…and what to bring with you on your college trip
The college search process is a daunting one. There are thousand page books by big name publishers touting every school on the planet. There are websites for every school and every program across the nation. You can sign up to receive enough written information to kill a portion of the rainforest. It’s all so much! How are you supposed to choose which school will be your home for the next four years? The best way to make that decision is be arming yourself with the best information you can. And how can you find that? Very simple: on a campus tour.
Start by compiling a list of schools that, on paper, you already love. These schools may have the program you want or be in a city you like. You can find them through Princeton Review or any other college search engine online. They may include your parents’ Alma Mater or your neighbor’s favorite university. Another great resource that counselors won’t tell you about is LiveJournal.com. You can search their communities for one tailored to a specific school. You can post and ask current students questions or just peruse their postings and find out what life is really like there. There’s also a community called Campus Reviews, where current and prospective students document their experiences with specific universities.
Once you’ve compiled a list of schools you like, it’s time to investigate them more thoroughly than you could by reading someone else’s review. Take a weekend or two and visit the schools on your list. Most high schools will excuse absences related to college visits, so check with your guidance office. They can also hook you up with alumni from your high school that attend any of the universities you’re looking at. Having a connection is a great way to find out the inside information not only on what it’s like to attend school, but what the transition was like for someone with the same background as you.
The best place to find tour information is the campus website. Visit the admissions office homepage (often listed under “prospective students”), to find information. When you’re investigating, don’t just stop at the tour. If you’re interested in a journalism program, find out if you can meet with a professor or adviser or sit in on a class. The school may even hook you up with a student in your specific field of interest who can better answer your questions. Also check the campus events calendar for the day you’ll be in town. Find out if there are any cultural activities or other events you can attend. The key to the campus visit is not just to take the tour, but to try to get as close a picture of student life as possible.
But, no matter what, take the standard campus tour. Even if it’s your local state school where you’ve been for high school band concerts and football games your entire life, you should still sign up to wander around with a student. There’s something to be learned from taking the campus sponsored tour. You’ll learn to see the school in a new light, as a student, and you’ll be able to tell if you will feel comfortable in that role. When you arrive you won’t just be going to sporting events or staying in a dorm overnight. This will become your home, and you need to know if you can handle that.
It may seem obvious, but don’t forget to ask questions while on the tour. The tour guides are often the most enthusiastic students who can’t wait to tell you everything about XXX State University. They’re dying to answer all the questions you’re dying to ask. Feel free to shout out anything that comes to mind. They’ve probably heard it all before. Some good ones to remember are questions about parking and transportation, meal plans, residence life, Greek activities (if you’re interested), and athletics. Ask them how registration works and how easy it is to get into the classes you need. Financial aid is also a big consideration, although this question may have to wait until you get in front of one of the admissions directors. There is life outside of class, after all. Don’t forget, though, that these tour guides are students with real experience, not just the spoon-fed admissions office information. Ask them about their favorite class or their favorite professor. Ask them what the best part about move-in was. Ask them why they chose this school over that school, and what other universities they were considering. This is the information that will give you the best picture of what student life is really like.
When you go on the tour, you’ll need to come prepared with a few tools. Pack a small tote bag with a notebook, several pens, and a camera. The notebook and camera are for those out-and-about times. Take pictures of the gorgeous buildings and interesting students. Take a picture of your tour guide so you’ll remember who is who. And TAKE NOTES. They’ll be valuable later as you try to remember which school offered all freshmen parking and which schools didn’t allow freshmen to bring cars. You’ll also need to make sure to leave room in the tote bag for all the stuff you’ll acquire while visiting, and there will be a lot. From written information in the form of view books, pamphlets, and handouts, to university paraphernalia such as lanyards, mugs, cups, folder, and writing utensils. There’s no end to the promotional materials a university can throw at you, and the last thing you want to do is be juggling everything while tromping around on a two-mile tour.
When the tour is over, wander around by yourself for a while. Go sit in the library for a minute and observe the students. Wander through an academic building. Try to eat a meal in the cafeteria. Any and all of these activities will give you a feel as to what it would be like to attend as a student, not just stay on the tour path.
When you’ve returned from your campus visits, sit down with your bag of information: notes, pamphlets, view books, handouts, the works. Start sorting through. Pull information out of the pile from schools you didn’t particularly like. Narrow down the field as best as you can. And while they may seem cliche, pro/con lists are great tools. They help you line up the plusses of one school against another so you can more closely quantify which school is right for you. You may still have a tough decision to make, but at least you’ll be armed with the best possible information. In the end, go with your gut. If you visited a big school with an excellent reputation that everyone is dying to attend but just felt more comfortable at the small liberal arts school, pay attention to that feeling. You’ll have four years to regret your college choice should you make it for the wrong reasons. This is your home, and above all else you want to enjoy being there.
Article by Paige C. from AssociatedContent.com
While some people enjoy camping for the minimalistic appreciation of the outdoors, others are more likely to create a home away from home. Their campsites look like outdoor versions of their home, complete with every modern convenience. No matter what type of camper you are, there are a few items you should always remember.
Aluminum lawn chairs are compact, lightweight, and easy to pack into your car. A few other essential items include flashlights, extra batteries, lanterns, sunscreen, an emergency blanket, a basic took kit, insect repellent, tarps, rope and string, tent seam sealer, a first aid kit, plastic sheeting for your tent door, toilet paper, personal items such as shampoo and toothpaste, a can opener, and large plastic boxes for food and equipment storage.
For those who want a bit more comfort, there are some wonderful air mattresses and pads that you can put underneath your sleeping bag for a better night’s sleep. Remember that getting quality rest is important for enjoying the outdoors and the company of your friends and family.
For those who love the idea of taking an afternoon nap, a travel hammock is lightweight, hassle-free and will become one of your most essential camping items. The Travel Hammock makes an ultra-light travel hammock that weighs only 10 ounces, is easy to hang, and can hold up to 250 pounds. One glorious afternoon in this hammock will have you hooked for life.
A stylish designer tote is the ideal traveling companion when you are on the go. The perfect power tote should keep you organized and looking chic wherever you travel. The power of a great designer travel tote lies in style, organization and comfort.
Look for totes with a zipper closure to keep everything in its place. Smaller pockets with great closure on the outside of your chic travel tote are important as well. This will allow easy access to your travel tickets, passport and other vital paper work.
The best travel tote from any designer should offer comfortable shoulder straps that allow you to carry your tote in a variety of ways. When you need your hands free you’ll appreciate shoulder straps that are long enough to allow the tote to slide onto your shoulder with ease, yet they should not be so long that your handbag is touching the ground. Look for a versatile designer travel tote that has a removable shoulder straps and short handles attached to the body of the tote to ensure you’re prepared for any situation.
Color is essential to any great designer handbag or weekend tote. Choose colors that coordinate well with your current wardrobe. The ideal travel companion will hide any signs of travel and use. Darker colors are best for this. If you choose a lighter color, then buy a material that will allow for spot cleaning.
The Carmine Boarding Tote from Tumi is a phenomenal example of the perfect travel companion for anyone on the go. It features an interior organizer panel, 5 exterior pockets, and a vented water bottle pocket.
Traveling with the ideal tote is the perfect companion when you are on the go. Keep organization, style and comfort in mind and you will never go wrong when choosing a chic and sophisticated designer travel tote.
| Article by RS from AssociatedContent.com |
Porter Case luggage is a great idea for someone who packs a lot. Porter Case items can be used as carry-on luggage pieces, but they also convert into a luggage cart for your other bags. You get the convenience of a luggage cart without the hassle of packing one. Porter Case is also a popular choice for professional photographers since the foam interiors let you create a customized, secure fit for camera gear, projectors or any other items that need protection.
Children’s luggage is often some of the cutest out there. While many adults often carry boring black carry-on bags and wheel around non-descript suitcases, kids have a variety of options for travel bags including bright colors, expressive patterns, and even popular toys and characters. Just check out a few of my favorite pieces of kids’ luggage to see what I mean.
Whether you are a surfer, a water skier, or a kayaker, you should own a few waterproof cases. After all, if you ever bring your camera, cell phone, or iPod along for the ride, you need to protect them.
AquaPac makes specialized waterproof cases with a Class 5 water protection, which means that it can be submersed to depths greater than 12 feet. If you only need to protect your smaller electronic items, AquaPac’s Small Whanganui will do the trick. Because it is made of polyurethane, which is thinner than PVC, you can still operate the controls of your electronic items. This size also provides enough room for medicine, watches, purses, passports, cash, wallets, cameras, etc. It floats so if you drop it into the water you can recover it quickly.
If you need something a bit larger, AquaPac’s Jumbo Whanganui has enough room for maps, first aid kits, boat registration papers, books, passports, electronic items, and other important items. It is also supplied with disiccant satchels that will absorb water in extremely humid conditions, and has four eyelets that will attach easily to canoes and kayaks.
Another great idea, especially for kayakers, is AquaPac’s Belt case, which you can wear around your waist. It is made of the same Class 5 material as the other cases, but is an opaque black so the contents are not visible. Even when you are in water, your contents will not be damaged.
They say that nothing is more relaxing than a cruise - not only do you fall asleep to the gentle rocking of the waves beneath your ship, but you are also afforded all of the luxuries of a four-star hotel. While you might be excited about your upcoming cruise vacation, you are probably frantic about what and how to pack.
Before you start throwing shorts and t-shirts into whatever piece of luggage happens to be most accessible in your closet, consider where you’re going and what type of luggage will be appropriate for your destination(s).
Most extended cruise vacations include several stops at various ports. You’ll be able to get off the ship and walk around, so you’ll need something small in which to carry your camera, wallet and other items. Don’t make the mistake of bringing only a large piece of luggage stuffed full of wrinkled clothes; you’ll also want a bag that can come with you off the ship.
While a backpack might seem like a good choice for your cruise, you should know that they are easy targets for pickpockets and petty thieves. Kipling makes a few snap-front shoulder bags, such as the Lancelot, that work great for cruises and come in all kinds of colors. Messenger bags are also good for this purpose.
As far as your general packing needs go, you’ll probably want rolling luggage as you might have to stand in line for quite some time before boarding the ship for your cruise. The Eagle Creek Centerline Hovercraft is a wonderful piece of luggage for your cruise vacation because it is roomy and has several pockets. You might also like the Samsonite Wheeled Duffle, which is smaller and can be either rolled or carried for different circumstances.
If you’re looking for something a little less expensive for your cruise vacation, you might want to pack in a Skyway brand bag, which has a full line of every type of luggage you could possibly want, from rolling bags to duffles to travel totes.
It is also important to consider what types of clothing you’ll need to bring on your cruise. Many cruise vacations include black tie evenings with dinner and dancing. If you’ll be attending such an event, you’ll need a garment bag for your evening wear.
Packing for your cruise vacation might seem like the boring precursor to a fantastic vacation, but you’ll enjoy yourself more if you pay careful attention to what and how you pack.
Article by Steve Thompson from AssociatedContent.com
Everyone loves winning a prize, but what if you could win a new laptop bag or some cash? Well, eBags.com has a new Wishin’ For Tuition sweepstakes where you can enter daily to win over $25,000 in prizes and scholarships.
When you enter, you have a chance to win one of the weekly $1,000 cash prizes or instantly win one of more than 200 great laptop bags from the following brands: Timbuk2, Victorinox, and Nike.
The sweepstakes only lasts until September 14, 2008 so enter today and once daily for your chance at some fantastic prizes.
Many people think the only time to worry about skin damage is when you are going to beach, on a hike, or out on a boat. But it is important to protect your skin every day, and especially when you are traveling, as you are likely to spend more time outdoors. It would be impractical to avoid the sun entirely, as it helps your body to produce essential vitamin D, keeps you active, and improves your mood. Yet it would be unwise to neglect a couple important prevention strategies, as UV rays can be powerful and damaging.
The best ways to protect your skin are by applying sunscreen and wearing a travel hat. When applying sunscreen, use an SPF of 15 or higher. It is important to remember that sunscreen does not protect you entirely. With an SPF of 15, you get about one minute of UVB rays for each 15 minutes you spend in the sun. It is important to reapply sunscreen every two hours. Using lip gloss and makeup with SPF provides additional protection. Also, make sure to apply sunscreen evenly and give your skin at least 20 to 30 minutes to absorb it before going out.
Choose a hat with at least a two- to three-inch brim around, as that will protect all areas, including the neck, nose, scalp, forehead, eyes, and ears. Remember that a baseball cap is not completely effective, as it does not protect the back of your neck and your ears, where skin cancer can often develop.
When you send your kid off to college, a new backpack, laptop computer, and dorm room supplies are all necessities. However, don’t overlook the need for luggage especially if your child is headed out of state. When your child comes home for holidays, a good quality, durable luggage set comes in handy. Below are some inexpensive choices that are perfect for the college student.
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