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 ...

On my first day of school, I feel a tingling in my fingers as I search through my closet for my black dress. I usually wear this gloomy-colored attire to funerals, but this dress will not witness any melancholy tears or expressions of farewell today. Bolles, my high school, carries an abiding tradition of letting the senior women wear black dresses ...

[photo:1158855] As you’re preparing for back to school this year, you already know there are certain must haves – from iPads to fashion – that just make this year so….2010. But what was hot in the 90’s—the decade you were likely born? Find out what high school kids were going crazy for as you were just making your way into the ...

The cherry blossoms are starting to fade and fall to the ground, reminding me that spring semester is nearly over. Summer break looms like a child’s birthday balloon buoyantly hovering above a crowded room. From this vantage point, the next 12 weeks seem like plenty of time to tackle those neglected home decorating projects, catch up on nearly 20 years of ...

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 ...

“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 ...

Every day I realize that I'm a senior. I know that probably sounds like a weird thing to say, but every day I have this enlightened moment where I say to myself "Whoa. This is my last year of high school. This is my last year of mandated public education." When I wasn't a senior, I heard seniors talk about missing ...

Four years is a long time. It hasn't seemed like it to me, but by June I will have been doing this high school bit for four years now. That thought has led me to ponder what these years have meant and will mean in the future ... of course I've learned a lot about endoplasmic reticuli and asymptotes and syllogisms ...

For a while, I thought that leaving for college was no big deal. I would see girls I know get together the night before someone’s departure and they would all ball their eyes out about how they’re going to miss each other. I would always casually snicker at the sight and thought of such an event. It seemed so silly to ...

It’s hot. Even though I’m a writer and I believe a good writer should be able to describe anything, there doesn’t seem to be an accurate way to record the feelings of a t-shirt sticking to the small of your back, slimy lines of sweat sliding down your neck, the grit of dirty feet from wearing sandals. It’s just hot ...

Learning how to deal with college professors and instructors is one of the many adjustments you'll make when you hit campus. They are different than most high school teachers and understanding them will make a difference. Your relationship with your professors is one of give and take. There are things that you want from them (knowledge and an "A"), but there ...

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 ...

What was once a time to party and kick back with friends has now become a time to give back and serve others – at least if MTV has anything to say about it. The network that infamously hosts annual Spring Break specials has put the party agenda aside this year in order to encourage college students to make a difference. ...

Are you afraid of losing touch with the old high school gang? Don’t be! In this modern day, it’s easier than ever to stay connected to loved ones – no matter how close or far apart you actually are. Sure, you’ll make new friends but that doesn't mean you have to lose touch with your old ones as a result. You ...

The celebration of New Year’s Day began in Ancient Rome, during which the day was dedicated to the Roman god, Janus. This god had two faces, and one looked into the past while the other looked ahead to the future. New Year’s Resolutions transpired soon after, and the typical resolution was to simply be nice to others. Since then, New Year’s ...

In 2007, Richard Wiseman, a psychologist at the University of Hertfordshire, conducted a study to test the commitment to New Year’s resolutions. His study found that roughly 78% of all people who make New Year’s resolutions fail to keep them. So how can you make 2013 different from the past few years? How can you keep your New Year’s resolutions for ...

As of July, Facebook reported having over 800 million users, according to the LA Times, which means chances are, your teachers are on Facebook too. So what happens when you want to “friend” them on Facebook? Some teachers accept friend requests from students while others ignore them. But regardless of whether or not your teacher would accept your request, it’s best ...

It’s no secret that students are held to an almost-impossible standard of perfection. This comes from many areas: parents, teachers and, mostly society. The pressure to succeed can become unbearable because, after all, nobody’s perfect. If you don’t think it’s a trend, you may want to open your eyes. Even in researching this article, it was amazing how many students commented ...

The end of August invokes quite a bit of “back-to-school” nostalgia for me. From my elementary school days to my last year of college, I have loved this time of year. It meant new notebooks, a clean slate and reunions with friends who were long lost over the summer. Now that I’ve been out of school for a few years, I’ve ...

You've known Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, etc. since you we're just a kid, but do you know who you're most like? Take this quiz to find out which reindeer's personality suits yours the most! [gate] Quizzes by Quibblo.com