myUsearch blog

Today we have a guest post from Marcelina Hardy, a freelance writer who specializes in writing about college grants to help people fund higher education.

Do you desire a higher education, but have no idea how to pay the high costs of college? You’re not alone. Many women don’t go back to school, because they don’t want to place a financial strain on their families, but these are temporary budget constraints. A higher education can provide the financial freedom your looking for and college grants can help.
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Since Spring break is almost upon us, you might be freaking about your freshman 15. Is five weeks enough time to shed your extra college pounds?

 Photo by meshmar

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Recently, the Texas Higher Education Board ended 545 programs at public universities – meaning that those graduate degrees wil no longer receive the organization’s stamp of approval for college accreditation. Many of the cuts were made to Historically Black Colleges & Universities in Texas because the universities were not graduating enough students. This situation brings to light a very important lesson to those applying for college: make sure your program is accredited! Here’s an explanation of it’s importance: Read the rest of this entry →

From New York to Oakland, in big city and small town alike, protesters in the Occupy Wall Street movement are voicing their strong opinions against big corporate bailouts, higher taxes and greed. While their message is unclear, one cautionary tale emerges: high school students must be extremely careful with their college search to ensure they’re gainfully employed and not in a picket line after graduation. Here are some important criteria to consider during your college search.

Photo by David_Shankbone

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It’s just minutes before your SAT test is about to begin. You’re nervous. You’re anxious. “Will my test preparation methods pay off?” “Will my scores be high enough to be accepted to my first college choice?” Those feelings are standard for any student, but some new studies explain why some SAT test prep methods might be outdated. The study calls for students to step up their test prep game and here are just a few ways to do it. Read the rest of this entry →

In his October speech, President Obama outlined a new federal loan program that could mean big savings for students borrowing money to pay for college. Let’s look at how the law could affect your college choice.

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Tough economic times and rising tuition costs make affording college a difficult task these days. If you’re like the millions of high school seniors looking for scholarship money on the web, you’re probably searching for the best scholarship sites to visit. The web is full of excellent scholarship sites, like FastWeb, CollegeNet and even the US Government provides extremely helpful insights. By using the best scholarship sites and other important resources, you too can find money for college.

Photo by Alan Cleaver

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Contrary to popular belief, constant stress is not a required part of the college admissions process.  In fact, it’s quite possible to get into college without it.  It may take a little extra effort, but most people will agree it’s worth it – especially when it means you will likely  have more time to enjoy your senior year. Read the rest of this entry →

Finding the perfect college is a difficult task – full of anxiety and many unknowns. So many factors are involved in finding the perfect college: “Should I stay in-state or venture out?” “private or public?” “big city or college town?” All of these are extremely normal questions college applicants ask themselves, so don’t feel alone. The following are the most important factors to consider when finding the perfect college. Balance those four and you’ll land at your ideal college.

Photo by jrossl

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So, you’re filling out your college application and the grades on your transcript are lower than you’d like. Wondering how you’ll get into college with a low GPA? Don’t fret! Coming from somebody who was accepted to their first choice with less than stellar high school grades, getting into college with a low GPA is very possible. It’s all about knowing what college admissions officers are looking for, and improving your odds in those areas. Here are four non-grade related ways to boost your college chances:

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This September, tens of thousands of college freshmen arrived at the colleges that they chose so carefully. I am willing to bet that at least a third of them are having doubts that they made the right college choice.

What should you do if you are one of them – if your college match isn’t matching up so well? Here are some suggestions . . .

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Whether you’re a high school student or someone looking to make a change in life, all you want is to find the right college. But finding the right college doesn’t happen by chance. It requires research, conversations and many small steps to make a decision. Putting together a well-organized college search game plan will make this process MUCH easier and here are four steps to make it happen:   Read the rest of this entry →

Writing a 500 word college essay is a part of the college application that lots of students postpone and obsess about.  Don’t.  Here are some ways to make your college essay more fun and creative, and position yourself to get into your dream college. . .

Photo by Penslethaargic
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When it comes to making your college choice, it is inevitable that you will be influenced by many different people and factors.  Chief among those people are your parents.  That’s not necessarily a bad thing.  A parent’s wealth of experience may be a great resource to you as you prepare to make this significant decision about your future.  Still, many students and parents find themselves repeatedly butting heads when it comes down to making that college choice.  Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your parent’s input and avoid potential conflicts over your college choice.

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It’s easy to see that some high schools have more and better resources than others.  While that may make the path to college a little easier for their students, it is not a guarantee.  The truth is that the vast majority of students who get into college are there because of their commitment to getting there and not because of the high school they attended. Read the rest of this entry →

So you’re starting college in a few weeks. It’s too late to talk about summer jobs, internships, or courses you need to take before you start college, but it’s not too late to make some suggestions about the social side of things. Let’s face it, you are now living in the last month of high school, even though classes ended a while back. All your old friendships are about to change dramatically, and all your old romantic relationships too. So here are some suggestions of things to do in the last few weeks before you head off to college.
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If you can answer, “yes” to this question, take heart.  You are not alone.  As the date for departure to college grows nearer, many new college freshmen begin to wonder if they made the right college choice.  As with any major change we face, there is always some anxiety about what the future will hold.  That’s perfectly normal.  You may be moving far from friends and family, so that’s bound to be a little scary.  The important thing is to try to keep things in perspective and not let your fears keep you from taking this next step. Here are a few things you can do to help ease your anxiety, while also determining whether or not there’s a good reason to question your college choice. Read the rest of this entry →

Students often start their college search with no idea of what to look for in a college, leaving them overwhelmed by all the choices out there.  One of the best ways to avoid this is to use family vacations as an opportunity to visit a college or two along the way.

Photo by miss rogue

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If you’re heading off to college in September, you’ve probably already started packing for college, but there’s something you might easily forget. It’s the documentation you’ll need to quickly and easily earn credit for any coursework you completed, or for AP tests you took. Colleges are pretty bureaucratic by nature and if you don’t have your paperwork ready or your documentation submitted online, you could be in for some hassles. Whether you are a transfer student or an incoming freshman, here are some steps you can take to avoid frustration and delays:

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