What’s the Price of Higher Education? An Infographic

May 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The Price of Higher EducationSource: H&R Block

I like this infographic a lot but only as a starting point. Note, the colleges noted as the most expensive school are not necessarily so. They are the most expensive in sticker price but a large number of students do not pay the sticker price. That’s where your grades, course load, SAT and ACT scores, financial need, your athletic or musical talents play a huge part in what you will actually pay. Go to the schools and check out their financial aid section to find out how much is actually doled out. Make sure to aim for schools where your GPA, scores, talents will place you in top 25% of admitted students.

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Best Selling Higher Education Author Lynn O’Shaughnessy to Provide Advice on How to Evaluate Colleges #CollegeChat May 15th

May 11, 2012 By Leave a Comment

O’Shaughnessy to discuss advice from her new book “The College Solution: A Guide for Everyone Looking for the Right School at the Right price (2nd Edition)

Lynn O’Shaughnessy, a bestselling author and higher education journalist, will share advice from her newly published book The College Solution: A Guide for Everyone Looking for the Right School at the Right Price (2nd Edition) during #CollegeChat on Twitter, May 15, 2012 at 9 p.m. Eastern.

O’Shaughnessy wrote the second edition of her book “so you too can become an empowered consumer.” During #Collegechat, O’Shaughnessy, https://twitter.com/#!/collegeblogs , will discuss key information parents and students need to know including:

  • What are the biggest sources of college money.
  • How can you increase your chances of qualifying for merit scholarships.
  • How you can evaluate the generosity of a school before applying.
  • Where to find the best online tools to evaluate colleges.
  • What do families of divorce need to know about financial aid.
  • What are a teen’s options if he/she does poorly on the ACT or SAT.
  • What is the real story behind athletic scholarships.

About Lynn O’Shaughnessy

Lynn O’Shaughnessy is a nationally recognized higher-ed author, journalist, and speaker. She is the author of numerous books including her Amazon bestseller: The College Solution: A Guide for Everyone Looking for the Right School at the Right Price. She also wrote Shrinking the Cost of College, a workbook available only on her website, that helps families make smart and affordable college choices. O’Shaughnessy writes frequently about college issues for her CBS MoneyWatch column and for her popular college blog TheCollegeSolution.com. O’Shaughnessy is the consulting director of college planning, K-12, at the University of California, San Diego Extension. She is also a frequent speaker on how families can find and afford great schools.

About #CollegeChat

#CollegeChat is a live bi-monthly conversation intended for teens, college students, parents, and higher education experts on Twitter. #CollegeChat takes place on the first and third Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. PT/ 9 p.m. ET. Questions for each #CollegeChat edition can be sent to Theresa Smith, the moderator of #CollegeChat via http://Twitter.com/collegechat, by entering questions online on the CollegeChat Facebook page or by email. More detailed information about signing up for Twitter and participating in #Collegechat can be found at http://pathwaypr.com/how-to-participate-in-a-twitter-chat

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#CollegeChat Transcript: SAT/ACT Accomodations for ADD/ADHD High School Students

April 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Jenn Cohen, a college test preparation expert for the SAT, PSAT and ACT, specializing in ADD/ADHD and special needs students, was a recent expert guest on #CollegeChat and provided tips for high school students with ADD/ADHD and other learning disabilities how to maximize their SAT and ACT scores through test preparation and making sure to secure test accomodations. During the one hour discussion, Jenn covered a number of topics including what types of accomodations are available and how to research them, how to determine which test is best for each student, how long to prepare for the test, and how to construct a test preparation plan. Jenn had a lot of great suggestions and you can read through the 31 page transcript  here : adhd_transcript.

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Build Your Network and Influence through Twitter Chats

April 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment

If you have been here before you probably know that I am a very enthusiastic participant on Twitter. So enthusiastic in fact that twice a month I moderate #CollegeChat on Twitter. Recently, Up and Running asked me to write “How can Twitter chat help your business?”  to help guide startups and small businesses on how to participate in Twitter chats to help build influence and enhance engagement in your targeted market. You can read the entire post at Up and Running. An excerpt follows below.

One of the best ways for small businesses to build their networks and increase their influence is by participating in Twitter Chats. Twitter chats are Twitter based conversations that anyone can participate in and are kept on track through the use of a #hashtag, a topic with a hash symbol (“#”) at the start to identify it. There are currently more than 600 ongoing Twitter Chats, ranging from weekly to monthly discussions on a wide variety of topics. You can review an exhaustive list of ongoing chats maintained at the Twitter Chat Schedule.

Participating in a Twitter chat is a great way to network and interact with other people who may also share your professional and personal passions. It is also a great way to introduce yourself and your business to key influencers whom you want to connect with.

Be Strategic

Look for a chat where you can bring value to the conversation. For example, I moderate #CollegeChat twice a month on Tuesday evenings. Most of the chats I moderate are in question and answer format and include an “expert” guest on a particular topic. The majority of guests I first met by their attending and participating in #CollegeChat. My guests have included professors, authors, independent higher education experts and business owners targeting the higher education market.

With hundreds of ongoing Twitter chats, you should be able to find a number of chats that are ideal for both networking and for your business. Perhaps you have developed a business tool, application or book that you are targeting to business to business marketers? Then you might want to check out #B2Bchat. A recent #B2Bchat focused on “Facebook for B2B -The Times They Are a-Changin’.

Expand your Knowledge

Also consider joining in Twitter chats just to expand your knowledge. Have you been considering adding a blog to your website but really don’t know where to start? Consider checking out #Blogchat on Sunday evenings to get fresh ideas from blogging experts. Recently Brian Solis, a thought leader in new media and a best-selling author, was a guest for #Blogchat and discussed with attendees how to use blogs as tools to build influence.

Do you need some new ideas for your start-up or small business?  #Smallbizchat is a great chat for small businesses since its focus is on helping small businesses to succeed as they start to grow. Recently on #Smallbizchat, Dina Dwyer-Owen, a certified franchise executive with more than 30 years of industry experience and a recent guest on the television program “Undercover Boss”, shared with attendees “How to Live Rich in Your Small Business”. #Smallbizchat is hosted weekly by Melinda Emerson, a noted small business expert, coach and author.

How to Participate

In order to participate in a Twitter chat, attendees will need to have a Twitter account.  To sign up for a Twitter account, go to http:// twitter.com. Once you have your Twitter account, you are ready to go.

There are a number of formats to use to follow a Twitter chat but the easiest way I have found to participate is by using TweetChat, a platform designed to make “Twitter chats” run easily.

Don’t be a Bystander

In order to get the most out of any Twitter chat is to make sure you join in. Most moderators ask attendees to go ahead and introduce themselves. Your introduction is a great way to begin meeting others.

By joining in a chat you are not only sharing your ideas with the attendees but also with the attendees’ followers. Don’t be surprised if you pick up a number of new followers after the chat based on comments and interactions you had during the chat.  Every time you write a tweet that is then re-tweeted – quoted or rebroadcast by other attendees – your tweet is not only repeated across the chat but also to the followers of the person who re-tweeted you, thereby expanding your reach exponentially.

And, the best parts about participating in Twitter chats are the people you meet and the network you build.

Filed Under: CollegeChat, How to, public relations, social media, twitter Tagged With: ,

Transcript for #CollegeChat with Public Agenda on “Hiring and Higher Education”

April 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Last night Allison Rizzolo, a communications professional for Public Agenda, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that helps communities and the nation solve tough public problems, discussed findings from a recent report “Hiring and Higher Education” conducted in conjunction with Committee for Economic Development (CED), during #CollegeChat.  Allison provided us with detailed background from the research on why U.S. Business Leaders worry that skyrocketing tuition and a growing skills gap could have serious consequences for the nation’s economic future. Our discussion centered on the following questions:

  • Business leaders cite cost of higher education as one of the major weaknesses.  Why is this a weakness and what do they say causes these high costs?
  • Executives also cited a shortage of graduates in STEM fields and their inability to fill many of these positions. Why is this a potential challenge for the nation’s economy?
  • Some business leaders expressed concern that we over-emphasize 4-year degrees. What are their specific concerns and why is this a weakness?
  • Executives reported unease about workers’ interpersonal skills.  Why is this finding significant?
  • Business leaders worried that higher education is too slow to recognize and implement needed changes, and not as accountable as it needs to be. What recommendations did they have to effect change? Q5
  • What are the opinions regarding online education? Why is it significant that their attitudes are changing in respect to online education?
  • How will the Public Agenda use these findings moving forward? What are the next steps?
  • How did business leaders conceptualize they can be more involved in higher education?

You can read the entire transcript PublicAgendattranscript.

 

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SAT and ACT Test Expert to Discuss Test Accommodations and Preparation for ADD/ADHD High School Students during #CollegeChat

April 1, 2012 By 1 Comment

Jenn Cohen, college test preparation expert and owner of Jenn Cohen Tutoring, will provide tips for ADD/ADHD high school students to maximize their PSAT, SAT, and ACT scores during #CollegeChat April 3, 2012 at 9 p.m. Eastern

Jenn Cohen

Jenn Cohen, a college test preparation expert for the SAT, PSAT and ACT, specializing in ADD/ADHD and special needs students, will discuss how high school students with ADD/ADHD and other learning disabilities, can maximize their college admission testing scores by carefully researching test accommodations and creating and implementing an effective test preparation plan during #CollegeChat on Twitter, April 3, 2012 at 9 p.m. Eastern.

Cohen, https://twitter.com/#!/satprepforadhd, the owner and founder of Jenn Cohen Tutoring and president of chief word nerd of Word-Nerd.com, an SAT vocabulary website, will discuss with #CollegeChat participants:

  • What kind of test accommodations is available for high school students with ADD/ADHD or other learning disabilities?
  • How do students research what test accommodations are available? How far in advance should they research?
  • How should students determine which is the best test for them?
  • Why might the ACT be a smarter choice for ADHD students?
  • How far in advance should an ADD/ADHD student plan to prepare for college admission tests?
  • Ideally, when should students take the first test and how many times do you recommend?
  • If a student can’t afford tutoring services, how do you recommend they construct a test preparation plan?
  • Are there websites you recommend for test preparation? Are there apps you recommend?
  • Are there specific SAT and ACT test preparation books for students with ADD/ADHD you recommend?

Jenn Cohen has been in test prep since 1997 and has been a private tutor for the SAT and PSAT, specializing in ADHD/learning disability students. Cohen is also president of Word-Nerd.com, an SAT vocabulary tutorial website which she created with her husband, Gary. Cohen has a blog, The Fat Envelope, which covers all things college admissions.  A Duke University graduate, Cohen currently serves on the alumni admissions interviewing committee as well as the Duke Dallas Women’s Forum steering committee. Cohen’s graduate work in clinical psychology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center provided her with extensive knowledge of attention deficit and learning disorders.

About #CollegeChat

#CollegeChat is a live bi-monthly conversation intended for teens, college students, parents, and higher education experts on Twitter. #CollegeChat takes place on the first and third Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. PT/ 9 p.m. ET. Questions for each #CollegeChat edition can be sent to Theresa Smith, the moderator of #CollegeChat via http://Twitter.com/collegechat , by entering questions online on the CollegeChat Facebook page at http://ht.ly/1XIqV , or by email. More detailed information about signing up for Twitter and participating in #Collegechat can be found at http://pathwaypr.com/how-to-participate-in-a-twitter-chat .



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College Mental Health Expert to Discuss Relationship Violence on College Campuses

March 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Dr. Lee Keyes, Executive Director of the University of Alabama Counseling Center, will discuss signs of college relationship abuse, possible triggers, and resources for students to get help

Front of The Rotunda, University of Virginia

The recent conviction of George Huguely V, a former University of Virginia star lacrosse player, in the beating death of his ex girlfriend Yeardley Love, a student athlete at the University of Virginia, has turned the spotlight on relationship violence on college campuses across the country. Tomorrow evening, Dr. Lee Keyes, the Executive Director of the University of Alabama Counseling Center, will discuss with Twitter attendees relationship violence on college campuses, the possible triggers  and warning signs, and resources for students to get help at 9 p.m. ET.

During #CollegeChat, Dr. Keyes will discuss with attendees:

  • Should the trial and verdict of George Huguely V serve as a wake-up call that relationship violence happens on all colleges
  • How wide spread is relationship violence in college?
  • What are the symptoms of relationship violence?
  • What are possible triggers? Do drug use, alcohol abuse, stress and depression play a role?
  • Should outsiders intervene if they believe a student is in a violent relationship?
  • How should they intervene?
  • What kinds of resources are available for students to get help?

Lee N. Keyes, Ph.D. received his doctorate in Counseling Psychology at Texas A&M University. Dr. Keyes has been employed by The University of Alabama since 1991.  Dr. Keyes has interests in the administration of college mental health services, late adolescent and adult general psychotherapy, stress and adjustment of college students, anxiety, depression, and suicide prevention and reduction.  He is also involved in providing outreach services regarding the emotional health of college students, and consultation services for those who are concerned about the well-being of college students and the development of college mental health services.

Dr. Keyes has served as an Annual Review Officer and currently as Vice Chair for the IACS Board of Accreditation, and as a member of the IACS Board of Directors.  He is a member of the Association of University and College Counseling Center Directors and the Association for Psychological Science.  He served as Secretary of the Alabama Psychological Association from 2004 to 2007, and as President of the Association for 2009-2010.  He has published and presented conference programs with both regional and national professional organizations, and teaches in the Department of Psychology at The University of Alabama.  He also has experience operating a private practice and consulting with a psychiatric inpatient facility in Northport, Alabama.  In 2009, Dr. Keyes was recognized with the John L. Baier Award for exceptional leadership and service in the Division of Student Affairs at the University of Alabama.

About #CollegeChat

#CollegeChat is a live bi-monthly conversation intended for teens, college students, parents, and higher education experts on Twitter. #CollegeChat takes place on the first and third Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. PT/ 9 p.m. ET. Questions for each #CollegeChat edition can be sent to Theresa Smith, the moderator of #CollegeChat via http://Twitter.com/collegechat , by entering questions online on the CollegeChat Facebook page at http://ht.ly/1XIqV , or by email. More detailed information about signing up for Twitter and participating in #Collegechat can be found at http://pathwaypr.com/how-to-participate-in-a-twitter-chat .

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The Power of Twitter for Universities

March 15, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Today’s post is from Sarah Fudin who  currently works in community relations for the University of Southern California’s Master of Arts in Teaching program, which provides aspiring teachers the opportunity to earn a teaching degree and teacher certification online.  Outside of work Sarah enjoys running, reading and Pinkberry frozen yogurt.

As Twitter has grown rapidly in global popularity, it has also become an integral part of how universities build their brand and form a community with students, alumni and the public. If your university does not yet use Twitter, breaking into this revolutionary area of public relations will be fun and exciting. If you already represent your university using Twitter, you may find some illuminating tips here about to how to better engage your community.

What is Twitter For?
It sounds silly, but one of the major obstacles facing new Twitter users is understanding exactly what this social network does best. Twitter is not designed for distributing marketing, advertising or news media to a silent audience; websites, newsletters, print and television media already give you plenty of outlets for that purpose. Twitter is unique in the way it allows you to engage a large community in dynamic, fast-paced and surprisingly personal conversations. That means listening to and responding to individuals, as well as tweeting links and comments of interest to your university’s community.

Listen In
Twitter is all about conversations, and that means listening as well as tweeting. While many Twitter users have the impulse to only follow those users whose tweets they really want to read, this is not a good strategy for building community engagement. Instead, follow everyone who follows you. This will let them know you are interested in what your followers have to say, and it will also allow your followers to respond to your tweets with direct messages. In addition to reading and responding to the tweets of others in your community, it is a good idea to frequently search for your university’s name in the Twitterverse to see what other users are saying.

Diversify
One account named after your university can provide a central hub for engaging broadly with your community, but it is also a good idea to have separate accounts for various academic departments, athletic teams, the alumni network, university news and so on. Giving users options about which particular aspects of university life they want to follow will result in a higher level of engagement overall. Once you have created the accounts, make sure that you use each one for a distinct, clearly defined purpose. For instance @UNC_Basketball posts score reports and highlights from critical moments from the school’s basketball games, while @MBAatUNC posts links of particular interest to students in UNC’s online MBA program.

Get Personal
While online communication can sometimes feel distant and impersonal, the voices that get the most attention on Twitter are undeniably human. Write as an individual as well as a professional representative of your university. Strive to show the community that you listen to them, and that you recognize and respond to the tweets of individuals. The University of Southern California’s Master of Arts in Teaching feed, @USCTeacher, constantly poses questions about teacher education, links to student blogs and articles, and promptly replies to comments. These kinds of personal touches harness the power of Twitter in a way that traditional media never allowed.

Do Not Overtweet
Twitter has a strict limit of 140 characters per Tweet and imposing this unique constraint on users has made it one of the most popular social networks in the world. In keeping with this spirit of brevity, it is wise to limit your daily tweets as well. Consistent thoughtful use of the network will bring rewards. Tweet too often and you risk cluttering up your followers’ home feeds. As a rule of thumb, three to five tweets a day is a sufficient level of activity to gradually build community engagement.

Sources:
http://doteduguru.com/id4800-university-twitter-accounts-spring-cleaning.html
http://www.universitybusiness.com/article/10-twitter-tips-higher-education
http://patrickpowers.net/2010/10/ten-university-twitter-accounts-worth-learning-from/
http://doteduguru.com/id2251-twitter-potential-universities.html
http://velositor.com/2012/02/17/brief-us-twitter-study-online-mobile-and-demographic-findings/

Filed Under: Education, social media Tagged With: ,

Affirmative Action Transcript

February 28, 2012 By

Tonight we had an engaging conversation about Affirmative Action and the Supreme Court’s decision to hear the case of Abigail Fisher, a white woman, who is suing the University of Texas for denying her admission based in part on race.

We discussed the following questions:

What is the biggest misconception about Affirmative Action in the College Admissions process?

Why is this case significant?

What will happen if the Supreme Court sides with the plaintiff and strikes Affirmative Action down? What will be the immediate effect?

Should the Supreme Court have the power to determine how students are admitted into a college or university? Why or why not?

If Affirmative Action is struck down, how about admitting students based on legacy?  Gender?  Special skills and athleticism?

The entire transcript is available. Affirmative Action Transcript #CollegeChat 2/28/12

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#CollegeChat: Is Affirmative Action on the Chopping Block?

February 27, 2012 By

Supreme Court of the United States

#CollegeChat “Hot Topics” is back February 28, 2012 at 9 p.m. Eastern and 6 p.m. Pacific. During “Hot Topics” we will be discussing the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision to revisit affirmative action. Specifically, the Court will consider the case of Abigail Fisher, a white woman, who is suing the University of Texas for denying her admission based in part on race.

In Adam Cohen’s article for Time “Is the Supreme Court Going to Kill Affirmative Action” he writes:

There are several reasons to believe this could be a Big Case. Affirmative-action critics are certainly talking that way. Ward Connerly, president of the American Civil Rights Institute, called the decision to take the case a “potentially historic step.” And it looks like there are at least four Justices ready to take bold action. But there is also reason to believe the court will stop short — weakening affirmative action but not ending it.

Furthermore, Cohen, a teacher at Yale Law School, argues:

If the Supreme Court strikes down UT’s admissions system, other public schools will have to re-evaluate their admissions policies — and other institutions, from private schools to employers, will likely rethink how they consider race. Affirmative action will not disappear overnight, but the Supreme Court’s conservative bloc appears to be intent on reducing the role it plays in university admissions — and other parts of society.

Finally, Scott Jaschik reported for Inside Higher Education in “Affirmative Action on the Docket”:

And the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., the civil rights leader, issued a statement noting the many disparities in American today that place black and Latino citizens at a disadvantage. “So long as these disparities exist, race must continue to be a one of several standards applied and taken into consideration in the pursuit of higher education,” he said. “Along with race, poverty, grades, ability to think and pay tuition, special skills and legacy – even military status – all of these ‘categories’ are taken into consideration during the college admissions process. So too should race and gender.”

New to Twitter?

In order to participate in the chat, attendees will need to have a Twitter account.  To sign up for a Twitter account, go to http:// twitter.com. The easiest way to follow the chat is to use TweetChat (http://tweetchat.com). Simply log in to TweetChat with your Twitter information (email or username followed by password) and then enter in CollegeChat without the “#” and you will be placed into the chat room with only those participating in #CollegeChat. More detailed information about signing up for Twitter and using TweetChat can be found at http://pathwaypr.com/how-to-participate-in-a-twitter-chat .

About #CollegeChat

#CollegeChat is a live bi-monthly conversation intended for teens, college students, parents, and higher education experts on Twitter. Questions for each #CollegeChat edition can be sent to Theresa Smith, the moderator of #CollegeChat via http://Twitter.com/collegechat, by entering questions online on the CollegeChat Facebook page at http://ht.ly/1XIqV , or by email. CollegeChat can also be found on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/collegechat.

 

 

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