Plan Out Your Academic Career Early
In order to make sure you have all the credits you need to graduate on time, it’s a good idea to plan out your courses early. Don’t forget to plan for general education requirements and classes you need for your major. But keep in mind that your plan won’t be written in stone. Most students change their majors at least once during their time in college, and this is a good thing. College is supposed to be a time of discovery. So, while it’s a good idea to have a plan for your academic career, remain flexible since there’s a good chance you’ll end up changing it.
You Dont Need A College Degree To Be Successful Heres Why
The truth is that a college degree is a required step of many careers, but not all. Decide what career you want first and check if a degree is needed. Even if a degree is not needed in the beginning, it may be required in order for you to move higher up within your company or field.
That being said, you can certainly be successful without a college degree your skills and talents can get you hired. Find out exactly what skills are needed for your career path and work hard to excel in them. You will have to be determined, self-disciplined, and goal-oriented. In the end, both education and marketable skills are key. Its up to you how you want to get that education and skills through an institution, or on your own in the real world.
Finally, do employers really check degrees? They sure do, if its important for them. For companies that require degrees, they may check your resume to find out if you really completed the accomplishments you put down. They will likely ask you about it in your interview as well.
However, many new companies today do not look at resumes during the hiring process. Instead, they will ask for written answers and a preliminary skills test during the application,and a more thorough and in-person skills test during the interview process. Your skill set, personality, and recommendations will go a long way for companies such as these.
Understand The Admission Requirements
Each school has its own set of requirements, so investigating what’s expected of you as an applicant before you actually apply will help you determine if you’ve got a good chance at being accepted. This will also help you to avoid spending money unnecessarily on application fees.
Make sure you know the deadlines at each school. Most universities have strict deadlines when it comes to submitting applications. Some may be earlier for more competitive programs. In other cases, you may qualify for early admission. Generally, there are also deadlines for receipt of supporting documentation like transcripts, exam scores, or perhaps even proof that you’ve obtained a student visa if you’ll be studying abroad.
If you’re applying for a student visa, you may be able to get some assistance from the Bureau of Consular Affairs website.
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Advice For Getting Your First Semester Of College Off To A Good Start
Setting off for your first semester of college can be scary, and even the most eager aspiring first-year will have questions. Although colleges do their best to make new students feel welcome, there are some issues that wont be addressed in the orientation package. Heres a little guide to some of the more practical matters of getting your college career started right.
Twin Extra Long Sheets
As I mentioned earlier, dorm beds require twin extra long sheets. Ive never been clear on why dorm beds are extra long, but heres what it means. You cannot bring the sheets from your childs bedroom to college. You must by new. Ill put in another plug for Targets jersey knit twin XL sheets.
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College Graduates Are More Likely To Be Married
65% of adults ages 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or more were married in 2014, compared with 53% of adults with less education, according to a 2015 Pew Research Center report.
A degree could mean a longer-lasting marriage, too. According to the report, researchers at the National Center for Health Statistics estimate that 78% of college-educated women who married for the first time between 2006 and 2010 could expect their marriages to last at least 20 years, compared to just 40% of women with a high school education or less.
Final Thoughts On What Stuff To Bring To College
I believe that solves the mystery of what to bring to college!
I covered just about everything that should be considered when creating your own college freshman checklist, and even what not to bring college.
But, if youre worried about forgetting something important when move-in day rolls around
I made a printable version to help keep it all fresh in your mind. Download the college pack list PDF below!
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Laundry Hamper Or Basket
Your teen will wash their clothes and they will need a laundry basket or hamper to transport a mountain of dirty clothes to the laundry room. First, think about how much theyll need to carry and how far they have to travel to do laundry. Are the machines on the same floor of their room or in another building? This is one that is lightweight and has a pocket for laundry detergent.
College Dorm Must Haves
Here is a numbered list of the 46 college dorm needs for guys and girls. These are listed in no particular order so please be sure to read all the way through to the end.
Also, the items listed below have links that will jump you to that portion of this article. Then, at the bottom of each section, youll find a link to take you back up to the top of the list. This should make your reading and shopping easier.
Each item in the numbered list jumps to the specific tip. Ive done this to make your reading easier.
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What Does A College Student Need For A Dorm Room
- Mattress pad and cover
- Bed Sheets that are specific to college dorm bed sizes
- Comforter / college bedding
- Blankets
- Pillows and pillowcases
- Laundry bag and laundry detergent
- Fan
- Extra alarm clock
- Ways to keep things safe in a dorm room
- Computer with extra chargers
- Cell phone and extra chargers
- Ear buds / headphones
After that, you will add in other items specific to the school needs and living needs of your student and also freshman dorm room decor, so your list for freshman college dorm will vary. You dont need to worry about fancy college dorm rooms. Just get your college dorm basics taken care of first!
Keep scrolling for the full dorm room checklist / college packing list and what to bring to a college dorm .
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The hard thing about the college checklist for freshman is that you will want to pack EVERYTHING to make sure your grad is prepared for anything .
But, you cant.
The things needed for college may be a lot different than you remember. Plus, dorm rooms are small and compact. And, you want to prevent the dreaded things I regret bringing to college list.
If youre stressed about all that college stuff, things to buy for college freshmen, college essentials, and how to help transition from homeschool to college , were going to help you.
Better?
Lets take a look at how to pack for college move in day with a practical college packing list.
M Command Strips And Hooks
Heres another given with college dorm rooms. Its nearly impossible to hang things on the wall. Either the walls are made of cinderblock, or you will be fined if you put nails into a wall. Your best bet for decorating a college dorm room is investing in 3M Command strips and hooks. So while not very sexy, Id say Command strips and hooks are essentials when thinking about decorating ideas for dorm rooms.
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To Minimize The Financial Burden
I’ve mentioned a few times that community colleges tend to be less expensive than 4-year colleges. Exactly how much less expensive are they?
According to the National Center for Education, the average community college cost for a year was $9,574 in 2013. While this is a significant sum, it’s less than half of the average for 4-year schools of $23,872.
In addition to saving money on tuition, community college students are eligible for financial aid, including federal grants, federal loans, state aid, and institutional aid. Plus they may be able to choose evening, weekend, or online classes that allow for a part-time or full-time job.
Students considered “in-state residents” get in-state tuition, which is why most community college students choose schools close to home . If they transfer to a state school through an articulation agreement, then they further save money with in-state tuition. Ultimately, their diploma comes from the institution from which they graduated, same as any student who attended for four straight years.
Now that we’ve gone over the main reasons that students attend community college, let’s go over how you can apply!
Do as the Atlantic puffins do. Take things one step at a time.
Grades In College Prep Courses
Most colleges will consider your grade in college prep courses the strongest sign of your ability to do well in college. If you perform well in your AP courses, it suggests that you have the ability to take on the college workload. Even if you struggled early in your high school career, colleges will look favorably upon strong improvement in subsequent years.
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What Are The Different Types Of College Applications
In the past, each college maintained its own application, which students completed individually. While some public and private schools still use proprietary applications, many four-year universities and community colleges now rely on platforms that allow students to complete one application for multiple schools.
The most widely used platform, the Common Application, is accepted by over 900 colleges and universities. Another popular application system is the Coalition Application. With these platforms, applicants simply fill out information on their demographics, family, education, and awards, and then send a single application to their chosen schools.
Students typically complete applications through an online platform or the school’s website, but many institutions also supply paper applications.
In terms of how many schools you should apply to, Chavis recommends choosing a balanced mix of colleges. “Students should always apply to more than one institution,” he said, “and consider applying to several schools in the following categories: dream school, safety school, and a low-cost institution.”
Best Place To Buy College Bedding
In case you didnt know, college dorm beds require extra long, twin sheets. Target carries a knit jersey version of extra long twin sheets that my daughters loved. In fact, my daughter kept using these jersey knit twin XL sheets after they moved out of the dorm and no longer needed the extra long.
This tells you two things about why Target is one of the best places to shop for college bedding:
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Are You Ready To Discover Your College Program
Its easy to think your work is done once youve submitted your financial aid information and youre admitted to college, but the truth is, there are a few other things you need to pay attention to between the time your college admits you and the time you start classes.
Each of these steps doesnt seem like all that big of a dealand none of them is all that hard to dobut skipping any one of them can put your college plans on hold. This is why as many as one-third of the students who are admitted to college dont attend the following fall because they forget to do something easy.
We dont want that to happen to you, so heres a list of key things to focus on once youre admitted.
In order to make sure they have enough room for all the students who plan on coming to campus, many colleges ask students to make a small financial deposit to the school once theyve been admitted. In most cases, students have until May 1st of their senior year to send this deposit in, and students who have limited financial resources can request a waiver of the depositbut you have to ask for that waiver by May 1.
This may seem like a small thing, but I hope you can see what could happen if a lot of students showed up in the fall who didnt put in a deposit. Suddenly, there wouldnt be enough beds for students living on campus, or enough classes for students to take, or enough instructors to teach them. Thats why they need to know youre coming.
1. Time Management
2. Office Hours
Summary Of Extracurricular Activities
Colleges want students who will effect positive change on campus. Getting involved in extracurricular activities, such as student clubs, band, and volunteer initiatives, is by far one of the best ways to demonstrate your commitment to your community.
When compiling your list of extracurriculars, don’t stress about the number of activities you have. “The quantity of extracurricular activities is less important than the quality of experiences,” explained Chavis. “Being heavily engaged in one activity and demonstrating extensive leadership can be just as impactful as being slightly engaged in multiple activities.”
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To Figure Out What They Want To Study
On a similar note, a year or two in community college can be a good way to figure out what exactly you want to study. Rather than jumping into college feeling unsure about their direction, some students take community classes to explore their options. Since community colleges tend to be a lot less financially burdensome, they make this kind of exploration more feasible.
While most community colleges want students to apply to a specific track of study, they do allow you to switch if you want to pursue a different field of study. If you’re planning to transfer, you’d just want to work closely with your advisor to ensure that you’re earning the right credits for a future Bachelor’s degree major.
Community colleges tend to be a lot less expensive than 4-year schools, as any financial advisor/ceramic pig worth his weight in pennies will tell you.
What Are Some Dorm Room Essentials
This is a great list for college students, but especially a college freshman dorm room essentials list!
Think of it as a basic college dorm supply list and help to create some of the coolest college dorm rooms!
So, what to bring to college dorms and what are college apartment essentials for freshman?
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Dorm Room Oil Diffuser
College dorms always smell stale .
To get rid of all that stinkiness that comes with a bunch of smelly young adults living together, your kid can use a diffuser.
And, bonus?
Many diffusers are also humidifiers that help with dry air and also come with oils that will help your student with stress during studying and exam week!
You just want to stay away from the big, bulky oil diffusers and instead go for the compact ones.
Your 2020 Checklist For Getting Into College
If youre a senior in high school, youve already sent off your college applications. You may have heard back from a few schools already, or perhaps youre anxiously awaiting your decision letters.
At this point, your job is to finish high school strong, choose the college youd like to attend, and prepare to ride off into the sunset this fall.
But if youre a junior, your college application journey is just beginning. 2020 will be the year you send off your college applications and that can be a little overwhelming.
So, what steps do you need to take this year to land at your dream school in 2021? Weve made you a 2020 checklist! Follow the steps below to make sure youre on track for college admissions.
SPRING
- Keep your grades up . The grades you earn junior year are the grades that are most closely analyzed by college admissions teams. Now that youre in the homestretch of junior year, keep your grades up and/or do everything you can to boost your GPA as much as possible. Ask for extra help, get a tutor, form a study group, etc.
SUMMER
FALL
Congratulations, youre a senior! Fall will be a busy time for college application season, so buckle up.
WINTER
Whats Next?
Get ready for any AP exams that you have. Remember, these can earn you college credit, which saves you time and money!
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