Russia With Love

Russia’s history was initially influenced by the earliest Eastern Slaves, the Kievan Rus', who had accepted Orthodox Christianity from the Eastern Roman Empire in 988. This greatly affected the culture of Russia because the vast territory controlled by modern day Russia was united through Christianity, thus Christian values, traditions, and ceremonies can be seen in the earliest history of Mother Russia.

President of Russia Board of Education

Russia has endured dramatic cultural shifts starting as the Russian Empire, the nation then struggled as the USSR, emerged as the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, and the “motherland” is now known as the Russian SSR. Russia has suffered under a multitude of terrible and cultural inhibiting leaders throughout their history, such as Ivan IV-the Terrible. Russia has often been isolated from the rest of the world (sometimes purposefully and other times indirectly) and Russia’s culture has been slower to advance and Westernize their culture. Russia’s arts, such as its literature, theater  music, and architecture are often unique to Western ways. Russia always was trying to catch up with the rest of Europe but never could and this included their poor education system which was based on roots and not pie.

However, Russia has also had very effective leaders such as Peter the Great who played a large role in westernizing the Russian people and advanced Russia’s way of life. He also founded Saint Petersburg a popular tourist attraction. When Stalin assumed prime minister in May 6, 1941, he killed many and further stunted Russia’s economic growth and social evolution. Russia spent the years under Stalin’s control in fear. After world war one and two, Russia removed the Soviet Union and became an independent country in 1991. Russian culture celebrates their independence by retaining a vigorous nature.

Russians are known to party which is why freshman must be careful when studying in Russia because their inexperience can get them into trouble. For the international students, it is advised that you seek help from a professional in regards to your decision to study in Russia.
*Editors note: If you are studying about the potatoes or the snow, never mind  Russia is full of snow and potatoes. 

Russia also celebrates a week long Christmas holiday but they are required to fast. It is not known if this began as a tradition or if they were just out of food for a really long time. When we visited Russia, we were astounded at the lack of schoolhouses for the young children. Homeschooling is very popular in Russia, or what the students referred to as 'The motherland.' Russia students are educated much like Western students from Britain, Canada, or the United States, however, they go to school year round and get no summer. They are also required to have access to ammunition in a short notice.

Gertrude, mother of 7
Education level: 7 Potatoes (equivalent of  3rd grade USA)

All Russian students must adhere to a very strict dress code. All beards must be at least two inches long at all times. For many of the boys and girls, this means long minutes without shaving. The universities reasoning behind this was that bears of all sorts pose serious risks at all time to foreign students.

International Students and Stability

The students of Venezuela, Syria, and Turkey must face classes during a time of political instability. Their economies are suffering and as a result so is the educational system for these countries.

Venezuela
Hugo Chavez is terminally ill and cannot attend getting sworn into office for a third term. The country now does not know who their leader is going to be because the interim president is an appointed official, not an elected one, and his appointment expires with the presidential term in which he was named. This will put Venezuelan politics in limbo until the president’s status is resolved.

Syria
Forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad are fighting off rebel forces by restricting the countries freedom to access the internet and the policy is being met with heavy opposition and resistance from Syrians. Citizens are desperate to access the internet and are often using the country’s spotty cell phone connections and foreign aid to get online.

Turkey
A Syrian mortar hit Akcakale, Turkey which caused Turkey to invade the bordering country Syria, despite international opposition from the EU and Muslims. The border town of Akcakale has been deserted, blurring the geographical boundaries of the countries. International countries urge Turkey to avoid escalation and to prevent further casualties.

The University of Mississippi, better known as Ole Miss

This public college is known throughout the south for their athletics and southern charm. The only problem is that graduates of this school, are realizing the difficulty to find jobs located outside of Mississippi. Mississippi ranks low compared to other states on education and academic performance- among other standards such as quality of life, employment, crime, and average annual salaries. Students, now in debt from their student loans, are realizing that their undergraduate degree from Mississippi State may guarantee a life and career inside the state. The state has a reputation of being "backwards" in regards to equality, compared to more progressive and liberal states such as California.

The Rebels!

This isn't just speculation. The state of Mississippi is still recovering from Hurricane Katrina which devastated their Gulf Coast. The BP oil spill didn't help in their endeavors to improve the state's economy. With high crime rate, low test scores and average incomes, some parts of the state are still facing incredibly difficult economic times. It is ranked as one of the worst states to find a job in, with an unfortunate increasing unemployment rate. This rate correlates to the academic and educational abilities of the area. Harsh immigration laws also harm the state in regards to tax revenue and employment.
However, even with these facts, alumni such as U.S. Senator Trent Lott graduated from Ole Miss, as did William Faulkner. This school also has a spectacular law program which has graduated many effective lawyers and senators. Also, the location of the campus puts the school outside of some of the more rural and poverty stricken areas.
In addition, Ole Miss offers The Residential College South, which is a program that helps a diverse group of students to grow academically and socially. Another response to the school's critics comes from the college's undergrad honor society, which was chosen by Phi Beta Kappa and is known for its prestige. The campus' location puts it in walking distance from the only children's hospital in Mississippi. The school also recently added three new dorms, known as The Ridges. This will help house their growing student body. There is also a local skate park for those students who enjoy extreme sports such as skateboarding or rollerblading. These activities can be a great way to get an adrenaline boost and also ease the stress of school.
The Higgs Boson discovery took years of scientific advancement and drastic amounts of knowledge and dedication. This state school is responsible for researchers who helped make this advancement possible. UM is known for respectable degrees in Business Administration, Elementary Education, Finance, and Journalism. UM graduated a record breaking 112 pharmacists, showing the exceptional work of their Pharmaceutical College.
This goes to show that a student's life is what they decide to make of it. With motivation and hard-work, the scholar can rise out of desolation. The economy of the southern state of MS is still growing and their respect for equality is also progressing. The school of UM is certainly helping to bring Mississippi from out of the dust.
The Ole Miss Rebels play UCA on September 1st in Oxford for their season's opening football game.

"On behalf of knowledge and wisdom"
Founded: 1848
Campus Location: Oxford, MS
Mascot: Rebels
Football Stadium: Vaught Hemingway Stadium
Gym/ Weight Training Building: Turner Center
UM Website: www.olemiss.edu

Florida State University_FSU_Seminoles

The Florida State University is a highly populated school known for its warm beach parties and social atmosphere. Sciences, arts -such as theater and film, and engineering are major areas of study. The students are also highly active in supporting equal rights including the LGTBQ's. Even during the 60's students were protesting and voicing their opinions about racial integration and the involvement of the United States in Vietnam. Since then, FSU students; can be seen helping others in addition to standing up for their beliefs. Recently FSU students developed a website to help children's advocacy groups. Florida State students have always been opinionated and unyielding on their beliefs.

Nole-ympian Correspondents at the Olympic Games 2012

The college has recently made developments and improvements around campus as their student population swells and this includes the new Advocacy Center which has a delicious apple tree planted in front. The school also is finishing construction on its new Wellness Center, which is just another example of the renovations the school took over the summer. On the other side f campus, on the east side of the Union Courtyard, students can see the ongoing improvements to the buildings as it is almost completed. FSU hopes to have most of its renovations done before Seminole Sensation Week which occurs right before the fall, when freshman and other students gather to celebrate returning to school and being among friends and colleagues. Among other changes students can expect in the fall is located in the school's library which is now The Werkmeister Humanities Reading Room. The Werkmeister Humanities Reading Room is not longer a place for books but rather a collection of memorabilia and tributes which recognize and educate on the school's history and pride. Florida State had graduate students taking the bar exam the week of July 24th, a test which many students probably lost sleep over as they studied and reviewed. This school is constantly outgoing and impressing this blog by participating in activities including having professors write for the nationally acclaimed newspaper "The New York Time." Alum are also striving to set good examples for their undergraduate colleagues, including Leron Rogers who made it into Men's Book. If that isn't enough to impress any future college students, FSU professors recently helped in finding the Higgs boson particle as a researched with the highly intelligent scientists at CERN.
A rich history is found in The Seven Days of Opening Nights Festival which actually lasts much longer than a week. Artists and performers gather to entertain and dazzle audiences. The Festival was foudned in 1999. This college isn't without tarnish however. Who could forget the loss of Seminole Greg Reid from the FSU football team this year because he was asked to leave the college. Florida's official art museum, The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, is operated by FSU. This comes as no surprise because of their remarkable music and arts program.
Florida State also sent 12 students to London, England to report on the 2012 Olympics. The student correspondents had much to say in their letter back to the school about the sporting events and also run a Tumblr.
No review of Florida State would complete without mentioning their nationally recognized Law Moot Court Team. Their court team took first prize at the 2012 Kaufman Memorial Securities Law Moot Court Competition.

Motto: Strength, Skill, Character
Founded: 1851
Campus Address: 600 W College Ave Tallahassee, FL 32306
School Phone Number: (850) 644-6200
Colors: Garnet, Gold
Nickname: Seminoles
Website: http://www.fsu.edu

College Textbooks: How digitizing and updating editions means more money spent by the student

In a time when libraries are shutting down, the importance and fragile nature of the written word has never been so unimportant, frivolous, and non-stop. Human history has been defined by the written word and its effective means of communication. The invention of the printing press made books cheaper and more abundant, now that monks weren't sitting in their basements re-writing texts by hand. One of those books being the Judeo-Christian Bible, was made more accessible than ever after the printing press. The burning of the Library of Alexandria caused a surge of information to be lost, information that recalled great feats and intricate details on our own past. Information that could never be reclaimed or rediscovered.
In this digital age, where tweets and Facebook updates have become infamous for their superfluous nature, it would seem there is no limit to what is necessary to be expressed via written words. One worry though, is that as libraries age and wither, will we trust Apple and Amazon to keep the digital texts the same as the physical? Will Apple be able to one day, and over time, be able to edit out parts of books it deems necessary to be censored. Will this censorship have mass impact on our cultures by effectively eliminating the information, just as burning a library did centuries ago? Whoa, we need to take it easy on the blotter, as a college student you're just upset that textbook prices are so high.
Guess what, it's no coincidence that textbook editions change almost every year now. This was drastically different just a decade ago, when textbook editions lasted longer. By changing editions every year, it makes passing down your old textbooks difficult. Renting textbooks is now all too common, which means no writing in your textbooks, very reminiscent of high school is it not? Or you could buy the textbook and hope to sell it back, but that also means no highlighting, underlining, or doodling on those precious pages.
What's the difference in these textbook editions? Have we made that much change in Algebra in the last 365 days? Has Biology drastically changed its views on cells and the human anatomy? Should we assume that History from 1500-1750 has been false all along? Surprisingly... no. Not in the slightest.

Dat resale value.

The greatest difference in these textbook editions is at the very end of each chapter, and it's a series of questions called the "Chapter Review," and professors just love giving these problems out as homework assignments. It's unfortunate that you have last years edition, because the questions have changed. Well, most of the time, the questions are almost identical, except for their order. So it doesn't matter if you have the entire chapter's concept memorized and down to a science, the homework submitted by a student with an older edition isn't going to pass. This means for all the old-time students who were jealous at the textbook libraries available for Greek's at their college's fraternity and sorority houses, they can sleep soundly knowing that old method of saving money on textbooks will not work. 
In a shocking similarity, Biology: Science for Life edition 3 is about as different from Biology: Science for Life edition 4, as Madden 2012 is from Madden 2013.
So, the differences in these physical editions of these textbooks seem to only be as important as far as the course assignments are concerned. Granted, the examples may be slightly more up to date, for example, instead of Clinton appearing in a classroom to talk about the human anatomy, it may be Obama in a cliche classroom talking about medicine. Oh, and also there is about a 100$ price difference in editions, so if you have a personal thirst for knowledge, save money that could be better spent not-socializing and buy the earliest edition possible.
Then comes the problem of courses that require, online "help", or online assignments. To be able to use this online material to further your knowledge it's understood that you can access this technology by having the appropriate technology. I.e. An up-to-date laptop that can download the software, speedy internet access, and of course the Access Code- which requires the purchase of a new textbook that comes with the code. Even if you have the right textbook edition thanks to a friend, passing the course is going to rely on your ability to access and submit online information. Many companies truly care about your education such as The McGraw-Hill Companies and ALEKS -- Assessment and Learning, which both offer programs that cost upwards of 100$ a piece, for a 6 month period. This means if you decide to drop the course, you have an added wasted expense.

Humorous Caption

So, we're not here just to bombard you with a rant to leave you miserable. Here's what students can do to combat high textbook prices
1. Rent/ Resell the God-Foresaken book
Renting guarantees lower prices, but take some precautions. Make sure the book isn't damaged and can be reused and make sure you don't need an online course access code which only comes with new books. But wait! Often, the software or access code can be bought separately. Compare the costs of buying a new book with the software included versus renting the book and buying the software separately. Also realize that with both renting and reselling, damage to the book could cost more that you realize, which includes highlighting important information and folding corners of the pages. Reselling a new textbook is more of a risk, because if the edition changes before you can resell your slightly used book, you're stuck with a heavy paper weight and expensive reminder to hate textbook companies.
2. Use ebay and Amazon to your advantage buy buying used books online often for a much cheaper price than at your local "Used Textbook" store. The risks associated here include getting sent the wrong edition, a damaged copy, or the wait period, which you may not have, and shipping costs.
3. Torrent your textbooks or buy a much cheaper, albeit older, edition. Now your only problem will be finding a friend who will loan your cheap-self his book so you can copy down the homework problems. If you decide to save an incredible amount of money this way, realize the importance of attending class. Now that demonoid has been closed, torrenting textbooks may have gone "the way of Old Yeller" (edition 1) or according to edition 4 "the way of MegaUpload."

School in Fall

School is back from the summer! Cases of "Senioritis" have cleared up throughout the country. Those effected by "Senioritis" have been cured of their laziness and superiority complex. For some seniors, the realization that by slacking off their last year of high school because they already got an acceptance letter from college, has left them without a school to attend, because even though an acceptance letter was sent, colleges still expect the same academic performance during the students final year. For those others freshman, during the first year remember to work hard, because an academically poor year cannot be undone and will be upsetting as a junior or senior.
In regards to G.P.A., a wise friend told us that 3.0 is the bare minimum if you are hoping to continue school even after a four year degree. The difference between a 2.99 and 3.0 is drastic. Think of it like a television commercial where items are sold for $19.99. That 20$ seems infinitely higher than only 19.99 (or so marketing suggest).
Meet as many people as you can this fall. The beginning of the school year offers orientations that can help you avoid becoming lonely or burnt out on school. This is an exciting time in any students life, but depending on your social skills, can also be nerve-rattling.
Orientation is also a perfect time to become comfortable with your new schools campus. Learn quicker paths to your classes that avoid over populated couriers which can leave you late for class. Alternative driving routes and parking spaces are easier to learn before it costs a course absence or tardiness.
Remember to not bring everything you own. As a freshman you are still far from the in dependency of home, and there is no reason to bring everything you own. Guitar Hero may have been fun in high school, but it will not help academically or socially... maybe that plastic guitar should get left and in its replacement, pack an extra blanket. Bringing too many personal items from home is a classic freshman mistake and leads to clutter especially in small dorm rooms.
Should I drop a class? When should I drop a class? Deciding to drop a class is an important decision to make. Dropping a class means instead of receiving a low letter grade, for whatever reason (personal, too many other challenging classes, professors style, etc.), a student can "drop" the class and take it again at a later date. Make sure to speak with advisers as well as the professor before deciding to drop a class, especially if much effort has already been invested in the course. This includes buying a the classes usually overpriced textbook. If a class is dropped and retaken later, the textbook edition could easily change, which will leave you with a wasted expense, which will sting as a broke student. Don't get lazy as a student and allow that to influence the decision to drop a course.
In class, don't be scared to ask questions regarding material that is unclear. Chances are other students are wondering the same thing. At the same time, pay attention, so if something becomes unclear, the professor won't say that question was already answered earlier during that class period. No one will think you are a loser or nerd for asking about difficult and complex material. Also, don't be the class-clown . This lesson can be learned the easy or hard way and it's ultimately the fact that everyone there is wanting to learn and/ or get on with their day. Save your outgoing and humorous charm for outside the classroom, where friends and colleagues will appreciate it more than the teachers.
Relax! Don't stress too much over school or social life. Realize that others have gone through similar if not identical situations and problems. By using a day planner, you can properly manage time and avoid procrastinating.
Be nice and courteous to everyone. This includes all those you think are weird. Avoid talking behind peoples back and stay away from gossip and drama. Trust me, as a student you will have more to think about than who Stacy Anderson is taking to dinner on Friday. Realize that many classes will not just have freshman, and that just because someone is a freshman doesn't mean they are the same age as you. Some classes that are required in your major may even have seniors in them, who will seem radically more experienced.

Find success during the first week of school

School is back. What should you being doing to get ahead and reduce stress during the first seven days in your new life?

Start thinking before the actual first week. Get all the supplies and technology needed as a student. More than likely dorm room shopping is a must. Get only the necessities because your budget will grow increasingly tighter. Get pens, pencils, notebooks, and print off your schedule. If you can get your books ahead of time, go ahead and do that. Buying textbooks can save a lot of time that can be focused on studying.

Why that's the day after today!

Relax. Every single professor on the first day of class will try and make their class sound so incredibly difficult. This is a classic move to scare, or motivate, students to pay attention and take the course seriously. This is also a great way to cause panic attacks! Don't let the classes that seem impossible on the first day intimidate you. You will find throughout college that most of your classmates are in similar situations.

Most colleges have first-week activities lined up. Take advantage of this to meet new people and learn information about what extracurricular hobbies could be of interest. If your university doesn't have first week activities (as cheesy as some can be) it must be a pretty boring school. This is a great opportunity though to socialize and make a first impression. This is the time when new friendships and circles of friends are made. Getting involved with a group of friends is a great way to avoid having to introduce yourself later in the year. Finding friends is also a great way to avoid homesickness and enjoy good laughs.

Do a fake school day. A fake school day is when you go around campus and make sure you know how to get to every class and where the classroom is located. Take a mental note of how long it will take to arrive to class. All of this information will make the first week that much easier.

Get moved in and make sure everything is working. That laptop case you decided to pass on may have resulted in a wonky computer. Make sure everything is ready for lift-off.

Avoid getting the blues of school's first week. Spend time with friends while staying productive. Put your energy towards something effective. Avoid those who are irritating. Avoid getting frustrated at an earlier wake up call and realize that the academic demands the first week of school are so simple. However, this is the time when everyone transitions into "school mode." They go from summer free birds to student cyborgs who "-*-Fall Mode Activated-*-!"

What should I wear the first week of school? Well, if you're that shallow and vain I would recommend wearing something comfortable because a lot of studying is in your future if you don't get your priorities straight.

Relax Again! This is not high school. Don't worry about the seniors picking on the underclassmen. As a college student you are a mature adult, act like it. Be outgoing and friendly. Even though some people never change, sorry, there will always be that girl talking behind peoples back or that guy trying to start a fight. Regardless, it's important to relax and change that nervousness to excitement. After your first year of college, much less the first week, you will feel changed and will have learned important life lessons!

Be flexible your first week back at school. Attend as many orientations as possible. Read the syllabus for that class and try and work future assignments. Asses how arriving to class went, where you late or too early? Take advantage of Greek rush parties too. Greeks through large parties for freshman to get them interested in recruitment. Try and get ahead of some classes by printing out all the material, making sure you have the right textbook, and ensuring your laptop is capable of downloading all the new software that math class requires. Meet people throughout your dorm and find your own routine.

Why Summer ending is good!

Congratulations to everyone who made it through high school and are planning to attend college soon! Depending on the school's schedule (semesters vs quarters), summer vacation is quickly coming to an end. Are you excited or upset?
An end to summer means an end to this heat that has plagued my southern state and most of the country. Fall is a great time of year and important for new freshman. This is the time when first impressions are made. That's right, high school class of 2012, you are no longer seniors, or the big shots at school. College is a whole new world, even though at times it may feel similar to high school, college brings together students from all over the world, with different backgrounds, personalities, and lifestyles.
Regardless, here are the top reasons we're glad that summer is over.
1. That heat. Aforementioned heat wave this summer was brutal. Sun burns and heavy sweats are only a few of the downsides to the high 90 degree weather. Enjoy the warmth while it lasts though because it's going to get cold soon!
2. Seeing old friends/ classmates. Especially at college, where distance can impact relationships, it's great to have classes to bring everyone back together in a familiar setting.
3. New responsibilities Maybe you took on a summer job or decided to find a hobby that took up a lot of your free time. Say goodbye to those ways, because your focus is on textbooks, lectures, and grades now.
4. No time left for excuses That's right, it's time to go on those vacations or weekend trips you've been wanting to go on but couldn't find the time. Once fall starts, regular routines start up. People go back to working 9 to 5's and students-young and old alike- are back in class. Even television bases it's lineup for the fall. Plus, after all the excitement of the Olympics, sports and cartoons basically all start once the summer ends.
5. No more tan-lines That's right, the season will soon be the time to bundle up in a jacket or at least a long-sleeve shirt. So no more tan-lines from the sun or waiting to wear your new fall wardrobe.
6. End of Summer Parties Time to get together for one last hoopla before school's back in session. For new freshman, this means saying good bye to friends who are going away to different universities and it means savoring the last moments of your lives when everything is simple, and reminiscing on old memories. Don't get too sad because you will surely see each other over breaks etc. but you will notice that college matures and changes students in short periods of time. Come Christmas your best friend or close friends may appear completely foreign.
7. No more boredom The promise of not being bored isn't a guarantee, but at least those summer thoughts of "I have literally nothing to do," can be replaced with "I have nothing to do... but I really should at least look at my [insert subject here]'s textbook."
8. Summer school is over! Prepare for your campus to fill up fast and for everyone to be returning to their normal routines. Depending on how summer school went, the end of these unorthodox classes may be one of the greatest blessings.

So, time to get back to work and organized for the upcoming school year. The weeks will go by fast even if the days seem to pass slowly. Stay tuned for more college reviews and advice now that school is back in session. So turn off Alice Cooper's "School's Out" and put on whatever song motivates your productivity because the daily grind and stress of schools has started, or for some is very close to being underway. Good luck in all your classes!

Earning pocket money for college students

Pic related.
It's the money tree you don't have.

College is expensive. Without proper financial aid from state, federal, or family assistance, graduating, especially for four year degrees, takes decades of hard work and careful saving.
Assuming you're lucky enough to afford attending a higher level education, after textbooks and other basic needs are met, students often find themselves broke and unable to participate in activities. Money doesn't buy happiness, but it does provide opportunities that the poor don't get.

Before you begin reading this list, realize that the temptation to participate in any illegal activities to earn money will not pay off in the long run. Especially as a student, having a criminal background will only hinder the hard-work put towards furthering your future success. There are plenty of ways to earn money that don't involve lawyers, probation, or Saul Goodman.

Need side money to spend out of pocket as a broke college student?

#1 Donate Plasma
Plasma is in your blood, and if you drink plenty of water, rest, and keep a healthy diet, this is an easy source of spending money. Downsides to donating plasma include irritability fatigue, and scarring. Not just plasma though! You're young and healthy so go ahead and donate blood, hair, sperm, or anything else that medical offices will pay for!

#2 Sell unused/ unwanted items or Offer services Online
Websites such as Ebay and Craiglist can be gold mines for college students looking for pocket change.

#3 Earn Money Online
Be wary of scams such as pyramid schemes, however, sites such as swagbucks, cashcrate, dollar surveys, inboxdollars, steam, naturebucks, zeekrewards (MLM), blogging, TopLine, GiftHulk, Vagex, Mturk, AppRedeem, Treasure Trooper, and Bing Rewards can be easy and valuable means of income.

^**#4 Get a Part-time Job
Especially if you were working as a high school student, use the skills and experience you learned there to acquire a local job that works around your class schedule. Excellent jobs for students are those that allow you to study while you're job is slow. Examples include package handling, librarian assistants, or night shift employment.

#5 Learn more about your schools' work-study programs and find out how to qualify

^**#6 Avoid Needless Spending!
Sorry, but you're not going to afford to eat at a restaurant every night or be able to go shopping every weekend. Avoid parking tickets and late-fees like the plague. A crucial financial pit of loss is in ordering soft drinks in a drive-through line. Studies show that fast food companies such as McDonald's or Taco Bell earn + 100% revenue on soft drinks. An easy way to save hundreds of dollars is to avoid buying sodas if you aren't going to take advantage of the free refills. A penny saved is a penny earned so learn how to live within your means. Hard-work pays off, no need for a vacation!

#7 Mow lawns, help move furniture, wait tables, volunteer- Just find out what you are good at and advertise it. Help tutor or proofread papers. Do you have a knack for arts and crafts? Sell that to suckers who will pay money for it. If you are good at taking pictures, drift around populated areas and tourist spots and offer to photos. As an artist, offer to draw caricatures. If you have a talent for baking, sell your goods at bake sales at the local church. Put up flyers offering cheap car washes or lawn care. If you are experienced as a babysitter, get your name out there and develop a respectable reputation.

^**#8 Find a Job?!
This is critical because of the impact it will have on your future resumes'. Even if it means taking fewer classes (see financial support to find out how many hours absolutely must be taken), any job will be crucial in supporting yourself in the long term. Be careful to avoid over scheduling which will lead to lower test scores AND decreased work performance.

#9 Garage Sale
So no luck selling that extra TV or video games online? Hold a garage sale and get rid of the clutter in your life while also earning cash.

#10 Become a mystery shopper, or participate in market research
Whenever the opportunity arises, market researchers will pay big bucks for test subjects. It's an easy and safe way to earn money while voicing your opinion.

#11 Take advantage of free samples
There are literally hundreds of blogs and sites on the internet providing free samples. Search around for great deals. Avoid the trap of spending extra money on name brands. There's no shame in saving an extra dollar or two by buying generic. Search "freefly"

#12 Sell Aluminum cans or Copper wiring
Places will pay top dollar for each ounce of copper wire you bring to them. See above for rules regarding the legality of your income especially with copper, which is often stolen. Collecting aluminum cans and selling them by the pound is good for the environment and your pocket.

#13 Sell bottled water
Ask any businessman and he'll tell you the importance of location and timing. Buy bottled water in bulk and sell it outside of sports games. People will be thirsty and appreciate the convenience.

^**Numbers four and six (eight) are the most critical in maintaining comfort as a student. Stay smart and avoid scams. The internet is a great place to find an area to cash in on, but so is socializing and developing co

nnections locally and on campus. Let your friends and adviser know that you are on the job hunt and looking for ways to earn money.

Delgado Community College- Recent Activity

TODAY! At Delgado's fine campus in city park, from 6 – 8 p.m., a free Final Cut Pro X demonstration will be taught in the DMEC computer lab.
With schools located throughout Louisiana, the 90 year old Delgado Community College is a shining example of the potential and impact a community college can have on a student’s life. Its student body is increasing rapidly as students realize the importance this two year educational institution can make.
The college offers a tour of the city of New Orleans, which provides information about the rich and deep history of the city. The tour guides must be licensed which is not mandated by every tour. Seven years ago the school established a Quality Enhancement Plan to improve the performance of their students. Seven years later, the QEP is working well and enhancing the lives and education of Louisiana.
For this upcoming fall semester 2012, the University of New Orleans has helped relieve the over populated Delgado of their crowding by setting aside five classrooms on their location.
Delgado, unlike other schools, has a chancellor instead of a president. A new chancellor was recently named and met with the schools' students.
In news regarding professors, Mrs. Susan Hague received the Fulbright grant to teach in a foreign country. She will be leaving her job as a speech professor to educate children in India.
Another professor making an impact on the local community is Fine Arts and Music Philosopher and Professor is Mr. Peter Cho, who was interviewed on his stance on music and racial harmony especially through jazz. Mr. Cho focused and added to the life and legend of jazz musician Luis Armstrong.
Delgado graduates can expect a joyful career. Alumni have made impacts on local and surrounding communities and have gone so far as to make the states' board of governors.
According to our research, Delgado's top three most popular degrees are in Business Administration, Liberal Arts, and Nursing.
In response to rapid expansion, Delgado is also adding to their curriculum including one of their newer programs: Service Learning. Service Learning gives back to the community while at the same time students earn a grade and college credit. It is this abstract and creative approach to learning that makes their students so successful. The school has also added a Digital Media Education Center or, DMEC, which teaches students of all abilities ranging from beginner to expert.
The schools baseball field, Kirsch-Rooney Stadium, is 55 years old and isn't named after the Delgado Dolphins. Instead it was dedicated to Cyril Kirsch and Robert Rooney, residents of the surrounding Lakeview Louisiana area. Another interesting aspect of Delgado, is their kindness and help for the disabled which is seen in their rehabilitation center which has been helping the handicapped for decades.

Founded: 1921
Years: Two
Main Campus Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Colors: Green and Gold
Mascot: Dolphins
School Website: www.dcc.edu

Bad habits freshmen learn while being away from home

So you're away from home and away from the rules of your parents now and you're thinking "No rules, let's have all the college fun!". Well you're absolutely wrong, and those thoughts are a sign of immaturity and lacks the foresightedness needed to graduate. Don't worry though you will learn. The following bad habits are often formed as a young adult living away from home and can have lasting effects. Decisions made as a college student will impact the rest of your life. You're parents were smarter than you thought, so listen wisely because they tried to raise you properly!
#1. Tobacco
Why not? You're 18 (here in the USA) and can purchase cigarettes if you want. This is an addictive and harmful habit to begin. Without having to worry about parents catching a smell of your clothing, students often feel smoking is a harmless way to relax or take the edge off, when in actuality, tobacco, or nicotine specifically, is addictive and carcinogenic. Many smokers say they started smoking in college when their parents weren't looking over their shoulder. Creating an addictive habit like this can make going home difficult because there are only two choices: tell your parents you use tobacco or try and cover it up/ stop using. By telling them you are using tobacco you run the risk of them not supporting you with spending money or if they are really strict you could lose your freedom. By trying to stop cold turkey when you visit home you will be irritable and not your normal self around your loved ones.
#2. Drinking Alcohol
Of course, who doesn't have a beer or two at a party in college? Students would be surprised that a lot of college students don't participate in using alcohol especially if they are under the legal age (21 in the U.S.). The majority of college students do try a beer, so know your limits and realize the decisions you make under the influence could be embarrassing, illegal, or inappropriate. Normal rational thinking goes out the window when alcohol is in the mix and emotions can run wild. Deciding to drive after even one beer as a student will get you a driving under the influence charge. Greeks who use peer pressure to get their frat or sorority pledges to binge drink are not true friends. Drinking also leaves remaining after effects such as liver damage and hangovers. Waking up early or trying to study and learn new material while hungover is frustrating and more problematic than it needs to be.
#3. Sleeping too much (or too little!)
Don't become lazy as a student! Mom is not there to wake you up every morning for school so make sure you have a reliable alarm clock. Make sure you earn your sleep! Nothing is more valuable than time especially as a student. Sleeping in all Saturday and not being productive is a bad habit and will lead to unemployment, lack of social life, and ultimately depression. Look in to exercising more. Believe it or not, getting your heart rate up relieves stress and will give you more energy throughout the day, while at the same time helping you fall asleep at night. Sleeping too much will cause bad study habits and your grades will reflect your constant snoozing. Waking up for early classes can be difficult, so avoid partying into the late hours of night.
On the flip-side of sleeping too much, there is the problem of not sleeping enough. A sign of sleep deprivation is also a sign of poor time management. There is no bed time or curfew in college so you can stay out as late as you want, however, your brain will not function at its potential and this will harm your educational advancement. There was a student who once went 4 straight days with no sleep and stayed up on caffeine. By the third day she was unproductive and couldn't focus. We tried to convince her to get some sleep or see a doctor in case she had insomnia. By the fourth day she fell asleep at 11am and didn't wake up until 3am. This was a huge problem for her sleep schedule as normal people don't sleep and wake at those hours. She said it took an entire week for her to get her sleep cycle back on track. Don't be dumb and stay up all night, because you're body won't be working at its full potential.
#4. Eating Proper Meals
Having a homecooked meal every night kept you healthier than you previously thought- and it probably tasted better than the school's cafeteria. Now, without a structured set of authoritarians watching your diet you are free to eat all the donuts and pastries you want. However, this can lead to diabetes and obesity which are leading causes of illness and death in the U.S.A. It is important for parents to help raise their children with respect for a proper diet and healthy lifestyle. This is because the habits they formed as kids are going to carry with them throughout adulthood. A college schedule is also hard to eat three balanced meals at the same time everyday. Make sure to avoid sugars and limit caffeine usage.

By avoiding these four habits: smoking, drinking, sleeping, and eating; the young man or woman will be ready to live a mature, healthy, and responsible life. It is important to hang around a good group of friends. A students' peers are shown to have an incredible impact on their thoughts and decisions, including whether or not to partake in the aforementioned four habits.
College is a time of learning life lessons and deciding for yourself what will be done with your gifts and talents. However, immature decisions can lead to life altering consequences. Now that you are an adult you don't have to follow your parents rules, however, you will have to reap the consequences of ignoring how you were raised because you will now be seen as an adult.

College Sports: Meeting a Student-Athlete

When it comes to playing sports in college, no matter if it's football, baseball, soccer, track, or whatever, students realize that their athletic training will add stress to an already busy and unfamiliar schedule. Make sure the school offers the sport. Many smaller schools will not offer clubs such as lacrosse or ice-hockey. This is especially true with women's sports. Few freshmen make varsity level teams. A red shirt freshman is eligible to play for five years and not just four. For this reason, he just practices and gets to know the team for his first year. A red shirt freshman is not a freshman who made the roster but has to wait a year. This is how a fifth year senior happens on the collegiate sports level. Walk-on freshman to a well unified and arranged college sports team can be a difficult transition. Walk-on freshman play for the team without a scholarship. A scholarship to play college level guarantees your spot on the team.
College football brings in a lot of revenue for schools. Often students will be able to receive scholarships to attend the university if their performance is impressive enough. There are many different athletic divisions including the NCAA, WAC, and Ivy League. These divisions are based on region as well as school size and ability. Division one is the most competitive and expects a high level of performance and athletic talent from their players.
Baseball in college is nothing compared to football or basketball. This is obvious when college basketball goes through March Madness or when college football teams compete in the various bowl games. Collegiate sports are based on three divisions. There are also collegiate teams that compete outside these divisions and NCAA, and are usually more laid back and can even be taught by an instructor so it is a learning experience just as much as it is a competitive or training routine. Syracuse is a great football school.
We spoke with a college athlete who was attending a state school on a scholarship. He played varsity basketball and explained the differences between junior varsity and varsity. From what he said, it was obvious there was a large difference in the amount of athletic talent and contrast in the level of competition. The athlete told us that he was offered a larger scholarship to play football elsewhere, but he wanted to make sure that if he didn't make the big leagues, that at least he had his education to fall back on. He said sports were on his top three priorities in life. As we finished the interview with this gentleman, a few co-eds came up and started talking with Mr. Big Shot. The social advantages to performing well on a college team were obvious. Competition is very tight to get on the roster, but the training relaxes him when it comes time to study. Many athletes cannot handle the work load of strengthening their mind and bodies and end up having to make a decision between the two. This is why student athletes who maintain a high grade point average are well respected.
It is understood by most athletes that there is always a chance that their dreams of playing professionally won't happen. This is why they must make sure that their grades stay above a 3.0. If their academics fall below that, they run the risk of missing career opportunities, as well as ruining their education. Experience playing in high level sports, such as basketball, swimming, or track and field, demonstrates a student's ability to be above average by setting their minds to something and succeeding at a difficult task.
For readers who are more interested in the actual sport, rather than the extreme training and competition that comes with varsity level sports, an intramural division or club is recommended.
Student athletes often have difficulty managing their time. It is important to get enough rest to allow the body to heal itself. Playing sports in college, however, is the best and most common way of being able of making it to the professional stage of the sport. Online colleges do not offer their students chances that other colleges offer to get seen by prospective recruiters and drafters.
Many students are devastated when they realize they won't be able to play their favorite sport in college. Maybe it wasn't their favorite sport, but was a sport they thought they were the best in. Being cut from the team or being told that you aren't a good enough player for them to use can be crushing. The NCAA keeps sports rosters online and they can be found for decades in the past.
Athletes also run the risk of injury. If improper techniques or mechanics are used in sport a horrible accident could occur that would handicap a young person early on in life. Red shirts have the ability to come back and play for a fifth year if they take the entire season out. This is another great way to catch up and stay ahead academically. Fifth year senior athletes usually have a low-intensity academic schedule so they can train and practice longer and harder. Also, just like those who focus excelling in school, an athlete must get plenty of rest and take care of their body. This means no late night parties or shindigs. Student athletes, especially popular ones, are often like celebrities at their college. Their social life shines with other students who want to meet them.
College sports can be a great addition to a job resume especially if the interviewer also played that sport or was a fan of your team. College sports also help if the student is interested in working at a sporting goods store selling items and trading stories. Few freshmen make college teams.

Pre-Exam Stress in College

It's the day of a big test and you've studied, but are still extremely nervous. Whether or not you pass or fail the course relies on doing well on this exam. The instructor hands out the exams and you take a look at the first question. Suddenly, your mind goes blank! This is just an example of one the many negative effects stress can have on a student before taking a test. How can college students avoid stress before an exam? College Cranium offers the following advice to not just freshman.

Confidence in preparation!

As a student, your primary responsibility is going to class and learning the material. That being said, it is important to study hard and study properly before an important test. Don't allow yourself to fall behind in the class especially early in the semester (or quarter). Most classes give students opportunities to make up for a failed test.
Make sure you get plenty of sleep the night before a valuable test. This means no "all-nighters" and studying into the early hours of the morning. Study weeks in advance, and get a good nights sleep. This also means no partying or excessive energy drinks late at night. Be confident that you have prepared properly and that way sleep will come easy because you will not be anxious. Before the test, do a quick review of everything that you have been reviewing.
Another important aspect of performing well on the exam is to ask your professor questions about information that you do not understand or seems too complex. If you are a student who often gets stressed out before a test, you may also be too shy to ask questions. Don't be! Even if you must go to the teacher after class hours, it is vital that the information is understood so you won't worry and stress out before the test.
Make sure you keep organized so the exam does not sneak up on you. Keep a list of important dates for when papers or exams are due. By staying on track and organized, the student does not have to worry about missing essential deadlines for classes. Also, find healthy ways to relieve stress such as going for a walk or run. Exercise is a great method to deal with anxiety and it can relax the student prior to taking the test. Eating a well-balanced meal and a multivitamin before going to class can do wonders for a students concentration and performance ability. Meditation has worked for many college students as a means of releasing negative energy and replacing it with the confidence and focus needed to succeed on examinations.
Talking to the universities guidance counselor can be beneficial in calming an anxious student. Take a few deep breathes before the test is handed out and realize that every student is just as anxious and nervous about the test as the next student. Visualize a time in the past where you performed well on a test, and remind yourself that you always do better than you think you do.
Another piece of advice that works for a lot of college freshman is listening to music before taking a test that they have been stressing over all week. This will calm them down and allow them to focus on their goal. It is important to study and prepare many days in advance so that the brain has enough time to absorb all the new material that is being taught at college.
Finally, a key factor in exam and test performance is having a positive attitude. Visualize yourself doing well on the test and how relieved and excited you will be to have gotten a good grade. In college, exam performance reflects how hard you worked. You must earn your grade. Studying a few hours the night before a test will not work in college. Exams cover a lot of information and most of the questions can be detailed or accumulative so make sure you understand what is expected of a college student. Keep in mind you are learning this knowledge to better yourself at whatever job or career you choose!
If you follow College Cranium's advice you will certainly be relaxed and perform to higher expectations by avoiding pre-exam anxiety. However, just remember to always study in advance and be a prepared and organized student.

College Cranium visits and reviews University of Cambridge

^{Cambridge Blue [*2]}

College Cranium wanted to review an international college and after much deliberation, a crew of three journalists including myself decided to go to England and to see what the University of Cambridge was all about. The reporters for College Cranium generally focus on institutions in the United States, particularly the Ivy Leagues, because of the schools give most excellent tours, and their reputation behooves them. Their were some difficulties that made our international visit more strenuous and less of a vacation then our earlier national college reviews, however, when we made it to Cambridge on College Open Day, our expectations were exceeded. _[*1]


Back on topic, College Cranium found that the University of Cambridge has the same prestigious reputation around England that the Ivy League schools had back home. This public university had many differences compared to the U.S.A., for example instead of presidents and vice-presidents, the school was run by a Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor. Another multifarious fact about Cambridge is its ancient establishment date. This school is over 500 years older than the oldest college (yes, Ivy League) in the States! Cambridge university, along with Oxford (future review pending from College Cranium!), created the Blue athletic award.
Cambridge boasts an incredibly large number of international students, both inside and outside the European Union. Students agree that self-motivation, passion, flexibility, and confidence are definitely required characteristics to succeed in your studies at Cambridge. Cambridge also boasts a 3 year requirement for students to receive their undergraduates degree. England also has much less student debt than the United States does. This student debt is caused by improper decisions such as to receive a student loan. College Cranium was impressed by the financial aid and support Cambridge offers. This fantastic international college felt as if their were thousands of clubs and organizations active on their campus. Students are told they are among thousands of intellectual thinkers all with common goals, although their area of study may differ. Cambridge has specific colleges for both bachelor of arts and bachelor of science. Theology, natural sciences, chemical engineering, and Asian and Middle Eastern studies are just a few of the courses offered to students who are lucky enough to attend Cambridge as an undergraduate. Cambridge also offers a graduate college. After a tour of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge's Art Museum, we were astounded by the treasures and spectacular art swag found inside.

^[*1]To review this United Kingdom University, we renewed our visas and set our destination to Cambridge, England. Our passports were difficult to come by because we were outside of the European Economic Area. However, unlike Cambridge students who require a tier 4 visa, we did not need an O,P, or H visa from the United States and our passports were already sponsored. The problem was with British Airlines, however, and we experienced a delay while we waited for the U.K. to approve our short visit with their five tier visa system. All troubles aside, finally arriving in Cambridge was well worth the stress because of how beautiful the city was and how friendly the campus tour guide was.
Before the tour, we rested in an excellent hostel which resided further, away from the school than expected, but still slept well and awoke to a breakfast of crumpets and tea. Once making it to the campus, we were greeted by one of the nicest gents I've had the pleasure of gathering information and reviewing a college with.

College Cranium's University of Cambridge Swag Facts

School Motto: From here, light and sacred draughts
Founded: 1209
College Cranium Seal of Swag:
Notable Alumni: Sir Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin (monkey swag), Jane Goodall, Stephen Hawking, John Madden (director)
Campus Location: Cambridge, England
Nation: (foreign/international) United Kingdom
Color: Cambridge Blue^[*2]
Team Athletics: The Sporting Blue
University of Cambridge Website: www.cam.ac.uk

Do college freshman party every night?

Parties are important in college. They teach life lessons and time management among other learning experiences. What are common freshman parties in college? A classic get together is a dinner party, where everyone gets to share a meal and socialize. College students also find that going to a bar is a great start to a night that usually ends in a house party. Greek organizations offer Rush parties and other events to help freshman meet new people and also recruit. House parties are usually where most freshman will get together because of the age requirements at bars and clubs. Make sure to not party too much, if you think you need help tell a guidance counselor. College is mainly there to study not party. Learn to balance your time of academics and socializing or you will find your college experience short.
When having a roommate who always wants to party, set firm guidelines that let him know when you cannot afford to be distracted by guests when you are studying or working on class material. Be lenient and allow the extroverted socialite you got stuck with as a roommate to have his fun, but don't let his fun come at your academic expense.

College Cranium advice: simple, cheap, and wild party ideas for college freshman:

beach party: just add umbrellas and to really have people talking, throw some sand around outside. Wear sandals and sunglasses and have someone bring a surf board. Oh what fun!
foam it up: get some mr. bubbles, fill sinks and bathtubs with water, everyone's covered in foam! protip: waterproof valuables
blacklights, blacklights everywhere Hang blacklights on the walls and replace the ceiling lights with blacklights. Encourage everyone to wear white.
karaoke night Someone you know must have a karaoke machine, take that bad boy out of the closet and let the good times roll! I can hear those oldies already!

Costume Party! Cheap, Swag, and Awesome!

jungle party This theme is almost too simple. Dim the lights and duct tape some tree branches to the wall. Presto! Your guests are in the jungle.
Disco/ 80's Night This may need the karaoke machine again. Being known as "that kid who keeps bringing out the karaoke machine" is a good thing, they respect you!
Costume Party That's right. Dress up as Ron Swanson dressed up as a pirate. Your imagination is the limit and college freshman really get into it! See the picture, it's related.

I'm a freshman and can't find any parties!

Is this you? Try going out of the way to meet new people. Strike up conversations with other students sitting close by in class. College is a chance to work on social skills. Getting involved on campus is a must! Don't worry that does not mean having to go Greek! Find a club or organization that fits your personality and chances are other students with similar interests will be there.

Where and How Freshman Study

When the college freshman decides to study is just as important as why the student has chosen to dedicate their time to learning new information and how the student is studying. Even more important is when to study. Study in class during the lecture. When taking notes, make sure to put highlight on important information that will likely appear on the exam. If a topic is continually being discussed there is a high probability that the point will be on the test. If the teacher writes something on the board make sure to copy that down! The teacher is not writing on the board for his own benefit.
This leads to the obvious statement: Go to class everyday! Even missing one class can mean missing valuable information that will help with studying.
Studying in groups is mutually beneficial and can help the student recall information easier. In classes which are primarily lecture, having a study group can mean getting information that may have been missed due to the fast pace of the course. It is important to study much earlier than the night or morning before the test. Cramming for tests does not allow your brain to store all the necessary material, the notes get stored in short term memory and are all but forgotten by the next day. This is a problem in the short run because most final exams are a general review of the entire course. In the long run, cramming hurts your professional performance. This means don't procrastinate!
Try and study in small amounts each day. Reviewing your notes and class discussion once class is over is a great way to make studying easier and vastly improve academic performance.
Studying in a quiet place is vital to ensuring you can stay focused. Avoiding distractions such as music and television will guarantee your studying is efficient and effective.
Studying is necessary because it allows your cranium the opportunity to absorb new material. College Cranium offers the following advice: study for an hour to an hour and half and then take a fifteen break. During that break find something to eat or other activity to ease your mind and relax. Making note-cards is a great study habit and can help with memorizing key points. Remember, in college, memorizing is only half of studying, the other half is making sure that you can understand and properly apply the information in real life situations.
Don't overwhelm yourself the night before a big test by not preparing for the exam ahead of time. Asking the professor questions about topics you don't understand during his office hours is a great way to distinguish yourself from the rest of the class and also make sure that your academic performance will reflect your understanding of the material. Staying organized is a great way to remain efficient and will help with avoiding stress. Some stress is good because it keeps the student motivated and focused, but overwhelming stress is not fun and can be avoided.
To retain weeks of new material and information, daily studying is important. Because of this, the when to study is more important than the how or where
Throughout college, you will learn as a freshman, that your own study habits will present themselves. You will learn what methods of studying work best for you whether it's flashcards, re-reading the information many times, or even writing and re-writing definitions. Writing information repeatedly is an excellent way to retain important information.
Make sure to attend class regularly and get to know your professors. Also, get acquainted with other colleagues who share your academic goals and form study groups for maximum studying efficiency.

Make sure the study group all shares the common interest of succeeding in the course, not simply passing. It can be uncomfortable when everyone except one person wants to pull their share of the weight. Having a single lazy team member benefit off the work of the rest of the team is unfair to everyone. Make sure you are not that student! Politely ask that team member to pick up the pace or begin doing his share of the work or else he will not be allowed to participate in the study sessions. Even if this student is a personal friend, he can be distracting others and may need to be someone to socialize with after your studying and academic affairs are finished.

Technology for the College Student

1. Laptop and Internet Access
This is an obvious necessity for college students. Welcome to the expensive technological age, where test results and homework projects are posted online. Handwritten reports are long gone, and professors rejoiced at their ability to require essays to be typed. No longer will the teacher have to struggle to read five pages of undecipherable hand-written paragraphs. With a growing number of online classes, it's pretty obvious that a reliable computer with compatible office software as well as access to online information is a necessity to the university student. A growing number of colleges require online homework submissions and software packages to complete and submit assignments in order to pass the class and ultimately receive your college degree. In this technological era, textbooks and pencils are no longer the essentials to making the grade.
Facebook and Twitter are also growing networks that allow students to stay connected with one another and also back home. The internet era is quickly consuming college life.
2. A Cellular or Mobile Communications device
For the younger reader, this may seem to be an unnecessary item to list. However, only a few decades ago, cell phones were only for the business elite. Known by younger generations as a "chit-chat box," cell phones are needed by students to stay in communications with home and also with newly acquainted friends, colleagues, and professional connections.
3. A way to get around town and campus
There are various ways to travel without the use of a vehicle. Especially as a freshman, having your own vehicle may be more of a problem than a solution. With gas prices so high and parking so limited, many freshman are going the cheaper and eco-friendly route of riding bicycles to an from class. If a bicycle is the means of transportation, make sure to have a lock to secure your bike from the less ethical student who may want to claim an unlocked bike as an opportunity to acquire a free two-wheeled transportation device.
These initial three newly implemented technologies are needed to succeed and make the passing grade in college courses. The following technologies aren't necessary to have in college, but can make college life easier and more enjoyable.
A Mp3 player, jammy-jam tune blaster (boom box), iPod, or cassette player There's nothing like listening to your favorite tunes on a rainy day. Good music can improve moods and can motivate a student to be productive. Due to the college students age, demographically their age group listens to more music and enjoys more tunes than any other.
A go-go mobile also known as a car. Okay, so College Cranium said a vehicle may not be the best choice for all freshman, but when it comes to road trips and out-of-state travels, a car is certainly a great choice. Cars are also great for going to get something to eat during harsh weather.
A tell-a-lie-vision (television) A T.V. is a great way to relax and waste time after a long and stressful day. Many shows are aimed specially at the college student which is why so many students seem to spend so many fruitless hours in front of the television. In this regards, a television can be both a curse and a blessing. TV is a blessing because it offers hours of uninterrupted mind-numbing entertainment to the collegiate, however, a TV can also be a curse because of the amount of time it can waste while encouraging procrastination and nonproductive behavior.
A new set of college swag-me-out's (A college wardrobe) The first year of college changes a young adult. They will find themselves identifying with a whole different crowd and group of people. Maybe they are no longer preps and want to identify with the goths. The whole groups of high school cliques such as: emo's, goths, jocks, nerds, band-geeks, and goofs, begin to think differently and may regret some of the clothes and apparel they brought with them to college. Because college is a chance for a fresh start, College Cranium advises two pieces of swag that no student can go wrong with: a laptop case and a some merchandise that advertises the school they are attending. A laptop case is ideal for moving your valuable digital information around safely, especially if you attend a traditional college. A shirt, hat, or sweater that has your college's logo or mascot on it, is guaranteed to be accepted and complimented wherever the student goes on campus.
A permanent body art (tattoo) that represents your dedication to the college, your school spirit, and your love of creativity and art. Nothing says "I'm an individual who is also creative" like a tattoo of your universities mascot or motto permanently engraved onto your body. Students will be so jealous of the school loyalty and college swagger of the freshman who has the courage (or the ability to be talked into doing anything) to receive a life-time of regretful college spirited decisions.

Notice the go-go wheels, the college logo on the polo-tee, as well as the college mascot tattoo. All of this adds to this freshman's university swag, and likeliness of long-term happiness and success.

Having parents to rely on is also something most college students eventually have to stop resorting to when life gets difficult. Luckily, for the freshman with rich parents, having a car and all the necessary college swag apparel will come easily and naturally.
College Cranium offers the ultimate freshman advice on a serious note: don't try so hard. Focus on school and everything else will fall into its rightful place.

College Cranium Reviews: Texas State University

Texas State University was a great school to visit. I was given a tour of the campus and it was hot outside, but students were beating the summer heat. I learned this school has gone by various institutional names starting with the Southwest Texas State Normal School, then it was renamed Southwest Texas State College, which was changed to Southwest Texas State University, and now the bobcats are proud to attend Texas State University. The college is not a research focused college, but it does offer a lot of graduate and ph.d study programs. Texas is a large and diverse state and that is exactly what can be found in the state's college. The universities campus sits in San Macros, and ideal location equidistant from San Antonio and Austin, TX. Their first football game the bobcats will play will be September first in Houston, Texas.

For families who meet certain financial requirements: that meaning their income is below a certain level, TSU offers the bobcat promise to help those dedicated students who want to further their education but aren't able to financially reach their goals because of their families poverty status.
Another means of financial support comes from their Retired Faculty and Staff Association Scholarship which greatly aids those who qualify.
Texas State refers to its alumni and fans as the gold standard. A play on words that represents the quality and respect their loyal supporters.

TSU has many Greek houses including Alpha Tau Omega, Sigma Nu, Delta Zeta, and Kappa Sigma. The state college also offers an honors, graduate, health professions, and education colleges; along with a prestigious business college known as the McCoy College of Business Administration.
TSU ended their long rivalry with Nicholls State University, however, the bobcats won't have long to rest because a fresh born competition with the University of Texas at San Antonio is set to take place in the Western Athletic Conference this year!
Don't worry, because athletes must perform academically as well. This led to the Athletic Academic Conference being establish which offers help to student athletes by providing a positive learning environment and ensuring their long term success if the student-athlete is not able to make it professionally.
In conclusion my visit to Texas State University was well worth withstanding the San Macros summer heat! The atmosphere is vibrant and the teachers and educators are truly dedicated to their job and invested in the success of their students. Students recognize TSU is not the biggest party school but it is extremely affordable especially considering the quality of education students receive. Even so, students say there is a party to be found almost every night and a degree from this college is very credible and useful.

Mascot: Boko the Bobcat (TSU Bobcats)
Motto: "The noblest search is the search for excellence."
Founded: 1899
Campus Location: San Marcos, Texas
School Colors: Maroon, Old Gold
Ivy League: No. Joined the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) on July 2012
Alumni: George Strait, Bill Paxton
Website: www.txstate.edu

Greek Life at UCLA

Fraternities and Sororities have been an important part of the University of California, Los Angeles experience when the first charter was signed in 1920. The Greek Bruins at the University of Central Los Angeles (UCLA) in Los Angeles, California make an effort to demonstrate that they're not really the sex-addicted, keg-chugging pigs stereotyped in the media-- but rather well-raised and polite. To some magnitude, this is true because when talking to a Greek at UCLA, you realize there is a UCLA-worthy brain in there. In the present day, UCLA is home to over 70 National and local Greek-letter establishments, which collectively constitute the biggest membership-based community on grounds. There's little hierarchy inside the Bruin Greek system, although the fraternities and sororities often behave as a giant family that other students and outsiders are simply cannot understand. For anyone who is an associate of Greek life, it indicates you're constantly bombarded with potential opportunities, while while the others miss out on chances. Comprising fifteen percent of the student populace, frat and sorority members are dedicated in their studies, giving back to the local community, and developing and reinforcing leadership capabilities. The Greeks at UCLA form networks and connections among the campus and surrounding area and have connections to affordable lodging which isn't available to other non-Greek students. Most agree that the procedure of joining one of UCLA's many nationally regarded houses can be overwhelming, but spending college years with your Greek brothers and sisters is amazing, the networking opportunities and local support undertakings make going Greek worth it to the hundreds of members. In terms of Greeks and their parties, Greek functions often are the major talking points of weekend adventures and are generally the only substitute to smallweek, such as celebrations, philanthropy events, dates, or social gatherings with similar houses. Furthermore, the varied greek organizations at UCLA characterize one of biggest and strongly founded scenes within the large and progressive West Coast area. However, the students who don't to participate in the large and noisy Greek celebrations and social gatherings can still find themselves with all of the Loz Angeles night-light to experience. Popular hotspots are only a car, truck, or bus ride away. Fraternities and Sororities have improved upon the college experience and developed life-long memories of literally hundreds and hundreds of women and men who have joined a frat or sorority since their start. A Nationwide study finds that a Fraternity/Sorority may account for motivating students to continue to study in college and therefore Greek membership in College contributes positively to the lives and community of its members after graduation. Greek-associated alumni are significantly more satisfied in their interpersonal enhancement during college in comparison to the non-Greeks (or GDI's) and overall tend to have a better college experience, if they are the sort of individual who enjoys social events and being outgoing and friendly.

Homesick at College?

Leaving home for extended periods of time can make anyone miss their old home and family. Leaving for college means leaving old friends and habits and loneliness is a common feeling for freshman who are not used to being away from home. In college, breaks may not allow the students to return home for months at a time. Living in a college town can help, however, for students who have decided to go to school out of state, finding a way home can be difficult.  Freshman may wonder, "How can I avoid being Homesick?" or "What to do if homesick?" and there are many choices and solutions for the student. The following blog post explains to students that being homesick happens to everyone and is especially common in college. Missing home is common because of the overwhelming change and sense of uncertainty that many freshman face. Fear and anxiety over the unknown next year of school is a reasonable cause of stress that can combine with loneliness and homesickness to create the perfect storm and a gloomy student. College Cranium is here for advice! There are solutions and steps to take when you begin to miss mommy and daddy. Put on your favorite song or start reading a book. If those two don't solve it try a video call to avoid separation anxiety and longing for home try meeting other students or get a head start on your classes and help ease the work load. The freshman year of college is a stage of much adjustment and homesickness is not uncommon or even abnormal.
College Cranium offers advice for the freshman student who is homesick. The following solutions to homesickness have been tested and verified as accurate and effective ways of dealing with separation anxiety.
Stay busy or find something to do. Just taking your mind off of the upcoming challenges you will face as a student is an excellent way to deal with the loneliness and overwhelming sensation that can overtake a new student. An even better use of your time would be to meet new people which can help with loneliness.
Don't worry about being homesickness, realize that being homesick is normal. Everybody around you is going through/ or have already gone through the same feelings you are experiencing. It would actually be abnormal if you didn't miss the home or the parents.
Meet your roommate. Chances are that as a freshman you're going to be sharing living space with a roommate, so if you don't already know each other, get to know your roommate and Residential Adviser or Resident Assistant because chances are they have both experienced homesickness and have figured out ways of dealing with nostalgia. Even if your roommate is the Big Man on campus, he can still be a good person to talk to as opposed to doing nothing. Unpack all your things and settle into the new place where you will be staying while you attend college. Decorate your room and organize your belongings because once classes start your mind will quickly find other issues to preoccupy itself with.
In this modern day it is relatively easy to stay in touch via electronic communication. With video calls you can figure out ways to see your loved ones and those you miss from any distance.
Ultimately, the college freshman needs to give the brain time to adjust and settle into a different routine and strange environment. After a few classes and making a few friends, you will realize that longing for home and old faces is just another aspect to life that is controllable and doesn't have to have a negative impact.
Independence gets easier over time and eventually your parents may be calling you to get in contact. Keeping close ties with family is an important lesson to remember once you overcome and conquer your homesickness. Missing home and wanting to see loved ones is a normal part of growing up and one of the less fun experiences of college but it is essential to maturing into an independent and responsible adult.
There are of course the exceptions- those students who jump right into the swing of things and never seem to miss home. Even then, be assured they too experience moments of missing their old environment and loved ones. Feel lucky to have loved ones to care about and realize their are international students who have family much further away. Getting overwhelmed by the shear immensity of the student body is understandable. Don't let getting nostalgic stop you from performing up to your potential in college.

"Don't Plagiarism" -College Cranium

College Cranium has some advice to offer! With the growing amount of data and information on the internet, the world wide web has become a source for vast amounts of important sources for students to use to write papers and conduct research. However, plagiarism is a diminishing problem in universities. Why is plagiarizing becoming less common? A better question to ask would be "How can I avoid getting caught plagiarizing?" because present-day technology makes catching plagiarism easier than ever. With sites such as turnitin.com , papers that are submitted digitally are run through a system of literally thousands of other papers, essays, books, and websites. Similar sites can then show the percentage of copied material, the amount of original content, and from where the plagiarized information came from. This is why citing your sources is so important. Make sure to learn how to properly quote and how to write a proper 'works cited' page so that you can avoid being accused of intellectual property theft.
Students may not have a choice when it comes to submitting there own content to sites such as turnitin.com which can hold on to your paper, 100% original content, for up to twenty years. It makes College Cranium question where the actual theft of intellectual and creative property is occurring.
To avoid plagiarizing make sure you give yourself adequate time to meet the scheduled deadline. Waiting until the last minute to write a paper is a bad idea and makes plagiarizing even more tempting. Writing skills are such an important talent to pick up and learn in college that in long run, even if you avoid getting caught, you're the only one who is going to pay. Proper communication is essential in the business world even if your job is more oriented on numbers or engineering.
Submitting the work of someone else as your own can have major consequences if you are caught. The teacher will usually automatically give that paper a '0' as a grade, which, depending on the weight of the paper, may instantly fail you for that class. The university can then expel, suspend, or press legal charges on you as a result of your dishonesty, lack of integrity, and literary piracy.
With growing tools for professors to identify plagiarism it's important for students to recognize the types of plagiarism and the ways to avoid accusation of being a literary thief. Colleges and universities take plagiarism very seriously because it is important to respect copyrights and their impact on protecting writers intellectual property. When students copy another students paper, it's easy for the professor to identify. However, when students have the internet and a massive amount of text available to them, the originality of their research can be difficult to verify. This is why online sites that check for plagiarism are becoming widespread. Their impact has decreased students copying other sources without proper citation and references.
Their is no such thing as 'borrowing' the work of another scholar or colleague and submitting it as your own. If a student decides to risk this short cut they can suffer consequences in the short term and the long term. With the growing popularity of sites that check for plagiarism there is also a growing impact of websites that will write a paper for a price.
Websites such as flashpaper, charge students money in return for an original paper worthy of college submission. These can be hard to identify because of the source, however, when a student is writing a paper that is more advanced than the talent they have previously demonstrated, a good teacher should be suspicious of plagiarism and investigate further. Teachers realize that only a certain amount of information can be written on a common subject such as a Shakespeare poem, however, the exact words, ideas, expressions and arrangement of those words, ideas, and expressions will have infinite variations.
The ethical argument of having another person write a paper for another party to submit can usually be black and white. However, when star athletes need to pass a class so they can lead their team to victory a grey area begins to show in both the professors acceptance of the paper and the financial beneficiary of the student-athlete. Another grey area is where the line of "common knowledge" becomes necessary to cite. Everyone knows that brushing your teeth or studying for a test is essential but not everyone may know the exact function of a space shuttle.
Just ask your teacher for an extension or turn in a failing paper instead of plagiarizing. The advantages are tremendous and should not be taken lightly. Writing and researching your own report is a vital trade learned in college and not one that can be bought off. Never plagiarize and be sure to properly cite all your sources, these sources are deserving of your recognition because you did not spend the time and effort digging up those facts yourself.
Never plagiarize because there are websites and precautions that professors have taken to catch those who try and take immoral shortcuts. Start the paper early, ask for an extension, or stay up all night and hand in the best you could come up with, because in the end it is the right thing to do.