Don’t feel bombarded by all of this, though. Granted, things can seem overwhelming, but the last thing I want you to feel is anxiety. Take it seriously but–please–don’t let it drive you to distraction, and, of course, be sure to allow plenty of time to enjoy your summer.

The purpose of my article today is to give you some important general information about resources that can help you throughout your college process.

So, here are a few things you should do right away: 

- Invest in a college guidebook.

You won’t get the full flavor of most colleges from their Web sites. While the Web provides a valuable source of such information as application requirements, financial aid options, academic programs, etc., most colleges quickly start to sound a lot alike on the Web. So, try to get one of these:

- The Princeton Review’s Best 377 Colleges

- The Fiske Guide to Colleges, 2014

- The Insider’s Guide to Colleges, 2014

Unlike those giant, Manhattan-phone-book-sized guides that provide information on several thousand colleges, the books above cover only several hundred, but the information is far more revealing than those dry, statistical-laden capsules in the mega-tomes. Many colleges on your list (but probably not all) will be included in these anecdotal guides, regardless of which book you get.

It’s not necessary to have a brand-new version of any of these, as long as you realize that some specifics (such as test requirements, deadlines, tuition) may have changed. I wouldn’t even trust new guidebooks for that sort of info, since publishing deadlines are set so far in advance. Web sites are far more reliable. You can get used copies of older versions really cheaply on Amazon. You can also get most (but not all) of the information that’s in the Princeton Review book for free by going to their Web site. You will find the same student opinions and other subjective information there that you’ll get in the guidebook. In any case, don’t take the student opinions there as gospel truth, but they will help you get a general sense of whether a college might be a good fit for you … or not.

- Check out FastWeb for scholarship ideas.

Here’s the link:  www.fastweb.com

This is a no-cost way to access information about private scholarships for which you may be eligible. The online questionnaire takes about 10 or 15 minutes to complete. You’ll find that the majority of resulting scholarships tend to be in the $500 to $1,000 range, though there are some big ones on the list, too. Needless to say, the greater the award, the more competition you’ll face. Keep in mind, however, that in most cases, the best financial aid comes from colleges themselves in the form of need-based or merit-based grants.

Once you fill out the FastWeb questionnaire, you will receive periodic email updates about new scholarships and reminders about upcoming deadlines. FastWeb is free and completely legitimate, so fill out that questionnaire now!

- Look for merit-aid colleges.

The Web site www.meritaid.com is another place to look for money, particularly for lists of colleges where you are likely to qualify for merit aid. Merit aid is money that comes right from the colleges and is usually based on academic strength and typically not tied to financial need. If you don’t have official SAT scores yet, I suggest that you hold off on using these scholarship-search sites until you do.

- Use the College Board Matchmaker at http://apps.collegeboard.com/search/adv_typeofschool.jsp to find colleges that match your preferences for size, location, majors, extracurriculars, etc. Follow up on unfamiliar colleges that this search engine generates by reading their profiles, visiting their Web sites, and checking them out in one of the anecdotal guides named above. The College Board site also provides a very helpful roundup of info about each college–everything from size to majors offered to cost, average test scores, etc., all in one handy place. It can take hours to find that kind of stuff on individual college Web sites.

- Check out College Confidential’s SuperMatch.

Go to: http://www.collegeconfidential.com/college_search/ It allows you to state the strength of you preference and doesn’t rule out every college that doesn’t meet it. For instance, if you say that you want an urban campus, but there’s a rural one that meets every single one of your other preferences, SuperMatch won’t automatically delete that college from your “Results” list, but it will tell you that it’s not a 100% match, and why.

This can be very helpful since most of us don’t really know what we truly want when we’re 17. The other plus of SuperMatch is that it allows you to search in some “subjective” categories. For instance, on SuperMatch—unlike on the College Board Matchmaker—you can look for party schools or non-party schools, for liberal campuses, great college towns, and other categories.

- Check out the College Confidential discussion forum for general admissions information as well as for threads that are dedicated to specific colleges. Go to http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/. As with all reader-generated content, don’t expect everything to be 100 percent accurate!

Also, don’t be shy about talking to anyone you respect about their college knowledge. Chat with current seniors, favorite teachers, parents of your friends, etc. to see if they might put schools on your radar screen that weren’t there before. The more open-minded you can be, the better your chances of finding a great fit become.

All of the above should give you plenty to do over the coming weeks of summer. As I mentioned, be diligent, be organized, don’t angst, and try to have some fun!

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Be sure to check out all my college-related articles and book reviews at College Confidential.

For those of you parents who either have a child in college currently or will have one enrolled this fall or next, it would serve you well to think about their exit strategy. In many cases these days, making the transition into college is significantly easier than crossing the bridge out of college into the so-called real world of jobs, debt, and career development.

Unfortunately, many parents think that once the college admissions process battle is over, things will pretty much be on cruise control straight through graduation and into the post-grad world. That’s not what usually happens, though. According to Jane Horowitz of morethanaresume.com, “A full 71% of parents were involved or highly involved in their child’s college admission process, with one-third paying for outside resources, including exam prep courses, tutoring, essay coaches and application consultants, according to interviews and a national survey of 250 parents of college students and recent graduates.” Well, we all should know about helicopter parents.

But what should parents be doing to assist their child when it comes time to leave college and begin a life outside of those ivy covered ivory towers?

Horowitz goes on to note that “Parents need to worry as much about getting their children out of college as getting in.” A new study authorized by More Than a Resume shows that soon-to-be college grads and their parents are discovering the hard way that many have focused too much on getting into the right college and not enough on transitioning into the professional workplace.

More Than A Resume authorized this national survey by Bauman Research & Consulting in collaboration with Emotional Reason, an insights-to-strategy consultancy. More Than A Resume principal Jane Horowitz is a career-launch coach working with college students to make college-to-career transition easier and landing that first professional job happen faster. Here are a few of the survey’s findings:

A vast majority, or 95%, of parents agree that looking for a first job is very different today than when they joined the professional workforce:

- 73% say they do not have the right knowledge and contacts to help their child.
- 68% don’t know how to help.
- 58% say they do not have a trusted network for support and help in this process.

College career centers aren’t stepping up either. More than half, 54%, of parents somewhat or strongly disagree with the statement: “My child’s college has excellent career service resources.” At 64%, the disappointment is even higher among parents involved with their child’s job search. In fact, parents in interviews related such experiences as:

- “My kid realized he has to go it alone. They don’t know what to do with a history major.”
- “The career services center told him (a college senior) it was too early.”
- “They told him since 80% of our students go on to graduate school, it’s not our focus.”

In this national survey, almost all —95% of parents—agree that looking for a first job is very different today.

- Almost 73% admit they do not have the right knowledge and contacts to help their child.
- 68% wonder what more they can do to help.
- Over half, 58%, say they do not have a trusted network for support and help when they need it most.

Parents rely on getting into the “right” school. Most are counting on the university to help.

- 72% believe their child’s college “brand” will give the necessary competitive edge in the job market.

Parent assumptions about how long it takes to land a first professional job do not align with reality.

- Almost 71% of parents believe their child will land their first professional job out of college in 5 months or fewer.
- 23% say their child will have a job at graduation.
- 40% of parents who have a child past graduation say it took their child 6 months or more and 22% say it took over a year.

Parents say they have a different job search timetable than their children.

- 40% of parents say they started thinking about their child’s career search during the child’s junior year.
- 31% of parents estimate their child won’t begin thinking about a job search until senior year.
- 30% say their child won’t start until after graduation day.

Parents were active participants with their kids to get into the “right” school, but less than half are involved with a first job search.

- 71% of parents were involved or highly involved in their child’s college admission process.
- One third paid for outside resources to ensure their child got into the desired school, including exam prep courses, tutoring, essay coaches, application consultants, books and publications.
- Another third took advantage of free high school programs and counselors or online services.
- But when looking for that first crucial job, less than half (only 40%) of parents are involved; very few (just 1%) pay for any kind of outside help for their child.

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The one finding that jumps off the page for me is that 30% of parents surveyed say that their child won’t start searching for a job until after graduation day! I think another way of saying this is: “30% of parents surveyed will be shocked beyond belief that the job market is as tough as it is and wonder why their child hasn’t found a job for 18 months, especially since s/he started looking for work just three weeks after graduation.” Duh.

So, a word to the wise, parents. There is help available if you don’t know how to help your child make the transition from college to the workplace. Heed these survey results and don’t be among that optimistic but mislead group that says, “I’m not concerned. Things have a way of working out for the best.” Sometimes they don’t.

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Be sure to check out all my college-related articles and book reviews at College Confidential.

Generally, I’m not big on cute acronyms, but I thought I would coin one (the one in my title above) to set the tone for my opinion piece today. I’ve been an avid observer and professional/parental participant in all things higher education for going on three decades now. At this advanced stage of my observational participation, I’m convinced of one thing: the higher education system (perhaps better said as “industry”) is heading for a major crash and culture change. Thus, B.R.O.K.E.N. — Berry’s Ruminations On Killing Education’s Nexus. …

… What’s killing it? That’s easy: unaffordability. Granted, there will always be those who can afford it, or as the assassin, Joubert said in Three Days of the Condor, “Someone is always willing to pay.” However, the staggering student loan debt in this country speaks to the simple fact that far more are willing to go into debt, sometimes a lifetime of debt, in order to gain entrance into those (at least for now) hallowed halls of ivy. I won’t burden you here with the familiar data that show how college costs have far outstripped inflation and even medical costs across the decades. You can take my word for it or, as legendary Yankee manager Casey Stengel use to say, you can “Look it up!”

Apparently, others out there share this sentiment. Some, though, are far more articulate than I am, plus they have additional points of view that exceed my cost concerns.

In case you’re curious, the pictured professor here is Animal House‘s Prof. David Jennings, who, in his own way, speaks to some of the issues regarding my alleged “tarnished” college concept. Another spokesperson for the current college conundrum is Nick Romeo, a nationally published journalist, former hedge-fund staffer, and author of the internationally published humor book 11,002 Things to Be Miserable About. One of the more prominent things Nick is miserable about is higher education. 

His recent Daily Beast article, How to Reinvent College, leads off with sentiments similar to my B.R.O.K.E.N. contention:

An undergraduate having to pay off $120,000, and a university that has more than $165 million in debt? Paying adjuncts less but having them teach more, and instructors who give As 43 percent of the time? Nick Romeo on a new book that critiques how higher education has changed, and what needs to be done to save it.

That should whet your college-interests whistle. Of the many excellent points in Romeo’s article, I think this statement may well qualify as his point: “This intensifying struggle to gain prestige and profits has led to rising costs and falling quality.”

Rising costs and failing quality. If I were a parent pondering my co-signing of large college loans, the “failing quality” part of Romeo’s thesis would keep me up at night. In discussing the power of colleges to woo prospectives, he notes:

Ask a 17-year-old about college and you’ll probably hear the word “fit.” It’s the most pervasive and elusive metaphor of the college search: a quasi-religious, quasi-romantic sense of rightness that descends on students as they tour the manicured lawns of the perfect school, the one that feels, in some mystical way, like a good fit.

The hazy imprecision of this notion is a triumph of college marketing. Many colleges hope that whims and intangibles will guide student decisions. It’s simply not in their interest to encourage students to think closely about the economics of their choice. …

What starry-eyed high schooler hasn’t been dazzled by those manicured lawns, Gothic buildings, and the overwhelming sense of academic Nirvana? Unfortunately, collegiate catnip many times overrides that rational part of the brain (and wallet) that cries, “But how can you afford all this?!” The catnip counterpoint comes from Romeo, when he says, “it’s common for students to select a college based more on impulse and intuition than data.” I can vouch for that. I’ve seen many ill-advised decisions in my day as an independent college admissions counselor. The saddest part of bad decisions comes not at the front-end of the process but, rather, at the end, after graduation, when the realities of crushing loan debt and meager, shockingly low-paying job opportunities collide like a cinematic train wreck.

Romeo’s contentions touch some especially sensitive nerves. “The colleges with the most to conceal tend to be expensive 2nd- and 3rd-tier private institutions. For instance, 85 percent of students from Ohio Northern graduated with debt averaging almost $49,000, while the median starting salary for graduates is just $44,800. Compare these figures with the statistics for Princeton, where the average debt is $5,225 for the 23 percent of graduates with any debt, while the median starting salary is $56,900.”

I’ve always tended toward the arguable logic of getting into the best and most expensive school that you can. Romeo’s point about the costly, lower-ranked schools seems to echo this, especially with his Princeton comparison.

Like a rousing Beethoven symphony or sonata, Romeo musters a memorable coda:

There’s something undeniably appealing about the romance of the chance discovery, whether of a subject or a college. But the costs of the current system are unsustainably high. If students and families still want to follow their marketing-fueled whims to a given college or pursue a subject with dismal job prospects, no one will stop them. But as [Jeffrey] Selingo [author of College (Un)Bound] observes, American higher education in its current state risks becoming, like the auto industry, a failed icon of arrogance, waste, and inefficiency.

Wow … “a failed icon of arrogance, waste, and inefficiency.” That about wraps ‘er all up, as Sam Elliott portraying The Stranger in The Big Lebowski intones. Are Romeo and I (and others) saying that college is a bad idea? Of course not.

However, what we are saying is that there may be a better path to a life’s fulfillment. Perhaps the core of the problem, at least as I see it, is that the juncture for this significant decision occurs at the intersection of immaturity and inexperience for most young people. Even mature, learned parents often fail as consultants to the many times flummoxed high school senior trying to make his or her best decision about college and life.

Perhaps my growing caution (may I dare call it cynicism?) about higher education has been fueled by an insider’s comment. Years ago, as I was steeped in writing about the allure of college, especially the magnetic,  so-called “elite” aspects, a friend of mine who was on the faculty of a large “prestigious” university countered my effusions with a torpedo that detonated below my water line. He scoffed and drolly said, “Higher ed: The best scam goin’.”

That was over 20 years ago, and I’ve never forgotten it. Apparently, the clues were already out there. Maybe my glasses were too rose colored back then. To paraphrase a popular song from the Seventies, I can see more clearly now; the blush is gone.

I don’t like to end a post or discussion on a negative note. Don’t misunderstand me; I’m not “down” on college. I’m just concerned about the outcomes I’m seeing for those graduates today who are struggling, straight out of the collegiate chute, with loan debt and career disappointments. So, who’s to blame? I won’t point a finger, but there are suspects. Nick Romeo’s words come back to haunt: “Many colleges hope that whims and intangibles will guide student decisions. It’s simply not in their interest to encourage students to think closely about the economics of their choice.”

File all this under Stuff That Might Be True. Check it out. Try not to be someone who quickly reaches for the Brasso when you encounter that tarnished college concept.

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Be sure to check out all my other college-related articles at College Confidential.

However, some graduation addresses remain memorable for a variety of reasons. One graduation speech from last year caused a national stir. It wasn’t from Princeton or Yale. It was from a formerly relatively unknown high school in Massachusetts. I wrote about this here on Admit This! and said:

Being a commencement speaker can also be a bully-pulpit opportunity. You may recall last year’s “excitement” about one high school graduation speaker. David McCullough Jr., speaking at Wellesley High School in Massachusetts told students “you’re not special” nine times and said that he was shocked by all the attention his “tough-love” address received.

But, looking back, there are some truly outstanding commencement addresses that are neither snooze-worthy nor outrageous. Let’s consider a few of them.

Our friends at Campus Grotto have put together a nice compilation of these memorable speeches. Here’s a few comments from their generous listing:

A great commencement speech not only inspires graduates, but audience members as well. A speaker may not have all the answers, but one with the right words can light a fire inside of all of us and push us to our potential.

So whether you’re a fresh college grad, someone stuck in a career rut, someone who could use a little direction in life, or simply someone who likes to listen to motivational speeches, we present these popular commencement speeches from various college graduations.

Steve Jobs’ 2005 Stanford Commencement Speech

Steve Jobs encourages graduates to find what they love and to not settle. “Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith.” There is meaning and reason behind everything; you have to trust that somehow the dots will connect in the future. Find what you love. Follow your curiosity and intuition. Trust in your gut.

Conan O’Brien’s 2011 Dartmouth Commencement Speech

“…whether you fear it or not, disappointment will come…The beauty is that through disappointment you can gain clarity, and with clarity comes conviction and true originality.”

Conan injects tons of humor into this speech, cracking jokes at Dartmouth and other Ivy institutions. He tells graduates to be patient because the job market is tough out there. Sometimes life isn’t fair. In the speech he references how things didn’t work out with him on The Tonight Show. What he learned is that when things aren’t working out, don’t be afraid to try new things. “It’s not easy, but if you accept your misfortune and handle it right, your perceived failure can become a catalyst for profound re-invention.” Work hard, be kind, and amazing things will happen.

Oprah’s 2004 Stanford Commencement Speech

Oprah encourages graduates to be themselves and not live to other people’s expectations. Learn from your failures: for every bad experience you go through, rather than getting down on yourself, think of what you can learn from the experience. In her speech, she touches on the meaning of life: to be truly happy, you have to give something back.

JK Rowling’s 2008 Harvard Commencement Speech

The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination.

The Harry Potter author talks of how failure enabled her to become successful. Had she succeeded at anything else, she may not have found the determination to go on and write novels. You will fail at some point, it’s how you pick yourself up and overcome your setbacks that makes you stronger and shows you’re a survivor. “It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all – in which case, you fail by default.”

Ellen DeGeneres’ 2009 Tulane Commencement Speech

In her commencement speech to Tulane graduates, Ellen tells of how she was completely lost after getting out of school. She had no plan and no idea of what she wanted to do. It wasn’t until a tragic event happened in her life where she started asking herself questions and thinking, and there on finding her true path in life.

While she had found her true calling, she found the journey was not easy. When she came out, she lost her career, yet still managed to find a way to pursue her passion. What she learned is as you grow your definition of success changes and you discover more about who you are. It’s about finding out who you are and being yourself, not living to other people’s expectations. You need to be true to yourself. Live with integrity, don’t try and be something you’re not.

Denzel Washington’s 2011 Penn Commencement Speech

Life isn’t worthwhile unless you take risks.

Denzel talks about the idea of having something to fall back on and how he disagrees with the notion. “If I’m going to fall, I don’t want to fall back on anything, except my faith. I want to fall… forward.” He encourages graduates to take risks and take chances. “You will fail at some point in your life. Accept it.” Life will never be a straight path. Every failure is a learning experience that gets you one step closer to success. If you don’t fail at some point in your life, you’re not pushing yourself hard enough. You may have all the training and talent in the world, but do you have the guts to take risks? Do you have the guts to push yourself as far as you can go?

To see what he means about taking risks and being willing to fail, Denzel recommends watching the character he plays in the movie “Philadelphia”.

Bill Cosby’s 2007 Carnegie Mellon Commencement Speech

Donning a gray Carnegie Mellon sweat suit, Bill Cosby shares the story of doing his first major comedy show. It was supposed to be his big break and he totally tanked it. He let the fear of the crowd and the fact that he might not be good enough get to his head. Luckily he was given a second chance and he blew the audience away. His point of the story: “Don’t talk yourself into not being you at any time.” You need to be sure of yourself and be prepared.

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There are many more listed for your review in this excellent roundup. Check it out.

Have you experienced an exceptional graduation speech? If so, tell us about it. We’d love to know.

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Be sure to check out all my other college-related articles at College Confidential.

What about pros and cons? Well, the CC forum has some from-the-trenches opinions about that. One poster, way back in 2006, had this to say:

Liking the ACT better myself, I’ll leave it to someone else to give you the advantages of the SAT. All I can think of is that it is better if you score better on it and the score will allow you to apply to Harvey Mudd, the only school I know of that doesn’t accept the ACT.

Pro’s of the ACT:
1. Score choice
2. No penalty for guessing
3. Substitutes for SAT Subject Tests at many colleges
4. Tests don’t go back and forth. You take one math test, one reading test, etc.

SAT tends to have trickier questions. ACT tends to put people in time binds. How this plays out depends on the individual. I scored the same on the two tests, as did my son. My daughter scored significantly better on the ACT and detested the format of the SAT to boot. …

The SAT and ACT are the the King Kong vs. Godzilla tests in the college admissions world. They evolve to stay current with technological and sociological trends and there is a galaxy of mythology surrounding them. This leads to various and sometimes unique approaches to undertaking their challenges.

I’ve recently received some updates about both the technical evolution of the ACT and (an indirect) mythology about taking the SAT and how that applies to other standardized tests, so I’ll share them with you here.

First, the ACT is going digital. These new tests will offer more than a multiple-choice experience and, according to ACT officials, offer immediate results and an enhanced user experience. Starting as early as Spring 2015, this next-generation ACT will begin reflecting students’ tech savvy and their demand for quicker results. Here’s a summary of what the New ACT is proposed to offer:

What WILL change:
· Online, computer-based/iPad administration of the ACT (for in-school testing).
· Optional constructed-response questions (for in-school testing).
· Aiming for spring 2015, but already underway.
· The tests will still have the familiar multiple-choice options, as well as interactive portions, such as a simulated science lab for students to conduct experiments or space for students to explain concepts in their own words.

What WON’T change:
· Content of the ACT—multiple choice battery will not be impacted; constructed-response questions and CBT administration are optional.
· Validated College Readiness Standards and Benchmarks that the ACT found through research.
· ACT’s commitment to quality.
· The 1 to 36 scoring scale.
· ACT’s robust research agenda.
· 215-question, fill-in-the-bubble tests still would be available for those who prefer the paper-and-No. 2 pencil option.

New benefits:
· Online reporting.
· Better user experience.
· Reporting categories aligned with the Common Core State Standards.
· Computer-based and paper-and-pencil testing.
· Faster results.

Now, as for the SAT (by way of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)), some test-taking mythology has been undone, according to new Educational Testing Service (ETS) research, which disproves the popular test-taking myth that going with your first answer is the best strategy. According to a recent press release:

Students, college instructors and test prep experts from around the world have long believed the myth that your first instinct is correct when it comes to multiple-choice [answers]. Recent GRE research proves otherwise, showing that, in fact, more test takers gained scores from switching answers on the quantitative reasoning and verbal reasoning multiple-choice questions.

In a study, conducted late last year, ETS researchers looked at the response change patterns on the Quantitative Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning sections of the GRE revised General Test of more than 8,000 participants from 37 countries. The key finding: most test takers gained scores from switching answers on the multiple-choice items (71.7% on the Quantitative Reasoning items and 77.1% on the Verbal Reasoning items).

The study also included a survey of nearly 2,000 test takers about the perceived benefits or harms of answer changing. When asked whether the original or the switched answer was more likely to be correct, 59% of the survey respondents believed that the original answer is more likely to be correct and only 14% said the switched answer. Despite test taker perception, the empirical results suggest that the respondents substantially underestimate the benefits of response change.

The GRE revised General Test is the only admissions test that allows MBA and graduate school applicants to mark questions within a section and go back to change answers if they had second thoughts. And now we have evidence that this ability to change an answer may help test takers improve their score.

Even though this research was based on the GRE, the psychological implications carry over to the SAT. However, I find the research a bit lacking because it doesn’t address my personal experience in taking the SAT and GRE, when my first instinctive answer responses included “Huh?” and “I have no idea.” Perhaps those will be analyzed in upcoming investigations.

So, be on the lookout for the digital ACT and don’t forget that research about going with your first instinct when answering multiple-choice questions. My first instinct is that all this is good news.

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Don’t forget to check out all my college-related articles at College Confidential.

When I was in college (back when Fred Flintstone and I were neighbors), the big deal for me was getting a five-dollar bill in the mail from my parents. Then, I would celebrate by heading to the Hilltop Sub Shop that night and getting one of their world-famous steak sandwiches. (See how pathetic my social life was?) Of course, I was involved in varsity sports (tennis), which kept me quite busy in the spring, and my roommates and I had a good relationship that kept us entertained with many late-night bull sessions. But it’s not like that today.

These days, the social demands on college students are considerable. And with that comes the cost. It’s not cheap to hit the clubs on the weekend. For those of you fashionistas, there’s also the free-cash-draining element of looking sharp in the latest clothes. If you have a car, then you have to keep it maintained and pay for that $3.50-$4.00-per-gallon gas. The list goes on …

So what’s a concerned college student to do? How can you save money on having fun and still have a good time?

My friends at Money Crashers have some thoughts on that. Take a look.

Five Ways to Save on Entertainment Costs During College

David Bakke is a financial columnist for MoneyCrashers.com. He managed to get himself out of over $30k in credit card debt that he racked up during his college years. He now advises young people everywhere to make smart financial decisions early on.

If you’re funding your education mostly with student loans, it can be very easy to lose track of your finances with all that “free money” at your disposal. Once you hurl that graduation cap into the air, however, the hard reality comes crashing down. That money is now your debt, and you are on the hook to the government to pay it back. Once you accept that reality, you can alleviate some of your future burden by saving as much as possible while you’re still in school. One great way to save is by spending less on various forms of entertainment.

1. Stay In

You can save a ton of money by simply not going out. Rent a few DVDs (Redbox is your best bet) or get a subscription to a streaming movie and television service like Netflix or Hulu. You could even host a low-cost, themed gathering like trivia night or classic board game night with games like Trivial Pursuit or Pictionary.

2. Get Involved In Sports

Stay in shape and save money at the same time by joining an intramural sports league or by getting a group together from your dorm and posting an informal challenge to another floor. I did this regularly in college and it led to some great competition, bonding, and fun – we even had trophies made up for the victors. For something simpler, though, you can always just get together with friends or classmates to shoot baskets, throw the football around, or play a little Frisbee on the campus greens.

3. Use Your Student ID

Your school issued you an ID card for a reason – so use it. It can get you into every sporting event for free, and you can use it to attend speaking engagements and free concerts as well. There may even be discount movie night at an on-campus cinema. Your student ID card can also save you money on other entertainment expenses around town such as museums, zoos, and historical sites. Wherever you go to visit, be sure and ask for a student discount.

4. Research Happy Hours

It’s always nice to kick back and enjoy a few cold ones after a long week of class, but that doesn’t mean you have to cripple your bank account in the process. Check out your local bars and find out when their happy hours are. You may even be able to find ways to eat for free. Choose the best ones and time your evenings out to coincide with the best deals. Just make sure you designate a driver in your group; and if that’s not an option, take a cab home if you’ve had a little too much. A DUI can destroy you financially, and it certainly won’t look good on a background check during your job hunt.

5. Sign Up For Deal of the Day Websites

To save on a wide variety of entertainment options, sign up for deal of the day websites like Groupon and LivingSocial. They offer extreme discounts of 50% off or more to local restaurants, bars, and other social activities. Most restaurant deals involve lesser-known eateries, but chances are it’s better than your on-campus dining hall, so if you can find a good meal at half-price and are in need of a night out, go for it.

Final Thoughts

Performing well in class is important, but so is being financially prudent. You can bust your tail for a 4.0 GPA and land a high-salary job right out of school, but if you’re carrying $50,000 in student loan debt, that money is going to be eaten up in a hurry. Do your best in school, but always keep finances on your radar, get a good job after graduating, and pay your student loans quickly and comfortably.

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What other ways can you think of to save on entertainment while in school? Let us know in the Comments box below. Happy saving!

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Don’t forget to check out all my college-related articles at College Confidential.

In case you’re not familiar with those Common App prompts, here they are:

• Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
• Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?
• Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
• Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?
• Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

As Veritas Prep interestingly points out: “The people behind The Common Application have just released the new essay prompts (PDF link) for college applicants who apply in the 2013-2014 admissions season. As noted in The Common Application Board of Directors’ announcement, these new prompts are the result of two years of discussion about where essays fit in the overall college admissions process. This is the first big change to the essays in years (including to the word counts!), and it’s clear that the Common Application Board didn’t take the task of reworking these essays lightly.”

One has to wonder why it took two years to make these changes. At least it won’t take you two years to write your Common App essay!

Summertime is also the time for reruns on TV. So, in that spirit, I’d like to do a rerun here of a very popular article (actually, a series of articles) that I wrote for College Confidential. It’s all about writing essays and uses real-life samples to inspire your writing skills. So, get out your notebooks and get ready to capture some thoughts that will propel you to Common App essay success!

What follows is a kind of essay clinic for those applicants who are unsure about how to approach application essays. I called my clinic Real-Life College Essay Lessons. Here’s an example of what you’ll find there:

College Essay Lessons Table of Contents

> Yvonne’s Sample Essay #1
> Yvonne’s Sample Essay #2
> College Essay Workshop
> Humor in the College Essay
> College Essay: “What I Overcame”
> College Essay or Transfer Statement?

I hope you’re aware of the vital importance of the essay as a component of the elite college application. To give you some further perspective, I’m including here some representative sample essays from my archives. I’ll make some background comments about the writers (names have been changed for privacy), comment on their essay, and throw in some tips about the college essay process.

Let’s look at the case of Yvonne Tan, an Asian-American first-year student at the University of Pennsylvania. She’s from the southwestern United States. Yvonne moved to America as a very young girl, learned English, and attended a competitive public high school. Here, in her own words (in response to a follow-up from me), is a description of some of her college-process details:

“I applied to the University of Pennsylvania Early Decision, and was accepted. I am currently attending Penn. I also applied to Berkeley, Duke, Rice, Yale, Washington University in St. Louis, and University of Texas at Austin. Since I applied early to Penn and was accepted, I had my applications withdrawn from those other schools.

“As for my progress, I am doing surprisingly well. If you would like to know, my GPA so far is a 3.84. I also have a job as a research assistant with a professor at Penn’s medical school along with other activities and clubs. I love Penn! I’ve met the most interesting people; some even came from India and Africa!

“I did learn something about the college application process though. I realized that the most important part of the whole application was the essay. No matter how high your GPA or SAT scores are, a bad essay can make or break you. I had a friend who was Valedictorian of our class and made 1500 [M+CR] on her SAT. She was rejected from almost all the schools she applied to. She was extremely confident and didn’t feel like she needed to work very hard on her essay. She didn’t realize that the most important part was the essay.

“I knew somebody who worked in one of the Ivy’s admission office. She told me that sometimes, it’s all about the essay. She has seen people get in based solely on one quality essay. I also want to let high schoolers know that even though it may be extremely disappointing to be rejected from “Dream U,” it is not because you are not good enough. Sometimes absolutely smart and talented kids just slip though the cracks. The admission officers are aiming to build a class, and not out to get you.”

>> Next: Read Yvonne’s Penn Essay

In discussing essay possibilities with Yvonne, I encouraged her to accent her heritage, perky spirit, and obviously good sense of humor. She chose to bring out these elements in a statement that reflects her respect of family, cultural tradition, and some of those awkward moments from our youth that we’d rather forget. As you read her words, you can almost picture her in the midst of the scenes she paints. This is quality writing.

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Banana Girl

I reached for a fish ball (my favorite), wedging the chopsticks tightly between my fingers. I felt a little clumsy leaning toward that center dish. The dinner wasn’t all that formal, but I was trying to make a good impression. Then suddenly, my hand-eye coordination failed.

Ten pairs of eyeballs watched in horror as my precious little fish ball squirted out the side of my sticks and bounced onto the table. In what seemed like one of those slow-motion dream sequences from the movies, I watched the little sphere leave a telltale trail of sauce as it rolled determinedly toward the table’s edge. I tried to be cool. “No big deal,” I thought, as I quietly tried to scoop it with my chopsticks. When that failed, I tried a stab, which only pushed it farther away.

I quickly tried to cover my embarrassment by plastering a bright smile on my ever-reddening face. My father, who was witnessing this dining mini-drama, deftly secured the little ball and, with skill and grace, deposited it into my bowl. “Hmm,” he muttered with a sigh, “‘Can’t even use chopsticks.” A woman next to him joked, “A Chinese girl who can’t use chopsticks?!” Other guests bit their lips, trying to suppress their laughter. As I pondered this unlikely scene, I couldn’t fault their amusement. After all, it was remarkable how un-Chinese I had become.

My friends call me “Banana Girl”: Yellow skin on the outside and white on the inside. At times, I think I’m not Asian anymore, such as during the fish-ball incident. A while ago, my mother sagely predicted that it wouldn’t be long before hamburgers and pizza would be a big part of my diet (they already represent two of my four daily food groups). “No problem for me,” I said. I was okay with that. “Nothing wrong with being ‘Americanized’,” I thought. What people don’t understand is that, although I am well adapted to America’s culture, I still greatly respect Chinese traditions.

When my great-grandmother died this past summer, we couldn’t attend her funeral due to financial difficulties. Her death was unexpectedly sudden. So, out of respect for her and our Chinese heritage, we created our own funeral ceremony at home. My mother and I went to our local Chinese market and bought a number of items made of paper (aprons, plates, and other household goods). We even got some Chinese paper money. Then my mother got out her large cooking pot and we went into the back yard and put all the paper items (even the money) into the pot and began burning them.

Chinese, especially the Cantonese people, believe that after a person dies, they move on to another life where they still need practical things like money and clothes. The only way the dead can receive these items is if their relatives gather and burn them, sending them into the air as smoke. After we completed the ceremonial burning, we prepared a feast in remembrance of my great-grandmother. This meal is a kind of symbolic “last supper” with the deceased.

I find the tradition both elegant and comforting. As part of the ceremony, I held up three burning sticks and bowed toward the flaming pot. It was a way to say goodbye and pay respect. Technically, it doesn’t make much sense because I bowed to the pot, not to my great-grandmother. I didn’t think it was weird at all. I understand and respect that tradition. It is intended to assure that the dead are well provide for. I understand that many traditions aren’t logical. It doesn’t matter to me, though, because I embrace my Chinese heritage.

I’m pretty sure that I’ll probably never master the skill of picking up food with two wooden sticks. In fact, I greatly prefer knives, forks, and spoons. Throughout my cultural transition, though, I’ve learned that adapting to one culture hasn’t “erased” my original identity or my traditional background. I am blessed to have had the advantage of living in and understanding two vastly different cultures. I’m certain that that this diverse perspective will not only help me adapt to the challenges of college life but also bring an element of difference and freshness to my future college friendships. Please remember one thing, though: If fish balls are ever on the dining hall menu, just hand “Banana Girl” a fork!

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The lesson here for essay writers is to look around your everyday lives carefully. Scenes like those immortalized here in “Banana Girl” happen all the time. The key to success is mustering the writing skills necessary to articulate these little dramas, elevating them to the status of a significance window into who you are and how you think.

TIP: Keep a journal in which you make notes of interesting happenings such as the “fish-ball” dinner party. When it’s time to write your college application essays, you’ll have a treasury filled with all kinds of real-life anecdotes waiting to be turned into winning essays just like “Banana Girl.”

>> Next: Another College Essay from Yvonne

. . . and so on.

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There you have it. I hope that my instruction will make your Common Application writing easier. Also, I hope that you’ll use the summer to chip away at your college process. Once you begin your senior year, you’ll find that time flies faster than you ever imagined. So, don’t get jammed up with school work that takes away from that crucial time you’ll need to manage your college applications. Trust me; you’ll be glad you did!

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Don’t forget to check out all my admissions-related articles and book reviews at College Confidential.

Being a commencement speaker can also be a bully-pulpit opportunity. You may recall last year’s “excitement” about one high school graduation speaker. David McCullough Jr., speaking at Wellesley High School in Massachusetts told students “you’re not special” nine times and said that he was shocked by all the attention his “tough-love” address received. This year’s graduation speaker roster has also had some shake-ups. One IRS official slated to address graduates bailed on her plans to offer her perspective on beginning a new phase of life for the young grads because of the recent IRS scandal that currently shows no signs of getting any smaller. Lois Lerner, who is a 1978 alumna of Western New England University Law School and who also issued a preemptive apology for the IRS’s targeting of conservative tax-exempt-status applicants, withdrew her invitation to speak to law school grads. Small wonder.

Let’s take a look at some of the issues surrounding commencement speakers. Then you can post your anecdotes in the comments section below. 

How about the six high school students who lost their diplomas because of their controversial graduation speeches?

- KAITLIN NOOTBAAR: “She used the word ‘hell.’ An approved draft of her speech read ‘How the heck do I know?’ But caught up in the moment, Nootbaar delivered the line uncensored.”

- TIFFANY SCHLEY: She chose to change her original speech and, instead, talked about the fact ”that students had had it kind of rough. There was a shortage of textbooks, too many uncooperative policymakers, overcrowded classrooms, and the school had hired four new principals in as many years. Before she could get to the part about how hard the students had worked to overcome the obstacles, her microphone was turned off and the ceremony went on.”

- ABE STOKLASA: “His microphone was cut off after he said, ‘You have given us the minimum required attention and education to master any station at any McDonald’s anywhere. For that we thank you.’ Attendees never heard the next line, which was, ‘Of course, I’m only kidding.’”

- ERICA CORDER: “The 2006 graduating class of Lewis-Palmer High School had 15 valedictorians, who were each given a 30-second segment. Corder and another student were given the concluding messages. Drafts of each student’s speech were approved by the principal beforehand. During the ceremony, however, Corder tacked on a few lines [about Jesus] … she was informed that her diploma would be withheld until she apologized. Corder complied and then filed a First Amendment lawsuit against the school. It was later thrown out because her remarks were school-sponsored and fell under district policy. In 2009 the Supreme Court refused an appeal from Corder.” Heavy.

- ERIC DOMINACH AND MIKE SEBASTIANO: “The co-valedictorians of Middletown High School South’s 2012 graduating class gave a joint speech that referenced ‘Call Me Maybe’ and underage drinking, mocked the high turnover of the school’s staff, and called out individual students for laughable behavior. The remarks were rejected by school officials before the ceremony, but Dominach and Sebastiano gave them anyway.”

Although Katelyn Campbell is one of George Washington High School’s top students, she was barred from speaking at graduation. “The senior recently made headlines when she was allegedly threatened by the West Virginia school’s principal for speaking out against a mandatory abstinence-only assembly. … Campbell and seven other students were expected to speak at the school’s graduation ceremony on May 22, based on their receiving the school’s ‘highest honors.’ However, on Wednesday, principal George Aulenbacher revealed that only the two students with the highest GPAs would be speaking, due to changes in the format of the ceremony, according to the paper. … Campbell, who will be attending Wellesley College next year, sought an injunction against the school’s principal in April after he allegedly threatened to tell the school that she was of ‘bad character.’ She was not granted the injunction.”

The Huffington Post has assembled “a list of the most contended speakers in recent years.” The controversial speakers include:

- Barbara Bush: Wellesley College’s class of 1990 was “outraged” at the prospect of the former first lady speaking at their graduation, saying she did not embody the type of woman the college aims to educate. The choice sparked protests on campus, as well as a statement from George H.W. Bush in defense of his wife. ”I think these young women can have a lot to learn from Barbara Bush and from her unselfishness and from her advocacy of literacy and of being a good mother and a lot of other things,” he said. 

- James Franco: UCLA’s choice of Franco, a 2008 graduate of the school, caused a minor uproar on campus. The student newspaper, The Daily Bruin, wrote that they didn’t feel the actor was “as esteemed as a commencement speaker of UCLA’s caliber should be”; a Facebook group called “UCLA Students Against James Franco as Commencement Speaker” attracted hundreds of members. Franco pulled out of the speech, citing a scheduling conflict.

- Chris Matthews: In 2003, a bishop at the College of the Holy Cross boycotted commencement because of the MSNBC pundit’s views on abortion. Matthews, a Catholic, graduated Holy Cross in 1967.

- Meg Whitman: Controversy got to Meg Whitman before she could even march across UCLA’s stage. The California governor hopeful was scheduled to address the class of 2009 at the college’s business school. But students weren’t having it, especially because of her support for a ban on gay marriage. Whitman canceled the speech.

- Barack Obama: Obama has caused controversy at multiple college campuses. At Arizona State University’s graduation last year, the school refrained from giving the president an honorary degree, saying “his body of work is yet to come.” At Notre Dame, anti-abortion rights activists were flummoxed and angered by the class of 2009′s speaker. About 65,000 people signed an online petition against Obama’s address.

- Jerry Springer: Students in Northwestern Law’s class of 2008 said they wanted someone “uplifting” to send them off, not the host of a talk show featuring people who marry horses (true story) and men who don’t know that their girlfriends are actually guys. Despite pushback, Springer’s speech ended up being well-received by students.

So, free speech doesn’t always get its way, as you can see. Sometimes a person’s reputation or former behaviors and/or accomplishments can overshadow his or her prospective words, and their addresses get squelched before they’re delivered. In the case of student speech makers, their words can result in sanctions or punishment if what they say isn’t in accordance with a previous agreement. The lure of the bully pulpit can be tempting in its ability to have many ears hear what you need or want to say.

As I mentioned above, please tell us your stories about speakers who have stood out in some unusual way from your experience, or even those you have heard about. Inquiring minds wait to know.

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We have discussed at length the preference points that comprise the college search. Distance from home, curriculum offerings, size, political leanings, and (among others) — yes — The Big One: cost. Of course, there are other more subtle preference points that go into making college choices, but I’d like to focus on cost, which can be deceiving.

Marketing is a powerful tool in selling a college. Higher education, like most other consumer products (yes, Virginia, a college education is a “product”) is couched in a variety of ways in order to appeal to prospective students. When it comes to marketing and advertising (oh, by the way, do you watch Mad Men?), I always recall a story I heard long ago about a company that sold a line of women’s fragrances (that’s the fancy term for “perfumes”). They had put a lot of research and development into producing this one particular perfume, but it wasn’t selling very well. So, the advertising firm that represented this particular line of products held a series of meetings to explore what approach could be taken to raise the appeal of this underperforming product. After a couple weeks of futile brainstorming, one low-level employee from the copywriting department blurted out during yet another frustrating meeting, “Just raise the price!” Well, that’s what they did, and guess what? Sales took off. The women who were the target demographic for the perfume now considered its quality to be superior, even “exclusive,” since the price was now so high. That’s called perceived value.

Now, I’m not suggesting that colleges raise their prices artificially just to make them appear more exclusive (or even (I hesitate to use the word) “prestigious”), but some, maybe many, high schoolers and even their parents equate price with value.

As I mentioned, higher education is a lot like any other consumer product. In many cases, you can get what you pay for.

Aside from its Nobel-laureate-laden faculty, one aspect of the top-priced schools that struck me recently while walking the grounds of a picturesque Ivy League university is the advantages of a quality physical plant. By this I mean modern facilities: newer classroom buildings, clean and shiny living accommodations, sophisticated sports facilities, comfortable (and don’t forget tasty) dining amenities, and so forth. You can’t appreciate the value of such things unless you’ve attended an institution where the facilities aren’t up to par. The nice stuff isn’t cheap, though.

This fall, the nation’s most expensive schools will have student budgets (tuition, room and board, fees, books, and travel) hovering in the sixty-thousand-dollar range. That’s right — $60,000 or so. That’s per year … more than many families bring in for one year. These are not just the Ivy League schools. Some highly selective, “non-Ivy” colleges and universities have price tags in that region.

But … does that enormous cost represent the best value for you? Ah, there’s the price vs. value conundrum.

To give some illumination to this conundrum, let’s look at a few conclusions from a Pew Research Center survey:

Cost and Value. A majority of Americans (57%) say the higher education system in the United States fails to provide students with good value for the money they and their families spend. An even larger majority—75%—says college is too expensive for most Americans to afford. At the same time, however, an overwhelming majority of college graduates—86%—say that college has been a good investment for them personally.

Monetary Payoff. Adults who graduated from a four-year college believe that, on average, they are earning $20,000 more a year as a result of having gotten that degree. Adults who did not attend college believe that, on average, they are earning $20,000 a year less as a result. These matched estimates by the public are very close to the median gap in annual earnings between a high school and college graduate as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2010: $19,550. A more detailed Pew Research Center analysis (see Chapter 5) shows that this gap varies by type of degree and field of study.

Student Loans. A record share of students are leaving college with a substantial debt burden, and among those who do, about half (48%) say that paying off that debt made it harder to pay other bills; a quarter say it has made it harder to buy a home (25%); and about a quarter say it has had an impact on their career choices (24%).

Why Not College? Nearly every parent surveyed (94%) says they expect their child to attend college, but even as college enrollments have reached record levels, most young adults in this country still do not attend a four-year college. The main barrier is financial. Among adults ages 18 to 34 who are not in school and do not have a bachelor’s degree, two-thirds say a major reason for not continuing their education is the need to support a family. Also, 57% say they would prefer to work and make money; and 48% say they can’t afford to go to college.

Other colleges and universities, such as two-year, community commuter schools, can cost as little as $10,000 or less per year. That’s over 80% less than the Big Guys. What’s the difference? Can one school be five-to-six times better than another can?

It depends on what you’re looking for. Many people are looking for the least-expensive route to a professional or technical credential that can move them into a skilled job. For them, the live-at-home, commuter option makes the most sense. If you’re looking for a broader, more diversified approach to education, then some variation of the live-away-from-home choice makes sense, though it’s more expensive.You’re looking for true value (in education, not the hardware store).

Keep in mind that many expensive schools may have superior financial aid available. This can bring their net cost much closer to the lower-priced schools. One challenging theory says, “Get into the best and most expensive school you can.” Financial aid is the reason. The more expensive schools usually have more money to give in financial aid, thus making their true cost much lower for families who really need the help.

Don’t be blinded by the cost of a potential college, but probe for value points. Once your son or daughter finds the right match, you can usually work out the finances.

Finally, keep in mind the ominous words of Forbes William Baldwin: “Is this system nuts, or what? College has gotten insanely expensive, and the tuition aid formulas have gotten insanely complicated. But if you don’t figure them out you will be crushed.” So, to avoid being flattened by the realities of today’s higher education environment, do your homework and figure out where the value of college lies for you. That which costs the most may not be your best bet. Just remember those perfume dudes.

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Be sure to check out all my admissions-related articles and book reviews at College Confidential.

For those of you high school seniors who have enrolled at a college and will be heading off this fall, you should be asking yourself one crucial question: What is the true purpose of college? Of course education should be at the top of your answers to this question, but there is much more. Naturally, the education factor is designed to prepare you for your life’s work, even if the perfect fit doesn’t happen until years, sometimes many years, after graduation. However, you don’t come to college without other needs, such as wanting to apply the passions and interests you had in high school, or even before that. That’s where college resources come in.

If you manage your college time properly, and have a bit of good timing and a lucky break now and then, your college experience can result in a very nice segue into a jump start on a rewarding life’s work. You have to be a savvy college consumer, though, so to speak, and learn what services and resources your school has that can facilitate your path to a profession.

So, how can you do this? 

I asked College Confidential‘s Ask the Dean expert, Sally Rubenstone, a number of questions about this and, as usual, she responded in wise detail. Here’s her advice:

- Why is it so important that students take advantage of these resources during their time on campus?

As I’ve said many times, college—like youth—is wasted on the young. Many college students who haven’t yet navigated the “real world” on their own don’t realize how many “free” services come with the cost of a college education. Granted, if you’re paying more than $50K per year, nothing really feels “free.” But on many campuses, there is no additional charge for benefits that range from resume-writing classes to weight-management programs.

- Is it smart for students to get acquainted with the career services center right off the bat rather than waiting until senior year?

A growing number of college career-services offices have programs that are specifically aimed at younger students, not just at seniors. But even on those campuses where these options don’t exist, the career counseling department should be a must-do first-year agenda item. These visits can be a great way to learn what’s “out there” in the job world after graduation, along with the steps required to get there … steps that should be taken sooner rather than later. Most teenagers are more or less familiar with the road to law or medicine. But which courses, skills, internships or grad-school programs are right for an aspiring sommelier or CIA cartographer? Most college career offices maintain long lists of internships and even paid jobs for both the school year and summers, often with tips from past students who have already held these posts.

- How can academic advising help students in their field of study?

For students aiming for grad school, college professors can be a great source of advice. While there are gazillions of private counselors who point teenagers to the best-match colleges, there are far fewer consultants who help with grad school choices. But the best teachers can be the worst advisors. Some professors only serve as advisors to undergrads because they are required to do so. Any student who feels that he or she isn’t connecting with an advisor or isn’t getting the kind of help required should try to make a switch. The profs who are great when it comes to suggesting courses may be clueless when it comes to internships or even job options. So if a professor seems awkward at advising, it may be time to change … as diplomatically as possible Also be on the lookout for faculty mentors. While these folks may not formally wear the academic-advisor hat, they may be able (and very willing) to help steer you toward internships, career ideas, study abroad programs, etc.

- For students who might need more emotional support, can the counseling center provide students with valuable resources?

While many students seek out help for serious problems, which are also swelling among teens, others recognize that a counselor can serve as a good sounding board when it comes to the smaller concerns that adjusting to adulthood can spawn, especially now that the stigmas once attached to mental-health concerns are vanishing.

- How can students take advantage of specialized extracurricular offices to explore their interests (study abroad, professional organizations, etc.)?

Step number-one is to know what’s available. A good pre-frosh exercise is to sit down with a list of college offices and organizations even before you arrive for orientation. Put a check mark besides those that you think warrant a first-semester visit.  Whether you’re seeking an activity that might help you meet like-minded others quickly (e.g. the Ballroom Dance Team or the Madrigal Singers) or a stepping-stone to professional opportunities (the Black Pre-Law Association or the Biological Sciences Society), know before you go. HINT: This exercise can offer valuable bonding time with Mom and Dad. Ask for their input as you peruse the lists. Whether you find their suggestions helpful (“Look … you can continue with Model UN”) or painful (“Hey… a Magician’s Society … you used to be so clever with your card tricks!”), this family powwow can help ease their transition to your college years.

- How else can students get the most out of on campus services?

Real-world adults expect to pay for Pilates classes, tennis lessons, or treadmill time in a gym. But college students typically have access to these amenities for little or no charge beyond tuition and fees. College is the perfect time to learn to scale a rock wall or dance the tango, and you may also earn credits doing so. Even busy undergrads can (and should) find time to stay fit, and the college years allow easier access to instruction … and possibly a life-long passion … than can be found almost anywhere else, at least beyond Club Med.

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So, you can see that much lies beneath the surface of your so-called “institution of higher learning.” In some ways, it’s really an almost endless source of help and enrichment for you as you move toward at least your intermediate goal of finding success and happiness after college. Yes, maybe you’ll want to continue your education in graduate or professional school, but during those undergraduate years, be sure to maximize your opportunities — and value — by taking advantage of all the aspects your school has available. Remember: The life you enhance may be your own.

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Be sure to check out all my admissions-related articles and book reviews at College Confidential.