Life after high school has become a compulsory and repetitive routine in our culture, for students who have the opportunity to take advantage of a college education. And the life of a senior in high school can testify that the last year of free public education is preparation for college through the AP prep classes, the scholarship application processes, and so on. And college is indeed something that is considered necessary to continue on to a middle class job living a middle class lifestyle. But college is not the only route. Sometimes even putting it on the back burner for a while is what higher ed. professionals are encouraging. So why would this be a good idea for your soon-to-be high school grad? There are many reasons. Here are just eight…

Read the full article at Radical Parenting a brilliant site on parenting from the other side. Check out the Parenting Blog here.

Guest Post from Joel. About Author: Joel Ohman is a Certified Financial Planner™ and the owner of a credit card website with a really cool credit card finder tool and some of the best credit card calculators and other tools for finding the best credit card anywhere on the Web (or so he likes to think at least so we won’t burst his bubble)!

The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, & Disclosure Act (CARD) that was signed into law last year and set to take effect on February 22, 2010 addresses some important issues that revolve around student credit cards. Here are some of the key changes that students should be aware of and also some tips for finding the best student credit card.

#1 Got Income?

In the past credit card companies could offer credit cards to students even if they had little or no income to show for themselves. Now, things have changed in that student credit card issuers are only allowed to approve a student credit card application if the student under the age of 21 is able to show proof of income or some other means to repay the credit card loans. The days of skating by on the virtue of your good credit score and good looks alone are over. However, there is one exception: if you have a parent, guardian, or someone with a source of income that is willing to co-sign for you and become liable for your credit card debts then even if you don’t have any income of your own you can still get a student credit card with easy.

#2 No More Credit Card “Schwag”

College campuses in recent years, especially around the beginning of each semester, can often resemble one huge colorful marketing event/party thrown by credit card companies giving out free t-shirts, free book bags, free pizza, and other goodies as an incentive to get as many students as possible to apply for their particular student credit card offer. The new rules expressly prohibit any kind of incentivized marketing by credit card companies on college campuses, credit card issuers cannot market credit cards to students within 1,000 feet of a college campus or a college sponsored event, and colleges and universities are now required to fully disclose any kind of financial relationship that they may have with various credit card companies.

#3 Good ‘ol Mom and Dad are Still in Charge

The merits of treating adults over the age of 18 as minors can be debated at another time but the new credit card rules stipulate that if a student is on a joint credit card account with their parents then the parents must give consent before there are any increases to the credit limit. There are many things that students under the age of 21 can do but the new student credit card laws are designed to make sure that asking for a credit limit raise on a joint account has to get the A-OK from the parents first.

What to do When Looking for a Student Credit Card

The new student credit card rules can certainly seem restricting but there are still many different student credit card options for those who are willing to look for their credit cards the smart way. Here are a few quick tips to make sure that you end up with the student credit card that is best for your needs.

1. Do Your Research – Don’t just apply for a credit card simply because you happened to walk by the booth of ABC Credit Card Company on your campus. Spend some time learning about the various student credit card offers and choose the one that best meets your needs.
2. Be Financially Responsible – It can be easy to fall into the habit of using a credit card without planning ahead and making sure that you have the money in the bank to pay the balance off in full each month. Plan ahead and discipline yourself to use your student credit card responsibly.
3. Go for the Rewards – Those who misuse credit cards by carrying a balance are having their credit card work against them. Make your credit card work for you by choosing a rewards credit card that can earn you cash back, airline miles, points, etc. As long as you pay the balance off in full each month and don’t spend anymore than you otherwise would then that is essentially free money. Get in the habit of using your credit card to automatically pay all of your bills and then if you schedule your credit card balance to be paid off in full each month then even something as mundane as paying for your student car insurance each month will end up putting money back into your pocket. Be forewarned though, if you carry a balance on your card then the interest charges are eating away at any of the benefit of your cash back savings.

What do YOU think about the new student credit card rules?

Take this quick survey. College Survey

The Survey covers finances, student brands, and college stuff. It will take less than 5 minutes and is fun to see how you match up with your friends.

Is having a job in college really a good idea?

Yes, if you pay attention to some key factors when job hunting. A job in college has the potential to open a lot of doors for you in the future by giving you real-world experience, strengthening your work ethic, anbuilding your connections. And then of course, if you have the paying off of those big scary loans looming in your future, it always helps to start saving early– an added bonus to having a job in college. But if you pick the wrong job, it can be overwhelming and damaging to your overall college experience. So here’s a list of what to look for in a college job if you want to reap the benefits and avoid the consequences.

Tips on finding a job that will enhance your college experience:

1. Look for a job that’s relevant to your field of study. Are you pursuing a career in accounting? Consider being a part-time bank teller. A career in law? You can often find jobs as an office assistant at a firm. Fashion merchandising? Look at openings in retail/sales at boutiques or clothing stores around you. Science or medicine? Research lab assistant jobs. The job might not be glamorous or exactly what you’re hoping to do in the future, but it’ll give you a behind-the-scenes look at your field of interest and at least give you a starting place to build off of.
2. Make sure the hours are flexible. Being able to fit your job into your schedule instead of fit your schedule into your job is key. Before deciding how many hours you can work and on what days, remember to consider more than just when you have classes: think about what clubs you’re involved in, how many hours of homework you typically have, how much “personal” time you need in a week, your sleep schedule… Check with your potential employer to see if they’re willing to work with you and your hours around stressful times like midterms or finals.
3. Consider the location of your job. In general, it’s a bad idea to work anywhere that’s far away from campus– especially if you have to depend on public transportation. The commute time is time you’re not getting paid for, so it weighs on your schedule and is usually quite stressful. Plus, it’s a bonus to work on or around your campus because then you get to know the area better.
4. Factor in the life skill benefits. A job that involves writing, speaking, customer relations, organization, management, and the like will not only build your resume for future job positions but will also aid in you all areas of life — especially your school work. So even if you can’t find a job that perfectly fits with what you’re studying, a job with “life skills” can still be very beneficial to your college experience.
5. Don’t disregard the “work study”. Are you one of the many students with work study included in your financial aid package? Take advantage of this! It means you’re more likely to find a job because employers receive a large subsidy when they employ work study students. You’re also more likely to get a job because there are many jobs out there that are specified just for work study students, so that narrows the field in your favor. A work study job usually means that your employer will be considerate of the fact you’re a student and be more flexible. Another benefit of work study is that the earnings you receive will not affect your future financial aid eligibility, since it is a need-based program.
6. Pay attention to who you’re working with. A job where you meet a lot of people and can get to know your employers is great because it’ll give you connections and strong references for future jobs. It can also be an added benefit if you get to work with other people your age, because a job can be a place where you network and meet people interested in the same things you are.

Bottom line, it’s not all about how big the paycheck is.

Certainly, a job is important because of the funds it provides. But don’t just pick one job over the other because it pays more. There’s a lot more you can get out of a job than just money, so take your time and do your research in order to make the most out of your college job.

Believe it or not, your near-empty bank account is a gift in the dating world.

Scratch fancy restaurant dinners and over-priced tickets to the movies– how dull, unoriginal, and expensive. An excessive amount of money makes it altogether too easy to use elaborate, meaningless gestures to try and “woo” someone. As it turns out, what you lack in money you can make up for (and then some) in thoughtfulness and creativity.

Ideas to wake up your (cheap) inner romantic:

1. Get lost in a records store. Sharing music together is always a memorable experience. Most music stores have a means for listening to the music for free, so enjoy the vast possibilities of the music selection. Show him/her some of your favorites, listen to some of theirs, and then find new music you both like together. This is a great date for getting to know each other, because typically you can tell a lot by someone’s taste in music. Plus, take note of their favorite bands/artists for the days when you have a slightly bigger bank account and can afford to take your date out to a concert– always a winner for the music-lover. As for ideas that fit with a budget, you can make the memory last longer by making a classic “mixed tape” or CD with all the songs you already own that you noticed they liked when you showed them at the store.
2. Go for a personal picnic. First, figure out your date’s ideal location. Is it a lookout spot with a view of the mountains or the city? A big quiet field? A charming park? Also, pay attention to his/her favorite snacks and drinks and bring them with. Peach Snapple Ice Tea? Hot apple cider? Dr. Pepper? Chocolate chip cookies? Pita bread and humus? Strawberries? It’s easy to get snacks and drinks for two for cheap. Noticing the details shows you care and makes the date much more than a cliche picnic.
3. Explore the arts. A lot of cities have days where you can visit galleries and museums for free. I know that both Portland and Seattle do this every first Thursday of the month. Research things like this that your city has to offer– local events like art walks, craft markets, food fairs, concerts in the park… Usually local events are cheap and unique to the town/city they’re in, which makes for a fun time that’s different from a typical date.
4. Teach together, learn together. What does your date like to do for fun? What do you like to do for fun? Have days dedicated to showing the other a piece of your world. If you like photography, take your date out shooting pictures with you. Introduce him/her to the basics and let them give it a try. If your date likes soccer, go to a soccer game together or play a little one-on-one and let them teach you a thing or two. By developing an appreciate for each others’ interests and hobbies, you’ll grow closer and find many more activities to enjoy together.

Remember, it really is the thought that counts.

Mixed tapes and picnics have all been done many, many times before. The key to making these inexpensive options special and memorable is by personalizing them to fit your date. This means all these suggestions are a starting place to get you thinking, but you’ll have to take each one and personalize it with the things you know your date likes and you’re good to go.

If there is one thing I know…

It is that a bad grade on a test is not the worst thing. But with these tips, you won’t need to worry about that.

1. Adopt study strategies that worked for you in the past, and stick with them.
2. Know your professor and what they did on tests prior. Whether it’s thinking back to tests you’ve taken with them or talking to students who took the course before you, figure out what the methods to their madness are.
3. Look at how you did on tests in the past in the same course. What did you do well on? What did you not do so well on? Studying this information can save you time, and allow you to study exactly what it is you struggle with.
4. The day before the test, when your head is clear, make a list of all the materials you need to bring with you and make sure to arrive early. Hurrying will make you feel rushed and unprepared.
5. Be confident and relax. If you feel anxious, take several deep breaths and remind yourself that you have prepared well and will do well. On your way to the test don’t talk to other students about the test, it will only make you more nervous.
6. Read the directions on the test carefully. This is obvious, but essential!
7. If there is time when you are finished, quickly run through your work and make sure everything is completed and you have done all that you can.
8. Strategically answer the questions. To work up your confidence, answer the easiest questions first with the least point value to lead you to the more difficult questions that will have been worked for. For essay tests, broadly outline your answer and then put it into an essay format.
9. On essay tests, make sure to have a strong beginning sentence, and to start each of your body paragraphs with key points from your introduction.
10. Don’t rush to leave the class the moment you’ve finished your test. Go back and review vocabulary, grammar and/or mismarked questions. There is a tendency of feeling rushed once others have completed their tests and are leaving the classroom, but don’t give in!

“If youth but knew, and old age only could.” –Henri Estienne

There are a million quotes and jokes about being young versus being old. I believe this is one of the older generation’s ways of nudging those of us in the younger generation into action. At every age there are advantages and disadvantages, and I think the advantages of being a college student far outweigh the disadvantages– as long as we act on the many opportunities at hand.

Seize the day: A few things to consider before you’re done with college.

1. Study abroad. Check out your school’s website to find out more about the study abroad opportunities they offer. Usually the price of studying abroad is just a little more than your normal room and board, so why not get out and see the world? College is the best time because the programs are right at your fingertips: organized, thought-out, and designed for your age group so you get the most out of your travels. And, be sure you get overseas medical insurance before you go because you never know what can happen when you’re abroad.
2. Learn how to (insert skill here). Dance? Draw? Knit? Speak a foreign language? Sail?  Chances are, your school has courses or clubs that can teach you any of the above skills and then some. Take advantage of these because now is the time to be trying new things. Maybe you’ll find a new hobby in doing so or maybe you’ll even find a whole career path for yourself. You just never know until you try.
3. Go vegetarian. This might be a weird one… I mainly threw it in there to humor myself, since I went vegetarian at the beginning of college. But seriously, if you’ve ever been curious about being vegetarian, give it a try in college. It’s the time when you’re responsible for your own nutrition– you don’t have to bug your mom or dad to make you different meals from the rest of the family like you would have before had you chosen to eat vegetarian in high school.
4. Live in the city. Don’t think that just because you’ve already picked your college and it’s in a small town that you missed out on this opportunity. Most colleges offer exchange programs where you can try a different college for a quarter/semester while still paying the normal tuition and being enrolled at your usual college. This is a great idea regardless of if you choose a college in the city or not. I only suggest the city because living in the city is expensive once you get out of college, so it’s best to do it when you’re already paying for your room and board. Plus, the city has so much to offer: museums, music, great restaurants, rich culture, etc.
5. Network. Is there ever going to be a time in your life when you’re living with as many people as you are right now in college? Get to know your professors and your classmates because not only will they be connections later in life for your profession but these are also the people that will most likely become your lifelong friends. A college campus is usually quite diverse, so it’s also an opportunity to get to know and learn from people with backgrounds that are completely different from your own.
6. Be an intern. Internships are an awesome way to jumpstart your career and get a peek into the real-life application of your major. Your university has plenty of tools for career planning– utilize them. It’s easier to get placed with a company as an intern if you’re doing it through your school, because they have a more established reputation and connections that supercede your own.
7. Get to know yourself. If you’re not sure who you are, you’re never going to be truly successful in the “real world” that comes after college. Discover your passions, find what you love, and get grounded in what you believe in. Know and understand where you came from and how it’s shaped who you are, and then take a look at where you want to go. College is a time for exploration but it’s also a time for reflection; it’s a key transitional stage in our lives where we go from dependent teenagers to independent adults.

These are just seven of the many things to try and do in college. Want to know more?

Ask someone who’s been there. Your parent, your grandparent, your older sibling, your college counselor, a good friend, a favorite professor… Hindsight is 20/20, so ask someone who’s completed the college journey for some perspective on how to make the most of this amazing opportunity.

Is there anything more dry, dull, and tedious than textbook reading assignments?

I have 64 pages of reading to do tonight in my “Understanding Politics” textbook. Textbook reading assignments tend to rule the college homework load, and I get lost in information-overload after just a few pages of reading my text. How do I make the most of my reading and maximize what I learn from my text?

What to do when you’ve read the same sentence three times:

1. Break out the highlighters. In every paragraph, search for the sentence that carries the most meaning and best sums up the information you’ve been reading, then highlight it up. When you’re highlighting, you’re more alert and focused on the information you’re reading so it’ll keep you from reading a whole page without picking up on anything important.
2. Utilize Post-It notes. There are some really cool types of Post-Its out there. I have skinny ones with either question marks, exclamation points, or quotation marks at the end. These are awesome because they stick out from my text and I can reference pages quickly where I have a question, where there’s really important information, or where there’s a good quote to remember. You can also do this with different colored Post-Its and write your own notes to yourself on them.
3. Take a break. Get something to eat or drink, stretch, go the bathroom… Just get away from your textbook for 5-10 minutes once you start to lose focus. Breaks sometimes seem unproductive, but really you’ll find you’re more attentive if you leave your textbook for a bit and come back refreshed and refocused.
4. Find your reading niche. For me, I need to be someplace with minimal distractions… specifically, someplace far from my friends or my laptop (I tell myself that I’ll just check my facebook, and then I end up on there for a good half hour– how does that always happen?!) Whether it’s a cozy chair, outside under a big tree, or in the library, just make sure you’re picking a spot that allows you to concentrate on the content of what you’re reading.
5. Review. After you finish a chapter or even a section of a chapter, get your notebook and pen out and summarize in your own words key terms and the important information you highlighted. This will be helpful come midterms or finals when you don’t have time to re-read the full chapter. Also, take note of anything you put a “question” Post-It note on so you can remember to ask a friend or your professor before that big test.

There are seriously a million courses my college has to offer.

And when I’m surfing the course catalog online, I get class ADD and find myself looking up the time schedules for ‘Fencing 1101′ and ‘Art 2103: Metals Studio’. Pretty soon I’ve spent most of my afternoon browsing course descriptions and end up with a shopping bag full non-cohesive credits. Whoops… Time to start over, and this time I’ve got some methods to contain my scheduling madness.

Things to consider when choosing your classes:

1. Your college’s general graduation requirements. Do you need to take a certain number of science credits before you graduate? Credits in arts and humanities? Mathematics? Check your college website to make sure you’re on track with the basic requirements.
2. Your intended major requirements. Obviously, each major has required courses in order to get a degree in it. If you’re still major-shopping, consider taking classes that overlap–they cover a general requirement as well as a requirement for a major you’re interested in. This way you’re not wasting time/money/credits.
3. Professors. Honestly, a professor can make you or break you in a class. The best professors can make a boring subject come to life, and the worst can kill even an interesting one entirely. Be sure to keep your ears open and ask around as to who to take and who to avoid.
4. Time management. Do you prefer to get all your classes done in the morning? Or do you like to sleep in, do some work, and go to class in the evening? Is it beneficial to have gaps between classes or get them all done one after the other? Consider these things (as well as things like your job, activities you’re involved in, when you like to eat, when you like to do homework, etc.) when picking the time of your classes.
5. Balance. Don’t cram your schedule full of all science classes, all math classes, or all art classes. Having variety in your schedule will keep you from getting bored with your classes, and will stimulate different sides of your brain throughout your week. Even if one particular subject is your passion, remember the general requirements– better to flavor them in as a mixture with classes you enjoy rather than have to survive a term of all required classes.
6. Pick for pleasure. College is a time to explore. So, if you’re like me and a class like Fencing caught your eye– try it! Just make sure the class isn’t a ton of credits and you’re not cramming your schedule too full. Also, consider taking the class pass/fail in order to keep it fun and eliminate the stress. I went ahead and added the Metals Studio class to my winter quarter schedule, and I think it’s way cool that I get to learn how to make jewelry by welding.

Composing your schedule is exciting.

Unlike high school, you have so much more flexibility and freedom in choosing your courses in college. It’s about you, and your future. Take this opportunity of picking your schedule to a level of perfection by considering the above 6 tips, and enjoy!

146 million people use Gmail as their source for webmail.

But how many people are familiar with the other features Gmail has to offer, such as Google Calendar and Google Documents? Personally, I’ve been using Gmail as my webmail  source for 5 years but I’ve only recently started using it for organizational purposes– mainly because I wasn’t aware of it’s other useful features. Now, I’m keeping everything centralized in one place by taking advantage of what Gmail has to offer.

Class schedules, work schedules, appointments, club meetings, study groups, and social events getting hard to keep track of?

As college students, we have a lot going on all the time– sometimes more than we can remember off the top of our heads. This is why I love Google Calendar. Just log into your Gmail account and click the calendar link in the top left corner and start adding events. You can view your calendar by day, week, month, 4 days, or agenda. You can have more than one calendar, and you can also share your calendars with other people by clicking “settings”, then “share” and adding people’s e-mail addresses. Also, you can have event reminders sent to your e-mail so you don’t forget that counselor meeting you’ve rescheduled two times already.

Wouldn’t it be nice to store all your important files in one place and be able to access them from any computer, without a flash-drive?

It seems like there’s always a million items I have to make sure I have in my bag before I go out the door: dorm key, student ID, textbooks, notebooks, folders,  pens, money, snacks… I don’t want to have to worry about how I’m going to access my files on top of everything else. That’s where Google Documents comes in handy. The documents link is right next to the calendar link in the top left corner. Upload any file or create a new document/presentation/spreadsheet/form, and then organize them into folders by class or topic. For every document or folder, there’s a “share” option, which is great for group projects. The people you want to share it with get an e-mail notification and the file automatically goes to their Google Documents. And as long as you have internet access, you have an easy means to all your important documents.

But wait, there’s more!

Google Calendar and Google Documents are just two of the cool features Gmail has to offer. They’re my favorites to use because they keep me organized by keeping everything centralized, but I encourage you to explore the other features and see what’s helpful to you. Also, check out this blog post which teaches you how to use your other e-mail addresses (i.e. your school address) within Gmail. Also, go here for another helpful blog post if you want to learn more about websites/internet programs that will make your college life easier.