Hot Sites: TheU.Com
Posted by Gizmo on May 17th, 2006Today’s blog launches a monthly series on hot new or newly discovered web sites.
TheU.Com, primarily for students and parents, features MTV-style video tours and “report cards” on colleges and universities around the country. It’s a site by students for students. With a sizable database, it’s sure to include an institution that will meet your criteria.
Student blogs provide information on dorm living, academia, the campuses, the people, and surrounding neighborhoods. The reviews are frank and thorough, covering everything from costs to food and housing, and even the extent of Greek life.
I not only checked out the site, but also their review of my alma mater. Their assessment was right on the money — except for their evaluation of the curriculum, which they didn’t find progressive. Twenty years ago, when I attended, it was pretty progressive, but that might have had more to do with the department I was in: a Communications department with a program in critical analysis.
With rising tuition prices, why leave your college experience up to guesswork or, worse, to self-promotional school brochures? No high school student will want to consider any college or university without first hearing what current attendees have to say. It’s just common sense. Students currently attending will have insights you just can’t find anywhere else. In fact, it’s always a good idea to contact the department for the specific curriculum you want to follow and ask that you be put in touch with some of their students. They’ll usually be able to find someone willing to send you an email and some good information.
The schools you apply to will have their own financial aid departments that can assist with funding, but don’t forget to check the Internet. There are plenty of good resources here as well. You can start by reviewing the government’s site for Federal Student Aid.
When you’re ready to buy or sell textbooks, do be sure to stop by TextbookX. They have textbooks and general books at up to 90% off retail prices. Textbooks can definitely bite into your budget. Trade books are usually available in paperback for under US$20, but textbooks are almost always only available in hardcover and run anywhere from $50 to $150 each. Furthermore, most courses usually require more than one textbook. Some of my courses way back when had me reading a different book almost every week, although most of those, thankfully, were the slightly cheaper paperbacks. Still, that’s about 10-15 books for a one semester course, and it definitely got very expensive. Used books are definitely the way to go when they’re available.
Anyway, congratulations to the Class of 2006, and to advancing junior class members who’ll be on the serious side of launching their search for the right college or university.
If you haven’t decided on a major and you’re on the shy side, consider starting in theatre arts. That’s where I started. I know it may seem like a soft choice, but it wasn’t. I’d be at the theatre many times until 2:00 in the morning striking sets with the rest of the cast and crew after a show. Furthermore, nothing gets you more comfortable in your own skin than acting and voice lessons. I can’t think of a single profession where you wouldn’t benefit from a theatre arts background because almost anything you do requires you to communicate with others in a self-possessed and confident manner.
In my final year, before I went on to communications, I taught a workshop for law students to help against stage fright. Later on, I worked as a paralegal and remained in the legal field for 20 years, specifically in litigation, which involves presenting an argument in a public forum. Acting teaches you how to feel comfortable doing that, so pre-law students would do well to, at the very least, minor in theatre, with majors in more traditional pre-law disciplines like poli-sci or history.
Hmmm. I think I slid off my topic. Well, it’s late anyway. Time to go.
