What's a Good Academic Record for College Admissions?Almost all colleges and universities consider a good academic record to be the most important part of a strong admissions application. A good academic record, however, is about more than grades. The list below discusses some of the important features that separate a good academic record from a weaker one. Continue here.

What is a Weighted GPA?Continue here.

2009 Times Higher Education University Rankings ReleasedThis article published by Inside Higher Ed describes key trends in the rankings as follows:

The United States and Britain continue to dominate the very top ranks with one university in Cambridge, Mass., leading the rankings and one in the original Cambridge in second place.

The number of North American universities in the top 100 fell to 36 from 42 in just a year.

The list saw increases in universities from Europe (39, up from 36) and Asia (16, up from 14 last year).Continue here.

Calculating Your “Real” Grade Point Average (GPA)Everyone knows the importance of a high school student’s grade point average, or GPA. It’s the little number that labels us. It signifies whether we are a geek or slacker, or somewhere in between. The GPA is usually either a point of great pride or great shame. Those students who are proud of their GPA practically have it tattooed on their foreheads, while others skulk about in fear that someone might discover what ignoramuses they truly are. Continue here.

Midterms - How to Prepare?Midterms and finals can be tough on your mind and your body—especially if you have two tests scheduled in one day. Unfortunately, test schedules are normally out of your control, so you will end up with back-to-back exams at some point. Continue here. We also found a valuable study guide. Click here to download it. We also came across a very interesting presentation called Studying for Midterms and Beyond. Bob Jenkins shared with us the Five Pillars of Successful Studying. Click here to download it.

Tips for balancing work, school and lifeHigh school and college students don’t get enough credit. They get up early, go to school, whip through an endless list of extracurriculars, work part-time jobs and attempt to squeeze in a social life, a.k.a., sending texts, instant messages and MySpace notes. Well, many students leave out that whole part-time job thing. They’re easily identifiable as the ones who

are also bumming money off their parents, staying in on the weekends and showing up to proms and formals in a tuxedo T-shirt (the guys, anyways). Combining school and work, whether we’re talking about high school jobs or college jobs, is certainly a tough balancing act. But when you add up all the benefits – from learning time management skills to early career development and cold hard cash – it’s easy to see why a part-time job is an elective you shouldn’t pass up on. Continue here.

GLOBAL: U.S. again leads World RankingsAmerican universities again dominate the latest Shanghai Jiao Tong rankings as they have for the past six years. Released last Friday, almost a week earlier than expected, the rankings place US universities in all but three of the top 20 spots with Harvard, Stanford and the University of California at Berkeley in first, second and third spot, and the universities of Cambridge, Oxford and Tokyo the only outsiders at fourth, 10th and 20th respectively. The top 10 universities are unchanged this year from the rankings drawn up in 2008. Of the top 50 universities, 36 are US institutions although University College, London, came in at 21, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology at 23, Japan's Kyoto University at 24, Imperial College, London at 26, Toronto at 27, British Columbia at 36, Pierre and Marie Curie University - Paris 6 at 40, Manchester at 41, Copenhagen equal 43 with University of Paris Sud (Paris 11) and Sweden's Karolinska Institute at number 50. Click here to read the complete article, and here to find the latest Shanghai Jiao Tong rankings. By the same token, we recommend you this other post which recently introduced the annual Times Higher Education-QS rankings. Click here to find their rankings.

Student Discount Car Insurance - How to Lower Your RatesIs no secret that student car insurance is not cheap, in fact for young people under 25 years old auto insurance is very expensive, because statistically young people cause most of the accidents, however not all young students are bad drivers. Fortunately there are ways to lower your rates by getting discounts; those discounts are given by auto insurance companies to students that can prove that they are responsible. Insurance companies need to weight the risk of getting in to an accident. Continue here.

10 Truly Free Colleges That Don’t Charge TuitionHave you lost your job, or do you despair that you lack education for a higher salary? Take a look at these ten truly free colleges listed below, as they truly do not charge tuition. With that said, some do charge for room and board or processing fees. But, you may find a degree that can provide you with the career boost that you need — without college loan worries. Continue here.

Studying for Finals and Midterms - Stress Traps To AvoidStudying for finals and midterms tends to be automatically linked with stress. In fact, where stress is already built into a situation where you need to call up all the important information that you’ve learned in each of several classes over the course of several months, the last thing students need to do is add to the stress of midterms and finals, right? Well, unfortunately, many students inadvertently do just that. Certain common practices often make finals even more stressful than they need to be. Do any of these sound familiar? Continue here.

Greek life: is it for you?Is fraternity or sorority membership right for you? Greek life can be a rewarding and fun part of your college experience, but it is also a significant investment of time and money that doesn’t suit everybody’s personalities. Before joining a fraternity or sorority, you’ll want to determine whether Greek life is a commitment you can and want to make. To help you make this decision, here are some advantages that often come with joining a fraternity or sorority. Continue here.

Top 10 College MajorsCollege offers you academic freedom. You can cultivate existing passions and explore new interests—all the while figuring out which major will eventually help you earn a living. Whatever major you choose, don’t pick what’s easies —or what your best friend is studying—because you’ll only be cheating yourself out of some great opportunities! And college is, after all, about opportunities. The Princeton Review’s Top 10 Majors follow. Be warned, however, that these are not necessarily the degrees that garner the most demand in the job market. More importantly, they don’t lock you into a set career path. Each major offers unique intellectual challenges and develops skill sets that will be applicable to various careers. Continue here.

The Best 301 Business SchoolsFind out which business schools have the best classroom experience, the best professors, are the most family friendly, and are the best administered, and more. The 2010 Best Business School rankings are now out! The Princeton Review surveyed over 19,000 students at 301 business schools across the United States to create 11 rankings lists.The categories are:

Best Administered Best Campus Environment Best Campus Facilities Best Professors Greatest Opportunity for Minority Students

Greatest Opportunity for Women Most Family Friendly Best Career Prospects Most Competitive Students Toughest to Get Into Best Classroom Experience

Continue here.

Special Report: International EducationWe came across some great and enlightening articles published by the International Herald Tribune and The New York Times focusing on key educational trends around the world. The reports are the following:

M.B.A.’s Guide Socially Concerned Entrepreneurs Giving Business Education a Global Twist Boom Times for International Schools Islamic Business Wins Academic Following Close Link Between Engineering and Business Management

Reinventing the MBA: 4 Reasons to Mix Business With Design ThinkingWe’ve all heard the news that the traditional MBA framework is broken, but adding courses on business ethics and financial crises won’t solve the problem. And although Harvard, Wharton, Kellogg, and the rest are all considering bringing new ways of thinking into their hallowed halls, a relatively small school in Canada is actually is actually transforming the meaning of an MBA right before our eyes. Continue here.

Find the Best College for You Exclusive rankings of 1,400 schools Search tools to find your perfect fit Details on scholarships, loans, and grants

Continue here.

List of Top 12 Ways to Manage Your Time in CollegeCollege is like juggling. Five balls in the air that you're trying to not let drop. Between going to class, doing the homework, taking the tests, perhaps holding down a job, raising a family—well, how's a mere mortal supposed to do all this stuff? It boils down to managing your time. But how are you supposed to do that? Here are the Professors' Guide LLC top 12 tips for managing your overcrowded schedule.

Block your courses Make a plan

Aim to make all the classes Determine whether you're an owl or a rooster Keep a log Do your homework on time Balance your courses Learn to focus Plan to do each task once Divide and conquer Don't take 10-day holidays Tell them where to go

Continue here.

Companies That Offer Student DiscountsHere is a great article written by Lucia Jenkins in Campus Life. In her article, she described some companies that are offering discounts to students. She goes from discounts on autos, on hardware and software, travels, clothing, entertainment and more. Continue here.

Some Advice on Choosing a CollegeA school's size is an important consideration. But so are questions like which programs are strongest and what do the top students go on to do after they graduate? Continue here.

The 10 Best College PresidentsContinue here.

America's Coolest College TownsTake a Look at a Slideshow of America's Coolest College TownsFrom California to Virginia, great university towns with top-notch food, entertainment, and outdoor adventures.Continue here.

How do you manage college money?It's a question that often keeps parents of college students up at night -- what's the best way to manage college money?Personal finance expert Farnoosh Torabi spoke with KVUE's Olga Campos, to help answer some of the tough questions about the enormous expense of higher education. Continue here.

Be your Best Self:expert advie on acing the college interviewSusan Goodkin has helped hundreds of students prepare for college. The Executive Director of California Learning Strategies Center recently spoke about one of the most nerve-racking elements of the college admissions process, the interview. "While many students find the

thought of a college interview intimidating, with a little preparation, the process can be both fun and an opportunity to gain insight and perspective on their high school years. Continue here.

10 Things You Didn't Know About College GradingGiven how concerned most students are about grades, it's amazing how little they know about how grading is done. Actually, it's not so amazing. Universities go to great lengths to hide—or at least not disclose—facts about grading that anyone who's taught at a university for more than a year knows. Want a peek? Continue here.

10 Steps to Considering Graduate SchoolNo one should lunge at graduate school. Getting an advanced degree can take years and can cost tens of thousands of dollars if you're not lucky enough to land a fellowship. And no one should begin planning for graduate school in October of their senior year. Putting together a good application—one that can really sell—is the product of years of careful planning and doing the right stuff to get yourself ready for graduate work in your desired field. How do you do this? Follow our step-by-step guide to getting ready for the graduate school of your choice: Continue here.

Top 10 Essay Test Taking TipsSome college students are pros at taking short-answer and multiple-choice tests but are at their wits' end when the prof springs an essay test. Some go to incredible lengths to avoid any course that might have essays on the exam. But with dozens of required courses, many in areas such as social sciences and humanities, such a strategy is bound to fail. Instead, take a look at our 10 best tips for acing the essay exam. Continue here.

How To Pay For CollegeLike many parents with college bound students, we saw our daughter’s 529 college fun dip after last fall’s stock market fiasco. Luckily, she had applied herself the summer before her senior year started, and was rewarded a full ride scholarship. Students, think of finding a scholarship like a job. You’re getting paid to go to school, so it takes time and effort to hunt down, apply and interview for scholarships. Apply the same amount of work and goals, as if you were working and saving to buy a car. The goal is to be debt free, not debt riddent before you go to school. Continue here.

Social networks provide new lessons in learningAs millions of students across the world go back to school this month, 178 students from 49 countries will turn on their computers and step onto the virtual campus of the world's first global, tuition-free online university. As millions of students across the world go back to school this month, 178 students from 49 countries will turn on their computers and step onto the virtual campus of the world's first global, tuition-free online university. Continue here.

2009 Times Higher Education University Rankings ReleasedThis article published by Inside Higher Ed describes key trends in the rankings as follows:

The United States and Britain continue to dominate the very top ranks with one university in Cambridge, Mass., leading the rankings and one in the original Cambridge in second place.

The number of North American universities in the top 100 fell to 36 from 42 in just a year.

The list saw increases in universities from Europe (39, up from 36) and Asia (16, up from 14 last year).Continue here.

Calculating Your “Real” Grade Point Average (GPA)Everyone knows the importance of a high school student’s grade point average, or GPA. It’s the little number that labels us. It signifies whether we are a geek or slacker, or somewhere in between. The GPA is usually either a point of great pride or great shame. Those students who are proud of their GPA practically have it tattooed on their foreheads, while others skulk about in fear that someone might discover what ignoramuses they truly are. Continue here.

Midterms - How to Prepare?Midterms and finals can be tough on your mind and your body—especially if you have two tests scheduled in one day. Unfortunately, test schedules are normally out of your control, so you will end up with back-to-back exams at some point. Continue here. We also found a valuable study guide. Click here to download it. We also came across a very interesting presentation called Studying for Midterms and Beyond. Bob Jenkins shared with us the Five Pillars of Successful Studying. Click here to download it.

Tips for balancing work, school and lifeHigh school and college students don’t get enough credit. They get up early, go to school, whip through an endless list of extracurriculars, work part-time jobs and attempt to squeeze in a social life, a.k.a., sending texts, instant messages and MySpace notes. Well, many students leave out that whole part-time job thing. They’re easily identifiable as the ones who are also bumming money off their parents, staying in on the weekends and showing up to

proms and formals in a tuxedo T-shirt (the guys, anyways). Combining school and work, whether we’re talking about high school jobs or college jobs, is certainly a tough balancing act. But when you add up all the benefits – from learning time management skills to early career development and cold hard cash – it’s easy to see why a part-time job is an elective you shouldn’t pass up on. Continue here.

Tips for Choosing the Right CollegeThe search for the perfect college can be a frustrating and overwhelming process, and making the wrong choice can have significant financial and personal consequences. Continue here.

College ProfilesYou will find college information such as acceptance rates, average SAT and ACT scores, college costs, financial aid information, enrollment numbers, college descriptions, photos, and other useful data to help you choose a college. Part 1 and part 2.

College ProwlerChoosing a college is one of the biggest decisions you'll ever make. If you end up at the right school, it will be the best four years of your life. That's our goal – to help you find the right college and get the most out of your college experience. That's why we continually aim to be the most accurate, complete, and honest resource on colleges and universities across the United States. Everything you read in our books, on our blog, and on our website comes straight from the current college students and recent grads. No half-truths. No university affiliations. Continue here.

Things to Consider Before Choosing a College (or Major)The month of May is the time of year when thousands of college graduates will receive their degrees and head into “the real world.” Studies have shown that most of these graduates will find work in fields that are not directly related to their undergraduate program of study. Continue here.

Top 10 Gen Y Blogs of December 2009Continue here.

5 Higher Ed Tech Trends to Watch in 2010There aren't too many corners of higher education that technology hasn't infiltrated. From admissions to financial aid to the classroom and everything in between, nearly all aspects of

college are being handled in some way by the applications, hardware, and gadgets that help institutions work more efficiently. Continue here.

10 Web Applications For College StudentsAfter scouring the web to find the web applications most used by students, we created a list recognizing the Top 10 Web Applications for College Students. Check out which ones made it below. Continue here.

10 Most Selective Universities in the USYou aced your SATs and your GPA is 4.0. Do you think you can get into Harvard or Yale? If you don’t excel in sports and if your father is not a senator, your admission be subject to a number of arbitrary whims, including the side effects of food poisoning. Continue here.

Schools helping anxious parents -- Communication key with college studentsSharon Daniel was nervous about having her 18-year-old son leave home in Nashville to go to Rhodes College in Memphis, three hours away. So she went to a summer send-off party at the Nashville home of a current Rhodes student, where other parents eased her fears. Continue here.

4 Things You Should Know About Community CollegeAt LaGuardia Community College, a school of 65,000 students in Queens, N.Y., just a stone's throw from Manhattan, President Gail Mellow did something this year she had never done before: She closed admissions and stopped taking applications from some 1,000 applicants. The economic downturn has helped to spark a surge of interest in low-cost, two-year community colleges, which give students the option to transfer their credits to a four-year school. Recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics say the number of associate degrees and vocational certificates awarded by postsecondary institutions reached 1.5 million in 2007, which represents a 28 percent increase over the previous decade. But there are still academic and financial challenges that are unique to community colleges. Research shows that most of the students who attend community college still do not transfer to four-year institutions or earn a credential or degree. Here are four things to keep in mind when considering community college: Continue here.

First Generation College StudentsWhen a student is first in his or her family to go to college, this can be a daunting challenge. Fortunately, many schools are eager to help these students succeed. Continue here.

The best places in the U.S. for college studentsContinue here.

GMAT Prep Video Series on YouTubeContinue here.

Studying Abroad: 7 Things Parents Need to KnowIf your college-age children want to study abroad, here are 7 tips to make the adventure a safe and rewarding one: Continue here.

4 Things You Should Know About Community CollegeAt LaGuardia Community College, a school of 65,000 students in Queens, N.Y., just a stone's throw from Manhattan, President Gail Mellow did something this year she had never done before: She closed admissions and stopped taking applications from some 1,000 applicants. The economic downturn has helped to spark a surge of interest in low-cost, two-year community colleges, which give students the option to transfer their credits to a four-year school. Recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics say the number of associate degrees and vocational certificates awarded by postsecondary institutions reached 1.5 million in 2007, which represents a 28 percent increase over the previous decade. But there are still academic and financial challenges that are unique to community colleges. Research shows that most of the students who attend community college still do not transfer to four-year institutions or earn a credential or degree. Here are four things to keep in mind when considering community college: Continue here.

List Of The Top Public Universities in the U.S.Continue here.

Colleges That Do Not Require SAT Scores Continue here.

6 College Diet Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them Dieting in college can be difficult for numerous reasons. However, many college students would like to lose weight. By identifying the common diet issues faced by students, university-goers trying to lose weight will be more likely to be successful. In this article, I describe the 6 biggest diet pitfalls college students face and how they can be avoided. Continue here.

12 Months Of College Prep Ideas: Senior Year Apply to colleges. Make decisions. Finish high school with pride in yourself and your accomplishments. Continue here.

12 Months Of College Prep Ideas: Junior Year Begin college selection process. Attend college fairs, financial aid seminars, general information sessions, etc., to learn as much as you can about the college application process. Make sure you are meeting NCAA requirements if you want to play Division I or II sports in college. Continue here.

Steps to CollegeSteps to College is NACAC's online newsletter for and about students in the school-to-college transition. New stories are added throughout the year, so come back often! Continue here.

10 Technology Must-Haves for CollegeThe holidays are a great time to load up on new technology. What college student wouldn’t love a special gift selected especially for him or her? Here’s what’s hot: Continue here.

Six Ways to Get Last-Minute Cash for CollegeHere’s what I’d call a bad day:You just received a college tuition bill for the upcoming school year, but you can’t possibly pay the full amount. This financial disconnect is happening a lot this year. Here’s one reason why: Colleges make financial aid decisions based on a family’s income during the previous calendar year. So aid packages assembled for the 2009-10 academic year are based on what parents earned in 2008. For anybody who has been laid off or is struggling with catastrophic medical bills, those old figures are as real as Bernie Madoff’s popularity numbers. There’s still time, however, to snag last-minute financial aid cash. Here’s how: Continue here.

50 Great Blogs for College Admissions AdviceGetting into college may seem like the most important accomplishment you need to achieve for your future. Luckily, there is plenty of help in the blogosphere to give you a hand. The knowledge on these 50 blogs comes from professionals and students alike and will help you with every aspect of admissions, including applications, financial aid, testing, and even grad school. Continue here.

100 Awesome Open Lectures for Political Mindsn today’s economic and social atmosphere, it’s more important than ever for young people to get politically involved. Unfortunately, many members of the next generation of voters don’t always know what’s really going on in Washington or the world. As the country has seen lately, history has a tragic way of repeating itself, and it’s time to start voting for what works instead of what sounds good. So, how do young voters make that happen? Their biggest weapon is knowledge; knowledge of economics, of reform, of legislation, and of history. The following courses are brought by universities around the country to anybody who wants access. So if you agree it’s time to exercise that 26th amendement right, listen to these open lectures and courses, and renew your sense of patriotism. Continue here.

100 Best Open Science Courses on the WebIt’s never too late or too early to start expanding your knowledge of science. With the wealth of free courses available on the web, that goal is easier than ever to achieve and can often be done without even leaving the house. The courses listed here will help you get started, offering resources on a wide variety of scientific fields from those that delve into the laws of the universe to those that explain the chemical reactions taking place in your own kitchen. Continue here.

100 Essential Lifehacks Every Student Should KnowGetting through college can be a breeze for some and an uphill battle for others. No matter where you fall on that spectrum, you can always use a little advice to help you along the way. The following 100 lifehacks offer advice on all aspects of the college experience, from studying to having a social life to helping you find your way and get the most out of your college years. Continue here.

50 Awesome Facebook Apps for Serious BookwormsBookworms today are just as much Internet geeks as they are rabid readers. There are countless book blogs, social networking sites, book swap communities and other social platforms for book junkies online, and Facebook is one of them. The mega-site’s collection of applications include these awesome tools for sharing, listing, recommending, reviewing and selling books, so let yourself go crazy. Continue here.

100 Incredibly Useful Links for Teaching and Studying Shakespeare

The idea of tackling Shakespeare in school has sometimes sent chills down both students’ and teachers’ spines, but the truth is that studying Shakespeare doesn’t have to be so daunting. His plays and sonnets are filled with themes that are relevant even today, are humorous, lyrical, and provide important historical content. Most importantly, Shakespeare knew how to tell a good story. Whether you are teaching or learning Shakespeare in a traditional classroom, in an online course, in high school, or college, there are resources below that will make teaching and learning about Shakespeare and fun and engaging experience. Continue here.

100 Ways You Should Be Using Facebook in Your ClassroomFacebook isn’t just a great way for you to find old friends or learn about what’s happening this weekend, it is also an incredible learning tool. Teachers can utilize Facebook for class projects, for enhancing communication, and for engaging students in a manner that might not be entirely possible in traditional classroom settings. Read on to learn how you can be using Facebook in your classroom, no matter if you are a professor, student, working online, or showing up in person for class. Continue here.

100 Free and Essential Web Tools for the College BoundHeading off to college can be one of the most exciting times of a young person’s life, but it can also be one of the most stressful. Fortunately, there are some tools out there on the web that can help students stay organized, keep in touch with their families, and get on the right track for success in all aspects of this new stage in life. Here are a just a few that we think are worth the time to bookmark before heading off to class this year. Continue here.

69 Free or Open Source Tools For StudentsMany Open Source software projects were either started in colleges or started by recent college graduates. Whether it’s a coincidence or not, a lot of the available open source software is ideal for college students. Continue here.

100 Inspiring, Educational Videos for WritersBeing a writer can be an enlightening, wonderful experience when you’re creating work that you love, but it can also be incredibly frustrating when you get writer’s block or are struggling to find inspiration. There are plenty of places on the web, however, where you can find inspiration and instruction to help you overcome your biggest obstacles or help you to see writing in a new light. Here are 100 videos just for writers, many from well-known authors offering their help and guidance. Continue here.

100 Delicious, Dirt-Cheap Recipes for the Starving StudentMost students don’t have a lot of cash to spend on food, but that doesn’t mean you have to go hungry. With the right recipes and some kitchen savvy, you can eat great even on a student’s budget. Here we’ll share 100 tasty recipes that you can make on the cheap. Continue here.

100 Inspirational Twitter Feeds for College StudentsCollege poses challenges for students at all stages: freshmen have to learn to adapt to college life, sophomores and juniors have to find their place at school and figure out if the major they picked really is the right one, and seniors have to prepare to leave the college bubble and enter the real world. No matter what stage you’re at in your college education you can find inspiration and advice through Twitter on things like finding a job, studying smart, eating right and even learning as much as you can. Check out these great feeds to see what they have to offer you as a student. Continue here.

Understand Yourself Better: Know Your Temperament TypeYou're unique. Shouldn't your college be unique too? Yes, you are unique, but who are you really? If you're like most high schoolers (or even like most parents), you probably don't know. In fact, sometimes you may feel as though the life form inhabiting your skin is a creature from another planet. Today, though, we have the advantage of modern science and psychological research to help us discover more about ourselves. We're not going to go off on a tangent here blabbering on about arcane and recondite (Nice SAT words, huh? Look 'em up!) head-shrinking theories. What we are going to do is give you an easy-to-take test on understanding yourself better. Continue here.

97 Ways to Save Money in CollegeThe college years stand as some of the most financially sensitive times of any individual’s life. Applying creativity, cunning, and conscientiousness, students may enjoy their time in school without stressing over finances. By applying these and other valuable money-saving tips, college students can settle into healthy spending habits that last a lifetime. Continue here.Good news: College financial aid form gets easierSometimes there is good news about the process of getting educated. Continue here.

Costs of public vs. private collegeLet’s do a little price comparison, now that Kiplinger Personal Finance has named its best values in both public and private colleges and universities for the current school year. Continue here.

Decoding the FAFSA: 6 Tips to Boost Financial Aid

Each new year marks a turning point for college applicants and returning students. On Jan. 1, the government released the latest version of the document critical to applying for federal aid for the upcoming academic year. Continue here.

The Next Youth-Magnet CitiesIf you were a recent college graduate in a recovering economy launching a career, looking for a mate or both, where would you choose to live? Continue here.

A Cheeky College Essay Inspires ControversyWriting a college essay that catches the fancy of an admissions dean is the goal of many high school seniors. One applicant to the University of Chicago has succeeded so spectacularly that he has, unintentionally, touched off a bit of a controversy. Continue here.

Acing a College InterviewContinue here for part 1 and 2.

Should I Be a Resident Adviser (RA)?If you've ever lived on campus, your Resident Adviser (RA) was probably one of the first people you met on move-in day. RAs coordinate move in, get to know their residents, build community, handle emergencies, and overall make themselves available to people in their residence halls. Oh -- and did I mention that they get their own rooms? Being an RA can be a great gig as long as you know what you're getting into. A private (at least most of the time) room, fun activities and job where you get paid to hang out with people can be counterbalanced by late nights, tough situations and a major time commitment. While the pros usually outweigh the cons, it's good to know what you're getting into in advance. Continue here.

Is Study Abroad Right for Me?With more and more students studying abroad each year, colleges and universities are offering multiple programs in an increasing number of countries. The idea of studying abroad may be appealing, but it can be hard to know what to do with so many things factoring into your decision. Try to break your decision down into three main areas: academic, financial, and personal. Then, after looking at each of these aspects of your college career, you can be better informed when making a decision. Continue here.

A Few Things to Consider If You're Considering Teach for AmericaContinue here.