One of the most important steps in applying to college is figuring out which ones you're going to apply to (go figure). I haven't made up an official list of colleges I'm applying to yet, but I do know what I'm interested in. My views have gone through a long evolution, and if you look at the past three years, I've ...

“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically… Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” Martin Luther King Jr. February is Black History Month, and MonsterCollege is celebrating the event by taking a look at the most famous black colleges in the nation. Long before Barack Obama was President, these ...

Throughout the past decade, the average cost of tuition has been steadily increasing at 5.6% each year, according to College Board. College costs continue to outpace inflation rates, causing families to make tough calls when searching and choosing the best education experience. Sometimes it results in students having to sacrifice their first choice. Other times, the decision is even more difficult, ...

If your roommate dies, you’ll get a 4.0. You know you’ve heard that rumor—and wondered if maybe, just maybe, it’s true. What about other college rumors? Our experts debunk these myths and give you the real scoop. Rumor: I can’t afford college.Busted: With scholarships and grants, few students pay the entire advertised sticker price of college. And with a little thought ...

If you're like most people, you flip to your prospective school when you see the college ranking editions of U.S. News, The Princeton Review and other publications. We all want to see how our choices measure up. But what do those numbers mean? How big of a role should a college's ranking play when selecting a school? Wealth of Information Want ...

Are you a realist or a go-getter? The answer could define your strategy for selecting your college of choice. There are three legs on the college application stool. You could apply to a "reach" school -- one you might get in. You could apply to a "safety" school -- one that you should easily get in. Or you could go after ...

You found it! The college of your dreams looks perfect ... in the catalog. But you can't find all the answers about your school in brochures. Contacting the school and asking the right questions will give you a better idea if this is the college for you. Academics and Life After College Your college should help you reach your goals in ...

On one very lazy Sunday afternoon, I went shopping at one of my favorite stores, Barnes and Noble. I could get lost and spend hours looking at random books, CDs, journals and other various accessories in this magnificent store. However, the biography section of the bookstore caught my immediate attention during this shopping trip. On each biography, I saw the pictures ...

Insects and people. Crop sciences. Cinema studies. What do these things have in common? All are classes taught in liberal arts and sciences colleges. Many students aren’t clear about the liberal arts and sciences—and why majoring in liberal arts may be advantageous to their careers. Most universities have a college of liberal arts and sciences that offer a wide range of ...

When August and September roll around, it’s just as difficult to say goodbye to your furry friends as it is Mom and Dad. Unfortunately, the majority of college campuses don’t permit students to house pets in on-campus housing, but some colleges across the country are breaking the mold and merging pet life with student life. After all, pets are known to ...

This December, I'll be graduating from Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan, with a B.S. in Health Communications with minors in public relations and chemistry. It's been a long road but the reward is in sight. It's such a feeling of accomplishment to know you've succeeded in meeting one of your goals and that you're qualified to enter the field ...

When I was little, my parents would never allow me to make decisions. At restaurants, I had to eat the vegetable medley instead of those delectable french fries. When we went shopping, we had to buy life’s necessities instead of going to the toy store. At the movie theater, I couldn’t see those PG-13 movies which looked so cool. Eventually, I ...

While some 98 percent of Hispanic high school students say they'd like to attend college, according to a new study, only 25 percent of Hispanics are currently enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report. There are many reasons for the low numbers. But one of the main factors is the responsibilities many Hispanic students say ...

I often get asked why I chose Dartmouth. In my mind, there are too many reasons to name. I guess I should start with senior year and the exciting, stress-free college application process. I had gone through high school with the dream/delusion that I would go to Harvard. I had been the classic overachiever in high school, taking part in everything ...

More than 4000 choices. Not sure of the price. Everyone telling you what to do. It’s picking a college! It’s amazing that anyone ever picks the right college. Let the PRO- fessors – the folks who know – give their best, insider advice about how to pick. Here are six more tips (go here for the original six): 1. Reach for ...

Winter Term may be a foreign concept to you, but the trend is catching on at colleges across the country. Some college students don't jump right back into economics and art history at the beginning of January. Instead, they're encouraged to take part in Winter Term, which offers students the chance to explore education outside of the classroom. In fact, Winter ...

Though this winter has been unseasonably warm in most areas of the U.S., it’s still been winter, meaning you may have spent more time getting lost in hours of TV dramas and Facebook than appropriate. But spring is just around the corner, and with that, it’s time to spring into action in your college and scholarship search. Whether you’re a high ...

There’s a saying that if you visit a campus in the fall, you’re sure to “fall for it.” While that may be true, the chance that you might sell your soul to a school too early shouldn’t keep you from visiting college campuses. In fact, the fall semester is the best time to visit, whether you’re a junior or senior in ...

I am applying to journalism schools. One part of this pernicious process is taking the Graduate Record Exam. In an attempt to get GREady (Big laughs!), I’ve been diligently reviewing flashcards and steadily working math problem sets. The prep books say studiers should include learned material in daily life, so I’ve incorporated some rather outlandish words here which are, according to ...

When it comes to diversity on a college's campus, enrollment percentages and brochures can't tell the whole story. How can prospective students dig deeper? Courses and Programs "Check the availability of different classes that reflect diversity, check out the student organizations," says John Kula, director of Penn State University's Upward Bound Program. Look for student-run clubs that interest you listed on ...