Scholarships Are Not Just a Spring Activity
05/18/2008
One of the most common myths out there about scholarships is that they are largely due in the spring. The thinking is that you apply for college in the fall, and then apply for scholarships in the spring once you have some breathing space from the hyperactivity of the fall.
This is not only mistaken, but can be catastrophic to a student seeking scholarships!
Scholarship applications are due all throughout the year, and the worst thing a student can do is to take the fall -- or even the summer -- off. As someone who has won almost a quarter of a million dollars in scholarships, I can tell you that the deadlines fall all over the calendar, and require sound organization and planning. This is why so many students fail to win scholarships and why the majority of students tackle this process in a very poorly designed fashion.
For more information about how to organize for yearlong scholarship battles, stop by one of my lectures or send me an email.
US, China, and India: How the High Schools Compare
05/17/2008
A new documentary DVD is out comparing high schools in the United States, China, India, titled 2 million minutes. I haven't watched the DVD, but I am certainly aware of the significant differences between the quality of the high school experience in the United States compared to those in South Asia and East Asia. The comparisons are not very favorable to the United States. Bob Herbert of the New York Times emphasizes the severe problems of American secondary education in a recent terrific op-ed piece.
Having lived in Singapore and traveled widely throughout East Asia, I find that young people in Asia are far more motivated to pursue higher education and take their schoolwork more seriously than their US counterparts. This is not an attack upon the system of higher education in the US -- the United States continues to have the best universities in the world, which is one reason why slots into our top universities remain so hypercompetitive. However, as a mirror of our culture, many high school students in the United States simply spend more time focusing on sports and leisure, than do their counterparts in the developing world.
It is probably natural that young people in the United States -- a developed nation that is one of the wealthiest on the planet -- would not have the same drive, desire, and motivation to study as those families in the developing world who are yearning for a better life. However, as a nation we need to take a hard look at the value we place upon education, as opposed to athletics, consumerism, and mindless entertainment. If this DVD serves as a conversation point regarding these important issues, then perhaps it is something well worth watching.
Top Places to Work in the Federal Government
05/15/2008
Now that graduation is upon us (or nearly so), I wanted to share a list of the top 10 federal agencies to work for. The list is courtesy of the PA Times.
1. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
2. GAO
3. SEC
4. NASA
5. Dept. of Justice
6. Dept. of State
7. Social Security Admin.
8. GSA
9. EPA
10. Dept. of the Army
So graduates -- check these agencies out. And good luck to you!
The Truth about Colleges' "Preferred Lenders"
05/12/2008
Some colleges strongly encourage parents to take out private loans from a hand-picked roster of private lenders. That, in and of itself, is not a bad thing: college students are only allowed to borrow a limited amount in federal student loans. The rest of the money has to come from somewhere else -- and since so few kids seem to apply for scholarships, parents take out the private loans "recommended" by the colleges.
Here's the problem: some colleges -- by no means all -- are getting a percentage back from the lenders they recommend. The amount varies, but the percentage rises as students borrow more money. This sounds strikingly like a kickback that would offend the sensibilities of any parent aware of these relationships.
But parents usually don't know if such an arrangement exists. My advice would be for parents to ask financial aid officials if any of the "preferred" lenders are remunerating the schools in any way. If so, how is that money used? Red flags would be a relatively small list of "preferred lenders," or colleges that steer you away from certain lenders.
Better yet: apply for scholarships and never wind up in a situation where you have to take out much, if any, in private loans in the first place!
Forget the Campus Tours
05/09/2008
So now that you've received all the acceptance letters from the colleges, you may be tempted to spend thousands of dollars doing a nationwide tour of many college campuses. Smart idea?
A recent issue of one of the nation's preeminent consumer magazines (hint: the one that never lets its name be used by advertisers) notes that campus visits are among the biggest wastes of money for parents considering different colleges for their sons and daughters.
What do I think? I agree.
As a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, Harvard, and Berkeley, I can tell you that there are only marginal differences in how these campuses look. The residence halls all pretty much look the same.The food is going to be bad everywhere -- okay, maybe not everywhere, but almost everywhere. Even the professors all seem to have graduated from the same schools (read: Ivy League). Think of it like applying for a new job: do you really think you can figure out how your new workplace will be like simply by paying a visit for a half day?
There is a better solution, and that is exactly what the consumer magazine noted -- simply read some of the wonderful books on the market regarding insiders' viewpoints on colleges. I have found them to be remarkably accurate, and most importantly, they will save you lots of money. Money that you'll need to pay those high tuition bills.
Undiscovered Gem: University of Rochester
05/19/2008
Each year, reporters proclaim yet another set of universities around the country that have attained the level of "the New Ivies" -- in other words, schools that have reached a level of academic excellence that rival any of the schools in the prestigious Ivy League. One school that I think has long been in the same category with the Ivy League, but has been overlooked, is the University of Rochester.
Rochester, New York, is not exactly Boston or San Francisco. The region has been hit hard in recent years due to the economic challenges of Kodak and IBM. In addition, it's hard to market Rochester as an attractive place to be in the winter. But these factors are irrelevant to the central issue: is this a solid university?
The answer is a resounding yes. This is, simply put, one of the greatest research institutions in the United States, with exceptionally strong programs in science, engineering, and the liberal arts. It also boasts one of the best music programs in the country. An overwhelming majority of students choose to study overseas -- a very good sign of academic excellence -- and virtually no one stops at a bachelors degree, as approximately 80% of Rochester graduates go on to graduate school. The admission rate to Rochester is not as competitive as other schools with similar academic standards, due to the fact that the school continues to be underrecognized. But keep in mind one thing: employers and graduate school admissions officers have long known about the University of Rochester, and this is a terrific institution to accelerate your academic and professional career.
Visit the University of Rochester at: http://www.rochester.edu/