As of late, society has adopted a curious fascination of the awkward. We laugh at Napoleon Dynamite and basically any Michael Cera character, and “that awkward moment when…” has become a popular introductory phrase for interesting Facebook statuses. But the word itself hasn’t changed very much and certainly hasn’t been changed into the kind of adjective you would want used to ...

Applying to colleges can be quite the juggling act; you are torn between senioritis and an astonishing amount of homework, commitments to your social life and family obligations, work, sports, extracurriculars, and the favorite among high school (and even more so college) students: sleep. [gate] On top of all those things, there is also so much that you have to consider ...

1. Pick a topic you’re passionate about. Your writing will be both easier and more genuine if you write about what you want to write about, instead of writing about what you think colleges want to hear. The most successful essays describe a moment of personal growth, difficulty, strength, or confidence, all of which people experience in vastly different ways. [gate] ...

The day you graduate from college may be one of the happiest days of your life. The sense of accomplishment, the acknowledgement of a job well done, the pat on the back from your family and peers elates you. The future looks so bright, until you begin to search for a new job and are met with rejection after rejection. Then ...

Harry Potter The Cupboard under the Stairs 4 Privet Drive Little Whinging, Surrey [phone number] [email address] EDUCATION: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (graduating in May 20__) [school address] • Top 8% of class • GPA 3.4 • Exceeded Expectations on OWLS • Currently a NEWT student ACTIVITIES: Quidditch team Seeker (1-6)* SPEW member (4-6) • The Society for the ...

I can never again poke fun at the cliche concept of girls locking themselves in their bathrooms and crying until they feel better. That was me, minutes after reading my decision letter from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: waitlisted. All I could think was, "I'm not even good enough for a rejection." Looking back, it seems really silly. ...

There are a few big decisions most college freshman must make after they’ve decided on the college they want to attend -- like where to live, when to schedule classes, and whether or not to join Greek life. Although it may seem unimportant, whether or not you join Greek life will greatly affect your college experience in many ways. Hopefully this ...

With the new year comes new resolutions and a fresh start, and this is no different for high school seniors. Now that you have some idea of where you’ll be a year from now, it’s time to make sure you can afford it. While nearly everyone fills out the FAFSA and waits to hear back from schools on their financial aid, ...

In the age of the Internet, information is at our beck and call with the push of a button. Smartphones are no exception, making it easier to get up to the second news and information. It’s almost like carrying a laptop around in your pocket. Usually, high school graduates view purchasing a laptop a must before heading off to college. Now ...

There is nothing that so cements in the mind how amazing an experience college is as one's first steps onto a college campus. As brochures and scheduled tours would have us believe, the university is at all times a dynamic place, and in a lot of ways that’s very true. But viewing a college entirely through the lens the university represents ...

To survive college, it’s crucial to learn two things quickly: the first is to stop procrastinating. Putting off your work will only ever make your life more difficult and more stressful when it comes down to crunch time. It’s a lot easier to do a little bit at a time than it is to fit it in all at once. That ...

Like she has for years, my mom recently surprised me by telling me something I had never heard before. Like mothers and daughters do, we were sitting on the couch, watching TV and discussing my feelings for people at school. These are the people who seem to have it all: the straight A’s, the college scholarships, the popularity. All without really ...

As students around the country enter into the arctic wilderness that is February, moods drop, bodies slump, and grades lessen in importance. February wins the worst month of the year award, and I say this solemnly because my birthday inhabits this sad, dreary month. Students are right in the middle of the third quarter. Spring break seems close, but yet so ...

Those of us on quarters have already survived the first finals week of the year. As a student of a school that’s still on quarters, I figured I could pass on some of my newly acquired finals week wisdom to those of you who have yet to take them. [gate] Tip #1 College finals are NOT the same as high school ...

Graduation is a time for celebration, but graduation can also be a time of confusion. Many students leave college without the slightest clue of what to do next. Here are some things that you can do before your graduation date arrives to put you one step ahead. 1. Get familiar with your school's career services office. This office helps you to ...

In 2011, just about every college in the nation offers college courses and even full degrees that can be earned completely online. Gone are the days when online education was something to be scoffed at as inferior to classroom education. Now schools are competing to cut their costs, and win more students by offering online degree options. With all of these ...

When deciding to purchase textbooks for next semester, you have a couple of options: [gate] 1. Buying books online For most students, purchasing textbooks online is their primary option at the start of a new semester. The most popular website to buy and sell textbooks is Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/ ). When searching for a book on sites such as Amazon, here are ...

I can save you a lot of time and frustration in deciding which of these two major standardized tests to take and when by just saying this: Take them both twice with writing, and don't take them too late. Let me explain that first part, the reasoning behind taking them both. The SAT and ACT are essentially the same test in ...

Here it is again: the how-to letter those teachers always make you read at the beginning of the year from those students who managed to survive the class. Now that I’m a sage and maybe a little jaded senior, it’s my turn to give the advice. Pay heed, all underclassmen who read to the end: this WILL be on the exam. ...

I've previously written here on Fastweb about the importance of borrowing student loan funds wisely. I am also an advocate for students pursing scholarship opportunities that they qualify for in order to offset the cost of a college education. There are, however, other ways that you can gain an education without going into debt. [gate] Do you want to know more ...