Cooling Your Dorm
Fungus on Campus
- keep your nails short, clean and dry, cut them straight across
- change your socks often and use mostly cotton socks
- do not go barefoot outside of your living area
- never trim the skin around your nails
Mid Semester Camping Trip
The Toilet that Wins
Creative Writing – Who am I?
Treasure Hunt
Why go to college

While college work is challenging, it will often inspire you to delve further into things that interest you, more so than you ever could in high school. As you choose your own courses and class schedules you are building your independence, while maturing into a responsible adult. You can retain your independence but still take advantage of any help and support your college offers. If nothing else, it is a good way to find out where to meet people. Colleges offer such a wide variety of classes. Because you choose your own classes you are free to explore many different subjects, or you can choose to stick with one favorite subject.
Some high school students already know what they love, and want to pursue a career in that field. Other students are more interested in expanding their horizons and opting to try one subject and then another. Eventually most students choose a path that will lead them to a financially and emotionally rewarding life.
College campuses offer so much more than just class work. Entering a college campus is like entering a small world all its own. There are stores to run, newspapers that need writers and publishers. Explore the world of TV or radio broadcasters, or help run the government of the school. Perform in plays, or play sports... the list just goes on and on. There is bound to be something besides academics to fill your free time. Going to college might not be the wisest choice for everyone, but everyone should have the opportunity to prepare for college.
Most parents, especially those who have degrees of their own, want all their children to attend college. Not all students feel this way. So, who should go to college, and who should not? Students who have low grades and poor school performance are hardly college material. However, their parents can hire tutors to help them catch up. It can be done; it is up to the student whether or not he chooses to go to college. He might be better off going to a trade school or getting a job in a trade that he enjoys, such as mechanic, where he can get on the job training. Time after time studies are done that reveal that the best investment we can make in our lifetime is to get a college education.
We hear how college graduates make more money than those without a degree. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that your college degree will land you a well paying job in your field of expertise. There are many factors to consider when deciding if college is in your future. The cost of college is the first consideration; will it cost more to go to college for four (or more) years vs what you could earn working full-time for those four years? Your course of study, and where you go to school also factor into your decision. Those that are set on going to college, and have prepared well for their ongoing education, will find that college offers them many benefits that they never even dreamed of. Continuing your education improves your overall well being, affecting your health, home life, job satisfaction and social interactions. Going to college is really an experience you should not miss out on - if that is your desire.
Paying for College

All sources of financial aid mandate that you complete and return the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The forms may seem a bit overwhelming, but there are so many free resources out there to help you, and all this information helps them determine just what help is available to you.
Financial aid may include federal and/or state grants, work-study programs, or loans. You can find these forms by going to the FAFSA website and following their directions. Applications can be completed and tracked online. Applying for federal aid has never been easier. Grants and scholarships are the same in that both are financial aid for college that does not need to be paid back. They differ in the ways they are given out. Grants are need based and given to those with lower incomes. Scholarships are merit based and rely on the student having certain abilities or qualities, either athletic or academic.
Scholarships and grants are available through the federal and state governments. The Pell Grant is the primary federal grant. Some states offer their own residents grants or scholarships to attend college in that state. Whether merit or need based, most colleges offer a variety of scholarships. However, colleges often have the strictest requirements to get (and keep) these awards.
Private organizations such as foundations, companies, clubs, or community organizations offer grants or scholarships to members or member's family. It really is important to do a lot of research to see what kind of financial help is available to you before you decide to take out any loan. Whatever you can save with grants or scholarships will certainly help reduce your college costs.
Only after finding out what gifts you might receive should you think about taking out a loan. Before you rush into signing for that large loan, research, research, and research again. There are many types of loans, and all loans need to be paid back. Some can be deferred (or put off) until after you graduate, some can't. You need to take into account everything about a loan before diving in. Loans can be need-based, or subsidized. States may offer student loans that are not based on need or subsidized. There is also the expensive option of a private loan. Private loans require a parent's signature and commitment to repay if the student defaults on the loan.
Once you have researched the loans available, and what is available - specifically - to you, discuss these options with your parents and guidance counselor, enlisting their help to get you moving in the right direction. Once you pay for school there will be other expenses on a continuing basis. One basic financial output for any student is textbooks. Brand-new textbooks are very, very expensive. Buying used textbooks can save you hundreds of dollars, and you might get lucky and find someone else wrote excellent notes in the margins.
Geting in to College

- High School Transcript: Talk to your counselor, and together go over your high school transcript to make sure there are no errors in it. Then ask your counselor or school principal how they go about sending your transcripts to the colleges of your choice. They should send transcripts directly.>
- Final Transcript: Once you have completed your senior year, your high school should send a final transcript to any college you plan to attend. This information lets the college see at a glance what classes you took and if you have kept up your grades throughout your final year.
- Portfolios and Auditions: Students applying to theater, art or music programs may be asked to show samples of their work. You may need to audition, or send videos, to convince the school that you are worthy of their programs.
- Letters of Recommendation: Some colleges may ask for letters from friends, teachers, coaches, and anyone you worked with who knows you well. Do ask these individuals well in advance if they would be kind enough to write you a letter of recommendation.
- Essays: A good essay gives the college a chance to see where you stand academically, and gives the admission office a better idea on just what your strengths may be. A well-written essay also shows them the character of the writer.
- Application Forms: While there still is the option to use paper forms, most students now opt to use online forms to apply for college. There are even services available that allows you to complete just one application form and submit it to several colleges.
- Application Fees: Prices vary from $35 to $50 for each application you file. Students who cannot afford to pay this fee can request a fee waiver from the college.
- Admission Test Scores: You may need to take the SAT or the ACT before attending college. Each college is different, so be sure to find out what your college requires.
- Interviews: If you are really serious about going to one particular school and nowhere else will do, schedule and interview with someone from the college to express your desires. This lets the admission office know you are a serious student who wants to join their team.
What to Study

Choosing which degree to pursue is as varied as your interests. This is where your own interests and knowledge will help you narrow things down. You know what you like to do, and more often than not, the school you choose to go to will offer courses in that field. Lots of students enter college without a set major in mind. This allows them to explore options, and experience different fields they may not have thought of. Most colleges don't make you choose a major until the end of your sophomore year, so you have some time to take the required courses while taking courses to find the one you love.
It is also important to note that you can change your major at any time; try to pick a college that may offer a few fields of study that might interest you. A college that offers you only your current major courses would mean a transfer for you if you change majors.
Students that are career minded and already know they want to get into design or engineering may opt to just take classes in those fields. Starting a major like either of these after your freshman year will just add a year or two to your college education. If you love a field, but don't want to declare a major right away, it is fine to take just those classes. Think about your life and what you have enjoyed doing up to this very date. Do you love working with children or animals? Are you a problem solver who loves to help others? Do you love the outdoors? Do you enjoy electronic gadgets, or the media and anything related? There are so many options to choose from when think about what you like. Odds are in your favor that a college somewhere offers just what you want to study.
The final factor in deciding on a course of study is financial. Everyone wants to get a well paying job straight out of college. Reality says that jobs are hard to come by right now, though we can always hope things change for the better. Do some research to determine if your major will land you a job right away, or is that field saturated with recent graduates. With computer technology still exploding, Software Developers are in high demand, commanding the highest pay. Students with high math skills should steer themselves towards Market Research Analyst/Marketing Specialist, or towards Accounting. The top 10 occupations all have their hands in the computer industry in one way or another.
Although a lot of people insist that STEM graduates will never find a high paying job in the high tech industry, STEM graduates can use their abilities in a host of other occupations. What you earn after college depends a lot on what you studied, where you are, what is available and what you want to do. There is no guarantee that you will land your dream job, but going to college increases your chances of living a middle class life in the future.
Staying in College
