It’s not hard to see what the blog is about. Surviving College Life is meant to give useful advice and information on getting through college life. You can find posts on a variety of topics, from social advice to financing and academics.
What to look forward to when visiting this blog
About the site design, the site is clean, sleek, and organized. The posts make good use of multi-media to gain reader interest. One nice feature is that each post is marked by a signature, so it gives off a more personal feel to it. It’s just nice to see one for a change. And you can also find standard blog apps, such as RSS feeders and links to social networking sites like Facebook.
The best thing about the site is that it has a wide variety of topics to choose from. And it can be said that the topic list presented on the blog is comprehensive when it comes to issues encountered during college. You have the academics, the student financing, social life, family life, and employment topics on the blog. Having a lot of topics to cover is difficult, and being able to do that is impressive. What is both interesting and logical was the post about if you slept through an exam. At first it seemed funny, but the advice given is sound, and some may find the information useful.
Areas for improvement
Surviving College Life is a pretty good blog overall. It has lots of topics that are of interest to different people in different college levels. The only comment that can be given is that it could explore the idea of having guest writers in the blog. Aside from the comments section, it would be interesting to see different viewpoints in the blog. Especially if the writers are experts in a certain field, say, student financing. Such entries could add more value to the blog.
For those who went through college, we all know how difficult it was adjusting to the new surroundings and way of life. Didn’t we all groped around for a guide to help us through it all? Well, that’s what That College Kid tries to be. The blog gives advice and information about college life. In the blog, you can find study guides, tools, and information about what you may experience in your college life.
What this site offers
What’s interesting about the blog is that it has a decent coverage of the common issues that students encounter in college. You can find useful information on student loans, scholarships, study materials, and living in dorms. For incoming freshmen, and even for upperclassmen, there should be information on That College Kid that they can find very useful.
As for the site design, it’s easy on the eyes. Site navigation is easy, and the archives are organized. Also, you have the basic RSS subscription if you want to follow the blogs. One thing though is that it could use some work on adding some social networking sites.
Other suggestions for improvement
As for the format of the blog, it could use multi-media to spice things up. Though the content itself is interesting, some people do need some visuals to get interested in the material. And as time goes on, reading plain text can be boring. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. So putting some nice images or videos won’t hurt.
The content could also use some specifics. It can be more narrowed down to a specific course or college. In line with that, it could also use more bloggers from different universities and colleges to have their say. Though the general information found on the site is useful, specific information can be more appreciated by some people.
The name of Study Hacks can be called a misnomer, but in a good sense. When people think of hacking, what enters their minds is that of some form of cheat or workaround. That is not what Study Hacks is all about. What the blog provides are good, old, basic pieces of advice in keeping you organized and focused in your college studies. And that’s what’s great about the content of the blog—the advice given are so simple to follow that you wonder why you haven’t thought of them yourself. And the most important thing is, the advice given on the site works for most people.
What’s good about this blog
The tone of the blog can be quite serious. Not the boring kind of serious, but one that gets straight to the point and gives out the essentials. And that’s one way of showing what the blog is about, being effective and productive with time and effort.
The site is well-organized as expected. Navigation is made easier by the side links which are categorized by what you may need to learn. There’s a section to get started and additional links to proceed. One of the entries that make a lot of sense is the one about becoming exceptionally good. Basically, you just have to keep working to become great at what you do so that your skills and talents just can’t be ignored. It’s basic advice, and it makes a lot of sense.
There’s not much tweaks that can be suggested for the blog because it gets its message across effectively. It also has a healthy community of people commenting on the posts, so exposure among readers is no issue. Aside from comments, people can also email Cal Newport (the owner of the blog) directly for any advice or stories to share in the blog. Overall, the setup of the blog is very good.
Hack College aims to bring more of the web into the educational system, as what they claim in their About section. And they have been doing a good job at it. Aside from that, the blog also provides very useful and practical advice on getting on with college life. The topics vary, and most of the posts do make good use of technology, particularly the Internet and the free online options and resources that it provides for students.
What to like about Hack College
One thing that’s noticeable about Hack College is the tone of its posts. It can be called the voice of the current generation. If you want your posts to have some attitude and some sarcastic humor, then Hack College is for you. And they do add valuable information that any college student could use. For example, the post about getting your textbooks for free was very informative and most probably, not a lot of students know about those options. As they also say, there’s a need to work smarter, and not harder.
The blog’s features and network is also impressive. The blog has a UK version, where it deals with college issues that the Brits deal with. Also, the blog has its own podcast that is entertaining and informative as well. As for its network, there are links for guest bloggers to share content. So everyone is free to make a contribution aside from the comments.
What can be improved
Some comments on navigation need improvement. You’d need to scroll down to the bottom of the page to check out the navigation links for the blog. Another thing to note is that the topics are archived by date only. It would be nice to have the posts sorted out by topic for the reader to head on to what interests him or her the most. But all considered, Hack College is a fun and educational read.
This blog is as what its name suggests; it is a blog about clothing style and fashion at the college scene. Of course, the blog is targeted towards female college students. Men don’t generally care about fashion, and if some do, they would be the exception rather than the rule. Back to College Fashion, the blog was born because there was no blog before that addresses college fashion specifically. And that is what College Fashion has done.
What to like about College Fashion
There are several things to like about College Fashion. The fashion tips on this blog are wide and varied. You can find several fashion advice for different seasons and there are information about different get-ups and attires. Aside from those, you can also find posts about the latest, and somewhat controversial, fashion trends. One post that’s very attention-grabbing is the one where you’re asked whether or not you’re willing to wear a visible bra, or having your bra showing from your outfit.
The growing blog community is also noteworthy. Now you can find different blog writers from various colleges and universities in the US. This gives out a more localized view of college fashion and you also get a real feel for the current fashion trends in different colleges.
Suggestions for improvement
There really isn’t much to suggest to College Fashion. One thing that could be a nice addition is to have a fashion expert as a guest blogger and share some tips and advice. It would also be nice if they can have a make-over feature, where they’ll give a fahion-challenged student and transform her to a fashion diva. In line with that, a fashion advice column would also be interesting to see.
All in all, College Fashion is doing a good job at what it does—giving good fashion tips and information to college students.
Lebanon Valley College
Lebanon Valley College is a private university founded in 1866 in Annville, Lebanon County. Also known as LVC and The Valley, Lebanon Valley College aims to provide quality education in more than 35 fields, from the Sciences to the Arts, Humanities and other Social Sciences. Offering baccalaureate programs in various fields including Forestry, Digital Communication, Religion and Philosophy, LVC continues to improve the quality of education that it gives to its students to meet demands of the changing times.
Find out more on the school’s history and degree programs through its official website, www.lvc.edu. For application information, check out the school’s admissions page.
The University of Miami
Founded in 1925 in Coral Gables, Florida, the University of Miami is a private university rearing a diverse student body representing not only the 50 states of the United States, but also more than 100 countries around the globe. It has an equally diverse list of courses and degree programs in various disciplines including, business, communication, nursing, engineering, architecture, health studies, arts and sciences. The University of Miami is also known as Miami of Florida, The U, and UM.
To know more about The U, check out their website, www.miami.edu. To get application information, visit its admissions page.
Roger Williams University
Founded in 1956, Roger Williams University or RWU was named in honor of Roger Williams, cofounder of Rhode Island. It is a private, co-educational and non-sectarian university specializing in liberal arts. RWU offers 36 degree programs in liberal arts, along with also courses in other fields such as graphic design communication, life sciences, architecture, engineering and legal studies. It also has graduate schools.
Check out www.rwu.edu for a complete list of programs and courses offered by the school. For application information, visit the school’s admissions page.
Oxford College
Oxford College, a division of Emory University in Oxford, Georgia, was founded in 1836. It is a private residential school specializing in liberal arts. Offering undergraduate courses in various fields such as business and life sciences, Oxford College also offers preparatory programs for students who intend to pursue post-graduate degrees, as well as careers in business administration, medicine, law, pharmacy, veterinary medicine and physical therapy. Its student population includes people of different ethnic and economic backgrounds.
To know more about Oxford College, its degree programs and application requirements, visit its official website and admissions page.
Hofstra University
Private and non-sectarian, Hofstra University was first established in 1935 as a college of New York University in the village of Hempstead on Long Island, New York. It eventually stood up on its own and became Hofstra College. In 1963, it became Hofstra University. Today, it offers more than 140 degree programs in various fields of discipline. It also offers pre-professional programs for students who intend to pursue medicine, health studies and law, as well as a certificate program in Natural Sciences.
Visit Hofstra University’s website and admissions page for more detailed information on the programs that the school offers and its college application requirements.
Humphreys College
Humphreys University is an independent college established by John R. Humphreys, Sr. in 1896. It has campuses in Stockton and Modesto, and it offers a long list of certificate programs, associate programs, baccalaureate programs and master’s degree programs in human services, business, law, and liberal arts. Humphreys College also has post-graduate for those who intend to pursue formal learning in fields such as medicine and law.
You can get more information about Humphreys University from www.humphreys.edu. If you want to find out about how to apply, visit the school’s admissions page.
Seattle University
Seattle University is a member of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. It was founded by the Jesuits as the School of Immaculate Conception in 1891. It was eventually called Seattle College and in 1931, it established its place in history by being the first university to admit female students in the country.
Today, Seattle University can be found in downtown Seattle. It already has eight colleges dedicated to different disciplines: arts and sciences, business and economics, law, science and engineering, nursing, education, theology and ministry, and humanities for teaching. Besides undergraduate programs, Seattle University also has 24 graduate programs.
Its official website, www.seattleu.edu, contains a complete list of programs that the school offers, as well as and the school’s admissions page.
Stephens College
Founded in 1833, Stephens College is a private women’s college specializing in liberal arts. It is the second oldest college for women. Its campus is located in Columbia, Missouri. Stephens College is known for giving exceptional theatre, dance, fashion design, and fine arts education. It a wide range of courses in different field of disciplines including human development, filmmaking, legal studies, physical therapy, accounting, business management, entrepreneurship and equestrian instruction and training.
The complete list of the courses offered by Stephens College can be found on its official website, www.stephens.edu. If you are interested to apply, visit its admissions page.
Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University or ACU is a private university in Abilene, Texas. Established in 1906, it was intended to become a training ground for future Christian leaders and servants. ACU offers a long list of undergraduate programs in various fields for students such as international studies, advertising and public relations, occupational therapy, criminal justice-sociology, natural resource management, information technology, international studies, nursing, engineering physics, and nutrition.
For a complete list of coursed offered by ACU is available at www.acu.edu. Interested applicants can check out the requirements and application procedures through the school’s online admissions page.
Adelphi University
Founded in 1896, Adelphi University is a private university situated in Garden City, Nassau Country. It is accredited nationally and has eight colleges offering various courses from the arts to the sciences to education, nursing, business, and social work. It also has graduate programs and joint degree programs in engineering, law, dentistry, physical therapy, environmental studies, and optometry.
For more information on Adelphi university and its offered programs, visit its website, www.adelphi.edu. Application procedures and requirements are available from its admissions page.
Adrian College
Adrian College is a private college specializing in liberal arts. Founded in 1859, this college in the city of Adrian in Michigan is affiliated with the Methodist church. Adrian College offers 40 degree programs for students who intend to pursue careers in health science, physical therapy, law, engineering and architecture. Since its inception, it has reared students who turned out to be distinguished men and women in various fields, including US Congressman Mike Rogers,
Interested applicants may log-on to the school’s web admissions page. Further information on the school’s offered degree programs can check out www.adrian.edu.
Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University
Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University is a public university in Madison Country, Alabama, offering a long list of courses in various disciplines including forestry, social work, art education, clinical psychology, urban and regional planning, communicative sciences and disorders, engineering technologies, counseling psychology, computer science, food science, and civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering.
Also known as Alabama A&M University or AAMU, is one of the most distinguished historically black universities in the country, priding itself in having a baccalaureate program in telecommunications. More information on the school and a detailed list of its course offerings are available at its official website, www.aamu.edu. To apply, just check out its admissions page.
Alabama State University
Alabama State University or ASU was established 1867 in Montgomery, Alabama. Among the country’s historically black schools and universities, ASU was put up as a Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund member. It has seven colleges and schools offering baccalaureate programs in arts and sciences, business administration, health sciences, education, and visual and performing arts. It also boasts of its graduate school aerospace studies division. ASU offers PhD and master’s degree programs in microbiology, educational leadership, physical therapy, policy, and law. Its studentry is a mix of indivisuals from over 40 states and 6 countries.
For more information on ASU, visit www.alasu.edu. Applicatoin requirements and procedures can be founds at its admissions page.
Purdue University
Since its inception in 1869, Purdue University stood up as the flagship campus among the six schools of the Purdue University System. Being one of the largest university systems in the country, Purdue takes pride in its state-of-the-art College of Engineering and School of Aeronautics and Astronautics. The college offers highly competitive curriculum in its engineering, aviation and aerospace programs. In Purdue’s West Lafayette campus, there are over 200 degree programs for students who are interested in pursuing careers in the areas of agriculture, health sciences, liberal arts, management, education, nursing, science and technology, veterinary medicine, and consumer and family sciences.
Ore information on Purdue’s offered course, as well as application information are available at www.purdue.edu and its admissions page.
Cornell University
Founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, Cornell University is a private academic institution dedicated to providing quality education to students in various disciplines. A member of the Ivy League higher, Cornell University has seven undergraduate schools specializing in agriculture and life sciences, architecture, art and planning, engineering, arts and sciences, hotel administration, labor and industrial relations, and human ecology. It offers not only undergraduate programs, but also interdisciplinary and dual programs. Cornell University is located in Ithaca, New York.
Moredetailed information on Cornell University and its programs are available at www.cornell.edu. To apply, check out the school’s web admissions page.
