manage your time!

Check out our new article with 10 tips on how to best manage your time in high school! "Getting a job or any other productive activity that takes on the scale of 10-15 hours a week is a great way to add valuable structure to your life. It is amazing how a little structure can help you manage your time just by forcing you to be responsible for how you spend your time." Read it all here.

transitions

The terrible tweens is more than just a phrase for kids, it is a reality for many people who undergoe significant changes in life. Check out this article that contains some tips to help you through tough transitions.

Making Effective Transitions

savings bonds

Savings bonds are a great way to put aside money for yourself or for your kids education. With tuition costs increasing at an astounding rate (experts say it increases at twice the rate of inflation) it is a smart idea to get a head start on footing the bill.

With that in mind take a gander at these two new articles from author Jan Michael:

Bonds for Education and Bonds: 2 quick tips!

dealing with illness

Check out this new article from Teddy, a student from Western Washing University on how he got through a near death experience during the school semester!

top entrepreneur schools

Take a look at Fortune's list of the top 10 "coolest" entrepreneur schools here, an interesting read for anyone looking at making their own path in the corporate world.

tales from the gap

Check out one college student's tales from a semester in Patagonia - Read about it here!

Roth IRAs

"If a twenty year old contributes $125/mo to a Roth IRA, earning 7.5% interest per year compounded monthly, they will have accumulated about $514,000 at age sixty-five."

Check out our new article on student Roth IRA savings funds. It is a great way to save for life after college!

to gap or not to gap

Gap years are great. Taking some time off between highschool and college can lead to gaining personal perspective, experience and growth. But is it right for you? Like most things in life there isn't an easy or simple answer. A gap year is personal time, so it is logical that the choice to take or not to take one would be personal too. Whatever you choose it should be YOUR choice, not your counselors or parents.

One thing that anyone considering a gap year needs is a plan. It doesn't have to be detailed or comprehensive, but you need to make sure you have a clear path to head down. Get a plan, get organized, make sure you dont look back after your year is done and have any regrets.

Want to find out more about gap year options? Check out our section devoted entirely to everything that happens during gaps.

finding your success

"As you set out into the world you will most likely hear reminders to “stay focused on school” and “not get caught up in socializing”.  Here is your first major decision:  how much do you focus on school and how much do you spend getting to know your peers?  Despite what relatives and superiors might suggest, it is not good and it is not healthy to focus entirely on school and to forget about friends.  Of course, you are in college to learn.  But, remember, this learning does not come entirely from the lectures of your classrooms."

Check out this great article from our newest staff member- Becka.

college workload

"For some the first year is overwhelming, for others a cake walk – but for the vast majority it is somewhere in between. One thing is for sure, you can count on your freshman year being fun and educational - in and out of the classroom."

Want some insight into the freshmen year of college? Check it out here!

life-long steps

"College is known for difficult exams, but did you know that college is actually a test for parents? The moment you send your teen off to college all the care and effort you’ve invested is put up for judgment. The test is on one subject: Will your teen have the tools to succeed in college?"

Check it out here!

supporting your freshman

"The freshmen year of college usually causes noticeable changes in parent/teen relationships. For the past 18 years you have done a good job being there to actively help your child through their crisis’s and problems even if they didn’t always appreciate it. For the majority of freshmen, the freedom college offers is a result of severing this active problem solving relationship with their parents."

Check out the rest!

laptop or desktop?

"The choice between a desktop and a laptop for school is tough. Each one has its advantages and you should make your decision based on 3 different aspects: budget, use and size..."

Click here to check out the rest!

showing up

“Eighty percent of success is showing up” – Woody Allen

I don’t know if Woody Allen was speaking to a college student when he said this, but it sure fits. You’ve gone through your whole life with teachers and counselors telling you how difficult and challenging the whole college experience will be. By the time you actually arrive at school years of this negative conditioning may have left nagging thoughts in the back of your head, “Will I be able to keep up? Will I succeed here?”. Honestly and unconditionally the answer is YES.

I heard a rumor from a friend that a frat at U.W graduated a golden retriever and personally I believe it is possible. All of the buzz you’ve gotten from counselors and admissions officers can be ignored, college isn’t “hard” or beyond your capabilities in any way. Success in your first year is simply a matter of “showing up” – at every class, review session and recitation. Combine attendance with turning in assignments and you’ve got a winning a strategy.

Have some tips on how to succeed in college, or want to comment on this post? Check out our community forum!