Universities Weblog

On July 1st, Student Loans from the federal government will
rise two percent, which can add up to quite a lot: for instance, an additional $10,000 by the time you pay off a $50,000 loan. Ouch.

The steeper rates will translate into higher monthly payments for borrowers.

For example, Sallie Mae currently offers fixed loans with rates permanently locked in as low as 4.75 percent. That's far below the 7.14 percent variable rate students who've already graduated will begin paying next month.

Be sure to contact your lender before July 1st to arrange a fixed rate loan package!

(Photo Source: Bauer Photos)

If you love studying the past (who doesn't?) and need some extra funds (who doesn't?!) then you'll want to check out this recently announced scholarship. It is sponsored by the Washington-Wilkes historical Foundation, and will give a deserving student $1,000. Not bad! It's nice to see one of the 'less popular' majors getting some respect.

Good luck, and if you know of any scholarship opportunities for college students, please share!

Harvard President Larry Summers dominated the news recently, after he made several ignorant, sexist remarks regarding the role of women in higher education. He then went on to make several more blunders. (Our wonderful writer Mark produced several excellent pieces on Summers in this blog.)

Summers has since resigned, but he can't erase the ugliness he left behind. Which apparently, was quite a bit. Just read this scathing article from The Crimson coup.

Probably the first sign that Larry Summers was in more than his usual trouble was the standing ovation the faculty gave to Bill Kirby, the dean the Harvard president had just forced out.

The full story is more complicated. Larry Summers was determined to disenfranchise the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and amass power in his office-in himself. But his often heavy-handed attempts to do so fueled a broad-based protest against his leadership.

What do you think? Is Summers getting what he deserves, or have people been too hard on him?

Perhaps they are in the area of studying abroad. Though many an American student has waxed poetic about experiencing college in the beauty of far-away lands, not very many seem to be doing so.

Students in 'sub-African' nations, for example, far exceed North American students in numbers when it comes to studying abroad.

Between 1999 and 2004, the number of mobile students worldwide surged by 41 per cent from 1.75 million to 2.5 million, according to the Digest, which says this "reflects the rapid and overall expansion of high education."

"What this report shows is that the real dynamic in tertiary education is coming from African, Arab and Chinese students," says Institute Director Hendrik van der Pol. "They are the driving force behind the internationalization of higher education."

Why do you think there is such a difference? Are North American students less motivated to explore, or is it something else? Have you ever studied abroad? Would you like to?

(Image Source: SMU)

Multi-million dollar contracts for many male coaches of successful college sports teams are not unusual, but a woman coach has never earned even one million. Until now.

The University of Tennessee has rewarded Lady Vols women's Basketball Coach Pat Summitt with a six-year contract extension and a landmark compensation package for her sport. Summitt becomes the first women's coach to break the $1 million barrier.

Summitt just completed her 32nd season as the Lady Vols coach. She surpassed the 900-victory plateau and currently stands as the winningest coach in Division I with 913 victories.

It is wonderful news, but should it really have taken 32 seasons?

(Photo Source: IPHF)

Many students find high school boring, an intellectual abyss. Perhaps you should leave high school, and go
straight to college.

Many students are doing just that. Hundreds of universities and community colleges–including those I teach at–admit high school students to begin their college courses early. Several of my students had already earned enough college credits to enter their junior year of college by the time they officially graduated high school! Some colleges, such as Rock College of Bard, are developing programs that will allow full admission into college right after the 10th grade.

Some students just aren't cut out for four years of high school. They are bright and motivated but have academic interests beyond the high school curriculum and are more independent than most of their peers. To these sophomores and juniors, the idea of waiting another year or two to start college feels like a total waste of time.

If you're bored with high school, why not go ahead and take the next step?

(Photo: Gregory Robert Smith, 13-year-old college graduate)

Arguably the nation's best conservatory, Juilliard turns 100 this year. Happy birthday!

The New York City school attracts some of the best musicians, dancers and actors anywhere…that is, aspiring musicians, dancers and actors. The job market for these professions is highly competitive, to say the least. No guarantees, except hard work.

Still, one would think a Juilliard degree and the inherent networking connections should work in a graduate's favor, even in a tight market. But as a recent AP story pointed out, students are there for the love of their craft, not for potential monetary gains.

Said one student quoted in the article: "I'm moving into an apartment with two other guys – I get the living room. And then, I hope my cell phone rings – with jobs."

Good luck….

(Source: Columbia University)

When is $5 billion in the bank not enough? When you're Columbia, evidently.

Sitting on $5.2 billion already, Columbia hopes to raise another $4 billion over seven years in an upcoming campaign. Of course, not all of that $4 billion will be endowed, and most of the university's existing endowment is restricted for specific purposes.

Still, the point is that the rich continue to seek more riches. Columbia has to keep pace with its Ivy brethren and other elites, building the best facilities and attracting the best students and faculty. You certainly can't survive on $5 billion, just like a pro athlete making $10 million a year can't possibly feed his family.

Columbia's campaign will be the largest in the history of higher education. That is, until Harvard gets its act together and hires a permanent president. Then look for the university to announce a campaign even larger than Columbia's. After all, Harvard can't possibly compete with its current $25.5 billion endowment.

(Source: U. of Chicago)

Still waiting for that top-choice college to pluck you from its wait list? Bad news may lie ahead.

Consider this bit from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

It's shaping up to be another disappointing year for many students on college wait lists.

Don't be a pest. Show eagerness but don't pester admissions offices with phone calls and emails every day. "We've had kids who send us a postcard every day," says Charles deacon, dean of admissions at Georgetown, who frowns on the technique. "The best person to intercede for you is your guidance counselor," he says, unless you have established a relationship with an admissions person on the staff.

Read the full article here.

Now on to the dreaded, but necessary, evil: grammar. You must have expertise in this area or you will never be taken seriously as a writer. Grammar is the foundation your house of writing is built on, and without it, your structure will crumble.

Nothing is worse than being interested in a piece of writing, only to encounter bad grammar. Nothing pulls a reader out of the illusion faster than this lack of skill. It's like seeing a beautiful woman across the room, only to have her smile at you and reveal rotting teeth. Ruins the effect, doesn't it?