Is 'crowdsourcing' heading to a classroom near you?  The notion of soliciting the collective wisdom/input of a group of people (ala Wikipedia) has some educators considering adopting the concept as an alternative grading method, in an effort to hold students more accountable. Proponents of the system use the rationale that vying for the almighty 'A' by trying game the system by doing the least amount of work has made the traditional grading scale superficial.  In the crowdsourcing scenario, students would work in groups and post completed assignments to the Web.  Students would then be responsible for reviewing the work of their classmates and assessing a value based on specific criteria.  

CLICK HERE to read the entire article.

 

The ubiquity of laptops, pint-sized netbooks, and web-enabled mobile phones can put Internet junkies in the rather unique situation of being both 'connected' and 'disconnected' at the same time. Connected to their email, Facebook, and Twitter accounts.  Disconnected from their teachers, friends, and multitude of three-dimensional realities surrounding them. This may be mildly annoying to friends and coffee shop patrons (at least the ones who aren't doing their own mobile surfing).  However, it can pose a bigger problem in the academic world.  The familiar sound of keyboard tapping can be heard in lecture halls around the globe.  Have portable electronic devices replaced the old paper and pencil for studious note-takers?  Or are they serving as this generation's version of the 'dirty magazine' hidden in the textbook?  Nobody really knows for sure and schools are developing 'netiquette' standards to keep up with rapidly-changing technology trends.  Some profesors require speakers to be silenced and laptop lids to be closed during certain periods of class time.  Others forbid laptops altogether.  

CLICK HERE to read the entire article.

 

The challenging economic climate appears to be a contributing factor in the steady uptick in interest in our nation's military academies. The three major academies have all reported an increase in the number of applications this year, with the US Naval Academy leading the way with a 40% bump. With free tuition, free room and board, and thousands of dollars in annual stipends - it's no surprise that students would consider this option during a recession.  However, officials are quick to point out that prospective students typically have very strong, personal motivations for serving their country - including patriotism and a compelling desire to follow in a family member's footsteps.

CLICK HERE to read the entire article.

To Tweet or not to Tweet - that is the question!  The much-buzzed/hyped micro-blogging service Twitter is apparently getting high marks from some in the academic community.  No longer just a means to learn what your favorite celebrity ate for breakfast, forward-thinking educators are finding ways to incorporate the service into the classroom.  Twitter allows users to post brief messages in 140 characters or less.  The pithy comments are a convenient means for teachers/students to share feedback, analysis, and ask qeustions.  While the goal is to boost communication and better engage students in the learning process, not everyone agrees that Twitter has a place in the academic world.  Security and privacy is always a concern when incorporating emerging Internet technologies into the classroom.  In addition, while bridging the gap in digitial literacy is a goal, many educators (particularly in low-income areas) are concerned with fair access and equity.  Unfortunately, many students may not have access to the digital tools outside of school.

CLICK HERE to read the entire article.

What do milk, bread, eggs, and college applicants have in common??  Apparently, all three are 'scannable' products.  Some schools have been utilizing scanners, not unlike the supermarket variety, to help obtain information from potential students at recent college fairs.  The process is simple enough. . . attendees are assigned a personalized bar code upon entering the fair.  They then allow themselves to be scanned by the college reps of their choosing.  The colleges instantly obtain relevant data from the prospective applicants, making the entire process more efficient, but a little less personal.  No word yet on which was more popular - paper or plastic. 

CLICK HERE to read the entire article.

 

 

You use Google for everything else in your life, but if you are applying to college (or a job, for that matter) - you really should use it on yourself.  Thanks to popular social media sites such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc., you don't need a private eye to snoop into the lives of private citizens.  Recruiters in corporate America routinely use social-networking tools to screen prospective employees and a recent study reports that college admissions offices are following this trend as well.  In today's information overload society, 'reputation management' is now a standard operating procedure for anyone who wants to advance in the professional world.

As a general rule, it's probably not the best idea to post compromising photos and personal information - ANYWHERE!  Can anything truly positive come from chronicling those embarrassing (not to mention ill-advised) teenage party antics?  If you don't want your parents to see it, you probably don't want to share it with professional screeners that can make/break your acceptance to your first-choice school.  If you are preparing your college application, do yourself a favor and scrub your favorite social sites of anything remotely questionable.  You may not be able to control what your friends post on their sites, but at the very least you can make sure only 'G-rated' stuff comes up in a search for your name. 

Remember, just because you delete something - does not mean it's gone forever.  The almighty oracle that is Google has a long memory.  If you want Google to be your pal, keep those youthful indiscretions where they belong - locked away in that impenetrable vault inside your head!

The College Board has announced that the new 'ReadiStep' exam will NOT be unveiled this coming fall, as had been expected.  While many 8th graders may breathe a collective sigh of relief, ReadiStep's postponement is also welcome to news for cash-strapped school districts as well as standardized exam critics. 

For more information on the ReadiStep Exam, please visit www.readistep.com. 

 

High school students across the country will be lining up their freshly-sharpened No. 2 pencils to take Advanced Placement exams - including a test on macroeconomics. In the midst of an abysmal global economic climate and the corresponding government response (i.e. bail-outs galore), there is a debatable disconnect between the authenticity of the exam and reality.  As events continue to unfold, it may get more difficult to appropriately grade a test on economics when the answers in real-life seem to change on a daily basis. 

CLICK HERE to read the entire article.

The weather is getting warmer, flowers are blooming, bees are buzzing, and pollen is flying through the air (ahh-chooo).  Summer break is right around the corner! You can almost smell that crisp ocean breeze but not so fast. . . one last obstacle remains on your academic calendar - the dreaded final exams.  The sand and surf will have to wait because this is no time to slack off!  Check out this list of helpful tips to help you survive and thrive your final exam schedule. 

CLICK HERE to read the entire article. 

 

What do Thomas Edison, Mozart, and President Woodrow Wilson all have in common?  They are all part of an elite group of history's most successful and influential homeschooled students. Many believe that Edison would have been diagnosed with ADD today, as he left school because his mind wouldn't stop wandering.  He ended up being homeschooled by his mother and under her tutelage, that 'wandering' mind invented the light bulb.  Both Mozart and Wilson were taught by their fathers and Wilson didn't even learn to read until he was 12.  But the elder Wilson's teachings eventually led his son to the White House as the 28th President of the United States.  Other prominent homeschoolers include: Alexander Graham Bell, Robert Frost, Louisa May Alcott, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Ansel Adams, Pearl S. Buck, and Agatha Christie.

 CLICK HERE to read the entire article.

 

Like the idea of living on a cleaner, healthier planet but not sure where to start??  Well, look no further than the 'Pick 5 for the Environment', as outlined by the EPA.  Whether it be at school, home, or work - surely we can all commit to at least 5 of the below actions to help make the world a little more green.

1. Use less water! Take showers instead of baths, fix leaks, and turn off the tap when brushing your teeth. And buy efficient fixtures by looking for the WaterSense label.

2. Commute without polluting! Use public transportation, carpool, walk, or bike whenever possible to reduce air pollution and save on fuel costs.

3. Save electricity! Do a home energy audit, get programmable thermostats, buy Energy Star products, turn stuff off when you’re done, and change your bulbs to compact fluorescents.

4. Reduce, reuse, recycle! Try to find products with less packaging, take reusable bags on shopping trips, creatively reuse other products, and recycle what's left.

5. Test your home for radon! Radon is a naturally occurring, odorless gas that can seep into your home and cause lung cancer.

6. Check your local air quality! When you exercise outdoors, use your local air quality forecast to help plan the best time for a workout or run.

7. Use chemicals safely! Read pesticide labels carefully. Lock up pesticides, paints, and cleaners where kids can't reach them.

8. eCycle! Take your old computer, DVD player, or other electronics to a recycling center. This helps keep hazardous substances out of the landfill. 

9. Enjoy the outdoors safely! Find out the quality of beach water from your state office and get the UV Index to protect yourself from the sun.

10. Spread the word! Teach others where you work or go to school. Encourage people to Pick 5 for the Environment! Share online by commenting on our blog, or by sharing your photos and videos.

CLICK HERE to learn more about what you can do to help protect the environment on Earth Day - and everyday!

Being wait-listed can be a frustrating experience for college bound students - who seem to be so close, yet so far away.  Frustrating as it may be, you should not just passively sit around.  Stop camping out by the mailbox and make an effort to improve your chances of acceptance. If you are truly determined to attend your first-choice school, don't be afraid to contact the admissions office and make your case. 

CLICK HERE to learn how to boost your chances of getting in.

 

Passing notes in class is a time-honored tradition among students battling boredom and short attention spans in classrooms around the globe.  But when the teacher catches you, look out!   The consequences can range from public embarrassment to the long, lonely walk to the principal’s office.  But for students of a Penn State University professor, passing notes is actually permitted (even encouraged), as long as you trade in that crumpled piece of paper for a laptop using Web 2.0’s latest darling – Twitter.  

For those unfamiliar with Twitter, it is a micro-blogging service that limits messages to a pithy 140 characters.  Students are encouraged to utilize the service – during class – to share observations and questions with other classmates.  The professor hopes that this second layer of conversation will disrupt the old classroom model and lead to new kinds of teaching in which students play a greater role.

CLICK HERE to read the entire article.

Medical students are making their rounds at a full-service hospital where they are seeing patients, ordering x-rays, consulting with colleagues, and making their diagnoses - to computer-generated patients.  Second Life, the popular virtual world inhabited by millions of real-life people from around the globe, provides a unique platform in which third-year medical students at Imperial College London can apply their classroom studies. While this game-based training isn't meant to replace walking the halls of brick and mortar hospitals, the virtual hospitals do provide students with valuable hands-on experience and a welcome break from lectures and books. 

CLICK HERE to read the entire article.

There's certainly no shortage of campus-centric content on YouTube (mostly of the hilarious or outrageous variety).  But until recently, it had been rather challenging for users of the enormously popular video service to locate more 'mundane' content such as college lectures.  The site has maintained an education category for some time, but it relied on those posting the clips to determine the appropriate category.  The new YouTube EDU only displays video content submitted directly from colleges and universities.  Topics include computer science, literature, biology, philosophy, history, political science, psychology, law, and much more. 

CLICK HERE to check out the new site.

 

Google is handing out $4500 stipends to select college students who decide to spend their summer contributing to various open-source software projects. Among the 150 open-source projects that Google has included in the program is NetSurf, a Web browser led by a team in England, which will compete with Google's own 'Chrome' browser.  Since its inception in 2005, the program has brought together nearly 2500 successful student participants and 2500 mentors from 98 countries worldwide, all for the love of code.  The company plans to spend $5 million on the project this year and is now accepting applications.  

CLICK HERE for more information.

 

Proud parents of Honor Roll students beware: you may need to start bragging that your kid got straight "4's" this semester!  Some school districts across the country are jettisoning traditional letter-based academic metrics for a numeric-based system.  Standards-based report cards are part of a new system that is flourishing around the country, as part of a 20-year push to establish rigorous academic standards and require state tests on the material. Supporters praise the system for setting clear expectations, while letter-loving opponents find the new system confusing.   

CLICK HERE to read entire article.

 

 

Let's just say that Alice Cooper would definitely NOT approve!  If President Obama's new education chief gets his wish, the raucous chants of "no more teachers, no books. . ." may soon be a thing of the past.   Secretary of Education Arne Duncan is examining ways to - *gasp* - lengthen the school year.  The mere thought makes Duncan about as popular as a pop quiz on a Monday morning to millions of students.  Unfortunately, Duncan has years of deeply troubling statistics that make the concept worthy of serious consideration.  Studies show that 30% of students drop out of high school before graduation, while 50% fail to complete college.  The economic turmoil is leading to cutbacks at school districts across the nation.  Furthermore, Duncan is deeply concerned that American students will ultimately find themselves at a serious competitive disadvantage to their counterparts in emerging economies such as China and India, where socioeconomic challenges are minimized by more time in school.

CLICK HERE to read entire article.

 

The timing couldn't be worse, right?  The market has plunged into a deep abyss, taking your child's college savings account along for the ill-fated ride.  Home values aren't cooperating either, so equity lines of credit may not be much help.  Now your honor roll student is shopping for chic dorm room decor and you're left digging for loose change.  Fear not - there are actually more options than you may think.  From targeting the right schools to taking advantage of new financial aid rules and tax breaks, it is actually possible to get the price of a Bachelor's Degree to a manageable level.  The following steps can help you to peel off the 'Proud Parent of an Honor Roll Student' bumper sticker from your car, and replace it with some fresh promotional schwag from your child's new college gift shop.

CLICK HERE to read the entire article.

 

A remarkable six-year old Ohio boy with an enormous IQ has joined a very exclusive club.  Only one in a million human beings on this planet can match his astounding IQ of 176.  In fact, Albert Einstein himself was believed to have an IQ of 'only' 160.  The average IQ is 100.  With his photographic memory, he can name the U.S. Presidents in the order of which they served and recite the alphabet backwards.  You can even give him a date going back to 2000 and he'll tell you the day of the week!

CLICK HERE to read entire article. 

Wow - it sure does pay to be a Zolp!  After years of alphabetical persecution (i.e. waiting until the very end of every roll call, getting stuck with that assigned seat in the back of the class, etc.), Zolps finally have a weird, but very positive reason to rejoice.  If your last name happens to be Zolp and you plan on attending Loyola University Chicago - you are entitled to tens of thousands of dollars in 'weird' scholarship money. A Catholic priest named Rev. William Zolp gave Loyola money for an endowed scholarship, but he insisted on attaching some pretty tight strings to the funds.  Only Catholic students that share his last name are eligible to receive the scholarship.  Oh, and if you are suddenly inspired to change your surname - don't bother.  Birth and baptismal certificates are required to prove your Zolp credentials. 

You think that's weird?  Well, there are surprisingly more weird scholarships than one may think.  Are you tall?  If so, Tall Clubs International may have an extra $1000 with your name on it.  Obsessed Star Trek aficionado?  Trekkies who can speak Klingon could pocket a cool $500 from The Klingon Language Institute.  Duct Tape seamstress?  If you make your prom dress out of duct tape, you could earn $3000 from the good folks at Duck Brand Duct Tape.  And if you still don't think there's a scholarship out there for everyone - bagpipers, start piping.  A full scholarship to Carnegie Mellon University may just be worth adding a few extra kilts to your wardrobe.  

CLICK HERE to read the entire article.

 

In the face of continued economic turmoil, one may expect financial aid to be just another line item waiting to be cut.  Not so, according to industry experts.  In fact, tuition discounts may be the latest form of financial aid.  Many of our nation's smaller, lesser known schools have tiny endowments and depend on full enrollments to survive.  Even a few students off the target enrollment mark could mean laying off faculty, eliminating courses, and shelving expansion plans.  Discounted rates at private schools are expected to go up, as schools recognize that a discounted student filling a seat is better than an empty seat.

CLICK HERE to read the entire article.

 

A quarter century ago, an ambitious college student named Michael Dell scrounged up $1000 and turned his college room at the University of Texas into a mini assembly line.  Since then, college campuses have been fertile breeding grounds for enormously successful companies such as Google and Facebook.  So it's definitely worth taking a look at what the current generation of college entrepreneurs are doing between late-night cram sessions and fraternity parties.  Are Mark Zuckerberg and Michael Dell the exceptions to the rule?  Check out Inc. Magazine's list of the coolest college start-ups. 

CLICK HERE to read the entire article.

 

As the recession continues to ravage investment portfolios (including college savings accounts) across the globe, some colleges are seeking alternatives for keeping rising costs to a minimum.  The idea of a three-year college degree is not new, but may finally gain traction in our troubled financial times.  A three-year degree may be attractive to the ambitious student who knows exactly what they want to do after college.  However, many students may not want to 'grow up' that fast.

CLICK HERE to read the entire article.

 

Write an essay, win a bus!  That's what an eco-friendly bus manufacturer is offering students.  According to IC Bus, every school bus takes an average of 36 cars off the road - saving billions of gallons of gas in the process.  The company describes itself as the only manufacturer of hybrid school buses and says it's bus reduces greenhouse gases by 40%.  The essay contest is designed to reward kids and schools, who show a passion for a greener world.  The winning essay will win a hybrid bus for their school district and $3000 in school supplies. 

CLICK HERE to learn more.

OK, you've finally been accepted to college (hopefully your first-choice school).  Is it all smooth-sailing from here?  Well, not exactly.  For millions of college-bound students and their financially-strapped families, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (aka FAFSA) creates a new set of problems.  The six-page federal form for families seeking financial assistance for college contains more than 100 question, oftentimes intimidating the very families who need the assistance the most.  Many families have begun paying for professional help in completing the form, which experts say indicates how far the process has gone awry. 

CLICK HERE to read the entire article.

 

For many people, the concept of Web 2.0 is all about popular social-networking sites such as Facebook and Myspace.  But there's more to Web 2.0 than sharing photos, music, and videos with your friends.   There are actually a wide range of very useful Web-based applications - many of which are FREE - which can be utilized as very effective learning tools, helping students to more effectively share and collaborate with their peers.

Here are the top 10 Web 2.0 tools for students, as compiled by education technology consultant Gail Lovely. 

10. Kerpoof - provides a variety of creative tools for animation, drawing, and movie creation.

9. Voki - text to speech generator.

8. Create-A-Graph - aimed at giving students an accessible way to learn graphing fundamentals.

7. Yack Pack - Internet-based voice communication tool that works a lot like voicemail for the Web.

6. Animoto - automated tool to create customized presentations using a very unique audio/visual combination.

5. Skype - free voice and video communication to other Skype users worldwide.

4. Glogster - a personal Web page with embedded media links, sound, and video capabilities.  

3. Voicethread - audiovisual tool that gives users the ability to upload images/video files and then add audio or text comments. 

2. Blogs - publishing tool that makes it easy for anyone to share a message and connect with readers anywhere in the world.

1. Wikis - flexible and easy-to-use platform that enables users to collaborate by editing or modifying content.

CLICK HERE to check out Lovely's own wiki to learn more about these useful applications. 

According to the new Webometrics Ranking of World Universities, the United States is the clear world leader when it comes to 'cybersavvy' schools.  The rankings, which have been published since 2004 by the Cybermetrics Lab, measure the web presence impact of 16,000 higher education institutions around the globe.  US schools account for 24 of the top 25 schools and 70 of the top 100. 

The top 25 ranked schools worldwide:

1    Massachusetts Institute of Technology   
2    Stanford University   
3    Harvard University   
4    University of California Berkeley   
5    Cornell University   
6    University of Michigan   
7    California Institute of Technology   
8    University of Minnesota   
9    University of Illinois Urbana Champaign   
10    University of Texas Austin   
11    University of Wisconsin Madison   
12    University of Washington   
13    University of Pennsylvania
14    Pennsylvania State University   
15    Carnegie Mellon University   
16    Texas A&M University   
17    Columbia University New York   
18    University of California Los Angeles   
19    University of Maryland   
20    University of Chicago       
21    Purdue University   
22    University of Florida   
23    Michigan State University   
24    University of Toronto   
25    University of Arizona

CLICK HERE to view the entire list. 

Harvard University tops this year's list of most popular colleges, according to an exclusive analysis by U.S.News & World Report. Among the students fortunate enough to be admitted to the highly selective university in Cambridge, Mass., 79% chose to enroll there, the highest number among national universities. This enrollment percentage, which admissions officials refer to as yield, can have an impact on everything from crowded dorms and the mix of men and women on campus to the price of tuition.

CLICK HERE to read the entire article.

 

According to a recent national survey, American colleges and universities lost an average of 23% of their endowment investments last semester.  This massive drop is affecting the bottom line at campuses across the country, from large state institutions to the Ivy League.  With the anticipated drop in state funding and private donations, the economic crisis is forcing schools to make tough decisions. Many have decided to freeze hiring, delay building projects, and restrict staff travel.  The good news for students/parents is that, so far, there has been a reluctance on the part of many schools to raise tuition or cut financial aid.

CLICK HERE to read the entire article.

Second Life, the 3-D virtual world inhabited by millions of real-life citizens from across the globe, is about to get a bit more opinionated.  St. John's University has announced what has been billed as the first tournament debate to be held in Second Life.  The event will take place on February 4th, as students from the University of Vermont will be visiting St. John's 'virtual' campus.

CLICK HERE to read the entire article.

 

If Congress passes the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, families worried about paying for college tuition may get some much-needed help.  Some benefits of the package may include: temporary increase for the Hope Scholarship tax credit, Pell Grant increase, and Stafford loan limit increase.  

CLICK HERE to read the entire article.

 

The March 14th SAT Exam is right around the corner!  While you still have a few more weeks before the registration deadline, time is running out to prep for this critical exam!    AdvancePrep's popular 'Custom Classroom Personalized SAT Prep' program is scheduled to begin the week of February 1st.  This 6-week course meets on a weekly basis, leading up to the big exam.  Classroom size is limited and only a few seats remain for the next round.  The deadline to register is January 31st.  CLICK HERE to reserve your seat! 

To register for the March 14, 2009 SAT Exam, CLICK HERE.

 

The economic tailspin has shown little mercy on financial portfolios nationwide, many of which had funds earmarked for college tuition.  According to the Department of Education, 1.4 million more students filled out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid in 2008 than 2007, which is a 10.4% hike.  In addition, the College Board says its scholarship database has experienced a 30% jump in visitors in December 2008 when compared to a year ago. 

CLICK HERE to read the entire article.

 

If you ask college administrators what sets this generation of current and aspiring college students apart, they will oftentimes cite their volunteer spirit.  An estimated 75% of high school students do some sort of volunteering, in addition to an estimated 3.3 million college students.  But while college admissions offices like to see service work on applications, rarely has that translated into financial aid.  The good news is for those 'good deed-doers', that trend may be changing.  Service-based merit scholarships are on the rise as colleges are catching up to the interests of this civic-minded generation of students.

CLICK HERE to read the entire article.  

The January 24th SAT is coming up soon! The registration deadline has passed, but late registration has been extended to January 9th.

CLICK HERE to register at CollegeBoard.com.

Some New Hampshire students may soon have the choice to skip their junior and senior years of high school.  The 'Granite' state is apparently moving forward with a plan that will grant a high school diploma to students who pass a special test in 10th grade.  Ambitious students could then sign up to take rigorous courses at their local community college.

Those who support the plan claim that a high school diploma combined with an associate's degree will be more attractive to selective four-year universities.  Critics are concerned that cutting two years from high school may harm the social development of students. 

CLICK HERE to read entire article.

 

 

In today's viral marketing world, it should be no surprise that savvy marketers have made use of Web 2.0 social media in an attempt to capture the hearts and minds (and wallets) of anyone under the age of 30.  Even enormously popular sites like Facebook are not immune to many of these ill-conceived marketing ploys.  Apparently, there has been a rise in the number of Class of 2013 Facebook groups which aim to connect future college classmates.  The groups appear to be devoted to a particular academic institution and, in some cases, may even appear to be affiliated with the school.  However, the group operators/scam artists are much more concerned with data collection and the ability to market their products.  Fortunately, many of these groups have been outed.  But just like anything else on the web, students need to be careful.

CLICK HERE to read the entire article.

According to a recent survey of 371 private institutions released by the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, two-thirds said they were greatly concerned about preventing a decline in enrollment.  Admissions officers  point to several possible reasons for the decline in applications including: students paring down colleges on their list, increased demand for less expensive state universities, and increased participation in binding early-decision programs.   Experts also suspect that some students may even be delaying their college plans. 

The deadline at most colleges is still a few weeks off, so a last-minute influx of applications could raise the numbers to last year’s level. But with the economy showing few, if any, signs of life, admissions officers are not optimistic.

CLICK HERE to read entire article. 

 

It's the age-old question (or at least in recent pop culture marketing history) - are you a MAC or PC?? Well, college campuses certainly contain a mix of both. But it appears that Apple is making some serious headway both inside and outside the classroom.  A new iPhone application, developed by programmers at Abilene Christian University, enables professors to obtain instant feedback from their classroom.

CLICK HERE to read the entire article.  

 

Holiday cards - check.  Buying presents - check.  SAT exam registration?  Yes, if you are planning to take the January 24, 2009 SAT Exam, you need to add one more thing to your holiday list. The January SAT is one of the best dates on the academic calendar and the December 26th deadline is rapidly approaching.  

CLICK HERE to register.  

 

The College Board's new 'Score Choice' policy is coming soon to a testing location near you.  Score Choice initially lowered the anxiety level at high schools across the land, as students would no longer be forced to submit all SAT scores to admissions offices.  This means that ultra-competitive students can take the exam as many times as they wish, without fear of some persnickety admissions official docking their application for past undesirable scores. 

Of course, there is one catch.  Colleges may opt out of Score Choice and require applicants to report every SAT score.  Apparently, some of the nation's top schools are taking advantage of this student-unfriendly loophole, including:  Stanford, Cornell, Pomona, the University of Pennsylvania and theUniversity of Southern California.

CLICK HERE to read the entire article.

 

Higher college costs and troubling economic factors are forcing students and their parents to borrow more money to earn a college degree. But how much is too much to borrow? What types of loans are available? What types of scholarships are available? What happens when you borrow, but don’t finish college? Or you can’t repay the loan?

The National Association for College Admissions Counseling will be addressing many of the financial aid concerns facing college-bound students and their parents in the organization's upcoming free webinar - "Basics of Borrowing for College". 

Trends to be discussed include:
    * Intro to applying for aid and an overview of student loan economics (types of loans, availability of loans)
    * Should students consider attending a less expensive college or postponing college?
    * Should students take out loans to pay for college?
    * How much can students/families afford to borrow?
    * How do you determine what type of loan is best?
    * What happens if a student doesn’t finish college?
    * How will a student repay the loan, and what happens if they can’t?

Upon completion of this webinar, participants will:
    * Have a better understanding of the student loan economic situation (types of loans, availability of loans)
    * Be able to determine what type of loan is best for a particular situation.
    * Have a better understanding of scholarship opportunities.

This free webinar will be held on December 9th. CLICK HERE to register.

 

Unless you've been living under a rock (or perhaps cramming for the SAT), you probably know the economy has seen better days.  With the largest graduating high school class ever nearly half-way through the academic year, financial aid is a hot topic on the minds of both seniors and parents alike.  Not all of us are gifted scholars, athletes, or musicians.  Fortunately, there are scholarship opportunities available for the 'rest of us', if you know where to look.  Surprisingly enough, many of these scholarships (aka FREE MONEY FOR COLLEGE) aren't that difficult to get. 

CLICK HERE to read the entire article.

 

The January SAT Exam is one of the best exam dates on the academic calendar. While you still have a few more weeks before the registration deadline, time is running out to prep for this critical exam!  AdvancePrep's popular 'Custom Classroom Personalized SAT Prep' program is scheduled to begin the week of December 14th.  This 6-week course meets on a weekly basis, leading up to the big exam.  Classroom size is limited and only a few seats remain for the next round.  The deadline to register is December 12th.  CLICK HERE to reserve your seat! 

To register for the January 24 SAT Exam, CLICK HERE.

 

Recognizing the importance of an international education in today’s global society, U.S. students are studying abroad in record numbers, according to survey data released by the Institute of International Education. This latest increase marks a decade of unprecedented growth in the number of American students receiving academic credit for their overseas academic experience, with an increase of close to 150%, from under 100,000 in 1996/97 to nearly a quarter of a million in 2006/07.

The United Kingdom is currently the most popular destination for American students, with more than 32,000 studying in UK colleges during the 2006/2007 academic year.  The top 20 list also includes Italy, Spain, France, China, Australia, Mexico, Germany, Ireland, Costa Rica, Japan, Argentina, Greece, South Africa, Czech Republic, Chile, Ecuador, Austria, New Zealand, and India.

CLICK HERE for more information regarding the Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange.  

 

Most students feel a certain sense of pride about the institution that is providing them the education they will be paying off for many years to come.  But can you really say that your college is #1 in the world??  According to a recent ranking by US News and World Report of the top 200 schools in the world, bragging rights for this year belong to the students at Harvard University.

The World's Best Colleges and Universities rankings include the following rankings: Top 200 Universities Worldwide, the Top 30 Asian Universities, the Top 30 European Universities, the Top 20 Canadian Universities, and the Top 20 Australian and New Zealand Universities. The listing also includes the Top 50 global rankings in the fields of arts and humanities; engineering and IT; life sciences and biomedicine; natural sciences; and social sciences.

So how did your school fare? CLICK HERE to check out the entire list.

 

Believe it or not, billions of dollars in financial aid is available to help students pay for the sky high costs of a college education. But who is actually eligible?  There are many misconceptions regarding financial aid but don't believe everything you hear!

CLICK HERE to view more than a dozen financial aid myths debunked, by The College Board.

 

As early application deadlines pass, college admissions officials are scratching their heads and bracing for another volatile admissions cycle this academic year. Early decision and early action applications have surged by double-digit percentages at a number of schools around the country.

CLICK HERE to read the entire article.

 

The November edition of Education News will spotlight the latest Departmental federal student aid programs, tools and resources;highlight schools and districts that are implementing innovative programs and initiatives to help disadvantaged youth succeed in and pay for college; and, provide tips and options to help parents plan for andfinance college. The broadcast will cover such issues as:

• Why is a college education more important than ever before?
• What federal, state, local, private and philanthropic programs and initiatives are helping us achieve our postsecondary goals?
• How can we make postsecondary education more affordable for American families?
• How will the Commission on the Future of Higher Education’s final report and the Secretary’s Action Plan improve the accessibility, affordability and accountability of U.S. colleges and universities?
• When should parents and students start thinking about saving for college, and what programs and resources are available to help?

1. In advance, request an interview if seriously considering this school.
2. Visit while school is in session; do a walking tour, then attend an informational session and ask questions.
3. Spend a night in a dorm; eat in the cafeteria.
4. Talk to current students and professors; sit in on a class.
5. Check out the surrounding area.
6. Read the student newspaper.
7. Record your impressions before leaving.

Or: Do a virtual tour. Visit the school's Web site for online and video options. www.collegiatechoice.com, offers videos of campus tours as you would experience them.

SOURCES: National Association for College Admission Counseling; Alex Weiner, an admissions consultant in White Plains, N.Y. 

 

Got an extra $40,437 lying around?  That will pay the tuition bill at George Washington University - the most expensive school of the 2008/2009 academic year. GWU has some competition though, as each school on the top 10 list hovers in the $38-40K range.

CLICK HERE to view the entire list. 

 

Would you like to see the lackluster scores from your first SAT attempt disappear into thin air?  Competitive students can rejoice, as they will soon have an opportunity to continue perfecting their overall score without fear of drawing negative criticism from nit-picky admission officers.  Starting in the upcoming spring semester, students will be able to select which College Board scores are sent to the admission offices of prospective colleges.  Scores can be chosen by test date for the SAT and by individual exam for subject tests.  

CLICK HERE to read the entire article.

 

According to a recent study by the College Board, the overall costs associated with higher education continue an annual upward trend. The total cost of attending a private four-year college rose  to an average of $34,132 (4.8% increase) for the 2008/2009 academic year.  In-state students at public four-year schools paid an average of $14,333 (5.7% increase) for the current school year while out-of-state students at public four-year schools pay a total of $25,200 (5.2% increase). Total figures include tuition and fees plus room and board.

CLICK HERE to read the entire article.

 

Are you planning on taking the December 6th SAT Exam?  The November 5th deadline is coming up fast.  Click here to register.

 

The College Board will begin providing a new test next year that it claims will help prepare eighth graders for rigorous high school courses and college.  The new test, called ReadiStep, can be completed within two hours and is divided into three multiple-choice sections of critical reading, writing skills and mathematics.  It will cost less than $10 per student and schools and districts will pay for it. The exam has been described as 'low-stakes' as the results will only be shared with teachers, parents, students and schools.

CLICK HERE to read entire article.

 

The October edition of Education News will spotlight two Department programs available through the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schoolsthat aim to enhance safety on campus; talk about what rights parentsand students have under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA); highlight higher education institutions that are leading the effort to enhance campus safety for all students and staff; and,provide user-friendly tips for parents on ensuring the safety, healthand security of students. The broadcast will ask questions such as:

• What steps are colleges and universities taking to provide a safe learning environment?
• What are the latest crises and emergency preparedness plans for college and university campuses?
• What kinds of questions should parents ask their children’s colleges and universities about their crisis and emergency preparedness plans?
• What are state, local and federal agencies doing to prevent and mitigate violence on school campuses?
• How can families recognize warning signs in their own children?
• What are parents’ and students’ rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)?
• Where can families go for updated and helpful resources on crisis planning and emergency response? 

College-bound high school students know they need to keep a watchful eye on their test scores and GPA.  But many of the strongest academic students ignore the importance of building a balanced, well-rounded college application.  Numbers don't always tell the whole story and will only get you so far.  In today's increasingly competitive academic environment, extracurricular activities can go a long way towards closing the deal with admission officers that are overwhelmed with students that 'look' very similar on paper.

CLICK HERE to read a breakdown on the importance of extracurricular activities from The College Board.

 

Are you planning on taking the November 1st SAT Exam?  Time is running out!  Click here to register. 

 

 

When it comes to meeting with your school counselor, don't be shy!  Counselors are full of useful information and students should take advantage of this valuable resource.  

CLICK HERE to view a helpful list of questions, provided by The College Board.

 

The September edition of Education News will profile key strategies for improving student academic achievement; showcase schools that have proven successful in closing the achievement gap and helping all students reach and exceed grade level proficiency; and spotlight the Department’s Teaching Ambassador Fellowship program. The Fellows – classroom teachers on leave from their schools to work on policy at the U.S. Department of Education -- will discuss their perspectives on improving learning and helping all students achieve. They will also talk about how to use test data to target instruction and get results and, will suggest tips and resources for parents to help ensure their children succeed this academic year. The broadcast will ask questions such as:

• How does No Child Left Behind promote standards, accountability, and competitiveness in education?
• What strategies have proven most effective in closing academic achievement gaps?
• How does No Child Left Behind promote a results-based culture in schools?
• How does NCLB empower families to make the best educational choices for their children?
• What are some effective practices for recognizing and compensating highly effective teachers?
• What is the Teaching Ambassador Fellowship Program and how does it contribute to the field of education?
• What questions should all parents ask of their child’s teachers and school leaders?
• What can parents do at home and at school to keep their children on track for success?
• How does No Child Left Behind support parent involvement and engagement at the local level? 

CLICK HERE to watch the video, produced by the U.S. Department of Education.

 

Are you planning on taking the Oct. 4th SAT Exam?  Well, you are in luck!  CollegeBoard has extended the registration deadline to September 19th for online registrations.  This does NOT apply to paper registrations, which must be postmarked by September 16th.  Late registrations will be assessed an additional $23 fee.  

Click here to register online at collegeboard.com