About Us
Welcome to CampusCompare, the starting point for finding your best-fit college. Discover more than 7000 2-year and 4-year colleges and dive into the real-time College Current from colleges across the country.
6 Ways to Search
Location
State
Major
Major
Career
Career
Ivy League
Ivy League
Sports
Sports
A to Z
A to Z
Find Your Perfect Fit
What Are My Chances?

Compare Schools

Financial Aid Calculator

Archive for February, 2009

How do I find an internship to boost my college chances?

Friday, February 27th, 2009


Dear Babs,

I want to find a cool internship this summer to increase my college admissions chances when I apply in a couple years. What do you recommend I do?

-Wannabe Intern

—

Dear Wannabe,

An internship is a great way to boost your profile and gain valuable work experience before graduation. Don’t just take any old internship though-an internship is not an end in and of itself, but rather a means to get into college and get on the right track for you dream career.

What are you interested in? Is it sports, fashion, writing, human rights, or business? There’s an internship for every possible career and hobby. Before you even start your search for college, guide yourself towards jobs that will prepare you for the life you want to have. Think hard about where you see yourself after college. What is your dream job? Now find companies or organization in that field that would accept an intern. It should be noted that many internship programs look for students already in college. Check out organizations like CityYear that specifically look for youths. Scan the web for internship advice and resources-Planning and Preparing for College (Scholarships, Internships, Etc) has a great list of internships. Another good bet is to find a company you like and offer to volunteer there. Most internships don’t pay-but the experience and connections you will gain are priceless.

Remember: start with what you love and work backwards. If you can convey your passion for a field to a potential organization, they will pick up on your enthusiasm and you will have a better chance of landing that internship-and eventually job-of your dreams.

Good Luck!

Babs

POSTED BY Dear Babs IN Admissions, Dear Babs
02.27.09
RSS 2.0 | PERMALINK | TRACKBACK
1 COMMENT

Will one bad year ruin my college chances?

Tuesday, February 24th, 2009


Dear Babs,

My sophomore year my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. With aggressive treatments, she is now cancer-free. While she was undergoing chemo and surgery, I was very stressed and worried, and my grades dropped from an A- average to a C+. This year, I am back to my old A’s and B’s, but I am concerned that my sophomore-year grades will hurt my college chances. What should I do?

-Sophomore Slump

—

Dear S.S.,

Please don’t beat yourself up over your sophomore grades. You responded to a really tough situation in a very normal way-with anxiety. When you’re anxious, it can be hard to study, focus, or even care about school work. This is perfectly normal of anyone with a sick loved one. Although your lip in grades will affect your cumulative GPA, anyone who takes a look at your complete transcript will be able to see that your sophomore year was an aberration on your record.

To mitigate the damage, include an explanation in your college application. Give your college information regarding your mother’s illness, your reactions to it, and how you have worked hard to pull up your GPA since her recovery. Most applications–including the common application–will have a section where you are allowed to elaborate on any special circumstances affecting your admissions, and your mother’s health definitely qualifies. In addition, it might be a good idea for you to ask your school counselor to include a statement regarding your family’s situation last year. Generally, in addition to teacher recommendations, colleges require one counselor letter of recommendation. Your counselor will be able to testify to the fact that you were under a lot of stress regarding your mother’s health, and that normally you are a very focused and devoted student. With that statement in your file, in addition to your own explanation of your “sophomore slump,” the college admissions department will be totally aware of your extraneous circumstances.

In a perfect world, you would not be penalized for something that was beyond your control. Your grades slipped because of family tragedy–not because of laziness. Unfortunately, college admissions departments are often hectic and understaffed come application season. I can’t promise that every college will take the time to analyze your transcript. However, by being proactive and forthcoming about your situation, you will open the door for empathy and understanding.

-Babs

POSTED BY Dear Babs IN Admissions, Dear Babs
02.24.09
RSS 2.0 | PERMALINK | TRACKBACK
NO COMMENTS

Can my daughter search for college away from home?

Friday, February 20th, 2009


Dear Babs,

My daughter is a freshman in High School and already knows that she wants to go to Texas A&M. We are from Texas, and I worry that she is putting herself in a box. College is a time to explore; I don’t want her to just stay in the same place her whole life. What can I do to convince her there is a life outside of the lone star state?

-Homebody’s Mama

—

Dear Mama H.,

It sounds like you are having difficulty getting your little birdie to leave the nest. It’s great that you want her to expand her horizons-and college is the perfect time for her to do that. Although it’s a bit early for her to start her college search in earnest, you can give her a head start by casually exposing her to schools, people, and places that may be out of her element. Why not take her to another state for vacation, and drop by a local campus to show her what she could be missing? Find come brochures or websites with great college info, and ask her to take a look. The trick is to take a soft sell approach; hopefully by introducing, not forcing, her into situations, she will gradually learn to relish these foreign experiences.

It’s important to listen to your daughter as well. Ask her why she is so keen on Texas A&M? Is it because it’s all she’s ever known, and all her friends’ older siblings go there? Or is it because she loves the school spirit? Take her to a football game at LSU, or a tour of Tulane in New Orleans. Another great option is to get her to take a summer program at another campus. Colleges across the country have high school summer programs where students can take courses, play sports, and experience a bit of campus life. Find colleges in areas she would like to visit, and ask if they have any such program to offer her.

If come senior year she’s still set on Texas, feel proud knowing that you tried to introduce her to new things, but that home really is where her heart is.

Good Luck!

-Babs

POSTED BY Dear Babs IN Admissions, Dear Babs, parents
02.20.09
RSS 2.0 | PERMALINK | TRACKBACK
NO COMMENTS

College Info on High School Transcripts

Thursday, February 19th, 2009


Dear Babs,

I got into my top choice college, Villanova University, Early Action. I’m super excited, but this year I’m not doing too well in Calculus. I have mostly A’s with some B’s for all my other courses, but I’ve been getting steady C+ in Calc this year, even though last year I got a B in Trig. It said in my acceptance letter that it was pending my final transcript. Do you think they will rescind my offer?

-Calc Conundrum

—

Dear C.C.,

Schools always include the clause that college admissions decisions are pending your final transcript. This is to ensure that you don’t totally slack of senior year and barely pass. While you should aim to maintain your GPA, one bad course shouldn’t hurt your college admissions chances. Calculus is hard; you’re not the first person to get a C+, trust me! 


You do want to make sure your GPA stays within their college acceptance rates requirements. If you need a 3.2 to get in, don’t let your GPA drop below that. If you’re still really worried, you can ask your school counselor to include a letter explaining why you had such difficulty along with your transcript at the end of the year. Mention that you went after school for extra help and studied hard, but that Calculus was just very challenging. They should understand.

Good Luck!

Babs

POSTED BY Dear Babs IN Admissions, Dear Babs
02.19.09
RSS 2.0 | PERMALINK | TRACKBACK
NO COMMENTS

Fashion College Info

Monday, February 16th, 2009


Dear Babs,

I love fashion and film. Being a celebrity stylist or a publicist sound like so much fun, what kind of degree should I get? Is there a school that specializes in that sort of thing? How do I get my foot in the door?

-Fashion Fan

—

Dear F.F.

If fashion is what you love, than you should try and go to a fashion school in either L.A. or New York. It’s important to stay in a fashion hub, like L.A. or New York, because this is where most of the industry actually works. You’ll have an easier time finding jobs and internships, and in addition to your studies, you’ll get first-hand experience in this competitive field.

It sounds like rather than traditional fashion design, you are more interested in the marketing and customer-service aspect of the field. Both stylists and publicists promote their client’s image to the public in order to increase their recognition and fame. This requires a keen business sense and ability to spot trends. The main difference between the two professions is that a stylist promotes through fashion, while a publicist promotes through the media. Knowledge of both will be essential if you wish to make it in the field. Find colleges that offer not only design, but fashion marketing as a major. The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising offers majors like Design/Visual communications, fashion/fabric consultant, and marketing management. By combining your fashion savvy with communications and business know-how, you’ll be able to both create and promote your own unique sense of style.

To get your foot in the door, search for college internships that will train you how to use different media outlets to market a product. Event planning, web-based companies, PR firms, and restaurant promotion will all teach you how to deftly manipulate T.V., the web, newspapers, and magazines. To top it off, make sure you hone your sense of style; for a summer job, why not try and get a job in retail, especially for a big department store? You’ll learn how to spot a trend, and customer service skills will come in handy in the future when you need to work with clients.

The trick with anything in the fashion and entertainment industry is to get experience as soon as you can. Your college program should provide you with connections for internships and employment that will take your skills you’ve learned outside of the classroom and into the real world.

Good Luck!

-Babs

POSTED BY Dear Babs IN Admissions, Dear Babs
02.16.09
RSS 2.0 | PERMALINK | TRACKBACK
NO COMMENTS

Will a low GPA keep me from my college search?

Thursday, February 12th, 2009



Dear Babs,

I’m a junior and I am really interested in a few fields (Chemistry, Aerospace Engineering, Astro Physics, etc). I would really love to get a Ph.D in anyone of these fields. However, my high school grades aren’t so great-I have about a 2.8 GPA. Is there any way I can still get a Ph.D. from a decent college? What should I start doing now?

-Space Cadet

—

Dear Space Cadet,

Don’t worry-your high school grades will not affect your graduate school admissions decisions. Graduate schools look for excellent undergraduate grades and research, and won’t even ask you for your high school grades.

However, take your less-than-stellar high school GPA as a wake-up call to improve your study habits. Why is your average so low? Do you have consistent trouble with one subject? Or do you find it hard to concentrate when there are so many more fun things to do than study? College academics are much more independent and focused; I know many students whose grades drastically improved from high school to college simply because they no longer had to take those subjects that they had always struggled with. If you’re able to focus totally on those classes that you’re passionate about, you may find yourself more motivated to study. That being said, in college you have much more freedom as to your schedule. You don’t have class every day, and if you skip a class you don’t get detention. If you are easily distracted with friends or television, these problems will only amplify once you move on campus.

Take the next year to work on bad habits and prep for college life. Learn to study without the TV/radio, try keeping a more organized planner for assignments, and maybe try staying in a night (or two) to study instead of going out to see friends. As far as your college search is concerned, your best bet would be to find colleges at lesser-known state schools and then transfer to the flagship campus after freshman year. State schools are great for the physical sciences as they often offer great research facilities. Many of the country’s top PhD programs are in state schools like University of Michigan: Ann Arbor and University of California: Berkeley. With some hard work and ingenuity, you can certainly move beyond your high school grades and get into a great PhD program.

Good Luck!

-Babs

POSTED BY Dear Babs IN Admissions, Dear Babs
02.12.09
RSS 2.0 | PERMALINK | TRACKBACK
NO COMMENTS

Should I only search for college in the Ivy League?

Tuesday, February 10th, 2009


Dear Babs,

What makes an Ivy League college education so advantageous? Should I only search for college in the Ivy League?

-Ivy Curious

college search

Dear Ivy C.,

The name “Ivy League” refers to an athletic conference of eight private colleges in the United States. Harvard University, Princeton University, Dartmouth College, Cornell University, Brown University, University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, and Yale University have been playing each other in basketball, football, and rowing for over one-hundred years. Beyond college sports, these eight schools were amongst the first colleges in this country, and (excluding Cornell, which was established in 1865) they have been building their reputation since before the Revolutionary War.

What this means in the year 2009 is that most have had over two-hundred years to secure their legacy of first-class academics, an impressive track record of producing leaders, and large endowments to fund top-rate professors. With such a tradition of excellence, it is no wonder that students from across the globe apply every year. Such a calibre of student body ensures that the Ivy League’s reputations will remain assured for generations to come.

So what does that mean to you? The main draw of an Ivy League education is that the name assures a high degree of academic excellence. If you are accepted, it is a stamp of approval on your diploma that you are among the brightest in the country. However, the Ivy League does not own the copyright to academic excellence-they are simply the most famous for it. There are many top-notch schools that are not part of the Ivy League that may even outperform some Ivy Leagues in some areas.

Take this entirely unrelated and rather silly example:

If you were to go up to the average Joe on the street, and ask if “The Beatles” are a good band, many would probably say “Sure.” However, how many Joe’s across the country would call themselves die-hard fans of The White Stripes? Far fewer. The Beatles are legendary for their rock success-other bands may be pretty fantastic, but not as many people are going to have heard of them.

Going to an Ivy League college has the benefits of going to a school with instant name-recognition. No matter what job you apply to, your potential employer will know that your education was top-notch and that you are probably a bright cookie. If that is the #1 thing that you are concerned with, than going to an Ivy League college should be a priority. Before you make up your mind though, please do a college search for other factors. Ivy League colleges don’t always have the best program for each major (and each Ivy League will have their own strengths) they just generally have excellent programs. Have an idea of what you want to study, and also the kind of environment where you study best. Regardless of the name of an institution, poor performance in college is no way to start off a career. Find colleges that will not only look good on a mantle, but that motivate you for even greater accomplishments in the future.

Good Luck!

-Babs

POSTED BY Dear Babs IN Admissions, Dear Babs
02.10.09
RSS 2.0 | PERMALINK | TRACKBACK
NO COMMENTS

Cross-Country College Search

Friday, February 6th, 2009


Dear Babs,

My son is a junior in High School and is starting his college search. We plan on visiting schools this Spring break. Problem is, his short list isn’t so short, and they schools are located all over the country-he’s applying to Macalester College in Minnesota and Chapman University in California. What can we do to make the most of our week, and the most of our money?college search

-Cross-Country Dad

—

Dear Cross-Country Dad,

The best thing that you and your son can do to make the most of your week looking at colleges is research. Before you book your flight and hotel, brush up on the facts and figures of each college. Ask your son what he likes about each school that he has put on his “short” list. You may find that many schools are on that list because they share some of the same characteristics. If he wants to go to a small liberal-arts school with a good art program, you may find that both Skidmore and Vassar are on the list. Instead of visiting all schools within one type, why not only visit one or two distinct ones? Compare and contrast schools by their size, tuition, acceptance rate, and campus-life. And don’t forget to read the college student reviews-they’ll tell your son more about campus life and the student body than a dozen brochures. Find colleges that strike your son as unique and different. That way, you won’t be wasting your time looking at the same old-same old.

Rather than visit all of his potential schools now, why not wait to see where he gets in? If he knows he wants to go to Macalester and Chapman, maybe it is better to hold off on visiting them until he has an acceptance letter. Use this exploratory time to look at schools he’s not so sure about-maybe he has heard great things about Northwestern, but he isn’t sure he’d like being at a school so big. If you’re flying all over the country, make sure that you’re doing so to learn something new, and not just reiterating what your son already knows. Also, for your own sake, make sure at least one of the schools on your trip is a “safety school”-if he winds up not getting into his top-choice next spring, he’ll be happier knowing that his safety isn’t a total dud.

For more tips, get ready with CampusCompare’s campus visit checklist.

Good Luck!

-Babs

POSTED BY Dear Babs IN Admissions, Dear Babs, parents
02.06.09
RSS 2.0 | PERMALINK | TRACKBACK
NO COMMENTS

College Information Brochures: Bonus or Bogus?

Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009


Dear Babs,

At this time of year, is it normal to be slammed with college brochures? I’m a high school junior, and I haven’t even started to apply to college yet! Should I take these colleges seriously?

-Junk-Mail John

—

Dear John,

It is totally normal to be inundated with college brochures and solicitations. Often, colleges buy your name and address from the College Board, the organization that runs the SATs. Depending on your own high school’s policies, they may sell your name and address as well. Colleges are spending more money and time than ever recruiting students. But they’re not just interested in anyone. They usually try and recruit from specific pools. For instance, MIT often seeks out women with high Math SAT scores, as women tend to be underrepresented in their student body. So if you’re receiving tons of information from one school, chances are, like Uncle Sam, they want you to apply to their college.

Of course, that doesn’t rule out the fact that there are schools out there who will send stuff to just about anybody. Whether they just want the application fee, or they’re really not that picky, your mailbox is getting full of their hard-copy spam. Don’t sweat it. Bottom line is you shouldn’t let anybody’s marketing department persuade you into applying to their school. Keep in mind what you want when you search for college, and find colleges that are a match for you and not the other way around.

Good Luck!

Babs

POSTED BY Dear Babs IN Admissions, Dear Babs
02.03.09
RSS 2.0 | PERMALINK | TRACKBACK
NO COMMENTS

College Info on Drunk Driving

Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009


Dear Babs,

I am going to University in the fall, and I’m wondering if I should take my car with me? I’ll be living in upstate New York while I attend St. Lawrence college, and getting around to can be a drag. However, I don’t want to get stuck DDing everyone. I know campuses have their own security-if I only have a couple, will I still get in trouble with the real police?

-Dubious Driver

Dear DD,

A thousand times: YES!! You can get in trouble with the “real” police. Campus Security is in charge of monitoring theft and keeping watch over students’ personal safety-they are not an alternative to the law. If you are pulled over by a cop, you will not get a lighter “sentence” with campus security.

It’s important to know that even a few drinks will impair your judgement and your reaction time. Each state has the right to set the legal-limit of blood-alcohol content (BAC) and the mandatory sentence for exceeding said limit while operating a motor vehicle. According to New York DWI, if you are under the age of 21 and caught driving-while-influenced, a blood-alcohol level of just .02% results in an automatic licence suspension of 90 days. If you are a 140 lb female, that means that you would only need ONE beer in two hours to be over the legal limit. Once you hit the legal drinking age of 21, the legally permissible BAC (jumps up to .08%. That is still only four beers in three hours-hardly unheard of for a Friday night on campus.

Driving drunk endangers lives. Over 1,700 student deaths are caused each year by college students driving under the influence, and over 600,000 injuries. If you are lucky and no one is injured, you can still lose your licence, have a criminal record, and expect to pay astronomical insurance fees each month. If you feel that you need a car on campus for convenience sake, by all means, bring it along. But don’t drive drunk thinking you will be treated less harshly for your youth. If you don’t want to be the DD (designated sober driver) at every party, make a no party driving rule for yourself. Explain to your friends that you want to have fun too, and that you’d be happy to split a cab.

Good Luck! (And Stay Safe!!)

-Babs

POSTED BY Dear Babs IN Dear Babs, fraternity, fraternity and sorority
02.03.09
RSS 2.0 | PERMALINK | TRACKBACK
NO COMMENTS