Let's Talk About This

First, let's quickly summarize why college is important right now. There's currently a big demand for college graduates. Since the demand outweighs the supply, college graduates obtain relatively higher wages. Even though college is expensive, the lifetime earning potential it provides results in its being worth the cost.

These arguments are completely correct, but they're also completely irrelevant if a broader question is asked: should college degrees be important in the economy today?

Imagine an economy where people understand an asset to have some value, but get carried away into believing that it is worth more than it actually should be. For example, maybe homes are that asset, so people begin flipping houses, buying second homes, and purchasing investment properties all to cash in on the beloved asset of the moment. As a result, they take on more and more mortgage debt, through ultra-cheap government-guaranteed financing. But before long, the exuberance over houses becomes more clearly irrational and the market comes crashing down. Of course, this describes the recent housing bubble.

Now replace that asset with education. Imagine if employers, no matter what business they're in, begin believing that college degrees are incredibly valuable. Careers that traditionally favored college degrees now consider them mandatory and some that never sought a degree suddenly begin seeking college grads. That leads young adults to see a college education as more and more vital, as they want to be competitive in the labor market. So as the asset's cost rises, they take on more and more student loan debt to ensure they get a degree, through ultra-cheap government-guaranteed financing.

Of course, the latter story has not yet come to an ugly end, like the housing bubble did. But some people believe there's an education bubble being inflated.

So why is there demand for education if it's so unnecessary? Because make no mistake: employers do want smart employees. You don't want to hire someone to whom you have to explain something three times before he or she gets it. Or worse, you don't want to hire someone who will never be able to grasp that thing, due to inferior reasoning ability. As a result, a college degree has become a proxy for determining whether a job applicant has a minimum level of intelligence necessary to perform a job. But with many private college educations exceeding $120,000 these days, that's a pretty expensive means for identifying adequate intelligence.

Unfortunately, this may describe all a college degree has become. There was a time when a high school degree was all you needed for entry level administrative assistant jobs. But when high school standards declined and college became more popular, some applicants stood out above others as being more educated and potentially smarter than those with only a high school diploma. If the trend keeps up, however, a time will come when a college degree isn't enough either: masters degrees will be commonly sought, as the value of college degrees fall to be worth as little high school degrees are today, since so many applicants will have them. If this trend keeps up forever, perhaps we'll one day have locksmiths with PhD's.

At some point, we have to ask when the madness will stop. As college gets deemed more and more essential, it also gets more and more expensive. At this time, it still appears to a sensible investment, but that doesn't mean it is necessarily worthwhile in the broader sense. If the same person could be performing the same job without that degree, then it was a waste of tens of thousands of dollars, or in some cases even over a hundred thousand dollars. And that doesn't even consider the four years wasted, when a person could be developing on-the-job skills, instead of absorbing academic knowledge that he or she will never use.

CHEGG

Chegg, a tremendous service for students which rents books for as little as a third of their retail price, has launched an iPhone app. Their goals? Saving students money, and extending the parabolic revenue growth the company has experienced over the last couple of years, with revenues expected to top $100 million in 2010, up from about $10 million in 2008.

With the Chegg iPhone app students can save on textbooks on the go through use of some very neat features:
-Easily search for textbooks by title, author or ISBN, or by simply scanning the barcode
-Instantly compare Chegg’s rental price to retail and in-store prices
-Rent books directly from your iPhone or iPod touch.
-Track the shipping status of all your books as they make their way to you or back to Chegg
-Avoid any late fees with friendly reminders from the Chegg team
-Find the nearest UPS location to make returning your rental quick and easy

myHomework

myHomework is a simple and easy to use iPhone application that allows you to keep track of your homework, classes, projects and tests while interacting with a really cool design. myHomework’s design tends to resemble our day to day notebook, the sections are separated by colorful “sticky pads” that marks the page.

You can quickly enter your class schedule and use it to differ between homework assignments. myHomework will also notify you when you have late and upcoming assignments by numbering them on your application icon. Late assignments will be marked in red, next day upcoming assignments will be marked in orange, and all other upcoming assignments will be marked in blue. So you can easily identify which homework you definitely need to look into.In the 2.0 version you can see your homework entries by using a day or calendar view. You can also transfer homework or class entries to friends and email homework reminders.

iStudiez Pro

The easiest part while using the application is that it lists everything you have scheduled for the day that you haven’t completed. Like it appears on the first screen so you know what is going on without having to go through many menus. The app has nicely integrated the iCal so you don’t need to go into iCal on your iPhone/iPod Touch to see the calendar events, everything in iCal is viewable in this app with details.

The app’s unique built-in planner lets you input and easily manage all types of schedules including classic, alternating (A & B weeks), rotating and block schedule. Apart from entering most common course details, you can also add instructors with all related information such as office hours, affiliation, phone number and email address. You can also add holiday periods and even cancel separate classes in case of outstanding events.

A special section of the app is dedicated to keep track of your homework and assignments. Whatever is the way you are used to manage your tasks, you will find it all in iStudiez Pro. You can manage your assignments by date or by course or by priority or sort them into pending and completed. For group work, you can also add a partner to any of your assignments (either choose from contacts or create a new contact right inside the app).The app has got great design and offers a clean and fresh approach. The design is setup like a book in the iPad version and there are enhancements even on the smaller screen in the iPhone counterpart.The app offers a lot of additional features that hidden away in the settings. You can set custom messages that display when there are no classes or events.Overall, iStudiez is a nicely designed and functional app with a great UI to back it up.

Mental Case

Mental Case is the ultimate study software for Mac, iPhone, and iPod touch. This screencast shows how you can use Mental Case to make virtual flashcards, or go further, and use it to integrate your study into your daily routine.The app offers a very clean interface; you can move from the front to the back of your cards with either a tap or swipe. When looking at cards including graphics, such as anatomy or art history, Mental Case allows you to go full screen, zoom and pan images, and get a good look at image details.

Mental Case Flashcards lets you go full screen, zooming and panning to get a better look at image details.he most difficult thing may be getting your study cards into the app the first place. The free Mental Case Flashcards Lite does not let you create flash cards from your iPhone or iPod touch; instead you must create your cards using the $29 Mac desktop application—a student-teacher edition costs $19—and import them. You can download pre-made cards from FlashcardExchange.com, which holds almost everything imaginable; but most folks will likely want to make a few of their own. Although the sync works well, the free version has limited use without its desktop counterpart. The $3 version does allow the creation of cards from within the app, a big plus for the extra dough.

Exam Support

Exam Support is a guided audio meditation application that helps users focus, improve concentration and overcome exam or test anxiety. Many people know that they can do the work when studying, but struggle with nerves in an exam or test situation.Sometimes the pressure means that your nerves and anxiety can get the better of you and your brain gets a little muddled!
If you find yourself over anxious at tests and exams – this app will help!

The suggestions on this app retrain your brain, helping your performance, confidence, concentration and much more..The Exam Support App will give you the right mix of relaxation and focus when it is needed most.

Evernote

Evernote offers almost all the features on the iPad as it does on other iOS devices. But the tablet version lacks the elegance and simplicity of the iPhone version of Evernote we’ve come to know and love.On the iPhone and iPod touch, Evernote remains virtually unchanged from what we’ve reviewed in the past, and it’s still an excellent choice for jotting down and storing bits of information on the go. The iPhone version of the app still opens to a New Note screen that, with a tap, lets you create a text, image, or voice note.

WiFi Finder

The iPhone’s built-in Wi-Fi finder is inadequate, listing only a few of the strongest networks in range. That’s where WiFinder comes in. This free utility is excellent at detecting as many Wi-Fi hotspots can be found.
There are a few things that don’t work quite right, though, and these make WiFinder difficult to recommend. The first thing is that the automatic rescan feature doesn’t always clear out hot spots from the list as you move away from them. The second thing is that when connecting to an open hotspot, the utility will say “connected” even if it never succeeds in actually connecting to it. The last thing is that WiFinder is unable to connect to security-based hotspots, even if you know the key.There are several other Wi-Fi finders in the App Store. It’s likely that one of the other apps, perhaps a paid app, won’t have all these little issues plaguing it.

Wikipanion

Free iPhone app Wikipanion searches Wikipedia through a fast, native interface. Complete with autosuggest, landscape mode, and large, readable text, Wikipanion offers a fantastic way to browse Wikipedia on-the-go. The application’s bottom row of buttons provide simple navigation (back and forward), links to sections for quick navigation of large articles, and access to every link on the page, including Wikipedia category links or external links. The free Wikipanion is simple, but does exactly what it promises.

Instapaper

Marco Arment’s Instapaper is one of two* killer apps for the iPhone: It’s so useful that it just about justifies the phone’s purchase price all by itself.Now Arment has cut the price of the Pro version in half, to $5, and you should buy it.Instapaper started out as a simple web service. To use it, you drag a special “Read Later” bookmarklet to your browser. Whenever you find something that you’d like to read but don’t have time for at the moment, just click that “Read Later” button. The article gets added to your personal page on Instapaper. When you’ve got time later, just visit that page and read away. Conveniently, every article is automatically reformatted (all excess HTML and graphics are stripped out) leaving nothing but highly-readable text.

The Instapaper iPhone app lets you view all those saved articles in an iPhone-friendly format. The free version is so useful that I use it several times a day: On my commute, in the evening, during the odd moments of downtime.

Goodreader

Goodreader is a very useful software for Apple iPhone, iPod touch, iPad.Why?because it is a TXT,PDF e-book reader,every need it.
GoodReader should be said that Apple’s iPhone, iPod touch, iPad best use of PDF, TXT e-book reader category a document of the application software (not “one”), the software integrates file upload (computer to phone), management , the screen adaptation, night time mode, search, automatic page and all you can think of e-book reading function.
GoodReader used to have free version and paid version, because of free version is strong enough, paid version is only to support the large volume of e-books more than 8MB. So most people, including me, use the free version of GoodReader. Now Developers cancel the free version…. Fortunately, paid version is not expensive, iPhone version and iPad version is 0.99 U.S. dollars.

Do you have everything you need to finish out the semester of your project management degree? Notebooks, pencils, pens, that messenger bag you saw that looked like it could hold half your textbooks and your laptop and not drag you down. But what about all those other things designed to make your life much easier that weren’t around when I was going through my college experience? Anymore, the smart phone is as much an academic tool as it is a functional device to call home to the parents suffering from an empty nest. There are apps for everything from document sharing to voice recording, and a lot of these can be put to good use in the classroom. I've gathered top Top 10 Apps most likely to make getting through your studies easier and definitely without breaking the bank.

1. Amazon Kindle/Barnes & Noble (B&N) Nook

The primary tool of any successful college student is having the right books. Both Amazon Kindle for Android and B&N Nook for Android apps allow you to download your existing e-book library for fast and easy reference. Most Android-based phones come with the Kindle app already installed, but both apps are free, user-friendly, and grant access to thousands upon thousands of books and textbooks and often at a significantly lower cost than buying the same texts from the campus bookstore. Features include bookmarking, highlighting, an in-house dictionary, and word/phrase search function. If you are serious about having e-book copies of all your text books, equipping yourself with both apps is highly recommended. Neither retailer has the e-book rights to everything, but between both, most bases can be covered.

2. Gdocs for Android

Google Docs has taken their revolutionary web-based word processing software and made it applicable to the smart phone. Access existing files, create new ones, generate .pdfs, import and export documents, and share your files with others with this free app—just as if you were sitting right at your computer. The best part? You can print straight from your phone via Google Cloud to any printer connected to the internet via a computer or Wi-Fi.

3. Study Droid

Use flashcards to study? Don’t bother getting pack upon pack of 3-by-5 cards anymore. Study Droid is an independently designed free application that works on both your computer and smart phone to create, organize, and study with flashcards. There is even an extensive database of cards made by other users (the site claims over 10 million) to add to your own collection.

4. WikiDroid

The full power of Wikipedia comes to your fingertips with this free WikiDroid app by Sirius Applications Ltd. Search articles, find sources, or delve deeper into a subject to get you started on that research assignment. I just recommend keeping your phone put away when exam time comes around.

5. Evernote

This goes out and beyond the default daily diary pre-installed on Android operating systems. A New York Times “Top 10 Must-Have App,” Evernote lets you keep track of things as they happen: something your professor mentioned in passing during office hours, a debate you had with a friend where neither of you had a pen and paper, even keeping track of that perfect study nook you found at a coffee shop a short walk off campus. It operates off your Google account and lets you keep notes via text, voice, or photo. It even tracks your location for each note so that you can look it up on a map later if necessary. This is incredibly useful even outside of an academic setting, and the clean design makes it fast and easy to use. What makes it even better? It syncs to every electronic device you have that can have the app installed. Access the notes on your phone from your computer or tablet and vice versa. Information you need when and where you need it.

6. Droidscan

No more fighting for the scanners or Xerox machines in the computer lab and campus library. Droidscan is a free app that acts as a full or partial document scanner just by using the built-in point-and-shoot camera your smart phone comes equipped with. Images are converted into .jpeg or .pdf format and saved at a high and readable resolution. The Pro (paid) version of this app allows for a few more high-tech features such as incorporating multiple images into one file, upload with Gdocs, and easy sharing of multi-page .pdfs.

7. CoursePro

Track your homework assignments and grades with this simple and free CorsePro app. It is only in the demo stages, currently, which limits the number of courses trackable with it. However, if you are the sort of student that likes to keep organized and keep a close eye on your personal progress at the same time, this app is a promising must-have.

8. Voice Recorder

This is another free app off the Android Market that syncs with your Google account, allowing you to not only record audio of anything from simple notes-to-self to lectures but to email the file to wherever it might need to go quickly and easily. Files are also searchable by title and date, and a bonus is that these same files (where appropriate) can be turned into ringtones.

9. Mint

Here is an app truly invaluable to the average, starving college student. Track your finances, your tuition payments, your text book expenditures, your meal allowances, all through the clean design of this free app from Intuit Inc. Spending too much at Starbucks? Mint will tell you exactly how much. Sign up with your email, create a password, connect your bank account and credit cards, and start tracking. The app is secure, so losing your phone won’t mean that someone has direct access to your accounts and savings without knowing your specific log-in information and password. The only noticeable drawback could arise depending on what phone you use. The site claims: “We currently don’t support Android phones with a QVGA display, such as the Motorola Charm or the Samsung Moment.”

10. SnapTell

Book shopping or getting stuff for the dorm? Grocery shopping and really wanting something other than ramen that’s just as cheap? SnapTell is a free application for both Android and iPhone that lets you take a picture of a product’s barcode and compare it to other retailers on the fly. The Android app has a function that allows for image recognition as well as barcode identification, making it indispensable to the frugal shopper.

Your friends and family are fervently searching for the perfect present for you. Let's help them along. Check out the top 10 randomly-listed gifts for the college students in your life. Trust me, they're better than that argyle sweater you're thinking of knitting.

Apple iPhone 4 (or more)

Specs: If you have not personally experienced everything the iPhone has to offer, then you're missing out. It's basically three products in one – an iPod, a multi-dimensional phone, and an Internet device. Plus, with the amazing selection of over 250,000 (and counting) apps a person can download with a tap, it can record lectures, keep you organized, and help you study for a big test with interactive test prep applications.

Hot Feature: Suggest an iTunes gift card, so you can choose your own study solutions.

Contigo AutoSeal Travel Mug

Specs: What college student isn't chugging the java? With the late nights and heavy class loads, a little caffeine goes a long way toward helping the grades. This travel coffee mug earned Good Housekeeping's seal of approval for durability and drinkability. The coffee stays hot for 4 hours and does not leak due to the "autoseal" feature, which opens the sipping mechanism with the press of a button. When the button is released, the mechanism closes, forming a spill-proof seal even if you drop it or throw it in a backpack. Bonus? It keeps cold beverages chilled for 12 hours. Twelve.

Hot Feature: Choose your favorite color: stainless steel, blue, green, red, or purple.

Apple iPad

Specs: Save yourself a trip to the bookstore with the iPad. It's like the iPhone, only bigger and better. You'll be able to use it for everything: downloading thousands of books, taking lecture notes, emailing professors, researching, studying with friends, you name it. And, as a bonus, the screen is just like a page – no glare, reflection, or gleam. Awesome.

Hot Feature: You can create great-looking presentations, documents, and spreadsheets with iPad with their fingers. No mouse required.

Pilot Dr. Grip Gel Pen

Specs: You know that college students take a lot of notes. A lot. It's important for you to use a pen that will last and keep your hands comfortable in the middle of Physics. Not only is the ink smear-proof, the writing is smooth, and the cushion grip gets rid of those hand cramps from writing fatigue.

Hot Feature: This bad boy was recommended for Ease-of-Use by the Arthritis Foundation. If that doesn't speak volumes, nothing will.

Classical CD: 25 Mozart Favorites

Specs: You may not be a fan of classical music, but it certainly helpful to listen to complex music (minus the vocals) to enhance studying. Classical music is complex, yet relaxing, so it stimulates the brain to learn. Music with vocals doesn't have the same effect – in fact, it's often distracting, even for someone who says it isn't. Mozart, a whiz at complex, intricate music, fits the bill for the perfect studying music; the 25 Mozart Favorites CD packs in the most beloved pieces by the master. Listen and learn.

Hot Feature: "Clarinet Concerto in A major." Try not to think of the movie, Out of Africa. when you listen. Bet you can't..

The Everything College Survival Book by Michael Malone

Specs: This book tackles everything you will face when you leaves the nest. Handling personal finances, packing for the dorm room, doing laundry, maintaining a healthy diet, and, yes, studying are all covered thoroughly. The book even covers topics like dating, parties, interning, and keeping the dorm room clean. What I wouldn't have given for this handy book when I was entering school for the first time!

Hot Feature: Paperback means less weight in the ol' backpack.

Custom Messenber Bag by TimBuk 2

Specs: You are unique, right? Why not have someone purchase a messenger bag that fits your personality? They can custom design an extra small bag for essentials or an extra large for their laptop and everything else. Choose colors, fabrics, lining and logo for an incredibly unique and thoughtful gift. Plus, since this is from Timbuk2, you know it's durable. It doesn't make sense to purchase a bag that will fall apart in a year. These ones have serious staying power.

Hot Feature: Messenger bags not your thing? Build your own Lex Pack or Swig – they're messenger inspired, but have shoulder straps like a backpack, too.

Sony's Noise-Cancelling Earbuds

Specs: Noisy roommates? Not a problem with these earbuds, which reduce 90% of ambient noise. They're lightweight, as opposed to their headphone counterparts, and sit comfortably in the ear. The buds come with a little carrying pouch, and three sizes of earbuds so your college student can find the most comfortable fit.

Hot Feature: You can monitor the amount of ambient noise you hear in case you need to be alert walking home late at night or heading to the car in an empty parking lot.

Textbooks from Alibris.com

Specs: It might seem like a boring gift, but....not really! Give a list of what you'll be taking next semester and let your family shop at Alibris.com. This website has solved two of the biggest textbook issues to date: affordability and availability. There are times you've tried purchase a textbook from the campus bookstore, it's been sold out. Or, its price is the highest it will ever be. By allowing students to sell their books through the website as well as purchase, Alibris has stacked up over 100 million used and new books. How's that for availability? Plus, there's a money-back guarantee.

Hot Feature: Free shipping on many items!

Private Tutoring

Specs: Okay, so this isn't exactly an object with specs and all, but private tutoring may be the best gift you'll ever receive as a college student. Maybe you need extra assistance in your forensic psychology studies Perhaps you are thinking about grad school. Law school. Medical school. Business school. Stats prove that you will score better on one of those entrance exams with preparation, and a private tutor, although pricey, will certainly get them where they want to go.

Hot Feature: You may be able to find a tutor on Craigslist for significantly less money than you'd pay going through a big company.

Just make sure that Santa sees your list!

In the next couple of weeks, or shorter for some, the semester will be over and you won't have to worry about your paralegal training for some time to come. Christmas break will be upon you before you know it. If you live in the dorms, you"ll be told when to vacate the premises. If you have another housing situation, then things will be a little different for you. One way or another, based on my personal experience, you are going to be spending some time away from your home away from home at home. For many, this may be your first time home after going away to college. It is going to be different. Things are not going to be the same. How are you going to cope? What will this holiday season bring when you venture back into the nest?

Some people have the feeling that the house they grew up in isn"t their home anymore. Coming home from college might be a bit odd. It kinda feels like you are walking through a museum. You wander through the house thinking: this is where I used to sleep, this is where I used to have breakfast, this is where I used to sit and watch TV. Even if you aren"t thoroughly excited about the prospect of returning home for the holidays, you"ve gotta admit that there is something strangely eerie, yet somewhat wonderful about returning to your old stomping grounds.

The first time I came home after leaving for college it was a little weird seeing a thin layer of dust on all the stuff that was in my old room. The most surprising thing about the visit though: not much had changed. Mom still made me hot cocoa in the morning and pestered me about getting the laundry folded. It was a little comforting knowing that things were just (for the most part) as I had left them.  I expected things to be a little different, I mean we all do…right? I expected that I would have outgrown my home and the things in it. This brings up a very good question/point to ponder and you might ask yourself: Is this still MY home? Most of the year you sleep in a different place. You do your homework sitting at a different desk. So, why is this stuff in this room still yours? Is this still your house?

This is the situation I found myself in once I came home. It led me to wonder, What makes a home a home? It"s a feeling. The things in your house, and even the house itself, will age, fall out of use, rust, break, tear, et cetera. You may feel very attached to these things and feel that you can"t separate being home from the place and the things themselves. But I"ve found that if you begin to accept that home is a feeling more than a place, you will be able to find that warm, cozy at-home feeling no matter where your life takes you. After I returned to college after going home for Christmas, I told my grandma how strange it felt coming home; like it wasn"t really my home and I wasn"t sure whether I had wanted it to change or had wanted to find it was exactly the same. She told me something that I doubt I"ll ever forget, and something that I think about every time I miss home or go home for the holidays. She told me that my home will inevitably change. It may be as small as a new color of paint on the walls, or as big as an entirely new house because your family had to move to a smaller place. You may feel lost or sad at first, but the fortunate truth is that home is something deeper, and something that exists inside you–something that you build within yourself and carry wherever you go. As they say, home is where the heart is. It seems to me that home is within the heart. For me, it"s a feeling of being in love with where I am, both physically and mentally. And as my grandma says, you"ll have many more houses in your life, but it"s you that brings the feeling of home.

So whatever brings you that feeling during your break from school, savor it. Savor having no homework and being able to live in your sweatpants for a few weeks. Happy holidays indeed!

The college experience is more than just going to class and passing the exam to get the degree. It is a time to have fun and explore all the different avenues for expression that are available. It is becoming involved on campus, going to activities, attending sporting events and enjoying campus life to the fullest. College sporting events are a way to mix and mingle with people in a way you might have never imagined. People are dedicated to their schools and show their loyalty in some interesting and unique ways. You might see your fellow psychology majors painted up in the school colors or dresses to resemble your mascot.

Ah, yes, the mascot. That is the interminable representation to the rest of the world…That is how everyone else identifies you. You are a (fill in the blank) for the rest of your life. While it might not hold much weight in how you pick your school, knowing that beacon might prove valuable. Somewhere. Someday. So, let’s take a look at some of the least attractive college mascots.

Syracuse University

An orange. Hmmm…what were they thinking? The best place for this guy is on mascot mode in Playstation’s NCAA football. I mean, c’mon. Really? Here’s a little background: The athletic nickname derives from the official color. Prior to 2004, the official nicknames of the athletic teams were the "Orangemen" and "Orangewomen." These former nicknames are still affectionately used by some fans. However, beginning with the 2004–2005 school year, the official nickname was changed to the "Orange." This revision is gender-neutral, concise, and reflects the basis of the nickname as being the school color, as opposed to being derived from the Scottish and Irish Protestant organization. Other nicknames over the years have included the "Hilltoppers," for the school's location on a hill, and the "Saltine Warriors," for a former mascot.

Xavier University

A giant Cookie Monster-like object is the best way to describe Blue Bob. Let’s be fair here though. Blue Bob plays second fiddle to the main man at Xavier. That would be their mascot D’Artagnan. Not sure which is worse the Blue Bob outfit or playing second fiddle to someone named D’Artagnan?  The Blue Blob is a furry creature that has made several television and magazine appearances over the years, including a controversial PlayBoy appearance. The Blue Blob has Bobble-Body dolls, Plush replicas, and T-shirts made in his likeness and an annual Blue Blob Appreciation Night during the Musketeer's basketball season. He most recently appeared on two ESPN Sports Center commercials with Pro Football Hall of Fame member Jim Kelly and Sports Center anchors Scott Van Pelt and John Anderson.

Delta State University

Again, another University that thought its original mascot (in this case, The Statesman) wasn’t enough. Delta University students thought a unibrowed vegetable was the way to go. Since the late 1980s, the student body has embraced a mascot that depicts a piece of okra (a vegetable) wearing boxing gloves and brandishing a fierce expression. The "Fighting Okra" grew out of humor among students about the improbability that anyone would find a "Statesman" particularly frightening. In the mid-1990s, a student vote was taken, resulting in the university taking on "The Fighting Okra" as an unofficial mascot. The "Fighting Okra" was featured in the "Okraphobia" episode of the Food Network show Good Eats.

The popularity of "The Fighting Okra" grew so much that there were many myths started on how the mascot came to be, the most popular of these stating there was a stubborn okra plant on the first base of the baseball field that grew back every time it was cut. The true origin of the fighting okra mascot was born from a discussion between basketball and baseball players in the "Court of Governors" dormitory. A basketball player (Houston Williamson) was lamenting the fact that a "Fighting Statesmen" was not particularly frightening to their opponents. All present agreed that an alternate mascot would have to be mean and green. After a lively discussion and many suggestions, a baseball pitcher (Bob Black) suggested that okra was green, fuzzy and tough. The DSU baseball team began using the chant "Okra! Okra! Okra! Okra!" at DSU basketball games.

The unofficial "Fighting Okra" mascot has provided an illustration of a generational divide in comic sensibilities. Many older alumni find the Okra embarrassing and inappropriate, while younger alums find that it appeals to their sense of irony and their taste for absurd humor.

Stanford University

Officially Stanford has no mascot. So, they let the band mascot take that role. It’s a tree. Yes, I said a tree. It is the ugliest tree e-v-e-r. Stanford's team name is "The Cardinal," referring to the vivid red color (not the bird as at several other schools), and the University has never been able to come up with an official mascot. The Tree is a member of the Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band and appears at football games, basketball games, and other events where the Band performs. The "Tree" is representative of El Palo Alto, the tree that appears on both the official seal of the University and the municipal seal of Palo Alto, Stanford's nearby city.

Scottsdale Community College

Ever got in a fight with a vegetable? Not the one from Delta State! I am talking about an artichoke. Yes, like the one that represents this college in Arizona. An important part of the College’s history is encapsulated in its mascot – the Artichoke. Born during a period of student unrest in the early 70’s, Artie the Artichoke was adopted as the school’s mascot to express a difference of opinion concerning budget priorities. Originally intended to be a source of embarrassment, Artie has been embraced by students, athletes, staff, and the community as a beloved character.

University of California, Santa Cruz

Yup, they are generally at the top of everyone's list... UCSC's mascot is the banana slug (specifically, Ariolimax dolichophallus). In 1981, when the university began participating in NCAA intercollegiate sports, the then-chancellor and some student athletes declared the mascot to be the "sea lions" Most students disliked the new mascot and offered an alternative mascot, the banana slug. In 1986, students voted via referendum to declare the banana slug the official mascot of UCSC — a vote the chancellor refused to honor, arguing that only athletes should choose the mascot. When a poll of athletes showed that they, too, wanted to be "Slugs," the chancellor relented. The June 16, 1986, issue of People magazine featured a full-page spread dedicated to the selection of the Banana Slug as the official mascot of UCSC (see page 85). A sea lion statue can still be seen in front of the Thimann Hall lecture building. In February 2008, ESPN Sports Travel named the UCSC Banana Slug as one of the ten best nicknames in college basketball. The "Fiat Slug" logo prominently featured on campus is a trademark of UCSC owned by the Regents. It was developed by two students during the mascot controversy, who later incorporated as "Oxford West" and licensed their design from the Regents to produce clothing inspired by the university.

The slug also is featured along with the school's logo on Vincent Vega's T-shirt during the 1994 film Pulp Fiction.

A mascot might not seem important to some people, but think about it this way: You build a sense of community and belonging when you can relate to something. When you have something in common with someone else, you can make a connection. By being able to have that one entity, that mascot, it might help make conversation a little easier.

Some places are just more fun than others. There is no doubt about that. If you don’t believe me, then think about this: Would you rather spend a weekend in Des Moines, Iowa or New York City? Not saying that there are not some stellar qualities of that place in I-o-w-a, but I think that the Big Apple might have more to offer in the way of entertainment and just general things to do. Imagine spending four (or more) years of your life in a place whose biggest draw is a national penitentiary or the temperatures in winter barely hover above zero (yes, both places are on the list). While picking a college entails several different variables, like choosing one with the best college major for your chosen career path, there are many other things you need to look at as well. If you are making a list of Pros and Cons, then what we are going to explore next is definitely going to help you out. Here are some of the not so hot places to attend college in our country.

Muncie, Indiana

Yes, this jewel of the Heartland has been named America’s most affordable college town, but…is that what it’s all about? Muncie has been nicknamed Middletown USA. It is your typical town in middle-America, with a population just under 70,000. The city’s official website lists Wal-Mart as a shopping destination. Yes, really. And, Muncie gets an average snowfall of about 21 inches a year.

Terre Haute, Indiana

Wow, I guess Indiana is getting a bad rap here. I have nothing personal against the state, but there are some potential drawbacks to going to school here as well.  This city is home to many schools – Indiana State University, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology – and a federal penitentiary with death row. Hmmm…..It was named the Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s City of the Year in 2010, but consistently receives low marks from students.

Ruston, Louisiana

Louisiana Tech is located in this charming hamlet (fancy speak for very small town) in rural northern Louisiana. This place has practically zero off-campus entertainment options for students. And, it’s in a dry parish. By dry I mean that selling beer and wine is a very big no-no.

Storris, Connecticut

ESPN has described this place as ‘the only college town in America that reminds you of a retirement community and LIKES it that way.’ Need I say more?

Poughkeepsie, New York

You will find Vassar (one of the renowned schools of the Seven Sisters), Marist and the Culinary Institute of America in Poughkeepsie. There are many spots around the city that have been added to the Register of Historic Places, but Poughkeepsie keeps popping up as a crime-ridden city that no college kid would want to be in.

Fargo, North Dakota

Ya, you betcha! Yes, some people really do talk like that in this Midwestern city. I should know; I live a stone’s throw away from here. It is not uncommon for the nighttime temperature to go below zero during winter – happens, on average, about 50 times a year.  It can be pretty darn cold, windy and snowy up here during the day too.

Waco, Texas

Baylor University finds its home in Waco. That and not much else other than a smattering of chain restaurants and some Baptist churches. Bored students often make the 2-hour (one way) trip to Dallas on the weekends and frequent the Cheesecake Factory. If you are keen on swimming in a brown river then you can take a dip in the Brazos. There is always the Dr. Pepper Museum. But, then again, there is always the weird factor of the 1993 Branch Davidian siege…

Some college towns can really be a lot of fun. They cater to students by supporting the sports teams, creating fun and diverse activities. There are some places that should just plain be avoided. They keep students sequestered in their dorm rooms by providing snobbish townies, less than welcoming weather and high crime rates. Some of these campuses have been called so bad that they make you want to take online classes.

Time and time again you are reminded that college is a time to find yourself and explore life"s possibilities. This is the time that you go from being a child to an adult. You begin to make choices that will have an effect on your life forever. College is one of the most pivotal times in your personal and professional development. It is a decision that needs to be made with the utmost of care and consideration. You want to pick a school that will give you everything you need to be prepared for the rest of your life. You want to pick a school that will challenge you academically and fulfill your emotional and social needs. You want a school that provides you the best college majors. You also want this school to be in a really cool place too!

College is more than just a group of buildings amongst some pretty trees. A college can shape a town and the people that live there; that college can alter the identity of wherever it sits. But the community can also offer so much more. The opportunities outside the ivory tower can be enticing, and supplement your collegiate life in a way you never imagined. Do you want to attend a school close to home? Far away? Near the beach? The mountains? Rural? Metropolitan? Whatever you choose, again, make sure that it is the right choice for you. Let"s take a look at some of this country"s coolest college towns.

Burlington, Vermont

This thriving college town is home to the University of Vermont. On any given afternoon you can walk down the main drag, Church Street, and be welcomed by aspiring actors giving an impromptu Shakespearean performance or young musicians delighting your ears with the sounds from a didgeridoo. The natural beauty is astounding: Lake Champlain sits in the foreground of a silhouette of sawtoothed peaks. It is a vibrant and exciting community for the students and population as a whole.

Oxford, Mississippi

This bustling Southern gem is home to the University of Mississippi. On Saturdays during football season, more than 65,000 fans pack Vaught-Hemingway Stadium and it is hard to associate this place with anything other than football. Don"t forget though, this town takes its name from a regal English city that happens to be the home of William Faulkner"s personal retreat. You might say that paperbacks are taking out quarterbacks in this progressive city!

Olympia, Washington

The state capital is home to Evergreen State College. This combination of capitals and colleges fits like hand and glove (think Madison, WI and Austin, TX).  This campus gives you a great mixture: from buttoned-up government types to bespectacled and dreadlocked students. Every Earth Day the students put on a Procession of the Species Parade. Participants come dressed up as turtles, birds, killer whales and much, much more and weave through the downtown area.

Charlottesville, Virginia

The University of Virginia calls this lovely little hamlet home. It hosts a very fertile and vibrant music scene, the Dave Matthews Band being one of its most notable. You can visit the mega-venues where the likes of U2 have performed. But, if you really want to see the best this postcard-perfect town has to offer, check out some of the local venues like Miller"s which is known for its jazz and blues.

Boulder, Colorado

One of America"s healthiest cities is the home to the University of Colorado. Bike trails and other outdoor activities are in utter abundance. This is where the Wild West begins…no, really it is…right along Baseline Road in Boulder.

Berkeley, California

This progressive and eclectic city near San Francisco is home to the University of California, Berkeley. More commonly referred to as "Cal." If you want a good coffee shop, then you are going to have a lot of choices here. Some places host live music, some sell organic fare, some showcase local art. All are a place to sit and relax for hours, for students and non-students alike. Berkeley"s Telegraph and Solano Avenues are home to booming businesses ranging from Amoeba music (for those who love their vinyl) and Venus (where the tofu scramble is a legendary brunch option).

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

The University of North Carolina located here is home to the Tar Heels. Basketball is on the minds of everyone at this picturesque university. During Winter the Dean Dome, home of said team, is in the forefront of everyone"s mind.  The Carolina Basketball Museum, or Michael Jordan shrine, is an 8,000 square foot homage to the sport as well.

There are many things that make a college town different from other American cities. In these student-centered places, there are more bicycles than cars. Inexpensive restaurants serve up cuisine from all across the globe. The streets are solidly lined with businesses, making things very pedestrian-friendly. Okay…let"s not forget the bars either. Each of these cities gives you many chances to partake of a beverage. They are also prime locations for people watching and taking in some of the local scenery.

One of the best things about being away at college is the chance to live on your own. You get the opportunity to explore your own space and be your own person; for most people this is their very first chance to do so. I know when I went to college and lived in the dorms it was the first time I had ever spent an extended time away from my parents (minus vacations at grandma"s house and the like). I was a grownup, an adult. I was a little bit excited and a little bit nervous all at the same time. There wasn"t going to be anyone looking at the clock to make sure I got home on time. Where I was headed, there were no curfews! That also meant there wasn"t going to be someone there if/when I got sick or injured. Yikes!

The university I attended saw to that. It was a requirement that all incoming freshmen lived in the dorms. There were many variations on that option, but that was a rule. If you lived on campus, you lived in the dorms. They had other student housing options, but you had to earn those privileges. Living in the dorms is not a bad option at all, even beyond your first year. It is so much more than just a place to hang your head at night; it becomes the center of your universe. You make friends, you eat there, you stay up all night studying, and you do so much. There are many reasons to choose a college and living conditions in the dorms should certainly play a part. When it comes down to it, it is your home away from home. Let"s take a look at some of the best digs that scholarships and grants can pay for!

#1 –Loyola College of Maryland (Baltimore, MD)

If you are looking for closet space, then look no further. The massive amount of that provided at Loyola will make any clotheshorse foam at the mouth. The walk-in style closet almost qualifies as another bedroom altogether. While the campus is located in the major metropolis of Baltimore, it seems to be far enough away from the hustle and bustle for you to enjoy the bucolic atmosphere. The dorms are centrally located near buildings you"ll frequent the most.

#2 – Mount Holyoke College (South Hadley, MA)

These residences have been referred to as palaces by some spectators. This all women"s college knows exactly what their students need to feel right at home. The old-school design and architecture add limitless character to the living spaces. They might be older, but don"t let age fool you. The older dorms give you better access to campus locations and have a dining hall on the lower level. There is a somewhat homey and comfortable feel to these dorms which encourages more bonding between the students, helping create a better experience for everyone.

#3 – Pomona College  (Pomona, CA)

Let"s get beyond the allure of living in Southern California. Pomona College"s latest dorms are LEED Platinum Certified by the US Green Building Council (the highest level recognized for sustainable building). This is the first residence halls in California to receive this certification. The facilities are well-kept and very reasonable if you consider what you would be paying to live in the lap of luxury if you weren"t a student. The facilities are so well regarded that many school administrators love on campus as well.

#4 – George Washington University (Washington, DC)

I wish I could tell you about all the options available at this university, but there simply isn"t enough room. GW is well-known for being one of the most expensive universities in all the country, so the housing options should very well reflect that. And, they do. Most of the residence halls are converted spaces, like former apartments and hotels. Many of them come with built-in amenities like maid service. This is a draw that keeps students coming back year over year. The location is unbelievable as well. The opportunities are unimaginable, so why spend that precious time cleaning up your room!?!

#5 – Pepperdine University (Malibu, CA)

Yes, it is Malibu…that Malibu. Dorms on rocky cliffs perched above the Pacific Ocean, what could be more beautiful? Take a look at the inside of these beautiful residence halls and you won"t be disappointed. Think of this as living at the country club and you"ll get the picture. The views are gorgeous. The campus is one of the most beautiful, and the safest, so you can feel comfortable leaving your doors unlocked. Did I forget to mention the working gas fireplaces in some units?

#6 – Smith College (Northampton, MA)

Smith is a vibrant all women"s college with a community of scholars from all different backgrounds. At Smith, you will live in a house on campus that will become the center of your universe. There are no traditional dorms. There are 36 houses on the Smith campus, so your housing options are varied. You will live in a house with 10 to 100 other women. 

#7 – Agnes Scott College (Decatur, GA)

The dorms at this all women"s college, again, are noted for their palatial feels and grand-like accommodations. They feature high ceilings and spacious floor plans. The college has the feel of an historic tree-lined estate with magnificent architecture. There are a variety of housing options running from large apartment-style complexes to theme houses that support 21 residents. The proximity to Atlanta offers students another great resource for learning.

#8 – Miami University(Oxford, OH)

It is all about the "Miami Experience" at this Ohio university. This ensures that all students thrive in their educational setting. They live in a community that provides amazing opportunities outside the classroom as well. I know you were hoping for the bright lights and beaches of the other Miami, but the peacefulness of the rural life makes everything better out here. The basements of all the dorms come well-suited with study rooms, couches and TVs.

#9 University of California, Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA)

Sunshine...again! The allure of going to college in Southern California is h-u-g-e. I will let you in on a little secret that I learned when I toured this campus before my college years. This particular area (the grassy knoll in the photo) was rated by Playboy Magazine as one of the top pick-up spots in the country. Take it or leave it. Now the actual dorms themselves are not bad at all. They feature some amazing Italian Romanesque architecture. It is a very upscale and safe neighborhood. One of the biggest pluses to living on campus, the students rave about the food!

#10 – Florida State University (Tallahassee, FL)

Themes are a big thing at FSU. By themes I mean, the way the buildings represent something different and take on a whole different feeling from other Florida buildings. The architecture on campus is very regal, almost castle-like. The buildings make not of this and transport you to somewhere else. There is also lush tropical landscaping all around. Different buildings also house different students (first year, second year, substance-free). This helps create a sense of unity amongst students.

Living away from home can be a scary proposition. You need to find a place that makes you feel comfortable. I hope this helped!

There are so many choices you will make during your collegiate career. What classes to take, where to live, what activities to become involved in…and so on. There is something else that you have probably been thinking about, but just really aren’t sure: whether or not to study abroad. With recent situations in the news, you may have even put off studying abroad because you are scared. But don’t be scared because of what someone else did or stuff sensationalized in the news. Think about it: at what other time in your life can you pack your Coach carryon and jet off to another country to experience life anew? And, you won’t have to see your ex for a whole semester!

Think about it. No, seriously think about it. Didn’t your Frosh roommate return from a Fall abroad in Germany gushing about her academic adventures with Hans? Remember when your sorority sister returned 20 pounds lighter with a perfect complexion, and teeming with the energy of a conquering force, begging you to ask: what is in Athens’ water and where can I get some?  Everyone comes back a little different. It is inevitable. They are more – more mature, more worldly, more…something. It is definitely an experience to be had. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be a student in another country.

But, where do you go? According to the IIE Network’s Open Doors 2009 study, Report on International Exchanges, the number of students studying abroad has actually increased. There are over 262,000 students abroad in the 2007/2008 school year, the year the study focused on. Most students are in the fields of Social Sciences, Business and Management and Humanities. What really motivates these students to study in a foreign country really begins with that very basic question: where do I go? That same Open Doors study ranked the top 10 destinations for US students studying abroad and here they are:

10 – Costa Rica

A great place for brushing up on your Spanish! For students who are interested in an eco-friendly adventure, Costa Rica offers many options for exploration. Also a less expensive option that Spain.

9 – Ireland

Imagine living in a land of rolling green countryside and quant seaside villages. If this isn’t enough, let’s not forget Ireland’s reputation for jolly inhabitants and…beer. The country does speak English, but there are still touches of Gaelic that surprise and humor visitors.

8 – Germany

Some of the greatest thinkers (poets, scientists, musicians) were of German descent. Berlin, a fascinating city that is still in a state of transformation after the fall of the Wall, is the most popular destination. Today the country is a mélange of differing cultures and an eclectic youth. Munich is also popular for its divergent Bavarian culture. And, yes, Oktoberfest.

7 – Mexico

Mexico is a great option, again, for learning Spanish. The country is rich with culture, tradition and history. And, what could be better than meeting your friends in Cancun for Spring Break?

6 – Australia

If you still want an adventure, but not too far out of your comfort zone consider Australia. They do speak English there, so language won’t be a problem. Most students opt to study in Sydney or Melbourne, but those opting for something outside the box opt for Perth. This is the land of some of the most beautiful beaches in the world!

5 – China

A very popular option in the recent years because of the emerging economic clout the country possesses. Learning Chinese could be invaluable in the business climate of the here and now.

4 – France

One word: Paris. People all across the world are mesmerized by the romance and magic that envelops this city. Typecasts aside, Paris, and the rest of the beautiful country, is home to cuisine, fashion, history and art. No place better to learn the language of love!

3 – Spain

Not only is Spain an attractive option because you get to immerse yourself in the language, but you get to do it in the context of one of the most vibrant and dynamic European cultures. With a little Mediterranean twist added! Barcelona and Madrid are popular options, but others like Seville and Granada also attract some serious students.

2 – Italy

Not a big surprise that American students are flocking to this country. Italy is well-known for its established lifestyle, one filled with family, fun and food. Places like Bologna and Rome are ripe with art and history. Milan is home to fashion.  And you no longer have to dream about a jaunt through the Tuscan countryside, you can do it!

1 – United Kingdom

Most popular destination for travelers who have never been abroad before. You don’t have to learn another language. It is also home to some of the most renowned learning institutions and best colleges in the world. Bloody right to study in London!

Whether you choose to study abroad in one of these locations, or go somewhere more exotic like Istanbul, the experience is undeniably life-changing. There are many reasons why students choose to study abroad…..it is impossible to pinpoint just one. Coming home , however, everyone brings with them the beautiful experience of having discovered another part of the globe, living with the ups and downs of life as a student.