5 Tips on Branding Yourself Through Social Networks!

Whether you have just begun your college journey, are about to begin your senior year or are in search of your first full-time job (or your second, but who’s counting anyway?), you’ve probably thought about tweaking your resume and drafting a cover letter to land you that awesome internship or job. Both your resume and cover letter are undoubtedly very important, but they are not the only things that can set you apart.

In today’s day and age, you not only need to focus on your initial outreach to an employer, but also your Internet image -- also known as your personal brand.

If you haven’t thought about your personal brand, don’t fret! Here are five tips to help you get started as you create your brand:

1. Buy your name as a website domain
Domain names can be equated to real estate on the Internet – once you buy them, they’re yours!  Think about the endless opportunities when purchasing your name: You can post your resume, create a blog and distribute important information, all of which you can share with potential employers, family and friends. If your name isn’t available, see if you can get some variation of it. For example: JohnSmith.com may not be available, but perhaps JSmith1987.com is. Be creative and be conscious of your domain name as well as the content you share.

2. Create an About.me profile
About.me is a site created to help you share all of your Internet assets in one place. It’s a simple page that allows you to share your name, picture, a short bio and links with prospective employers. Like buying your domain name, it gives you a space to share what’s important to you, but in a succinct way. Once you create your profile, there is no heavy duty maintenance; just remember to update your About.me to reflect your most current information.

3.  Start a blog
Many employers are interested in your writing background. Are you a good writer? A simple way to demonstrate your writing abilities and impress your potential boss is by sharing writing samples. Think about creating a blog where you share your work. It shouldn’t be a chore, so make it interesting to you! To show that you’re well read and up to date in your field, you can also post other people’s interesting articles on your blog -- just make sure to give them credit! The best part about your blog is that it can live on your domain name or a variety of other free blog hosting websites, like wordpress.org, tumblr.com or blog.com. If you’re not ready to start a blog, think about guest posting on other blogs; like I said, everyone’s looking for good writers!

4.  Do some spring cleaning on your Facebook page
You’ve heard those wretched stories from your friends, or friends of friends: “So-and-so didn’t get the job because the company that wanted to hire them found some incriminating photos on Facebook.” The truth is, most of us have Facebook and it’s a great way to stay in touch with your friends, family and the rest of the world. Facebook also provides a platform for us to connect and share with great people, businesses and brands. So go through your profile and make it professional. Sift through your photos and make sure they’re appropriate. Lastly, check out your privacy settings. Remember: You don’t have to share everything with everyone!

5.  Explore other social media options: Google+, Twitter and Linkedin
Take a look at other options to help your potential employer find you when googling you. Create a Google+ profile and test it out: You’ll have the chance to create separate groups of people with whom you share different information. Try out Twitter: It’s perfect to share quick, live news updates about your interests. And lastly, create a LinkedIn account: You’ll be able to create a professional profile that will surely be seen as an asset to any future employer.

You get it: Employers are online and they can find out a lot of information about you -- but this doesn’t mean you have to remove yourself from the Internet, move to the North Pole and live in digital darkness for the rest of your life. Embrace the social technology that is sweeping the world today and use it to your advantage. Good luck and happy self-branding!

Courtesy of: http://www.collegenews.com/article/brand_yourself_five_tips_to_help_you_stand_out

It’s only February but already there are signs of college Spring Fever everywhere. It’s starting to get lighter; some of the trees are starting to look more cheerful. The first small little bulbs are peaking out of the melting snow. It takes mammoth amounts of WILL Power to stay in class and study once it warms up. Here are 10 tips to beat Spring Fever in college.


1. Ignore Spring as long as possible. Stock up on hot chocolate and turn down the heat. Study under the covers of a really cool college bedding and stay cocooned in bliss. Ignore it entirely.
2. Live a little! Run around like a banshee outside at least once a day enjoying the sunshine and the new warmer weather. Set the cell phone for 1 hour of fun and then go back to work.
3. Volunteer at a homeless shelter. Nothing makes staying in class look like such a good idea.
4. Hire a Budget Rent a Car and take a quick spring break somewhere south. This one proves motivating for some and counter-productive for others. Driving back IS part of the equation.
5. Put on a bathing suit in front of a really big mirror. Makes studying absolutely preferable to anything that might include wearing less clothing.
6. Move you deadlines forward and finish those papers now while it is still cold. Once all the work is done you can relax and enjoy spring. Huge hint: Don’t turn papers in early. No need to give the professor extra time to find fault with what you have written and give you a chance to improve on it.
7. No caffeine, cold turkey. Cuts the wonderful right out of Spring- and everything else.
8. Join a Zumba class. Many cute girls to impress and it’s indoors.
9. Open the windows and air out your dorm room at least once a week. It improves the air somehow and makes it easier to focus.
10. Give in to pass/no pass. Just sign up in time!

Insights to applying for Graduate School

MAKE A LIST

Unlike undergraduate schools, graduate programs dot the country in odd nooks and crannies, playing a game of hide and seek with new applicants. However, your undergraduate guidance program wants to help you – and what’s more; it’s their job. They provide the magnifying glass to zoom in on the grad school program that’s right for you. All you have to do is ask. Make sure you seek out other resources as well, like a favorite professor, lecturer, or mentor.

So keeping in mind your academic goals, financial needs and location requests, it’s time to make a list of graduate programs. Always have a range of schools and note the specifics that are important to you. If average post-graduation salary is a top priority, make sure to list and compare schools with high averages (that means you, Harvard and Stanford). But those schools aren’t for everyone. Keep an open mind, and spend the time to explore.

APPLY

Once you’ve made a list, it’s time to apply. And that means standardized testing. In high school, you took the SAT or the ACT. Graduate schools, however, each require different entrance exams, like the GRE, GMAT, and MCAT, and some require a combination of several. I always struggled with standardized tests, so I’d suggest comparing test prep methods and readingtest prep guides.

You’ll find several other differences in applying to graduate programs as well. Unlike most undergraduate programs, grad schools generally require applicants to come in for an interview. The whole process is much more personal: there’s no common application for grad school, and the application questions you’ll have to answer will ask you to write about things like your goals and research experience rather than a general personal statement.

PAYING FOR IT

Graduate school can be significantly more expensive than undergraduate programs. But don’t let that be a deterrent. Think about it like an investment: a graduate degree can earn you 25 percent more on average than a bachelor’s degree, according to The New York Times. Money is a concern for most applicants, especially after spending so much on undergraduate as well. But the good news is that there’s a long list of scholarships and grants available to students. Getting help with grants and scholarships just means reading and asking questions: don’t be shy.

In the end, applying to graduate school takes more focus and detail. With some organization and planning to compare all of your options, you’ll find yourself in graduate school in no time.

A brief history of "Black History Month"

Black History Month started in February of 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, the event began as a week long celebration. 

February was selected because of the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and President Abraham Lincoln. The popularity of this week grew as the decades past and in 1976, the week was extended to a month.

This year’s theme, selected by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History focuses on “honoring African American women and the myriad of roles they played in the shaping of our nation.”

A lot of controversy surrounds the month. Some people feel that acknowledging African Americans contributions should not be reduced to simply one month.

Actor Morgan Freeman told 60 Minutes years ago, “You’re going to relegate my history to a month. Which one is white history month?”

Edna Greene Medford, chair of Howard University’s history department said,
“Carter G. Woodson.. hadn’t planned for this celebration to be just the month of February,” she said. “It was the beginning of recognizing the contributions and role of African Americans in history. Through that, he hoped that African-American history would be incorporated sufficiently into American history.”

Whether you agree with the celebration or not, there are plenty of ways to contribute or get active in the month’s festivities.

PBS is premiering a documentary called End Black History Month by filmmaker Shukree Hassan Tilghman. Most cities have events that you can attend like the Library of Congress’s Calendar.

5 Cures for Procrastination

Many college students have a chronic problem with procrastination. They will wait to study for an exam until the last minute or can be seen rushing around their dorm room desperately trying to clean up before a visitor arrives. But why? Have you every stopped to ask yourself why do I procrastinate? Tired of staying up into all hours of the night cramming for that Chemistry test? Well, read on.
1. Understand the Psychological Causes of Procrastination
According to life coach Jeffery Combs procrastination is linked on a very deep level to several different psychological issues with the self including: perfectionism, a fear of being judged, a desire to be in control and self destructive behaviors. Luckily, procrastinators are rarely horrible procrastinators in all areas of their lives. They may be great at making travel arrangements or at paying their bills but miserable at getting a paper written. People basically procrastinate in the areas of their life where they may have self doubt- or with things they simply don’t want to do. Of course that thing doesn’t really go away and then they have to live with an underlying anxiety about getting the job completed at the last minute. The good news is that once students understand why they procrastinate they can start to cure the problem. Many times the roots of procrastination are related to performance issues and anxiety. Unfortunately, school work and studying is something that extends way back into our childhoods. It is one of the first ways in which we were judged and because of this it is the most common area of procrastination for college students. Isn’t that the worst!
2. Adopt Time Management Plans
Have a monster paper due in 2 weeks? Sit down and chart out exactly when to work on the thing. Time it out to the hour and then keep that appointment with yourself. Try to avoid interruptions and just sit there everyday until the paper is finished. Likely it will be finished ahead of schedule. Chronic procrastinators are usually quick and efficient workers. Once finished reward yourself with something. Working plans like this will start new patterns to get things done. Having the feeling that you have finished well ahead of schedule is a newly found freedom that will let you really relax and enjoy yourself.
3. Make Extra Time!
Maybe you don’t have any extra time but probably you do. Time isn’t constant so we can manipulate it! Look at all the parts of your life and simplify. Having trouble keeping your dorm room clean? Buy a few closet organizers. Then sort through the things you have and get rid of everything you don’t need. Simplifying everyday tasks like using a shower tote and a towel hook can shave off 5-10 minutes a day. Buying a kettle can be a huge time saver as can using a simple duvet set for your dorm room bedding so that you can just pull it up quickly in the morning and go. Limit your web surfing, game playing, TV watching and Facebook sessions to a set period of time everyday. Once the time is over, its time to go back to work!
4. Beware of the Time Vampires
These are people that can literally consume your life with prattle. They make great procrastination buddies. Sitting over a cup of coffee they will suggest maybe a little shopping or a quick trip to the mall. Don’t dump these friends just realize that they are literally sucking your life away. Once identified change your social habits with them and you will probably find hours and hours of new time to get your work done.
5. Dump the Drama
Procrastinators are often great drama queens. Having emotional breakdowns is just another excuse not to work. It also consumes enormous amounts of time and generally leads to absolutely nothing productive. Feel yourself starting to complain or rant? Take a few deep breaths or go to the gym and dump the feelings into a treadmill for 15 minutes. Procrastination, just like dramatic emotional episodes is often about control. If you can’t control the outcome then you don’t have a problem. Move forward and onward and focus on things that really matter!

State of the Union addresses College Financial Aid how did you feel about President Obama's Speech?

President Obama gave his State of the Union address Tuesday night and, to the relief of many college students, brought attention to the issue of the cost of college.

"When kids do graduate, the most daunting challenge can be the cost of college," President Obama said during the State of the Union. "At a time when Americans owe more in tuition debt than credit card debt, this Congress needs to stop the interest rates on student loans from doubling in July.

"Extend the tuition tax credit we started that saves millions of middle-class families thousands of dollars, and give more young people the chance to earn their way through college by doubling the number of work-study jobs in the next five years," Obama continued.

Obama pointed out in the State of the Union that increasing financial aid cannot be the only answer. "We can’t just keep subsidizing skyrocketing tuition; we’ll run out of money.  States also need to do their part, by making higher education a higher priority in their budgets. And colleges and universities have to do their part by working to keep costs down.

"Recently, I spoke with a group of college presidents who’ve done just that. Some schools redesign courses to help students finish more quickly. Some use better technology. The point is, it’s possible. So let me put colleges and universities on notice: If you can’t stop tuition from going up, the funding you get from taxpayers will go down. Higher education can’t be a luxury -– it is an economic imperative that every family in America should be able to afford."

What is your reaction to the State of the Union and President Obama's focus on colleges and tuition? Do you think his goals are realistic?

Leadership in the Face of Adversity

*Michael Jordan to the Max* Inspirational for people of all ages!!!

Should guns be permitted on college campuses?

Believe it or not, they are in Utah. Utah is the only state where students may legally carry a concealed weapon on any public college or university campus at anytime with a permit. Currently they are the only state to allow college students to carry. However, Texas and Missouri have both toyed with the idea and there is currently pending legislation in Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and Tennessee that would allow students to carry weapons on campus.

Think about it, you’re packing for college and you call out to your mom in the next room, “Hey mom, make sure I have my T-shirts, my shampoo caddy, my college bedding and my ammo.” This is just plain weird.

According to students for Concealed Carry on Campus, shootings on college campuses like the one at Virginia Tech on 12/08/2011 prove that students should have the right to carry guns on campus for self-defense. Proponents for carry laws on campus also believe that allowing concealed weapons would act as a deterrent to anyone thinking about opening fire in a college environment.

Opponents to carrying firearms on campuses point out that more weapons is not the answer. Opponents site the greater likelihood of gun injuries and the logistical problems of securing handguns properly in a dorm room. They also quote statistics that show gun-carry laws lead to increases in weapon-related crimes.

As the Iowa Caucus draws near, this is an issue that could affect college and university students throughout the country. Rick Perry is an avid proponent of allowing students to carry guns on campus and he is currently running for the Republican nomination.

Moreover, this is an issue that stands for much more than just gun rights on college campuses. It has to do with student rights and how students are treated compared to the general population. Does the general mistrust of university students that existed in the 1960’s still exist? Are young American soldiers in Afghanistan any more responsible than their college brethren at home? How do students feel? Do they have a voice about whether or not that tall guy in chem. lab should be packing?

25 legitimately useful sites for college students

Sites for Every Student

• Rate My Professor - This site is great for college students who are planning their class schedule. It features ratings for more than one million professors around the world. Professors are rated by more than 6.8 million students.
• Text Swap - Text Swap is a free textbook exchange service for students who want to be able to trade their used textbooks online.
• Backpack - Backpack is the ultimate organizational web app for college students. Backpack allows users to take notes online, create to-do lists, keep schedules online and much more.
• Student Loan Calculator - This student loan calculator from the College Board makes it easy for college students to stay on top of their student loan payments.
• Study Hacks - Study Hacks is dedicated to 'demystifying student success.' This college blog has become one of the best places on the web to get study advice and academic strategies that actually work.

Sites for Student Researchers

• RefDesk - This award-winning site is a great place to find and check facts. RefDesk has an enormous collection of reference materials, searchable databases and other great resources that can't be found anywhere else.
• Internet Public Library - The Internet Public Library is an online reference service that offers everything from free dictionaries and encyclopedias to books, magazines and newspapers.
• Encylcopedia.com - This site hosts 49 high-quality encyclopedias (Oxford University Press, Britannica, etc.) and 73 dictionaries and thesauruses. Encylcopedia.com users can also search through facts and biographies.
• ChaCha - ChaCha isn't exactly a citable source, but it's a fantastic starting point for research. This human powered search engine has more than 15,000 guides who are dedicated to answering any question you might have.
• American Fact Finder - The American Fact Finder, from the U.S. Census Bureau, is a great place for student researchers to find economic, geographic, population and housing data.

Sites for Student Writers

• Essay Punch - Essay Punch is an interactive online essay writing tutorial. It helps students organize thoughts and improve their essay writing skills.
• The Owl - Purdue University's Online Writing Lab (OWL) is a great resource for student writers who want to learn more about writing mechanics, formatting, outline development and avoiding plagiarism.
• Wridea - Wridea is a free online idea management service that is designed to help writers brainstorm, organize and improve their ideas.
• Grubba - Big writing projects sometimes require the creation of a database to keep ideas organized. Grubba is perfect for student writers who want to quickly create a database that can be shared with other people.
• Bib Me - Student writers will love Bib Me. This bibliography generator automatically fills in a works cited page in MLA, APA, Chicago or Turbian formats.

Sites for Students Who Read

• The Online Books Page - This University of Pennsylvania website has more than 30,000 books that anyone can read for free online. Users can search by title or author.
• Project Gutenberg - There are more than 25,000 free books in Project Gutenberg's online catalog and an additional 100,000 books available from the site's partners and affiliates.
• Open Book Project - The Open Book Project is designed specifically for the academic community. Students can find free textbooks and other open source education materials.
• Questia - Students can read more than 5,000 free books online when they visit Questia's online library. The site offers rare and classic books.
• SparkNotes - When you need to catch up on reading that you missed or want to gain a better understanding of specific books, SparkNotes is the place to be. The site offers literary summaries, essay help, timelines and much more.

Courtesy of http://education-portal.com/articles/25_Legitimately_Useful_Sites_for_College_Students.html

Mark Zuckerburg speaks out against the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA)

As a few of the world's largest websites staged online protests to the Stop Online Piracy Act and Protect IP Act, Facebook's CEO Mark Zuckerberg took to his site to voice his opposition to the controversial bills. 

"The Internet is the most powerful tool we have for creating a more open and connected world," Zuckerberg said today in his Facebook post. "We can't let poorly thought out laws get in the way of the Internet's development. Facebook opposes SOPA and PIPA, and we will continue to oppose any laws that will hurt the Internet." 

More so than stopping these two bills, Zuckerberg made a call for government officials who are see the Internet the same way he does, as that powerful, world-changing tool: 

"The world today needs political leaders who are pro-Internet. We have been working with many of these folks for months on better alternatives to these current proposals," he said. "I encourage you to learn more about these issues and tell your congressmen that you want them to be pro-Internet."

[Facebook via Mashable]

Happy Birthday to Muhammad Ali!! 70 years of Greatness!!!

The Benefits of Financial Planning as a College Student!

If you have just graduated from college it is the perfect time to be thinking about financial planning. While retirement might seem far off, there are other issues that you should be planning for as soon as you graduate. Student loans will be staring you in the face soon and what happens if you want to get married and start a family? Housing and car payments will also have to be planned for, so it is best to start early.

Budgeting your money and having a financial plan are insurance against not having enough money. If you plan ahead and know where your money is coming from, and where it is going, you will be in control of your finances. Knowing what you have, and what your goals are, will allow you to be proactive instead of reactive. This is exactly what you want out of a financial plan and you want to give yourself assets to get out of a crisis should one come up.

One of the easiest ways to save money is to have affordable medical coverage. You can find cheap insurance quotes online at most company websites, and in the resources section of this site. Having medical protection will make it more affordable to go to the doctor, or to the hospital if you have an emergency. Other products such as life insurance and annuities are worth looking into to help your financial planning as well.

Starting a savings routine early can make it easier to take advantage of your savings. If you start putting money into a retirement account when you are 22, you will end up with roughly a million dollars more than if you start saving for retirement at age 32. That is a huge incentive to start saving as soon as you are out of college and start planning for your future.

Remember that a lot of employers will match and 401k contributions up to around 5 percent of your salary. Investing in an IRA (Individual Retirement Account) is tax deferred in some cases, so that can help you save money as well. Investing in the stock market, or mutual funds, could give you the money you need to put a down payment on a house, or support a child. Even in this down economy, the stock market is still a great place to put your money.

The bottom line is that it is never too early to save for your future and to have a solid plan for your finances. The sooner you start planning for your future, the easier it is going to be to adjust your plan should something change like your job status or you have a medical emergency.

Couresy of Collegenews.com

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day from (Y2Y)

Facebook + Music = "Listen With" Feature

Facebook has launched a new feature that allows a user to listen to music along with their friends.

For example, if a friend is listening to Jay-Z via Spotify, clicking on the “Listen With” button will allow you to listen with them.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said, “Being able to click on someone’s music and play it it’s a great experience, but knowing that you helped a friend discover something new is awesome.”

Creating somewhat of a big dance party, the “Listen With” feature also allows other friends to listen in and chat.

To keep up with privacy issues, Facebook gives the option of choosing who you  share your listening activity with. So someone that can’t see your listening activity won’t be able to see that you are listening with a friend.

According to Facebook, “You can control privacy settings in music apps when you install the app or on your App Settings page after you've installed the app. You can also remove songs you listened to from your timeline on your private activity log.”

Courtesy of Collegenews.com

Coachella 2012 full line up of artists announced!!!

The Coachella 2012 lineup has been announced!
Billboard reports that the Coachella 2012 lineup will include Radiohead, the Black Keys and a collaboration between Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg as the headline acts.
Also included in the 2012 lineup is Neutral Milk Hotel's Jeff Mangum, Refused, At the Drive-In, Mazzy Star, Pulp, Swedish House Mafia, Girl Talk, DJ Shadow, Azealia Banks, the Weeknd, A$AP Rocky, Arctic Monkeys, Feist, Wild Flag, Bon Iver and Florence + The Machine.
The Coachella 2012 festival will be held at Indio, Calif.'s Empire Polo Club on April 13-15 and April 20-22.
Check out the full Coachella 2012 lineup here.

Staying Warm on Campus this Winter

Staying cozy in college this winter starts with good college bedding and a warm coat. There are a variety of other ways to stay warm and healthy throughout the winter months. Here are some solid tips to help you love rather than hate the cold weather that lies ahead.

Layer, Layer, Layer to Stay Warm

Layer your clothing and layer your dorm room bedding. Air is one of the best insulators so trapping air is a key way to improve warmth and enjoy the cold weather season. Layering your clothing should include a T-shirt or thermal underwear, a long-sleeve shirt and/or a turtleneck, a sweater and a jacket. An added bonus in layering your clothing is that it can also prevent you from getting too hot and sweating. Sweat freezes making the body colder after the overheating wears off. There are a variety of outdoor clothing companies that specialize in warm weather gear that is engineered to prevent overheating. Incorporating some of this outdoor wear into your wardrobe will greatly increase your comfort levels. Layering doesn’t stop with clothing; buy good bedding and layer bedding in the same way and for the same reasons. One added bonus to layering your dorm room bedding is that you can then turn down the thermostat. This saves energy and it helps to prevent winter colds and flu.

Watch Your Back

Wearing low cut jeans in cold weather is just asking for a urinary track infection. The kidneys are located in the retroperitoneum area near the back and consistent exposure to cold just isn’t a good idea. Rather than change your pants, buy longer t-shirts and sports shirts to tuck into pants. Opt for a longer jacket rather than a shorter one. Usually just being aware that you need to keep this area warm to stay healthy will improve matters dramatically.

Old German Wives’ Tale: Keep Your Feet Warm

There isn’t any proof that this works but who wants to fight with generations of mothers in a land where winter is the longest season of the year? Make an effort to keep your feet dry, comfortable and warm throughout the day. This includes while you are studying and hanging out in the dorm. A pair of warm slippers is a wise and easy investment. Another old Chinese wives’ tale says that you shouldn’t eat spicy food when it is cold and dry. According to legend this causes sore throats, colds and all manner of havoc on your body’s Qi.

Cover Your Head: Smart Idea!

Your head is covered with hair for a reason. Enhance those locks with a hat. Covering your head is one of the best ways to stay warm and healthy throughout the winter season.

Get out there and throw a few snowballs. It’s a winter wonderland once you know how to cope with it!

How to find Paid Internships!!!

Getting an internship is a requirement for most college students, and for good reason. Internships are a great way to gain experience in the field you are studying, and they can help you realize what you want, or don’t want, in your future career.  There is only one problem with internships: many of them are unpaid. There is hope though; it’s possible to find a paid internship, so that you are making money while also making great headway into your future career. 

It takes a little more work finding paid internships for college students, but it’s possible. Loyola University Career Center director, Darby Scism, said that one of the most important things when trying to get a paid internship is to allow time and energy to find one.

For further reading details click the link below:

http://www.collegenews.com/res/career/internships/paid_internships_for_college_students