Test Your College Knowledge

How much do you really know about the colleges and universities in the U.S.? Test your knowledge with this quiz, based on research from various sources. Score 10 or more and you're a College Knowledge genius.

1. Which state has the largest number of four year PRIVATE colleges and universities?
a. Massachusetts
b. New York
c. California

2. Which public university has the highest four year graduation rate?
a. The University of Virginia (Charlottesville)
b. University of California-Berkeley
c. Rutgers University

3. The average cost of attending a public 4-year college or university is $14,500. What is the average total financial aid package received by students at public 4-year schools (including grants, loans, and work study)?
a. $5,000
b. $13,500
c. $8,700

4. The average cost of attending a private 4-year college or university is $28,300. What is the average total financial aid package received by students at private 4-year schools (including grants, loans, and work study)?
a. $24,150
b. $16,300
c. $8,700

5. Which of these three schools had the largest number of National Merit Scholars in its freshman class in 2004?
a. University of Florida
b. Yale University
c. University of Texas-Austin

6. Which of these schools gave the largest number of institutional merit scholarships to National Merit Scholars in 2004?
a. Harvard University
b. University of Florida
c. Washington University in St. Louis

7. Which is the most commonly considered factor by public universities in admissions decisions?
a. High school grade point average
b. Standardized test scores
c. High school class rank

8. What percent of public universities consider recommendations in their admissions decisions?
a. 85%
b. 55%
c. 7.6%

9. What percent of private universities consider recommendations in their admissions decisions?
a. 15%
b. 95%
c. 51.8%

10. Which school has the largest number of international undergraduate students enrolled?
a. Harvard
b. Purdue University
c. University of Southern California

11. Which school has the largest proportion of students who go on to get a doctorate in biological sciences?
a. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
b. Reed
c. Harvard

12. What is the average annual salary of a full-time professor at colleges and universities in the U.S.?
a. $250,000
b. $135,000
c. $104,411


Answers:

1. b. New York has 163 4-year private colleges, California has 146, and Massachusetts has 79. Source: Chronicle of Higher Education 2006 Almanac

2. a. The University of Virginia has the highest four year graduation rate of any public institution in the country. 80% of UVA students graduate in four years. Source: U.S. Department of Education

3. c. The average financial aid package received by students at public universities is $8,700. Approximately 76% of students at public universities receive some form of financial aid. Source: Chronicle of Higher Education 2006 Almanac

4.b. The average financial aid package received by students at public universities is $16,300. Approximately 89% of students at private schools receive some form of financial aid. Source: Chronicle of Higher Education 2006 Almanac

5. Of the three schools, The University of Florida had the highest number of National Merit Scholars (259) in its freshman class second only to Harvard University, followed by the University of Texas (Austin) with 242. Yale had 224 National Merit Scholars. Source: The National Merit Scholarship organization

6. b. The University of Florida gave the largest number of merit scholarships to National Merit Scholars of any school in the country (215). Washington U in St. Louis gave 145 merit scholarships to National Merit Scholarships. Harvard University does not sponsor National Merit Scholars and does not provide any merit-based awards. Source: The National Merit Scholarship organization

7. b. Standardized test scores are used by 83% of public institutions in making admissions decisions. Grade point average is used by 66.6%, class rank by 29.3. Source: U.S. Department of Education

8. c. Teacher and counselor recommendations are used by 7.6% of public universities.
Source: U.S. Department of Education

9. c. Teacher and counselor recommendations are used by 51.8% of private schools.
Source: U.S. Department of Education

10. c. The University of Southern California has the largest number (6,647) of undergraduate international students enrolled. Purdue ranks third (after Columbia) with 5,094 international students. Harvard has 3,403 international students. Source:
Institute of International Education

11. b. Reed College has the largest proportion of students going on to earn doctorates in biological sciences. California Institute of Technology is second. MIT ranks 6th. Source: Weighted Baccalaureate Origins Study, Higher Education Data Consortium.

12. c. The average annual salary of a full-time professor is $104,411. Associate professors, assistant professors, and instructors make significantly less. Full professors at public universities average $97,948. At private universities, the average annual salary of a full professor is $127,214. Source: The Chronicle of Higher Education 2006 Almanac

Good Schools for Creative Writing

Maybe you dream of penning a best-selling novel or award-winning play. Or perhaps you visualize yourself as a poet, your words moving mountains and hearts. Undergraduate creative writing programs can be difficult to track down and evaluate. There are many schools that offer classes in fiction writing, poetry, and other types of creative writing, but few that have strong and established creative writing programs for undergraduates.

What should you look for in a creative writing program?
The Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP), a professional organization with a membership that includes some of the nation's finest programs, says that students should look for a program that emphasizes more than just the writer's craft; it should also focus on reading and studying literature from a variety of different cultures, genres, and eras. Writing and publishing extracurricular opportunities are also important to consider when comparing programs. Additionally, seek programs where faculty members are accomplished and published authors. Other signs of a strong undergraduate writing program are described in the AWP's Hallmarks of a Successful Undergraduate Program. Some schools with strong undergraduate creative writing programs offer a major specifically in creative writing, while at others your major will be English with a concentration or emphasis in creative writing. One other thing to consider: some colleges and universities have superb graduate writing programs, but their undergraduate writing programs don't necessarily measure up. Be sure to examine the undergraduate creative writing program if you are looking at a university with graduate offerings.

Some college and university writing programs frequently mentioned as being top notch include (in no particular order):
Kenyon College
Oberlin College
Emerson College
The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill,
Hamilton College
Hollins College Bowling Green University
Bennington College
the University of Redlands
Beloit College
Goucher College
Susquehanna University
Columbia

Additional programs can be found in the AWP's Directory of Writing Programs.

If you're considering a creative writing major, you should also read the excellent discussion of creative writing program pro's and con's written by Joseph Schuster, a professor of creative writing at Webster University.

The new Princeton Review Best Colleges

Hot off the presses: the brand new 2006 edition of The Princeton Review 361 Best Colleges . A favorite of many College Hunters, the Princeton Review guide does a good job of summarizing the academics, campus life and student body of the colleges it reviews, basing much of the information on surveys of "110,000 college students."

This year's book adds eleven new schools that might be of interest to College Hunters looking for different options: Berea College (KY), Chapman University (CA), Hillsdale College (MI), Lynchburg College (VA), Mills College (CA), Monmouth University (NJ), Saint Michael's College (VT), Transylvania University (KY), the University of Central Florida, the University of South Florida, and Xavier University of Louisana. Surprising drops from this year's book include Occidental College, Florida A&M, and Tuskegee. However, don't read too much into these schools being dropped - the Princeton Review relies heavily on the number of student surveys returned from each school in deciding which schools to include.

How to Get Great Teacher Recommendations

The next few weeks are the time to start thinking about teacher recommendations, especially if you are planning to apply Early Decision or Early Action. Don't underestimate the importance of strong recommendations: According to oneNational Association of College Admissions Counselors study58% of college admissions officers rated teacher recommendations as at least of moderate importance in making admissions decisions. For highly selective colleges, they're even more important. At colleges and universities with admit rates of under 40%, 78% of admissions officers said the teacher recommendation was of moderate or considerable importance in the final decision.

"Recommendations are probably the most overlooked and underutilized aspect of the college application. A mediocre recommendation can be death to an application. A bad recommendation is eternal damnation," says college admissions consultant Richard Montauk in his excellent book on college admissions,How to Get Into the Top Colleges. On the other hand, a great teacher recommendation from a teacher, says Montauk and other experts, can seal the admissions deal by supporting all of the other aspects of your application.

So, how do you make sure you will have that great recommendation in your application folder? Here are a round up of tips from the experts:

- Choose carefully. "Pick a teacher who you know will write the best recommendation possible," says William Morrison, a college counselor at a top Chicago high school in his online article, The College Application: Recommendations. Which of your teachers know you the best, both inside and outside of the classroom, and can comment on both your academic ability and other, less tangible positive characteristics that may not be immediately apparent in other parts of your application? If you're applying for a particular major, consider whether there's a teacher who can support your goal by talking specifically about how you've handled related work? For instance, a prospective engineering major might choose a math teacher who can address the student's comfort with high level mathematical concepts, or perhaps the science teacher who acted as their advisor on an award-winning science fair project. A prospective journalism major, on the other hand, might consider an English or humanities teacher familiar enough with the students' writing skills to be able to comment on them in depth.

Don't automatically assume that you need a recommendation from the teacher who gave you the best grades. "Beware of the teacher who hastily gives you an A but has no real idea of who you are - his recommendation will sound generic," warns Katherine Cohen, founder of college consulting firm Ivy Wise, and author of The Truth About Getting In. In some cases, it may be better to ask the teacher who gave you a B but knows you well and respects your determination to succeed. In all cases, however, try to choose a teacher that you have had recently.

In his chapter on teacher recommendations in ,How to Get Into the Top Colleges Montauk adds a few additional tips on picking teachers to ask for recommendations. He suggests seeking out a teacher who has written recommendations for others who have successfully applied to the same college or university in the past. He also recommends that students consider teachers "who bring originality and liveliness to their work, rather than those who appear to teach by rote" because those teachers are often the ones most likely to bring those same qualities to the recommendations they write for their students.

- Approach teachers in a polite and tactful manner. "When you approach a teacher for a rec, please do it diplomatically," advises the guidance office of the Pembroke Hill School, a private high school in Kansas City, Missouri. "Ask the teacher if he/she can write a strong letter for you; if there is any hesitation, then consider withdrawing the request and asking another teacher."

The college counseling office at Exeter Academy in Massachusetts echoes the same advice in its college counseling newsletter, advising students to "Be gentle with your teachers. Bear in mind that they are accommodating your request for a recommendation on top of their already busy schedules. Treat their effort with he respect it deserves -- don't run to them the night before your application is due and expect miracles." The Exeter counseling office, as well as other high school counseling officers, suggest talking to teachers about writing recommendations no later than September 22 for Early Decision and no later than November 12 for Regular Decision applicants.

- Make the teacher's job easy. Give teachers as much information as possible. Katherine Cohen suggests developing a brag sheet that highlights your achievements and a copy of your best project, paper or assignment you did for their class. She gives detailed suggestions on what to include in a brag sheet in The Truth About Getting In. The Pembroke School guidance staff recommends meeting face to face with the teacher and presenting them with a folder with deadline dates clearly marked on it that includes the recommendation forms, an activity resume similar to Cohen's brag sheet, and stamped and addressed envelopes for each school. "Do not simply drop a form into a teacher's mailbox!" adds the Pembroke staff. This makes sense as meeting with them face to face gives your teacher a chance to ask any questions or clarify what you want them to highlight in your recommendation.

All experts strongly suggest waiving your right to see the recommendation. "Put it this way: if you are worried enough about a certain teacher to want to see the letter before it's sent out, then you should probably not be asking that teacher for a letter of recommendation in the first place," notes Cohen in The Truth About Getting In

- Be judicious about sending extra recommendations. William Morrison says it is fine to send more recommendations than are requested, as long as you're sure each is strong and adds something important to your overall application. Remember the saying said to be used in many college admissions offices "The thicker the file, the thicker the candidate."

- Thank every teacher who writes a recommendation for you. Don't just send an email or give verbal thanks agree the experts. A handwritten note of thanks will be appreciated by teachers. Some students also give a small token of gratitude. Some examples: home-made baked goods, a gift certificate to a bookstore, a small plant.

Curious what a good teacher recommendation should look like? You can see an example of one here.

For another article on recommendations, see Teacher Recommendations Can Sway Admissions Offers from the St. Louis Business Journal. Free registration may be required to view the article.

Unusual Financial Aid Ideas

Looking for some different ways to reduce the cost of your college education? Gregory Karp, a personal finance writer, discusses several unusual places to look for financial help in an article entitled Tuition Help for College Can Be Found in Unusual Places. Even more ideas for raising cash for college as well as a list of internet sites where you can get information about financial aid can be found in a Detroit Free Press article, Tip Sheet: College Funds -- Last-minute cash ideas.

How Admissions People Really View Essays

If you're wondering how your essay will really be treated by an admissions committee, you may want to read an excellent series of Essay Questions and Answers written by the admissions staff at the University of Puget Sound. While a few of the answers are specific to Puget Sound, most of the answers offer great advice useful to anyone tackling a college application essay. From which topics to avoid, to tips on what makes a great essay, this is a particularly good site to read before you send off your essay to any college on your list.

Financial Aid: The 568 Presidents' Group

If you'll be applying for financial aid, you should be aware of the 568 Presidents' Group, an affiliation of 28 need-blind colleges and universities that have agreed to use a less common method of financial aid calculation known as the Consensus Approach. This approach sets slightly different standards for how student savings, divorced parental earnings, and business and real estate assets are figured into the financial need computation. For some families, this approach can pay significant benefits when it comes to applying for financial aid, as discussed in an article in today's International Herald Tribune, Do Your Homework to Get the Most Financial Aid.

One nice thing about the 568 Group's methodology is that they have made the details of their methodology public. You can find a list of participating colleges and universities <here.

How to Get Great Teacher Recommendations

The next few weeks are the time to start thinking about teacher recommendations, especially if you are planning to apply Early Decision or Early Action. Don't underestimate the importance of strong recommendations: According to oneNational Association of College Admissions Counselors study58% of college admissions officers rated teacher recommendations as at least of moderate importance in making admissions decisions. For highly selective colleges, they're even more important. At colleges and universities with admit rates of under 40%, 78% of admissions officers said the teacher recommendation was of moderate or considerable importance in the final decision.

"Recommedations are probably the most overlooked and underutilized aspect of the college application. A mediocre recommendation can be death to an application. A bad recommendation is eternal damnation," says college admissions consultant Richard Montauk in his excellent book on college admissions,How to Get Into the Top Colleges. On the other hand, a great teacher recommendation from a teacher, says Montauk and other experts, can seal the admissions deal by supporting all of the other aspects of your application.

So, how do you make sure you will have that great recommendation in your application folder? Here are a round up of tips from the experts:

- Choose carefully. "Pick a teacher who you know will write the best recommendation possible," says William Morrison, a college counselor at a top Chicago high school in his online article, The College Application: Recommendations. Which of your teachers know you the best, both inside and outside of the classroom, and can comment on both your academic ability and other, less tangible positive characteristics that may not be immediately apparent in other parts of your application? If you're applying for a particular major, consider whether there's a teacher who can support your goal by talking specifically about how you've handled related work? For instance, a prospective engineering major might choose a math teacher who can address the student's comfort with high level mathematical concepts, or perhaps the science teacher who acted as their advisor on an award-winning science fair project. A prospective journalism major, on the other hand, might consider an English or humanities teacher familiar enough with the students' writing skills to be able to comment on them in depth.

Don't automatically assume that you need a recommendation from the teacher who gave you the best grades. "Beware of the teacher who hastily gives you an A but has no real idea of who you are - his recommendation will sound generic," warns Katherine Cohen, founder of college consulting firm Ivy Wise, and author of The Truth About Getting In. In some cases, it may be better to ask the teacher who gave you a B but knows you well and respects your determination to succeed. In all cases, however, try to choose a teacher that you have had recently.

In his chapter on teacher recommendations in ,How to Get Into the Top Colleges Montauk adds a few additional tips on picking teachers to ask for recommendations. He suggests seeking out a teacher who has written recommendations for others who have successfully applied to the same college or university in the past. He also recommends that students consider teachers "who bring originality and liveliness to their work, rather than those who appear to teach by rote" because those teachers are often the ones most likely to bring those same qualities to the recommendations they write for their students.

- Approach teachers in a polite and tactful manner. "When you approach a teacher for a rec, please do it diplomatically," advises the guidance office of the Pembroke Hill School, a private high school in Kansas City, Missouri. "Ask the teacher if he/she can write a strong letter for you; if there is any hesitation, then consider withdrawing the request and asking another teacher."

The college counseling office at Exeter Academy in Massachussetts echo's the same advice in its college counseling newsletter: "Be gentle with your teachers. Bear in mind that they are accomodating your request for a recommendation on top of their already busy schedules. Treat their effort witht he respect it deserves -- don't run to them the night before your application is due and expect miracles." The Exeter counseling office, as well as other high school counseling officers, suggest talking to teachers about writing recommendations no later than September 22 for Early Decision and no later than November 12 for Regular Decision applicants.

- Make the teacher's job easy. Give teachers as much information as possible. Katherine Cohen suggests developing a brag sheet that highlights your achievements and a copy of your best project, paper or assignment you did for their class. She gives detailed suggestions on what to include in a brag sheet in The Truth About Getting In. The Pembroke School guidance staff recommends meeting face to face with the teacher and presenting them with a folder with deadline dates clearly marked on it that includes the recommendation forms, an activity resume similar to Cohen's brag sheet, and stamped and addressed envelopes for each school. "Do not simply drop a form into a teacher's mailbox!" adds the Pembroke staff. This makes sense as meeting with them face to face gives your teacher a chance to ask any questions or clarify what you want them to highlight in your recommendation.

All experts strongly suggest waiving your right to see the recommendation. "Put it this way: if you are worried enough about a certain teacher to want to see the letter before it's sent out, then you should probably not be asking that teacher for a letter of recommendation in the first place," notes Cohen in The Truth About Getting In

- Be judicious about sending extra recommendations. In his online article, William Morrison says it is fine to send more recommendations than are requested, as long as you're sure each is strong and adds something important to your overall application. Remember the saying said to be used in many college admissions offices "The thicker the file, the thicker the candidate."

- Thank every teacher who writes a recommendation for you. Don't just send an email or give verbal thanks agree the experts. A handwritten note of thanks will be appreciated by teachers. Some students also give a small token of gratitude. Some examples: home-made baked goods, a gift certificate to a bookstore, a small plant.

Curious what a good teacher recommendation should look like? You can see an example of one here. The Journal of College Admissions also has an article with samples of guidance counselor recommendations here

An Inside View: Colby College

Colby College is a liberal arts college with just over 1800 students. Located in Waterville, Maine, Colby admissions is highly selective: for the Class of 2008, only 36% of applicants were accepted and median SAT scores were 680 verbal and 680 math.
Colby offers particularly strong programs in the hard sciences, English, economics, history and political science. Another area of strength are Colby's study abroad programs. In fact, our inside view is provided by Andrew, a junior with a double major in history and government, who is currently studying abroad in Australia. Here's what Andrew had to say about his experiences at Colby.

What were the three most important things you were searching for when you were looking at colleges?

I wanted a small liberal arts school in the northeast or Midwest, a school with
a great sense of community and a school with a good balance between work and
play.

Besides Colby, what other schools did you consider?

Hamilton, Carleton, Middlebury, Williams, Bowdoin, Bates, Kenyon

What convinced you that Colby was the right school for you?

When I visited, I just walked around and talked to students and it immediately seemed like the place for me. The one specific thing I remember is seeing a couple kids selling BUCK Fates shirts for the Bates-Colby football game that was coming up
the day after I visited. I thought it was pretty cool that even though Colby
was small, the kids still had some school spirit.

What has been your biggest surprise about Colby - something you didn't
know about or didn't expect until you actually started?

How diverse Colby is. Colby is about as white bread as you can get in terms of
race but its actually got a pretty good mix of jocks, hippies, artsy types,
preppies international students, kids from small towns, kids from cities, kids from in
and outside of new England.

How would you describe the typical Colby student?

As I said, its hard to pin down a typical Colby kids but you'd probably say an upper middle class white kid from suburban New England who drinks reasonably hard, likes the outdoors, and is moderately liberal but not too concerned about political activism. The school definitely has a stereotype of being full of rich New England preppies. While that is somewhat deserved, it is not as bad as a lot of people make it out to be. The one type of student I'd say should stay away from Colby is kids who aren't that into the outdoors and want a city full of activities, you definitely need to be willing to create some of your own fun when you're out in the Maine woods. Make sure you want a small school if you want to come here.

What's the academic workload like at Colby? What has been your favorite class so far?

Academic workload varies a lot from major to major and how much you want to put
into your work. In some majors you can slack off and still pull B's relatively
easily but in some of the harder ones like the sciences, economics, and government, you need to work hard and A's can be really tough to come by because Colby isn't big on grade inflation. Since I'm double majoring in humanities my workload's pretty
sporadic, I can go a couple weeks where I only am doing some reading and have a
pretty light schedule but then I'll suddenly have 3 papers due and I'll be
working my butt off for a week.

As for my favorite class, it was actually a cluster of two run by the integrated studies department. I took a philosophy and an American literature class at the same time that both focused on the first half of the 20th century. Both classes had the same 10 or so kids in them. The integrated studies department runs a few of these clusters every semester. They're designed for underclassmen and they all are limited to 16 kids and require that all 16 kids take all of the classes in the cluster. The students in the classes get pretty comfortable with each other since we spend so much time in class together, and that leads to some great discussions.

What was your freshman year dorm like? How are Colby dorms in general?

I lived in double which is what almost all freshmen end up in. I happened to get
put in one of the hillside dorms which is (at least in my opinion) the best
place to end up as a freshmen because the dorms are small - between 25-40
kids - and you end up getting to know everyone in your dorm real well. In
general, Colby dorms are decent. We have a system where every dorm is required to have kids from all four years. That's awesome when you're a freshman
because you get to meet upperclassmen but it stinks if you're an upperclassmen and get stuck in a dorm with all doubles and no suites. There are some on-campus apartments for seniors that are amazing but only about a quarter of seniors actually get into them.

How's the food? What's your favorite menu item?

Colby's food is really good. Right now, I'm studying abroad in Australia and living
in a residential college with absolutely terrible food so it's made me appreciate
how good the food at Colby really is! We have three dining halls that do a
pretty good job of mixing it up. I'd have to go with fajitas at Foss for my
favorite menu item.

What's Colby's social scene like? Where do people hang out and what do they do for fun on the weekends? Would someone who didn't drink or use drugs feel comfortable at Colby?

On campus you hang out in dorms (common rooms or just friends rooms) or in the
street, which is a big hallway underneath the library that connects both sides
of campus and has couches/chairs/tables to do group work or just hang out. Most partying takes place on the weekend, you'll drink a little bit with some friends in small parties in dorm rooms on campus then head up to either the senior apartments, a big party at an off-campus house or a school sponsored dance or concert or whatever. I know kids who don't drink who are perfectly happy with Colby and other kids who think the school is full of drunken idiots. If you're not comfortable with people around you drinking and being drunk you probably don't want to come here but you don't have to drink to have fun. The school does a pretty good job of bringing in speakers and concerts and stuff to keep us busy.

What's Waterville, Maine like? What's your favorite part of the town or
surrounding area? Your least favorite?

Waterville is a typical small New England mill town. Its a little depressed
because a lot of jobs have left the area but things have apparently been
getting better lately. There are few good restaurants around town and two movie
theaters (one that shows mainstream stuff and a one independent films). The best
part of town is campus (which is really beautiful) and the Maine woods that are
10 minutes off in every direction. The worst part is the strip of WalMart, fast
foods restaurants, and gas stations near the freeway exits.

How are the winters in Maine?

In my freshman year, it never got above freezing the entire month of January, and it was below zero for almost a week straight. My sophomore year, there was four feet of snow outside my dorm in late March and patches lasted until early May. The sun also sets about 4 p.m. during December and January. That having been said, the winters give us great skiing and snowboarding (Sugarloaf is an hour away) and it can be beautiful. You probably shouldn't come to Colby unless you can deal with the
cold. Colby students don't get too upset about the winters because they knew
what they were getting into when they came here and we find ways to deal with it. To give you an idea, my roommates and few of my friends threw a BBQ for the Super Bowl on a deck outside my dorm last year even though there was a foot of snow on the
ground and it was about 40 degrees out. We just piled up the snow into a bar
and used it to keep the beer and meat cold. And we had like 50-60 people at
this BBQ even though it was outside in the middle of winter. Colby kids can
handle it.

What advice would you give to high school students looking at colleges?
Is there anything else you'd like them to know specifically about Colby?

For general advice: visit the schools you think you like (if you can) and apply
based on how much you like a school, not based on how highly ranked a school is
or what is reputation is. My friends at home in California thought I was nuts
for going to Maine and none of them had ever heard of Colby. But in the
Northeast Colby is pretty well known and has a reputation as a good school. It's better to go to a school where you'll be happy socially then to go a school where you'll impress adults when you tell them where you're going.

As for Colby, I simply love the place. If you want a small liberal arts school
and can handle the winters, definitely consider applying.

Online College 'Zine

Billing itself as the online magazine "for life after high school," Next Step Magazine should be on every College Hunter's list of websites to check out. In addition to a college search engine, Next Step's site has hundreds of useful and informative articles about every step of the college search and admissions process. Particularly useful: an up-to-the-minute calendar of college and university open houses for prospective students. Throw in a handy financial aid calculator and a great career advice section, and Next Step Magazine is one of the best resources out there for college information junkies.

National Survey of Student Engagement

Pop Quiz: Who's more likely to work on a research project with a faculty member? An undergraduate at a major research university or a student at a small liberal arts college?

If you guessed the student at the research university, guess again. According to at least one major survey, 33 percent of students at liberal arts colleges report they've worked directly with a faculty member on research, compared with 19% of students who attend research universities.

The finding is from the National Survey of Student Engagement, an annual survey that since 1999 has asked over 600,000 students at more than 700 colleges and universities about their educational experiences --- from how much time they spend on couse work to how involved they are with extracurriculars. Some of the results - like the one on student-faculty research - run counter to popular public conceptions. Some examples:

- Students at less selective schools are more likely to report they've had interactions with people of different races and ethnicities.

- Students at small public universities are less likely to pull "A" grades than students at private medium sized universities.

- Students at liberal arts colleges spend more time (6.8 hours a week on average) in extracurricular activities than their counterparts at research universities (5 hours a week) and master's level universities (4.4 hours). Liberal arts students also attend musical events, including concerts, more often than students at universities.

Want to know more about how the student experience differs between liberal arts, masters-level universities, and research universities? Check out the most recent NSSE Report.

Unfortunately, while the NSSE provides some interesting and important insights, not all schools have agreed to participate. Among the missing: the entire Ivy league. Even more frustrating to college hunters in search of information, is that most of the 750 participating institutions have declined to share their individual school results.

Still, I was encouraged to discover that more than 200 of the participating schools agreed to let U.S. News and World Report publish selected individual findings online this week. Click here to see which schools have made student engagement enough of a priority that they're willing to openly disclose their individual NSSE results.

Finally, the NSSE has put together an excellent Pocket Guide of Questions Students Should Ask when they visit college campuses to determine how engaged students are with their educational experiences.

Senior Year Stress

Feeling overwhelmed? Perhaps a little panicky? Just want to ditch the whole college thing and run for the hills? Chances are, you're starting your senior year of high school.

Seniors feel pressure from many sides, according to a recent article Stress,Anxiety Can Take Toll on High School Seniors. But, if you're a senior - or the parent of one - you probably already know that. Between the tension of deciding where to apply to college, filling out applications, and dealing with school work, extracurricular, and the concept that your life will be changing dramatically next year, it's a rare person who doesn't experience at least some stress during senior year.

How to cope? First, try to remember that the stress and emotions you are feeling are perfectly normal and exceedingly common. Don't be hard on yourself if you sometimes feel panicky or doubtful about your ability to cope.

Second, set boundaries for yourself and those around you. While you can't get out of doing homework and studying, it may be possible and even necessary to cut back on some of your less important extracurricular activities during the height of senior year stress.

If you're suffering from that common senior year ailment called
Parental Nagging, keep in mind that most parents don't mean to add to your stress -- they just want to be reassured that you're on top of the college application process. They may back down if you sit down and calmly discuss your planned schedule for completing the main application components.

And that's another key - having a plan. If you haven't a clue what needs to be done and when, then your stress level is going to multiply exponentially as the fall goes on. A few minutes spent drawing up a list of deadlines and requirements for each potential college on your list NOW will pay big dividends later by helping you avoid last minute rushing. Once you break everything that needs to be done and set a schedule for doing so, you may actually be pleasantly surprised at how more manageable it all seems.

Still, no matter how well you plan, there are bound to be stress-inducing moments over the next few months: teachers that forget to send in their recommendations, test scores that don't arrive when they're supposed to, essay writer's block, admissions interviews, and a host of other maddening things you may or may not be able to control. When your stress levels rise, it's more important than ever to take care of yourself. Get as much sleep as possible, eat well, and try to get exercise on a regular basis. Try to fit in at least a few activities that you've found help you relax, whether it's playing with your dog, hanging out with friends, or just watching Tommy Lee Goes To College for an hour. And, remember --- this too shall pass. Chances are good that you will survive and do well in the admissions process. This time next year, you'll probably be looking back and wondering what all of the fuss was about. Good luck!

Best Admissions Article Ever

Run. Do not walk. Hurry over and read the best article on the college search and application process that I've ever read. A+Options for 'B' Kids, part of U.S. News & World Report's 2006 College Guide. Not a 'B' student? Don't be turned off by the title --- this article has loads of important and useful advice for everyone. I think it should be required reading for all College Hunters.

Great Schools for Future Doctors

Recently, I received an email from a young man who, like many other high school students, is interested in becoming a doctor. He told me that whenever he asked about which colleges and universities would be good for a future doctor, he received the same answers - schools like Johns Hopkins, the Ivies, Duke. All are great schools for pre-med students to be sure, but he wondered: Were there any other schools that were also good for hopeful doctors that weren't quite so difficult to get into?

I reassured him that the answer is yes. There are actually quite a few schools that are somewhat less competitive to get into but which do a very good job of preparing students to apply successfully to medical school. Here's my list of personal favorites of great-but-not-impossible-to-get-into schools for future doctors - I've chosen them after looking carefully at (1) the amount of support they provide to students hoping to go to medical school (2) whether they allow all students to apply to medical school or only selected students at the top of the class (more common than you would think at some top universities) (3) the percentage of students who apply to medical school who actually get in. Some of these names may surprise you; some you probably have never heard of. All are worth checking out if you're interested in a medical career, especially if your high school grades and test scores aren't exactly at Ivy league levels. Keep in mind, this list is by no means exhaustive, just my personal favorites - there are other great-but-not-impossible-to-get-into schools for future doctors out there as well. Seek them out!

Great Schools for Future Doctors(in no particular order)

Franklin & Marshall (PA), the University of Rochester (NY), St. Olaf College (MN), Hope College (MI), Earlham College (IN), Dickinson (PA), Juniata College (PA), Washington & Jefferson College (PA), Allegheny College (PA), Whitman College (WA), Lawrence College (WI), Knox College (IL), Augustana College (IL), Rhodes College (TN), St. Mary's College of Maryland (MD), Goucher College (MD), Creighton U (NE), Marquette (WI), the University of Wisconsin (WI), the University of Maryland-Baltimore County (MD), the College of Wooster (OH),the University of Pittsburgh (PA), Furman (SC), Trinity U (TX), Southwestern U (TX), Hendrix College (AK).

An Inside View: Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering

Students at Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering are pioneers: Olin's doors only opened to students in 2002. Olin is unique in other ways. Founded with the mission of developing future engineers with strong business and entrepreneurship skills, Olin only offers engineering degrees, although an emphasis on biology within the engineering program allows students to prepare for medical school. Olin currently has just 219 students on its campus in Needham, Massachusetts, just outside of Boston. Each student receives a full tuition four year scholarship and lots of individual attention. Olin has fostered close relationships with next-door-neighbor Babson College, a business school with a particular expertise in entrepreneurship. I asked Becky, a sophomore at Olin, to describe what life at Olin is like.


When you were looking at colleges, what were the three most important things you were looking for?

Looking back, size, geographical location and collaborative atmosphere were the most important to me. At the time I didn't understand what I wanted in a school, so I wouldn't have listed the above three. Basically, I considered schools in New England that offered engineering. It was only after visiting Olin that I realized that the feel of Olin was categorically different and (for me) better.

What other schools besides Olin did you look at or consider?

I applied to Norwich, Rutgers, Clarkson, Lehigh, RPI, and Colgate (besides Olin). I was waitlisted at Olin and admitted everywhere else. Since I had admittedly done a pretty poor job of making sure I actually wanted to attend the schools to which I applied, I wasn't sure where I was going to go. I got the call from Olin that I was in off the waitlist, so I never had to make that choice.

What convinced you that Olin was the right school for you?

Within an hour of setting foot on the campus for Olin's Open House during my fall of senior year I was convinced that I knew where I wanted to go to school. It's nothing that I can really explain. I had visited many other schools by that time, and other schools had all seemed nice enough, but Olin was the first and only school I visited that I felt I would one day be able to call home.


What has been your biggest surprise about Olin?

I don't pretend that I had a real clear idea of what I was getting into before I started at Olin, but there haven't been any huge surprises. Olin does a good job of exposing prospective students to current students (student panels at open houses and candidate's weekends, online forums, etc) so it's pretty easy to get an accurate picture of what Olin is like.

How would you describe the academic work load at Olin?

Very hard (but possible). The collaborative atmosphere helps a lot, especially some entering freshman have better math/science backgrounds than others, and teachers are very willing to help out when a student gets sick and needs extra time for an assignment.

What's the "typical" Olin student like

It would be hard to define a typical Olin student, except generally. Olin students tend to be passionate about engineering, and also passionate about other stuff. The 'other stuff' varies a lot between kids.

Anyone who feels genuine worry that the size of Olin isn't going to be right for them should visit. If that feeling doesn't go away after a visit, they should think twice about coming to Olin. Having a class of 75 doesn't feel right to everyone.

What was your dorm room like freshman year? How are the dorms in general?

Olin has two dorms. Last year I lived in the old dorm (first used in 2002). The new dorm was still under construction, but it's done now and will be used for the first time this year. All Olin freshman (besides medical singles) live in a double that includes a private bathroom. The students are responsible for cleaning the bathroom, and an inspection is performed a couple times per semester. The old dorm has 4 floors with a laundry room and lounge on each floor. Not surprisingly, the dorms are in good shape. The new dorms (East Hall) have some suites in addition to the doubles.

How's the food? What's your favorite item on the menu? Your least favorite?

The food is great. A lot of kids love the fried ravioli, but I don't want clogged arteries that badly. They usually do sushi once a semester, which is also popular. Some of the vegetarian/vegan foods tend to be less popular except, of course, with the vegetarians and vegans.

What's the best part of the campus? What's the worst part? What is the area around the campus like?

The campus is pretty small so it's hard to identify a best and worst part. 'The O' is a grassy area with a path that's in the center of the Academic Center, the Olin Center, and the Campus Center. People play frisbee there, and when there are campus-wide activities (like barbeques) that's where they are. The Great Lawn is the grass in front of the dorms. It's a popular spot for frisbee, volleyball, and snowball fights. Parcel B is wooded land where people like to take walks in the snow.

Olin is in Needham, which is a small town with a decent downtown that has a Starbucks and some places to eat. Boston is easy enough to get to (Eliot station on the T, or driving).

Where do people hang out, on and off campus? What do people do on the weekends?

On campus the lounges are very popular. If people want to watch a movie at night they'll sometimes go over to the academic center to watch it on a bigger screen than lounge tv screens. People go to Boston a fair amount too. Anna's is a Mexican place that has cheap good food. Oliners go there a lot.

Females are still a rarity in some engineering programs. How have you found the environment at Olin for females? Do you have any advice for women interested in engineering about looking at colleges?

Olin has a good gender balance, and the environment has been great. I think gender balance is pretty important to a lot of girls looking at Engineering school, and I think it's a factor worth weighing heavily. I don't want to be the only girl in my classes, and at Olin, I'm not.

What advice would you give to someone still in high school about looking for colleges?

Put a lot of effort into figuring out what is important to you in a school. Don't just put down names on a piece of paper to get your parents to stop whining about colleges. It may seem far away and unimportant when you still have the most difficult parts of high school ahead, but it's important and it'll be May of senior year before you know it.

An Inside View: Williams College

Williams College is generally acknowledged to be one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country. Founded in 1792, Williams has just over 1900 students on a 450 acre campus in the Berkshire mountains in western Massachusetts. Although all departments at Williams are quite strong, particular strengths are art history, the sciences, eonomics, history, and political science. Williams continues to be one of the most selective schools in the country, accepting about 19% of applicants each year. To get insight in to what it's like to be a student at Williams, I asked Noah, a junior Philosophy major, to share his experiences.

When you were looking at colleges, what were the three most important things you were looking for?

The quality of the undergraduate education, quality of life (how happy students seemed to be), and how I felt at the college.


What other schools besides Williams did you look at or consider?

I seriously considered Amherst, Wesleyan, Yale, Dartmouth, Princeton, Carleton, Middlebury, and Oberlin. I also looked at Swarthmore, Pomona, Rice, Brown, and other similar colleges less closely.

What convinced you that Williams was the right school for you?

There really was no one thing--Williams seemed perfect for me in virtually every imaginable way. Every student I spoke with seemed incredibly happy and gushed about how much they loved the school. Everyone was interesting, friendly, and seemed to bring something unique to the school. All of the Williams professors were leaders in their field and excited about teaching and involving students in their research. Oh, and Williamstown is stunningly beautiful.

What has been your biggest surprise about Williams?

The JA (junior advisor) system made such an incredibly positive impact on my first year at Williams. From the moment you step foot on campus, you have a group of 20-30 other frosh (your "entry") who have your back as well as two cool upperclassmen friends (your Junior Advisors). I didn't give the JA system a second thought when applying to Williams, but it turned out to be one of the best things about my first year (its positive impact has extended through my second year as well). *I'd be happy to elaborate more on the JA system if you're curious.* Also, while I knew Williams had great housing, I'm continually impressed by how nice it's turning out to be--more about that later.

How would you describe the academic work load at Williams?

The workload is certainly challenging, but by no means unmanageable. There are tons of academic support services, from the Deans, to professor-led review sessions, to the math-science resource center, to the writing workshop. Classmates are always eager to help out. Students are able to make free time to pursue extracurriculars, and most students are extremely involved both in and out of the classroom. Despite the challenging work load, the stress level on campus is extremely low.

What's the "typical" Williams student like and how does that match up with the stereotypes in guidebooks?

The typical Williams students is intelligent, involved with academics both in and out of the classroom, and active in at least one (usually many) extracurricular activities. Many guidebooks stereotype Ephs (the nickname for Williams students)as being "smart jocks" and while there are many "smart jocks" at Williams, the majority of students don't really fall into this category. Athletics is but one of the many extracurriculars Ephs are involved with, and while Williams sports teams are extremely successful and well-supported by the student body, so are Williams theatre productions, Jazz Bands, Art Shows, etc. To characterize Williams as only a school for athletic students is to overlook the numerous other passions and successes of the student body. I think there are very few types of students who wouldn't fit in at Williams (note the high retention/graduation rate). Any student interested in meeting and become friends with a diverse group of interesting people and in being involved both in and out of the classroom would fit right in at Williams.


What was your dorm room like freshman year? How are the dorms in general?

I lived in a smallish double (the smallest double on campus in fact) which shared a larger common room with a single. Our suite shared a bathroom with one other similar suite (such suites are comprised from 2-4 frosh, so frosh bathrooms are typically shared by 4-8 students and are all unisex). This common room setup is typical frosh year and throughout all four years. It's great in that it allows students a private space to sleep/study in as well as a distinct social area. About 1/2 of frosh rooms are singles as are 90% of upperclass rooms. The dorms are all beautiful and well-maintained and the rooms are all large.

How's the food? What's your favorite item on the menu? Your least favorite?

In my opinion, the food is great. There are five dining halls and three snack bars, which is more than most colleges twice Williams size have. Since each dining hall prepares food for a smaller number of students, they are able to prepare more complicated dishes and put more care into each food item. The expansive salad bars are largely comprised of organic and locally grown food. One dining hall serves exclusively hormone-free meat and the others may begin doing so next year. Little specialty items such as real maple syrup, real whipped cream, and local apple cider are common. There are seasonal specialty meals throughout the year, such as Harvest Dinner which includes a beautiful Maine lobster for each student as well as great cuts of steak, where Dining Services sets out cloth tablecloths, decorates the dining halls, and has live music. There there were four accordion players serenading us for the Winter Carnival dinner. Some Dining Services highlights include a Recipes From Home day where all of the menu items for the day are made from recipes that parents send in (students vote at the end of the day for their favorite which is then incorporated into the permanent menu), cooking courses for students, and meal points at the snack bars if you miss a meal. My favorite items have to be the desserts which compare favorably with anything you'd get at a nice restaurant and the fresh warm breads, which are both made on-campus at the bakery. The crab cakes aren't great, but then again, few crab cakes outside of Maryland are.

What's the best part of the campus? What's the worst part? What is the area around the campus like?

My favorite part of campus probably is Mission Park which is the area between Mission Dorm (where about 2/3's of all Sophomores live) and the Frosh Quad (where about 2/3's of all Frosh live); It's a great place to go sledding in winter or find a quiet bench/sculpture to read or talk by. However, there are so many great areas like this--the campus is quite picturesque--that it's fair to say that my favorite part of campus is wherever I'm thinking about at the moment. The area around Williamstown is stunningly beautiful and provides a seemingly unending amount of great sledding/skiing/swimming/canoeing (depending on the season) locations. Despite being very rural, the Berkshires are far from being the "middle of nowhere:" between the Clark Art Institute, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, Williams, Bennington, and other local cultural institutions, there is a constant stream of events going on within walking or short driving distance of campus. Williams itself provides enough going on that I very rarely left Williamstown during my first two years and was NEVER bored.

Where do people hang out, on and off campus? What do people do on the weekends?

People hang out in the common rooms of the dorms (either their own private common rooms or the larger all-dorm common rooms), the snack bar/student center, and outside when it's warm enough. Virtually all students stay on campus (or around campus--nobody goes home other than over the breaks) during the weekends, usually hanging out with friends and going to college-sponsored comedians/concerts/parties/etc, and going out to see sports games and student performances.

What advice would you give to someone still in high school about looking for colleges?

Visit, visit, visit! The US News rankings will give you a very rough idea of where colleges fall, and guidebooks will let you know what a college's stereotypes are, but neither comes close to capturing what a campus is really like. Use the guidebooks and rankings to narrow your list to a manageable size and to come up with questions to ask students during your visit. Try to get a feel for what the academics and student life is like at each college. Day visits are helpful, but ultimately try to do overnight visits with students at as many colleges as possible. However, most importantly, realize that it's YOUR impression that counts the most. Your parents, extended family, teachers, and guidance counselor will all likely try to influence your decision. Listen to what they say--they probably have a lot of good advice--but go where you want to go, not where they want you to go.

Also, apply to a good range of colleges, and only apply Early Decision (ED) if you're sure it's your first choice--the advantage ED gives applicants is negligible compared with the chance that you will have committed to attend a college that is not your first choice. Chances are you'll get a lot out of wherever you end up whether it is your first choice or your eight, so don't kill yourself stressing over getting into college. I'd be happy to answer more specific questions about Williams or college admissions. Email me: 07ns@williams.edu.

Best of luck with the whole admissions process!

An Inside View: Trinity College

Guidebooks can only tell you so much. There's nothing like hearing first hand from someone who actually attends a college or university. With that in mind, I've asked several current students to share their experiences, both good and bad, at the schools they attend. I'll be posting their responses over the next few days. Keep in mind that this isn't intended to be a scientific survey -- just insight into each school as if you were talking to a friend who attends.

First up: Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. Trinity is a private liberal arts college with just over 1800 students. One of the few liberal arts colleges to offer engineering, Trinity also has particularly strong programs in economics, political science, English, and psychology. Admission is highly selective, with an overall acceptance rate hovering around 35%. I asked D., a female sophomore, to share her experiences at Trinity.

When you were looking at colleges, what were the three most important
things you were looking for?

I was looking for sense of community on campus, professor accessibility, and freedom to explore different subject areas.

What other schools were on your college list?

Tufts, Brown, Amherst, Connecticut Coll, University of Connecticut, Colgate, University of Miami

What were the main reasons you choose Trinity?

I chose Trinity because the professors are enthusiastic and are accessible outside of the classroom. Most classes are small, which I liked because I felt that class discussions would be better because of it - and they are. There is a lot of freedom to explore different subject areas because there are only five classes of distribution requirements required in addition to your major (humanities, social science, mathematics, arts, science). I liked the idea of being able to have the freedom to take different classes simply because I was interested in them. The architecture is also stunning. That wasn't my main reason for choosing Trinity, but it certainly didn't hurt.

What has been your biggest surprise about Trinity (i.e., something you honestly did not expect, or something you expected that did not prove true)?

I shouldn't have been surprised based on what I had observed during visits,
but I was pleasantly surprised to find how often professors will go out of
their way to help you if you need it. They want you to do well.

How would you describe the "typical" Trinity student? If there's no "typical" student, can you describe the main groups?

The stereotype of the "typical" Trinity student is well heeled and very preppy in terms of lifestyle and clothing. While this is true to an extent - about half of the student body attended prep or private high schools - once you're there for a while you realize just how diverse Trinity is. Regardless of your background or interests, chances are you'll be able to find your niche/group of friends. Trinity students are very bright and most students seem to strike a good balance between working hard and playing hard.

What was your dorm room like freshman year?

I had a single. I requested it on my housing form and by some stroke of luck I got one. Singles are limited at Trinity and the majority of freshman live in doubles. The room itself was small and was in need of some repairs and new furniture. I wouldn't consider the dorms one of Trinity's strongest aspects, especially compared to how gorgeous and well equipped the academic buildings are. The dorms aren't terrible though. I've certainly seen worse at other schools. The good thing is that you do get to live in better housing as you pass through your upperclassmen years. My room/building this year are much nicer than the building/room I lived in
last year.

Dorm rooms really do vary at Trinity. Some are much better than others, even
among the freshman dorms themselves, but the Office of Residential Life
recognizes this, so if your room isnt the best your first year, you have a
chance of getting a much better room the year after in the Housing Lottery.
Freshmen generally live in freshmen only dorms; Trinity is beginning an
experiment in which upperclassmen and freshmen are integrated into the same
dorms- this year we're trying it with two dorms and seeing how it works out.

How did you find the food? What's your favorite item on the menu? Your least favorite?

Don't expect your mother's cooking, but the food isn't too bad for the most part- there's a large variety of options for pretty much everyone. I'm very health conscious and picky, and I didn't encounter too many problems finding things to eat. My favorite things that the eating facilities serve are wrap sandwiches (any of the chicken ones are really good), fruit flavored smoothies and the frozen yogurt from the machines at Mather Hall (the main dining hall). The pizza and salads are usually good as well. I'd avoid the stale pita squares that are served as well as the catfish casserole that is served every so often. Yuck!

How would you describe the work level at Trinity? What was your favorite class last year and why?

The work level at Trinity is moderate- to-heavy but not impossible. The reading is the most difficult part because it tends to be dense. I would recommend taking at least one class each semester that's different overall from your other classes. If most of your classes are reading intensive, take a math class or a performing arts class to break it up a little.

What's the best part of the campus? What's the worst part?

I'd say the best part of campus is the quad, because you have a gorgeous view of the
best architecture on campus and it's absolutely beautiful in the spring- and
everyone hangs out there when the weather gets warm. Vernon Street, where the Bistro ( a dining facility), some dorms, cultural houses and the fraternities are located, is also a great part of campus. It looks beautiful when it's lit up at night and it's where most of the weekend fun takes place. The worst part of campus is probably Crescent Street, where some dorms and department buildings are located. Crescent Street borders on a more rundown part of Hartford. It's not horrible, but it's certainly among my least favorites.

What do people do for fun on the weekends? Where do people hang out, on
campus and off?

Although Greeks only make up under 20% of students, fraternities dominate the social scene on the weekends, so a sizable percentage of the student body go to fraternity parties on weekends (which start on Thursdays). A lot of people also go to smaller parties in the dorms. Other people go to school sponsored events (like dances, comedians, different cultural events). On campus, people hang out in the dorms, on the quad when the weather permits, the library (seriously- people tend to do
work in small groups, so there is a lot of socializing between work), and
anywhere where coffee is served. Off campus, people go to places like The
Tap (a popular bar), clubs in Hartford, and restaurants like Fuji Sushi and
Trumbull Kitchen, both of which are good restaurants.

How would you describe the surrounding community?

Hartford does have a lot of crime and is rundown in some spots, so like any city, you have to be smart. I wouldn't walk around Hartford at night, but then again, I probably wouldn't walk around anywhere at night. I don't feel as if I'm in danger
while I'm at school. The shuttle and campus safety services are great for
escorting students around campus after it gets dark. Hartford isn't New York
or Boston, but if you're willing to look, there are things to do off campus,
from trying new restaurants to going to the theater. There are also plenty
of opportunities for volunteer work in the community (such as doing
mentoring programs at Hartford public schools) as well as doing community
service (such as Do It Day, when the school comes together and donates their
time to a variety of different organizations in Hartford). trinity doesn't
want to be seen as a sheltered off bubble away from the city and it
encourages its students to interact and give back to the city, many of
which do.

What do you like best about Trinity? What would you change?

I really like the fact that it gives you the resources & support, as well as
a sense of community, to become whoever you choose to be over the next four
years, even if you aren;t sure what direction you;re going in academically.
There are plenty of opportunities to become involved, contribute to the
campus, & grow, both in your knowledge and who you are as a person. I also
like the fact that Trinity is really a work hard, play hard school- I like
being able to work hard during the week & have a great time on the weekends
and maintain this balance. If I could change anything, I would encourage
MORE interaction between people of different backgrounds/interests (it's
gotten better but I still think there is room for improvement in this area).
The costs of books are also really high- if you can avoid it, don't buy from
the bookstore (even used, they're still a bit pricey); get your books from
someone who has already taken the class or buy them offline.

Newsweek's "Hot Schools" List

This week, Newsweek releases its list of "America's Hottest Schools." If you want a sneak peak, go to America's Hottest Schools. Next up: The 2005 edition of the U.S. News & World Report's College Rankings.

Expert Advice on Paying for College

If you're wondering how you'll pay for college, you're not alone. "More than ever, college tuition increases are posing a financial challenge for many American students and their parents," says Mark Brenner, vice chairman and executive officer of College Loan Corporation, one of the nation's largest student loan providers. "But there are a number of responsible financial options available to families to help them secure the funds they need."

Brenner's advice:

Apply for scholarships: More scholarships are made available with each new year. Some students wrongly assume that they won't qualify, but everyone should apply - many scholarships are awarded regardless of a student's financial need. Remember, students and parents should never pay for a scholarship search. College Loan Corporation offers a free search engine on its website, linking students to more than 150,000 awards and $35,000,000 in total award money.

Remember parent loans: Too often, parents don't take advantage of all the federal financial aid that is available. For example, last year only 9 percent of eligible parents took advantage of the Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) Program, even though the PLUS Loan is one of the most attractive financial options available. PLUS Loans are not based on financial resources and they don't require any collateral. Parents can take up to 10 years to repay this low-interest loan.

Put students to work: When possible, students should help shoulder the tuition burden. In addition to on-campus jobs, many schools offer a Work-Study Program to further offset college costs.

Use caution before tapping into IRAs or 401(k) plans: Tapping into your retirement savings should be your last option; you will be faced with significant income taxes on withdrawals from your accounts. Financial specialists recommend leaving retirement accounts untouched unless you are completely out of options.

Consider private loans: With financial aid awards generally stagnant, more and more families are turning to private education loans to finance the cost of college. Shop around for the best deal on these loans. College Loan Corporation offers flexible loan limits and the option to defer payments until after graduation.

Explore your lender's repayment plans: If you plan to borrow money to cover the cost of education, choose a lender that offers a repayment option that will work best for you. College Loan Corporation offers several plans to help ease your financial burden, as well as borrower benefits that encourage healthy loan repayment.

The most important rule for students and parents is to remain optimistic. College tuition is rising quickly, but help and advice are available if you consider all of your options.

Would a College By Any Other Name Smell As Sweet?

What's in a name? Plenty when it comes to marketing colleges, according to To Woo Students, Colleges Choose Names that Sell. Several colleges have changed their names in recent years in an effort to better position themselves in the competitive admissions market. Beaver College, for instance, became Arcadia College - and saw its applications rise. It's all about branding, says at least one marketing expert who works with colleges --- and smart College Hunters will remember that most colleges are focusing more and more efforts on making sure you "buy" their product.

Best Colleges for Golf Lovers

If you're a golf lover, Golf Digest has just released its ranking of the best colleges for golfers. The guide breaks schools down into three categories: those that are best for golf-pro hopefuls, those where academics are stressed but golf is readily available, and balanced schools that are a blend of the two. Top schools for future golf-pro's: Georgia Tech for men and Duke for women.

Free Help Applying For Financial Aid

College Goal Sunday is a free workshop program in 20 states designed to walk students and their parents through the complicated process of applying for financial aid. Sponsored by the National Association of Financial Aid Administrators (NAFAA), the workshops are typically scheduled in late January and early February and are run by volunteers with expertise in financial aid, including many college financial aid officers. During the workshop, you'll learn about financial aid options and actually complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Find out more about the program and when it will be offered in your area at College Goal Sunday USA.

Rockin' Colleges

If music is important to you, check out Schools That Rock: The Rolling Stone College Guide, a recently released guidebook with a twist. Written by Jenny Eliscu, a staff writer at Rolling Stone magazine, Schools that Rock gives the scoop on the music scene on college campuses and in college towns across the country. In addition to describing available music venues, the book also profiles classes and majors related to music and the music business.

Financial Health of Colleges and Universities

Most college hunters focus on things like location, curriculum and social life when drawing up their college lists. But, there's one factor that should also be considered: the financial health of each college and university.

Pick a school that's struggling with budget problems, and it's more likely you'll experience unexpected cutbacks in programs and services, delays in facility maintenance and construction, and dramatic rises in tuition. Financially sound colleges and universities, on the other hand, have more money to spend on hiring and retaining quality faculty members, buil