Getting Religion – part two

A while back I shared my own experience exploring religion in college. This article by the Huffington Post’s religion editor provides excellent insight into how and why college can be such a breeding ground for religious exploration. With issues such as the proposed Islamic center near Ground Zero dominating the news and national dialogues these days, now is as good a time as any to discuss religion as it pertains to today’s college students. So what do you think?What has been your experience with religion in college–or lack thereof? What was the spiritual and/or religious culture like on your campus? Share your thoughts below!

Neutral or not: The gender-neutral campus housing debate

Students are taking a very active role in examining the policies that shape their college experiences—I think that we’re going to see more universities look at gender-neutral housing among many other initiatives that matter to students.

Family Matters: The first parental visit

I thought it might be worthwhile to discuss that first parental visit after a new college student has gotten settled. For some it’s during the actual Family Weekend, for others it might have to do with a holiday, and sometimes parents just plain want to see their a while after that hectic move-in day in August.

For What it’s Worth: The Value of College

As Elizabeth mentioned, February is a month filled with opportunities for budding relationships (college acceptance letters) and heartbreak. (sigh…rejection letters). In some cases, these same letters may force some soon-to-be graduating high schools seniors to revisit a question they once confidently answered months before penning rough draft personal statements. What’s more, the answer to this question may not arrive after one discussion. The question is simple: “What’s the value of a college degree?” Using qualitative and quantitative analysis, Wall Street Journal columnist Sue Shellenbarger attempted to answer that question. Below you will find excerpts from her December 2009 article as well as some great BetterGrads-inspired commentary. Finding work you love. College degrees can guide students’ career choices in subtler ways. Jason Wotman, 24, loves his work as a co-founder of Tailwaiters, a Great Neck, N.Y., startup that runs tailgate parties for clients at sporting events and concerts. “It’s mine, it’s [...]

If the School Fits…

The Los Angeles Times ran an article, where fashion columnist Adam Tschorn interviewed Neil Patrick Harris from “How I Met your Mother” who discussed how much he loves his Paul Smith and Dolce & Gabbana suits, because they fit and flatter his tall and narrow frame like no other. The article reminded me of the time when I purchased a suit the summer before my first year of college. Though it was one size above my true suit size, the store manager said that I would grow into it. After four years, and some occasional ribbing by former co-workers who made a habit of noting that my suit was too big each time I wore it to work, I never, “grew into my suit.” At BetterGrads, we think the idea of a great fit extends beyond the fashion world. Around this time of year, when prospective students begin to receive [...]

When disaster strikes: connecting college campuses to the rest of the world

A college campus can also feel a bit stifling at times, especially when compared with significant real world events that put things into perspective. Many U.S. universities are taking action to aid the people of Haiti in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake.

New Year, New Academic Resolutions

I used to make a whole slew of resolutions at the start of every semester–some worked better than others.

College is… duck confit.

Saul Sutcher, like many college students, grew tired of the uninspiring offerings of cafeteria food. But instead of wallow away with “overcooked, unseasoned pasta that lies on the plate as mush,” Saul used his cooking skills and entrepreneurial vision to launch Cafe Norris, a once-a-week gourmet cafe offering such fares as duck ragu, pancetta-wrapped quail, and tarte aux pommes for dessert. In an interview, Saul details this awesome venture and describes how his experiences in college helped him achieve his gourmet goals.

The original article is well-worth a read (find out how a top-notch summer internship helped Saul prepare for dishing the goods at Cafe Norris). Last week, I caught up with Saul to learn more about this awesome venture and find out how his experiences in college helped him achieve his gourmet goals.

Rock Bottom to Rock Solid: How I Learned to Love College

A Wonderful Beginning When you start college, it can be easy to lose track of why you went there and what you’re really there for. Starting in college across the country, either I lost sight of that for a little while, or the reasons I went cross country weren’t the right ones. I was a freshman at Occidental, who was going to be a Political Science major in pursuit of a Law degree down the line because a law degree, even if I didn’t want to be a practicing lawyer, would be good graduate degree to have. It made sense on paper and when I answered my family and other adults with what I’d be doing at college. I thought it made sense to me. The problem was, I didn’t give half a damn about politics. I found it difficult to care about an American political system whose rules, classifications [...]

Questioning the questions–on college tours

When I went on college tours, I asked a lot of questions—just not always the right ones. We spend so much time discussing majors and minors, perks and places that it’s easy to miss some crucial details of a college visit. Here are some aspects of college life that I hardly thought about but are really worth considering: Laundry facilitiesContrary to popular belief, college students actually do laundry (sometimes). And when they do, it’s helpful if the facilities are easily accessible, clean, in good working order, and do not require 17 quarters to do a single load of laundry. On-campus academic supportI only thought to ask about the professors, but they’re not the only ones doing the teaching on college campuses these days. Upperclassmen are frequently employed as tutors in their areas of strength and can be a real life-saver the night before an exam or while you’re struggling with [...]