The Apparent Gaming Of College Rankings
When we first did this ranking in late 2014, we looked to the Center for World-Class Universities operated by Shanghai Jiao Tong University, which ranks universities around the world by academic performance.
Unfortunately, in subsequent years, the Shanghai Rankings lost credibility. The Shanghai Rankings have always been based on two types of criteria, awards for achievement and strength of research . Starting in 2015, however, the Shanghai Rankings finagled their use of these criteria, so that schools and programs previously unranked emerged from nowhere and suddenly featured prominently in the rankings.
Such concerns became especially evident in Shanghais subject area rankings, such as mathematics. For instance, two Saudi Arabian universities that had no history or tradition for excellence in mathematics and that had never appeared in a ranking of top mathematics programs worldwide suddenly appeared in the #6 and #23 positions.
An article in Science suggested an answer to this meteoric rise in Saudi mathematics: these universities offer lucrative part-time professorships to top mathematicians and scientists, in which they are required to spend just a few weeks every year on campus, but then are obligated to list the university as a secondary affiliation. These very loose affiliations are boosting the ranking of such schools and programs, even though the research that is ultimately responsible for the boost is conducted outside Saudi Arabia.
Icipate In A Specialized High School Program
Specialized summer programs are held on college campuses all over the country. At MIT Launch, students start real companies. Students at UCLAs Mock Trial Summer Institute train in public speaking and learn how attorneys prepare a case for trial. And the National Student Leadership Conference offers programs on campuses like Harvard Medical School and Georgia Tech, where students explore a future career, develop leadership skills, and get a taste of college life.
Why Is College Important
College is important for many reasons, including long-term financial gain, job stability, career satisfaction and success outside of the workplace.
________________________
With more and more occupations requiring advanced education, a college degree is critical to your success in today’s workforce. But earning an accredited college degree;can also have a significant impact on other areas of your life.
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You Have Curiosity Explore It
This is your opportunity to take what youâre already interested in and pursue it at a deeper level. Enroll in classes and sign up for activities that excite you, without the structured limitations of high school. Meet people from various backgrounds and cultures who have interests similar to â and different from â your own. They might even introduce you to new interests you didnât know you had.
The University Of Tokyo
Tokyo, Japan
The University of Tokyo is not only the leading school in Japan, it is also one of the leading schools in all Asia. It has made many strides to become an internationally renowned research center: for example, in 2012 the university developed PEAK, or Programs in English at Komaba, and now attracts students from over 100 nations. It also runs numerous research institutes studying multiple fields, including medical science, earthquakes, Asian cultures, molecular bioscience, cosmic ray research, solid-state physics, and environmental science, and has produced 11 Nobel Prize winners and one Fields Medalist. The university has also fully utilized its strategic location in the worlds largest city, and has had a major impact on the domestic front. Fifteen Japanese prime ministers have come from here. In fact, the schools influence on the Japanese government has been so extensive that former Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa felt the need to order government agencies to reduce the percentage of University of Tokyo alumni on their staffs to under 50 percent in order to promote diversity.
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Leaving For College Quotes
- When solving problems, dig at the roots instead of just hacking at the leaves. By Anthony J. DAngelo, The College Blue Book.
- Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine. By Anthony J. DAngelo, The College Blue Book.
- Dont aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally. By David Frost.
- Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen.; Dont be afraid. By Frederick Buechner.
- Learn as much as you can while you are young since life becomes too busy later. By Dana Stewart Scott.
- The best helping hand that you will ever receive is the one at the end of your own arm. By Fred Dehner.
- Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal. By Henry Ford.
- While I was I was exposed to this world that I didnt know was possible. By Tom Hanks.
- Dont live down to expectations. Go out there and do something remarkable. By Wendy Wasserstein.
- There is no telling how many miles you will have to run while chasing a dream. By Unknown Author.
- Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value. By Albert Einstein.
- College is a place to keep warm between high school and early By George Gobel.
- What we are is Gods gift to us. What we become is our gift to God. By Eleanor Powell.
How To Consider Everything
Okay, we know that reading all those different factors is A LOT. Here are a few ways to make the decision process manageable.
Now that you know what factors to consider, all you can do is make the best decision you can with the information available to you. We believe in you, geniuses!;
Celine Ives;is a college student who enjoys playing field hockey, cuddling with her dog and cheering on her Carolina Tar Heels.
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University Of Southern California
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Although the University of Southern California , located in Los Angeles, is a relatively young school among such prestigious company, it is the oldest private school in the western US, and has become one of the premier universities in America. USC enrolls more international students than any other American university. It has 42,000 students, almost 24,000 of whom are seeking graduate or professional training, and has an impressive $5.1 billion endowment, which leads to a $4.9 billion budget. USC has produced many noteworthy alumni, such as Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon. It is also affiliated with 288 Olympic medals. The schools faculty can boast of six Nobel Prizes, three National Medals of Science, three National Medals of Technology, and five MacArthur Fellowships, and has contributed 97 Members to the American Association for the Advancement of Science . Also, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has nominated at least one USC graduate every year since the creation of the Academy Awards in 1929.
Summer Activities To Boost Your College Application
Did you know summer activities can push your college application to the yes pile?
Colleges want to see that you are committed to extracurriculars throughout the school year, but they also love it when you are making the effort to expand and stretch yourself over summer vacation. What you do with your time can help you stand out from other applicants who have similar test scores and GPAs.
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Showing Students How To Learn From Their Mistakes
Its important to encourage students to learn from their mistakes and view them as an opportunity to improve. A lot of the time, setbacks and failure can be the catalyst for future success as lessons are learnt.
While students are equipped with the tools and theories necessary to deal with and overcome the challenges of everyday life, theyre also encouraged to identify their strengths and characteristics and how they can best use them.
Knowing You Can Take Care Of Yourself
Although obviously there are exceptions, most incoming freshman havenât lived away from home before. Even if youâre already pretty self-sufficient , itâs a whole new ballgame when youâve got to plan your own meals, figure out whether itâs worth going to the doctor when youâre sick, and so on. It feels awesome when you think you’ve got a hold of everything like a “real grown-up” .
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The Best Laptops For College In 2021
Finding the best laptop for college students is no easy task. In addition to offering snappy performance for note-taking and applications, the machines need to be highly portable and reasonably priced. Using our best laptop picks, we rounded up six machines that are great for college students.
We have two top recommendations depending on the operating system you prefer. The Asus ZenBook 13 is a highly portable machine with capable last-gen parts, and the Apple MacBook Air M1 showcases the best Apple has to offer at a decent price.
Looking to score a laptop on Prime Day? Make sure to check out our list of the best Prime Day deals, as well as our guide on how to find the best Prime Day laptop deals.
Which Best College Laptop For Students Is Right For You
Need something;powerful that can handle the demands from Photoshop and/or CAD? Then the Microsoft Surface Book and Dell XPS 13 are laptops that are right up your alley.
Alternatively, if youre looking for something more humble for doing your everyday tasks at college and maybe a little media consumption when you have some time off, then the ASUS X551MA or HP Stream 13 are both laptops to consider.
Choose a laptop based on what it does, not how it is marketed. For instance, some business laptops are great for school situations, but not all are.
And, then there are Chromebooks, web-based best college laptops. Some are hesitant to jump on the Chromebook bandwagon, and might not consider them the best laptops for college students, simply because you cant use Windows-based software on it. You might be surprised, but more often than not, we just dont use the programs on Windows, strictly using web browsers like Chrome and Firefox for all of our computer use.
Some popular laptops that you might want to consider are Lenovos Legion y530, the Legion y530 is solid, Chromebook x2, Zenbook Pro, Acer Nitro, Asus Vivobook, Acer Aspire, Macbook Air, Asus Zenbook, the Huawei Matebook, Envy 13t, the Macbook Pro 15inch, Lenovo ThinkPad, HP Chromebook x2, HP Envy 17, Lenovo Yoga, and the X1 Carbon just to name a few. These are some of the best laptops you can buy. Also some of the most powerful laptops.
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Iron And Ironing Board
Think very hard about how much you currently iron your clothing. Do you think youll be ironing more in college than you are right now? Somehow, I doubt it. If you have a wardrobe crisis and need a shirt to be wrinkle-free, hang it in your bathroom while you take a hot shower, or throw it in the dryer with a couple of ice cubes. Dont psych yourself out about the small stuff. If its something youll only use once a month, its not worth the space it will take up in your dorm.
Aeronautics And Aviation Technology
Aeronautics and aviation technology is another area that poses major difficulties for many students when it comes to academics. However, graduates in this field of study earn a good salary. There are also excellent growth opportunities for people who work in this area.
Many universities around the country offer degrees in aeronautics and aviation technology. Some degree programs prepare students to become pilots while others focus more on the engineering side. Different degree programs deal with aerodynamics and mechanics.
- Employment Opportunities
People who work for airlines and airplane manufacturers make a median salary of $60,000 and above. Their unemployment rate is only 4 percent with an expected growth of 5 percent by 2020.
What Is A Major Whats The Difference Between A Major And A Minor
A major is a specific subject area college students specialize in. Typically, between one-third and one-half of the courses youll take in college will be in your major or related to it. Some colleges even let you design your own major!
A minor is a secondary field you can study in while completing your major degree program. Its a specialization that requires fewer courses than a major. Minors are only required for certain degrees.
Potential To Earn More
The Bureau of Labor Statistics research found that, on average, college graduates with a bachelors degree typically earn up to almost 65% more per year than those with a high school diploma or its equivalent and almost 40% more than those with an associate degree. When we compare national median annual earnings of someone with a bachelors and someone with a high school diploma, thats a difference of almost $24,000 each year in expected gross income. Dont want a bachelors? Even an associate degree helps. An associate degree graduate typically earns about 6.5% or $6,500 more each year than those with a high school diploma. That difference starts to add up after a short while.
According to The U.S. Social Security Administration, those who only finish high school are anticipated to earn about $1.54 million over their lifetime, some college to earn about $1.76 million. A bachelors degree holder may earn around $2.43 million. Add more college to earn a graduate degree and that could increase to about $3.05 million.
Health And Wellness Facilities
Rumors of the famed freshman 15 are often true. Many students make bad decisions for their health and gain weight when confronted with unlimited high-calorie food in cafeterias. It is inevitable that a college campus becomes like a petri dish for colds, flus, and STDs as thousands of students from around the world come together in the confined spaces of classes and residence halls. Mental health issues also thrive in university atmospheres.
While you’ll find germs, fattening foods, and stress on nearly every campus, it is in your best interest to research a college’s health and wellness facilities and programs before attending. As a rule, the following should be true:
- Dining halls should offer healthy meal options daily.
- Non-athletes should have access to good exercise facilities.
- A health center should be available to students for basic services, preferably easily accessible from campus.
- A counseling center offering support for students struggling with mental health issues should also be available.
- Programs should be in place to educate students about responsible drinking and sexual health.
Students of healthy body and mind are much more likely to succeed in college than those who aren’t.
Who Should Buy A Laptop For College
Of course, you dont have to be straight out of high school to be in the market for a new college laptop. Whether youre unpacking your bags in a dorm away from home for the first time or returning after a long hiatus to finish up your masters degree, buying;a fresh laptop before classes start in the fall is always a solid investment.
What classes you plan on taking, as well as the degree youre pursuing should have an impact on the best college laptop you eventually choose to go with. If you need something sleek and powerful that can turn on instantly for rapid-fire notetaking, the Dell XPS 13 or Zenbook UX360AC should suit the job just fine. But, if youre worried about spending a ton of cash on the best college laptop that not might last more than a few months without getting beer spilled in the keyboard, the HP Stream 13 and Acer C201 are cheaper, durable options that can weather any alcohol-related storm.
Get As Much Work Experience As Possible
Although Wessell suggests logging as many on-the-job hours as possible, she cautions, I dont mean have one internship you do every single summer, or be a camp counselor every single summer, or be a receptionist at the local dentist every weekend. Instead, try out as many different kinds of work experiences as you can.
Why you should do this while youre still in college: Its a time when you can job-hop without looking unreliable or flaky. During college, youre totally OK to have a new internship every summer; youre totally OK to have a job every year of college, maybe even every semester, Wessel says. When you graduate from college, if you have a new job every six months, that looks really bad.
Doing a variety of jobs is the best way for you to figure out what you want to do after college and, just as important, what you dont want to do. Wessel explains, This is the time you should figure out what you love doing, what you hate doing, what youre good at, what youre bad at.
Watch her TEDxRutgers talk now: