I firmly hold the belief that every college student these days needs a computer. Of course, whether you go for the laptop or the desktop is up to you (I personally use a desktop). However, no matter what machine you’re using, there are certain applications that are a must have. Some are needed simply for school; others are required just to be a hip college student.
1. Microsoft Word – I use a Macintosh, but I still have Microsoft Office for the Mac. It’s an MS Word world, and college students should definitely have this application. Your professors will mail out things in word documents, and if you are sending papers to school computers, you’ll need that lovely .doc extension. It’s true that other word processing programs sometimes allow for conversion to Word format, but if you’re anything like me, the extra effort is almost not worth it.
2. PowerPoint – Yes you’ll need PowerPoint as well. If you go your entire college career without ever having to do a presentation, then you are more fortunate than I. PowerPoint may not be nearly as nice as some other presentation programs, but it gets the job done, and if you have to send it to a school computer, it will need to be compatible. Also, chances are, if you’re working in a group, the other members will also have it. You don’t want to be “that guy” who causes project issues because you don’t have the right application.
3. Excel– I list Microsoft Excel, but it’s not a requirement for every college student. However, it’s needed by many. If you are doing anything with business, statistics, or math, you’re probably going to be required to have Microsoft Excel. In fact, I had to take an entire business class about Microsoft Excel. It would have been quite complicated if I didn’t even have the software.
4. iTunes/Windows Media Player/Other – College students love their music, it’s no secret. So, if you want to be cool, you better have a nice program to play music from your computer, and transmit songs to your mp3 player. If you’re rocking the iPod, then iTunes is a necessity. If you’re a rebel with a Zune, then the windows application will be your saving grace. Either way, you don’t want to be the one to ruin the party because you don’t have any music on your computer.
5. Mozilla Firefox – Alas, I have made my allegiance known. I think Internet Explorer is terrible, and most college students agree with me. If you hate spyware, don’t like viruses, and like neat add-ons, and the ability to customize your web browsing experience, then Firefox is your best bet. Sure, with Windows Vista, Internet Explorer now has “tabbed browsing” (something Firefox has had for years), but wouldn’t you rather go with the innovator, not the imitator? However, keep in mind that some professors and/or colleges may still be in the dark ages of web browsing, so having Internet Explorer is not always a bad thing, just prepare to run a virus check immediately afterward.
6. Azureus/BitTorrent/Other – I’m not advocating illegal downloading, because no one should ever infringe upon the rights of millionaire artists who need the money for their extra mansions. However, many college students, which don’t include myself because I would never download a movie or album illegally, like to download such things. In order to get your torrents, you’ll need a program, so make sure you get a good one. However, be forewarned that the RIAA is cracking down on college students everywhere, and have enlisted the help of some universities to turn over names associated with dorm IP addresses. The last thing you want as a financially strapped college student is a lawsuit on your hands. The point is, download at your own risk, and make sure you have a good program. I recommend Azureus, but then again, I wouldn’t know because I’ve never used it.
7. Google Earth – Well, I suppose college students don’t need this application, but it sure helped me when I was a lost and lonely freshman on one of the biggest campuses in the country. Plus, you can look at cool landmarks, such as your University’s Stadium, from a bird’s eye view. Now that makes it an application worth getting!
8. iPhoto/Kodak EasyShare/Other – Photo programs are definitely a must in college. How else can one organize all those neat photos taken at parties, sporting events, and exciting college vacations? It’s nice to have a great application that may also allow you to eliminate redeye, so your friends won’t untag themselves when you upload it to Facebook.
9. Adobe Acrobat Reader – Professors have an obsession with PDF files. I’m not quite sure why, but the result of this obsession is that you need this application in order to view them. If you don’t have it, then get it post haste!
10. A Calendar Program – I use iCal, but any other application will work great. In college you have a lot to do, and organization is a huge key to success. I recommend updating it frequently and marking in all your class times for the semester or quarter. If you have an appointment, or even something as simple as lunch with a friend, have it handy.
11. Widgets and Gadgets of All Kinds – These fun little applications can be dead useful. Search around for specific ones that can help you. I usually always use a sticky note widget, a weather widget, a Google search widget, and a computer status monitor widget. Find what will help you the most and use it. Widgets and Gadgets are a fantastic invention.
12. Thunderbird/Other E-mail Client – My e-mail client (Thunderbird) is one of my favorite computer applications. It makes my life so much easier. At the moment, I have 4 e-mail addresses that all send mail to Thunderbird. When you are in college, you will generally have at least two e-mail addresses. Your university will most likely provide you with one, and you may have one from high school. If you are really smart, you’ll also set up a Gmail account. Having one application that can put all those e-mails in one place is quite convenient, and beats significant time wasted logging in and out constantly.
13. AIM/MSN/iChat/Adium/Other Messaging Application – College Students like to keep in touch, and although Facebook is trying to steal yet another market with their new messaging system, nothing beats the old school AIM. If you don’t have a screen name, you should definitely get one. How else are you going to IM your roommate who’s sitting in the same room (a favorite pastime of mine, having whole AIM conversations with my roommate sitting a mere 10 feet away).
14. World Book Encyclopedia/ Other Type of Encyclopedia – In college, you will most likely have a plethora of research assignments. While going to the library is sometimes unavoidable, for the smaller projects (and even to add to some big ones), having an encyclopedia handy is always a plus. If you’re making a PowerPoint presentation about a specific topic, you can sometimes get movies and pictures to add. While the internet, and Wikipedia are great tools, some professors are against any type of internet resource that doesn’t come from a site with a .edu address. Therefore, with encyclopedia software, you can still get some high quality information to add to your report from your very own desktop.
So there are 14 software applications that I feel every college student should have on their computers. Luckily, most computers already come with them installed, so the next step is to actually use them! If you don’t have anything on this list, then you might want to get with the times. You just might find that some applications can make your life much easier
May 11 2008 | College Advice and College Fun | No Comments »
It’s about that time of year when perspective college students around the country will be getting their acceptance, or rejection letters. By now, you probably know that if the envelope is nice and fat, full of pamphlets and the like, then you’re in. However, if it’s a thin little sheet of paper you receive, then you’re either waitlisted, or worse, rejected.
In truth, rejection is not the worst possible thing that could ever happen to you in your young life. With universities the way they are these days, prestigious schools get many, many more applicants than they could ever hope to accept. And as the applicant pools go, students seem to be getting better and better grades, doing more extracurricular activities than ever before, and it is simply becoming more difficult to distinguish one’s self from the pack. So, maybe you’ve just gotten that depressing letter that has the beginning “we regret to inform you,” (You probably think they don’t regret it as much as you do). If so, then read my tale of rejection, and maybe it will put some perspective on the situation.
The Story
I applied to four schools my senior year. I was accepted by two and rejected by two. As it turns out, I ended up attending the back-up school of my back-up school. My dream school was The University of Pennsylvania. Specifically, The Wharton School of Business. I fell in love from the moment I made my first campus visit. It was the school for me. It was where I could be successful, comfortable, and happy. When it came time to apply, I did everything in the book I was supposed to, and then some. I even had my grandfather (who was an alumni) write a letter of recommendation. I wrote what I thought was the most amazing college essay ever written. It was an incredible opus in which I talked about how much I loved Penn, how much I wanted to be a part of the tradition, and so on. Alas, April came, and I received my tiny envelope. They truly regretted to inform me that I was rejected. It was a tough application class, and I didn’t make the cut. I wasn’t even waitlisted. My SAT and ACT scores were in range. My GPA was above average. I held a job throughout High School, played football and volleyball, and was even in plays. I wondered how it could happen to me, and where I went wrong.
Needless to say, I was quite distraught. Then, less than a week later, my backup school, The University of Notre Dame sent me another thin letter. Worst of all, one of my best friends, whom I had a higher GPA than, and almost as high SAT score (with a higher ACT score) got accepted. Was I inadequate? Was I simply someone who had too lofty expectations? A multitude of questions and thoughts of self-doubt flooded my brain for weeks. I was truly depressed, and felt that I had failed. I was too focused on my failure to even be happy for my friend. I was convinced that my life would never amount to anything, because I wasn’t going to be a Penn Quaker, or a Fighting Irish.
With that in mind, I had to choose between Purdue University and The Ohio State University. I decided to become a Buckeye, and, to make a long story short, I’m extremely happy I did so. I’ve had some great learning experiences, and created memories that will last a lifetime. I’ve experienced things that never would have been possible had I attended my first two choices. In fact, my freshman year I had the opportunity to go see my Buckeyes defeat the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Fiesta Bowl in Arizona. Sure, in a different world I would have been standing on the other sideline, but it sure was sweet to cheer along with the victorious side. After the game, when I was singing the Alma Mater along with the fans, band, and football team, I felt like I was where I belonged all along.
The Moral
Looking back on it, over three years ago, I had the wrong idea about college. The college you go to does not make you who you are. It can certainly help mold you and set you off in the right direction in your adult life, but it doesn’t complete you. Dream schools are great, but they are not the end-all, be-all of colleges. Simply because some report ranks a college high in a certain area doesn’t mean that you are nothing if you don’t attend that specific school.
College is supposed to be a personal journey. College is all about learning and growing. Your dream school can certainly help you do that. However, those back-up schools you might be snubbing could probably be just as successful in helping you achieve your goals.
If you get a rejection letter from a school you had your heart set on, don’t think of it as the end of the world. As lame as it might sound, think of it as a new beginning. In the hustle and bustle of today’s world, it seems that too many people get caught up with rankings, hiring rates, and other numbers that really don’t say much about who they’ll become. Who is more successful, the Harvard graduate who scrapes by with C’s and ends up getting a dead-end job working for some company, or the state-school graduate who works hard, makes an impact at his or her university, and uses college as a time to grow into a successful adult? It’s all about what you DO in college, not what college you attend. One movie I love that concerns college is Orange County. I don’t want to give away too much if you haven’t seen it, but the idea that your college doesn’t define you, and that you don’t need to go to a certain school to be successful is central to the film’s plot.
Remember, those admissions officers don’t really know you, they only have a glimpse of what you’ve done in high school via your application. They could be missing out on one of the best students to ever walk through their door. Just because some person looking at a piece of paper, trying to determine if you are worthy of admission, decides that you are not, doesn’t mean you’re a failure. Also, being rejected from your school of choice doesn’t always have to be the end of the story. You can always work hard and attempt to transfer, or take a year off and re-apply. Remember, if life closes a door on you, it will usually open a window. The bottom line is, if things didn’t turn out the way you wanted them to, it’s not the end of the world. No letter can make or break you. It’s what you do when confronted with adversity that defines you. So, if you’re reading this, having recently been rejected, you have two options:
1. Feel sorry for yourself, and hold regret that you didn’t work hard enough, and rue the day you tried applying to your target school.
2. Take the rejection as an opportunity and run with it.
After wasting time with 1, I eventually chose 2. Which one will you choose?
April 30 2008 | Admissions and College Advice and Pre-College Decisions | No Comments »
Many, but not all, college campuses have some sort of Greek life. There are varying degrees of involvement. For example, Williams has the highest percentage of Greek involvement. If you go to a college that has Greek life, chances are someone will try to recruit you. A lot of people have opinions both positive and negative about Greek organizations. From personal experience, I was one of those people who always thought “I’ll never become a frat boy” and “sorority girls are attractive, but unintelligent.” Then along came a cool guy I went to high-school with. He was president of the chapter at Ohio State, and invited me to come out to a few Rush events. Well, as it turns out, the guys were all pretty cool, and I decided to pledge. How I arrived at the decision was simply by looking at the pros and cons and doing what I thought was best for me. So here are the pros and cons of joining a sorority or fraternity.
Cons
1. Dues – This is College and Finance, so money is the primary concern. Costs of membership aren’t universal at all. Therefore, it’s important to evaluate your own situation. Be aware that you must pay your dues, or face the consequences (again, these vary depending on the organization). Many fraternities and sororities offer payment plans; some even have scholarships, which can help offset costs (if you’re getting extra money for college, you can use leftovers for dues). Evaluate if it’s cheaper to live in house, or live out of the house and pay dues. Essentially, before you make your decision, consider the costs.
2. Stigma – The thoughts I used to have about Greek Life are not uncommon. Depending on your circle of friends, some people will certainly look at you differently. In my own circle of friends from high school, I have been very hesitant to share my decision. Be prepared to be judged at times if you’re wearing your letters around campus (either by people not in Greek Life, or by people from other Fraternities/Sororities). I grew up, and realized that you can’t judge people based on one idea, but there’s no guarantee that other people will. Consider your parents as well (especially if they are going to be paying for it). Some parents will not have been in Greek Life, and may think the only reason you’re joining is to party, which would obviously make them less open to the idea.
3. Drama – There are social, cultural, and service fraternities and sororities, as well as many more. In any event, there will be drama. Large groups of people from different backgrounds can often lead to drama, so prepare for it. Not to mention, any rivalries with other Greek organizations on campus and that’s quite a bit of social dynamics to deal with. If you hate drama with a passion, I wouldn’t suggest living in-house. If you’re required to live in-house, then learn to deal with your hatred, or consider not joining.
4. Pledge Process – I hesitate to list this as a Con, because it is an experience. Processes are different amongst organizations, but the general consensus is that it does suck to be a pledge at times. However, I’ve had a lot of fun as well. The process is supposed to be difficult though, so be aware of that. If you hate listening to authority, doing what you’re told, doing anything you would not want to do normally, and then you should strongly consider not going Greek. Hazing is condemned by all Greek organizations (that I’m aware of), but everyone knows that a certain level will most likely take place. Depending on how you deal with it, it can be a very big con, a minor annoyance, or enjoyable.
Pros
1. Parties – Basically, parties are one of the best things about going Greek. You’ll have access to many more social events (even if your fraternity or sorority isn’t technically in the “social” category). You’ll meet a lot more people, and will probably not have any reason to ever be bored on a Friday night. For me, personally, this was one of the biggest deciding factors. Since I decided to live off-campus, my social activity dropped considerably. Being in a Fraternity was a great way to get me to stop playing WoW and interact with the real world.
2. Leadership Positions – If you want to hold a position of leadership, than being in a Greek Organization is a great way to do it. There are many positions (although they differ amongst organizations) that require steadfast leadership, intelligence, and hard work. If leading, organizing, planning, etc. appeals to you than Greek Life might be right up your alley.
3. Resume Building – While this isn’t a good reason to join if it is your only reason, it is definitely a plus. With holding leadership positions, you can certainly help that resume look better. Just being involved with something, or doing service can really help resume building. It can definitely put you on the right track to getting a job right out of college. Many fraternities and sororities have service activities that members must participate in. If you’re interested in simply giving back to the community, then it might be a good way to give back, AND help your resume in the process. Remember, if building your resume is the only reason you want to become a part of Greek life, you may want to re-think your decision.
4. Connections – Speaking of jobs, being in a sorority or fraternity CAN definitely help you gain employment, internships, or at the very least an interview or two. Depending on the scope of your organization, the career benefits can be tremendous. Whenever you become a member of a Nation-wide Fraternity or Sorority, you become immediately connected with every other member (both active, and alumni) outside your own chapter. The stories are endless of people who randomly meet a member from another chapter and end up getting offered jobs on the spot.
5. Life-long friendships – Sometimes people have difficulty meeting people in college and forging life long friendships (especially if they go to very large universities). Fraternities and sororities are a great way to meet new people and form friendships that last a lifetime. Sisterhood and brotherhood are two very emphasized areas in Greek life. As a result, many Greek members are committed to it. For those looking to forge great relationships, Greek life might be the way to go.
In the end, it comes down to a personal decision. There may be positives and negatives to joining a Greek organization (as with anything in life). It turned out that for me, the positives far outweighed the negatives. However, that may not always be the case. One important thing to keep in mind is to never make assumptions, and never be afraid to try things out for yourself. So, if you’re thinking about going Greek, hopefully this post provided you with some useful information.
March 14 2008 | College Advice | No Comments »
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