BACK TO SCHOOL PROVIDED BY THE
ANGOLA PENNYSAVER
& College Guide AUGUST 2013
As a Christian community, We recognize our responsibility to educate the complete individual spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally, in an atmosphere of caring and respect for each person.
Through the continual assessment of curriculum and instructional strategies, we ensure the highest possible quality of education. Our goal is to inspire students who are faith-filled young adults, responsible in their behavior and contributing members of the community.
#1 Middle School in the Southtowns!
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Angola Pennysaver • August 11, 2013 BACK TO SCHOOL & COLLEGE GUIDE 3
6788 Wellington Drive, Derby, NY 14047
(716) 947-9046 or (716) 220-2679 Studio Director: Krista Wagner
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School bus safety tips
4
Knowing the safety rules
10 Pros & Cons of using Internet to complete work
11 Hilbert College How to buy for adult school clothes learners on a budget 12 Taming the 6 How to encour cost of age kids to text-books read 12 Make your 7 Establishing a dorm room home-work your own environment 13 Things to 8 Building a consider when stronger choosing a parent-teacher college relationship 16 How commuter students can assimilate 5
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Angola Pennysaver • August 11, 2013
School bus safety tips to impart to youngsters Each day thousands upon thousands of children board school buses to take them to and from school. Parents and caregivers entrust their children’s well-being to the care of school bus drivers and aides. Although parents may worry about school bus accidents, such accidents are few and far between. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration advises that school buses are designed to be safer than passenger vehicles in avoiding crashes and protecting against injury. Buses are arguably the safest mode of transportation for getting kids to and from school. By keeping millions of cars off the roads surrounding schools, school buses contribute to less crowded roadways, which are less conducive to accidents.
KNOWING THE SAFETY RULES While a large part of protecting children is on the shoulders of the school bus driver, it is also vital for passengers to learn the basics of school bus safety. Kindergarteners or children who are riding the bus for the first time should be taught the rules of school bus safety. Some schools offer a school bus tour prior to the new school year. This lets youngsters acclimate themselves with the look and feel of the school bus. This introduction also may include information about bus safety, but parents can also educate their children (and themselves) about using caution in and around the bus by following these guidelines.
• Get to the bus stop 5 to 10 minutes prior to the assigned pickup time. Rushing last-minute can lead to injury, especially if you’re chasing down the bus. • Remain on the sidewalk or grass at the bus stop. Do not step off the curb into the street until the bus has arrived and is completely stopped. • When boarding the bus, go directly to a seat and sit down. Buckle up if there are seatbelts on the bus. • Remain seated while the bus is in motion. • Keep voices low so as not to distract the driver. • Keep your head and hands inside of the bus, and never hang out of the window.
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DANGER ZONE Though parents may feel buses are most likely to be in accidents while in transit, experts advise that children are more likely to get hurt during pickups and drop-offs when they’re in the “danger zone” of the bus. The danger zone is a 10-foot radius around the outside of the bus. Bus drivers and other motorists find kids in the danger zone are more difficult to see, and children can get struck by either the bus or oncoming cars that fail to stop when the bus is picking kids up or dropping them off.
• Do not throw things on the bus or play rough with friends or classmates. • Keep the aisle clear at all times. • Be careful when getting off the bus. Hold on while going down the stairs. • Only get off at your designated stop unless you have permission to get off elsewhere. • When exiting the bus, walk at least 10 steps past the front of the bus and cross in front where the driver can see you. Do not cross behind the bus. • Wait for the driver to give you a signal that it is safe to cross. Be sure to check that all cars on the road have come to a complete stop. • Get to the sidewalk or off the street as quickly as possible.
• If you’ve forgotten something on the bus, do not run back and attempt to retrieve it. The driver might not see you and start the bus. Rather, call the bus company and see if you can pick it up at another time. • Do not get into the cars of strangers waiting around bus stops, even if they offer to take you home. Parents can arrange to meet with bus drivers so that they will recognize their faces. Adults also can encourage schools to host bus safety courses to further ensure their youngsters are safe.
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Angola Pennysaver • August 11, 2013 BACK TO SCHOOL & COLLEGE GUIDE 5
How to buy school clothes without busting your budget
Parents often note that kids seem to grow like weeds. Pants that once reached to the tops of a youngster’s feet quickly become too short, while once-loose shirts may soon become too snug. Many parents find themselves regularly in children’s clothing departments stocking up on the basics, which can put quite a dent in already stretched-thin budgets. Although children’s wardrobes are added to at various times of the year, the bulk of shopping occurs just before the school year begins. Though clothing can be expensive, families need not bust their budgets when shopping for kids’ clothing. By shopping smart and concentrating on fashion staples, it’s easier to stretch money further. Spread out purchases. Shopping early allows parents to make the most of sales. Warm weather clothing generally goes on sale in July to make room for new fall lines. Considering the first few months of school still may be warm, short-sleeved shirts will still have utility and are generally less expensive than sweaters and sweatshirts. Staggering purchases also enables parents to develop a clothing allowance each and every month instead of having one large bill at a certain point in the year. Parents can even add to their children’s wardrobes during the holiday season, when clothes tend to get reduced again for holiday sales. Don’t discount hand-me-downs. It’s trendy to recycle clothing and also to be environmentally conscious by putting items to good use again and again. Aside from you and your wallet, no one will know if your child is wearing a secondhand pair of pants or a brand new pair. Many school moms are anxious to swap clothing with others to lessen their own financial burdens with children’s clothing. Start a clothing swap with a group of friends, and you may find you have more than you need in the way of clothes for the kids.
Take stock of what you already have. How many times have you run out to the grocery store for a missing ingredient only to find that very item buried at the back of the pantry? The same thing happens with kids’ clothes. Before taking kids clothes shopping, take inventory of their closets. Have little ones try on clothes to see which items still fit and which can be discarded or donated. Make a list of the items you need to cut down on impulse spending at the store. Invest in the right high-quality pieces. Spending a fortune for a trendy pair of pants that may end up getting ruined on the playground is not the best way to shop for kids’ clothing. However, investing in a quality pair of shoes that will last much of the year is a good investment. Know when to splurge and when it’s okay to shop at the discount store. Stock up on staples. A straight-leg cut of jeans, some solid colored polo shirts and an A-line dress or skirt are some classic foundation pieces for children’s wardrobes. Such items tend to last longer than trendy items that may only last a few months before the next trend arrives. Learn to layer. Layering items can make pieces look like new by putting them together in different combinations. Layering a summer T-shirt under a fall hoodie gets use out of two different season’s worth of clothes. It also enables kids to be comfortable during unpredictable weather. Leave it to the kids. Parents often worry about what other parents will think of their own children’s clothing. Children do not typically worry about such things until their preteen or teenage years. You may spend less money on clothing simply because your child has a few favorite shirts and pants he or she wears over and over. That’s less laundry for you and less money you have to spend on new clothes.
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Angola Pennysaver • August 11, 2013
Youngsters who have their own library cards might be more excited about visiting the library and more likely to develop a love of reading.
How to encourage kids to read Reading can have a profound impact on a child’s life in and out of the classroom. Reading can help a young student develop a more extensive vocabulary, and a study from the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics found that reading to young children promotes language acquisition, making it easier for them to learn a foreign language. That’s a significant advantage for children growing up in a world that’s increasingly global. But reading has benefits outside the classroom as well. Reading can provide an escape from the daily grind, which is something even today’s youngsters can appreciate. Reading also is a great way for kids to relax and unwind while simultaneously giving their brains a workout.
While many parents recognize the impact reading can have on their children, it’s no secret that getting kids to embrace reading can be difficult. Distractions such as video games, social media and even the great outdoors are all there to draw kids away from reading. But parents who want to instill a love of reading in their children can still take steps to ensure their kids don’t miss out on the benefits of a good book. Read to your children. Numerous studies have discovered various benefits of reading to children when they are young. The National Center for Education Statistics notes that children whose parents read to them typically become better readers and perform better in school. Reading to children early on is the first step toward fostering a love of reading kids will develop and continue throughout their lives. Many parents read to their children at night before bedtime, but any time of day will suffice. Don’t be discouraged if kids are not interested in books. While reading fiction can help develop a youngster’s imagination, parents should not be discouraged if kids don’t want to read books. Reading the newspaper, magazines and
even comic books can help kids develop strong reading skills and an extensive vocabulary and, in the case of comic books, inspire their imaginations. Young sports fans might be more inclined to read the sports page than a novel, so let them do so. Kids are more likely to embrace reading if what they’re reading interests them, so encourage kids to read up on those interests, even if that reading does not involve picking up a book. Get your youngster his or her own library card. Thanks to the popularity of e-readers, many adults would be hard pressed to locate their local library if asked to do so. But visiting the library is a great way to encourage kids to read, especially if kids have their own library cards. Kids with their own library cards tend to look at visits to the library as shopping trips where they get to make their own choices about what they’re taking home with them. And once kids reach a certain age, they can visit the library on their own. Share your own reading experiences with children. Kids look up to their parents and often want to mimic their behavior. So parents can set a good example by reading as well. On trips to
the library, check out your own book. While you might not want to discuss every book you read with your children, discuss the books they’re reading. Chances are you read many of those same books yourself when you were a child, and discussing books with your child is a great way to improve his or her reading comprehension. Distractions abound for today’s youngsters, who might not embrace reading as readily as they do video games or social networking. But parents can take many steps to instill a love of reading in their kids that will last a lifetime.
Angola Pennysaver • August 11, 2013 BACK TO SCHOOL & COLLEGE GUIDE 7
Establishing a positive homework environment for your student
Many students need a quiet environment that’s free of noise and distractions to perform their best on homework assignments.
Though it might not be something students look forward to, homework is an essential element of the learning process. Homework allows kids to apply the lessons they learned in the classroom while giving educators a chance to determine if students are grasping the concepts discussed in class or if certain lessons need to be revisited. Students often seek their parents’ help when doing their homework, but parents can start helping even before their children bring any assignments home. Creating a homework environment where kids can concentrate and put forth their best effort is a great way to help them throughout the school year. The following are a few tips for parents who want to ensure that home is as conducive a place as possible for students to do their best on homework assignments. Find a quiet space with little or no distractions. A quiet place in the home where kids can concentrate is essential when kids are doing homework. While a youngster’s bedroom might have sufficed years ago, today’s children tend to have bedrooms that mimic the showroom
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floor of an electronics store. If kids have televisions, video game consoles and stereos in their bedrooms, then that’s likely not the best environment for them to do their homework. Kids can too easily grow distracted, so find a quiet area where kids can focus on their studies without being tempted by television, video games or other distractions not conducive to studying. Designate a time each day when kids do their homework. Another way to make your home more amenable to homework is to designate a time each day when kids will study. Let other members of the household know that this is a quiet time in the house so kids aren’t distracted. Once kids get comfortable in this routine they likely won’t need much prodding to do their homework, and this designated quiet time in the household can be a relaxing time for other members of the household as well. Have healthy snacks available. Few people do their best work on an empty stomach, so if kids will be doing their homework immediately after school, make sure you have some healthy snacks
on hand. Elementary and high school students tend to eat lunch earlier than adults, so they’re liable to be hungry when they arrive home from school in the mid- to late-afternoon. Have plenty of fresh fruit on hand so kids can satisfy their hunger. Less healthy snacks might satisfy youngster’s hunger pangs, but such snacks may also make kids drowsy, negatively affecting their ability to concentrate and indirectly hindering their schoolwork as a result. Let kids know their work will be checked nightly. Parents who want to create an environment where their children approach homework seriously should let their kids know their work will be checked each night, and they will need to redo any assignments that were not completed correctly. This prevents kids from rushing through assignments without giving their best efforts. Few youngsters look forward to homework. While parents might not be able to change their kids’ attitudes toward homework, they can change their home to make it as positive an environment for kids to pursue their studies as possible.
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Angola Pennysaver • August 11, 2013
Building a strong parent-teacher relationship
school year and working with the teacher as the year progresses. Attend “Back to School Night.” School events like an open house or a “Back to School Night” are a great way to help kids grow acclimated to their school. But such events also make great opportunities for parents to learn more about their kids’ teachers than they might have learned during their introductory meeting. Such events may allow teachers to explain the curriculum for the upcoming year, and teachers may feel encouraged when parents show an active interest in such events. Prioritize parent-teacher conferences. Parentteacher conferences are a great opportunity for parents to speak to their children’s teacher oneon-one. Unlike an introductory meeting or an open house at the beginning of the school year, a parentteacher conference allows parents and teachers to specifically discuss students in private. Teachers may provide insight into how a child is performing and behaving in the classroom, offering advice as to how to improve that performance or suggestions as to how to encourage kids to keep up the good work. Such conferences may be your only opportunity for a one-on-one, in-person discussion about your child, so make sure you’re on time and that you don’t miss these conferences. Your child’s teacher will appreciate it, and you can use this as an opportunity to ask any questions you have about your child. Keep the channels of communication open. If it’s been awhile since you’ve spoken to your child’s teacher, don’t be afraid to e-mail the teacher to check in or see if you can lend a helping hand. In addition, if your child really enjoys a teacher’s class, don’t be hesitant to share that with the teacher. Teachers appreciate compliments just like other professionals, and parents should express their gratitude to those teachers who are working hard to
Developing a strong relationship with a child’s teacher can help parents ensure their kids are doing their best in the classroom. Once a school year begins, many students spend more time in the classroom with their teachers than they do at home with their parents. That’s especially true in dual-income households where both parents work outside of the home. Though many parents would love to spend more time with their children, doing so can be difficult when both parents must go to work every day. Because kids spend so much time with their teachers, it’s important for parents to work toward building a strong parent-teacher relationship. Such a relationship fosters communication, which can help a young student do his or her best in and out of the classroom, something that’s a goal for parents and teachers alike. Parents interested in developing a strong relationship with their kids’ teachers can take several steps to make that happen. Meet your child’s teacher at the beginning of the year. Teachers have many students come in and out of their classroom on any given day, so it can be hard for teachers to initiate a relationship with parents. Parents have significantly fewer children to look after, so they should take the first step toward building a relationship with teachers. Introduce yourself at the onset of the school year, providing phone numbers and e-mail addresses where you can be reached. Let the teacher know you’re available for discussion any time during the school year and that you look forward to the coming
make learning fun for their youngsters. Establishing a strong relationship with a child’s teacher can help parents ensure students are making the most of their time in the classroom. That discussion should include asking kids if they would like to play a specific instrument or be part of a choir. In addition to giving kids a creative outlet, music may even benefit them in the classroom. Stanford University researchers found that musical training improves how the brain processes the spoken word. In addition, in an analysis of data on more than 25,000 secondary school students, researchers at the United States Department of Education found that students who report consistent involvement in instrumental music during middle school and high school perform significantly better in mathematics by grade 12 than those who do not participate in music programs. WORKING Many students live in communities that allow them to work once they reach high school age. While working might not be as fun as playing an instrument, getting a job can teach high school students valuable lessons they will carry with them throughout their lives. Even though high school students only work part-time, such a work schedule can still teach them the importance of money management and the valuable lesson of reaping what you sow. High school students can save their money to finance their college educations or purchase their first cars, each of which can teach them the value of saving money. Working in high school also can prepare students for college, where many will need to work in order to support themselves.
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Angola Pennysaver • August 11, 2013 BACK TO SCHOOL & COLLEGE GUIDE 9
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Angola Pennysaver • August 11, 2013
The pros and cons of using the Internet to complete schoolwork
The classroom atmosphere familiar to today’s children is likely very different from the atmosphere their parents were accustomed to when they were students. Many of these changes can be traced to technology, which has gradually had an increasing presence in the classroom over the last several decades. But technology has not only changed the classroom experience for kids, but thanks in large part to the Internet, technology also has changed the way kids approach their schoolwork at home. Though a potentially valuable learning tool, the Internet also poses some problems for today’s students. The following are some of the advantages and disadvantages of relying on the Internet to complete schoolwork.
THE PROS
THE CONS
The accessibility of the Internet can be a significant benefit to students. Students have a wealth of resources available to them online, and those resources can make it easier for kids to understand key concepts on nearly every subject. Whereas students might once have been forced to trek to the library to research a given subject, now they can do so from the comforts of home. And unlike the library, the Internet never closes, so information is at students’ disposal regardless of when they sit down to do their schoolwork. Another advantage to using the Internet to complete schoolwork is that the Internet can be an extension of the classroom beyond school walls. Educational Web sites abound on the Internet, and many of these sites are written and monitored by professional educators. These sites can be valuable resources for students who may find themselves struggling with certain lessons. Many of their questions or concerns may already be addressed, and certain topics may be more easily explained on a Web site written by a professional educator or scholar in a given field. Rather than waiting to address an issue in class, students can visit such Web sites to answers to their questions immediately. The Internet also can provide students with a forum to discuss their studies which does not always exist in the classroom. That forum may engage students and make them better students. A passionate online discussion about a reading assignment may encourage kids to approach such assignments more fervently. Though such discussions may exist in a traditional classroom atmosphere, many students might be hesitant to express themselves in front of their classmates, feeling the anonymity of the Internet is a more inviting and less stressful forum than a classroom of their peers.
As beneficial as the Internet can be to students, it’s not always what it’s cracked up to be. Much of the concern about using the Internet to complete schoolwork is the reliability of the information on the Internet. Many sites offer reliable and wellresearched information, but many do not. Students, especially younger students, may not be capable of discerning fact from fiction and will simply take the written word on the Internet as truth. That may land students in hot water or make it more difficult for them to understand their subjects. Another significant disadvantage to using the Internet to complete schoolwork is that students may be tempted to cheat. Because the Internet is so vast, students might be tempted to cut and paste answers to homework problems from the Internet or copy information from Web sites and claim it as their own, feeling as if there is no way their teachers will ever find out. Some students may not even understand that such cutting, pasting or copying is wrong. But in addition to being wrong, such behavior, whether students are caught or not, also makes it harder for students to learn the material, which will make it more difficult for them to grasp key concepts going forward. The Internet can also be a significant distraction to students. Social networking sites can quickly distract kids from their schoolwork, costing them valuable time they should be devoting to their studies. For more than a decade, the Internet has proven a valuable resource for students across the globe. But students must recognize there arev advantages and disadvantages to relying too heavily on the Internet when pursuing their studies.
Angola Pennysaver • August 11, 2013 BACK TO SCHOOL & COLLEGE GUIDE 11
Hilbert College for adult learners
HAMBURG, N.Y. – Hilbert College announced that it has introduced a new Accelerated Degree Program in Business Management geared toward adult learners.
The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Business Management is the third program added to Hilbert’s ADP curriculum. Hilbert also offers a B.S. in Conflict Studies and Dispute Resolution and a B.S. in Organizational Development through the school’s Center for Adult and Graduate Studies. Students enrolled in one of Hilbert’s Accelerated Degree Programs can complete their degree taking classes one night per week. There are six, seven-week terms per year. As a full time student, you could complete up to 36 credits per year. To be eligible for Hilbert’s Accelerated Degree Programs, students must have completed at least 24 college credits from a regionally accredited college. Students can transfer in up to 90 credits of the 120 credits required to graduate. The B.S. in Business Management prepares students for today’s challenging and highly competitive business environment. The curriculum
...AND A DREAM
Hilbert College Accelerated Degree Programs allow you to work and still have family time while attending school one night a week.
is based on critical knowledge, marketable skills, and specific competencies critical to successfully managing in the global economy. In addition to helping students build core knowledge in business, the B.S. in Business Management focuses on specific skills and competencies in functional, business, and strategic areas of management. Offering an integrated curriculum, Hilbert’s bachelor-level business management major prepares you with a firm foundation in accounting, finance, marketing, business law and planning. You will gain a solid foundation in computer-based technical skills, a broad liberal arts knowledge base, and an understanding of the world of economics, business and industry. You will become skilled in organization, motivation, teamwork, networking, leadership, and ethical decision making. More information on Hilbert’s ADP is available online at www.hilbert.edu/adp, by phone at 716-926-8949, or in person at the Center for Adult (ADP) and Graduate Studies on the Hilbert campus (Room 166, Paczesny Hall).
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Angola Pennysaver • August 11, 2013
Taming the cost of textbooks
In an era when digital books can be downloaded to an e-reader for a few dollars, students may feel it foolish to shell out several hundred dollars for a hardcover textbook that will only be used once. Many college students are shocked at the cost of their textbooks. In fact, many students do not take textbook costs into consideration when budgeting for school, only to have their jaws drop at the checkout counter of their campus bookstore. The cost of textbooks has been an issue on college campuses for years. Many elementary and high school students do not have to pay directly for their textbooks, but college students must pay for their books. There are a number of ways to curtail costs. One of the reasons behind the high sticker price for college textbooks is the copyright fees publishers of large anthologies must pay to every author who contributed to a book. Such costs can quickly add up. When there isn’t a large demand for the books, publishers
will not make much money if they don’t charge more for the books. Another reason for the high cost of textbooks is that some are accompanied by online companion resources. The publishers build the price of these resources into the cost of the book. An additional contributing factor to students’ high textbook tabs could be the faculty at their college or university. Some professors are not sensitive to the cost of books, selecting books they like or even ones they authored themselves without considering the price of such texts. Supply and demand may also influence the cost of textbooks. When too many textbooks are in circulation, there is no longer a high demand. So publishers make money by continually issuing new volumes with an item or two changed to justify the purchase of a new book. But as costly as textbooks can be, students can employ various methods to trim their textbook tabs.
Purchase used textbooks whenever possible. Used textbooks may cost half as much as brand new texts. They may be highlighted or have notes in the margins, but if you can overlook these things, you can save money. Sell back textbooks. Keep textbooks in good condition and attempt to sell them back to either the campus bookstore or one near to the school. If the edition will be used again, you may be able to recoup a significant amount of the money you spent on the book. Shop around. Jot down the ISBN number for the particular textbook and then go online and price it out. Thanks to the Internet, you may find the book elsewhere for a significant discount over the in-store price on campus. Look for alternative formats. With that ISBN number in hand, find out if there are digital or softcover versions of the textbook available. These formats may be more affordable and easier to lug around as well.
Compare the old edition to the new. The new edition may have different page numbers or minor changes, but not enough to negate the value of the old edition. You can save a lot of money on an old edition. Share the book with a classmate. Make friends with someone in your class and share the costs and use of the book. Set up study and homework sessions to work together or make copies of particular chapters if you need to work solo. Consult with your financial aid counselor. Sometimes financial aid can offset the cost of textbooks. You might be eligible for aid to cover the cost of your textbooks throughout the school year.
How to make your dorm room your own
College students can employ various strategies to make their dorm rooms feel more like home. Children spend roughly 17 to 18 years living under Mom and Dad’s roof. When the time comes to go away to college, young men or women find themselves on their own for the first time in their lives. Once youngsters move into their dorm rooms, many attempt to add a few personal touches to their new home. All too often a college dorm room is drab and uninspiring. Universities tend to make dorm rooms sparse so they are easy to maintain. Very often walls
are made from concrete or brick, and the space may not be very large. In addition, dorm rooms are often shared with a roommate, and the idea of spending semester after semester here may not be so appealing. Students tend to arrive on campus with fixed budgets and not a lot of spending money for new furnishings, so dorm rooms often become populated with garage-sale finds and hand-me-downs. This may only add to the room’s poor aesthetics. Making a dorm room your own does not require a lot of money or know-how. It starts with a vision, a few comforts from home and some collaboration with your roommate. The following are a few tips for young men and women looking to turn their dorm rooms from drab to fab. • Know the dorm rules before making any permanent changes. Rather than face fines at the end of the school year, know what you can and can’t do to your room before making any changes. For example, schools may frown on holes in walls or other structural changes,
so invest in stick-on hooks for hanging photos on walls. • Consider using a dorm room planning Web site. Certain Web sites enable students to share a collaborative shopping cart with roommates so they can coordinate colors and avoid buying two of the same items. • Remember, the bed is the pivotal piece of the room. Most dorm rooms fit little more than two beds and two desks. Therefore, the bulk of your design will come from outfitting your bed with a comforter that adds color and life to the room. If you haven’t yet decided on a color scheme with your roommate, you may want to opt for neutral colors, or even basic black-and-white, which will blend with anything. • Invest in other creature comforts. A nice area rug and a few decorative lamps can remove the institutional feel of overhead fluorescent lights and cinder block walls. Task lighting enables you to get work done at your desk or to read on the bed. • Consider curtains to add a homey
feel. While blinds certainly have their utility, fabric curtains can help absorb noise and also make a dorm room feel more like home. If your dorm room has an attached bathroom, hang a shower curtain and use thick towels to make the space seem more like home. • Carve out a spot for a mini refrigerator. Students should not survive on cafeteria food alone. Bring a mini refrigerator for those late-night cravings. This will save you from overpaying at vending machines or at the nearby convenience store. • Ask Mom what laundry detergent she uses. Smells can trigger powerful memories and emotions. Washing linens and clothing with the same detergent used at home can make school feel more familiar. • Don’t forget photos. Frame photos of friends and family members and place them around your area of the dorm room. This way you will have familiar faces smiling back at you when you need a little pick-me-up.
Angola Pennysaver • August 11, 2013 BACK TO SCHOOL & COLLEGE GUIDE 13
Things to consider when choosing a college
When choosing a college, students often look for the best academic institutions. While it’s hard to argue with that approach, high school students facing the decision of where to spend the next four years of their lives should know that the right university is not necessarily the one with the best academic reputation. A host of factors come into play when finding the right match between student and university. Academics should always carry the most weight, but students should consider a host of other factors before ultimately deciding where to continue their academic careers. COST In a perfect world students would not have to worry about financing their college educations. But that’s not a world in which today’s students live, so the cost of a college education is something nearly every college-bound student must consider before making his or her decision. According to the College Board, the average overall cost to attend in-state public college for the 2012-13 academic year for students who did not receive financial aid was $22,261, a nearly 4 percent increase from the previous school year. That sticker price includes the cost of living in a dorm, food, books, and the additional expenses college students typically have. And the College Board notes that, despite the cost increase, financial aid budgets stayed the same as the year before, meaning even those students who received financial aid paid more
money. While cost should not dictate where high school students ultimately go to college, students should know that eventually student loans will have to be repaid with interest, so those who do not want to bury themselves in student loan debt after graduation would be wise to choose a university that’s more affordable or one that’s offering a more attractive scholarship and grant package. Unlike student loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be repaid.
for the first time. In addition to homesickness, collegebound students should consider the cost of travel before enrolling in a college or university that’s far from home. Mom and Dad might not be able to afford to fly their college students home several times per year for the holidays and other breaks in the school year, and the burden of financing that travel can fall on students. If you are not planning to work during the school year, then financing trips home may prove very difficult.
DISTANCE FROM HOME While many high school students may think a school far away from their folks is ideal, the reality of being far away from home is a struggle for many college students who attend college outside of their home states. Homesickness is a very real thing for college students who are away from home and on their own
ENVIRONMENT Both the academic and social environments at a college or university merit consideration when students are deciding where to continue their educations. Some students thrive in a competitive academic environment, while others tend to fare better in a more casual setting. Students should assess
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which environment is best for them and choose a university that best suits them as a student. A college or university’s social environment is another factor for students to consider. Larger schools tend to rely heavily on Greek life, while smaller schools may be more intimate and less exclusive. Students who hope to join a sorority or fraternity might benefit from a school with a thriving Greek life, while those who want a more intimate social environment might prefer a smaller school where all of the students seem to know one another.
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Many commuter students find it difficult to assimilate when arriving on a college campus. Living off-campus, be it in their own apartment or at home with their parents, can make it difficult for commuter students to make friends with classmates who live in the dorms, where they already have a built-in social network. But while it’s often easier for students living on campus to assimilate into campus culture, commuter students can still become an integral part of their colleges and universities. The following are a few tips that might help commuter students more easily assimilate into campus culture. * Form a study group. The classroom is where many commuter students are introduced to their fellow students, so it’s a great place for commuters to make new friends. A study group outside the classroom can be a bonding experience for commuter students and their classmates, and such groups can be a great way for commuters to improve their grades while learning about social gatherings on campus. * Join student organizations. Student organizations, whether it’s student government or the campus radio station or a school-based charity, are great opportunities to get the most out of a college or university. They’re also great places to meet new people and expand your social circle. Commuter
students can still be actively involved in campus life even if they don’t live on campus, and student organizations are a great way to do just that. * Get a job on campus. Many commuter students work in an effort to offset the rising costs of tuition. When looking for work, such students can look for an on-campus job where they can meet more of their fellow students. This is a great way to put some money in your pocket while further involving yourself in campus life. * Play sports. Intramural sports are wildly popular on many college campuses, and you need not be a great athlete to take advantage of these opportunities. Ask friends or acquaintances from class if they have a spot on their teams, or organize a team of your fellow commuter students. Intramural sports can be a great, pressure-free way to make new friends on campus while getting a little exercise to boot. * Make lunch dates. Many college students, especially those living in dorm rooms that aren’t equipped with kitchens, have their meals with friends and fellow students. Commuters can do the same, booking lunch or dinner dates with classmates and friends. This keeps you on campus longer, which allows you more time to make friends and assimilate into the campus culture.
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