Universities Weblog

Many students dread receiving a grade on a test they didn't have time to study for, or a paper they may have had no interest in writing. Or perhaps you were up studying all night for a week, but Chemistry still flies over your head.

But what would happen if you were denied your grades: would you want them then?

Students from more than 20 university student unions are protesting, and threatening to sue if they continue to have their work ignored as a result of a teachers' strike.

The lecturers' union Natfhe and the AUT are not marking assessments or setting exams until demands for a 20% pay rise over three years are met by the University and Colleges Employers Association.

The NUS has given its full support to the lecturers' decision, but many student unions are outraged that graduations could be delayed if the boycott continues.

While it is true that academic professionals are often underpaid, is this fair to the students? Could you imagine not being able to graduate as a result of a payment dispute?

Students should be the first priority in higher education: that's who the schools are for, after all. What do you think? Will the professors' demands be worth the struggle, or are students bearing the brunt of it all?

The Tribeca Film Festival 2006 calls for a short movie competition!
Record and show them your own story in 15 seconds and win honor and glory.

In order to make your submissions as successful as possible, we got Andrew, who normally posts at Digital Shotto post some helpful hints.

How to make a short movie:

First, take your favourite movie recording machine – this may be your compact digital camera, your camcorder, even your (latest and greatest) cellphone.

What to film it up to you – that's what this is all about. You've got 13 subjects to pick from.

Remember – you've only got 15 seconds, and you want to be sure to say what you want to say, as clearly as possible.

If you read my last post (if not, just scroll down a bit), then you know I think the media has overblown the hysteria surrounding competitive college admissions. Well, it turns out someone agrees. Today's Inside Higher Ed lead story argues the same point. Witness:

Anecdotes of little Suzy and her 4.2 GPA getting rejected from Princeton aside, however, admissions experts say that, for the vast majority of students, thinking that college is harder to get into this year is, in fact, "in your head," or at least your headlines. And many say that they are worried that these headlines can discourage students who not be aiming for Princeton, but who need to find a good college fit.

Nassirian wants students to know that "the Ivies are the exception, not the norm." One recent New York Times article, entitled "To Land a Top College, Students Cast Wider Net," reports on "a significant number of students" who "apply to many, many more" colleges sometimes because they're nervous that they might not get any acceptance letters.

Read on here.

Paying for college may be getting even more difficult. It's the choice of an older generation: pay your own way, kids!

More and more students are facing the tremendous financial strain of higher education on their own these days, with no financial support from their parents.

As the first person in my entire family to ever attend college, I paid my own way, because my parents couldn't afford it, not because they didn't want to help.

These days, even parents who make more than $100,000 a year are telling their children that as far as college goes, the kids are on their own.

"What I've really seen in the last 10 years is a generational shifting of the responsibility" to pay for college, said Ellen Frishberg, director of student financial services at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. "Our parents helped us pay for school. These parents are not as willing to help their children pay for school."

Surprisingly, this trend is not apparent at the most elite, expensive schools, such as Harvard and Yale. Experts theorize that parents may see those schools as "worth the price."

But what about the millions of students who attend other, always expensive, colleges? Are they doomed to a future of paying off huge Student Loans?

So much for the stereotype of the drunken, foul-mouthed college student. Apparently, today's students are walking the higher road, including both religion and morals in their lives.

A recent study at Harvard University found an increase in the percentage of students who both valued religion, and who are concerned about the 'moral direction' the U.S. is taking.

In a telephone survey of 1,200 American college students, 7 out of 10 said religion was somewhat or very important in their lives, and 1 in 4 said they'd become more spiritual since entering college.

Fifty-four percent said they were concerned about the moral direction of the country.

I absolutely agree with these findings, as I find repeated evidence of them in my own students, who continually surprise and touch me with their papers that detail the importance of their faith, ideals, and hopes for humanity.

I asked one of my students, sophomore Matt Perez, about this apparent trend. Here's what he said:

"I think it's because when you were my age, there was so much to fight against. Now people are more peaceful, and happy to just be here in the world. We can think about how to make things better, instead of just trying to get ahead or survive."

Aside from making me feel a bit old, this statement was a nice revelation.

One statement from the article perhaps sums it all up: "Students have gone from the `me' generation, Generation X, to the `we' generation," Shaheen said.

(Source: Cornell University)

Here, courtesy of USA Today, is yet another piece on competitive admissions. Why highlight it at all? In case you missed the other 4,178 similar articles run over the past few months.

Nothing sells like rejection. Of course, never mind that only a small fraction of college-bound students actually apply and go to elite colleges. Most institutions aren't even competitive, and plenty accept almost everyone with a Pulse.

But let's continue to obsess about the ones who say "no" most often. That's more fun.

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(Source: Yale University)

According to a Washington Post article, gaining admission to the most selective colleges and universities is tougher than ever. At the very least, it's as hard as it's been in recent memory. So if you got in, great. Congratulate yourself. If not, take solace in knowing you're in the majority.

Here's an edited excerpt from the Post piece:

It's not all in your head. It is harder to get into college this year.

College admissions experts warned, however, against making too much of the space crunch in the best-known schools. Only about 10 percent of U.S. colleges are highly selective, and most schools accept most of the students who apply. Even at high schools that felt the pinch of what looks like the hardest admissions year yet, students were admitted to colleges that appeared to have what they needed.

You can find the full article here.

Good news for soon-to-be graduates: the job market is looking up for college grads.

Career Builder's annual survey showed much brighter prospects and opportunities waiting for college graduates.

"The increased demand for educated labor is translating into a robust hiring outlook and bigger payoff for college graduates entering the job market this year," said Brent Rasmussen, chief operating officer of careerbuilder.com.

Twenty-seven percent of hiring managers anticipate increasing starting salaries for recent college graduates in 2006 and only 5 percent plan to decrease them. Thirty-four percent of hiring managers expect to offer between $20,000 and $30,000 and 28 percent expect to offer between $30,000 and $40,000. An additional 10 percent will offer between $40,000 and $50,000 and 7 percent will offer more than $50,000.

Of course, as Mark wisely pointed out, the purpose of college should not be solely economical. In fact, if you look at what companies are most seeking in future employees, they include personal and motivational qualities that should prosper in college, job or no job.

But of course, the promise of financial security doesn't hurt!

(Photo Source: Texas A&M)

The letters have started pouring in. Finally. After years of hard work and months spent agonizing over admission essays and where to apply, the colleges are finally answering back.

Whether you're basking in the glow of an admission letter or slinking through the shadow of rejection, you finally know. And don't worry: you really will get in somewhere.

Now, thoughts turn from the possibility to the reality. How will you succeed in college? Survive professors, a heavy class Load, midterms, essays, and annoying roommates? Why did you ever decide to do this? Will there be any time left over for fun?

No matter how much time goes by, a college student's concerns remain the same, mostly centering on three main areas: academic, social, and financial. Who better to ask for help than the people who have already gone through it?

It's never too early to prepare, which is why we're beginning this multi-part series on Surviving College. Coming soon, tune in for tips. First up: time management, the quality that most makes the difference between academic and social success and failure.

And remember: you will survive college. You'll probably even like it a lot.

(Photo Source: Malaspina College)