Archive for November, 2008

When it comes to funding the costs of higher education, there is growing sentiment that our current system is in bad need of an overhaul.

By all measures, the costs of college continue to soar. At the same time, securing affordable credit amidst the current economic downturn has never been more challenging.

With many experts insisting that a college diploma is slipping beyond the grasp of a number of students, a radical concept for funding higher education first proposed by economist Milton Friedman in 1955 is now gaining traction. The concept, called human capital contracts, provides the out-of-the-box thinking that could dramatically shift the student financial aid landscape moving forward.

Equity-Like Instrument
The idea is to move from traditional debt-style methodology to what economists call an equity instrument. In essence, a group of investors agrees to cover a portion of the cost of higher education for a student in return for an equity share of the student’s future earnings for a fixed period of time.

Since students would not be borrowing a sum of money at a specific interest rate, they would theoretically graduate with zero college debt. At that time, the repayment on the initial investment would come from a specific percentage of the student’s earned wages. Because the student does not need to earn a specific sum each year to meet past debt obligations, the future financial hardship for graduates would be dramatically reduced.

A student choosing a lower paying profession would pay back a smaller sum during the time period that someone choosing a higher paying profession. In human capital contracts, the greatest risk moves from the student to the group that has funded a portion of the student’s education.

The thinking is that such a concept would likely increase the pool of students willing to consider careers in non-profit sectors such as teaching or health care. Instead of shaping their career choice around the need to pay back what they might have borrowed, students would be free to pursue any line of work they deemed most rewarding.

It would also definitively shift some of the costs of higher education away from the more traditional funding methods, especially federal and state grants. This would help both levels of government deal with the challenges of multiple funding priorities at a time when taxpayers want to see tax reductions.

Concept Catching On
It seems that the concept has been catching on in both Europe and Latin America. One such company, Lumni, appears ready to bring the concept to the United States.

Critical to making the concept work is a complex sliding scale of terms. A company investing in a student majoring in a profession like engineering and attending an institution like MIT would need a smaller overall percentage of return since that student would likely have substantial future earnings. On the flip side, a history major attending a community college would face a higher overall assessed percentage.

The concept holds great weight for those who want to see higher education itself be more responsive to students. Once the concept is rolled out, the thinking is that investors would offer the best terms to students attending schools that produce real value, well-educated students and high degree completion rates.

The responsibility for seeking out such information would move from students to the investors. Savvy companies wanting a solid return on investment would theoretically force colleges to be more forthcoming about critical data related to student success rates.

Ultimately, proponents of the concept insist the process would push schools to prepare students for future success.

Creative Concept
While no one is suggesting the complete elimination of state and federal involvement in higher education, many believe the time has come for the concept of human capital contracts to enter the funding formula. Legal ramifications, including those related to default and bankruptcy, still exist and therefore must be carefully resolved.

Still, those who are asking for more creative, out-of-the-box thinking, now have a unique idea to consider. The critical question may well be how students feel about selling a piece of their future earnings.

Flickr photos courtesy of djukami and LeeBennett.

Choosing a major can be difficult; but if you are looking for a career option that is both recession-proof and noted for integrity, there are some clear-cut choices.

Back in March, Kiplinger’s released it’s list of the top five job stability fields. In offering its list of recession-proof career options, Kiplinger’s noted that each profession offered enormous job stability irrespective of the overall economy.

Now, eight months later a poll from USA Today/Gallup reveals the professions that rated highest in worker honesty and ethics. Though it might be surprising to some, the recent list from Gallup matches almost item by item the Kiplinger’s list from earlier this year.

Kiplinger’s Top Three
The nation’s three fastest-growing careers are in the health care industry, education and security respectively. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, current population trends have each of these three fields needing workers regardless of any economic downturn.

According to Kiplinger’s, an aging population will fuel demand for doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physical therapists and physician assistants. And just as the need for health care does not go away in an economic downturn, the need for teachers, especially those in the high-demand fields of math, science or bilingual education will continue.

Lastly, crime is always an issue and may well increase in tougher times. Therefore Kiplinger’s notes that careers as a police officer, detective, private security guard or international security expert will be in high demand moving forward.

USA Today/Gallup Poll Top Five
The recent study of those professions rated highest by the public for both honesty and ethics placed nurses at the very top for the seventh straight year. More than four out of every five Americans rated the honesty and ethical standards for nurses either “high” or “very high.”

While nurses “have no peer in the Gallup rankings today,” the next four highest rated categories are pharmacists, high-school teachers, medical doctors, and police officers. More than half of all Americans polled rated the honesty and ethics of policeman high or very high while nearly two-thirds of those polled rated pharmacists, high school teachers and doctors high or very high.

The position of nurses on top of the list has only been surpassed once since they were included as a profession to Gallup list in 1999. The only exception came in 2001 when firefighters earned a record-high 90% honesty and ethics rating in that survey shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Give Consideration When Choosing a Major
Clearly, if you are looking for both a stable and rewarding career option, the data from Kiplinger’s and USA Today/Gallup offer some clear choices for you to consider.

Flickr photo courtesy of interplast.

While nearly 800 schools have made the decision to eliminate the SAT from its entrance criteria, the majority of colleges are still using test results in the admissions process. That means that students must continue to seek opportunities to further their testing skills if they want to place themselves in the best of positions.

In the past, the one place to secure additional support for test preparation involved registering for private tutorial sessions. However, not only would these ongoing sessions be relatively expensive, they often meant traveling quite a distance while giving up some much valued time during the evening or on a Saturday morning.

All that has changed thanks to Aspyr Media. The video gaming company that has given students such popular games as NeverWinter Nights, Call of Duty, Civilization, and Guitar Hero recently announced its latest video game creation, FutureU - SAT Prep Video Game for Teens.

FutureU is essentially an SAT Prep course but the context of the material has been embedded into a video game format. The prep course is available for the PC, Mac and Nintendo DS. Versions for both PC and MAC may be downloaded directly from the Aspyr site. Hard copy disk versions may be purchased from dealers like Amazon and GameStop.

FutureU is a result of the collaboration of Aspyr and one of the educational companies well-known for their SAT prep classes, Kaplan, Inc. Game design features the same study methods used in the Kaplan courses. Offering six distinctive mini-games, FutureU includes prep materials for the three major test areas, reading, math, and writing, as well as test-taking skills.

With experts agreeing that test preparation can be a big factor to improving one’s score, students may want to give consideration to this new, relatively low cost option. Disk versions run $29.99 at Amazon or Game Spot. The downloadable Internet version for PC or MAC runs $33.99.

With retail stores struggling amidst a sour economy, students can now find some incredible deals on both desktop and laptop computers. Whether you are in the market for an upgrade or looking to purchase your first machine for college, the current sales environment is providing some of the best possible opportunities when it comes to proverbial bang for buck.

Yet the thought of a computer purchase brings about the ongoing debate: do I go Mac? Or is a PC the best option? Truly, this discussion has no simple right answer, but there are some key points to consider when making the choice.

Operating System Software - It Depends
There is little doubt that the number of applications available for Windows-based machines exceeds the possibilities for a Mac. The experts at Switched.com offer this simple statement: “Windows is the operating system for games — most popular titles, ‘Halo,’ ‘Bioshock,’ and ‘Crysis’ aren’t available on Mac or Linux.” Likewise, “uTorrent (the best BitTorrent client out there for peer-to-peer filesharing of movies, TV shows, and the like) is also Windows-only.”

Clearly, Mac is making major inroads in the software arena in virtually all other arenas outside of the gaming industry. Switched.com insists that “Macs excel at creative tasks, such as music creation, photo editing, and video production” Add to that, a substantial library of software such as iTunes, iLife, and Garage Band, that are shipped with every Mac” and it is easy to see why so many are firmly behind the Mac as the way to go.

Here there appear to be two clear divisions, if you are into gaming, then a PC is in the cards. If you are more into music, video, and the graphic arts, then a Mac is the machine for you.

Internet Attacks - Edge Mac
While there are more applications available for a Windows-based machine, there is little doubt that your PC will be exposed to an endless number of viruses and spyware that are targets of the Windows operating system. If you are buying a PC, then you will need the latest and best computer software protection available. And yet, you still might get zapped.

Macs are currently relatively free of the viruses and spyware that plague Windows users. There is the likelihood that fact could change down the road but currently Mac users face far fewer issues with downtime or file problems due to viruses and spyware.

Speed - Edge Mac
A recent set of tests by Popular Mechanics revealed PCs utilizing the Vista system to be remarkably more sluggish than Macs operating with Leopard. In various speed trials, PM noted that “Leopard OS trounced Vista in all-important tasks such as boot-up, shutdown and program-launch times.” In addition, when PM tested Vista on a Mac using Apple’s platform-switching Boot Camp, the “Apple computers ran Vista faster” than the PCs did.

Aesthetics - Edge Mac

When it comes to aesthetics, Switched.com gives the definite edge to Mac. “Simplicity, consistency, security, and good design count for a lot in the computer realm” so if you are “new to computing, want minimal hassle, and just need to get to work right away without having to wait two minutes or more for your PC to boot-up, then a Mac is for you.”

The general consensus is that Macs have it all over PCs when it comes to look and feel. Switched.com adds, “everything from the elegant look of the desktop and the innovative designs to the satisfying click the keyboard makes when you type on it makes the Mac a pleasant experience for just about anyone.”

Price - Edge PC
While there are exceptions, if price is your bottom line, then the general consensus is you will get far more bang for your buck with a PC. The major particular difference is when seeking options at the low end of the cost spectrum. For under $600 you will find a wealth of PC options. For a Mac, you will be hard-pressed to find anything other than the mini-Mac for such a price.

At times, though, this low-end pricing can be an example of “you get what you pay for.” Switched.com noted that PCs can “vary widely in terms of basic build quality.” In addition, when you move towards the upper end, it can be more expensive for a PC to match the software options for a Mac. But to purchase a Mac, you will need to be ready to outlay at least $1,000 for either a laptop or desk model.

Intangibles - It Depends
Your area of study and career choice should also factor into your decision. If you plan to work in the graphic arts field or any of the number of creative fields related to photography, music, or video production, we have already noted that Mac should be your choice. Yet in the business world, there is still a clear advantage to PCs. The folks at Money.CNN.com note that “major compatibility issues still lurk” and even though “Macs consistently excelled at running Microsoft Office,” the most utilized tool for business “Excel on the Mac is just awful.”

If we still haven’t given you enough cause for one over the other, Switched.com offers what just might be the clincher to go Mac. “Unlike Windows-based PCs, Macs can also run Windows using a program called Parallels Desktop or Bootcamp.” In simplest terms, theoretically you just might have access to the best of both worlds with a Mac.

Flickr photos courtesy of paperocks a.k.a. evalinda, Paul Watson, n8kowald, and Erik Eckel.

In today’s shrinking job market, you just might need to construct your own internship opportunity.

There is little doubt today that internships are a critical aspect of a college student’s preparation for future work opportunities. Not only do internships create a network of future employment options, a well-chosen opportunity will help you apply your knowledge and skills in a real work environment.

Most often, an internship is considered a trade-off, a swap of your time versus the chance to earn some serious cash. However, in today’s troubled economy, many students are finding that not only have the job opportunities dried up but internships are also exceedingly hard to come by as well.

In tough economic times, you just might need to create your own prospects. Here are six steps to help you secure such an opportunity.

1. Talk to Your Professors: The first step is to let your professors and your advisor know you are looking for an internship. Simply stated, these folks have connections to a multitude of professional people. Not only might they know of a possible option, if these individuals know you well enough they might even lobby a colleague on your behalf. And there is always the chance they themselves might take an intern to help with a specific project or some research. But they cannot help you if they are not aware you are looking for an internship.

2. Talk to Your Parents and Extended Family: Ditto number one. Any working member of the family could have similar connections. More importantly, they could be your strongest lobbying agent for a position. Be aggressive and follow up on all possible leads.

3. Attend a Career Fair: Take the time to attend a career fair to research companies that you would enjoy working for even if they are not hiring. Talk to the key people and introduce yourself, then get their card. Later, construct a letter of interest to the person you met that first indicates how impressed you were with the company followed up with indications that you would welcome an internship opportunity should anything become available.

4. Consider Community Service: Yet another option is to examine those entities looking strictly for volunteers for some form of community service. Here again, think through the options so that you find a non-profit that would also offer you the chance to use your skills to help perform some additional meaningful opportunities. One student we know volunteered at a food bank. While the majority of the time was spent stocking shelves and doing inventories and paperwork, she was given the chance to use her technology skills to help set up a system to automate some of these tasks. While much of her time at first was unpaid, as time progressed the agency began to pay her for the hours she spent automating the agency’s record keeping.

5. Have a Polished Packet Ready: If you are going to pursue your own option, you must plan ahead and be fully prepared to submit a packet at a moment’s notice. Have your resume up to date and polished – use the campus career center to help you put together a quality product. In addition, have a roughed out cover letter that hits the basics about you but leaves room for you to tailor the letter to the company or person you are applying to. Resist using the same cover letter over and over again - to give the impression that you are totally interested in an opportunity with that company the letter must be unique to that business.

6. Do Mock Interviews: Lastly, make an appointment at the career office at your school to conduct a mock interview. Try to get written feedback and go back to the dorm to rehearse further before doing yet another mock up. Try to get the second one taped if you can and again solicit written feedback to help you hone your skills. The bottom line, if there are four people interviewing for a possible internship, the one that makes the best impression will likely get the opportunity. A skilled performance can even overcome an average GPA.

Ultimately, in these tough economic times, be aggressive and prepared so as to seize the right opportunity when it presents itself.

Flickr photos courtesy of unforth, yngrich and vlasta2.

With admission officers joining employers in examining Facebook and MySpace profiles, it is time that students understood the importance of establishing their personal online brand.

The verdict is in!

This past week, the results of a survey from Kaplan Inc. revealed that colleges have begun looking at potential applicants’ social-networking profiles such as Facebook and MySpace during the admissions process. According to Kaplan, 10% of admissions officers are now including a student’s social-networking site profile when making this important decision.

Perhaps even more important to students are two other figures, 38% and 25%, respectively. These are the percentages of profile pages that admission officials indicated ‘negatively affected’ their views of the applicant (38%) as compared to those that ‘positively affected’ their opinions (the 25%).

Profile and Privacy Settings
Given this development, students should give careful consideration as to the information and the photo(s) placed on their profile page. As for interests, it may seem humorous to list ‘wine, women, and song’ while that profile picture of you holding two cans of beer, even if done in jest, may seem harmless. However, face it, such information is not likely to set well with a college admissions officer or a potential employer.

As for your site, there is little doubt today that you should utilize the available privacy settings to ensure that only those you invite have access to the information on your page. This step is as important for your personal safety against online predators of various forms as it is to protect your basic image.

But in regards to privacy options, students need to realize that group permissions for certain subgroups can expose you to other viewers. Accepting a group en mass might seem relatively innocuous (your elementary school classmates, for example) but such blanket permissions can inadvertently expose students to other site viewers that you might, in retrospect, wish did not have access to that information.

Your Personal Brand
While students should use these privacy settings to limit outside access to personal information, it is important to realize that one of your most important steps in life today is the creation of your online image or brand. Today’s new media along with the capabilities of the Internet require students to think very carefully about the brand they want to cultivate.

And by brand, we mean the basic concept that is generally associated only with businesses. A brand in essence is “a collection of images and ideas” that goes on to “convey the essence of a company, product or service”. However, today it is being applied to you as an individual based on the image you create online.

In essence, every piece of personal information placed online is one step in creating your own personal collection of images and ideas (your brand). And since every piece of information on the Internet is archived or cached, any item you post has the potential to be accessed by others, including employers and college admission folks.

Most importantly, even if you decide to take it down later, it will remain available to the rest of the world on the Internet.

Two Simple Tests
Therefore, it is imperative that students give very careful consideration to the brand they want to create. While it can sometimes be challenging to determine where the boundaries are in such matters, we have heard of two simple checks that will serve you well, the ‘Mom/Grand Mom’ check and the ‘Front-page’ check.

As silly as it may sound, when getting ready to post something online, ask yourself, what would your mother or grandmother think if they were to see the information? Is this something that would in any way serve to decrease their overall opinion of you? If the answer is yes, think twice about posting that information. Your future boss or that admissions counselor will have an even harsher view than your mother or grandmother.

The front page check likely sounds more sophisticated, it just asks you to consider a different audience. Ask yourself, what would happen if the information posted online were to make its way on to the front page of your local newspaper? Would it be a source of embarrassment or would it enhance your image in the community?

Though privacy settings give most users a certain level of comfort, the fact is that anything posted online will remain online for the indefinite future. Once there, it has the potential to be seen by others. So give very careful thought to everything you post.

To Cultivate Your Personal Brand
Because the material you place online can seriously impact your future opportunities you need to actively cultivate your personal brand. To ensure a positive presence online, give careful consideration to each of the following:

1. The Google Search Process - The first step to ensuring a positive brand is to imagine that someone is about to “Google” you. If they were to do so, what would the Google search engine turn up first?

If it is your Facebook page, then examine that page carefully to ensure that what people see projects you in a positive light. Think of this page and your profile as being your online portfolio – include pictures of you working, performing, competing and volunteering as well as your resume. Include some written work that would help readers begin to understand who you are and what is important to you.

2. Creating your Own Web or Blog Page - Even better than a Facebook page, Kai Davis, a University of Oregon student and blogger, suggests you should create a separate web page or blog that features you at your best. With all the software options available on the Internet, setting up a page today is extremely easy.

Davis insists that the most important thing to remember “is to ‘own’ a search term in this digital age. Having a blog or a web page with some unique content, essays, discussion, resume, etc., will help position you above other candidates for jobs or internships.”

3. Buying a Domain Name - If you are ready to consider such a page, then you should think about buying a domain name as well. Workforce experts insist that “you should own a domain name that matches (as close as possible) your name.” The process of purchasing your name or one very similar is quite easy and relatively inexpensive. More importantly, it will provide you with your ‘own’ search term exactly as Davis describes.

Your Brand Matters
The bottom line is that the material you post has the potential to seriously impact your future opportunities. It might be during the college application/scholarship process or it could be much later when you turn to the world of work (or it could even come that fateful day you take the plunge and decide to run for political office).

Remember, your online brand does matter - be sure to treat it with the utmost care.

Flickr photos courtesy of Vicky Tgaw, SitMonkeySupreme, Jofus/JoeTheDough and AJC1.

With the convenience that e-mail offers, there may well be times when you want to send a note to your professor. However, your professor is not in your peer group nor is she in debt to your interests.

Three Don’ts
First, remember there is a formal relationship between you as the student and your professor. In jotting a note, address him or her with respect and use their proper title. Also use full words. Those cute little acronyms simply have no place in an interaction between student and professor. And those adolescent nicknames that form the basis of much of your high school correspondence do not gain you any credibility with your professors.

A definite no:

TO: Professor Barowski
FR: deltagammagirl@aol.com
RE: 2Day

Hey Dr. B,
I can’t remember like 3 of the 5 main points from today’s class. I was running late and forgot my notebook and had to take most of the notes on my ITouch. My BFF’s kept like texting me and stuff so I missed most of the lecture.
TTYL,
Lexi

Don’t ever email a professor asking for notes or handouts - if you are going to miss a class ask a classmate to pick up any relevant materials. And never email your professor to ask about, complain about, or even mention a specific grade on a test or paper.

Another no-no:

TO: Professor Barowski
FR: flipcuppin@msn.com
RE: Need the Notes

Doc,
I’m not going to be in class today. No worries, not sick just need a day off…you know what I’m talkin’ ‘bout ;). But i REALLY NEED the notes before Mondays test, i can’t get lower than 75% or you’ll be seeing me again next semecter.
Peace out,
Kyle

And, do not sign with first name or nickname, use your full name and note the specific class you are taking by adding the title and section after your name (Biology 101, Sect. 2). Watching your tone also means waiting for a response. Don’t expect your professor to respond immediately as he or she may not even have access to the necessary materials to respond. Twenty-four hours is to be expected and forty-eight hours is actually a reasonable turnaround time.

Don’t even consider:

TO: Professor Barowski
FR: futurepresident@comcast.net
RE: Haven’t Heard From You

Richard,
I thought the approach to the lecture yesterday was a bit off. I e-mailed you my thoughts right after class but I guess you must have been “busy” since I haven’t heard from you yet. Meet me 10 minutes before class so I can tell you my views.
Derek

Two Dos
Before hitting the send button, read your email from beginning to end to look for missed words as well as spelling and grammatical mistakes. When you are satisfied that the note is error free, read your email once again from beginning to end for the tone it conveys - ask yourself if your email denotes an appropriate level of respect.

As part of that deference, remember to always thank your professor when you receive a response. The basic standard is simple, the less powerful person always must write back.

Second, in today’s internet era, email may well be the primary way your professor forms an opinion about you as a person and as a student. Those professors will be the ones that you will one day ask for a recommendation, whether it be for a scholarship, graduate school, or the world of work. Every interaction with them, including the world of email, contributes to the overall impression they have of you. So read that email a third time to be sure it conveys the impression you want to send.

Flickr photo courtesy of factoryjoe and tmbg47.

Once upon a time, a family would have little idea as to what the expected out of pocket expense for their college-bound son or daughter would be until the second half of the student’s senior year in high school. Prior to last year, this important calculation was made and the information sent to the family only after the financial aid process had been completed.

Now, thanks to the FAFSA4caster, a relatively new tool from the federal government, waiting for this key financial data has become a thing of the past.

The Tool
The FAFSA4caster will immediately calculate the critical number for families, the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC is the specific amount of money that families can expect to pay in out of pocket expenses towards the college costs for each school year.

The tool helps a family identify how both assets and income will affect the EFC. Because the EFC is calculated primarily based on income, a family’s assets actually have very limited impact on the the amount families are required to pay for school. The 4caster will determine the extent of the asset impact, helping parents and students plan accordingly.

However, it should be noted that the tool is for estimation purposes only. Only when a student applies and is accepted to a school will the EFC be finalized by the college financial aid office. It is also only as accurate as the uploaded information, so it is important to be thorough with the data entry process.

But the web tool represented such a huge step forward, the 4caster web site was named one of Time Magazine’s top 50 websites for 2007.

Use the New Form Early On
Because the new tool is for estimation purposes, families can begin to research this critical number at any time. In addition, families can update the calculation every year, beginning when their son or daughter is in sixth grade.

Calculating this important number can then be a key component to financial planning for families. Adjusting savings plans and investments can actually be done at a time when it is still possible to have a significant impact.

Adding to the user-friendly nature of the tool, the FAFSA4caster will store many of the mundane pieces of information for the true FAFSA form. Later, when it comes time for the real application, the 4caster tool will allow for a simple transfer so as to pre-populate the actual FAFSA form. It even enables families to secure the Personal Information Number (PIN) at the time that they first begin using the 4caster tool.

Site Help Is Available
Customer Service Chat hours for the FAFSA4caster are extensive, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 11:59 p.m. (EST) and Saturdays 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. (EST). The only exceptions are federal holidays.

Often times, during the college application process, the average high school senior gives very little consideration to his or her state university.

For many students, the state school may seem too close to home. For others, it could be that the school is simply too large.

But most often, for those who have worked so hard to put themselves in the position of being able to go to college, the local university simply does not carry enough prestige.

While this viewpoint is understandable, students should begin the college selection process with a careful look at what their state university has to offer. There are many features to review when considering a school, but there are five great reasons why that review should begin with an in-depth look at your local university.

Higher Admission Rates
If you have put together a solid four years of high school then your chances of being accepted at your local state university are very good. Getting in may seem like a forgone conclusion, but those applying to the elite schools like Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, face some of the lowest acceptance rates going (less than 10% at last check).

However, even schools like Boston College, UCLA and Davidson routinely reject roughly three out of every four applicants. Admission rates trend much higher at state colleges, with in-state candidates generally receiving priority status.

Affordability
State universities represent some of the best educational bargains available. Private college costs today average $33,000 per school year but it is not uncommon to see costs topping $40,000 annually and a few have reached the $50,000 a year plateau.

In contrast, the University of Florida costs in-state students less than $12,000 a year. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the school heading the Kiplinger top 100 best buys, has a sticker price of a shade under $14,000. With average after-aid costs totaling less than $5,000 per year, students at UNC can attend four years and still put some hard earned dollars aside for the possibility of graduate school.

Diverse Curricula and Program Options
Most experts will tell you, everything academically available at an elite college can be found at many state universities. In fact, the vast majority of state universities offer very strong degree programs and can claim a lengthy history of successful and high-powered graduates.

With almost unlimited major and career options, students attending a state university can still major in business yet minor in a foreign language, study engineering while minoring in communications, even obtain a general liberal arts degree if they see fit. The options are truly endless.

And with that wealth of options available, there is less pressure to have a major set when you begin your studies. At a state university, you can actually change your major and move to a different program within the school, often doing so while still keeping your credits. Transferring out to another school to change majors can be very costly in terms of dollars and time.

Diverse Campus Activities
The size of the state university means that a wealth of extracurricular options will be available. While most schools will offer some level of sports as well as leadership opportunities, the number of special-interest clubs, newspapers, theater and music options are far greater at state universities. At the University of Georgia alone there are more than 500 student clubs and organizations.

In addition, the state university will by its nature see a very diverse student body, including socio-economic and academic diversity. Though they do hand-pick students, the elite schools try desperately to find ways to ensure some level of diversity on their campuses. At a state college, the less rigorous entrance criteria ensures that social diversity happens naturally.

Proximity to Home
Part of the college experience is the opportunity to get away from home and spread one’s wings. However, there will actually come a time when some of mom’s home cooking will seem like dining out and that old bed in your room will offer a familiar comfort you never knew existed.

Being at your local state school means you have the chance to get home at least for all the major holidays, and if is not too far from home, even for a weekend from time-to-time. In addition, the sheer number of students from across the state guarantee a chance to hitch a ride to within a few miles from home.

Editors note: The list of the best school buys at Kiplinger.com features primarily state universities.

Flickr photo courtesy of bnp.

It is easy to see why so many young people were willing to work for and to cast ballots on behalf of the man about to become our 44th president.

There is soon to be a very different direction for the country as president-elect Barack Obama has already begun the process of conveying a new message to the American public. Bogged down in two wars and with an economy in peril, the man who began his career by serving the poor in Chicago has already begun establishing a call to service from the people of the richest country on earth.

And many of his options will focus on a direct call to the youth of America.

Victory Speech Lays a Foundation

Obama formally set forth the call to service in his victory speech:

“Above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it’s been done in America for 221 years - block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.”

“What began 21 months ago in the depths of winter cannot end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek - it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were.”

“It cannot happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice. So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other.”

No Shopping or Disney World Messages Likely

The Obama message contrasted sharply with that of the current administration. One of the more striking moments in the Bush presidency occurred just two weeks after 9/11 when the Republican urged Americans to go “down to Disney World in Florida.”

And if that were not bizarre enough, in his address to the country in 2006, as our economy was struggling, our president noted “a strong beginning to the holiday shopping season across the country.”

He followed that up with his recipe for offsetting further potential economic doldrums.

“And I encourage you all to go shopping more.”

A Constant Message

Contrary to the words of our current president, the man set to take office in January actually had already begun setting a different tone back in September. At that time, Obama laid out some of his ideas regarding how young people will be able to offer their services.

“This moment is too important for America’s greatest resource–our people–to sit on the sidelines. So as President, I will ask for the active citizenship of Americans of all ages and walks of life. 

First, we need to create opportunities to serve. I’ll ask more young people to serve in uniform and expand the size of our military. And I’ll increase AmeriCorps–our network of local, state and national service programs–from 75,000 slots to 250,000.”

College Funds for Service

Obama insists he will seek to have such service performed in those areas of greatest need: a greater number of talented Americans willing to teach; others to work on the development of renewable and efficient energy; and another group still to grow the nation’s Foreign Service and Peace Corps.

In return, the president-elect has put forth some very noteworthy ideas to provide a meaningful return for that service. For all college students, the prospect of financial support for school looms large.

“We need to integrate service into education. We should help schools develop service programs outside the classroom. And I’ve proposed an annual college-tuition tax credit of $4,000 in exchange for 100 hours of public service.

“You invest in America, and America invests in you–that’s how we’ll make college affordable for every American.”

It’s a new message for sure, one that is all about a spirit of community.

It is also one that will invoke comparisons to John F. Kennedy’s inauguration call, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”

Flickr photos courtesy of Mr. Wright, PingNews.com, and jmtimages.