Archive for the 'Fun Facts' Category

A lot of students believe that there’s a holy grail of rules that you need to follow to get into your desired school. Surprisingly (for some), that’s not the case. Here are some myths about college acceptance that need to be dispelled.

1. You need a perfect SAT score to get into an Ivy League school.
2. You need a perfect GPA to get into an Ivy League school.
3. Your perfect SAT score will get into an Ivy League school.
4. Your perfect GPA will get you into an Ivy.
5. Your perfect GPA and SAT score will get you into an Ivy League school.
6. If you have what it takes (in 1-5), “second tier” schools will offer you scholarships to join their programs.
7. Public colleges are cheaper than private colleges.
8. Obsessing over grades in high school is worth the hassle because you’re guaranteed admission to your favorite school.
9. Ivy League universities provide education unsurpassed by local, public, or smaller schools.
10. Rankings mean everything to a school and should be considered in your college decision-making.
11. It’s best to attend the most prestigious university you’re accepted to.
12. You should join 30 clubs for quantity instead of focusing on building up a credible reputation in one or two solid extracurricular activities.
13. Students coming from unfortunate financial situations are lucky because they’ll be offered a full ride to the colleges of their choice.
14. Applying to schools without financial need increases your chances of acceptance.
15. All in-state colleges are safety schools.
16. Valedictorians and salutatorians will get into any schools they apply to.
17. Colleges look down on students who take the ACT in comparison to the SAT.
18. You must have accumulated community service hours to be considered for college admissions.
19. Ivy League schools are full of people who are rich.
20. If you’re deferred, that means you’ll have no chance of getting into the school.
21. There is one school out there that fits you perfectly.
22. Having family who are alumni will guarantee your admissions into schools more so than having good scores.
23. If you don’t get into the school of your choosing, your life is over.

What can you add to this list?

On Sunday, the 80th annual Oscars will be held. And these folks have some serious talent. Where did their educations begin? Let’s take a look.

Actor in a Leading Role
George Clooney (Michael Clayton): George Clooney attended Northern Kentucky University and the University of Cincinnati but did not graduate from either school. In his early years, Clooney attended the Blessed Sacrament School in Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky, St. Michael’s School in Columbus, Ohio, and the Western Row and St. Susanna schools in Mason, Ohio. He then graduated from Augusta High School in Kentucky.
Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood): At a young age, Daniel Day-Lewis was known to be a little wild. His parents sent him to to the Sevenoaks School boarding school in England, which he hated. Afterwards, he transferred to a public school called Bedales. His big break came from his education at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
Johnny Depp (Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street): Depp is a high school dropout who initially had aspirations to be a rock star. He actually attempted to return to school but his principal told him to follow his musical dream.
Tommy Lee Jones (In the Valley of Elah): Tommy Lee Jones has a presidential-studded education. He attended the same high school (Robert E. Lee in Midland, Texas) as First Lady Laura Bush. He then attended preparatory school St. Mark’s School of Texas and then was accepted to Harvard University on a scholarship. There, he was roommates with (future) Vice President Al Gore. He was also a Harvard football star and graduated cum laude with an English degree in 1969.
Viggo Mortensen (Eastern Promises): After traveling between Europe and America (New York), Mortensten earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York. He claims that he took an easy courseload because he wanted to be in many plays during his college career.

Actor in a Supporting Role
Casey Affleck (The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford): Pictured on the left, Affleck attended the George Washington University and later transferred to Columbia University where he got degrees in astronomy, physics, and Western philosophy.
Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men): Bardem made his first debut at the age of six. You can imagine that his schooling wasn’t as normal as the rest of ours.
Philip Seymour Hoffman (Charlie Wilson’s War): Hoffman, right, has a bachelor of fine arts degree in drama from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where he graduated in 1989.
Hal Holbrook (Into the Wild): Holbrook graduated from the Culver Academies preparatory school in Indiana, followed by Denison University in Ohio.
Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton): An English native, Wilkinson graduated from the University of Kent and attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

Actress in a Leading Role
Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth: The Golden Age): Blanchett attended primary school in Melbourne at Ivanhoe East Primary School, followed by a secondary education at Methodist Ladies’ College (also in Melbourne) where she began pursuing her interest in acting. She studied economics and fine art at the University of Melbourne and ultimately finished her studies in 1992 at the National Institute of Dramatic Art.
Julie Christie (Away From Her): Christie studied at a convent school in England and was expelled shortly thereafter. She followed her education at a boarding school for girls called Wycombe Court. Eventually, she studied at the Central School of Speech and Drama which is part of the University of London.
Marion Cotillard (La Vie en Rose): The French actress doesn’t have any education history, as she’s been acting since she’s a child!
Laura Linney (The Savages): After graduating from Northfield Mount Hermon School (in Massachusetts) in 1982, Linney attended Northwestern University, then transferred to Brown University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1986. She then continued her acting studies at the Juilliard School.
Ellen Page (Juno): Pictured at left, Page attended the Halifax Grammar School until grade 10 and graduated from the Shambhala School (a preschool-highschool program) in 2005.

Actress in a Supporting Role
Cate Blanchett (I’m Not There): Just as stated before, Blanchett attended primary school in Melbourne at Ivanhoe East Primary School, followed by a secondary education at Methodist Ladies’ College where she began pursuing her interest in acting. She studied economics and fine art at the University of Melbourne and ultimately finished her studies in 1992 at the National Institute of Dramatic Art.
Ruby Dee (American Gangster): Pictured at right, Dee is a 1945 graduate of Hunter College and received degrees in French and Spanish. She is also a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority.
Saoirse Ronan (Atonement): Born in 1994, Ronan is still attending school in Ireland.
Amy Ryan (Gone Baby Gone): Ryan never went to college. She was hired for a Broadway performance right out of high school.
Tilda Swinton (Michael Clayton): Swinton, who is from Great Britain, attended West Heath Girls’ School, and then went to Fettes College, a boarding schoo, until she took a break. She graduated from a women’s college, the New Hall at Cambridge University with a degree in Social and Political Sciences in 1983.

Forbes has a great slideshow about the most expensive colleges and universities located throughout the world. We’ve made it easier by condensing it into article format. The most expensive in each region:

The George Washington University in the United States. In the heart of Washington DC, GWU affords students the opportunity to take advantage of becoming political figures and more. Freshman dorms have housekeeping service. Commencement is held on the White House ellipse. Annual Tuition: $39,240

Kenyon College in Ohio (also the United States) is a small school with 1,600 students total and 176 members of the faculty. It is the oldest liberal arts college in Ohio and was founded in 1824. Annual Tuition: $38,140

Bucknell University in Pennsylvania (United States) is the nation’s largest liberal arts college with 3,400 undergraduates. Annual Tuition: $38,134

Vassar College in New York (United States) is a former “Seven Sister” (all woman’s school) but now is coeducational. The student to faculty ratio is 9:1. Annual Tuition: $38,115

Sarah Lawrence College in New York (United States) is a predominantly women’s college that focuses on performing arts in addition to a well-rounded liberal arts education. And guess what? You don’t need to submit SAT scores to be accepted. Annual Tuition: $38,090

Quest University Canada in Canada is less than a year old having opened in September of 2007. It is a private non-denominational university that offers a single degree: a Bachelors of Arts and Sciences. Only 80 students attend, taking one class at a time in 18-day blocks. The appeal? You don’t see many private universities in Canada. Annual Tuition: $23,420

American University of Paris in France is a liberal arts and science institution that neighbors the Eiffel Tower. Annual Tuition: $34,725

University of Buckingham in the United Kingdom is the only fully private university in all of the UK and was founded in the 1970s. The school offers degree programs in a total of two, not four, years. Annual Tuition: $30,400 for Brits, $52,800 for international residents

Aoyama Gakuin University in Japan (Asia) was founded over a century ago by Methodist Episcopal missionaries. It is part of an educational institute that begins instilling academic values in kindergarten, followed by elementary school, junior/senior high school, and eventually, college. Annual Tuition: $11,700 to $16,100

Bond University in Australia. Founded in 1989, this school boasts small classes and has a very high percentage of foreign students. Annual Tuition: $32,900

American University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates (Middle East). Only slightly over a decade old (the university was founded in 1997), the university is broken up into smaller schools that focus on business, architecture, engineering, and arts and sciences. Courses are taught in English but university assures us that culture is highly Arabic. Annual Tuition: $16,770

Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey in Mexico. Founded in 1943 by a Mexican businessman, this is one of Mexico’s most respected universities. Annual Tuition: $11,210

Now let’s ask this question: did you go to any of these expensive schools? Are they more prestigious than the “competition?”