A soon-to-be first year college student from the West Coast, reflects on her experience preparing to move to an East Coast college. Having attended high school in Reno, Nevada, I was influenced by peers who desired to attend college locally and many adults who graduated from the University of Reno, Nevada. I am one of…
Tag: College life
The Reality of Starting College
4.0+ Plus High School GPA, CHECK Stellar Extracurricular Resume, CHECK Impeccable Letters of Recommendation, CHECK Brand-name college acceptance, CHECK, YAY! FREEDOM AND LIFELONG HAPPINESS, HERE I COME!!!! (Cue Record Scratch) Maybe. Well, at least not right away and not without effort… [Feigned shock 😳 then 😡] The transition to college can be challenging for first…
COVID Effect On Colleges Extends to Fall 2021
Every day, college administrators are announcing Fall 2021 COVID vaccine policies, stoking lively conversations on social media about the requirement to be vaccinated, as well as continued social distancing protocols. While many colleges continue debating how they’ll conduct the business of education in Fall 2021, and others have announced that they’re re-opening campuses for business…
The Lessons of Distance Learning: Comedy Version
For all the challenges of distance learning, some students and their parents are re-imagining the schooling process. One college student is redefining “multi-tasking”, making sure he attends virtual class while pursuing his physical education at the same time: While another student is building life skills as well as understanding why physical activity is important, plus…
The Unemployment Conundrum Continues
Increasing emergency unemployment claims seems to indicate more people have lost their jobs, yet decreasing continuing jobless claims could mean those unemployed are now employed or failed to get a job, thus are or at risk of being permanently unemployed (or those no longer looking for work.) Translation: we either have at best a bifurcated…
Between a rock and a hard place
Parents, students, neighbors, the old, the young and all points along the age spectrum crave a return to a time before COVID-19, when life seemed to unfold predictably, though, maybe at times too predictably where one could count on what next week, season or year would bring and even somewhat plan accordingly in order to…
College Blues
As the 2020-21 school year dawns, with the United States mired in the global COVID-19 health emergency with no signs of abating, given vaccines or treatment protocols have yet to materialize, university administrators are scrambling to effectively respond, if even possible, in an increasingly political environment. In the heat of the epic man versus nature…
Educational Adjustment Ahead
As college students prepare for the new 2020-21 school year, the college experience during the time of COVID-19 will be fundamentally altered. Students, professors, parents and college adminstrators are in the midst of an adjustment period, transitioning to a new mode of learning. Perhaps, for those students attending in-person classes in the U.S., professors will…
Tied at the Hip: Modern-Day Parenting
“Helicopter Parenting” has become a norm, which can delay adult children taking responsibility for themselves. More colleges staff are now sponsoring a PTA-like “College Parent Groups”. Adult children can also tie themselves to mom and dad; some request editorial advice on college papers through Google Documents. And, as no parent wants their child to suffer,…
Is College the New Speculation?
Often students earn college degrees to increase their likelihood of future financial stability. Yet, as college costs are rising, students and their parents subsequently are borrowing more to earn said degree, thus students “spend” the equivalent of a few years’ of post-graduation wages while parents may delay retirement, the question is, “Is college worth the…
I’m Only Here for the Old Brick Buildings
About the author: Ashley is in the midst of her first year at Oregon State University, just finishing her second quarter to be exact. It is week nine and I’m tired as a brick. I say brick because I’m surrounded by these beautiful brick buildings that are mostly what get me to class on gray-sky…
College Admissions Season is Now Open
Is she mad? She just ate her first pop-tart!
Passion Practiced in the Dorm Room Promoted in the New Yorker
MAY 22, 2017 Pith Graduates from the Dorm Jonah Reider was a senior at Columbia University when he became a famous chef. Now he serves eight-course tasting menus in a ritzy Brooklyn town house. By Emma Allen Photograph by William Mebane for The New Yorker There are plenty of weird ways to get famous these…
Guest Post: How often should you talk to your college student?
A timely post from a mom who knows. Louise’s two daughters are attending Cornell University and University of California, Berkeley, while she lives in Sacramento, California. Since her oldest daughter moved to New York, Louise has learned a few lessons about keeping in touch with her kids, while giving them space to grow. Her thoughts…
Leaving the nest
About the Author: Joe is a member of the Creative Marbles Consultancy and the Hubbubbaloo Creative team. He shares his experience transitioning into his first year of college away from home. Sacramento was my bubble, it was all I really knew. My life was school, having fun with friends, and large Filipino family functions—a weekly…