The Dr. Seuss “Oh The Places You’ll Go” Scholarship

You’re never too old for Dr. Seuss — especially when he’s offering you $10,000 dollars! Dr. Seuss’s Oh The Places You’ll Go is an inspirational story about embarking on a journey and overcoming challenges, kind of like the college application process. Create a piece of art inspired by Seuss’s classic, and you could win a hefty sum.

The Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship

Don’t eat anything with a face? Then you’re eligible for this generous $5,000 scholarship. All you have to do is promote vegetarianism at your school and submit an essay answering several questions like how you became a vegetarian and why, and how you promoted vegetarianism at your school.

Ayn Rand Institute Scholarship

Many of Ayn Rand’s books are notably long, but reading and analyzing one could pay off — literally. The Ayn Rand Institute holds contests that ask students to write an essay responding to one of the questions they pose about her books. Write about We The Living, and you could win $3,000; write about Atlas Shrugged, and you could win $10,000.

Tylenol Scholarship

If you’re going to be pre-med, chances are you’ll fall in love with Tylenol, and not just because it’ll be helping you cure those all-nighter headaches. Tylenol offers scholarships to students who will be pursuing healthcare-related majors, so pre-meds, rejoice!

Collegiate Inventors Competition

Having an inventive gene often comes in handy, especially when you can take it to the bank. If you’ve got a great invention, apply for this competition, and you could win $25,000!

Teens Drive Smart Video Contest

Sponsored by Bridgestone, this scholarship rewards safe drivers and advocates of driving safety. All you have to do is come up with a 25 to 55 second video about why automobile safety is important to you, and you could win $25,000.

The Bruce Lee Foundation Scholarship

The Bruce Lee Foundation awards a $1,000 scholarship to students based on extracurricular activities, community service, work experience, future potential, and of course, their knowledge of all things Bruce Lee.

Tall Clubs International Scholarship

Are you super tall but not a basketball player? This is the scholarship for you. The minimum height requirements are 5’ 10’’ for women and 6’ 2’’ for men. All you have to do is get in touch with a current member of the Tall Clubs International and ask him or her to sponsor you. Weird? Yes. Worth it for $1,000? Also yes.

Common Knowledge Scholarship

This is kind of like Jeopardy, but you don’t get to be on TV. Just register on the Common Knowledge website and start taking their quizzes to win up to $5,000. No minimum G.P.A. or essay is required, and you can take multiple quizzes to win more than once!

United States Bowling Congress Scholarships

Avid bowlers, good news! If you’re a young bowler participating in a USBC league, you may be eligible for national bowling-related scholarships. Awards range from $1,000 to $2,500.

The post Hidden Talents Pay Off: 10 Niche College Scholarships appeared first on NextGen Journal.

The audition process typically begins with an online test, which consists of 50 show-style clues in 50 different categories, explains 2012 Southern Adventist University graduate Hans Friedrich Daniel von Walter, who appeared on Jeopardy in November 2010 and won third place. There are 15 seconds for each question, after which the computer moves on to the next question.

“[These questions] aren’t as hard as normal Jeopardy questions, but definitely still challenging,” said Michael Elibacher, a rising junior at the University of Virginia who passed the online test and was called to audition.

If a person scores above a pre-determined cutoff score, he or she is entered into a pool to be selected for an in-person audition at a site that is selected during the test registration. At the in-person audition, another 50-clue test is administered, but this time it is written and proctored, with eight seconds to write down each response. Contestant producers then grade the quizzes and call potential contestants back in groups of three for a mock round of the game.

“After the mock game,” von Walter explained, “they did a short Alex Trebek-style interview with each of us. After all was said and done, they wished us off, telling us more or less don’t call them, they’ll call us, and that was that until I got the call to be on the show several months later.”

The most stressful aspect of the audition process, Elibacher said, was standing out.

“The hardest part [for] me was trying to be interesting enough to stand out to the people running the audition. All these [other] students were obviously smart, so I felt a lot of pressure to try and show something more in the audition,” he said.

And the pressure doesn’t ease up once the contestant learns that he or she will be on the show. From the moment a contestant hears the good news to the second right before filming, the experience is a nerve-wracking one.

According to von Walter, the month of anticipation between getting the call for the show and actually going to tape was the worst part.

“There is so much to get done as far as paperwork and some minor prep…and I still had life and tests and projects that I had to concentrate on without getting distracted about my big date with destiny,” he said.

Once filming actually starts, though, things get better, at least according to Katie Singh, rising senior at Northwestern University and November 2010 contestant.

“The most stressful part was waiting in the green room before taping started,” Singh said. “[But] once the game started, I became focused on it.”

No matter how challenging the audition process, however, the time they spent on Jeopardy! is unforgettable for contestants by all accounts.

“When we walked onto the soundstage, we were all so silent, it was like walking into church,” von Walter said. “Alex Trebek was kind of a surreal presence in front of us, and, really, if I had to sum up the whole experience, the proper word would probably be surreal.”

But past answering questions, getting to appear on television, and perhaps even winning some well-earned money, the College Tournament is about meeting some great people and making friends.

“Everyone I met at the audition was super nice and friendly,” Eilbacher said, “and it didn’t even feel like a competition to get onto the show.”

Though the show airs over the course of several weeks, it’s only taped for a few days. Still, though, those few days are a major bonding experience.

“Over the course of two days, the camaraderie of our group intensified to such an extent that even the producers remarked on how we were the one of the best groups they’d ever had,” von Walter said.

The group had become so close, in fact, that on the show Alex Trebek commented on the “Esprit de Corps,” within the group, which, von Walter explained, became the group’s unofficial nickname.

“That was back in October 2010,” he said, “and to this day, nearly two years later, we still actively post, laugh, cry, and reminisce about whatever comes to our mind. The [friends I made] are by far the best part of my experience and what I’ll take away from it the most.”

Singh, who appeared on the same season, agrees.

“By the second day, we’d all become friends and those of us who’d been eliminated from the tournament sat together in the audience and cheered the rest of the contestants on,” she said. “We were really happy for the finalists and went onstage to hug them after the final game finished taping. Getting to know the other contestants was definitely the most rewarding part of the experience.”

The post What Is… A Jeopardy College Tournament Contestant appeared first on NextGen Journal.

Home, by Toni Morrison

Home follows the story of Frank Money, a depressed, jaded Korean War veteran who returns to a racist America that he doesn’t recognize. Forced to face not only the reality of returning to a torn nation, but also helping his medically-abused, ailing sister, Frank has no time to deal with his own emotional damage and find himself again. He decides to take his sister back to their hometown in Georgia, a place he has hated all his life. But when he sees his home with new, post-war eyes, he realizes that he possesses a newfound courage and sense of self. Beautifully written as are all Morrison’s novels, Home does not disappoint.

Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins

The sequel to The Hunger Games, Catching Fire picks up where the first installment leaves off. Katniss Everdeen has (spoiler alert!) won the Hunger Games and shared her victor with Peeta Mellark. They won by defying the Capitol and its harsh Hunger Games rules, and their clever victory inadvertently made them the faces of a rebellion brewing against the Capitol. But rebellions don’t fly in Panem, and the Capitol is angry. Destined to be another blockbuster hit, Catching Fire is a must read, and I recommend you read it before they make the movie. And when you’re done with this one, pick up Mockingjay, the last installment of the trilogy.

The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald

If you haven’t read it already, now’s the perfect time to read this American classic. Often regarded as the supreme achievement of Fitzgerald’s career, the novel tells the story of Jay Gatsby and his relationship with Daisy Buchanan, his adventures and lavish parties in Long Island during the Roaring Twenties. If you’ve already read this fantastic novel, there’s no harm in reading it again, and this time, picturing Leo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby. Can you say “yum”? Catch the film adaptation in December 2012.

A Sense of Direction: Pilgrimage for the Restless and the Hopeful, by Gideon Lewis-Kraus

Perfect for college students eager to graduate and enter the real world, A Sense of Direction is a bildungsroman if there ever was one. A memoir, Lewis-Kraus’ story is about his many adventures: a pilgrimage across Spain on the famous El Camino de Santiago route, visits to 88 Buddhist temples on the Japanese island Shikoku, and an annual migration to the tomb of a famous Hasidic mystic in the Ukraine. Through his journey, Lewis-Kraus uncovers a family mystery and begins to piece together how the ancient past shapes our present. With a deep appreciation for the history that builds the future, Lewis-Kraus crafts a story that you won’t be able to put down.

The Girl Who Played With Fire, By Stieg Larsson

Sequel to The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire re-introduces Mikael Blomkvist as publisher of the magazine Millennium. On the eve of the publication of a major expose on a sex trafficking scandal, the journalists who worked on the article are found murdered and the murder weapon is covered in Lisbeth Salander’s fingerprints. Blomkvist is convinced that Salander is innocent, and decides to uncover the truth for himself. The book is full of thrills and mystery and is a serious page-turner. You’ll be done in no time and find yourself eager to pick up the third book in the Millenium trilogy, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest.

—————

What are you reading this summer?

The post A College Student’s Summer Reading List appeared first on NextGen Journal.

According to a recent survey conducted by the Higher Education Research Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles, 300,000 first-time freshmen at four-year colleges and universities found that 1.2 percent take a gap-year after graduation to study, volunteer, travel, or simply take some time off.

While gap-year programs are popular in England, they are less common in the U.S. Some colleges like Amherst College, Princeton University, MIT, Middlebury and Harvard are implementing official deferment policies to give accepted freshmen the opportunity to take a year off before beginning their studies at the school. Public colleges like the University of North Carolina even offer a Gap Year scholarship so that students can pursue academics and service abroad.

Many students often opt to plan their own travels, jobs, or other endeavors. Students that need a little more guidance typically turn to “Gap fairs,” which have been on the rise in the past few years. Gap fairs introduce students to various programs and opportunities to pursue during their gap years, and as many as 30 are held nationwide every year.

Reasons for choosing this option are as different as the students that take them, though feeling burnt out after 12 years of school is often listed as one of the top reasons.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Casey Santi, 18, of Winnetka, Ill., has been studying French and history, traveling and doing community service in Europe and Africa since she began a gap-year program last June.

Santi said that stress during her senior year in high school forced her to “regain herself and get back on track.”

Sam Helderop, who has been accepted to Michigan’s Hope College this spring, plans to take advantage of the school’s permission to defer and take a year off.

As ABC News reports, Helderop will take a gap year to teach English with the DaLaa project in Thailand and then backpack throughout Southeast Asia.

“I always wanted to travel pretty much my entire life,” Helderop told ABC News, “but after 18 years of the same old routine, going to school and sitting in class, I am not motivated enough right now to go through four years of college. I feel like a gap year will narrow down what I want to study and do in my life.”

Though hearing that children want to defer their college acceptance can be scary for parents, many college admissions experts agree that gap-years are a good idea.

“Admission officers tell you that the gap year increases independence and self-reliance and students have a confidence about them,” Julia Rogers, director of Vermont-based EnRoute Consulting, told ABC News.

Contrary to popular belief, gap-years can also end up being a good financial decision. Gap-years generally cost about $10,000 to $25,000, compared to college tuition, which usually starts at around $50,000 a year, Rogers explains. Because they typically cost less, gap-years can provide an opportunity to save up money for school, especially if the student has a paying job during the year.

Some research even shows that gap-years help students perform better once they enter college.

Robert Clagett, who has worked in admissions for both Harvard University and Middlebury College for three decades, said he and his colleagues noticed a positive trend in students that took time off before they started school.

According to Clagett, ABC News reports, students who took time off not only had higher a GPA during their first semesters, but also had higher grades during all four years.

But not everyone thinks that gap-years are a good idea. Barmak Nassirian, associate executive director of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, says that unless there’s a solid structure to the gap program, it might not be the best choice.

“If you’re going to loiter around the margins of life for a year, you may be better off in the classroom,” Nassirian told The Wall Street Journal.

If there isn’t enough structure in a program, students often end up feeling lost and even more confused than before they began.

Shoshanna Silverberg — who participated in a gap-year program teaching in Ghana several years ago — didn’t enjoy her experience.

“I felt very disenchanted with it,” she told The Wall Street Journal. According to Silverberg, she wasn’t told what she was supposed to teach, and wasn’t comfortable with the way she was supposed to discipline the children.

Whether students are thinking of embarking on spontaneous travels throughout Europe or participating in an organized, carefully-planned program, the decision to take a year off is a difficult one. Experts recommend that students think long and hard before they defer admission, and consult with parents, guidance counselors and program officials.

The post Gap Years: Positive Growth Experience? appeared first on NextGen Journal.

The legislation currently in the works proposes that certain S Corporation partner earnings are taxed, meaning service businesses with three or fewer professionals — including lawyers, doctors, accountants, engineers and professionals in the performing arts, sports, consulting and financial management — earning over $200,000 would be taxed.

In a recent installment of NPR’s Diane Rehm show, one of President Obama’s leading domestic policy advisers, Mark Zuckerman, admitted that the president has yet to figure out a way to afford the $6 billion price tag on a one-year Stafford Loan interest rate freeze, but said that finding the money isn’t the issue.

“What [Obama] wants to do is negotiate with Congress to pay for that. But this president has been very fiscally responsible when it comes for paying for higher education,” Zuckerman said. “We have billions of dollars in the budget that we’ve set aside to pay for the initiatives that we’re planning to initiate. So, we’re happy to negotiate with Congress over the offsets to fully pay for this. That really isn’t the issue.”

College students and tax-payers likely disagree with that statement.

Though the details of how to pay for the freeze are yet to be finalized or approved, one thing is clear. As in the past, colleges are not being held accountable for the extremely high tuition costs or the efforts that are required (on the part of the government and of individuals) to meet them.

In a Forbes article, contributor Dean Zerbe explains that though some colleges, like the University of the South, have cut or frozen tuition, few have followed suit.

“There is nothing in the proposed legislation that requires colleges and universities to do anything — nothing to control tuition costs; nothing to increase endowment spending; nothing to forgive loans,” Zerbe writes, “and when it comes to colleges taking any responsibility for the massive student loans – plenty o’ nuthin.”

To hold universities and university officials accountable, the Joint Committee on Taxation has proposed eliminating a loophole that allows college professors, administrators and presidents to send their children to school for free or at reduced costs. Why do these people get such a generous discount for their children on top of the hefty salaries they already receive from universities? Zerbe believes there’s absolutely no reason.

Perhaps even more troubling is that not only do they get this tuition cut for their children, but they also receive this benefit tax-free.

“By contrast, if Wal-Mart or Exxon decided to give the children of its employees $1000 to help pay for college tuition – that $1000 would be subject to federal income tax,” Zerbe explains.

If this loophole were to be eliminated, the government could raise approximately $1 billion —money that could certainly be put towards covering the cost of keeping loan rates low.

The post How Professors Can Help Fund Student Loans appeared first on NextGen Journal.

1. Don’t give up on going to class

As annoying as that morning lecture might be, it’s important to go during these last few weeks, even if you haven’t attended in a while. Professors tend to use the end of the semester to review and go over material from the entire course, so going to class will not only help refresh some concepts that have gotten buried in your mind, but might also cut down on studying time later.

Chances are your professor has already started planning your final exam and might drop hints and clues about questions that will pop up, so it’s in your best interest to go to class.

2. Go to office hours

Remember that question on the midterm you got wrong? Or that homework assignment that you just didn’t understand? Now is the perfect time to go to your professor’s office hours and talk to him or her about anything that you had difficulty with throughout the course. Your professor will help clarify any confusion that you may be experiencing, plus, you’ll make an impression on him or her right before grades are due.

This is especially helpful for big lecture classes, where professors likely don’t know your name. If you’re on the cusp of a better grade, being able to match your name to a face may make the difference between a B+ and an A-.

3. Plan your finals study schedule

Whether you have two finals in one day or your exams are more evenly spaced out, it’s important to plan your study schedule in advance so that you have an adequate amount of time to devote to each subject. Is one subject more challenging to you than another? You might want to get a head start on studying for that final, and leave your easier subjects until later.

It might also be helpful to divide your work by chapters or sections so studying doesn’t seem so daunting. If you need to review 30 chapters and have 10 days to study, it’ll seem a lot less depressing when you plan to study three chapters per day for 10 days than if you wait until the last minute and study 15 chapters each day for two days. Though it’s the same total amount of text, giving yourself more time to process all the information will also help you get a better a grade.

4. Reward yourself for studying hard

The end of the semester is typically a rough, stressful time, so make sure to give yourself time for a break. If your school has a designated study period before exams begin, try to take a day before exams start to just relax and let loose. It’s probably not a great idea to party hard the day before a test, but stepping away from the books for a bit is important for your mental health.

You might think you can cram an endless amount of information into your brain, but that’s just not the case. Our brains function best when they’re rested, so make sure you get enough sleep, especially before big exams. As for after the exams, well, you know what to do.

5. Sell or trade in your books, and organize the past semester’s notes

The day that big exam is over, you probably can’t wait to dump that fat textbook into the trash, but don’t! Make some money off your misery, and sell the book. Check with your campus textbook store for a buyback quote, and then compare it with other book selling resources, like Amazon, Cash4books or eCampus. These websites typically offer free shipping, so don’t be too quick to assume you’ll get a better rate at a local store.

Also, take the time to go through all your notes from the past semester to file away things you need and throw out what you don’t. Empty your folders and binders, and save them for next semester. You’ll be surprised how much you save on supplies next year!

The post Five Tips for Finishing the Semester Strong appeared first on NextGen Journal.

1. DO: Immediately figure out what the school requires of waitlisted students

The waitlist letter you received most likely tells you what steps you need to take if you want to remain on the waitlist. Some schools require that you simply contact them by mail, phone or email and inform them that you are still interested, but others require additional materials.

Do they want to see an additional recommendation from a teacher? Do they want to see a writing sample? If there isn’t much information on your actual letter, check out the school’s admissions website, or contact the admissions office by phone.

2. DO: Get in touch with the school’s regional representative

Most colleges have regional representatives in an area near you, and if your school required an in-person interview, this is likely the person that interviewed you.

“Speaking as a former dean of admissions, I know first-hand that contacting the head of the office is generally not the most effective step to take when you’re waitlisted,” Bill Shain of William M. Shain Consulting told the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA). “Rather,” he said, “find out who the point person for your application is, because that person will be your advocate as spots from the waitlist become available.”

If you’re not sure who this person is, try to find out from the school website or call the admissions office and ask for their contact information. It’s important to develop a relationship with this representative and continually show him or her your enthusiasm so he or she can put in a good word for you when the time comes.

3. DO: Write a letter to the school

In addition to contacting the school’s local representative, write a letter to the school’s admissions office explaining why you believe you should be accepted. Yes, you’ve already written a million letters and personal statements, but this proactive approach to being waitlisted might make the difference between an acceptance and a rejection.

Make sure your letter is heartfelt, sincere, and most importantly offers something different from what the school has already seen in your original application. Also, include how you plan to contribute to the college when you get there. “Be specific,” College Focus LLC’s Maureen McQuaid said. “For instance, discuss research, academic programs, clubs, community service and campus jobs in which you hope to engage and the value you will offer.”

Have a guidance counselor or teacher look it over, and send it as soon as possible so the school immediately sees how determined you are to be accepted.

4. DO: Keep the school updated

Make sure to let the school know if anything changes academically or financially, especially if it is a positive change. Have you just been recognized for outstanding performance in a subject? Did you just receive a fabulous scholarship or grant? These are all things to relay to the school.

Unfortunately, finances often play a major role in the school’s decision and a sudden addition of funds might make you a more appealing candidate.

“Be sure to let the school know, as funds may be in short supply at this point, and your ability to pay could make a difference,” said College Find’s Gael Casner.

5. DO: Keep up your grades

As tempting as it is to succumb to senioritis, keeping up your grades will probably be one of the most important factors in the school’s ultimate decision. When they see your updated transcript, you don’t want them to have a single reason to doubt that you deserve to be accepted.

6. DON’T: Let someone else fight your battles

Your parents are probably just as bummed as you are that you’ve been waitlisted. As much as they want to call the school and give them an earful of reasons why their baby is the perfect candidate, experts agree that this is a majorly bad idea. Schools want to see that you’re independent and don’t need mom and dad to stand up for you.

7. DON’T: Bother the admissions office

Waiting is hard, but calling the admissions office every day and asking about the status of your application will get you nowhere. Despite the way they sometimes sound on the phone, admissions officers are human beings too and are allowed to get annoyed. When it comes to decision time, you don’t want to be remembered as the girl or guy who called two million times.

It’s fine to call for information, such as asking what is the best way to contact your regional rep, but don’t just call to check in. It’s just like dating: you want to be the cool, hard-to-get fellow, not the needy girlfriend who calls five minutes after a date.

8. DON’T: Despair

A waitlist letter is by no means the end of the world. There’s a chance you’ll still be accepted, and, perhaps more importantly, if a school doesn’t want you, then you shouldn’t want it, either. Many schools reject or waitlist students because they aren’t a good fit for the school or the program, not because they’re bad students. If you are ultimately rejected, it’s likely for the best, because you’ll probably end up in a place that better suits you and your interests, and you’ll be much happier there.

The post How to Get Accepted from the Waitlist appeared first on NextGen Journal.

1. Friends and Family

Your first step should be compiling a list of all the friends and family you have that live in the city where you’ll be interning. Do you have a friend who attends college there? Maybe you could sublet his or her apartment for the summer, or find a sublet through a friend of a friend. Finding family members who will let you stay with them would be even better, because they probably won’t charge you rent. This would be a good time to send your Aunt Becky that Thank You card your mom has been bugging you to write, especially if Aunt Becky has a spacious guest room for her favorite niece or nephew.

2. University Housing

Many universities nationwide offer summer housing programs for students needing a place to live while they intern. Universities like NYU house tons of interns every summer, and their rates are fairly affordable (considering the fact that it’s in New York City). This Careers Wiki page has a page dedicated to helping students connect with universities that have similar programs, though most are in major cities. Beware: many of these university housing programs accept applications in early Spring, so now is the time to apply if you’re seriously considering this option.

3. Other Helpful Websites To Know

While Craigslist may get a bad rep, the website can actually be helpful when looking for an apartment as an intern. You can search the classifieds and housing listings specific to the city you’re interested in and find apartments or rooms at affordable rates. If you’re a little hesitant about Craigslist (it’s really hard to come back from the whole “Craigslist Killer” thing), check out Uloop. This website is targeted towards college students and helps them find roommates, rentals and sublets. This is a great resource for someone looking to meet new people, share the living-in-a-strange-city experience with another intern and live in a place that isn’t a 4×4 dormroom. Bonus points for Uloop: the site can also help you find an internship, get a student loan and buy or sell textbooks.

4. Social Networking

I probably don’t have to tell you to get on Twitter and Facebook and talk to your friends, but you should consider using these social networks as valuable resources for your housing search. Lots of local real estate companies have pages that they update often, posting new listings several times a day. Social networking can also be helpful if you’re interesting in finding a roommate for the summer. Many internship programs set up Facebook or Twitter pages for each summer’s class of interns, so that’s the perfect place to start looking. Reach out and see if anyone already found a place but is looking for a roommate, or announce that you’re looking for one yourself.

5. Go Check It Out!

Once you’ve found a few places that look good, you should strongly consider going to check them out. If you’re staying at a university dorm, then you’re likely going to be fine, but if you are leaning towards a sublet or a place you found on Craigslist, it’s probably in your best interest to see it. This is obviously more problematic in some cases than in others (i.e. if your internship location is a $600 dollar plane ticket away), but if it’s at all possible, go see the place. You should also consider asking your renter to give you a virtual tour via Skype. Don’t be afraid to ask. You’ll be paying them money, and you should know what you’re getting yourself into.

The post Your Internship: Guide to Finding Summer Housing appeared first on NextGen Journal.

According to a recent study sponsored by the National Science Foundation, over 72% of undergraduates majoring in chemistry and 74% of undergraduates majoring in environmental science have done research or field work by the time they applied to graduate programs.

“Now, I think, if they don’t have a [recommendation] letter talking about successful undergraduate research experience, that’s probably a handicap,” Marty Ligare, a professor in the physics department at Bucknell told Science journal.

Though research experience is not as distinguishing as it may have once been, it’s also arguably easier to come by. Many universities now not only provide students with research opportunities, but also encourage undergraduates pursuing a science major to engage in research.

Some universities, like Saint Anselm College, even make research a requirement for certain majors, including psychology.

“Saint Anselm developed a core curriculum that culminates in the senior requirement of conducting a faculty-sponsored research project that may be experimental, quasi-experimental, or nonexperimental library-based research,” writes Katie Laroche, vice president of the Saint Anselm chapter of the International Honor Society of Psychology. “Both faculty and senior student researchers encourage assistance of underclassmen, thus opening the research opportunity to all students,” she says.

At major research universities like MIT, CalTech and Stanford, many professors are also happy to welcome undergraduates into their labs, granted that they have the right credentials: good grades, the right courses, and perhaps most importantly, enthusiasm. “They may be unfamiliar with some of the background, but if they’re excited, that’s worth a lot,” says Chris Burge, biology professor at MIT.

Whether it is required or strongly encouraged, securing a research position can seem like a daunting process. It typically involves identifying a number of professors that are working on projects in a field that most interests you, and contacting them to set up an interview if their lab has any available positions.

“[At MIT] on average, you need to contact five labs to find a position, ” Burge says. Based on personal experience, the odds are roughly the same at Cornell.

Research opportunities are also available through large corporations like pharmaceutical giant Merck and household product manufacturer Proctor & Gamble. The two companies, and others like them, offer internship positions to undergraduates that usually involve either independent research or assisting someone with their work.

There are also programs that help match students with the perfect research opportunity for their interests and experience. The NSF’s Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) program, for example, requires that students submit research proposals, and then places them at various research universities nationwide.

According to Corby Hovis, coordinator of NSF’s REU program, “[the program] consists of a group of ten or so undergraduates who work in the research programs of the host institution,” he says. “Each student is associated with a specific research project, where he/she works closely with the faculty and other researchers. Students are granted stipends and, in many cases, assistance with housing and travel.”

No matter where undergraduate research experience is obtained, it is a valuable and essentially mandatory asset on any resume or graduate school application.

Research experience shows that a student is capable of taking initiative and securing a position in a lab. It also demonstrates that a student can work independently, with little guidance and instruction from the professor that supervises them. This student is also able to work comfortably (and safely!) with different lab equipment, analyze results, and interpret them. This student is ready for work at the graduate level.

“If you have already learned how to function independently in a laboratory environment by the time you graduate from your undergraduate institution,” Burge says, “then you are really well-prepared for graduate school.”

The post The Proliferation of Undergraduate Research appeared first on NextGen Journal.

1. Dress For Success

No matter how casual an event sounds, try to look your best. Your school may be setting up a quick breakfast Q & A with a successful alum, but that doesn’t mean you should show up in your sweats. They already know you go to the University of Wherever You Are, so leave that college sweatshirt at home. If it’s a fairly informal event, there’s no need to dress up in a fancy suit or your favorite interview blouse, but do throw on something presentable. Skip the jeans if possible, and make sure to iron your clothes.

2. Bring Your Resume

Always have a few copies of your resume with contact info with you when you attend networking events. You may need to kill a tree or two, but having a copy for every potential contact will prove very helpful. If nothing else, having a copy of your resume will raise the chances that these important people remember you when you contact them in the future and who knows, maybe they will hand it over to the HR department and put in a good word for you. If you know whom you’ll be meeting in advance, try to personalize your resume to match the needs of the company each person represents. This, too, will raise your chances of being remembered and hired.

3. Prepare An Elevator Speech

During busy networking events, chances are you won’t have much time to talk to each person. You need to make sure you’re packing a punch into the few moments you have with the person of interest, so think of the things you’d like to say in advance. An elevator speech is a great way to do this. Just think of your most important accomplishments and your best traits, and put together a quick one to two minute speech — something you would say if you were on an elevator ride and were trying to introduce yourself before you reach your desired floor. Write your speech down and read it over a few times. Don’t memorize it, because you don’t want to sound too rehearsed, but make sure you know it well.

4. Ask Questions

Depending on the amount of time you have to talk to a potential contact, try to ask questions, especially open-ended ones. If you’ve had an opportunity to research the company the person represents, then ask about the company and everything in particular that interests you. If you’re not as prepared as you’d like to be, then ask more general questions, like how the person became interested in the profession that they’re in, what their biggest challenge was, and their favorite aspect of the work that they do. This shows that you’re interested and can carry a conversation.

5. Don’t Be Desperate

Whether you’re a freshman going to your very first networking event or a senior anxiously looking for a first job, don’t show signs of weakness. Successful alumni are like wolves — they can smell fear — so make sure you’re confident. If you know what you’re worth, they’ll know it too, so shake hands firmly, and try to keep eye contact at all times. Don’t tell them that working at their company would be your absolute dream come true, but do let them know that working with them would definitely interest you.

6. Thank Them, and Use Their Name

As your conversation winds down, make sure you thank these people for their time, and use their name when you do so. Numerous studies show that people love hearing their own name — let’s face it, we’re all narcissists at heart — and they’ll be happy to know that you actually remembered it. With that said, don’t use their name unless you definitely remember it!

7. Follow Up

Assuming you have contact info, which you most definitely should have gotten, e-mail your new network of people and thank them again. Let them know it was great to meet them and that you look forward to keeping in touch. If you’re feeling really bold, ask them to contact you if any career opportunities or internships open up.

8. Organize Your Contacts

After each event, add the names of people you’ve met along with their contact info into a Word document or Excel spreadsheet. As you attend more and more events, your list will grow, and by the time you need to search for a job or an internship, you’ll have a list of people to contact handy. Believe me, it will save you endless hours of searching through old folders and papers. If you find yourself with a pocketful of business cards at the end of the day, put them in a safe place as well. Invest in a business card holder or just use a Ziploc bag, but keep them together and organized. This will make your job or internship search much quicker and much less overwhelming.

9. Use Social Networks Carefully

Social networks really are the new frontier for all kinds of interactions, but make sure you’re using the appropriate tools for appropriate relationships. Finding professional contacts on LinkedIn is a great idea, but avoid friending them on Facebook. Facebook is still, for now, more personal-friend oriented, and friending a person you just met on Facebook might send the wrong idea. Twitter is really a judgement call. Some people use it for more professional purposes while others just use it as a personal account. Either way, be careful when you reach out via socially oriented websites.

10. Keep Following Up

When it’s time to land that job or internship, don’t hesitate to contact all the people you’ve met at networking events. It’s best to check in with all your contacts from time to time, even if you aren’t looking for a job at the moment, just to keep yourself fresh in their minds. But, even if it has been a while, reach out to them. Remind them who you are and where you met, and don’t be too apologetic for not contacting them in the past. They know they are a professional contact and don’t expect a weekly check-in.

Remember: Be brave when talking to your contacts, no matter how “high-up” they are. And always be yourself. Happy Networking!

The post Ten Tips for Improving Students’ Networking Skills appeared first on NextGen Journal.

After graduating from high school, undocumented students’ futures are typically unpredictable, because they are not eligible for federal financial aid or private student loans. They also cannot work legally.

In the past, attempts by the federal government such as the DREAM Act, aimed at helping undocumented students, have gained bipartisan support. The DREAM Act and similar legislation were ultimately not approved by Congress, because they reignited the debate over how to deal with U.S. border problems and the 11 million illegal aliens currently living in the country.

Frustrated with the inefficiency of the government approach to the issue, a group of Silicon Valley technology leaders including Jeff Hawkins (inventor of the Palm Pilot), the family foundations of Andrew Grove (co-founder of Intel Corp.), and Mark Leslie (founder of the former Veritas Software Corp.), as well as Laurene Powell Jobs (widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs), have chosen to take matters into their own hands.

“We think Congress’s inaction…is devastating for these students and tragic for the country,” Laurene Powell Jobs told the Wall Street Journal.  

Along with many of the other Silicon Valley philanthropists, Jobs directs her ideas and donations to Educators for Fair Consideration, or E4FC, a nonprofit organization that gives scholarships, career advice and legal services to students that are in the U.S. illegally.

Though big-name philanthropists and ordinary people have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars in the last year to the group, E4FC’s operating budget remains fairly small — about $600,000.

Because the government will likely not take steps to help undocumented students facing the problem of financing their education, other non-profits, as well as private universities, often take steps to give these students options.

Cornell University, for example, had a program that allowed undocumented students to qualify for financial aid under a pool specifically designated for Mexican and Canadian students. After several changes were made to university policy in 2008, however, this pool was dispersed to fund international students. This made it much more difficult for undocumented students to enroll and spurred outrage among the student body.

In November 2011, a group of students wrote a letter to Cornell University President David Skorton calling for changes to university policy regarding undocumented students and claiming that undocumented students should not be blamed for their parents’ illegal move to the U.S. and should be considered Americans.

The letter, cosigned by David Angeles ’13, Luz Aceves ’14 and Jessica Perez ’13, stated, “Cornell has not taken any concrete action to support undocumented youth currently enrolled or attempting to enroll in our institution. Cornell University does not provide legal, emotional or additional financial support meant to address the dire and unique circumstances and needs of undocumented students.”

In response to student reaction, Skorton recently told the Student Assembly that he was determined to search for sources of funding for undocumented students.

“I don’t have an answer, but I am committed to finding a way and I have contacts both inside and outside the University,” Skorton said. “There’s a lot of constraints, but we’re thinking very heavily about what can be done.”

Despite efforts from the university to help students in the uniquely difficult situation, immediate challenges remain. Just this February Eric Hyun Jae Cheon ’12 told The Cornell Daily Sun that he, an undocumented student who is living in the U.S. illegally, must pay the University $10,000 in tuition owed for the fall semester or he will be forced to withdraw from the university.

“I was 12 years old when I first came here from Korea … My family came here to run a business, but the owner was a scammer who took our money and ran away,” Cheon told The Sun, explaining that his family had come to the U.S. and planned to stay with an E-2 visa, for which individuals running businesses can apply.

One of many undocumented students pursuing a higher education in the U.S., Cheon said he faces a constant battle with his finances. Struggling to pay tuition every semester, Cheon and others like him across the country hope that one day, a solution will come as a result of the joint efforts of students, university officials and powerful figures like the Silicon Valley tech giants.

The post Undocumented Students Seek Financial Options appeared first on NextGen Journal.

Just last week, Lindsay Blankmeyer, a former student at Stonehill College, a Roman Catholic college, filed a lawsuit against the school, claiming that administrators did not do enough to help her when she complained that her roommate was having too much sex in their dorm room and engaging in vividly sexual video chatting in their room while Blankmeyer was in her bed just feet away.

According to the lawsuit, Blankmeyer talked with officials and tried to get a private room, but after her requests were denied, she moved off campus and into a hotel room. A senior, Blankmeyer fell into a dark and suicidal depression requiring her to take a leave of absence from school and undergo extensive psychiatric and medical treatment before completing her final semester at home.

University spokesperson Kristen Magda told the Associated Press that Stonehill responded to Blankmeyer’s requests and even offered her two room options, which she turned down. One of the offered rooms was previously used as a study lounge, and the other option was to move to a dorm with a reputation as a “party dorm” to live with a girl Blankmeyer did not know, the lawsuit states.

Roommate dynamics are a serious issue. This is especially true given some of the horrific stories that have been in the news recently, like the Rutgers freshman who committed suicide after his sexual encounter was live-streamed on the Internet. Given the fact that Blankmeyer already suffered from depression and attention deficit disorder (ADD) prior to enrolling at Stonehill, why did she face such difficulty when she needed a room change? Assuming she was professionally diagnosed, attention deficit disorder alone should warrant special room accommodations, considering that students with the disorder likely need special conditions to concentrate and study effectively. Knowing that Blankmeyer was diagnosed with depression, the college should have been even more helpful in accommodating her to prevent the depression from worsening and leading to something much worse, like suicide.

There is, however, the statement from Magdam that claims that Blankmeyer never informed the college officials that her concerns involved her roommate’s sexual activities. As in any case, there are two sides to any story, and what actually happened remains to be seen. However, even if Blankmeyer didn’t explicitly describe the sexual interactions that were bothering her, her mental health condition should have been enough to grant her request for a room change.

If Blankmeyer were in a wheelchair, for example, would the university expect her to live in a room on the fifth floor with no way of getting up there? No. The American Disabilities Act would protect her right to comfortable access to her dorm. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the ADA applies to mental illness as well, but there is one technicality. The ADA prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, state and local government activities, public accommodations, public transportation, telecommunications and public services. It doesn’t necessarily prohibit discrimination in a private institution, like Stonehill College. But Stonehill is a Catholic college founded by the Congregation of Holy Cross. Shouldn’t an institution with a foundation in religious morals and principles know better than to leave a student in desperate need of attention to fend for herself?

Surely universities and colleges can’t meet every demand for a roommate change. Typical squabbles between dorm mates are to be expected, and the university can’t build a fabulous private room for every student that complains that his roommate snores too loudly. But when a student feels suicidal and goes so far as to rent a hotel room to remove herself from an unfortunate situation, there’s a major problem that should have been handled better.

The post Colleges Must Protect Students Against Bad Roommates appeared first on NextGen Journal.

Here is a list of towns that could use some improvement. Don’t think your town belongs on this list? Comment and tell us why!

South Bend/Notre Dame, Indiana – Home to Indiana University, South Bend; Brown Mackie College; Saint Mary’s College; University of Notre Dame

Universities in and around South Bend have a severe case of bubble syndrome—they are very isolated from the surrounding town. The University of Notre Dame, for example, is so isolated from South Bend that it has its own zip code. The city has several rough neighborhoods, making it difficult for students to venture off campus. Despite some potentially interesting attractions like the College Football Hall of Fame (now leaving the city), there is an overall lack of big city activities and attractions that would appeal to college-aged students.

Palo Alto, California – Home to Stanford University

Palo Alto is probably a great place to live, but it has landed on this list for one simple reason: college students can barely afford to live there! According to a survey conducted by Coldwell Banker Real Estate, it is actually the most expensive college town in the country. The local dining options tend to be expensive, too, though some campus locations cater to the needs of college students.

Hanover, New Hampshire – Home to Dartmouth College

A sentiment familiar to pretty much anyone who goes to school in the Northern part of the country – Hanover is cold! Though the grass covered common area in the center of the campus is called The Green, it’s typically white with snow from Thanksgiving to spring break. Most businesses close before 10 p.m., so the town gets quite depressing in the winter, and students typically try to arrange their classes to avoid having to be on campus during the dark winter months. Dartmouth attracts a fairly outdoorsy community, so if skiing to class sounds like an appealing option, this is probably a great college town for you.

Hartford, Connecticut – Home to Trinity College, University of Hartford, and Saint Joseph College

Though there are a number of cool things to do and see in Hartford (read: The Mark Twain House or the Atheneum, the oldest public museum in the country), the campus is fairly isolated from the community, and there isn’t much interaction between college students and the rest of the town’s residents. The town was once an architecturally rich area, with many old, majestic buildings in the downtown area, but a visit to the downtown area today will reveal that many of them have been boarded up or torn down. A running joke on campus that that the best thing about downtown Hartford is that there is a train station there that offers several trips to New York City and Boston every day.

Petersburg, Virginia – Home to Virginia State University

Petersburg is not much of a college town because it is a historic location, dating back to the civil war. Many areas have been preserved and not updated or rebuilt in order to maintain its historic integrity, and as a result, it has more of a museum feel rather than that of a college town. An awesome place for history buffs and Civil War re-enactors, the area can be a bit dull for college students.

College Park, Maryland – Home to University of Maryland

Crime has been reported to be a major problem in College Park, and a lack of development initiatives has raised a lot of public anger in the area. Ever since the closing of the infamous bar “Thirsty Turtle,” the quality of the nightlife at the University of Maryland has significantly diminished. There are frequent bar riots, and since the town can be quite dangerous at night, the university encourages sticking to the “buddy system” after dark.

Flint, Michigan – Home to University of Michigan, Flint; Kettering University; Baker College

Flint has faced some difficult times in the past few years as a result of the declining auto industry. Once the headquarters of General Motors, the town has taken a noticeable hit, with many local businesses closing or moving away. The town has, however, been working to improve itself. According to Onlinecollege.org, Flint is participating in a College Town initiative, a joint effort among the city’s colleges. The group is using city bailout money to turn abandoned homes and buildings into a remodeled downtown, improve the town’s appearance and build new businesses for college students to spend their money and improve the local economy.

Ruston, Louisiana— Home to Louisiana Tech University

Think your college town’s nightlife could use a boost? Spend some time in Ruston and think again! Ruston is a quaint little college town with one major problem: it’s semi dry. Only the restaurants in the area are allowed to serve and sell alcohol, which is a deal breaker for some college students.

Waco, Texas—Home to Baylor University

While we’re on the subject of consumption, Waco, Texas is one of the worst college towns in terms of dining options. According to Chow.com, Waco is so desperately in need of some great food that local critics praise the food at Chili’s and Red Lobster. Apparently, options are so scarce that students routinely drive two hours to Dallas to visit the Cheesecake Factory.

Poughkeepsie, New York – Home to Vassar College

Poughkeepsie faces the same problem as other colleges on this list in that it is disconnected from the main hub of the city. Most students don’t venture far beyond campus except to go to the supermarket, the mall, or the movies. The Vassar social scene is driven by privately held off-campus parties rather than a vibrant bar scene or Greek culture, which poses a challenge for students who don’t have huge groups of friends. Matthews Mug and the Alumni House Pub are the two favorite bars in the area, but they typically have extremely long lines every night.

Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly asserted that Michigan State University is in Flint, Michigan. As pointed out by a commenter below, it is in East Lansing.

The post America’s Worst College Towns appeared first on NextGen Journal.

According to Cornell sociologist and study co-author Kelly Musick, “Men and women from the least advantaged backgrounds who attend college find themselves caught between social worlds.” They are reluctant to marry partners with less education but more similar financial situations, but also cannot establish relationships with partners that have the same type of education but are of a higher social status.

The findings shows that for disadvantaged students, or those who come from families with lower income and have parents with less education, the chance of getting married decreases by 38 percent for men and 22 percent for women if they attend college. Conversely, men and women of higher socio-economic statuses increase their chances of getting married by pursuing higher education—there is a 31 percent increase for men and an 8 percent increase for women.

While the study’s findings aren’t entirely surprising, it’s important to draw a distinction between finding a person to marry while in college and finding a person to marry in general. When discussing the study, Musick said, “It may be difficult for students from less privileged backgrounds to navigate social relationships on campus, and these difficulties may affect what students ultimately gain from the college experience.” Whether or not this is true depends on the college, the person involved, and is entirely up for debate given that many social gatherings do not require any sort of financial commitment even at what Musick calls “elite universities like Cornell.”

However, assuming that her statement is true, it would make sense that it is challenging for disadvantaged students to find a mate in college. Even students that have jobs on campus cannot be expected to make a lot of money while juggling work with attending classes, and without financial support from home, college life can be a struggle. Perhaps they do not have the funds to take a girlfriend or boyfriend on a date, or they can’t afford to buy a suit to wear to formal events hosted by the Greek community. With these limitations in mind, the study confirms an obvious challenge.

Once the students graduate and begin their lives as independent adults, though, it seems odd to believe that they would have difficulty finding “the one.” If college is “the great equalizer” in the labor market, as Musick suggested, then why would it be jeopardizing someone’s chance of marriage? Sure, a college graduate may live at home for a few years and struggle to get on his feet, but once he has a steady job and a reliable income, marriage shouldn’t be a problem.

Disadvantaged students work incredibly hard during their years at college to break out of their socio-economic barriers and improve the quality of life for themselves and their families. Taking all of the emotional challenges of finding a partner out of the equation, if two people are making almost the same amount of money then why does it matter how each started out?

If a formerly disadvantaged student majored in accounting or finance and is now working as an executive at a bank, it won’t matter to a potential mate that this person was once struggling to make ends meet. If anything, it signifies that the person is extremely hard working, dedicated, and determined—all solid marriage material qualities.

While it might be true that socio-economic status makes a major difference for students while they are still in college and depend on their families, there is no reason why this distinction should follow them once they put their college education to use and land great job positions. It seems that this study perhaps surveyed former students before they were fully established in their careers or didn’t take into account that just because people aren’t getting married doesn’t mean they are not in happy, committed relationships. With a 50 percent divorce rate in the U.S. and celebrities like Kim Kardashian turning marriage into a complete joke, perhaps choosing to wait to get married or not get married at all is an indication of serious smarts.

The post How Does College Impact Your Relationship Future? appeared first on NextGen Journal.

However, not all college towns are created equal. There are the obviously awesome ones, like Cambridge, Massachusetts (home to Harvard and MIT) and Manhattan, (home to NYU, Columbia, Cooper Union, and several others), but the town doesn’t need to be in the middle of a major metropolis in order to offer students an unforgettable four years at school.

Here are ten of the best (underrated) college towns in America, listed in no particular order.

1. Logan, Utah — Home to Utah State University

According to the university’s website, more than a third of the population in Logan is between the ages of 18 and 24, which means the town revolves around students. Many local stores and restaurants show their appreciation by offering student discounts and specials. The town has a bus system that runs almost entirely on natural gas and offers service to campus, grocery stores, hospitals, the downtown area and other locations. Logan is home to an ice center that was developed as a training facility for the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, as well as a zoo, aquatic center, bowling alleys, rock climbing facility, movie theaters, recreation centers, spas, golf courses, a batting cage, a mall, and a nature center.

2. Chapel Hill, North Carolina — Home to the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill is a serene little town with a big spirit. The town’s college strip is centered on Franklin Street with an eclectic mix of bars, coffee shops, museums, and a vibrant nightlife. The food fare is affordable for college students, but there are some beloved fine dining options as well, including Elaine’s, Lantern, and Mint. Chapel Hill takes a tremendous amount of pride in UNC basketball, and the town’s “Carolina Basketball Museum” is a testament to that. The North Carolina Botanical Garden and the Morehead Planetarium are also must-see attractions and are conveniently located downtown.

3. Ames, Iowa — Home to Iowa State University

Ames’ Campustown is home to many student apartments, nightlife venues, and beloved restaurants like Café Beaudelaire. Being a college student in Ames, Iowa becomes particularly interesting during election season. Because Iowa is the first caucus state during presidential elections, and Ames is a college town, many political appearances, debates, and other events take place there. This past August, Republican presidential candidates made their way to Ames to participate in one of the first debates of the 2012 election season.

4. Bloomington, Indiana—Home to Indiana University-Bloomington

Usually called B-town by the locals, Bloomington is a small town that has arguably the largest array of cuisine among college towns. The university’s website boasts that African, Asian, Indian, Irish, Italian, Mexican, Moroccan, Tibetan, Thai, and Turkish are just some of the international flavors represented by the town’s extraordinary chefs. Fourth Street, also called “restaurant row,” features many of Bloomington’s favorite restaurants and is right next to Kirkwood Avenue, which connects the campus to the rest of the town. The state’s oldest and largest winery is located in Bloomington, as is the country’s only Tibetan cultural center. The Lotus World Music and Arts festival is held in B-town every year, and the town is also a beloved place for nature lovers as it is home to Lake Monroe, Griffy Lake, and Hoosier National Forest.

5. Ithaca, New York — Home to Ithaca College and Cornell University

Call me biased, but no list of awesome college towns is complete without my university’s hometown. Cross a bridge from the edge of Cornell’s campus, and you’re in Ithaca’s Collegetown — an upperclassmen residential area and the center of the social scene. The intersection of College Avenue and Catherine Street in the heart of C-town is busier at 2AM than it is at two in the afternoon, and the famous Collegetown Bagels is sure to please any visitor craving a freshly baked bagel with pretty much anything you want on it. The world-renowned Ithaca Beer Company is located here, and the Flower Power beer is a must-try during the annual BeerFest. Many Cornell and Ithaca College students spend their summers in town and enjoy the sunshine while swimming in the many beautiful gorges. Ithaca may be cold from October to May, but the town is full of warm, wonderful people.

6. Boulder, Colorado — Home to the University of Colorado and Naropa University

With the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop, Boulder is a perfect place to spend the college years. With a music scene that Smarter Travel magazine says rivals that of New York City, Boulder is a town with a love for all types of musical entertainment, from big acts to small independent artists. Boulder is chock-full of coffee shops, boutiques, old record stores, cheap delicious food, and the famous Fox Theater. Boulder’s popular promenade, the Pearl Street Mall, also has a ton of dining options, as well as lots of local crafts, entertainment, and a beautiful view of the mountains. The street gets busy at night, and is a beloved locale for college kids. Outdoor lovers rejoice: Boulder is also a top-notch location for hiking, fishing, and skiing.

7. Claremont, California — Home to Pomona College, Claremont McKenna and Scripps College

Claremont’s Village is the main hangout spot for college students. The area has a variety of cafes, bakeries, and restaurants ranging from super popular spots like Starbucks and Baskin Robbins to local favorites like 42nd Street Bagel Café, Claremont Juice Co., and Pizza N’ Such. Super bonus points: The town is only an hour from Disneyland in Anaheim, California. What could be better than having “The Happiest Place on Earth” in your backyard?

8. Burlington, Vermont — Home to the University of Vermont

Two words: ice cream. A mecca for any sweet tooth, Burlington is super close to the Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory. The town was also once the stomping ground of the band Phish. A laid back, easy-going place, Burlington has a definite college town spirit. With an always-bustling pedestrian mall, it has a seemingly endless line of sidewalk cafes. Church Street is a popular shopping area and offers fun souvenirs and trinkets as well as various crafts and live music.

9. Auburn, Alabama — Home to Auburn University

Affectionately called the “loveliest village of the plain,” Auburn, along with its neighboring sister city Opelika, is a vibrant, culturally rich college town. Auburn University’s Telfair Peet Theatre presents five regular season productions each year, and the campus’ 40,000-square-foot Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art exhibits fine collections. For the shopaholics out there, The Shoe Room footwear store is the area’s best-kept secret. The boutique style store offers a large selection of brand name designer shoes, as well as beauty items and cosmetics at impressive discounts. Downtown Auburn brags a long list of dining options, and nearby Opelika’s downtown district just earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places and has a ton of unique boutiques, galleries, and antique stores.

10. Northampton, Massachusetts — Home to Smith College

A college town for the nation’s largest liberal arts school just for women, Northampton has a unique, welcoming personality. The town is a very tolerant community, known for its gay-and-lesbian scene, as well as its artistic scene. There are many galleries and theaters that constantly feature young, local artists. The downtown area has a great variety of boutiques, hip restaurants, and trendy coffee spots. If you’re visiting Northampton, don’t forget your swimming gear, because rafting in the Connecticut River is a popular tradition.

The post Best Underrated College Towns appeared first on NextGen Journal.