If someone had told me a year ago that within the next few months I would be returning to college after an 18-year break, I would have insisted, “My life is way too crazy right now. There is no way I could do that until all my kids are grown and gone.” A year ago, I had just given birth to ...

Textbooks, school papers, empty lunchboxes and pencils litter the kitchen table. Accordion folders, library books and backpacks filled to overflowing spill onto the entryway floor. My laptop and course work lay buried beneath the chaotic jumble. It must be that glorious time of day when my children and I all sit down together to bond over the familiar constant in our ...

The back-to-school jitters kicked in just as I climbed into the elevator. Trying to appear calm and self-assured, I surveyed the swarm of younger faces around me. I made my way to the fourth floor classroom for my first “publishing your writing” class. Arriving early, I tentatively chose a seat and waited for my professor and classmates to trickle in. Fully ...

Broken furniture. Outdated appliances. Student rental properties aren't always in the most pristine condition. But that doesn't give you a free pass to walk away if you knock a three-foot hole in the wall. All tenants have certain obligations to their landlord. The lease you signed does more than state your move-in date and rent. It also contains a slew of ...

The good and bad things of life lie on a spectrum. At the top: scoring the winning goal in a hockey game, baking a perfect soufflé, giving someone a gift they’ve been secretly yearning for. At the bottom: kicking puppies, Gwen Stefani’s new CD, genocide. But below that, much farther down, comes one thing more evil than even Gwen’s misguided attempts ...

Professional athletes have long been revered for their on-field heroics, their off-the-field flamboyance, and the larger-than-life persona they project to the fans who support their equally large salaries. From Derek Jeter to Terrell Owens, Lebron James to Adam “Pacman” Jones, and Lance Armstrong to John Daly, today’s sports heroes hold great sway over impressionable, young student-athletes who follow their every move and word, ...

College graduation is behind you. You’re probably worried about getting a job and finding a new apartment, but have you thought about health insurance? You may find yourself suddenly uninsured once you get your diploma. New college graduates are among the least likely groups to have health insurance, according to the (NCHC). Most students are no longer covered by their parents’ ...

The next article in the series will focus on the who, what, when, where, why, and how of the NCAA Eligibility Center, formerly known as the NCAA Clearinghouse.  The History of D-I Eligibility Requirements The NCAA enacted Proposition 48 in 1986. With "prop 48", the NCAA established eligibility requirements that student-athletes had to meet upon signing a National Letter of Intent ...

Don’t lose the security deposit on your apartment or get evicted because you weren’t familiar with your rights and responsibilities. It pays to know your renter’s rights. Your Lease Your lease is a binding contract. If you are familiar with the terms of your lease and what the law requires of you and your landlord, you can avoid problems. Fail to ...

You've decided to continue your formal education. But how can you make college a success while still meeting work and family obligations? Check out these expert tips to help you during that all-important first term: Begin with classes that you feel confident about. Sure, it's good to get requirements out of the way. But don't feel you must tackle the most ...

Great! You've finally found a few available apartments and you've made an appointment to take a look. But what should you look for? Be sure to get the full scoop before you sign the lease. Payments How much is monthly rent? How much is the security deposit? When will you get your deposit back? If you have roommates, do you each ...

The highways and byways are congested with overloaded hatchbacks and rental trucks making their way to State U this time of year. Whether your ride back to college is a Buick you inherited from gramps or one of those orange-and-white moving trucks from the corner gas station, you've got the same challenge: maximizing the space and arriving without damaging the vehicle ...

Do you hover over your kids with anxious anticipation of fulfilling an unmet need? Your intentions may be honorable, but the behavior may earn you an unwanted moniker – helicopter parent. Helicopter parents are obsessed with their children and become over-involved in their lives. They overstep their bounds, cross the line and downright break the sound barrier of acceptable parental participation. ...

Living Room Sofa Throw pillows Chairs (canvas director's chairs are foldable) Coffee table End table TV/VCR/DVD TV stand Stereo Phone Answering machine Floor lamp Table lamp Bookcase Shelving Stacking crates Sheet to cover couch (for parties) Plant Curtains/blinds Fan Rug (if floor isn't carpeted) Coat rack Doormat Picture-hanging hooks Posters/art Power strip Extension cord Dry erase board (to leave messages ...

Ebook readers work well for pleasure reading, but need some improvements in usability before they will be able to replace textbooks on a widespread basis. The potential cost-savings are more limited than most people expect. I am an early adopter of technology and gadgetry. I purchased two Sony PRS-500 Readers when they first became available: one for my wife and one ...

We have once again been bamboozled by so-called leaders in whom we have placed our trust. Many of us have fallen into yet another trap, and we have come to realize that it is our responsibility to control the process in order to make our opportunities bountiful.  I want every student-athlete to feel empowered to do something positive regardless of their ...

Your landlord has got you covered if your apartment burns down, right? Wrong. You may not think your stuff is worth a lot, but you may change your mind if you are forced to replace everything. Renter’s insurance is an important and inexpensive safeguard against damage to your belongings. Anyone who rents can purchase renter’s insurance. Even students who live in ...

Maybe it was delivered to your mailbox. Maybe you saw it on a poster. Maybe a friend told you about it. You have a choice to make about the upcoming rush event: Should you go Greek? Deciding to join a fraternity or sorority will have a big impact on your college experience. Even if you're sure you want to join, the ...

You'd like to take a few months or even a year after college to do something off the beaten career path, but you're worried about the effect on your job prospects after your self-imposed sabbatical is over. Take heart: Such a break can often be empowering and beneficial to your career. "If an employer thinks you wasted a year by biking ...

One of the most important issues in choosing a college is often the most overlooked: the safety and security of your collegiate environment. Different universities handle safety differently, depending on their location and campus size. A college located in a major city might be more aggressive about safety than a school in the suburbs. (However, don't assume that safety is a ...