Nearly every depiction of college in the movies or on TV features it in some way. It’s hard to think of any bigger college stereotype. I’m talking about going Greek (that is, joining a sorority or fraternity in college).
I participated in “Fall Rush” my sophomore year and although I did not pledge a sorority, I enjoyed the opportunity to see what the Greek system at my school was all about. But my limited experience seems pretty lame to base an opinion on so I tapped into a great resource, one of my friends who is still very involved with her sorority, now serving as an adult advisor.
I prodded her about why she decided to rush, how she decided on her particular sorority house, what she loved or hated about the experience and for her advice on it all. Long story short, she LOVED pretty much every moment of her college experience and attributes that to her life in a sorority. She’s a strong advertisement for the Greeks, but it didn’t start off that way.
My friend rushed in the fall of her freshman year. (Fall rush is usually the big rush in many schools, but other schools restrict fall rush to upperclassmen so that freshman have time to acclimate to college before rushing). She rushed with some dorm-mates because she wanted to meet people on campus and hello, Greek life looks fun! But some houses left a bad taste in her mouth for being snobby or appearance conscious, and she ended up dropping out of rush. She decided to participate in the less formal spring rush and only went to one house where she felt the girls were more genuine.
She lived in the sorority house her sophomore and junior years and had nothing but positive things to say about it. She had friends everywhere she turned. She became friends with girls she never would have known otherwise and remained extremely close with the girls she pledged with. Greek chapters can also provide the benefits of a professional network post-graduation to help land that first or fifth job. (When you are part of a fraternity/sorority, you are connected to all the brothers/sisters in the history of the chapter, all across the country.) When pressed for a downside, she emphatically responded, “the stereotype.” She held a high office in student government and constantly had to prove that she wasn’t a ditz just because she was in a sorority.
I asked what her advice would be to freshman considering Greek life. She said simply, “Try it out.” Rush is an opportunity for you to see what the houses on your campus are all about. And they’re not just social fraternities and sororities, there are professional and service-oriented Greek organizations (oftentimes co-ed, but called fraternities) too. But how will you know it’s not for you if you haven’t sampled it? Greek life should enhance your college experience, not make you uncomfortable. And for everyone I have ever known who went Greek, it was a major enhancement, one that they do not regret.
If you recognize the names Cappie, Evan, and Spitter, then you probably have a working knowledge of Greek life, thanks to the show GRΣΣK. (I love educational TV!) In case you haven’t tuned in, here’s my quick Greek guide:
The collegiate Greek system is made up of social, service, or professional member organizations named after letters in the Greek alphabet. Sororities are made up of women and fraternities are generally comprised of men, although service and professional fraternities are often co-ed. Most fraternities and sororities are social organizations, often devoted to one or two philanthropic causes which organize fundraisers, service activities, and social events. Often the Greek system socializes amongst itself with fraternities and sororities having mixers with one another, as well as large events such as Greek Week, involving all the Greek organizations.
To join a typical sorority or fraternity, potential members (also known as unaffiliates) go through a formal recruitment period called Rush. The point of Rush is to visit the different Greek houses and get a feel for the members in the chapter. At the conclusion of the Rush period, the fraternities and sororities offer formal invitations, or bids, to the students they want to join their chapter. If a student’s parent or sibling was a member of a fraternity or sorority, that student is known as a legacy and can receive “pref,” a preferential bid to that group over another. Upon accepting a bid, the student becomes a new member, or pledge. All the new pledges are known as the pledge class. The pledge period varies in time and requirements among schools and by fraternity or sorority, but it ends with the new member being initiated in a formal ceremony and becoming an active brother or sister.
Most social sororities and fraternities are national or international organizations with local chapters at various schools. Each school usually has a governing body for all fraternities and sororities, often Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Council, respectively.
Now that you’ve got the lingo, stay tuned for my next post where I explore what it’s really like to go Greek.
Congratulations! You’ve completed AND submitted all your college applications. Unfortunately, now is the REALLY hard part—the multi-month college waiting game. Sounds fun, huh? I’m sure you’ve heard that waiting for your college acceptance letters is the most gruesome aspect of applying to college. While that is true, the following tidbits will help you navigate this typically anxious time. So while you’re waiting, here’s what you can do.
Three things to do:
1. First things first, take a break. You’ve just accomplished a monumental task and are very deserving of some R&R. Let go of the process. Recognize that you have completed your part.
2. Check and make sure that your applications have been received. Most undergraduate admissions offices have websites and emails that will confirm receipt of your application. Check regularly to ensure that all parts of your application have been received (transcripts, letters of recommendation, test scores, etc). If something shows up as not received, call the admissions office
3. Make sure that all financial aid forms are completed by their deadlines. You can also invest time looking for scholarships. There are plenty that have spring deadlines.
Three things not to do:
1. Once you have determined that the admissions offices have received all components of your application, do not call to check on your application status. The admissions process takes time. Calling incessantly to check on the status of your application will not speed up the process, but will increase your anxiety. Only call if there is a major change in your application information.
2. This may seem impossible, but try not to build up your hopes about your first-choice school. We all know that each school has its positives and negatives. Despite the fact that you may have a top choice school, each college offers something unique. Furthermore, it is important to remember that once you arrive at college, you are the one in control of your education. Prospective students often fail to realize that success in college is based on the relationships you develop with mentors and professors. Although one school might be your favorite, you must remember that there are several colleges that might be right for you.
3. As difficult as it may seem, don’t compare notes with your peers. The admissions process can feel like a competition. This will only increase your anxiety.
In closing, here’s a personal story that I told numerous times to prospective students visiting my alma mater. Although you may not believe in fate, it is an important variable in the college equation. You will end up where you are supposed to be. Even if it isn’t your first choice school and it may be heartbreaking initially, you will go to the college that is best for you. I flipped a coin between two schools that accepted me. My first choice school was heads and another school was tails. The quarter landed on heads…and I wasn’t thrilled. I went to the tails school and never looked back. No regrets. It all works out in the end.
Warm sand, cool surf, beach volleyball … oh wait, that’s college spring break. High school spring break doesn’t quite have the same epic adventure associated with it. But nonetheless, spring break is coming up which means you probably have a week off of school and are in need of some decent plans. So what’s a high school student to do?
ROAD TRIP!!
Again, maybe not a made-for-TV-movie road trip, but think about heading out with your folks and visit a few colleges within driving distance*. I can’t stress enough how important it is to check out campuses. You will be amazed at how great you might think a school is… and then you set foot on campus. You’ll see the students, feel the vibe, take a student-lead tour, maybe even sit in on a class, and your entire perspective might change. You might realize this is exactly the kind of school you want to attend, or you might realize that this is not at all what you imagined. Regardless, getting out and visiting schools near your home is a great way to spend spring break and to explore colleges. Even if you aren’t interested in your local university, it might be worth checking out just so you can wrap your head around what it’s like to go a school with 20,000+ students. I know I was in a bit of a shock when I walked into an Economics lecture that had more students than my entire (400 person) high school. It’s hard to grasp without experiencing it.
Do you already have plans for spring break? Share them! The comments section is here for you guys to converse with one another or ask any questions of me or WiseChoice. And if you do road trip to some colleges over spring break, definitely let me know how it goes!
* One important watch-out: before you go, make sure it’s not also spring break for any college you plan to visit. If it is, the campus will be empty and you will not get a true idea of what the school is really like.
Finding funding for college is an onerous task. There are several options, many which involve borrowing money. Work-study is one option that does not involve paying back borrowed money. The work-study program provides part-time employment to students to help ease the burden of college expenses. Speaking from personal experience, work-study is a viable way to help pay for college.
When I entered college in the fall of 2005, I was concerned about the financial burden that attending a four-year private school had placed on my family. After addressing my concerns with my financial aid officer, he suggested work-study as a way to alleviate some of my tuition costs. As a first-year college student, I was concerned about balancing my studies and my work-study hours, in addition to adjusting to life in college overall. I assumed that it would be too much, but I was wrong.
My first work-study position was as a research assistant in the psychology lab. I was able to select hours that fit my academic schedule, and even change the number of hours I worked within a given week depending on my academic workload. In addition to earning money, I found work-study to be a welcome break from my academic course load. Work-study also taught me how to organize my time so I stayed on top of my academics. My work schedule provided a routine that ensured I always completed my work. I doubt my first year of college would have been as academically successful had I not had a work-study job that forced me to organize my time.
I continued to work as a research-assistant until my sophomore year, and then became a Psychology 101 tutor and department liaison as a junior. The hours were not as flexible, as they were a scheduled class time, but I still found having a consistent schedule to be very beneficial for my academics and my sanity. Senior year of college, I began working in the school’s admissions office as a student representative. Senior year was academically intense because I took on an honors thesis. Ironically, taking a break from my thesis to go to work helped to keep the experience manageable and my paper focused. Work-study provided me with an outlet to channel my stress and procrastination so that I could be an efficient and successful student (which is ultimately the goal of college).
When the time came to apply for jobs in the real world (yes, we all have to do this at some point), I realized that work-study had given me substantial experience for my resume, and employers were impressed with my ability to work and maintain my academics. And look where my work-study job as my school’s student representative got me – being a blogger for WiseChoice!
When you view work-study through this lens, it’s hard to find a downside. I was able to reap the rewards from work-study because I was disciplined. Your studies will always be your first priority, and it is essential to remember this. The key is balance.
College is expensive and unfortunately, we all can’t win the lottery (aw, shucks!). Finding money to pay for college can be stressful. How can you afford college when tuition is at a pinnacle? This sounds obvious, but understanding your options will make the process of paying for higher education easier. This means research, research, research! Read as much as you can about all of your options so you can make the most informed decision. So when all the couch cushions have been overturned and tuition money is still needed, where do you turn? Here are five areas to look for spare change.
1. Federal Money
First and foremost, fill out the FASFA! Even if you think you may not qualify for aid, apply anyway, as this is the impetus for many other types of money that Uncle Sam offers. Also, apply early. Some financial aid is given on a first come, first served basis. To learn more about Federal Money, refer to Natalie’s post on federal loans for college.
2. Ask for more
Didn’t receive as much financial aid as you had hoped? Call the school’s financial aid office and appeal for more assistance. This may sound risky, but as other accepted students refuse a college’s offer (to go to a different school), more financial aid money may become available. You should certainly ask for more aid if your financial situation has changed since you submitted your FAFSA (a parent losing a job, for example). Another approach is to ask the college to match the financial aid package from another school. To employ this tactic, it helps to have been accepted to two similar colleges. In essence, you are having two colleges compete over you. Best-case scenario, the financial aid office will match (or beat) the offer. Worst-case scenario, you have your original aid package. It never hurts to ask (nicely, of course).
3. Corporate Generosity
Do you and your family shop? If the answer is yes, you can build up college savings while purchasing daily items. Some credit cards and rebate websites (such as Upromise®) help you compile money for college savings.
4. Work-Study
Many colleges offer work-study as an option to help lessen the burden of tuition. Campuses typically allow you to work up to 20 hours a week, which can translate into thousands of dollars towards your tuition. Typical work-study jobs include on campus IT support, lab/research assistant, and working in food services. If work-study doesn’t interest you, working as a waiter, bank teller, or a paid internship will usually have accommodating hours.
5. Health and Car Insurance Plans
Talk with your family about switching to student health insurance rather than staying on your family’s health insurance plan. Please note that this is very subjective to what both plans may offer, but could provide additional savings for you. Also, if you are currently on your family’s auto insurance plan and do not plan on driving in college, be certain to remove yourself from the insurance plan. This can saves hundreds of dollars for you and your family.
Maybe you changed your major or maybe you transferred schools. Perhaps you extended that semester abroad into a year abroad, or you decided to double major. Maybe you couldn’t get into a required class, or you found yourself in the unfortunate situation of having to retake a class. There are all sorts of reasons students take longer than the traditional four years to graduate from college, but there’s no way around it, the longer you are in school, the more expensive your education.
Remember that your education is an investment in yourself and your future career. Extending your college experience to get an extra degree or to study in another location might be worth the extra costs. BUT, having to pay for tuition, room and board, books, activity fees and all of the other expenses that go along with additional semesters, is another story.
Sometimes it’s worth putting the numbers out there and letting it sink in. Suppose your tuition is around $16,000 a year. That means you are looking at least $96,000 in tuition alone on the six-year plan, versus $64,000 if you were to graduate in four years. That assumes your tuition does not increase (which it probably will), and does not factor in the myriad of other expenses you incur in school.
So how can you prevent this from happening? Do your due diligence and stay on top of your graduation requirements. Even with a college major change and a transfer, I was able to graduate only one semester late by working with my advisors and always knowing how many requirements I had left. In my last semester at my original school, I made a point to take classes that I knew my future school would accept for their full credits. I also tried to pick classes that might satisfy more than one requirement, such as a class that met both the social sciences requirement and counted toward my major. I also took summer and night classes if I couldn’t get into required classes offered at traditional times.
Some tips to help you graduate in four years:
1. Stay ahead of the curve and really think about your school choice to avoid having to transfer.
2. Don’t declare a major right away.
3. Work on your core requirements so you don’t waste time on classes in a major you end up not interested in.
4. Stay on top of your high school studies now so you score well on AP exams and have credits in your pocket before you even set foot on campus.
Of course, sometimes circumstances arise and life doesn’t work out as planned, but with some foresight you can avoid being in school longer than necessary.
Community College: To go or not to go, that is the question. A close friend of mine went to community college before transferring to a four year school and I asked his thoughts on the experience. He is in the “not to go” camp.
My friend went to community college because… well, it was a convenient option. He didn’t really know where else to go or what other schools to look at, his girlfriend was going there, and his parents appreciated the price tag. He decided to apply for and was accepted to the college’s honors program, billed as a prestigious opportunity geared toward students transferring to four year colleges. However, he found that the honors program, like the rest of the school, was focused on graduating students with their Associates degree, rather than preparing them for continued education.
He received his Associates and transferred, encountering the typical transfer student issues, mainly being the new guy, struggling with a blank slate GPA*, and transferring credits. But he also faced problems with the difference in the level of work and professors’ expectations. In his experience, the courses were truly more difficult than his honors community college classes. He felt unprepared, placing him at a serious disadvantage as his new professors expected a much higher quality work product than he was accustomed to.
There are, of course, some advantages to community college. Obviously, the lower cost is enticing to many parents and students alike. Community colleges offer many interesting, inexpensive courses, which are great for supplementing your general knowledge and furthering adult education, without having to travel great distances.
My friend’s best advice? If you start in community college with the goal of transferring to get your Bachelors degree, make a plan before you start. Think of what school you will transfer to, and try to take courses that will give you transferable credits. Most important, be aware of and prepared for the challenges you will face at your next school.
*This is something all students contemplating a transfer should know. When you are a new student at a university, you generally enter the school without a GPA. Typically, you have 120 credits taken over four years to accumulate your graduating GPA, but if you transfer as a junior after two years of community college, you might only have 60 credits to reflect your graduating GPA. To bring that point home, one disappointing grade out of 120 credits does a lot less damage than one out of 60 credits – something to seriously keep in mind.
This season on Gossip Girl (you might notice several references in my posts, sorry, huge fan here), Hilary Duff plays a movie star who wants to attend college just like any other student. Of course her plans to enjoy NYU are thwarted as she is forced make the final film in her hit series, but it got me thinking about celebrities attending college. Can you imagine rooming with the next “it” girl or comic genius? It happens to some!
To quench my thirst for celeb college knowledge, I scoured the Internet and compiled a list of A-listers and their alma maters. Interestingly enough, not all of them went to school in New York and studied theater! So while your major is important, remember that it does not have to define you or your career path. See below:
Eva Longoria Parker of Desperate Housewives fame graduated from Texas A&M – Kingsville with a degree in Kinesiology.
The hilarious Will Ferrell is a Sports Broadcasting graduate of the University of Southern California.
Actress Maggie Gyllenhaal graduated from Columbia with a degree in Eastern Religions.
Julia Stiles of film and stage also graduated from Columbia University with a degree in English.
Chuck “the Iceman” Liddell holds a B.A. in Accounting from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
Scrubs’ Zach Braff earned his Film degree from Northwestern University.
The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart graduated from The College of William and Mary and majored in Psychology.
Conan O’Brien graduated magna cum laude from Harvard with a degree in U.S. History.
Natalie Portman also graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Psychology.
Actress Calista Flockhart graduated from Rutgers University, where she met her friend, 30 Rock’s Jane Krakowski.
Clay Aiken of American Idol fame holds a degree in Special Education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
And where did Oprah Winfrey go to college, you ask? In a bit of foreshadowing, the most powerful woman in television attended Tennessee State University on a full scholarship by winning an oratory contest. She holds a degree in Speech and Performing Arts.
College campuses are full of fun facts and claims to fame. My personal favorite fact about my alma mater is the McDonald’s on campus is the only McDonald’s in the world to dispense Pepsi products, as the University of Maryland is serious about being a Pepsi-only school! While that is a pretty great claim to fame, how much cooler would it be if I could brag that my school was featured in a movie?!
Check out this list of universities featured in films WiseChoice just compiled. Now when you are touring these campuses, make sure to ask which bench Matt Damon sat on or which quad Reese Witherspoon walked across!
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