With Christmas around the corner, and my application deadline creeping up, I am about ready to drown myself in a bowl of eggnog. I’ve really made some headway with my graduate school applications, yet I still have a ton more to get out of the way.

The only question is, if college applications were a game, would I be winning?

Letters of Recommendation:
Got my two top-choice profs to agree to write me a letter. Yey!-+2
Cannot seem to get them to commit to meeting me. Boo! -2

Statement of Purpose:
Finished my first draft! Finally!!! +5
Got my best friend (and literary mastermind) to proofread it. +2
Haven’t started rewrites. -1

Applications Forms:
Like last-year’s taxes, yet to be filed. -4

TOTAL SCORE: +2
Nah nah nah, Life. I win!

On December 11, CampusCompare’s twitter account will be taken over by one Tufts University student who will be micro-blogging his exploits both in and out of the classroom.

Get a feel for what college-life is really like with CampusCompare’s first ever “College Shadow: Live Twitter Blog”. Watch our twitter feed as /CJBroChill from Tufts tweets about the day-in-the-life of a typical college student. Follow him from the dining hall for breakfast to class to the annual Tufts’ “Naked Quad Run”.

Just follow us at twitter.com/campuscompare to get the hilarious running-commentary on the ins-and-outs of being a college student in the age of social media.

(I probably should have led with this, but oh well, such is the nature of hindsight and chronological blogging)

The challenge: Blog about my graduate school applications with minimal internet humiliation

The subject: 23-year old college admissions-advice blogger, female, undisclosed location (okay, it’s in an office…I even have a little wheel-y chair!)

The goal: In general, don’t get rejected. Specifically, don’t get rejected in front of millions of people on the internet.

The back-story: Since the time I could write, I have wanted to be a writer. Despite a brief emo-poetry phase when I was thirteen (hey, we’ve all been there) my writing has usually been very straight forward, simple, and honest. Tortured poet is really not my gig. Since my time at CampusCompare, I have come to realize that I love working on assignments, I love the internet, and I love finding the hidden story beneath a bunch of boring facts (no offense, SATs, but you’re not exactly a font of excitement). I want to cover stories that excite me, as well as my readers, and I want to do it well. In short, I want to be a journalist.

There’s a lot of debate out on the net right now about whether it’s even necessary to go to journalism school. A lot of people scoff and stammer about “real world experience” and “starting at the bottom, getting your foot in the door, and working your way up.” This sounds great, and if somebody could please tell me HOW I get this miracle “foot in the door,” then I am all ears. But seeing as the New York Times isn’t exactly knocking down my door or putting a want ad in my local paper, I feel at a loss.

What I do have is a few years of blogging and editing under my belt, some nifty technical skills (does Diane Sawyer know HTML? I don’t think so) and a good GPA at a good university. I also genuinely like school, and I think two-years of studying how to be a better writer and reporter would be two-years well-spent. And so to journalism school I will go! Now, if only I knew how.

Can a college admissions blogger take her own advice and get into graduate school?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Follow me on Twitter to get notified as I post updates on adventures in admissions.

Missed my first installment? Check out “Operation Don’t Get Rejected: Advice from Alice“

Yale:

Elitess. This refined fragrance is made of a blend of arrogance and pretension, with a top-note of cold hard cash and an underlying whiff of violet. Let everyone know that you are part of the elite.

UCLA:

Les Bruins No. 1. Blue jasmine and golden orange blossom layer with sweat and a hint of Hollywood ambition. Out-of state applicants need not apply… behind their ears!

Bard College:

Hempathy. Save the world, one spritz at a time. A top-note of dreadlocks rounds out the heavy scent of self-righteousness, with just a hint of patchouli.

Tufts University:

Eau de 2nd Choice. Revel in your mediocrity, ravish in your disappointment. Safe vanilla combines with a strong second note of Ivy, just for irony.

University of Wisconsin-Madison:

Liquid Sweater. Come out of hibernation with this intoxicating aroma. Essence of cheddar cheese blends with the subtle scent of stale beer-pong. Even Bucky himself won’t be able to keep his paws off of you with Liquid Sweater. 

If you liked this article, check out the equally hilarious “Eau de College Football“. It’s oderrific.

Sponsor:

“Speak with professors in the department, or ones who know about the program you are applying for. They will be able to tell you what kind of applicant they are looking for.”

“If you don’t get in, call the admissions office to ask why, so that next year when you re-apply you’ll know what to improve upon.”

I’m a pretty smart cookie, if I do say so myself, and I know a thing or two about college admissions. Yet, despite being a college admissions “expert”, my own graduate school applications have fallen by the wayside. The deadline is inching closer and closer, and I have yet to crack my essay, obtain my recommendations, or even, *gasp!* fill out the application form.

So what’s a girl to do? Blog about it, of course! Follow me over the next few months while I scramble with forms, chase down former professors, and ponder the real reason why I’m 23, employed, and I still want to go back to school. Check back here and follow me on twitter at /campuscompare to stay tuned!

After her stint in Wonderland, a girl named Alice remarked: “I give myself very good advice, but I very seldom follow it.” Truer words were never said, sister.

CampusCompare, a free website that helps high school students find their best-fit college, is sponsoring “College Shadow: Live Twitter Blog ‘09″.

Give prospective students a real taste for the student life. We’re looking for a twitter-savvy college student to tweet a-day-in-the-life. From the time you get up to the time you go to bed, you’ll tweet a running-commentary about your classes, clubs, parties, and more!

To apply, email: info@campuscompare.com and put the words “College Shadow” in the subject line

• Tell us a bit about yourself: your school, your major, your activities, etc. A paragraph or two is more than enough.
• We need a veteran Tweeter. Include the url of your Twitter account so we can see what your tweets are usually like.
• In 140 character or less, tell us why you chose to attend your college. Be creative, have fun, and may the best Tweeter win!
• You’ll need a mobile phone with wireless capabilities, like a Blackberry or an iPhone. We don’t suggest bringing your laptop to Beer Pong.

The winner gets a $50 gift certificate iTunes. And INTERNET FAME.

According to the U.S. Dept. of Labor, these fields should be growing in the next few years, so here are the top 5 majors that won’t leave you unemployed when you graduate.

To check out every school in the U.S. that offers these majors, click on the link below. Too cool!

Computer Science-Since Al Gore invented the internet, the “information superhighway” has pretty much taken over our lives. With businesses depending on information technology and secure networks, a major in computer science (with a specialization in web-based software platforms, search technologies, or information systems) will be sure to get you hired.

Physical Therapy-In case you haven’t heard, our country is filled with old people. And when they’re not haunting the early bird specials, they’re usually falling down. In all seriousness, health professions in general will experience the most job growth of any profession, and jobs that deal with the elderly will be the most affected.

Mathematics-Education jobs are supposed to grow 10.7 percent by 2016. And the field where they need the most teachers? Math and hard science like physics and chemistry. If you major in Math and minor in education, then you’ll be in high demand upon graduation. And lucky for you, there are already a lot of programs in place to fund the undergraduate or graduate education of students who are committed to teaching. Go to school for free and get a job? Yes please.

Industrial Relations-With all these jobs being created, who is going to hire them? Employment services will make up 40% of all administrative and support jobs. That means human resources and labor relations will be in high demand. Look for a major in Industrial Relations to teach you about labor management, unions, and how to create “corporate culture”.

Early Childhood Education-It’s a little known secret that childcare is the backbone of the labor force. Without it, more and more parents would be forced to stay home with their children, instead of at work. So as the labor force continues to grow, so must childcare. There is also a big push to insist that childcare workers be trained and certified. So make your college major early childhood education, and you’re good to go.

Apparently, the folks at GQ aren’t content with snazzy celebrity interviews and fashion tips for men. They also want to join the college rankings game. For a twist, they’ve compiled a list of the top 25 Douchiest Colleges. I don’t know about you, but I think the list itself is a bit of an act of douchiness. Or douchiplicty, if you will. Anyway, here are our liner notes on when GQ got it right, and when they were just being doucherrific.

21. Trinity-The “I brained someone at Exeter with a 9-Iron but My Dad Got Me in Here” Douche
Ok, this one hits the nail on the head. It’s a place for well educated kids with pretty abysmal grades but some athletic skills or family connections. And while this might not sound like the most intellectual bunch, the school still gets a good rep by virtue of being monied and in the northeast. Much like its student body.

18. Boston University-The Future Marketing Execs Douche
BU is mega-expensive, but the school itself does have some good programs. YES it has a proportion of overzealous communication majors, but it also has a great musical theater department, education program, and psych department. So you can tap-dance to Freudian subliminal messages in advertising! Tah Dah!

17. University of Chicago-The Paul Wolfowitz Douche
Students who go here tend to be scary smart, emphasis on the scary.

14. Arizona State University-The “Show Us Your Tits!” Douche
Hey, it’s in a desert. They’re probably just trying to keep themselves cool. 

11. New York University-The “Yeah, I Did That When I Was 17″ Douche
Also known as the “I’m working on my documentary and shopping for vintage t-shirts that cost $50 douche.”

7. Amherst College-The “I Went to a Small liberal-arts College in Massachusetts” Douche
Hey, don’t just single people in Massachusetts out as douches (I believe the technical term is called “Masshole”). If you want to lord your “personalized, small-class, teacher involvement” education over other people while you play field hockey, why not check out New York, Connecticut, Vermont, and Maine. Skidmore, Wesleyan, Middlebury, Bowdoin, Colby, and Bates are all EQUALLY douchey.

6. Bob Jones University-The “not even College Republicans at Other Schools will Talk to You” Douche
I can’t even argue with this one.

5. Deep Springs-The “I Went to a School So Exclusive, Only Six People Know About It and Half of Them Are So Smart They’re Clinically Insane” Douche
What IS Deep Springs? I actually HAVEN’T heard of it. In fact, this school is so hush hush we barley even have any data on it.

According to Wikipedia: “Deep Springs is in Deep Springs Valley in Inyo County, California near the larger Owens Valley and about 25 miles over mountain passes from the nearest town, Dyer, Nevada, and 45 miles from the nearest town of significant size, Bishop, California. Deep Springs is one of a few remaining all-men’s liberal arts colleges in the United States.” It admits roughly 10-15 students from an applicant pool of 100-200, giving it an acceptance rate of between 5-15%. Most students leave after 2 years, and go on to finish their college degree at Harvard, Yale, or U Chicago (remember what I said about those guys being scary-smart?) Almost half of their undergraduate body goes on to get a doctoral degree.

I’m fairly certain they spike the water (do they have water in the desert?) with some smarty-pills.

4. Harvard-The Harvard Douche
Too easy.

1. Brown University-The “Peace Sign on My Mom’s 7 Series” Douche
As far as limousine liberal schools go, Brown is probably the LEAST offensive. If you really want to run into students wearing $100 yoga pants, drinking fair trade coffee, and complaining about hegemonic power while preparing to become a part of it, head to Hampshire, Sarah Lawrence, Bard, or Wesleyan. Better yet, just head to Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Nowadays, your shopping list may be a bit more extensive (what 6-year-old can’t live without an iPod Nano?) but back-to-school shopping can still provide the same sense of excitement. So, to help you wade through the ubiquitous August back-to-school ads, we’ve scoured the net for the deals you can’t live without:

Jealousy-Inspiring Electronics:

If you’re in the market for toys that will help you waste time AND make new friends, here are some sick deals well worth your mama’s back-to-school cash.

Impress your dorm-mates with a shiny, new Xbox360, on sale for $399.99. Pick up the Arcade Bundle for only $199.99, if you need something to occupy those long nights hanging out with your ol’ pal Doritos.

Take advantage of Apple’s crazy once-a-year deal: College students get a free iPod touch with any laptop purchase. AirBook here I come! This deal is totally drool-worthy: the iPod touch lets you surf the web and listen to music all in one little hand-held device. A great way to procrastinate in the library… as if you didn’t already know.

Also drool-worthy: this 24-inch HDTV. Who knew you could get a 24′ flat screen for under $300? A helluva -lot better than that old VHS/TV combo your parents keep trying to pawn off on you. Just tell them it’s for all those research documentaries you’ll be watching for your Anthropology class…

Better Than Crayons

Office Depot is having a major sale on school supplies, including trusty-old Crayola crayons. If you’re over the age of six, stock up on folders, highlighters, and even laptop accessories to make your cramming sessions easier.

A-Team Tricks

If you’re thinking of taking the SATs next year and need some help getting that perfect score, Kaplan is offering $100 off of prep-courses. Also, in the vein of getting something for nothing, they’re giving away a free SAT practice test.

IMHO, Compare Textbooks still offers the best deal around for buying your books. Surf all the major online bookstores and sort for the best prices. Instead of going to one bookstore, you get to go to 10 at once. Efficient, yah?

Hope that whets your appetite with back-to-school shopping. On top of the deals mentioned above, don’t forget to buy your shiny new box of crayons. Coloring inside-the-lines optional.

Writing

Associated Content - Associated Content is an open content site that allows anyone to contribute. You can publish information on any subject, in any format. Contributors typically receive between $1 and $20 for every piece of content.

Helium - Helium provides a publishing marketplace where writers can earn $20 to $200 for select articles. Freelance writers can also get in on debates, donate, compete for awards, enter contests, and find writing resources.

ReviewStream.com - ReviewStream.com pays $2.00 for consumer reviews and an extra $0.10 for reviews with positive votes. Contributors can review everything from hotels and local stores to music, movies, and other products.

Art and Photography

Artbreak - Artbreak is an artist site that allows you to share your work and sell it online. Artists receive worldwide exposure and have many opportunities to connect with buyers and other artists.

ShutterPoint - This stock photography site accepts almost all submissions, allows photographers to set licensing, and offers payouts of 70% to 85%.

Used Items

Ebay - Ebay is a popular online auction site where people can buy and sell just about anything. Membership to Ebay is completely free; listing and closing fees vary.

Craigslist - Craigslist is a local classifieds site where people can sell goods, housing, services, and more for a set price.

Miscellaneous

Yung Junk - Yung Junk is an online venue where people can get money for textbooks and class notes. This unique site also allows students to rent out their books.

Google Adsense - The Google Adsense program allows website publishers to earn money through relevant Google ads.

Cafe Press - This site is a unique online community where anyone can create, sell, and buy gifts. Simply sign-up to start creating customized t-shirts, hats, mugs, hoodies, and much more.

Guest post from education writer Karen Schweitzer. Karen is the About.com Guide to Business School. She also writes about accredited online colleges for Online Colleges.net.