College education expenses (audio)

thinking out loud on the Boston Globe article about the amount of debt college students are accumulating these days

• Boston Globe Magazine article

http://www.bostonglobe.com/magazine/2016/05/18/hopes-dreams-debt/fR60cKakwUlGok0jTlONTN/story.html

HMEA Mike Moloney and MA State Representative Jeff Roy pushing their companions for the HMEA 5K

What's the best advice on starting college?

Franklin High School sent its senior class into the new life on Friday. This event is happening in many high schools around the US. It is a challenge for high schoolers to face their future. What will it be? Will they follow the advice of family and friends? Will they follow their own desires and needs?

Ze Frank has this rambling but poignant video providing advice on starting college.



What would you add to this advice?

That's Greek to me

Have you ever said "That's Greek to me"?

Something complicated, something that didn't make a whole lot of sense would usually draw that comment. At least in the days before 'political correctness' became all so important.

My daughter is getting to develop a better understanding of Greece and its history, art, language and culture by spending her college semester abroad. Due to the wonders of technology, she is only a Skype call away.

You can join in with her explorations by viewing her journal online (and better yet, subscribing to receive her updates automatically).

This phrase (That's Greek to me) may become a forgotten part of your vocabulary!

Scholarship money is there if you look for it

With money tight, no time is better than now to go looking to see if you can find some scholarship money for college. My good buddy from PodCamp Boston, Christopher Penn has the tips on how to do so:




Why let a little thing like money get in the way of your future!

What college student couldn't use some scholarship money?

Do you know of one that doesn't?

If you know of one (or more) that does, please let them know about this 32 second opportunity.




The Student Loan Network $10,000 scholarship.

They're giving away $10,000 to a college or graduate student as part of their 10th anniversary.

No essays, no transcripts, no GPA requirements ... it takes all of 32 seconds to apply for.

32 seconds.

What are you waiting for?


Thanks to Christopher S Penn of The Sudent Loan Network for this opportunity!

College Scholarship - Update

I wrote earlier of a college scholarship being offered to the best blogger. The contest had so many good entries, they have decided to post the top 20 for review and voting.

Check them out and pick one you like.

If the six degrees of separation work, someone must know one of the top 20!

Let us know who that is!

Student bloggers have an opportunity!

Is Your Blog Worthy of a $10,000 Scholarship?

Do you maintain a weblog and attend college? Would you like $10,000 to help pay for books, tuition, or other living costs? If so, read on.

We're giving away $10,000 this year to a college student who blogs. The Blogging Scholarship is awarded annually.

Entry deadline October 6th.

Thanks to Mike Sansone at ConverSations for the tip!

Good experience: College move-in day

We delivered Carolyn to Northeastern University on Sunday to start her sophomore year. For those looking ahead to this experience, make it less stressful with some good packing and loading.

1 - It starts with the student. They do not need everything that is in their room or at home. They need to consider taking the minimum amount. The dorm room they generally get at college is smaller and with less storage than they have at home. If they go to college reasonably close to home, then some of the seasonal clothing can be left off the first trip and taken closer to the time it will be needed.

2 - Pack in carry size items. Sounds simple but I see so many folks struggling to carry an item that is over sized, or a bag that is overloaded. Make it easy for yourself. Keep it simple. Keep it small enough to carry.

3 - Load to unload. Follow the normal guidelines for loading your vehicle. Heavier stuff on the bottom. Light stuff on top. Fragile and delicate items packed with care. This is all well and good but consider how you load the vehicle. Consider the room where you are going. A closet, a bed, a desk and someone else in the room as well. Load the vehicle in the order you want to get started in the room.

3a - While there are other ways to do so, I recommend clothing (especially if it is in a suit case) loaded last, unloaded first. Take it to the room, put it in the closet, close the closet door and leave it for later.

3b - Bedding should be next. Load the vehicle so you can take the bedding in next. You can make the bed (or have the student do so while another load is being fetched). Now with the bed made, you can use the bed as temporary storage.

3c - After these two priorities, you can move whatever else is required as long as you consider the space where it is going and leave yourself room to move around. Especially to allow room for the student to start unpacking and settling in.

Parents, once the vehicle is empty and everything in the room, it is time to leave. You can linger and help settle a little but this is your student's life, get used to letting them get going on their own. It may be hard to make the break but the sooner you give them space to stand on their own, the better off both of you will be.

You've done your part, let them learn the rest on their own.

I'd take away the guns

As a parent with two daughters in college, the tragedy at Virginia Tech hits close to home. My prayers go out to all those families.

As for the solution to this madness, I endorse the words Cheryl Wheeler composed in response to the Jonesboro school yard shooting.


If It Were Up to Me
Words and Lyrics by: Cheryl Wheeler

Maybe it's the movies, maybe it's the books
Maybe it's the bullets, maybe it's the real crooks
Maybe it's the drugs, maybe it's the parents
Maybe it's the colors everybody's wearin
Maybe it's the President, maybe it's the last one
Maybe it's the one before that, what he done
Maybe it's the high schools, maybe it's the teachers
Maybe it's the tattooed children in the bleachers
Maybe it's the Bible, maybe it's the lack
Maybe it's the music, maybe it's the crack
Maybe it's the hairdos, maybe it's the TV
Maybe it's the cigarettes, maybe it's the family
Maybe it's the fast food, maybe it's the news
Maybe it's divorce, maybe it's abuse
Maybe it's the lawyers, maybe it's the prisons
Maybe it's the Senators, maybe it's the system
Maybe it's the fathers, maybe it's the sons
Maybe it's the sisters, maybe it's the moms
Maybe it's the radio, maybe it's road rage
Maybe El Nino, or UV rays
Maybe it's the army, maybe it's the liquor
Maybe it's the papers, maybe the militia
Maybe it's the athletes, maybe it's the ads
Maybe it's the sports fans, maybe it's a fad
Maybe it's the magazines, maybe it's the internet
Maybe it's the lottery, maybe it's the immigrants
Maybe it's taxes, big business
Maybe it's the KKK and the skinheads
Maybe it's the communists, maybe it's the Catholics
Maybe it's the hippies, maybe it's the addicts
Maybe it's the art, maybe it's the sex
Maybe it's the homeless, maybe it's the banks
Maybe it's the clearcut, maybe it's the ozone
Maybe it's the chemicals, maybe it's the car phones
Maybe it's the fertilizer, maybe it's the nose rings
Maybe it's the end, but I know one thing.
If it were up to me, I'd take away the guns.

(P) October 1, 1997

Penrod And Higgins Music / Amachrist Music
ACF Music Group
International Copyright Reserved

College hoopla

Took my father to the Providence College game on Tuesday evening against West Virgina. A tight game. The Friars were down 6 at the half. West Virginia was 18-1 when leading at the half. The picture shows a WV player at the free throw line. 9.1 seconds on the clock PC leading 62-60. He made the first, missed the second but WV got the rebound and the ball. Ended up turning it over, PC worked the ball against the press to ultimately score an easy layup to finish 64-61.

Dad enjoyed the game. He is a long time Friar fan and for many years had season tickets with his brothers. Any home game, the Sherlock brothers could be counted on to be there. Two have now passed away. To get to a game is more of a treat now. Twice this month we went, both times we saw them win a close one. The previous game, the Friars were down 6 with a minute to go and won by a point at the buzzer. As we were leaving Tuesday night, Dad said that they should start paying us to go since the two times we have been there they have won. Not a bad idea.

Go Friars!