Posts published in June, 2012

Do Not Delay Your Entry To College

A recently-entered research study  finds that students who delay college entry or enroll part-time are substantially less likely to earn a college degree. Often the problem for quick college entry is lack of money, but frequently it is the student’s choice. This new study confirms prior research by Cliff Adelman in his landmark study, Answers In The Toolbox.

On Line Masters Degrees May Cost $100

“Financiers at Charles River Ventures have already pumped $5 million into Thrun’s online-ed startup, Udacity. ‘I like to back people who have disruptive ­personalities,’ explains CRV partner George Zachary. ‘They create disruptive solutions.’ Udacity’s earliest course offerings have been free, and although Thrun eventually plans to charge something, he wants his tuition schedule to be shockingly low. Getting a master’s degree might cost just $100. After teaching his own artificial intelligence class at Stanford last year—and attracting 160,000 online signups—Thrun believes online formats can be far more effective than traditional classroom lectures. ‘So many people can be helped right now,’ Thrun declares. ‘I see this as a mission.'”
forbes.com

4 Year Colleges Need To Cut Costs

A number of recent reports criticize colleges for leaving their facilities idle in the summer and weekends. They also point to increased amount of  spending on administration and fancy buildings, while cutting expenses for student instruction. Athletic costs are growing faster than instructional costs. There are many departments and programs with less than 10 students that could be trimmed. Research time of faculty has increased over the past decades, while more teaching is being done by adjuncts, and low paid instructors. There are few core  course requirements for student graduation. Students can graduate without a written composition course or knowledge of US Government and history.

Perhaps all these criticisms are overblown, but colleges need to address such concerns as they raise tuition.

People Who Did Not Go to College Regret Not Going

“Last month the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development released data showing that college graduates generally do not regret going to college, despite lots of criticism of the value of higher education. Today the center released a new report focusing on the depressing state of America’s recent high school graduates, who seem to agree about the importance of further education.The study reported on a survey of high school graduates of the classes of 2006-11 who do not have college degrees and are not enrolled in school full time. This group overwhelmingly believes that additional education beyond a high school diploma is required to succeed.”
nytimes.com

College Certificates Growing Rapidly

Certificates are the fastest growing form of postsecondary credentials in the nation, according to a Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce report. The appeal of certificates is growing because they are affordable, take less than a year to complete, and often lead to higher earnings, compared with receiving an associate and sometimes even a bachelor’s degree.

Three College Student Summer Job Strategies

Guest Blogger: Lauren Bailey

The semester may be long over, but that shouldn’t give students the ok to just bum around this summer. It’s important to use this time-off effectively in order to help you stand out among a sea of applicants once the career job hunt begins. What are the three main components employers are looking for in an ideal candidate? Strong communication skills, an effective team worker, and someone with a positive attitude, according to the latest report from Millennial Branding — a Gen Y consulting/research firm. While most of these traits are something that is gained over time via experience, you can help speed up the process and increase your chances of solidifying a job offer come graduation time by participating in the following activities this summer.

Score a Summer Internship

Experts say that earning at least two internships throughout your college career can substantially help you pass the “experience” portion needed to satisfy most entry-level positions. But getting an internship isn’t enough—you need to ensure that your internship is fulfilling and you actually walk away with more knowledge and information about the industry than before. It’s ok if your intern advisor makes you go on coffee runs, but you need to take the initiative to get the most out of your internship too. Ask to sit-in on meetings and assure your intern advisor that you can take on more responsibility if it seems as though he or she is only giving you grunt work. By all means do the grunt work too, but be proactive in making your internship a true learning experience. The tasks and responsibilities you take on during your internship can really help you shine come job application time. Most organizations and companies have already selected their interns for the season, but if you cold-call and are really enthusiastic about it, you could score a summer internship—or at least save you a spot for the fall.

Start your own Business

If you struggle trying to get an internship, another great way to get some real world experience and demonstrate your work ethic and ambition is to create your own start-up project related to the industry you are pursing. Even if it doesn’t really go anywhere and all you make is the business plan, putting your ideas to paper is a great way to grab a potential employer’s attention. Some employers really admire entrepreneurship. So create a mock magazine, create a new website where students can trade/sell textbooks, or maybe start a photography business.  As long as it pertains to what you want to do in the future, it will most certainly help.

Participating in Career-Related Volunteer Work

Lastly, volunteering is an excellent way to demonstrate team work, philanthropy, and meet some individuals that can write you stellar letters of recommendation. While dedicating your time to serve your community will look good to any employer, if you manage to find a way to practice your skills in your direct field even better. For example, if you’re a journalism or public relations major ask if you can do field work and write the monthly newsletter. Or, if you’re a graphic design major, perhaps you can revamp the website or create fliers. Find a way to build your experience repertoire while still giving back to the community.

This doesn’t suggest that students can’t enjoy their summer, but taking the initiative to make sure career goals are met is a great way to spend a good portion of the season.

Lauren Bailey is a freelance blogger who loves writing about education, new technology, lifestyle and health. As an education writer, she works to provide helpful information on the best online colleges and courses and welcomes comments and questions via email at blauren 99 @gmail.com.

What Works For Secondary School- College Readiness Partnerships

A look at college-readiness partnerships
A new report from the National Center for Postsecondary Research and MDRC examines college-readiness partnership programs in Texas, identifying their features, target students, and intended outcomes, as well as the partnerships that created them. Most college-readiness partnership programs are of two types: those that focus on academic subjects, and those that focus on college knowledge. The former are intensive, short-term programs targeting a small group of students and providing a direct experience of college; the latter are “light-touch, long-term” programs open to all and providing little direct experience. It is clear, the authors say, that college-readiness partnerships create opportunities for secondary and postsecondary institutions to leverage each other’s services, eliminating redundant services and aligning programming. In some cases, the programs also lead to long-lasting relationships between institutions and continued collaboration. Programs have the best chance of improving outcomes if commonly encountered challenges — such as student recruitment and program sustainability — are considered early in the planning stages. The authors emphasize the value of choosing interventions that show the greatest promise in a given context and matching students to interventions that best meet their needs; they also note that building a stronger evidence base would enhance high schools’ and colleges’ ability to make sound decisions about which potential program models to implement. Source:PEN Newsblast
See the report: http://www.mdrc.org/publications/633/overview.html
Related: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/29/remedial-college-classes-_n_1552313.html

Income Contingent College Student Loans Are Worth Serious Consideration

University of Virginia Professor David W. Breneman to has a new new book, Financing American Higher Education in the Era of Globalization (Harvard Education Press).

Questions around higher education accountability surfaced throughout the discussion: Who plays a role? Should it fall to the states, or to the federal government? Breneman believes both play a role, and he emphasized that universities must have “skin in the game” as well. He also talked about the need for fresh ideas in reforming higher education finance and added that one of the most promising new “old” ideas to come about recently is the notion of “income contingent loans,” an idea Education Sector outlines in Affordable at Last: A New Student Loan System. Under this system, students pay back loans based on each individual’s earnings. “The key is making it automated through the IRS,” said Breneman. Source: Education Sector

The Revolutionary Potential Of Technology

In The Wall Street Journal, Education Sector’s John Chubb, along with Stanford’s Terry Moe, write about the “revolutionary potential” of technology to transform teaching and learning in higher education and extend an elite-caliber education to the masses. They address concerns about sustainability, and whether online learning will “destroy the traditional college experience.” It won’t, they argue, because in time higher education will find a new balance in the way education is organized: A balance through “blended learning” where students still have face-to-face interactions with professors, but also do a portion of their work online.  |  Read Chubb’s Commentary