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 ...

Snowed in? Flights too expensive? Mom and dad took off on an exotic getaway? Scheduled to work? There are a few reasons you may not be able to get home for the holidays this year but there are also a few ways you can still enjoy the time. Learn how to cook a turkey. What’s Thanksgiving without a turkey? Although it’s ...

Seeing the University of Virginia’s men’s basketball team make it to the second round of the NCAA tournament brought me back my own basketball career. Though it was short-lived, I made good use of my two-inch vertical leap and attained virtual stardom in my 175-person high school. Oh yes, my fingers were like the jaws of steel traps. My speed was ...

“Sing in me, muse, and through me tell the story of the graduating high school senior about to embark upon her college odyssey.” –My modified version of Homer’s The Odyssey. Homer made his epic poems, The Iliad and The Odyssey, unique by focusing on different characters and plots in each poem. But they’re cohesive because The Iliad lays the foundation for ...

Late one night, as I bent bleary-eyed over my sewing machine, I was feeling the pressure that comes from taking on more than one can handle. With the foot pedal pressed to the floor, I sewed seam after seam, intent on finishing my family’s seven costumes for the church Nativity pageant. As I stitched, the thought of my unfinished book proposal ...

In high school, I went to tennis camp for three years. I figured I'd come out with a sweet backhand but ended up coming out with better sportsmanship, while my form stayed the same. In other words, I expected one thing and ended up with something else. Here are a few unexpected things I got out of each of my important ...

Traditionally, marriage comes after education. But today, there is no normal timeline, and the two often overlap. Every married couple who has one spouse in school has a story as unique as their situation. Still, there are predictable benefits and pitfalls most couples should consider before combining matrimony and matriculation. Here's advice from three couples who have been through it. Cory ...

While some students’ eyes may glaze over when their parents recall their college days, these students have an advantage. First-generation college students who are the first in their immediate family to attend college face a unique set of challenges. Challenges of First-Generation Students Without guidance from a parent who experienced college, first-generation students are at a disadvantage. From filling out applications ...

Jim Davis, creator of the Garfield comic strip, once wrote, “I could wallpaper a room with my rejection slips.” From an interior-design standpoint, not such a great idea. In terms of maintaining an optimistic viewpoint, also not the best plan. Yet, I think Jim’s on to something. There are always going to be times when things are … stacked against the ...

Several weeks ago, a guest speaker in my “publishing your writing” class shared his insights regarding creativity and the writing process. He surprised me when he admitted that becoming a father was one of the best things that had ever happened to his writing. “From that point on,” he said, “it was the end of narcissism.” Unexpectedly, his vantage point changed ...

Where to Find the Hottest Homecomings Homecoming season is upon us. But which schools boast the biggest and best homecoming bashes around? Here are our top picks for Homecomings across the country. Howard University Homecoming There’s a reason Howard’s Homecoming is mentioned in the rap lyrics of hip hop stars like Ludacris and Biggie. And yes, it does live up to ...

College orientation sessions are important because they help entering students learn about the culture and expectations of an institution and the many programs it offers. "Orientation is a time for a student and his or her family to take a personal journey into a new life—to try it on," says Jeanine Ward-Roof, dean of students at Florida State University and an ...

With people spending more time indoors to escape the cold, the flu runs rampant this time of year, and there's no shortage of it among the people I know. But what's even more prevalent this time of year is an affliction that probably affects more teenagers than anything else. Its symptoms are obvious, its potential for damage is great, and unlike ...

Did you always long for field trips when you were a kid? I did. It seemed that field trips took too long to come around and never lasted long enough. When I was younger, my favorite field trips were the ones that sparked my imagination for weeks. As nontraditional students, we can take advantage of learning opportunities all around us. It’s ...

My first day of college, just over 20 years ago, was filled with the anticipation and excitement of every other college freshman. I was on my own and preparing for success in my double majors of education and business. Months of preparation and planning culminated in the moment I sat in my first college class, Business 101. Perhaps it was the ...

Ever look at successful people and wonder how they got there? Next Step asked five celebs their advice on how to have a successful college experience. Here’s what they want you to know. "I went to Indiana University at Bloomington. I wasn’t the first one in my family to go there—actually, my parents met there! Grades are so important, but if ...

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 ...

College can be tough. But it also makes for some of the best years of your life. Debating going to the party or doing your paper? Not getting along with your roommate? Fighting the freshman 15? Been there. Done that. And we can help. We’ve been around the block a few times and we’re offering up all the helpful tips and ...

Final exams ended today and the fall semester of 2007 at Hofstra University is officially finished. We get five-and-a-half weeks off between the fall and spring semesters, basically half of December and all of January (unless you decide to take a winter class). FIVE-AND-A-HALF WEEKS. To me, it's no longer a concern. As an RA, I have to come back early ...

“As you walk across the stage—take a bow and hear the applause. And as the curtain falls, just know you did it all the best that you knew how. You can hear them cheering now, so let a smile and show your teeth because you know you lived it well.” – This is Not an Exit, by Saves the Day I ...