1) flip flops or slippers

so you know you need shower shoes but you should also probably get a pair of shoes for lounging around. preferably fuzzy slippers for maximum comfort! since your dorm is where you get dressed, sleep, eat, study, and hang out, the floors get a lot of dirt on them. you probably don’t want to be walking around barefoot if you like to keep yourself really clean. in addition, many dorm floors are linoleum, which can get quite cold. i highly recommend some designated lounging around the dorm shoes.

2) vacuum and/or mop

especially if you and your roommates have long hair, anticipate a lot of hair on the floor. it’ll be nice to have a handy small handheld vacuum to make sure the hair doesn’t pile up. mops can also get the job done to. on top of catching hairs, mops can also clean up sticky spilled soda or dirt from shoes. these are really two cleaning supplies that you should consider investing in. try splitting the cost of these goods among your roommates. just make sure there are no cats around when you vacuum clean!

3) eating utensils

you will bring back things into your room that you can only eat with utensils. think ice cream or to-go from the dining hall. chances are you won’t want to trek all the way back to your dining hall, so you will want utensils on hand in your dorm room. people will also love you for being prepared. they will most definitely come to you for utensils, so it can also help you make friends! big bonus there!

hope these dorm essentials come in handy once you begin your college career in the dorms!

the post overlooked dorm essentials appeared first on magoosh blog | high school.

now, this isn’t about getting more anxious about the college admissions process but about being informed. whatever you do, don’t panic!

there is really only one thing that this unprecedented acceptance rate drop means for you. these dipping admit rates means that you need to widen your options. so what does widening your options looks like?

good news is that you can still apply to your dream schools and you can still apply to your target schools! what you do have to keep in mind however is to focus on finding safety schools that you are excited about. this isn’t supposed to be discouraging but rather be a stress reducer. if you find safety schools that you can really see yourself at, no matter what colleges you get into you know you will be happy in the end.

really the point of this post is to tell you that the acceptance rate of a college does not define you or any college. don’t just choose colleges because they are more selective than another. in the end, the goal of the admissions process is to find your home for the next 4 years of your life and you can’t let a single number determine that for you.

challenge yourself to research colleges and universities that may be slightly less selective than what you had in mind but are known for providing a quality education. honestly, applying to schools that are less selective has more than one benefit. for example, if you are slightly overqualified for any given school you are more likely to receive a merit scholarship from that college to subsidize your college bill (that is always a good thing!!!!). in these ways, broaden your options and you may run into opportunities that you never even imagined.

good luck!

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1) small class sizes

liberal arts colleges have class sizes that average 20 people and are usually no larger than 50. such small class environments really do get you individual attention from your professors. people that i know at big universities say that their professors don’t even know their name but at liberal arts colleges, your professor will immediately recognize you if you pass by them on campus. in that way, professors will know you well so that they can really help you improve as a student.

2) student-professor relationships

related to the first point, not only will you get more tailored teaching but you will also be able to build personal relationships with your professors. especially if you go to their office hours, they will already be familiar with your face so it will feel more comfortable to get to know them on a deeper level. forging good relationships with professors is extremely rewarding as they can serve as great mentors and motivators. professors with a truly personal investment in your success is a very strong form of support.

3) on-campus opportunities

with a smaller campus, the atmosphere is not as overwhelming. with the feel of a tight-knit community, it feels easier to go after campus opportunities because it isn’t as intimidating. since you aren’t just a number at a liberal arts college, your professors will constantly be encouraging you to pursue extracurricular activities or research fellowships. it is super difficult to fall through the cracks at a liberal arts college, so take full advantage of that fact. all in all, since faces start to become familiar, it seems easier to adjust to college life at a smaller school.

i hope these points helped you reconsider liberal arts colleges! they are absolutely awesome and so these points should enter your decision-making calculus when applying to college!

the post perks of a small college appeared first on magoosh blog | high school.

1) it sucks but don’t blame yourself

you worked really hard and you told the school you were their top choice by applying early decision, and yet they denied you admission. this feeling is really awful but don’t take it personally. given the nature of college admissions, colleges end up having to deny hundreds of highly qualified applicants. it’s not your fault that you didn’t get in. so go easy on yourself. not having an extra 150 points on the sat or not having another extracurricular are not what kept you from attending your top choice. don’t agonize over things you have no control over.

2) there are other schools

a lot of different factors may have contributed to a certain college being your top choice. from family legacy, location, prestige, available programs/majors, and cost, if you think about it long enough, it’s easy to put one college on a pedestal. however, that pedestal is false. it’s not fun getting rejected from a school you really liked but trust me when i say there are plenty of other schools out there that meet your criteria and could be a good fit for you. i know people who attended their early decision school and ended up hating it and transferring. so don’t feel like it’s the end if you don’t get into that ‘top choice’ school.

3) you have to be resilient

as difficult as it can be to deal with rejection, you have to be resilient. you only have a few weeks before regular decision applications are due. don’t give up on college applications just because you didn’t get into one school. be strong and put maximum effort into the rest of your essays and supplements. you really don’t want to let one hiccup derail the entire college application process. the hard work will pay off and you will end up somewhere great come march/april.

seriously, don’t let one rejection make you feel lesser about yourself. your dedication throughout high school will pay off in ways you cannot even imagine yet. so don’t be too down and good luck with the rest of the process. you are going to do great!

the post if you didn’t get in early decision appeared first on magoosh blog | high school.

impress your teacher with your initiative

this is especially true in a seminar class where many class discussions take place. if you are quick on your feet and contribute as many thoughtful ideas as you can, your professor will really appreciate that. initiative can also mean it is clear to your professor that you come to class prepared having done the readings or homework.
 

show your professor your dedication

say you understand a concept taught in class fairly well. well enough to get a good grade on the exam or to do well on an essay. however, true dedication would be to go to your professor’s office hours to fully understand a concept and to learn more than is necessary for the test. this leads me to the next thing professors look for.
 

demonstrate intellectual curiosity in your college course

your professor wants to see that you are fully immersed in their class and the coursework. when you begin asking the right questions and learning more about the topic than is necessary, your professor will be pleased. show your professor that you are interested in learning for the sake of learning and your professor will begin to really open up to you.
 

in college, wooing your teachers is really not necessary to get a good grade in a class. however, if you meet a professor you would really like to build a relationship with, show them that you care about their class and learning. initiative, dedication, and intellectual curiosity can take you far.
 

the post 3 ways to impress your professor appeared first on magoosh blog | high school.

1) stay on top of your work.

if you are a procrastinator, now is the time to curb your procrastinating ways. you want to make sure that work doesn’t pile up. otherwise, you will be swamped in homework and college applications. that is a sheer nightmare. stay ahead in school and you will never have to worry about having to do a huge paper and a college application in one night. you don’t want to end up like this cat…

2) start early.

start writing you personal statement and supplements as soon as you can. you want to finish them well in advance of the due date so that you have time to edit them with teachers and college counsellors. in addition, starting early prevents the pile up of work that i mentioned above. this way you won’t be stressed about finishing college applications on time but you will also know that they are great because you had the time to edit them thoroughly.

3) give yourself time to unwind.

i know it is hard when you are really busy but you need to allot some time to yourself where you do things for fun. whether it be reading a book, watching an episode of your favorite tv show, or eating out with friends, you have to do it sometimes. doing activities that make you unwind will help you stay calm throughout college applications. having something to look forward to can also help motivate you to complete work and applications.

4) pat yourself on the back.

senior year is the last year of high school and the bridge into adulthood. you need to enjoy it because you will never be in high school ever again. remember that you are good enough to do anything you set your mind to. college applications are scary and we all have expectations for ourselves but just trust me when i say that everything happens for a reason. even when things get tough senior year, know that you will prevail.

good luck! keep fighting because you can do this.

the post how to stay calm during college applications appeared first on magoosh blog | high school.

photo by osu.edu

or this…

ok. well what if i told you that there is a whole breed of colleges that are neither a part of the ivy league nor are a giant state school whose sports teams feed into the nfl, mlb, etc.? this mysterious breed of colleges is referred to as liberal arts colleges!

now the first thing you may think is “but i am not an artist…” however, you should know that liberal arts are not about painting or dancing. a liberal arts education is about a wholesome education that encourages students to study a wide range of subjects. generally, at a liberal arts institution, students are expected to take courses in math, biological and social sciences, as well as the humanities. this is the model despite the fact that some subjects of study do not seem related to your major. in this way, a liberal arts education puts a true emphasis on learning for the sake of learning.

you should really consider researching liberal arts colleges when creating a college list. i would highly recommend it especially if you are undecided in what you would like to study, which i am sure many of you are. not only is a liberal arts college great for exploring your passions but they are also known for providing great senses of community. liberal arts colleges tend to be small so you have the opportunity to create relationships with your professors and have strong bonds with your peers.

in addition, despite the fact that liberal arts colleges are under the radar, some of them are just as competitive to get into as ivy league universities (amherst college: 14% acceptance rate, claremont mckenna college: 11% acceptance rate). this is just proof in the pudding that you are not compromising rigor of education by attending a liberal arts institution.

so broaden your horizons and look into liberal arts institutions! you will discover that there are varying acceptance rates that are high and low so don’t be discouraged. you will find the right liberal arts college for you!

the post what are liberal arts colleges? appeared first on magoosh blog | high school.

1) campus tours

the campustours.com website is useful if you really want to get a feel for the looks of a campus. most colleges have filmed virtual video tours of their campus. this website compiles all of those videos in one place. using this you can see if the college campus fits your vibe.
 

2) college confidential

college confidential is the google for colleges. you can search anything. if you are curious about how competitive a college is or whether you should get notebooks or binders for college, you will find your answer on college confidential. what’s great is that actual students post on this forum so you will find honest answers. yay for honesty!

3) niche

college niche is a great sight if you want to have a snapshot view of the college. the website provides a letter grade for a whole range of metrics from academics to campus dining to weather. there are even student written reviews about the school. all in all, this another great resource for finding comprehensive and honest information about any college. (!bonus! college niche provides their very only scholarship opportunities you can look into.)

4) rate my professors

rate my professors is another great website, however it serves a more specific purpose. though you can search for colleges and get an overall quality rating based on metrics like academics and social life, the main function of the site is to give honest reviews on college professors. you can research the names of professors on the college’s actual website and then search for them on rate my professor. this way you can look into which programs at certain colleges appeal to you the most.

hopefully, some of these resources help you narrow down your college search. good luck and high five!

the post alternatives to college tours appeared first on magoosh blog | high school.

method 1: amazon seller

amazon seller is definitely the best way to get the most money back. the con is that you will have to wait for all the books to sell. however, i think getting maximum return is worth it. i’m guessing we all paid a lot of money to buy those darn textbooks.

setting up an account with amazon seller is free and easy. you will just need some basic info and a bank account for amazon to transfer the money you earned. amazon does take a small percentage of your profit but don’t worry, they let you keep most of the money.

i think the most confusing part was figuring out how to ship your sold textbooks. here is the best/cheapest method i found.

• go buy packaging for the textbooks at an office supply store. this way you will save money. buying the packaging at the post office is over-priced. btw, the best packaging is the envelop that is textbook size and has bubble wrap lining.

• print out the packing slip. the user interface of amazon seller is pretty straightforward. if you click “unshipped,” you can check your pending orders and you will be able to “print packing slip.” from the packing slip you can get the address of the textbook’s destination. i would then put the actual slip in the packaging with the book. it will serve as the receipt for your customer.

• go to your nearest us postal service center. the usps has a service called “media mail.” this provides discounted shipping for school materials like textbooks! be sure not to seal the packaging until you get to the usps. the postal worker may want to verify that you are indeed shipping an educational item.

• once you have shipped the textbook from the post office be sure that you have a “tracking number” for your package. the postal worker will let you know what it is. with the tracking number, go home and open your amazon seller account. go back to the “unshipped” link and “confirm shipment.” amazon will ask you for the method of delivery you have chosen which is “media mail” and for the tracking number of your package.

there you have it! a 101 guide to using amazon seller. i have personally sold off all of my high school textbooks using this method.

method 2: textbook buy backs

this method is quick but you won’t get that much money back. this is for if you just want those textbooks out of your sight as soon as possible. buy back websites allow you to enter the isbn number of your textbook to tell you how much they will pay you. there are also nice buy back sites that will pay for shipping. here are some examples to browse:

• http://www.textbookrush.com/sell/textbooks/
• http://www.cash4books.net/

this is a link to a website that will compare multiple buy back websites for you:

• http://www.bookfinder.com/buyback/

i hope this post was helpful. happy selling and make some money!

the post best way to sell textbooks appeared first on magoosh blog | high school.

there is a plethora of ways to subsidize the price tag on a college education. i will start by talking about some that you already may have heard of.

in-state tuitions

as you may or may not know, state schools offer “in-state tuitions” for residents of the state that the college is located in. in-state tuitions are cheaper because it is supposed to be a service to residents of the state that work and pay taxes in that given state.

now here is something that you may not have known about in-state tuitions! if want to go to a state school just not the one in your current state, many states have fairly simple guidelines for becoming a resident. here is an example.

say you live in california but your dream is to attend the university of missouri’s renowned journalism program. you look at the out of state tuition and your mouth gapes open. it feels like your dream is unattainable. than you research what it takes to become a resident of the state of missouri and a weight gets lifted. you will just need to find a way to bear the brunt of out of state tuition for a year but after that you will become a resident and be eligible for in-state tuition.

in missouri, you would need to live there for 12 months (dorms count!), get a missouri driver’s license, register to vote, and make $2000 of taxable earned income. this sounds like a lot at first but if you have a dream, this is definitely worth it. something that seemed impossible becomes possible just by changing your residency!

fafsa

the fafsa is the “free application for federal student aid.” this is a federal government program that evaluates things like your family’s tax forms to determine how much they should be expected to contribute to your tuition bill. fafsa can provide aid in the form of grants, loans, and work-study programs. here is the link: https://fafsa.ed.gov

however, even though the fafsa thinks they have provided sufficient aid in the context of your family’s earnings, your family still may not feel as though your fafsa money is sufficient. this is especially true if a lot of it comes in the form of loans or if you have family circumstances that the fafsa simply cannot take into account. this is when other forms of aid come in.

state aid

each state has its own form of the fafsa. it’s just a state government aid program instead of federal. you can easily apply for both the fafsa and the state programs. here is a link where you can figure out what your state financial aid programs are. 

css profile

css profile is a form that you fill out to try and qualify for aid offered by the college itself. most colleges have their own reserved funds for financial aid to supplement programs like the fafsa or state aid. most schools take the css profile unless they have their own specific form. this makes it easy to just fill out one form and send it to any school you are applying to. here is the link.

scholarships

the last way you can try reducing the cost of college is through scholarship opportunities. there are thousands of scholarships offered by big companies, non-profit organizations, schools, and individuals. usually qualifying for scholarships entails writing essays, showcasing your talents/interests, or meeting certain other requirements (being a specific ethnicity, being a foster child, plans to study a stem major, etc). keep in mind, there are also many opportunities that are simple to apply for and don’t require you to be ‘exceptionally talented.’

the variety of scholarship opportunities are truly vast and can offer you from a couple hundred dollars to covering most of your educational expenses. so start researching online to see what scholarship opportunities you can apply for! here are just a few examples:

• digitalresponsibility.org
• theharrisfoundation.org
• coca-colascholarsfoundation.org

i hope this post has helped relieve some college tuition anxieties and i wish you good luck!

the post ways to make college financially feasible appeared first on magoosh blog | high school.