Saturday, May 30, 2009
Education Page on All My Faves.com
All My Faves has created an Education page that is very convenient for college students and teachers. It links popular sites in categories such as Travel, Encyclopedias, Dictionaries, Computers, and much more. Teachers would definitely like the sections on Special Needs, Writing Skills, and Teaching. If you are ever in a hurry and need information, check out All My Faves. I highly recommend bookmarking this site. I posted a screen shot below.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
U.S. News: 17 Ways College Campuses Are Changing
U.S. News and World Report posted an article on the seventeen ways college campuses are changing now since ten years ago. I thought it was a fantastic article about the transition many campuses are pursuing to better accomodate college students and their parents.
Colleges have become more expensive, more technological, more consumer-oriented, and more diverse among race, gender, and class. Click on the link above.
Colleges have become more expensive, more technological, more consumer-oriented, and more diverse among race, gender, and class. Click on the link above.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Transition to Graduate School
Now I must face the next important task: the transition to graduate school. How are college and graduate school different? What do I need to know now to prepare myself for classes this fall?
Don't panic! It's normal to be confused and nervous, especially if you're moving to another state, time zone, and even country! I have made a list of things every incoming student should know:
1. Understand the Weather
It's very important to understand the climate of your future university. Michigan, for example, has continental humid weather. The summers are milder than other regions, but the winters can be very cold and icy. Temperatures can easily fluctuate throughout the week. Buy clothes for all four seasons or wherever you will attend school.
2. Start Looking for Housing
Once you are officially admitted, you should start searching for housing options NOW. Do you want to live on-campus or off-campus? Do plenty of research so that you are happy with your available choices. Be ahead of the pack so that you can secure a security deposit in the best neighborhood. Visit the housing complexes and properties, if possible. Do not wait until July to find a place. Housing becomes very limited the closer to school orientation.
3. Research Transportation Options
Learn the geography of your future university. This will be your home for 2 to 6 years. Is the school location urban, suburban, or rural? Do most people take the bus/subway or bring their own cars? Make sure to inspect your vehicle for repairs. This is especially true in the Midwest and Northeast where weather can be very harsh on older cars. I would also recommend a ZipCar account in case you do not have a car. Many college campuses in major cities have membership discounts with ZipCar. I used it when I was an undergraduate, and loved the quality and convenient service.
The Rackham Graduate School at the University of Michigan has an excellent video about this the transition for incoming U-M graduate students. It contains a panel of current graduate students and their perspective about the process.
Transitioning to Graduate School from Rackham Graduate School on Vimeo.
Whatever you take from this post, you should be prepared for what lies ahead. I also recommend these links for more information about the transition:
Don't panic! It's normal to be confused and nervous, especially if you're moving to another state, time zone, and even country! I have made a list of things every incoming student should know:
1. Understand the Weather
It's very important to understand the climate of your future university. Michigan, for example, has continental humid weather. The summers are milder than other regions, but the winters can be very cold and icy. Temperatures can easily fluctuate throughout the week. Buy clothes for all four seasons or wherever you will attend school.
2. Start Looking for Housing
Once you are officially admitted, you should start searching for housing options NOW. Do you want to live on-campus or off-campus? Do plenty of research so that you are happy with your available choices. Be ahead of the pack so that you can secure a security deposit in the best neighborhood. Visit the housing complexes and properties, if possible. Do not wait until July to find a place. Housing becomes very limited the closer to school orientation.
3. Research Transportation Options
Learn the geography of your future university. This will be your home for 2 to 6 years. Is the school location urban, suburban, or rural? Do most people take the bus/subway or bring their own cars? Make sure to inspect your vehicle for repairs. This is especially true in the Midwest and Northeast where weather can be very harsh on older cars. I would also recommend a ZipCar account in case you do not have a car. Many college campuses in major cities have membership discounts with ZipCar. I used it when I was an undergraduate, and loved the quality and convenient service.
The Rackham Graduate School at the University of Michigan has an excellent video about this the transition for incoming U-M graduate students. It contains a panel of current graduate students and their perspective about the process.
Transitioning to Graduate School from Rackham Graduate School on Vimeo.
Whatever you take from this post, you should be prepared for what lies ahead. I also recommend these links for more information about the transition:
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
U.S. News Best Careers 2009
U.S. News and World Report released their 30 Best Careers for 2009. An MSW and/or MSI degree can be very useful in the highlighted careers below.
The MSW and MSI degrees offer lots of flexibility for many different career paths. Many social workers and librarians are realizing that they can use their skills in non-traditional fields, such as policy, fundraising, and user experience.
- Biomedical equipment technician
- Clergy
- Curriculum/training specialist
- Engineer
- Firefighter
- Fundraiser
- Genetic counselor
- Ghostwriter
- Government manager
- Hairstylist/Cosmetologist
- Health policy specialist
- Higher education administrator
- Landscape architect
- Librarian
- Locksmith/Security system technician
- Management consultant
- Mediator
- Occupational therapist
- Optometrist
- Pharmacist
- Physical therapist
- Physician assistant
- Politician/Elected official
- Registered nurse
- School psychologist
- Systems analyst
- Urban planner
- Usability/User experience specialist
- Veterinarian
The MSW and MSI degrees offer lots of flexibility for many different career paths. Many social workers and librarians are realizing that they can use their skills in non-traditional fields, such as policy, fundraising, and user experience.
Officially a U-M Graduate Student
I finally paid my $200 enrollment deposit to the University of Michigan. I am officially an U-M graduate student. I'm currently waiting to hear back on the status of my financial aid awards. I am also preparing for the transition from employee to student life. I will have to move to an apartment in Ann Arbor this summer. My search for housing continues!
I was also accepted to the MSW program at Washington University in St. Louis. They have one of the best social work programs in the country. As a private institution, the cost of attendance would have been over $40,000 a year. The school gave me an $8,000 scholarship for two years, but I would have to come up with an additional $40,000 (most likely in loans).
Although University of Michigan is a public university, it can be an expensive place to pursue a graduate degree. For my degree program, an in-state student estimated cost of attendance is about $34,000. An out-of-state student will expect to come up with $52,000. A U-M education for many non-Michigan residents is similar to paying tuition at private universities!
I will write more about the transition process later this month and throughout the summer.
I was also accepted to the MSW program at Washington University in St. Louis. They have one of the best social work programs in the country. As a private institution, the cost of attendance would have been over $40,000 a year. The school gave me an $8,000 scholarship for two years, but I would have to come up with an additional $40,000 (most likely in loans).
Although University of Michigan is a public university, it can be an expensive place to pursue a graduate degree. For my degree program, an in-state student estimated cost of attendance is about $34,000. An out-of-state student will expect to come up with $52,000. A U-M education for many non-Michigan residents is similar to paying tuition at private universities!
I will write more about the transition process later this month and throughout the summer.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Personality Test Results: INFP
My personality test results reveal I am an INFP (Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, and Perceiving). This is based upon the Myers-Brigg Type Indicator.
INFPs generally have the following traits:
* Strong value systems
* Warmly interested in people
* Service-oriented, usually putting the needs of others above their own
* Loyal and devoted to people and causes
* Future-oriented
* Growth-oriented; always want to be growing in a positive direction
* Creative and inspirational
* Flexible and laid-back, unless a ruling principle is violated
* Sensitive and complex
* Dislike dealing with details and routine work
* Original and individualistic - "out of the mainstream"
* Excellent written communication skills
* Prefer to work alone, and may have problems working on teams
* Value deep and authentic relationships
* Want to be seen and appreciated for who they are
What is your personality type?
INFPs generally have the following traits:
* Strong value systems
* Warmly interested in people
* Service-oriented, usually putting the needs of others above their own
* Loyal and devoted to people and causes
* Future-oriented
* Growth-oriented; always want to be growing in a positive direction
* Creative and inspirational
* Flexible and laid-back, unless a ruling principle is violated
* Sensitive and complex
* Dislike dealing with details and routine work
* Original and individualistic - "out of the mainstream"
* Excellent written communication skills
* Prefer to work alone, and may have problems working on teams
* Value deep and authentic relationships
* Want to be seen and appreciated for who they are
What is your personality type?
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