The Wall Street Journal says that the class of 2008 is having a difficult decision finding jobs amid the economic recession of 2008, saying that it is the “rockiest job market” of the past few years.

Most people who haven’t secured a job early (which should ideally be done in October or November of your senior year) will have difficulty, according to experts. The biggest people hit will be people who have a low GPA (B- or lower). In the past few weeks alone, more people filed for unemployment than ever before. The percentage of unemployed stands at 5.1%.

What does this mean for you? You may not get your first choice of job, but don’t give up trying. Don’t be too picky about it either. It’s a job, not the rest of your life. It isn’t necessarily a “career move.” In the meantime, government positions are aplenty and health care and technology still seem to have job openings. In my personal experience, I’ve seen several firms looking for solid web programmers.

At this point, the financial market is not the way to go. But there are plenty of ways to find a job in addition to taking advantage of areas that are relatively open wide for the taking. But amid a recession that may not necessarily be faring well for college graduates, escaping from the corporate world may be a great option. If you have a dream, pursue it. Become a freelance coder or writer. Better yet, if you can still live with your parents for a few years, go for it.

Does that mean you should give up and take a job you don’t want? It’s something you need to decide. I know several people who job hunted several times for several years before finding something they truly loved. If you’re in the class of 2008 and are having difficulty, you’re not alone. And if you want to pursue higher education and grad school, chances are there are still other students with you.

If you’ve never heard of Take Back the Night, chances are you will once you get on campus. The idea behind this program is to raise awareness about sexual assault on campuses and even before college (from family members, friends, and other people).

At my college, what we normally do is have a parade with thousands of participants. My school is in a big city and the policemen block off the roads for our late night stance against sexual violence. We walk for about .5 miles through extremely populated neighborhoods and chant phrases like “Students unite, take back the night,” and “Silence perpetuates violence.” By chanting these phrases through the streets, community members know that the students are all about focusing on a safe environment for them and for the neighbors.

After the march, which includes a moment of silence, our students congregate in a big auditorium where people share their gripping stories of abuse by the hands of their abusers. To protect the anonymity of these individuals, there is either a wall that blocks the microphone from the audience or the lights are off. This process goes on until dawn. Some of the scariest and most emotional stories are shared during this time. Students are here to support each other, and peer counselors are available to help the students during this difficult time.

How does your school — or does your school — handle TBTN? How do you raise the issues of abuse awareness within your college community?

The SFGate reports about a study conducted by Duke University that showed that 75% of college applicants cheated in some form on their way to college. Whether that meant copying homework or utilizing Wikipedia for their academic efforts, the concerns about ethics and college admissions is growing.

The sad reality is that the students are winning while the teachers are losing. The article claims that when teachers find out that a student has cheated, the administration does not necessarily back them up. The word of the student is usually valued more heavily than the word of the teacher, and professional integrity becomes a problem within the community when the students’ lies are put first. In one case, a Stanford student continually asked her professors for a “regrade” after she changed the answers on a test. When her professor caught her red handed by photocopying the original exam, the university admonished the professor for violating an honor code — an honor code that the student herself did not even keep.

So what can be done? Some schools are working directly with the parents. Cheating becomes an issue that involves the parents from the first infraction. After that, the risk becomes greater: a F on the course.

Why do students cheat? The goal to become successful is by far one of the presiding reasons behind this apparent lack of ethics. As such, Stanford has a program called SOS (Stressed Out Students) that intervenes whenever stress is the culprit and reason behind cheating.

For now, the system is somewhat working. Stiff penalties make it more difficult for students to cheat. But that’s just scraping the surface. Many of my courses were laden with students who cheated on every single homework or test — and let’s be honest here, I haven’t been innocent, either.

In the end, remember that if you’re aiming for the highest score and eventually make it to the college of your choice while cheating your way through college, you may not succeed in the school of your dreams. Instead, you’ll find yourself to be miles behind your classmates. You’ll also find it important if not crucial to continue the trend of cheating. It’s just not worth it. You could spend that time learning for the course instead of stressing that your classmate has the answers. College is a knowledge-seeking venture, and bluffing your way through it isn’t the way to go.

More importantly, cheating is just a dishonest thing to do. And the only one you fool is yourself.

1. Applying to college is like taking another class at school. You can either take it as a “summer class” and get started early or you can worry about it as an additional “course” come your senior year of high school in the fall.
2. Leadership and commitment are extraordinarily valuable assets and are extremely important on your college application.
3. You need to believe in yourself. Little do you know where you’re really headed — nobody really has the right idea. Have a good attitude and work ethic towards other courses and you’ll be surprised. Never undercut yourself.
4. Statistics change. What happened two years ago may not hold true anymore. Just because your friend got into Yale in 2004 with “worse grades than you” doesn’t mean that your chances are better than his.
5. Read. A lot. Reading in college is going to have to become second nature. Getting a head start will only help you grow intellectually and will build up some motivation for later.
6. Volunteer early. Don’t just get into community service just because your college application demands it. It actually makes you feel very good.
7. Research scholarship opportunities. They vary from state to state and from school to school. You may be on your own on this one as some college counselors don’t have all the resources. Thankfully, you do.
8. Stand out. That’s what all colleges demand: someone who will be an asset to the school rather than an ordinary student. Write a college essay that matters. To get an idea of what works and what doesn’t, just don’t write on the same topics that your friends have written on.
9. Study your college and make a case. Read documentation on the school. Then, when the application asks you “why do you want to go to THIS school?” you need to have an answer that will blow them away.
10. Build up your vocabulary. Your SATs and ACTs need them. So do you. You’ll come across those words in college more than once and you’ll sound a lot smarter.
11. Challenge yourself. Trust me, you’ll be challenged in school, and if not in college, in the real world, so it’s better to get a head start now. Plus, it’s a great learning experience for you. Take AP or IB courses. Enroll in independent study courses or in classes at your local college. Always keep learning.
12. Be nice to your teachers. They write your recommendation letters.
13. Seek out the safety schools. Look hard and you shall find something that will make you happy. It will also make your life a lot less stressful.
14. Take your SAT IIs alongside the relevant AP class. It saves a lot of studying down the road. If that means you’re taking an SAT II in 9th grade, do it. Better to prepare earlier than to have to study all over again a few years down the road.
15. Assert yourself. Don’t be shy. Leadership is important. Colleges seek out the leaders of tomorrow, so be one today.
16. Explore internships. Find out what you’re passionate about and pursue it in the “working world.” Some people realize that they’re not cut out for that line of work, so getting a head start gives you more insight on whether you can live with it for years or whether it’s time to make a change.
17. The common college application can be recycled. You can send them to different schools (with the proper edits) without worrying about rewriting an entire new application.
18. Be yourself. Don’t be your parents’ child. Go to a school you love, not one that your parents love.
19. College interviews aren’t that bad. Present yourself as you normally would (be yourself — there’s no need to play dress up) and just talk about what interests you in the school. Interviewers want to get to know the real you. Just talk and you’ll be fine.
20. Ivies aren’t always worth it. They don’t necessarily offer better educations than your local schools or your “safeties.” The best school for you may not necessarily be the highest-ranked institution.
21. Apply early action if you can (when there are no penalties). You may grow impatient.
22. Organize yourself. You’ll need to continue it in college. Get a notebook and a daily planner that can keep you up to speed on your homework assignments. PDAs are fine too.
23. Your college counselor is a resource. Take advantage of him/her. Build that relationship today.
24. Consider competitions. Math and science buffs should look into the Intel Science Talent Search, the Siemens Westinghouse Competition, the Olympiads (in your field), or the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).
25. Don’t slack off. You’ll pay for it one day.
26. Build a relationship with your teachers that is more than about grades. In the grand scheme of things, grades matter little.
27. Halloween is the day before the Early Decision/Early Action admissions deadline. Finish your college application a lot earlier.
28. Get your recommendation letters in order. Teachers are asked by hundreds of students for these letters yearly. Be first or at least early.
29. Don’t pass up the merit award. It may never come back to you again.
30. Check financial aid deadlines and don’t be late.
31. Focus. Do your assignments. Do your homework. Slacking off will not pay.
32. Rely on yourself. In college, you’re the boss. A college coach may help, but at the end of the day, it’s all you.
33. You’re no different than the others. Well, maybe you are. But if your friends get rejected, take heed! Don’t say “it won’t happen to me.”
34. Create your own opportunities. Sometimes, you won’t get into the prestigious geography team, but your interest in politics can get you started on your own Congress Club. That will also make you a leader.
35. Relax. Don’t stress out. You’re not alone in this.
36. Don’t dismiss smaller schools. Liberal arts colleges may be great for you and perfect for what you’re pursuing. Single-sex schools can also offer superior learning experiences in a much smaller and closer-knit community than you’ll find in larger schools.
37. Visit the campus. You might really love it on paper, but until you visit it, you can never be so sure. Why do you think job applicants are interviewed before they’re hired?
38. Got a question? Call the school. They’re not screening calls and won’t hold it against you if you have a question about the application process or about coursework. Don’t be afraid to initiate.
39. Plan for the best but prepare for the worst. You need to be realistic about the entire situation. There are lots of schools out there — not only Ivy Leagues — but schools that really will be your perfect match. Seek and you shall find.

What other tips do you have to offer?

Students and parents, if you’re attending a US college, it’s to fill out your FAFSA. If you’re not all too familiar with the form and what it’s all about, it’s a free application for federal student aid. The application is used to determine the amount of money you’ll be given to go towards your college education. Just about every single US college utilizes the FAFSA system.

There are roughly 14 million students receiving over $80 billion in financial aid yearly.

How is the FAFSA organized? There are five parts: information about the student, information about the student’s dependency status, information about the parents of the student, financial information about the student, and a list of schools that should receive the FAFSA information (similar to providing your college with your SAT/ACT scores).

There are two ways to apply: online or by mail. While the federal deadline is June 30th, April 15 (tax time) is literally right around the corner and some states require this form to be filled out prior to then. Ideally, you should have this form filled out closer to February, but this is a last call reminder in case you were unable to do it then.

The FAFSA form can be filled out here.

College students can get just about anything online for free. Whether they need to define a word, look up a quote, organize their schedule, take class notes, or decorate their dorm room, it’s all online today.

Here are nine great tools to use for your college planning:

For the student who wants textbooks on the cheap…

Public Domain Reprints lets you print out books in the public domain for a lot cheaper than your average textbook costs. The tool searches the archive of books available through sources like Project Gutenberg and other copyright-free tools. The final cost depends on the book size, but I haven’t seen costs exceed $15.

For the note-taker…

Notesake is an online application that doubles as a notepad with HTML formatting. Tag your notes with your course name to find them later and share the notes with friends. You can also print out the notes or save to a PDF.

For the organizer…

Notely is a collection of online tools that helps make your life at school a whole lot simpler. Organize your class notes, schedule, to-do list, calendar, contacts, and more with a single login. You can keep track of your grades, upload files, stay in touch with friends, and even collaborate with your classmates on a whiteboard.

CollegeRuled is your one-stop shop for organizing your college schedule. It’s an easy-to-create class and extracurricular activity schedule. Just punch in the courses, activities, and times, print it out, and tape it to your door to tell your friends when and where you’ll be.

For the student who searches for answers…

Schoolr combines all the possible searches you may need for particular words of phrases by aggregating Wikipedia, Urban Dictionary, a regular dictionary, a Google search, an encyclopedia search, and more.

The Free Dictionary combines all the other tools you’d need for your search. It includes an online dictionary/thesaurus, an eBay and Amazon search for those dorm essentials, a legal dictionary for the students studying political science, a medical dictionary for the bio lovers, a financial dictionary for econ students, and a whole lot more.

For the skimmer…

Litsum is one of those online Cliff’s notes that your school probably doesn’t know about. Get full chapter analysis, discussion, and more.

Sparknotes is the other Cliff’s notes tool that your school and just about every classmate is already using. After all, beyond just offering abridged versions of popular books, you have test prep questions, academic charts, and college facts at your fingertips.

For the college student who wants the dorm to look like home…

HomeSlyce takes the difficulty out of planning your dorm room with your roommate next year. Build your ideal dorm room with a roommate, collaborate with your roommates, and split the bill on the items. This is useful if you’ve never met your roommate face-to-face or if the long-distance relationship makes it too difficult for you to choose all your items.

College. To many, it sounds like newfound independence. And in reality, it is. Why are you going to college? If the answer is “to learn enough to become successful later in life,” the college years are a great time to start becoming successful.

TwinCommas explains why college is a perfect time to start a new business. A lot of what they say makes a lot of complete sense. Remember Mark Zuckerberg? He’s now worth $5 billion dollars and was a Harvard dropout. Bill Gates? Yes, him too — but his valuation is even higher.

Why not start with your own business? Do you have anything to lose?

As the TwinCommas blog explains, there are many good reasons why starting a business is a good idea during school. Here are the key points:

Minimal responsibilities: If you’re like me, you’re living in a dorm. You’re calling mom and dad every so often, hanging with your friends, and doing your schoolwork. You may have a significant other. But you don’t have kids. At least, not now. Between classes, instead of partying (or in addition — it’s your choice, really), focus on the moneymaking opportunities because you have nothing to lose and only experience to gain.

Age: Most of the successful entrepreneurs started their businesses well before they turned 30. Because you’re starting early, you have a lot of time to learn from your mistakes and grow your company, and hey, you might be able to retire early.

Inexpensive labor: Got a roommate? Give him some work to do. College students are often looking for work. If your business makes money, it’s really cheap labor (and it can also form some great relationships that will last well beyond college in the real world).

Knowledge: In school, you have professors to consult and a library of books and internet resources all within arm’s reach. This is the best time to take advantage of these abundant resources.

Software: Does “college discount” ring a bell? You’re a student, after all, so your academic discount will work for software you use for school/business.

Equipment: Just like you have access to professors, so too you have access to computer rooms and scientific labs filled to the brim with high-tech equipment that can help you get a kick start on your business. You won’t have that luxury after school.

Financial bonuses: I know a few programs that will invest in the most viable (purely subjective, as it’s judged) college business, and this can also get you on your way. Grants are not hard to come by if you have a business that will thrive.

In the end, if you have that killer idea, you have the resources to take advantage of it. Do it now.

Dear Digital Student,

I’m an incoming college freshman about to start school in the fall. I’m holding my own and am looking for ways to make money. What are some reasonable jobs for college students?

Sincerely,
Will work for food

Dear incoming freshman,

First of all, congratulations on your acceptances to school! There are several jobs you can look for once you get on campus. Some of the best jobs don’t require too much work, and they will make you some easy money. Here are a list of my favorites that don’t require you to venture far from campus.

Desk Attendant: Some schools allow student security guards to watch students enter and leave dorms and other campus buildings. Depending on the job description, you may have to sign guests in and out or disallow non-residents entirely. During the hours that aren’t that busy, you can even do your homework. It’s also a great way to meet new people.

Resident Assistant: This probably isn’t an option for an incoming freshman, but an RA usually gets offered free housing in return for leading a group of students residing in the same dorm (usually assigned per floor or per building). Resident assistants get pretty sweet digs and are required to hold monthly meetings with their residents. They also enforce the rules and offer a helping hand to students looking for guidance.

Babysitter: Face it, babysitting is a commodity to many working parents and it also pays a lot better per hour than on-campus jobs. Many college work programs have lists filled with parents who are looking for a mature college student to take care of their kids while they go out. And in reality, most of these kids go to bed early, giving you more time for homework.

Library Assistant: The college libraries are begging for students to help take care of book check out, audio/video systems, computer access, and the copy machines. There are a lot of positions and some good experience to be had.

Computer Lab Technician: Computer-savvy students will be happy to know that there are a variety of computer-related positions in on-campus labs and in college dormitories. Labs always need technicians during their open hours to troubleshoot problems with monitors, printers, and other peripherals. Many colleges also offer a “residential network” program, also known as ResNet, where students can get help from fellow students on computer network troubleshooting issues (wired or wireless) at any time of the day. All you need is to make an appointment.

Working alongside your professor: These individuals are also known as Teaching Assistants and get some incredible exposure on specific areas of study. You’ll often hold office hours, grade papers, and offer academic guidance on a specific course. You’ll also establish a relationship with a professor, which can open some huge doors for you. If anything, this is the job you want to put on your resume, especially if you’re headed up the graduate school route.

Internships: The other route is to take a paid internship in an area that you are interested in pursuing post-graduation. This is also a great way to build experience and pad your resume. Internships are a great option for financial aid and give you hands-on experience in a field — often well before your peers.

What jobs have you held during college?

The Harvard Crimson reported yesterday that Harvard College accepted a record low 7.1 of all applicants for its Class of 2012. That’s 1,948 out of 27,462 applications, many of whom likely exhibited flawless applications and did everything expected of them, but somehow still falling south of the cut.

To the 1,948 that hit the jackpot: good for you. To the other 25,514, remember how much of a crapshoot this admissions nonsense has become.

You waded through four years of high school earning perfect grades and board scores. You were the president of your senior class, captain and quarterback of your football team, editor-in-chief of your school newspaper. You did everything right. And now, you sit back, preparing that valedictory speech. as one of the 25,514 thinking… somewhere along the line, “could I have done something more?”

The answer is no. The 2012 class represents the waning end of a boom period while the most selective colleges are competing in the midst of financial aid arms wars (that is, if your family’s annual net earnings fall under a certain dollar amount, you go to school for free). More schools have made the admissions process that much more impersonal, resorting to the common application that allows one standard form to be sent off to seemingly infinite schools with the tick of a box and a $60 check. All of these factors contribute to ridiculously spiked applicant pools.

At the same time, schools like Harvard take risks. They aim for the best and the brightest, but know deep down that virtually any one of the other 25,514 that didn’t make the cut could likely perform just as well as the 1,948 that did. That’s the game that kids and parents alike are waking up to this week. It doesn’t mean they’re failures now or destined to fail later in life. It just means that – in the midst of appeasing wealthy legacies and athletic coaches – a school like Harvard still needs to somehow piece together a class of students each fall.

I once read that after filibustering debates, admissions officers at selective institutions choose applicants blindly. When it becomes impossible to weed through what turns into a mostly homogeneous bunch, names are spread about the floor and those picked up at random make the cut while the others can only pray for the waitlist. Sadly, it’s maybe impossible to think of a fairer system.

Congratulations to the 1,948 that won this year’s Cambridge lottery, and congratulations to the 25,514 that will thrive wherever the end up in this fall.

So the long winter wait is over and those envelopes are arriving, thick and thin, yes and no, accept and reject (or waitlisted!). You’re now about to make one of the most important decisions of the next few years of your increasingly independent life and it’s important that you take advantage of all information available.

More often than not, students know little about the school that they’re about to attend. This isn’t an entirely awful thing – you can probably figure out how to make the most of your time anywhere. Some will want to stay close to home while others will flee to an opposite coast. Some might have a dream city in mind or desire nothing less than cheering on the big time football team from the student section on fall Saturdays. Maybe it’s the big campus green or the bustling student center that caught your eye on the official tour. Maybe mom and dad went there or maybe you really like the name of the place. Sadly, somewhere along the way, you probably forgot about the classroom component.

Beyond the artificial reasons for wanting to attend college, there’s the inescapable reality of the time that will be spent studying. After all, for most people, college is still an academic experience with an eventual undergraduate degree and then job or more advanced studies. Therefore, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the academic expectations of a school before you wind up blowing time and money on endless courses that serve no interest to what you want out of college.

Schools have different curriculums. Some require a subset of courses that all students take (a “core” curriculum). Others have a certain number of general education requirements (e.g. two semesters of a physical science, four semesters of a foreign language, etc). Still, others advance entirely open curriculums where students can take almost anything offered in course catalogs alongside their major area of study. One school might allow more advanced placement than another (which could save you both time and money). Another school might allow you to pass/fail (that is, elect not to receive a letter grade against your grade point average, unless you fail the course) the majority of your classes if you choose. Nonetheless, these things vary and you’ll want to know how they work before you end up confronting them firsthand.

Thankfully, the bulk of this information can be found on nearly all college websites, but it’s unlikely that it’s included in official welcoming admissions material. This information is there to win you over (maybe with a water bottle or bumper sticker or t-shirt), as schools are aware that they’re competing for you, still free agents. They’re out there making pitches as best they can, but as an admissions office, they care little of what will become your own academic experience. That, as so much of what you’ll learn in college, is up to you to discover.