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Considering Greek Life?

Are you considering going Greek at college? You’re not alone!

Thousands of students across the country will vie for a chance to make it into a Greek house. We’ll share the pros and the cons of Greek life.

The Pros of Going Greek

Make New Friends – But you won’t only make new friends (and create a bond that could last lifetime) but you’ll also be establishing fantastic networking benefits. If you ever have a problem or need help, you’ll know just where to turn! Joining a Greek house could also put you closer to that dream job than you think.

Fancy Digs — Not a huge fan of your college roommate? That’s not a problem if you have the chance to move in with your sorority sisters or fraternity brothers! Greek housing accommodations can be a welcome improvement over the typical college dorm room.

Community Service – A big part of sorority and fraternity life is often found in helping others. Whether you are cleaning up trash along a riverbank, tutoring elementary school children, or hosting a food drive for the local food pantry, Greek houses are often very committed to making a difference. And that’s something that you can feel very proud of indeed.

Academic Achievement — While this may not hold true in every Greek house, many are very concerned with academic achievement. In fact, Greek fraternity brothers and sorority sisters may be a source of encouragement and academic assistance to help you improve your GPA.

The Cons of Going Greek

Exclusivity — Since not just anyone is allowed in, being invited may make you feel a bit privileged and entitled. Will you let your ego take over? Once you leave college, rest assured that your Greek association will offer no special treatment in the workplace!

It’s a Matter of Time – When you join a Greek house, there may not be time for much else! If you were planning to be involved in a variety of other campus clubs and organizations, you may have to think again! Although every Greek house is different, some are so busy with party planning, group meetings, community service, and committing to on-campus volunteer work that it just doesn’t leave room for much else, even on weekends.

Money Matters – Unfortunately, Greek life isn’t free. If you don’t have the ability to pay the dues, you may be out of luck! They can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars. It’s an important factor to consider.

Greek Life at College

It all comes down to one thing: you’ll never know unless you try!

If you are curious about Greek life, then why not give it a go? At the very least, you will realize it’s not for you and you can continue on to something else. But if it is, you may make friends and enjoy experiences that will last your whole life.

Image Credit: Flickr, phault.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For 20 years My College Guide has produced an annual magazine chock full of free college info for high-achieving high school sophomores and another edition just for high-achieving juniors! Check out our participating colleges.

Subscribe to our blog via RSS or email and stay on top of everything college!

Related posts:

1. Boise State University Students Share: Greek Life
2. Boise State University Students Share: Greek Life
3. The 5 Pros And Cons of Study Groups

My College Guide

Are You Ready for College?

Not feeling prepared for college yet? If you have conflicted feelings about your readiness level for college, the programs below could certainly help you boost your confidence!

More than a taste of college life, some of them let you live in an actual college dorm for anywhere from two to six weeks! It’s a great way to feel better about leaving home for the first time.

It’s also a great way to take a closer look at a college campus. If it’s a school that you’ve been interested in, attending a program there can give you great insight into what to expect later on. Plus, you can earn college credit.

A Taste of College Life

Pre-College Programs — This is a popular subject on My College Guide and for good reason! Pre-college programs offer high school students a chance to take actual college classes–sometimes even for a credit! Many programs allow students to live on campus and in dorm rooms. It looks great on college applications! If a school you are interested in attending has such a program, you can get very good insight as to whether or not it feels like the right college for you.

Dual Enrollment — Avoid  senioritis with a college level class! Offered on campus, in a classroom at your very own high school, or sometimes even online, these courses can vary greatly in how they are handled. But one thing remains the same: if you take one of these classes, you can begin accruing college credit early!

Institution-offered Pre-College Programs – There are other summer programs that immerse high school students in college life–and for college credit. Have you ever heard of institution-offered pre-college programs? JSA Summer School, National Student Leadership Conference, and Summer Discovery are a few programs that offer an in-depth look at particular subjects or boost specialized skills. Some even include college informational sessions, too.

Moving Forward

If you’ve been looking for a way to set yourself apart from the rest of the college application crowd, you may want to check out these great programs. Do your research, plan ahead, and look forward to a fun and educational way to make your college application shine!

Image Credit: Flickr, Peter Alfred Hess

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For 20 years My College Guide has produced an annual magazine chock full of free college info for high-achieving high school sophomores and another edition just for high-achieving juniors! Check out our participating colleges.

Subscribe to our blog via RSS or email and stay on top of everything college!

Related posts:

1. Pondering a PreCollege Summer Program? Get the Facts
2. Institution-Offered Precollege Summer Programs to Spice up Your Summer
3. Pre-College Program at Emory College: A Preview of College Life

My College Guide

Pre-College Program at Emory University

Want to ease those college jitters? My College Guide knows that a pre-college program can help you get prepped for college in ways you may not have thought possible. Get the feel of a campus, make new friends, and see what college life is all about before you even leave high school!

For those who don’t yet know, a pre-college program is a summer program of varying length that many colleges and universities offer as a way to take a college course (sometimes even for credit!) while you are still in high school. Plus, it looks great on a college admissions application.

We got in touch with Elizabeth Elkins, the senior program associate at Emory College, to learn more about their pre-college option. If you’ve been looking for a way to stand out during the college admissions process and get a head-start knocking out those college credits, this may very well be something that you want to consider.

Read on and see what Emory College’s pre-college program is all about!

Pre-College Program at Emory College

Emory College doesn’t just have one pre-college program to choose from, you’ve got two programs of different length that encompass a variety of fields! Can you tell me a bit more about them?

Emory’s pre-college program has two options: two-week, non-credit courses, and six-week credit courses. Two-week courses give you a taste of college life in a class taught by an Emory professor.

Classes include the Neuroscience of Technology, Writing the Personal Essay, Law and Litigation, Psychology of Creativity, Infectious Diseases: Causes and Cures, and many others. Six-week courses are taken for full college credit, which is transferable to the college of your choice.

In a six-week class, you will be in the classroom with regular Emory college students. Classes in the six-week program are regular college classes such as Biology 120, Introduction to Sociology, etc. Emory opens a number of its summer courses up to qualified high school students each year.

Students in either program have the option to live on campus, or commute from home if they live in the Atlanta area.

Students live on campus in an actual dorm?

Yes, students live in Turman Residence Hall, one of the campus’ brand new buildings.

What are some courses that really stand out for you?

Pre-College Program at Emory University

Dr. Marshall Duke’s Psychology of Creativity is regular each summer, and it is one of our most popular courses. Dr. Duke is a favorite among Emory students as well. In this class, students pick a famous creative person and look closely at how their personality traits made them successful. Past students have studied Lady Gaga, Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey and 50 Cent.

Law and Litigation is another great course. It is taught by an Emory Law School professor and includes field trips to behind-the-scenes corporate law boardrooms.

So, would you consider a pre-college program at Emory College a great preview of actual college life?

Absolutely. So many of our students come to the program to find out if Emory is the right fit for them. We make sure the program is similar to life on campus. You live in a dorm, eat your meals at the student center, have a Resident Advisor, and have to learn how to balance your course homework with the many extracurricular options available.

There are also College 101 sessions that tell you more about different offices and activities on campus. These sessions also offer advice on writing college entrance exams, picking a major and studying abroad.

Is the Emory pre-college program all work and no play?

Downtime is up to the student. You can study, go to the gym, explore campus or hang out with your new friends. There are also many fun excursions planned during each session – including trips to Braves baseball games, the World of Coca-Cola, the Georgia Aquarium and Six Flags over Georgia.

This sounds like a great program, and one that could be tough to get into! When should a student think about applying for the pre-college program to ensure a better chance at snagging a spot?

Pre-College Program at Emory University

We start accepting applications January 1 of each year. We encourage students to apply early to get the course they want. If a student needs financial aid, they should note the April 1 financial aid application deadline. Another advantage is to complete your application on time, and make sure your teacher/counselor submits their recommendation letter on time.

Otherwise, be a strong and dedicated student!

Is there anything a high school student can do now to help them gain an advantage in Emory pre-college admissions?

We look for students who would gain admission to Emory College. You should have strong grades, solid test scores and a great recommendation from your counselor or teacher. We love to see students who are involved in extracurricular activities as well.

Pre-College Prep

There’s a lot of reasons to consider a pre-college program! To get a better feel for the program: browse the website, watch the Emory College pre-college program videos, and plan ahead if you want to snag a spot for yourself!

To find out more, request free information from Emory College today!

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For 20 years My College Guide has produced an annual magazine chock full of free college info for high-achieving high school sophomores and another edition just for high-achieving juniors! Check out our participating colleges.

Subscribe to our blog via RSS or email and stay on top of everything college!

Related posts:

1. Another Summer of Boredom? Think Pre-College Summer Programs!
2. Pondering a PreCollege Summer Program? Get the Facts
3. Institution-Offered Precollege Summer Programs to Spice up Your Summer

My College Guide

In this guest post, Jeff Beers of Tutor Delphia provides tips to help students with the ups and downs of the college experience.

There are many things I wish I had known when I started my Freshman year of college. Things that could have saved me a lot of time and a lot of stress.

But I didn’t know them.

And, like many students who arrive in over-loaded cars to college campuses at the end of August every year, I thought I knew enough.

Any of us who have been through college could write books (and some of us do) on specific tips and trends and what-to-dos and what-not-to-dos. And you might want that.

But if you ask me, there’s a different, more important bit of insight that will help you deal with it all . . .

It’s all about taking a little look at what I call “The Experience Curve.”

The Experience Curve should be no stranger. If you’re someone who pays attention, you’ve probably noticed this phenomenon occurring when you do, uh, almost anything ever.

Everyone, from children to adults, experiences the Experience Curve at some point. And understanding the simple fact that we all go through it will help you when you ride the Curve for whatever new thing comes up – including that first semester of college.

And here it is:

There it is. Look familiar?

What the Experience Curve demonstrates is that, over time, happiness fluctuates. We start out at a middling sort of calm “normal,” we peak, we fall (passing back through “normal” and, if we’re lucky, staying there for more than 5 seconds), we crash, we recover, and we’re “normal” again.

It happens all the time. In a given day, in given moment, we’re normal, we’re up, we’re down, we’re normal.

And in the context of a given event – say, starting out at college – the Experience Curve fits as well.

So let’s take a look at that Curve again, now with the “Starting Out at College” event in mind…

Just like before (or, whenever), we’re hitting highs and lows. But now, we’ve got some identifying characteristics.

You’ll probably be excited about meeting so many people your age who didn’t go to your high school. That will feel good. And then it will feel better because they remember your name and they’re funny and whatever, but then you’ll get to know them, and then don’t like some of them, or some of them will offend you, and then you’ll go to a lame party where everyone is in a bad mood and stressed and you’ll miss the high school friends you left behind. And that will feel bad. But then you’ll meet new people, or it’ll be the next day or the next week and you’ll feel better.

And the food. At first you’ll be thrilled (I can eat ‘til I’m sick! Panini machine! Cereal for dinner!) and that’ll feel good, but then you’ll eat the fried fish sticks and wish you hadn’t, and someone will bump your tray and you’ll spill juice on yourself, and then the tots will be all gone, and that’ll feel bad. And then you’ll recover.

My point is: you can always recover. From tough classes, from toxic friends, from smelly dorms, from homesickness. And my point is also: the “good” things won’t last forever. Nights without homework become midterms, funny new friends keep telling the same old joke, new twin XL sheets get filthy, and care packages from mom get devoured. It all comes and goes, and nothing – good or bad – lasts forever.

So what’s the point?

The point is: you’ll be alright.

College is a HUGE change, and it’ll be a suckier or less-sucky change not because of who you know or what you major in, but in how you look at it.

So ride the Curve.

Ride it on the upswing, and understand that when you’ve ridden it back down to the bottom, it’s probably not a long ride back up to normal. And if you can, take a second at that bottom and wonder at how amazing it is that we all go through this – highs and lows together.

If you can realize how amazing it is, even the bad, that whole curve will move up the happiness scale, and the worst of it will be better than you ever had it before. And when specific issues do come up, you’ll be MUCH better equipped to deal with them – or enjoy the heck out of them.

Take care of yourself, notice when you’re riding the Curve, and your life at college – and beyond – will be just fine.

StudentHacks.org

Think beyond the burger joint for ways to pay for college. Photo credit: The Consumerist.

So you need to earn money for college. Think the only way to do it is by putting in years of hard labor at the local McBurger restaurant? Think again.

The number of ways you can earn money to pay for college is limited only by your imagination. So before you head off to the local fast food joints and grocery stores to put in an application, put on your thinking cap instead.

Put your artistic side to work to earn money for college.

Do you have a crafty side? Think about how you can harness your talents to earn money for college. Consider making jewelry, sewing purses, crocheting hats, creating eReader cases out of old books… the possibilities are endless. Once you have a product perfected, you can open an Etsy shop, sell on your own website, or just make the rounds of the local craft shows!

Are you a shutterbug? If you have a talent for photography or videography, consider opening “studio.” You could try to get work photographing school and community events, special occasions for family and friends, or even offer senior photo sessions!

Offer a little help to earn money for college.

Think about the adults around you. Your family. Your neighbors. Your parents’ coworkers. What could they use help with? Figure out what that need is and then try to fill it!

Are you the outdoorsy type? If so, you could offer to mow lawns or shovel snow, do yard work or even chop firewood in the wintertime. You could even set up a dog walking business!

Got a soft spot for kids? Then you’re about to become everyone’s favorite teenager. If you like spending time with the pint-sized set, ask your parents to spread the word about your babysitting prowess. With average rates starting at a kid, that money could add up fast!

Prefer the company of Fido? Let it be known that you’re available for pet sitting—either on a daily basis after school or for longer time periods like vacations and holidays. Add in tasks like plant watering and mail gathering and you’ve got yourself a business!

These are just a few of the ways you can earn money to pay for college. Spend a little time brainstorming and you’re sure to think of an option that sounds like fun to you! And remember, when you open a Upromise account, you can save money for college just by, well, spending money!

Want to learn about more great ways to save money for college and get into your dream school? Then subscribe to our blog. We’ll bring you new tips and tricks for making the most of the college admissions process all year long!

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1. The Easiest Way To Earn Savings For College.
2. 5 Things To Know About Saving For College With a 529 Plan.
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My College Guide

The clock is ticking! Get ready for college life!

We know lots of you are heading off to college soon. To get you in the mood, we’re re-posting one of our greatest hits: 10 of the best movies about college life.  Why? Well, as unrealistic as these depictions of college life might be, they’re sure to get you ready for the new school year!

Accepted (2006). This clever comedy, starring up-and-coming actors Justin Long and Jonah Hill, is about what happens when a student doesn’t get into his favorite college: he decides to create his own. It may not exactly be credible, but you’re bound to find plenty of laughs in this lighthearted film.

Dead Man on Campus (1998). In this dark comedy, two students on the verge of failing go looking for a suicidal roommate to exploit a little-known campus rule: any student whose roommate commits suicide will receive perfect grades for the semester. As you might imagine, things don’t go exactly as planned.

Road Trip (2000). Starring Tom Green (whatever happened to him?) and a host of other notable names, this movie takes on the legendary college tradition of the road trip, filled with plenty of gross-out humor.

Revenge of the Nerds (1984). This classic film of the 1980s is one championed by geeks and nerds everywhere. If your dream is to start the next Google, this is the movie for you.

Van Wilder (2002). This National Lampoon film about a guy who spends seven years at college majoring in partying is full of fun.

Old School (2003). This hilarious film, starring Will Ferrell, Luke Wilson, and Vince Vaughn, is about what happens when three middle-aged men try to recapture their college glory days.

Animal House (1978). One of the all-time college classics, this movie frightened parents everywhere with its portrayal of hard-drinking and partying college students. As you’ll notice when you arrive at school, John Belushi is the official mascot of college boys everywhere—it’s time to get acquainted.

PCU (1994). This gross-out college comedy features Jeremy Piven in a starring role, well before he entered the limelight for his infamous agent role on Entourage.

American Pie 2 (2001). American Pie was a classic high school comedy, and its first sequel follows the whole gang to college for even more hilarious and often disgusting humor.

Undeclared (2001). Technically, this is a TV show, not a movie—but we needed to include it anyway. Created by Judd Apatow (the director of 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up), and starring now-famous actors like Jason Siegel and Seth Rogen, this short-lived series offers an offbeat, sentimental, and hilarious look at college life that looks a lot like the real thing.

Stay tuned next week for more great college tips. Subscribe to our blog today so you don’t miss a thing!

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My College Guide

Some of the best moments of college life happen outside the classroom! Joining on-campus clubs and organizations can help you make friends, discover new interests, and can change your life! While not available on every college campus, you might have the opportunity to learn about and possibly join in Greek life.

This video from Boise State University reveals one student’s experience in joining a  fraternity. You’ll discover the surprising benefits that he has found through his involvement on on-campus Greek life! Greek life probably isn’t what you think. Why not give it a try and see for yourself if it’s the right fit for you? Watch Boise State Students Share Their Best Experience – Beyond the Classroom on YouTube or below.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For 20 years My College Guide has produced an annual magazine chock full of free college info for high-achieving high school sophomores. Check out our participating colleges. Subscribe to our blog via RSS or email and stay on top of everything college!

Related posts:

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My College Guide

Worried about college dorm life? This fun video from Barnard College should help to put your mind at ease! There’s a lot of very good reasons to consider living on campus. Forget what you’ve seen on TV—dorm living is so not like the movies.

Be close to everything and make friends easily. Explore the residence halls at Barnard College and listen to actual students about what they’ve learned from the dorm experience. Don’t forget to check out our article on great things to bring along to make your dorm room feel like home before you head off to college. You can watch At Home in the Halls on YouTube or below.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For 20 years My College Guide has produced an annual magazine chock full of free college info for high-achieving high school sophomores. Check out our participating colleges. If you’re a student, enter for a chance to win an Apple iPad or iPhone or cash!

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My College Guide

It’s probably pretty obvious that My College Guide loves Facebook. From the Facebook college class list we compiled (stay tuned for an updated edition) to our own My College Guide Facebook Fan Page: we can’t get enough!

But, we must admit, even we get tired of the Farmville requests. Check out this funny look at Facebook in real life from the creative students at Ottawa University. Produced by OU’s own Braves TV, the student group in charge of creating videos for Ottawa University (would that look nice on a resume or what?), it’s a real world look at life as Facebook. Watch Ottawa University: Facebook in Real Life on YouTube or below.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For 20 years My College Guide has produced an annual magazine chock full of free college info for high-achieving high school sophomores. Check out our participating colleges. If you’re a student, enter for a chance to win an Apple iPad or iPhone or cash!

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2. Johns Hopkins Model of a Modern University or College Facts Made Fun
3. University of Glamorgan Student and The Study Abroad Experience

My College Guide

Since the hubs is paying for medical school with a Health Professions Scholarship from the Air Force, he had to spend the 4 1/2 weeks this summer in Alabama in their Commissioned Officer Training program. While a month of training is only a small taste compared to the intense training enlisted military personnel go through, it has been enough to teach us some pretty awesome college-applicable lifestyle lessons:

Earn Your Rewards. When he first arrived at camp, my future-doctor stepped off the bus and got yelled at. For a long time. About everything from his attire to his haircut (too long–he had to shave most of it off when he got to his room). He and his fellow officers were also basically on lockdown: little contact with the outside world, no TV, they even had to be escorted from their dorms if they wanted to go anywhere, including the cafeteria. As the weeks progressed and they proved themselves, they earned more privileges–internet access on their own computers, TV time, and finally the freedom to go off-base.

Lesson learned? Give yourself a “carrot“–a little treat or motivation to help you get through a hard class or difficult study session. The reward makes the work feel more worthwhile!

Eat Regularly and Stay Hydrated. I know that sounds like advice from your Mama, but the US military promotes it, too (and the military does NOT behave like your mom, I promise). While he was gone, my sweetie ate at 5, 12, and 6 on the dot without fail, and carried a military-issue “Camel Pack” (a backpack specifically for holding a water supply) with him at all times to stay hydrated.

Keeping a healthy eating schedule and drinking tons of water gave him and his squadron the energy and stamina to keep up with a much more intense lifestyle than they were used to–keep that in mind for finals week!

Get Physical. Med school isn’t exactly conducive to exercise. After 9 months of sitting in lecture or the library all day, the obstacle courses, early morning workouts, and constant requirements to stand at attention were a big switch for the hubs–but he liked it. Working out in the morning kept him more alert during hours of military history lectures, and helped him fall asleep fast and sleep hard all night (which is good, because he had to get up at 4:30 every morning!).

Skipped that last paragraph? Basically, keeping your body active helps your brain stay awake, too–and helps you be worn out enough to get a really good night’s sleep. No more tossing and turning.

Regiment Doesn’t Mean No Fun. True, my honey faced lots of yelling, marching, and uniform inspections so close that he has had to go over his clothes top to bottom with a pair of scissors (stray threads earn you another round of yelling and disapproval from your commanding), but strict schedules and tough superiors didn’t mean “no fun allowed.” In fact, he really enjoyed most of his time at training. The spirit of camaraderie was great (think first day of freshman year–everybody is looking for friendship and support!) and they found time to have fun whenever it was an option.

So yes, you should study. You should work hard. But when you get the opportunity to enjoy a well-earned break, a weekend road trip, or even just a quick laugh during the exhausted-but-giddy phase of finals week–seize it!

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Surviving College Life