http://www.savvysugar.com/ It Makes Sense. en http://www.savvysugar.com/2442028 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104165/44_2008/e53ed2060d5c3d27_college.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right xlarge" height="239" width="300"></span>Even as the economy flounders, the cost of the college experience is continuing to increase according to numbers for this year's bill, just released by the College Board. Let's all take a moment to be grateful for the college education we may have received, because in this economy, it's tougher for students and families <a href="http://www.savvysugar.com/2381502/" >to find the money for higher education</a>. Take the quiz and make educated guesses about tuition and room and board in the current school year. How money are you?</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.savvysugar.com/2442028">read more</a></p> http://www.savvysugar.com/2442028#comment education How Money Are You quiz Savvy quiz student tuition Thu, 30 Oct 2008 10:30:39 -0700 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/2442028 http://www.savvysugar.com/2419216 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104165/43_2008/1f6f3c2b301ddea7_student.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image left xlarge" height="260" width="305"></span>Student loans are increasingly necessary <a href="http://www.savvysugar.com/2381502/" >for many students to pay for college</a>, but these massive debts are causing some graduates to flee the country. It may seem dramatic, but <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2008/10/23/pf/college/student_loan_fugitives/index.htm/" target="_blank">leaving the country sometimes seems</a> like the only option for grads that have defaulted on their student loans and can't find another way to escape the debt collectors. </p> <p>CNN Money profiled a student loan fugitive named Chris who got a foreign address to escape his $160,000 student debt from getting a master's degree in music. He anticipated his monthly payments to be around $600, but they turned out to be a completely unmanageable $2,400. Chris says, "I am upset at myself. I could have gone to a cheaper school. But I'm most angry at the fact that for anyone who has debt that's not student loan debt, there's relief." </p> <p>In some cases, student loans are discharged or partially discharged because of hardship. Chris and other graduates who feel helpless should explore these options before fleeing the country. </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.savvysugar.com/2419216#comment debt loan news student Sat, 25 Oct 2008 11:00:57 -0700 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/2419216 http://www.savvysugar.com/2381502 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104165/42_2008/75128be9927eed45_tuition.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image left xlarge" height="311" width="300"></span>As the economy weakens and more workers are laid off, there is a growing need for financial aid from students that wouldn't have needed it before. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/17/business/17student.html/" target="_blank">According to The New York Times, most students</a> won't have problems paying fall semester tuition because those arrangements were made months ago, but it's apparent the number of families needing aid is growing. Colleges are concerned there won't be enough aid money for everyone who applies and are keeping an eye on the economy, especially in terms of employment. </p> <p>Seventy-five percent of student loans are in the form of federal aid and the number of these applications this year is already up 10 percent from last year. The credit crisis has forced many students, who had been borrowing on their own, to ask their parents to cosign on loans. Fidelity Investments released survey results earlier this month and found that 62 percent of parents are planning on using student loans in combination with their own contributions, while last year 53 percent said they'd be using loans to help with expenses.<br /> <a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.savvysugar.com/2381502#comment economy education poll Savvy poll student Your Two Cents Mon, 20 Oct 2008 04:00:24 -0700 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/2381502 http://www.savvysugar.com/2366105 <!-- no strip poll --><div id="epoll-view-2366105"></div><script type="text/javascript">new Ajax.Request('/epoll/view/2366105',{method:'get',onSuccess:function(transport){var epoll=$('epoll-view-2366105');epoll.update(transport.responseText);}});</script><noscript><p><p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104165/42_2008/home-ec.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right xlarger" height="400" width="300"></span>Tasty Orange Juliuses and tedious needlepoint are what come to mind whenever somebody brings up the topic of middle school home economics class, and none of the lessons I recall had anything to do with keeping a household budget.</p> <p>According to <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/14/business/14homeec.html/" target="_blank">The New York Times, home economics was started</a> with the idea of teaching students about pinching pennies but transformed as people worried less about money. </p> <blockquote><p>Once upon a time, schools taught survival skills like how to feed a growing family cheaply and run a household on a tight budget. But in an era of prosperity, easy credit and changing social norms, many of those classes were revised to focus on more up-to-date topics.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> </p><!-- no strip poll --><form action="/2366105" method="post" id="epoll_view_voting"> <div><div class="poll"> <div class="vote-form"> <div class="choices"><div class="form-item"> <label>Did You Learn Any Economics in Home Economics? </label> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="0" class="form-radio" /> Yes, there were some elements of economics.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="1" class="form-radio" /> No, I don't recall any economics in home economics class. </label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="2" class="form-radio" /> I can't remember!</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="3" class="form-radio" /> I never took a home economics class.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="4" class="form-radio" /> Something else. See my comments below.</label> </div> </div> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[nid]" id="edit-nid" value="2366105" /> <input type="submit" name="op" value="Vote" class="form-submit" /> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[form_id]" id="edit-form_id" value="epoll_view_voting" /> </div> </div></form> <!-- no strip poll --></noscript><!-- no strip poll --> http://www.savvysugar.com/2366105#comment budget education poll Savvy poll student Your Two Cents Wed, 15 Oct 2008 08:00:30 -0700 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/2366105 http://www.savvysugar.com/2006891 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104165/37_2008/student.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image left preview" height="391" width="260"></span>Most of us were <a href="http://www.savvysugar.com/1893936" >not rewarded with money</a> for getting good grades when we were kids, but times they are a-changing. While a monetary incentive program has been rolled out to middle school students in Washington, DC, a similar program is being introduced to high-school freshmen <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/content/education/chi-money-for-grades-11-sep11,0,7506945.story" target="_blank">in 20 of Chicago's public schools</a>.</p> <p>The initiative is part of the Green for Grade$ program that received it's $2 million funding from private sources. Every five weeks, evaluations in math, English, social sciences, science, and physical education will determine how much a student will earn: $50 for an A, $35 for a B, $20 for a C. </p> <p>As with most things, there is a catch — half of the money will be given immediately, but students will have to wait until graduation to receive the rest. Getting in F will really set a student's earning potential back, as a failing grade means no money for any subject until the student earns at least a C in the failed subject. </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.savvysugar.com/2006891#comment education news student Tue, 16 Sep 2008 12:30:08 -0700 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/2006891 http://www.savvysugar.com/2023314 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104165/38_2008/books.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" height="300" width="300"></span>Buying college textbooks can tack on thousands to an already expensive experience; paying up to several hundred a semester really adds up. Students have learned to be creative in getting their hands on textbooks by buying used, borrowing from the library, or sharing with classmates, but some professors have recently stepped up to the plate in taking a stand <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/15/technology/15link.html/" target="_blank">against overpriced lecture material</a>. </p> <p>R. Preston McAfee, an economics professor at Cal Tech, has made his introductory economics textbook available online for free download. He sacrificed what could have been a $100,000 book advance and a $200 price-tag to list the book in a protest statement against outrageously priced college textbooks. In a similar endeavor, Richard G. Baraniuk, an engineering professor at Rice University, spearheaded a free textbook effort called Connexions that allows teachers to post collections of material for students.</p> <p>Another service called CourseSmart has caught on quickly, but it isn't free. Five publishers have created the service that provides certain books online, and students pay about half of what a printed book would cost. It's great to see that more cost-effective options are becoming available to students, especially since <a href="http://www.savvysugar.com/1848535/" >college tuition is on the rise</a>. </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.savvysugar.com/2023314#comment education news student Tue, 16 Sep 2008 04:00:48 -0700 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/2023314 http://www.savvysugar.com/1910382 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104165/36_2008/student.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image left preview" height="360" width="239"></span>Some consider dedicating yourself as a full-time college student a full-time job in itself, but going to school and living away from home is expensive and might require the income of at least a part-time job.</p> <p>I worked throughout my four years, earning money working on-campus and waitressing off-campus. Did you work during college? </p> <p><br clear=all><br /> <a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.savvysugar.com/1910382#comment I'm Asking job student The Grind work Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:00:46 -0700 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/1910382 http://www.savvysugar.com/1900491 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104165/35_2008/loan.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" height="400" width="266"></span>Because 70 percent of you are <a href="http://www.savvysugar.com/1794043/" >dealing with student loans</a>, a <a href="http://www.fool.com/personal-finance/credit/2008/08/28/die-student-loan-die.aspx" target="_blank">Motley Fool article called</a> "Die, Student Loan, Die!" caught my eye. The article has some good tips on how to assess whether you should focus on putting more money toward savings or more toward student loans. Here's what they say you should consider when deciding whether or not to pay off student loans early. </p> <ul> <li>Pay off ASAP if you're stuck in a high-interest private student loan, but sit on it if you're locked in a low, fixed-interest rate.</li> <li>If the the interest you're paying is not tax deductible, pay off the loan ASAP.</li> <li>Pay off immediately if you have enough cash to pay off your loans and still have money left over to start your emergency savings account.</li> <li>Sit on your student loan if you have other higher-interest debt. Compare the interest rates on all of your debts to determine which should be paid down first.</li> </ul> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.savvysugar.com/1900491#comment loan Savvy ATM student tip Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:00:37 -0700 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/1900491 http://www.savvysugar.com/1893936 <!-- no strip poll --><div id="epoll-view-1893936"></div><script type="text/javascript">new Ajax.Request('/epoll/view/1893936',{method:'get',onSuccess:function(transport){var epoll=$('epoll-view-1893936');epoll.update(transport.responseText);}});</script><noscript><p><p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104165/35_2008/200309837-001.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview"width="330"></span>It's back-to-school time, and <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Business/Story?id=5635010&amp;page=1/" target="_blank">most middle school students</a> in Washington, D.C., are entering with new motivation to do well in school. The district is testing a new incentive program that rewards kids with money for getting good grades, and they could earn up to $100 per month. </p> <p>While my parents didn't use money to motivate me to get good grades, many of my friends' parents paid them for doing well in school. Did your parents use money to motivate you? </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> </p><!-- no strip poll --><form action="/1893936" method="post" id="epoll_view_voting"> <div><div class="poll"> <div class="vote-form"> <div class="choices"><div class="form-item"> <label>Your Two Cents: Did You Get Money For Good Grades? </label> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="0" class="form-radio" /> Yes, I was rewarded with money for good grades. </label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="1" class="form-radio" /> Money was used as motivation if I was struggling in a particular subject.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="2" class="form-radio" /> No, my parents didn't motivate me with money.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="3" class="form-radio" /> Something else. I'll tell you in the comments below. </label> </div> </div> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[nid]" id="edit-nid" value="1893936" /> <input type="submit" name="op" value="Vote" class="form-submit" /> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[form_id]" id="edit-form_id" value="epoll_view_voting" /> </div> </div></form> <!-- no strip poll --></noscript><!-- no strip poll --> http://www.savvysugar.com/1893936#comment allowance education kids poll Savvy poll student Your Two Cents Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:30:17 -0700 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/1893936 http://www.savvysugar.com/1883821 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104165/34_2008/81494326.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" height="416" width="300"></span>Intern Queen Lauren Berger has officially rolled out her new business, the <a href="http://www.quarterlife.com/intern/" target="_blank">quarterlife Internship Program</a>, and recently posted an opening for an internship at The Richie-Madden Children’s Foundation. Interning and volunteering are the most effective ways <a href="http://www.savvysugar.com/1100055/" >to build our resumes</a> during school, and hey, the potential of a celeb sighting while you're interning at a do-good foundation isn't a bad deal. </p> <p>That particular spot is for a <a href="http://www.quarterlife.com/internship/details/1452/" target="_blank">Communications/Web Design Intern</a>, but the quarterlife Internship Program has several opportunities with various organizations that would be amazing for college students. I wish the program had been around when I was in school, but the founder Lauren is just a 20-something herself! You can apply for all associated internships through the quarterlife Internship Program's site. </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.savvysugar.com/1883821#comment internship Joel Madden Nicole Richie student Fri, 22 Aug 2008 08:00:42 -0700 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/1883821 http://www.savvysugar.com/1848535 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104165/32_2008/rbrb_2203.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" height="414"></span>Most of you are well-acquainted with student loans — after all, <a href="http://www.savvysugar.com/1794043/" >70 percent of you</a> are still paying them off. But look on the bright side: The cost of college has been going up every year, and students entering this Fall will pay up to $1,400 more this year for tuition than last year. Think you're up on the cost of higher education? Take the quiz to find out! All of the answers pertain to the 2007-08 school year.</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.savvysugar.com/1848535">read more</a></p> http://www.savvysugar.com/1848535#comment education How Money Are You quiz Savvy quiz student tuition Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:30:28 -0700 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/1848535 http://www.savvysugar.com/1845523 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104165/32_2008/81973438.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image left preview" height="413"></span>It's Summertime, and gas is expensive. So what's a savvy college student to do? If you're Danni Brancaccio of Vancouver, Washington, you attempt to <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Business/PainAtThePump/Story?id=5497154&amp;page=1/" target="_blank">survive the entire Summer break on one tank</a> of gas purchased by your parents. The Northwestern University student is about halfway through the tank in her 1997 Honda Civic, and is on track to head back to school without ever visiting a gas station during her time at home. </p> <p>Danni takes the bus to work during the week, and because the round trip is 30 miles, she says, "Every day that I don't drive to work, I save a gallon of gas." She walks and carpools on weekends while getting some rides from her parents. All of Danni's revised transportation habits have saved her about $150 so far, and she's lost about five pounds from spending less time in the car. Danni is tracking her goal on her blog, <a href="http://www.columbian.com/blogs/onetankorbust/" target="_blank">One Tank or Bust</a>. </p> <p>Granted, many of us don't have parents around to give us rides when we need them, but how long do you think you could manage on one tank of gas? </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.savvysugar.com/1845523#comment gas news saving student Wed, 06 Aug 2008 06:00:13 -0700 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/1845523 http://www.savvysugar.com/1826186 <!-- no strip poll --><div id="epoll-view-1826186"></div><script type="text/javascript">new Ajax.Request('/epoll/view/1826186',{method:'get',onSuccess:function(transport){var epoll=$('epoll-view-1826186');epoll.update(transport.responseText);}});</script><noscript><p><p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104165/31_2008/noodles.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" height="300" width="264"></span>The University District food bank near the University of Washington typically caters to the needs of the working poor and single parents, but recently it has <a href="http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iLeii_M8rZQaUMMJnPi8gdbmmSMAD9251RT00" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">seen more college students</a> coming in for food because they can't afford to eat. </p> <p>A food bank across the country from University District is finding a similar pattern, and the director of the Cornucopia Food Pantry at the University of New Hampshire says:</p> <blockquote><p>There is a stereotype that well, if they're in college, they can afford to eat. But there are some students who have hardly any disposable income, and because of that, the food budget suffers. They either eat really badly, or they just don't eat enough.</p></blockquote> <p>Most community food banks simply require identification that someone lives in the area to gain access to their services. Do you think more college towns should have food banks or would too many students take advantage of them?</p> </p><!-- no strip poll --><form action="/1826186" method="post" id="epoll_view_voting"> <div><div class="poll"> <div class="vote-form"> <div class="choices"><div class="form-item"> <label>Should More College Towns Offer Food Banks? </label> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="0" class="form-radio" /> Yes, more colleges should help students by offering food banks.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="1" class="form-radio" /> Maybe, but they'd have to carefully monitor things so students don't abuse the gesture.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="2" class="form-radio" /> No, too many students would take advantage of free food. </label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="3" class="form-radio" /> Something else. I'll tell you in the comments below. </label> </div> </div> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[nid]" id="edit-nid" value="1826186" /> <input type="submit" name="op" value="Vote" class="form-submit" /> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[form_id]" id="edit-form_id" value="epoll_view_voting" /> </div> </div></form> <!-- no strip poll --></noscript><!-- no strip poll --> http://www.savvysugar.com/1826186#comment education food poll Savvy poll student Your Two Cents Thu, 31 Jul 2008 06:30:40 -0700 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/1826186 http://www.savvysugar.com/1764731 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104165/28_2008/AA017941.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview"width="300"></span>Maybe your degree doesn't hold the title of <a href="http://www.savvysugar.com/1760427/" >most lucrative college major</a>, but that hardly means all your four years got you was a meager paycheck. </p> <p><b>Forbes</b> <a href="http://www.forbes.com/2008/06/18/college-majors-lucrative-lead-cx_kb_0618majors.html/" target="_blank">gathered median salary information</a> from PayScale.com for 20 popular majors, and while all jobs were included in the study anyone with an advanced degree was not part of it. PayScale's director of quantitative analysis commented that those with majors in economics, finance, and math have remarkable earning potential that can be realized with some experience. </p> <ol> <li>Computer Engineering</li> <li>Economics</li> <li>Electrical Engineering</li> <li>Computer Science</li> <li>Mechanical Engineering</li> <li>Finance</li> <li>Mathematics</li> <li>Civil Engineering</li> <li>Political Science</li> <li>Marketing</li> </ol> <p>There are ten more on the list so just </p> <p><a href="http://www.savvysugar.com/1764731">read more</a></p> http://www.savvysugar.com/1764731#comment career education Forbes income job new grads salary student The Grind Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:36:46 -0700 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/1764731 http://www.savvysugar.com/1760427 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104165/27_2008/rbrb_2198.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image left preview" height="414"></span>You all surprised me when you indicated that most of <a href="http://www.savvysugar.com/1663129/" >your college majors have been put to use</a> since graduation. Because they've earned you some type of job it's apparent that your majors have been lucrative to an extent, but maybe you'd have had an easier go of things if your major had been different. </p> <p>Personally, I have no regrets even though I'm sure another major would have meant a different career path and higher starting salary. Aren't you curious to see which college major is considered the most lucrative? Take your best guess! </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.savvysugar.com/1760427">read more</a></p> http://www.savvysugar.com/1760427#comment career education income job new grads quiz salary Savvy quiz student The Grind work Mon, 07 Jul 2008 09:32:24 -0700 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/1760427 http://www.savvysugar.com/1751563 <!-- no strip poll --><div id="epoll-view-1751563"></div><script type="text/javascript">new Ajax.Request('/epoll/view/1751563',{method:'get',onSuccess:function(transport){var epoll=$('epoll-view-1751563');epoll.update(transport.responseText);}});</script><noscript><p><p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104165/27_2008/stk22483btm.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image left preview" height="380"></span>The career center at my alma mater was a spacious building with a unique paint color that stood out in its prime campus location. Unfortunately, the up-front locale had nothing to do with how important the quality of services rendered was to the university. </p> <p>Career counseling centers shouldn't have to hold students' hands through the process of job searching and career discovery, but they should be able to give advice on r&eacute;sum&eacute; improvements and the most effective way to approach a job search. Ours did none of this — how could it, when those working inside were inexperienced undergrads themselves? </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Source</a></p> </p><!-- no strip poll --><form action="/1751563" method="post" id="epoll_view_voting"> <div><div class="poll"> <div class="vote-form"> <div class="choices"><div class="form-item"> <label>Was Your Alma Mater&#039;s Career Counseling Center Helpful? </label> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="0" class="form-radio" /> Yes, I found the career counseling center to be helpful.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="1" class="form-radio" /> No, it didn't seem to do much for the students.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="2" class="form-radio" /> I wouldn't know. I never tried to use their services.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="3" class="form-radio" /> My school didn't have a career counseling center.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="4" class="form-radio" /> Other. I'll tell you in the comments below. </label> </div> </div> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[nid]" id="edit-nid" value="1751563" /> <input type="submit" name="op" value="Vote" class="form-submit" /> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[form_id]" id="edit-form_id" value="epoll_view_voting" /> </div> </div></form> <!-- no strip poll --></noscript><!-- no strip poll --> http://www.savvysugar.com/1751563#comment career career counseling education job poll Savvy poll student The Grind Your Two Cents Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:02:49 -0700 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/1751563 http://www.savvysugar.com/1746408 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104165/26_2008/dv1940026.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview"width="320"></span>Heavy student loans have made it difficult for workers from Gen X and Y to get ahead on their stagnant salaries paired with the rising cost of living. The generally low salaries of public-service jobs have deterred many younger workers from sticking out employment with state, federal, and local governments, but a new law that takes effect Tuesday should help to retain many of these employees and attract some new ones. </p> <p>The College Cost Reduction and Access Act contains a debt-forgiveness provision that will erase student-loan debt after 10 years of public employment. This <b>Los Angeles Times</b> article titled "Public Service Work Can Wipe Out Student Loans" is a thorough resource that's an easy-to-follow Q&amp;A format. <a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-perfin29-2008jun29,0,4908212.column?track=rss/" target="_blank">Check it out for more information</a> about loan forgiveness.</p> http://www.savvysugar.com/1746408#comment career education job loan news news flash student Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:38:22 -0700 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/1746408 http://www.savvysugar.com/1736813 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104165/26_2008/dv168095b.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" height="398"></span>Forking over your monthly student loan payment is surely something that makes you sigh with irritation, but here's some news that may make those times of the month less brutal. </p> <p>If you've already consolidated your student loans and haven't added any new ones then you're not eligible for a rate reduction, but if you haven't yet consolidated consider marking July 1 on your calendar. Find out what rates may be available as of the first when you </p> <p><a href="http://www.savvysugar.com/1736813">read more</a></p> http://www.savvysugar.com/1736813#comment interest rates loan student Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:37:39 -0700 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/1736813 http://www.savvysugar.com/1735376 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104165/26_2008/dv1850016.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview"width="320"></span>The newly graduated class of 2008 is busy revising resumes and creating cover letters for potential employers. Some of them have already been working in their first post-college job for a few weeks and others are interviewing, while some have moved back to mom and dad's to figure out what is their next step. </p> <p>Post-college life was full of surprises for me, but one thing I would tell brand new graduates is the real world can feel a bit lonely at first! You're used to being surrounded by your friends at all hours of the day during school, and this kind of group withdrawal is to be expected. What's something you wish you knew? Are there any mistakes you made that could have been prevented with some sound advice? </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.savvysugar.com/1735376#comment I'm Asking money new grads student work Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:33:45 -0700 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/1735376 http://www.savvysugar.com/1730043 <!-- no strip poll --><div id="epoll-view-1730043"></div><script type="text/javascript">new Ajax.Request('/epoll/view/1730043',{method:'get',onSuccess:function(transport){var epoll=$('epoll-view-1730043');epoll.update(transport.responseText);}});</script><noscript><p><p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104165/25_2008/75288140.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image left preview" height="404"></span>Money and ethics often go hand in hand, and this weekend Kiplinger <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/21/AR2008062100114.html?nav=rss_business/personalfinance/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">featured a reader question</a> involving these two very connected things. It doesn't involve anything scandalous like money laundering or embezzlement, in fact it's about something as innocent as education. She asked if her millionaire cousin's son should accept the full academic scholarship he was offered by their state university. </p> <p>This question was interesting to me because I'd really never thought about it as an issue — if a student earns a scholarship then why wouldn't he accept it? The response to the question mentions that the family should make a donation as repayment to the school. What's your opinion?</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Source</a></p> </p><!-- no strip poll --><form action="/1730043" method="post" id="epoll_view_voting"> <div><div class="poll"> <div class="vote-form"> <div class="choices"><div class="form-item"> <label>Should a Wealthy Student Accept a Full Scholarship?</label> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="0" class="form-radio" /> Yes, he earned it and should accept it without feeling obligated to give back. </label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="1" class="form-radio" /> Yes, but only if the family makes an equitable donation.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="2" class="form-radio" /> Maybe, but I'm torn on this one.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="3" class="form-radio" /> No, he shouldn't accept it because it leaves the door open for another student.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="4" class="form-radio" /> Other. See my comments below.</label> </div> </div> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[nid]" id="edit-nid" value="1730043" /> <input type="submit" name="op" value="Vote" class="form-submit" /> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[form_id]" id="edit-form_id" value="epoll_view_voting" /> </div> </div></form> <!-- no strip poll --></noscript><!-- no strip poll --> http://www.savvysugar.com/1730043#comment education ethics poll Savvy poll student Your Two Cents Mon, 23 Jun 2008 06:34:28 -0700 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/1730043 http://www.savvysugar.com/1712125 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/22911/24_2008/738196.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" width="350"></span>Online degree and certificate programs have become increasingly popular in the last 10 years. They're convenient, inexpensive and allow you to gain an additional notch on your belt while working elsewhere. Despite all the perceived flexibility of such programs, this weekend's <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/15/jobs/15career.html?_r=1&amp;ref=business&amp;oref=slogin" target="_blank">New York Times</a> offered some good advice for anyone considering signing on: before you enroll you should understand the commitment that will be involved. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/15/jobs/15career.html?_r=1&amp;ref=business&amp;oref=slogin" target="_blank">Here's more</a>:</p> <ul> <li><b>How long will it take to get a degree?</b> Before you make the leap, be prepared to spend at least 10 to 20 hours a week, for at least one or two years, on your online learning — and possibly more, depending on the degree.</li> <li><b>How much will it cost?</b> The price varies widely, but in many cases tuition fees are comparable to those at brick-and-mortar schools — minus the added cost of things like room and board.</li> <li><b>How will it compare to college outside the virtual world?</b> Professionals who opt for online degrees will almost certainly miss out on many of the impromptu lunches, barroom debates and other serendipitous learning experiences that occur on a college campus. You may also be less likely to make lasting personal and professional connections with your online classmates.</li> </ul> <p>Have you ever taken (or considered taking) a class or certificate program online?<br /> <a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.savvysugar.com/1712125#comment education online programs student The Grind Mon, 16 Jun 2008 06:31:57 -0700 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/1712125 http://www.savvysugar.com/1686830 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104165/23_2008/breafast.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" height="400" width="290"></span>While we no longer spend our days judging the coolness levels of our classmates, a new Careerbuilder survey of 6,000 full-time workers over the age of 30 found that four in 10 admit their high school roles <a href="http://time-blog.com/work_in_progress/2008/06/nerds_vs_jocks.html?xid=rss-wip/" target="_blank">influenced their career</a> path. Here are some of the survey's conclusions — do you think your role(s) in high school shaped your choice of job? </p> <ul> <li>If you were a cheerleader, you're more likely to be: vice president; in travel or insurance; satisfied with your job.</li> <li>If you were in student government, you're more likely to be: director/manager/team leader; earning a six-figure salary (12 percent say they are paid an annual salary of $100,000 or more).</li> <li>If you were a teacher's pet, you're more likely to be: an administrative/clerical worker.</li> <li>If you were a jock, you're more likely to be: a professional; in the transportation field; earning an annual salary of $50,000 or more; satisfied with your career progress.</li> <li>If you were a geek, you're more likely to be: in technology; dissatisfied with your job.</li> <li>If you were in drama club, you're more likely to be: in healthcare, public administration or government.</li> </ul> http://www.savvysugar.com/1686830#comment career I'm Asking job student The Grind Thu, 05 Jun 2008 06:38:13 -0700 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/1686830 http://www.savvysugar.com/1680473 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104165/22_2008/200543733-001.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image left preview" height="424"></span>Edit your online presence — it's one part of the job search that's in your basic control. It is essential you clean up your online reputation to the best of your ability before any potential employers get around to finding you on Facebook. You don't have to hide the real you completely, just take out the parts that wouldn't be appropriate for a boss to see including words and pictures. Ask yourself how you'd feel answering questions about any specifics during a job interview, and if you're hesitant about addressing any detail you've shared online then it probably doesn't belong there.<br /> <br clear=all></p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.savvysugar.com/1680473#comment job student The Grind Mon, 02 Jun 2008 11:02:55 -0700 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/1680473 http://www.savvysugar.com/1661260 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104165/21_2008/2575406.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" height="425"></span>Choosing your move after college graduation can be a positively daunting task because you're faced with the dilemma of too many options! Maybe you're moving to a new city without knowing many people or you're venturing to another part of the country, or maybe your plan is to stay local. It's an exciting decision because you can move anywhere you please and there's nothing controlling your decision but your own ambitions. </p> <p>While curiosity about a new city will create the biggest draw, there are several other components that should be considered when evaluating the big move. Apartments.com and CBcampus.com came up with a list of the top 10 cities for new grads, based on the following factors: availability of entry-level job openings, rental prices for one-bedroom apartments, and large resident populations of young adults in their early 20s. Find out which cities made the top 10 when you </p> <p><a href="http://www.savvysugar.com/1661260">read more</a></p> http://www.savvysugar.com/1661260#comment best cities for new college graduates job new grads rent student Tue, 27 May 2008 09:55:46 -0700 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/1661260 http://www.savvysugar.com/1550842 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104165/16_2008/textbook.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" height="380"></span>College textbooks are so expensive that many students can't afford them and are left to fight over the handful of copies kept in the library's reserve. Those books usually can't be checked out for more than a couple hours at a time, and there's never a guarantee that a book you need will be there when you need it — especially when there's a midterm or final on the horizon and everyone wants to get their hands on it. </p> <p>There's pressure on Congress to pass a measure that would make college textbooks more affordable and help the mounting costs of higher education. According to the <b>New York Times</b>, <a href="http://theboard.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/10/that-textbook-costs-how-much-200/" target="_blank">a bill that's in the works</a> would help students decide if a book is worth its cost and would tackle the overall problem by addressing the following issues.</p> <ul> <li>Publishers would be required tell faculty how much their choices for textbooks will really cost the students, so they can make more reasonable selections with more knowledge about prices.</li> <li>The bill would require publishers to “unbundle” textbooks so that the extra CDs and manuals wouldn't automatically come with the purchase of books. These extras are often unnecessary and go untouched, making them a waste of money.</li> <li>Schools would be required to provide a list of required and recommended books enough in advance for students to find the best deals online or in used bookstores.</li> </ul> http://www.savvysugar.com/1550842#comment education news student Tue, 15 Apr 2008 04:09:58 -0700 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/1550842 http://www.savvysugar.com/1136262 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/10/104165/12_2008/stk319148rkn.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" height="450" width="310"></span>Something seems a little fishy here. Several large universities have deals with financial institutions to <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/banking/2008-03-16-cover-college-debit_N.htm/" target="_blank">convert student ID cards into debit cards</a>. The colleges can make up to $1 million each year from these deals but the cards come with high fees and surcharges, and students often aren't aware of these costly penalties. The arrangement makes money for the banks and the colleges, but students are paying for the convenience of having two cards in one. </p> <p>Because the universities are promoting something that isn't in the best interest for students, protests have broken out surrounding the issue and it's gotten the attention of government officials. Students should always look around for the best deals and ask questions when something seems too good to be true. The best way to protect yourself is to compare different cards and look out for your own best interests. </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.savvysugar.com/1136262#comment debit card education fees student Mon, 24 Mar 2008 07:52:18 -0700 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/1136262 http://www.savvysugar.com/1132617 <p><b>U.S. News &amp; World Report</b> published a <a href="http://www.usnews.com/usnews/biztech/articles/070404/4collegecareer.intro.htm/" target="_blank">list of "commencement clichés"</a> for recent college graduates, and attempts to shed light on what's reality after you've taken off the cap and gown. I'm wondering if you think that the clichés they list, and the corresponding realities they've interpreted for each, are in fact cliché in your eyes. </p> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/10/104165/12_2008/dv1850052.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="366" width="550"></span></p> <ul> <li><b>Follow your passion.</b> What they say: "To make money, pick a field that pays decently and has few liabilities. Chances are, that will lead to more career contentment than pursuing a long-shot dream as your career."</li> <li><b>You've got to pay your dues.</b> What they say: "Many higher-ups think of employees willing to do scut work as drones, even losers."</li> <li><b>Make a difference.</b> What they say: "The nonprofit and government sectors are notoriously inefficient. Working for an ethical business–or starting your own–may make a bigger difference to society."</li> <li><b>Education pays.</b> What they say: "Where possible, get your learning in the real world. Grad school is a must if you want to be a brain surgeon or a professor, but for many careers, you'll learn more of practical value on the job."</li> <li><b>Be true to yourself.</b> What they say: "Follow your internal compass, but seek advice from older mentors you respect and other people who know more than you do."</li> </ul> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.savvysugar.com/1132617#comment education I'm Asking student Mon, 24 Mar 2008 06:30:15 -0700 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/1132617 http://www.savvysugar.com/952583 <p>A Brigham Young study found that <a href="http://nn.byu.edu/story.cfm/66856/" target="_blank">80 percent of parents don't consider their 18- to 25-year-old college students to be adults</a>. They're calling the group that's wrestling between adolescence and adulthood "emerging adults" and that label doesn't quite sit right with me. I do think there's a real gap between identifying as a teen and calling yourself an adult, but I'm not sure why academics are trying so hard to pin down every year of our lives as one thing or another. </p> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/10/104165/02_2008/stk32935stz.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image center preview" height="450"></span></p> <p>We all have unique life experiences that cause us to feel more adult at times and less so at others, but the whole emerging-adult thing makes me feel like they're making the age group into a product. Responsibility in terms of driving, drugs, alcohol, sex, and language were factors that parents used to determine their children's levels of adulthood, while parents and their kids agreed that accepting responsibility for actions was the most important factor. </p> <p>I don't think there's an "it" moment when you suddenly become an adult, but I do think it has more to do with paying your own bills and contributing to society than learning how to brake slowly. When did you start considering yourself an adult, or are you there yet? </p> <p><a href="http://gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.savvysugar.com/952583#comment 20-something Gen Y student Mon, 17 Mar 2008 11:24:32 -0700 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/952583 http://www.savvysugar.com/1116091 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/10/104165/11_2008/200270010-001.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" height="450" width="305"></span>I was shocked when the <b>Wall Street Journal</b> reported <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120536795134132051.html/" target="_blank">that parents have started</a> to weigh the importance of their kids' college applications against their own careers. The pressure isn't just confined to dinner-table conversations. </p> <blockquote><p>One mother of a high schooler, a manager for a New York financial-information concern, says friends are pressuring her to devote full time to the college search. With other parents on the case 24/7, she says, "they argue that by working, I'm putting my daughter at a disadvantage in today's hypercompetitive college-admissions game."</p></blockquote> <p>Parent involvement in the application process is of course helpful and sometimes necessary, but I think it's a bit extreme to leave your job to put all of your focus on it. What do you think? Extreme helicopter parents or understandably involved? </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.savvysugar.com/1116091#comment career education job student Fri, 14 Mar 2008 12:23:16 -0700 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/1116091 http://www.savvysugar.com/1115486 <p>Dear Savvy,</p> <p>I'm still a student and am in my last year of school. While hearing about what I can do about budget and credit card debt has been very helpful, I don't really know what I can do now to reduce/eliminate debt as a student on the cusp of starting a new chapter in her life! Any suggestions? </p> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/10/104165/11_2008/L-9.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image center preview" height="355" width="475"></span></p> <p>You bet I have some — to see what they are just </p> <p><a href="http://www.savvysugar.com/1115486">read more</a></p> http://www.savvysugar.com/1115486#comment Ask Savvy debt education saving student Fri, 14 Mar 2008 09:29:11 -0700 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/1115486 http://www.savvysugar.com/1116205 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/10/104165/11_2008/dv1850026.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" height="450" width="258"></span>You know that old saying, when one door closes another one opens? Well it applies perfectly to some recent uplifting job news. Doors across the country have been closing on the working-lives of parents and grandparents who have decided to retire, leaving wide open doors in the job market for recent grads. Although labor news over the past couple months has been <a href="http://www.savvysugar.com/1104259/" >focused on job loss</a> and rising unemployment, it seems there's some good news in the midst of all the rubble. </p> <p>Despite the state of the economy, most companies <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Business/Economy/Story?id=4439208&amp;page=1/" target="_blank">are continuing their plans</a> for college-recruiting and their hiring numbers should be about the same as last year. That doesn't mean you should get overly confident and dilly-dally with your job search, because if the economy worsens companies will likely tame their recruitment of new hires. Colleges will be blaring "Pomp and Circumstance" in just a few months — are you almost-grads feeling the real world jitters yet?</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.savvysugar.com/1116205#comment career job retirement student The Grind Fri, 14 Mar 2008 04:06:58 -0700 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/1116205 http://www.savvysugar.com/1113647 <p><b>The Sexual Paradox</b> is the name of a new book by Susan Pinker, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/09/books/review/Bazelon-t.html?_r=1&amp;ref=review&amp;oref=slogin/" target="_blank">and recently reviewed</a> by the <b>New York Times</b>, that discusses why females outperform males in school but then we fall behind in the workplace. She observes, “If you were to predict the future on the basis of school achievement alone, the world would be a matriarchy.” So then why is it more of a man's world after we're finished being graded?</p> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/10/104165/11_2008/74358263.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image center preview" height="358" width="550"></span></p> <p>The author argues that our brains are to blame for falling behind professionally. She believes that most women want to limit time spent working and search for “inherent meaning” at the office instead of seeking out a power position. She notes that these priorities “both conflict with making lots of money and rising through the ranks.” </p> <p>What I want to know is — now that you've dipped your toes in the working world — why do you think we haven't had the same success in the workplace, compared to men, that we did during our school days? </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.savvysugar.com/1113647#comment career I'm Asking job student women Thu, 13 Mar 2008 07:49:40 -0700 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/1113647 http://www.savvysugar.com/1100492 <!-- no strip poll --><div id="epoll-view-1100492"></div><script type="text/javascript">new Ajax.Request('/epoll/view/1100492',{method:'get',onSuccess:function(transport){var epoll=$('epoll-view-1100492');epoll.update(transport.responseText);}});</script><noscript><p><p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/10/104165/10_2008/dv1940067.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" height="394" width="300"></span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/05/nyregion/05incentive.html?_r=1&amp;oref=slogin/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">According to the <b>New York Times</b></a>, more than 200 New York City public schools have been experimenting with incentives for students and teachers to see if "tangible cash rewards can turn a school around." Specifically, performance and the corresponding rewards are based on standardized test scores. Critics argue that these incentives compromise the way children think about learning — the motivation should be knowledge and self-improvement, not dollars. What do you think?</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Source</a></p> </p><!-- no strip poll --><form action="/1100492" method="post" id="epoll_view_voting"> <div><div class="poll"> <div class="vote-form"> <div class="choices"><div class="form-item"> <label>Your Two Cents: Schools Giving Kids Money For Grades</label> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="0" class="form-radio" /> This doesn't seem ethical to me.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="1" class="form-radio" /> Kids are getting the wrong message, but improved grades could mean a better future.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="2" class="form-radio" /> I don't see any harm in these efforts.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="3" class="form-radio" /> Other. See my comments below. </label> </div> </div> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[nid]" id="edit-nid" value="1100492" /> <input type="submit" name="op" value="Vote" class="form-submit" /> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[form_id]" id="edit-form_id" value="epoll_view_voting" /> </div> </div></form> <!-- no strip poll --></noscript><!-- no strip poll --> http://www.savvysugar.com/1100492#comment education kids Savvy poll student Your Two Cents Fri, 07 Mar 2008 08:23:09 -0800 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/1100492 http://www.savvysugar.com/1100055 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/10/104165/10_2008/200394129-001.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image center preview" height="358" width="477"></span></p> <p>As a college student at a school with an ineffective career center, it's up to you to find interesting internships that would build your resume for a competitive job market upon graduation. Interning is important because it allows you to test a handful of different career paths and helps you identify your talents. Not to mention the invaluable connections that serve as references for your first real-world employer, and may even become part of your <a href="http://www.savvysugar.com/1097113/" >personal board of directors</a>. But what if you just can't seem to track down an internship that suits your distinct interests? To find out what some ambitious students have been doing just </p> <p><a href="http://www.savvysugar.com/1100055">read more</a></p> http://www.savvysugar.com/1100055#comment career education internship job student The Grind Fri, 07 Mar 2008 04:24:28 -0800 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/1100055 http://www.savvysugar.com/1081879 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/10/104165/09_2008/ActressNa_Mycha_15132732_600.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" height="450"></span>Some people have a knack for languages (like multilingual Natalie Portman) and others have a bit of a block when it comes to expanding their repertoire of tongues, but do the former really have an advantage over the latter? Studying at least two years of a language was required for my major, and like the majority of the other students in my department I took on Spanish. It served us well living and studying abroad, but I haven't used it in any workplace — even living in California where Spanish speakers are so common. In 2006, <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Business/SmallBiz/Story?id=4349200&amp;page=1/" target="_blank">52 percent of college students</a> enrolled in foreign language classes opted for Spanish, but the wage premium for bilingual Spanish speakers was just 1.7 percent. To find out how other languages are rewarded by way of wage premiums just </p> <p><a href="http://www.savvysugar.com/1081879">read more</a></p> http://www.savvysugar.com/1081879#comment career education job salary student The Grind Fri, 29 Feb 2008 08:17:34 -0800 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/1081879 http://www.savvysugar.com/1080278 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/10/104165/09_2008/73544266.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview"width="350"></span>Most of you know all too well that college tuition bills can be outrageous and require hefty loans, and as new grads it can be tough to figure out a way to manage the payments each month. A couple of weeks ago I told you <a href="http://www.savvysugar.com/1042575/" >about Luke, a recent college grad</a> who's selling ad space on <a href="http://www.sponsormyloans.com/" target="_blank">his website</a>, and the money earned from companies purchasing the space goes towards paying off his student loans. He already has sponsors lined up for March and May. </p> <p>While it's a different concept and less of an entrepreneurial endeavor than the ad-sponsorship concept, another college grad, Liz Huffman, <a href="http://www.idsnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=49347&amp;comview=1" target="_blank">has come up with her own solution</a> of auctioning her loan payments on eBay. Her current situation sounds just like Scarlett Johansson's character's life in <b>The Nanny</b> — she graduated with a degree in anthropology and is currently working as a nanny, though her dream is to work in a zoo communicating with primates via sign language. </p> <p>So far, Liz has received a $50 bid from a woman in California and said, “I think $50 is all I’m going to get.”</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.savvysugar.com/1080278#comment eBay education loan student Thu, 28 Feb 2008 12:33:24 -0800 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/1080278 http://www.savvysugar.com/1075828 <!-- no strip poll --><div id="epoll-view-1075828"></div><script type="text/javascript">new Ajax.Request('/epoll/view/1075828',{method:'get',onSuccess:function(transport){var epoll=$('epoll-view-1075828');epoll.update(transport.responseText);}});</script><noscript><p><p>Earlier this week, <a href="http://www.savvysugar.com/1066581/" >I told you about Adam Shepard</a>, the guy who left his comfortable life to start again with $25 and a gym bag. The <b>Today Show</b> <a href="http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/23348872/" target="_blank">interviewed him yesterday</a> morning, and I wanted to share the segment with you because they discuss some interesting points. </p> <p><center><object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://savvysugar.com/v/1075781"></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://savvysugar.com/v/1075781" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object></center></p> <p>The <b>Today Show</b> host suggests that Adam's college education put him at an advantage and he admitted that was true, but reiterated his belief that the American Dream is alive and it's an "attitude" that isn't limited to a certain economic class. Something that stood out to me was when she asked him if he was ever nervous that he wouldn't make it, and he answered that he was nervous for his safety but didn't say whether he was worried about failing. I wonder if that confidence comes from his steadfast belief in the Dream, or if it lays in the fact that he has a back-up plan — his family's home in North Carolina and his college-educated background. </p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Scratch-Beginnings-Search-American-Dream/dp/0979692601/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1204067057&amp;sr=8-1/" target="_blank">In his book</a>, Adam writes, 'I aim to find out if the American Dream is still alive, or if it has, in fact, been drowned out by a clashing of the classes.' Do you think he accomplished his goal? </p> </p><!-- no strip poll --><form action="/1075828" method="post" id="epoll_view_voting"> <div><div class="poll"> <div class="vote-form"> <div class="choices"><div class="form-item"> <label>Did the Guy Who Built a Life From $25 Prove the Dream Is Alive?</label> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="0" class="form-radio" /> Yes, he was sucessful in proving his point.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="1" class="form-radio" /> He met his goals, but his background gave him an advantage.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="2" class="form-radio" /> He didn't prove anything! His experiment is totally flawed.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="3" class="form-radio" /> I have something to add. See my comments below. </label> </div> </div> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[nid]" id="edit-nid" value="1075828" /> <input type="submit" name="op" value="Vote" class="form-submit" /> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[form_id]" id="edit-form_id" value="epoll_view_voting" /> </div> </div></form> <!-- no strip poll --></noscript><!-- no strip poll --> http://www.savvysugar.com/1075828#comment job Savvy poll student Your Two Cents Wed, 27 Feb 2008 10:56:30 -0800 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/1075828 http://www.savvysugar.com/1072786 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/10/104165/09_2008/dv740020.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" height="460"></span>Not to be outdone by its <a href="http://www.savvysugar.com/964589/" >competition on both coasts</a>, Brown University has announced their new financial aid policies that will <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/25/news/bc.apfn.brf.browntuitio.ap/index.htm?section=money_topstories/" target="_blank">expand this part of their budget</a> by 20 percent. Brown's new policy mirrors the new aid plan that Stanford <a href="http://www.savvysugar.com/1061988/" >announced just last week</a>: Grants will take the place of loans for families earning under $100,000, and tuition will be waived for families making less than $60,000. Students already receiving aid will see their loans reduced no matter their families' income, and both seasoned students and new ones will benefit from the new tuition breaks. Keep em' coming, colleges! </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.savvysugar.com/1072786#comment education loan news news flash student Tue, 26 Feb 2008 06:21:33 -0800 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/1072786 http://www.savvysugar.com/1066581 <p>Have you heard about the college grad that chooses to start his life again with just $25, and without ever mentioning his education? It's not a movie plot — a recent grad from North Carolina crossed the state line and rebuilt his life in the sister state to the south, starting at a homeless shelter. </p> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/10/104165/08_2008/200270737-001.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image center preview" height="420"></span></p> <p>Adam Shepard wanted to test the American Dream and his experiment was <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Business/Economy/Story?id=4298321&amp;page=1/" target="_blank">developed with these specific goals</a>: Have a furnished apartment, a car, and $2,500 in savings all within a year. He started out living on food stamps and sleeping in a homeless shelter, but within 10 months he completed all three of his goals — he even saved double the amount he set out to save from his job with a moving company. </p> <p>You can read the details of his 10-month experiment in <b>Scratch Beginnings: Me, $25, and the Search For the American Dream</b>. The gist? No surprise — there were tough times, but he's a believer in the essence of the Dream. </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.savvysugar.com/1066581#comment job student Mon, 25 Feb 2008 12:26:48 -0800 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/1066581 http://www.savvysugar.com/1061988 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/10/104165/08_2008/200394131-001.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image left preview" height="420" width="314"></span>Looks like Stanford has jumped on the more affordable higher-education bandwagon. Stanford's <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/20/pf/college/stanford_tuition.ap/index.htm?section=money_pf/" target="_blank">new plan will eliminate tuition</a> for students with household incomes less than $100,000, and households earning less than $60,000 will have most of their room and board covered as well. This fall, the school's tuition will rise to $36,000 and room and board will cost about $11,000. About a third of Stanford's undergrads should qualify for the tuition break. This news comes after Harvard and Yale <a href="http://www.savvysugar.com/964589/" >made similar announcements</a> last month. I wonder which school will be next! </p> <p><a href="http://gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.savvysugar.com/1061988#comment education news news flash student Fri, 22 Feb 2008 06:27:31 -0800 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/1061988 http://www.savvysugar.com/1049166 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/10/104165/07_2008/skd188047sdc.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" height="300" width="300"></span>Lining up student loans may be a <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/14/news/companies/privatestudentloans/index.htm?section=money_topstories/" target="_blank">much tougher scene this Spring</a> than it has been in past years. Many types of student loans were funded by lenders issuing securities backed by these loans. Now investors are shying away from this type of investment because of the negative way many mortgage-backed securities turned out. In this way, the credit crunch that began with mortgages is now <a href="http://www.pbs.org/nbr/site/onair/transcripts/071228b/" target="_blank">affecting student loans</a>. Because this was the main source of funding for private student loans, and especially for smaller companies, many loan providers will likely boost interest rates on private loans up to one percentage point, not accept borrowers with a credit score under 650, and insist that parents co-sign for their kids. </p> <p><a href="http://gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Sourc</a></p> http://www.savvysugar.com/1049166#comment economy education loan news news flash student Mon, 18 Feb 2008 04:13:39 -0800 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/1049166 http://www.savvysugar.com/1042575 <!-- no strip poll --><div id="epoll-view-1042575"></div><script type="text/javascript">new Ajax.Request('/epoll/view/1042575',{method:'get',onSuccess:function(transport){var epoll=$('epoll-view-1042575');epoll.update(transport.responseText);}});</script><noscript><p><p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/10/104165/07_2008/200472424-001_0.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image left preview" height="400"></span>There’s a recent grad from Maine who wants people to help him pay off his student loans. Who doesn't, right? But this guy has actually <a href="http://www.sponsormyloans.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">set up a website</a> where $200 will sponsor a month of his loans, and in return the contributor gets all of the ad space on the website for the full month. He encourages people to "think of it as charitable giving; with a twist." What do you make of this?</p> <p><a href="http://gettyimages.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Source</a></p> </p><!-- no strip poll --><form action="/1042575" method="post" id="epoll_view_voting"> <div><div class="poll"> <div class="vote-form"> <div class="choices"><div class="form-item"> <label>Your Two Cents: Asking Strangers to Pay Your Student Loans</label> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="0" class="form-radio" /> Great idea! Wish I had thought of it first.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="1" class="form-radio" /> Creative, but it's not like he's unique in having to pay back loans.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="2" class="form-radio" /> He has some audacity asking strangers to cover his loan payments.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="3" class="form-radio" /> Other. See my comments below. </label> </div> </div> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[nid]" id="edit-nid" value="1042575" /> <input type="submit" name="op" value="Vote" class="form-submit" /> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[form_id]" id="edit-form_id" value="epoll_view_voting" /> </div> </div></form> <!-- no strip poll --></noscript><!-- no strip poll --> http://www.savvysugar.com/1042575#comment loan Savvy poll student Your Two Cents Thu, 14 Feb 2008 15:31:10 -0800 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/1042575 http://www.savvysugar.com/985280 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/10/104165/04_2008/200265796-001.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" height="350" width="344"></span>Some banks can kick you when you're down, especially when you're a new college grad (yay!) and jobless (boo!). During school, it's likely that you opened a free checking account and you had four-ish blissful years without being charged. That will change when you graduate, and many banks won't send you a reminder that your account is eligible to incur a fee. There also may be minimum balance requirements you're expected to meet. Banks may waive the fee when you meet the minimum, and there are always other banking fish in the sea that may give you a better deal. </p> <p><a href="http://gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.savvysugar.com/985280#comment student tip Fri, 25 Jan 2008 15:34:39 -0800 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/985280 http://www.savvysugar.com/964589 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/10/104165/03_2008/75288159.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image center preview" height="366" width="550"></span></p> <p>Top-tier schools have been singing their fight songs in a deeper tenor these days. Engaging in an act-and-answer dance of "anything you can do I can do better," Yale announced a <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/14/AR2008011401122.html?hpid=sec-education/" target="_blank">plan to slash tuition</a>, following its Ivy competition to the North. Just a few weeks ago, Harvard rolled out <a href="http://savvysugar.com/904671" >its new tuition</a> criteria that promises not to charge more than 10 percent of the income of families earning up to $180,000 a year. Both schools are also eliminating the need for student loans by giving financial aid in grants. </p> <p><a href="http://gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.savvysugar.com/964589#comment education Harvard student tuition Yale Fri, 18 Jan 2008 15:38:23 -0800 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/964589 http://www.savvysugar.com/965131 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/10/104165/03_2008/dv740068.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image left preview" height="250"></span>Financial literacy classes in high schools have been gaining popularity. Next week, Tennessee <a href="http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080113/NEWS04/801130406/1001/NEWS/" target="_blank">is expected to join</a> the growing list of states <b>requiring</b> high school students to study personal finance. The seven states already participating in the important trend are Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, South Dakota, and Utah. </p> <p><a href="http://gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.savvysugar.com/965131#comment education news news flash student Fri, 18 Jan 2008 07:50:18 -0800 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/965131 http://www.savvysugar.com/904671 <p><span class="inline center"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/10/104165/01_2008/skd246706sdc.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="330"></span>Harvard, often considered the Ivy-est of the Ivy Leagues, has taken steps to make education more affordable there. I'm sure that ponytail guy in <b>Good Will Hunting</b> would turn his nose up at a more accessible Harvard, but I think it's a really meaningful step forward for higher education. </p> <p>So, how much more affordable are we talking? Tuition will be less for all students, and for many <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119731017194819610.html?apl=y&amp;r=549419/" target="_blank">it will be reduced 30-50 percent</a> making the cost comparable to top public universities. Other schools striving to ease the burden of middle-income students are Princeton, Tufts, Amherst, University of Pennsylvania, and Duke. </p> <p>Harvard hopes the new tuition breaks will encourage more students to apply — students that may have been otherwise turned off by the cost and from all walks of economic life. Would the new breaks have influenced where you applied to college? </p> <p><a href="http://gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.savvysugar.com/904671#comment education Harvard student tuition Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:46:22 -0800 SavvySugar http://www.savvysugar.com/904671