What Not to Do at a Career Expo
Dress appropriately:Don’t dress like you’re soon on your way to the club. We understand you can wear practically whatever you want to at college, however your future boss will demand an increased standard of excellence. While dress codes have relaxed in corporate America, they have not expanded to include miniskirts, cleavage-bearing tops, or see-through material. Do yourself a favor and pick a collared shirt and nice pants instead, saving the club clothes for after hours. Your cup size won’t allow you to get work. At least not a respectable one
Don’t wear clothes that are too tight. The unfortunate truth is if you’re a size 12 aiming to fit into a size 10, it won’t work. You’ll look bigger than you might be and draw unwanted attention to your whole body. Wear clothes that fit, even if it means increasing a size. Remove the clothing tag if it causes you to feel better. A great rule of thumb? When clothes fit, they ought to flow smoothly over your body. Should you have a difficult to fit body, get a good tailor – they’ll help your clothes fit like a glove.
Don’t forget your handshake. A handshake can build rapport and credibility with recruiters at career fairs. A firm handshake with 2 to 3 pumps is ideal and definately will communicate confidence. Stay away from the bonecrusher and limp fish handshakes.
It’s important to focus on how you look and present yourself in the professional environment. Stand up straight, look people in the eye, and you’ll be viewed as competent, capable, and employable. Give it a shot.
For more advice for college students click here.
Its Cheaper than you think.Some colleges offer scholarships and financial aid for individuals to take advantage of a study abroad program. Picking out a study abroad destination with a more affordable of living is likely to make the trip less costly overall.
You’re not restricted to local colleges.Enrolling directly with a campus overseas could help you save significantly in lieu of going through your neighborhood college. Contact universities directly to see if this is an option.
You can go anywhere.Study abroad programs may take you almost anywhere. We accessed Twitter to find out where students are getting ready to go and found students going to France, Costa Rica, Seville, Spain, Switzerland, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Guatamala!
You don’t need to be in college. Study abroad programs aren’t only for university students anymore. The National Geographic Traveler shared a three-day course to learn how to make gelato at Carpigiani Gelato University.
You can always be studying abroad.Keep in mind, if you’re enrolled in an online college, every semester is actually a study abroad program. You could finish your art history assignment after strolling the Louvre in Paris, complete your English Literature paper after visiting William Shakespeare’s hometown, or perform a quiz on international business from Shanghai. Imagine the possibilities.
Did you do a semester abroad? Where did you go? Have you taken an online class abroad?
How to Handle College Roommates
Photo: Passive Aggressive Notes
Roommates. They’re an integral part of the college experience, though you’ve probably had a few get under your skin before. Living alongside people can make all their flaws all-too-visible, here are some tips about how to cope with college roommates.
Establish rules. Develop rules at the outset of the semester for how you’ll deal with smoking, taking phone calls during study time, studying late at night, bringing home significant others, etc.
Don’t touch their stuff. As tempting as their tasty looking food might be, leave it alone. Don’t use their shampoo, makeup, clothes. Your relationship will be better for this.
Be friendly, but don’t force friendship. Stay courteous, but don’t expect you’ll be BFFs for the remainder of your lives. The best roommates are those you barely ever see.
Figure out a bathroom schedule. At the outset of the semester, talk through your schedule to find out when people must be out the door every morning and then base a bathroom schedule around that timeline.
Cleaning rules. Set up a cleaning agenda for your living area and make sure you pull your own weight. Should your roommate left something in the sink that’s smelling up the apartment, the simplest solution could be to tidy it up then and address it with him or her later.
Pick your battles. It could drive you nuts when they leave their hair in bathtub after showering, but there might be more essential items to manage.
Have one room to keep clean – always. Even though the rest of your apartment could be a mess, it helps to have one community room you know you can retreat to that will always be clean, such as the kitchen or den. Plan to keeping it tidy.
Bring it up. When you permit the problems that bothers you simmer beneath the surface without addressing it directly together, it will just worsen for you and they may have no clue what they’re doing is getting under your skin. While leaving a note might be much more comfortable for you, just take care of it up front, instead of declaring a post-it war.
Click here for more back to school tips.
How to Avoid College Overwhelm
Does this look familiar? Photo: Casey Serin
As we listen to what students are facing today, the single most common things we hear is college overwhelm. If you’re falling behind with all your assignments and feeling overloaded with responsibilities and expectations, you’re experiencing college overwhelm. If this sounds familiar, to you, here are some ideas on the way to avoid becoming overwhelmed.
1. Structure your time and effort. After 12 years of structured school, the need to proactively schedule study time is often overwhelming to freshmen students, reports Dartmouth University. Having a calendar or your cell phone, put your classes on the calendar and be sure to block out time for work and play. Some experts report that creating a listing of what you ought to accomplish the very next day before you go to sleep will allow you to mentally get ready for the day whilst you sleep.
2. De-stress. Taking up a physical activity like kickboxing, yoga, or maybe walking can improve your capability to copy with college overwhelm.
3. Allow for flexibility. In case your goal was to finish your project ahead of the weekend and it doesn’t happen how you thought it might, be flexible. Never assume all things work out just how we plan and assignments might take longer than you would expect. Get accustomed to it.
4.Take a break. If you’re burning the candle from ends and working non-stop, a rest would do you good. Leave the house and breathe some fresh air. Call friends and laugh at their silly jokes. Visit a pet store and pet the puppies. A small break will allow you to feel refreshed.
5. Don’t overdo it. Typically, 12 credit hours per semester is recognized as full time, with 18 credits being the maximum. The majority of people will burn out around 18 credits. Consider that not all college credits are created alike. That half credit college choir class you thought would be a fun break could end up taking 3 hours/week – much more than expected!
Check out this article for 13 ways to reduce college stress.
So if you’re frustrated with your grades in biology, rethinking whether $200K worth of students loans will be worth a doctor title, or attempting to choose your own personal profession as opposed to following in your father’s footsteps, know this. 60% of college students change their major before they graduate. It’s okay to switch gears and career paths. Give yourself permission to stay in limbo for a short time while you perform a little soul-searching and learn your strengths, interests, and ultimately your life course. Below are some actions you can take as you make positive changes to major to determine where to go from this level. Buy “Strengths Finder 2.0? This book, recommended by career coach Jennifer Armitstead, was made to make it easier to identify your natural talents and skills. While many people evaluate strengthening their weaknesses, why not begin with your strengths? Pick up “Please Understand Me” This book is an introduction to the Myers-Briggs personality types and includes a test to determine your personality, together with what careers and occupations could be perfect for someone like you. You’ll be surprised what you can discover yourself using this method. Consider: What makes you feel powerful, feel, incredibly useful, excited inspired? Firestarter Coach Danielle LaPorte helps people hone their own genius, such as finding the things that have you feeling on top of your game and discovering a approach to help it become your profession.
“I’ve been at the campus library for over two hours.I’ve done everything I can possibly do to procrastinate.Including designing and printing a cover page for my psychology notes.” (tedmosby-architect)
Does this sound familiar? Procrastination is usually a favorite past time of college students at traditional and online colleges, delaying unpleasant tasks for later, to do something fun right now. Instead of share tips on how to overcome procrastination, here is a list of college students’ favorite ways to procrastinate. You know, in case you need more distractions.
Tumblr. Tumblr is the latest addictive micro-blogging website that college kids love. Start reblogging and you just can’t stop.
Doodling. Doodling is a wonderful escape from class and studying alike.
YouTube. Watching hilarious YouTube videos, like ones on fainting goats or cute kittens, can be a terrific method to procrastinate. That may take it up a notch and make your own YouTube videos.
Watch TV. Especially with Netflix and Hulu, it’s uncomplicated to be up till 2am watching your brand-new favorite show.
Hang out. When you have friends who aren’t about the same schedule just like you, a dinner invitation is tough to turn down.
The Internet. Once your browser is open, hours might be lost taking a look at random things online.
Twitter and facebook. If you’ve ever brought up Facebook for an email address, or perhaps the details for Friday’s party, it’s not uncommon to get lost in status updates and an hour later, wonder what you were doing on Facebook from the start.
Pets. Cats and dogs are glorious distractions. Even Mark Twain was believed to have had a kitten who would distract him to stop working so that they could go play.
Procrastination can be a glorious thing, until you’re out of time for you to finish your assignments. When your procrastination habit has you stressed out,, we’ve got an answer for that:
13 tips on how to deal with college stress
10 tips to help you avoid procrastinating
Awful Valentine’s Day Gifts To Avoid
With Valentine’s Day just about to happen, you could be racking your head for that perfect gift for your beau. Take into account that there are occasions that “it’s the thought that counts” gifts just doesn’t work. For today’s back to school tip, listed below are 8 awful Valentine’s Day gifts to avoid.
While you could be in a relationship that can withstand a silly Valentine’s Day gift, exercise caution! Then again, if you’re searching for a great prank Valentine’s Day gift, something within this list may just fit the bill. Just don’t say we didn’t warn you!
Tattoo. You can’t tell me it wouldn’t freak you out if someone you’re casually dating showed up having a tattoo with your name on it.
Soap / Deodorant. Nothing says “I can’t stand the way you smell” like the gift of soap and deodorant.
Stuffed Animals. While a teddy bear would be a cute gift when you were 12, what exactly are they going to do with a toy?
Mangroomer. Should you have a hairy man, this electric back shaver is too good a present not to give.
Gym Membership. Anything fitness related (gym membership, exercise video, scale) screams that you’d love nothing more than for his or her body to change. This one’s a deal breaker!
Carnations. When we look at giving flowers for Valentine’s Day, that doesn’t include tacky carnations.
Vacuum Cleaner. She’ll be reading between the lines that you really think she’s a disorganized slob who can’t cleanup after herself. Best to avoid this one.
Padded Underwear. Even though your significant other could benefit from the more curvaceous caboose, you don’t need to rub it in their face!
Many adults are choosing to pursue a degree on line rather than in a traditional classroom. The work is certainly no harder, nor easier than that assigned in the regular classroom curriculum. The only difference is that adult students do not have the additional responsibility of attending classes. As a result, many are able to focus more intensely on their work and to enjoy the learning experience.
Books to Read:
• “Teacher Online” By Susan Ko and Steve Rossen. One of the best ways to prepare for on-line classes is to understand the concept from the perspective of the teacher.
• “What Color is Your Parachute?” By Richard Bolles. This is a long-time favorite of students, job seekers, and those who are making career transitions.
• “A Classroom of One: How Online Learning is Changing our Schools and Colleges” By Gene I. Maeroff. The author explores the concept of on-line learning, and examines the method of delivery, as well as the quantity and quality of the information delivered.
• “Drive: The Surprising Truth about What Motivates Us” By Daniel H. Pink. The author suggests that the most favorable work performance is derived from people who find inherent meaning in their work.
• “Black Like Me” By John Howard Griffin. The author recounts his experience as he passed for a black person for six weeks in the Deep South.
• “The Grapes of Wrath” By John Steinbeck. In this, the author’s most controversial work, the characters encounter mysterious forces of nature as they make their way through the “dustbowl” of the Great Depression.
• “The Souls of Black Folk” By W.E.B. DuBois. The author examines the experience of Black people in America.
• “A Brave New World” By Aldus Huxley. The author suggests that universal happiness is at hand, but the cost of universal happiness will be the sacrifice of the most revered institutions of our culture: “motherhood, home, family, and love.
• “The Sun Also Rises” By Ernest Hemingway. The author tells the story of a group of young Americans in Paris after the First World War.
• “The Scarlet Letter” By Nathaniel Hawthorne. The author recounts the story of Hester Prynne, an adulteress, who is sentenced to wear a scarlet “A” as punishment for her transgression.
The above selections are just a few of the priceless pieces of literature with which you will become familiar as you begin and continue your wonderful educational experience. Whether you choose an on-line arrangement or a traditional classroom, the most important thing is to enroll in the college, university, or trade school of your choice. The benefits of education will remain with you always.
Military Colleges, School Funding, and Training
1.College of Distance Education (CDE) – this college outreach from the Naval War College is open to nonresident military officers and selected government employees. Military students are selected to attend and usually ½ of the selected class already have their online or traditional master’s degree.
2.Armed Forces Tuition Assistance (TA) – is an educational benefit that is entitled for members of the arm forces- benefit pays up to 100% of the member’s tuition. On the average, active-duty member only uses $1,600 (TA). Members who, have prior online degrees can continue with their education- compensated for by the federal government.
3.GI Bill – veterans looking to earn an additional degree or other certifications- The GI Bill covers tuition reimbursements for four year universities, community colleges, and most important, advanced degrees.
4.Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) – After training or completion of the online degree, the VA can issue additional monthly training benefits for “on the job” or apprenticeship training program. This military benefit is worth $14,000 or more.
5.Verification of Military Experience and Training (VMET) – The VMET document lists your military experience and training. Boasting your file with an online degree may assist you in landing a job in the private sector. DD Form 2586 is the applicable military number.
6.Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES): This particular program offers addition credits especially for those members who have online degrees.
7.Military programs at private and public colleges: Online learning has become very popular in the military; the number of service members attending online schools has increased over 170%. As in the military, competition to enter these programs is demanding. Having an online education can increase your odds in the selection process.
8.Tuition Assistance (TA) for military reservist. Members of the selective reserves are eligible for this benefit; but each of the armed forces determines how to administer this benefit. Each state has their own guidelines and waivers- members who have prior education, such as an online degree, may have precedence.
9.Army Officer Candidate School (OCS)-Under the Army’s Enlistment Program 9D, an enlisted member can be eligible for higher pay and promotion upon graduating from OCS. However, a minimum of a four year online degree is mandatory.
10.Naval “Seaman to Admiral” Program. STA-21 Commissioning Program requires candidates of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps to have educational requirements which, are easily obtainable online.
1. Plan Ahead and Apply Early
It’s important to plan ahead and leave enough time to apply for all the funding opportunities available. If you take the time to apply for VA benefits and other college funding early then it’s more likely that this funding will be approved and be there when you start school. Three to six months prior to beginning college is a good amount of time to begin the application process.
2. Contact the Department of Veteran Affairs
Contact the Department of Veteran Affairs Education Benefits Office. The current contact number is (888) 442-4551. Request a pamphlet on the VA benefits that you signed up for to be mailed to you. Upon arrival read the pamphlet and make sure that you understand your benefits.
3. Apply for FAFSA
Even if you are going to receive VA benefits it’s a good an idea to apply for FAFSA. FAFSA offers grants to students to help with tuition, fees, textbooks, and housing while in college. These grants do not have to be paid back. Veterans can apply for FAFSA online or request a paper application to be mailed to their home address.
4. Choose a Major of Study
A college major is required to receive VA benefits for college. If you need guidance and aren’t sure what you want to study counseling offices at colleges offer career assessments to help you make a decision.
5. Submit Transcripts and Apply for College
Veterans will need to submit high school transcripts, military transcripts, and any prior college transcripts along with a completed application to apply for college.
6. Apply for Scholarships
Check the college you are interested in and see if there are any scholarships available. There are scholarships available specifically for veterans and are worth applying for.
7. Consider VA Work Study
VA work study programs are also available to veterans taking at least 3 classes and receiving educational benefits. This is a nice way to earn extra income while attending college.
8. Contact the VA Coordinator at Your College
Call the VA Coordinator at the college you have chosen and find out how to apply for VA benefits at that college. Usually a DD214 and other paperwork are required.
9. Get An Educational Plan
Veterans should meet with a college counselor to make an educational plan which will help you to know exactly what courses to sign up for each semester.
10. Contact the Disability Office at Your College
If you have a disability check with disability office at your college for any assistance, accommodations, or auxiliary aids that can help you. Colleges are required by law to allow equal access to an education for all students.
In conclusion, veterans should take one task at a time when enrolling in an online college making it easier to enroll.
