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Welcome back, students! I hope you all enjoyed your summer, school is now back in session so let's start the year off right. Each month we will have a different theme. This year we will be working on conquering our goals. I want you all to think about the goals that you want to accomplish or work on by the end of the school year. These goals can be academic, emotional, social, or physical. Please think long and hard about these goals and write them down. We will do an ice breaker in-class where we share our goals.

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Welcome back, students! I hope you all enjoyed your summer, school is now back in session so let's start the year off right. Each month we will have a different theme. This year we will be working on conquering our goals. I want you all to think about the goals that you want to accomplish or work on by the end of the school year. These goals can be academic, emotional, social, or physical. Please think long and hard about these goals and write them down. We will do an ice breaker in-class where we share our goals.

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1. What walks on four feet in the morning, two in the afternoon and three at night?

2. There is a house. One enters it blind and comes out seeing. What is it?

3.A precious stone, as clear as diamond.
Seek it out whilst the sun's near the horizon.
Though you can walk on water with its power,
Try to keep it, and it'll vanish within an hour.

4. I soar without wings, I see without eyes. I've traveled the universe to and fro. I've conquered the world, yet I've never been anywhere but home. Who am I?

Debate questions
(Activity 2)
Rules: Have students split up into to 2 groups, have them debate about a topic.

-Human cloning should be banned
-Animal testing should be banned
-Is sexism a problem in schools? (for instance do girls get away with more than boys?)
-standardized testing
-Student workload and pressure
-Abortion
-Gun control
-Police Brutality
-Technologu

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Stare at the flag and then look at a white piece of paper. What do you see and why?

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Which figure is bigger?

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If everyone completes all of their elective work we can get into groups and play Kahoot.

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When you look at the dress some of you may see blue and black while others may see white and gold. It's all about how your brain perceives the colors. This is due to the phenomenon "Color Constancy."

Another interesting thing we learned in psychology were optical illusions.

This is an image but when you look at it, it appears to be moving. Why?

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High School Resume: How To Write Your First Resume (Plus Template)

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Have you ever opened your textbook and didn't know where or when to start taking notes? 

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Have you ever opened your textbook and didn't know where or when to start taking notes? 

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There are many ways to take notes! It's never a good idea to write down everything your teacher says, in fact trying to do that you might miss out on important information. Here are some tips on how to take effective notes on your next exam.

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The autumn return to school is a good time to remind students and parents about learning strategies. Lectures still dominate teaching approaches. In spite of such teaching reforms as "hands-on" learning, small group collaborations, project-based learning, and others, teachers generally can't resist the temptation to be a "sage of the stage," instead of a "guide on the side." Maybe that's a good thing, because many students are not temperamentally equipped to be active learners. Rather, they have been conditioned by television and movies, as well as their former teachers, to function passively, as an audience. Students are even conditioned to be passive by the way we test learning with multiple- choice questions, which require a passive recognition of a provided correct answer among three or four incorrect ones.

The other major teaching device, reading, is also problematic. Too many students don't like to read academic material. They want somebody to spoon feed the information to them. Most lectures are just that-spoon feeding.

Given that the dominance of lecturing is not likely to change any time soon, shouldn't teachers focus more on showing students how to learn from lectures? It seems there is an implicit assumption that passive listening will suffice to understand and remember what is presented in lectures. The problem is, however, that deep learning requires active, not passive, engagement. Students need to parse lecture content to identify what they don't understand, don't know already, and can't figure out from what they do already know. This has to happen in real time, as a given lecture proceeds. Even if the lecture is taped, seeing it again still requires active engagement for optimal learning.

So how should students engage with lectures? Traditionally, this means taking notes. But I wonder if note-taking is a dying art. I don't see many students taking notes from web pages or YouTube videos. Highlighting a textbook is a poor substitute. My concern was reinforced the other day when I gave a lecture on improving learning and memory to college students. The lecture was jam packed with more information than anyone could remember from one sitting. Yet, I did not see a single one of the 58 students taking notes. Notably, the class's regular professor, who had invited me to give the lecture, was vigorously taking notes throughout.

An explanation of how to take notes is provided in my e-book, Better Grades, Less Effort (Smashwords.com). Just what is it that I think is valuable about note taking? First and foremost is the requirement for engagement. Paying attention is essential for encoding information. Nobody can remember anything that never registered in the first place.

Next, note taking requires thinking about the material to decide what needs to be captured for later study. This hopefully generates questions that can be raised and answered during the lecture. In the college class I just mentioned, not one student asked a question, even though I interrupted the lecture four times to try and pry out questions. Notably, after the lecture, about a dozen students came to me to ask questions.

A benefit of handwritten note-taking is that students create a spatial layout of the information they think they will need to study. A well established principle of learning is that where information is provides important cues as to what the information is. The spatial layout of script and diagrams on a page allows the information to be visualized, creating an opportunity for a rudimentary form of photographic memory. A student can imagine in the mind's eye just where on the page certain information is, and that alone makes it easier to memorize and recall what the information is.

This brings me to the important point of visualization. Pictures are much easier to remember than words. Handwritten notes allow the student to represent verbalized ideas as drawings or diagrams. If you have ever had to learn in a biology class the Kreb's cycle of cellular energy production, for example, you know how much easier it is to remember the cycle if it is drawn rather than described in paragraph form.

This is a good place to mention note-taking with a laptop computer. Students are being encouraged to use laptops or tablet computers to take notes. Two important consequences of typing notes should be recognized. One problem is that for touch typists, taking notes on a laptop is a relatively mindless and rote process in which letters are banged out more or less on autopilot. A good typist does not have to think. Hand-written notes inevitably engage thinking and decisions about what to write down, how to represent the information, and where on the page to put specific items. Typing also tempts the learner to record more information than can be readily memorized.

One of the earliest tests of the hypothesis about learning from handwriting was an experiment with elementary children learning how to spell. Comparison of writing words on a 3 x 5 card, or laying out words with letter tiles, or typing them with a keyboard revealed that the hand-writing group achieved higher test scores when tested after having four days to study the notes. These results have been confirmed in other similar studies.

One follow-up study with college undergraduates compared the effects of typed and handwritten note-taking in 72 undergraduates watching a documentary video. Again, students who wrote notes by hand scored higher on the test.

The most recent experiment involved hundreds of students from two universities and compared learning efficacy in two groups of students, one taking notes on a laptop and the other by hand writing. Results from lectures on a wide range of topics across three experiments in a classroom setting revealed that the students making handwritten notes remembered more of the facts, had a deeper understanding, and were better at integrating and applying the information. The improvement over typing notes was still present in a separate trial where typing students were warned about being mindless and urged to think and type a synthesis of the ideas. Handwritten note benefits persisted in another trial where students were allowed to study their notes before being tested a week later.

Though multiple studies show the learning benefits of hand writing over typing, schools are dropping the teaching of cursive and encouraging students to use tablets and laptops. Why is it so hard for educators to learn?

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The autumn return to school is a good time to remind students and parents about learning strategies. Lectures still dominate teaching approaches. In spite of such teaching reforms as "hands-on" learning, small group collaborations, project-based learning, and others, teachers generally can't resist the temptation to be a "sage of the stage," instead of a "guide on the side."

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Taking the SAT is important and most colleges require a required score before accepting you into their program. It's good to start studying for the SAT as soon as possible. The link will take you to the best online SAT prep services. Also CPA offers a SAT prep class. 

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Taking the SAT is important and most colleges require a required score before accepting you into their program. It's good to start studying for the SAT as soon as possible. The link will take you to the best online SAT prep services. Also CPA offers a SAT prep class. 

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By Beth Rich

Beth cofounded and formerly served as an educator and executive director for Opus in Louisville, Kentucky, a nonprofit organization aimed at preparing high school students for a successful college career through a comprehensive ACT course. She has more than five years of experience in education, teaching and developing curriculum for public schools and nonprofits in subjects ranging from college test prep to art history to animation to English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).
If college is in your near future, you are probably feeling a lot of emotions: excitement, determination, and maybe even some confusion or stress. Chances are, standardized college admissions tests might be part of your confusion and stress. The SAT, required for admission to many colleges and universities, can be quite challenging and also really different from the tests you take at school. Taking an SAT prep course can help you become familiar with the exam, develop skills and strategies, and ultimately raise your score. If you are already juggling school, homework, extracurricular commitments, and more, online SAT prep can be the perfect way to study for the exam in a way that fits you and your schedule.
This article ranks the 10 best online SAT prep programs, and gives information to help you find an SAT prep option that's right for you. We have included everything you need to know in order to find an online SAT prep course that works for you, should you decide it's a good next step in your college application journey.

What is the SAT?

The SAT is a standardized test used for college admissions in the United States. College admissions officers often look at these scores together with your transcript, essays, extracurricular activities, and other aspects of your application to decide whether or not you are a good fit and ready to pursue a degree at their school. Scores on the SAT range from 400-1600 (the SAT scoring method is pretty complex; if you plan to take the test, it's worth studying up on, or asking your online ACT coach or tutor!), and the test is made up of Reading, Writing & Language, and Math, and includes an optional Essay section.

Should I take the SAT or ACT?

The SAT and ACT are both college admissions tests, and most colleges will accept your score from either test. If the colleges you are applying to will accept either score, you can take either or both exams. The SAT has three sections-Reading, Writing & Language, and Math-while the ACT has four sections-English, Math, Reading, and Science. The SAT gives you more time per question than the ACT, and tests you explicitly on vocabulary, while the ACT tests you on science reasoning skills. Ultimately, the test or tests you should take comes down to you and your skills, preferences, and goals. It's good to take some time to research both the SAT and ACT, look at sample questions from each exam, and think about your skills and preferences.

What does a higher SAT score mean for me?

Many colleges and universities require a certain SAT score for admissions. Depending on where you want to go to school, you likely need to take the SAT to get into college. Your SAT score can also determine what classes you take: a low score might put you in remedial classes, while a high score can earn you credit for certain core college classes, without having to take the class! SAT scores are also a big factor for many merit-based scholarships and can help you win scholarships from your school and other organizations. Whether it's gaining admission to your dream school, letting you opt out of remedial classes, being able to skip a freshman math class during your first year of school, or earning a big scholarship, working towards a higher SAT score can be beneficial, whether you have never laid eyes on the test before or have taken it multiple times but think you can improve.
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Is online SAT prep right for me?

There are thousands of ways to study for the SAT-from books to online courses to in-person tutors-and it can be hard to know where to start. Online prep is likely a good fit for you if you can study with some independence. You might have to take the initiative by working through lessons on your own or logging on to attend an online tutoring session, but this also means you have lots of flexibility. Just because you are studying online doesn't mean you are alone. Many of the courses on this list include access to a tutor or coach that will help you through the course. Online prep is great if you want to prepare for the SAT with a little bit of independence, anytime, anywhere.

Ranking Criteria
The following online SAT prep options were ranked based on quality of course, price, duration of course, and other extras like personalization, number of practice tests, accessibility, and point increase guarantees. However, it's important to remember that the SAT prep that's ideal for you relies some on your personal preferences. Just because a course option is ranked higher on this list, doesn't mean it's the best course for you, so read through the list with your preferences and needs in mind.

1 Khan Academy-SAT Test Prep
Mountain View, California
Khan Academy is a personalized learning resource with the goal of providing a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere. Khan Academy has tons of practice exercises and instructional videos that users can access through a personalized learning dashboard covering a variety of subjects, from Computer Engineering to Macroeconomics to SAT Prep. Khan Academy's SAT Test Prep course is unique because they've partnered with The College Board, the provider of the SAT to create an official SAT prep course.

Not only is Khan Academy's SAT Test Prep course free, it was created in collaboration with the test makers themselves. Win-win! SAT Test Prep includes eight official, full-length practice tests, 1000s of practice questions, video lessons and tips, a tailored practice plan, and instant feedback. In 2017, Khan Academy and The College Board studied the course's impact on student success. They found that 20 hours of practice on Khan Academy was associated with an average 115-point SAT score increase, nearly double the average gain for students who didn't take the Khan Academy SAT Test Prep course.

Duration: Forever

Recap: It doesn't get much better than a free, official, personalized, research-based SAT prep course, so check out Khan Academy's SAT Test Prep.

2 The Princeton Review-SAT Prep
Framingham, Massachusetts
You have probably seen The Princeton Review's name in one place or another. Founded in 1981, this college admission services company offers a number of resources, including test prep, tutoring, admissions help, and books. In addition to several SAT prep books, they also offer online courses that are more interactive and digestible than their books. If you want SAT prep that's as comprehensive as an 800+ page book from an established test prep publisher, but a little easier to carry around, take a look at The Princeton Review's SAT Prep.

The Princeton Review has several options for SAT Prep. You can take a completely self-paced course, an expert-led program, or a personalized private tutoring program. The Self-Paced package includes a comprehensive SAT course with personalized on-demand lessons (you also get access to a complete ACT course as well). With the Ultimate Classroom option, you get 25 hours of live instruction from an SAT expert and four proctored practice tests, as well as access to the self-paced SAT and ACT courses. In the Private Tutoring Program, you can work with a one-on-one tutor for 18 hours to build a plan, set goals for yourself, and prepare for the SAT. With every one of The Princeton Review's SAT Test Prep options, you get lots of video content, practice tools, and various types of guidance throughout your SAT studies. Each course comes with a satisfaction guarantee, so if you aren't happy with your SAT score after using The Princeton Review, you can prep again for free or get your money back.

Duration: Varies based on course

Price: $99, $1099, or $3000

Recap: If you are looking for SAT prep from a trusted, established source, but want more than a book, one of The Princeton Review's self-paced or tutor-led courses could be perfect for you.

3 PrepScholar-New SAT Prep Online Course
Cambridge, Massachusetts
PrepScholar offers online test prep courses for the SAT, ACT, GRE, and GMAT. The people who create and teach their courses have scored in the 99th percentile or higher on the test they teach. All of PrepScholar's courses are customized, so you can focus on your specific needs while prepping for the test you are up against.

PrepScholar's SAT Prep Course offers a personalized course focused on your unique needs, skills, and schedule. You can choose from several levels of tutoring, based on the amount of instructor involvement in your SAT prep. With the SAT Online Prep option, you have full access to the PrepScholar SAT program, as well as a customized learning path with 60+ hours of video content and 1200+ practice questions. PrepScholar Classes are ideal if you are looking for more face-to-face time with an instructor; these classes include everything in the SAT Online Prep package plus 18 hours of small group classes based on your pace and level. The Coaching option allows you to work through the SAT Online Prep course with one-on-one guidance from a tutor for either four, twelve, or fifty hours of individual instruction. PrepScholar is sure you will improve with them; they offer a money back guarantee if you don't improve by at least 160 points on the SAT.

Duration: One year of access to course materials

Price: $600, $895, or $995-$6995

Recap: If you are looking for personalized curriculum, lots of video content and practice questions, and the option of working with a tutor, PrepScholar could be a great fit.

4 ePrep-SAT Courses
Princeton, New Jersey
Leaders in online, video-based test prep since 2007, ePrep offers standardized test tutoring that is both engaging and thorough. Courses at ePrep are based on their methodology of test, grade, review, repeat. They believe that any student willing to put in the time and effort can improve their test scores. That being said, ePrep courses are designed so that you don't waste any time, and you can just focus on improving your score!

The SAT Courses at ePrep include answer-explanation and subject-matter videos featuring engaging SAT experts. Courses vary in length of access, but each course includes practice tests, video answers to every question, video lessons by subject, and a vocabulary builder. With three Test Date Courses to choose from, you can sign up for a class that gives you Express, Standard, or Premium access to your course materials for two, four, or six months. You can also choose between two Annual Pass options, Standard+ and Premium+. Both of these courses include 12-month access and Premium+ includes even more video content. You can also take an ePrep bundled course that includes SAT prep as well as PSAT or ACT content.

Duration: Two, four, six, or twelve months

Price: $129, $249, $299, $399, or $599

Recap: If you are looking for comprehensive, engaging video content to help you prepare for the SAT, ePrep has lots of options to fit your needs.

5 Magoosh-Online Prep for the New SAT
Berkeley, California
Magoosh is an education company run by a bunch of (self-proclaimed) education nerds who want to help students achieve their academic dreams. They offer test prep for a number of tests, including the SAT, ACT, and GRE. In addition to test prep courses, they offer several awesome apps, two of which made our list of the 20 Best Self-Guided ACT Resources.

Magoosh's Online Prep for the New SAT is ideal for self-studiers, video-lovers, and busy students. The course features 140+ video lessons, 400+ practice questions, and study schedules to guide your practice. The material is very close to the content of the official SAT and is ranked by difficulty so that you can master the basics and move closer to your goal score. You can get access to the course for varying lengths of time, depending on how long you need to prep. All options include email assistance, a seven-day money-back guarantee, and a 100-point score improvement guarantee.

Duration: One, three, or six months

Price: $79, $89, or $99

Recap: If you are looking for flexible, video-centric SAT prep, Magoosh has prep that might just be perfect for you. While you are checking them out, take a look at their free Study Timer and SAT flashcard apps.

6 Kaplan-SAT Prep
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Chances are, you have heard of-or even benefitted from-Kaplan and their many educational resources. Even if you have gone to one of their tutoring centers or used one of their study books, you may not have realized that Kaplan offers a range of online SAT Prep Courses.

When you take any of Kaplan's SAT Prep courses, you will gain access to an interactive classroom led by expert instructors. If you are looking for a self-paced option, the SAT Live Online Essentials package lets you work through 40 hours of video lessons at your speed, on your schedule. Kaplan's SAT Prep Course includes six hours of live instruction, practice tests, on-demand lessons, and tons of quizzes and prep resources. SAT Prep Course PLUS gives you access to all of those resources in addition to three hours of private coaching. With the Unlimited Prep option, you can take Kaplan's SAT Prep Course as many times as you want until December of your senior year (you can also take unlimited PSAT or ACT courses). Finally, the Tutoring package lets you work through an ACT Prep Course with 12, 24, or 36 hours of customized, individual instruction. If you don't improve after taking a Kaplan SAT Prep course, they allow you to retake a course or get a refund.

Duration: Varies based on course

Price: $599, $899, $1399, $1599, or $2599-$5699

Recap: Kaplan-a well-known name in education-offers a number of SAT prep courses to help you study for the exam, whether you are looking for a self-paced course, to study for multiple college admissions exams, or to spend a lot of one-on-one time with an online tutor.

7 Private Prep-SAT
New York, New York
Private Prep is a tutoring company that offers test prep, academic support, and college prep services. Their tutors focus on helping students live up to their full potential, through confidence building, engaging instruction, and encouraging students to work hard. No matter the content you are working on with Private Prep, they provide personalized curriculum to meet your learning style and academic needs.

Since Private Prep is all about customized learning, there isn't a standard SAT course that they offer. You do an initial, free consultation with a Private Prep coach in which they get to know you and collaborate with you and your parents to create a personalized study plan. Then, they match you with a coach or team of coaches that's a good fit with your personality, academic needs, way of learning, and schedule availability. After that, it's time to learn with your coach through a learning platform, Zoom, which comes with a digital whiteboard and allows you to record each lesson. Your coach will guide you through a diagnostic test, personalized curriculum, SAT strategies, mental strength and stress relief techniques, and plenty of practice exams to prepare you for test day.

Duration: Varies based on your goals and needs; usually 90 minutes/week

Price: $125-$175/hour depending on tutor experience

Recap: If you need an SAT course built just for you, Private Prep is worth checking into. Their personalized, fun, comprehensive SAT curriculum can help you meet your goals, in the way that works best for you.

8 Kranse Institute-SAT Prep Expert
Las Vegas, Nevada
Kranse Institute was created with the goal of preparing all students for higher education. They recognized the importance of standardized test scores in college admissions, and so created the Kranse Institute SAT Prep Expert, an online course to help students achieve higher SAT scores. The Kranse Institute SAT course was developed by Shaan Patel, a perfect SAT scorer and Shark Tank winner.

The SAT Prep Expert course is in an easy-to-navigate format, with comprehensible content, proven test-taking strategies, and 24/7 mobile and desktop access. The course is based on 100 strategies developed to prepare you to face the SAT with confidence. SAT Prep Expert video lessons are short so that you can easily and thoroughly digest the course material. Kranse Institute offers a seven-day 100% money back guarantee on the course, as well as a score improvement guarantee.

Duration: 540 days of access

Recap: Kranse Institute's innovative SAT Prep Expert course is perfect if you are looking for easily learnable, bite-sized SAT lessons created by a perfect SAT scorer.

9 Testive-SAT
Boston, Massachusetts
Testive believes in the power of technology, but also in the power of human interaction. Their test prep utilizes both technology and human coaches to prepare students to succeed on standardized tests. Testive has both ACT and SAT courses, with several prep options. Their prep is focused on working closely with a coach and getting customized content so that you can learn in the way that works best for you.

Testive's SAT courses are focused on preparing you for the test and helping you find peace of mind so that you are not too stressed to do your best. The Bootcamp course is perfect if you are quickly approaching test day. You can work through this course in 4-6 weeks, and it includes two one-on-one video chats with an instructor. The Coaching option allows you to spread the material over more time, and do lots of learning, practicing, and reviewing before test day. This option comes with weekly individual lessons with your Testive tutor. Finally, the Coaching Plus package includes everything offered in the Coaching package, plus an extra one-on-one session each week. This option is ideal for students who are not as independent or need more help with a certain subject. All courses include a two-week free trial and a money back guarantee. If you don't feel the need for a tutor, you can work through the Testive online learning platform and content for free.

Duration: 2-5 months

Price: $800, $350/month, or $550/month

Recap: If you are looking to prep with a coach that's been tracking your progress and working with you consistently, Testive is a great option. Another plus is that Testive specializes their content and instruction for all students, including those with learning differences.
Learn More @ Testive
10 Peterson's-SAT Prep Online Course
Lincoln, Nebraska
Peterson's has a number of college prep resources, including test prep, college admissions coaching, writing help, and scholarship databases. Since the company is focused on more than standardized test prep, you might benefit from other services in addition to their SAT prep.

Peterson's SAT Prep Online Course is SAT prep for everyone, anywhere, anytime. They have a flexible learning platform that lets you work through SAT content on your own schedule. The class is optimized for mobile and desktop platforms, so you are able to study on your phone, tablet, or computer. You can select a short, medium, or long path based on the test date you are signed up for. Peterson's SAT course includes games, full-length practice tests, quizzes, and interactive lessons.

Duration: 12 months of access to course materials

Recap: If you don't need a tutor, but do want an interactive, fun, guided path that leads you right up to test day, Peterson's may have the SAT prep course for you.

11 CollegeVine-Online SAT Tutoring Program
Cambridge, Massachusetts
CollegeVine's Online SAT Tutoring Program is focused on helping busy students effectively prepare for the SAT. The tutors and curriculum creators at CollegeVine realize that high school students have lots going on, so their programs are designed to maximize study time for optimal score improvement. CollegeVine's programs also support parents throughout the test prep process, sending regular score reports to parents about their student's progress. All of CollegeVine's SAT prep courses include a diagnostic exam, a custom tutoring plan, passionate tutors, and score prediction tools. The comprehensive diagnostic exam helps students understand their strengths and weaknesses in each SAT section and allows their tutor to design an SAT program tailored to their student's individual needs. This allows students to spend time focusing on the key concepts they really need to improve, rather than just re-learning ones they may have already mastered.

Duration: 6, 10, or 16 weeks

Price: $1,000-$2,400

Recap: If you're looking for SAT tutoring that fits your busy schedule, CollegeVine has flexible, personalized SAT prep programs that support students and parents in studying towards higher scores.
Learn More @ CollegeVine
Everyone learns differently, so this list of SAT prep services consists of a wide variety of courses, tutors, and options to help you master the SAT test. If you are thinking of taking the ACT, we have a summary of top online ACT prep services that's worth checking out. And if you are in the middle of your college search, be sure to take a look at our 100 Best Online Colleges page for a current list of top online schools.

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If you're stressing about he SAT and dream of having a personal tutor, you can have one, online! Here are our top picks for the best SAT online tutoring prep resources. Find the best SAT online tutors and online courses!

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Issues of Today: Global warming has been the topic of discussion for years amongst scientist. While some people believe in global warming others don't. Global warming is exactly what it sounds like "a warming of Earth's surface and lower atmosphere caused by the presence of water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxides, and other greenhouse gases." Effects include rising sea levels, the melting of glaciers, and the warming of the ocean's surface. Do you believe in global warming? and if so what could we do to stop it? Comment your thoughts below. 

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Issues of Today: Global warming has been the topic of discussion for years amongst scientist. While some people believe in global warming others don't. Global warming is exactly what it sounds like "a warming of Earth's surface and lower atmosphere caused by the presence of water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxides, and other greenhouse gases." Effects include rising sea levels, the melting of glaciers, and the warming of the ocean's surface. Do you believe in global warming? and if so what could we do to stop it? Comment your thoughts below. 

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Students in the UK are demanding the Government declare a climate emergency and take active steps to tackle the problem, communicate the severity of the ecological crisis to the public and reform the curriculum to make it an educational priority.

They also want recognition that young people have the biggest stake in the future, should be involved in policymaking, and that the voting age should be lowered to 16.

Anna Taylor, of UK Student Climate Network, said: "We're running out of time for meaningful change, and that's why we're seeing young people around the world rising up to hold their governments to account on their dismal climate records.

"Unless we take positive action, the future's looking bleak for those of us that have grown up in an era defined by climate change."

The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) said it supports the right of young people to express themselves but it did not condone students being out of the classroom to take action.

In a statement, the NAHT said: "While a school leader's role is to ensure children attend school, are kept safe and receive a good quality of education, it is right that individual school leaders can decide how best to respond to any proposed protest by students in their school on Friday."

Mr Hinds said: "I want young people to be engaged in key issues affecting them and involving themselves in causes they care about.

"But let me be clear, missing class won't do a thing to help the environment; all they will do is create extra work for teachers."

He added it was ultimately a matter for headteachers, but he did not want teachers being burdened with the extra-workload the strikes could create.

London mayor Sadiq Khan, speaking at the National Clean Air Summit at the Tate Modern on Thursday, said he understands why children feel "very strongly" about pollution and climate change and called for politicians to take "great strides to clear up the air across our country".

He said: "I say to my fellow politicians, we can be the first generation to get it and find solutions, or the last generation not to get it."

The strike is being supported by environmental campaign groups and Green Party MP Caroline Lucas, who will address students on their walkout in Brighton.

Ms Lucas, who described the action as "inspiring", said: "Our children recognise that this is a climate emergency.

"They are striking this week because they know we cannot carry on as normal.

"Teachers work hard to prepare students for their future but right now that future is at serious risk."

Liberal Democrat education spokeswoman and former teacher Layla Moran also backed the young people who have "taken up such an important and principled cause" and said she would be joining students in Oxford.

Students and young people are set to follow up on February's action with a second round of strikes taking place on March 15 as part of a global youth strike.

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Climate change strike: Students to stage school walkout over environmental 'emergency'

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Students in the UK are demanding the Government declare a climate emergency and take active steps to tackle the problem, communicate the severity of the ecological crisis to the public and reform the curriculum to make it an educational priority.

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I did a research paper about global warming in college and came across a photographer named James Balog, he was a skeptic of climate change but soon became a believer. Find out why....

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Have you ever asked yourself, "What should I be doing as a freshman to prepare myself for college?"

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Have you ever asked yourself, "What should I be doing as a freshman to prepare myself for college?"

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I know it's easy to think "I'm only a freshman, I have enough time before college," but believe it or not you'll be a senior in a blink of an eye. This means that you should be building your resume, thinking of colleges you want to attend, finding out what you might want to major in, seeking internships, and finding volunteer opportunities.

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Let's begin with a caveat: The College Transitions team is philosophically opposed to the unhealthy obsession with elite college admission that begins in the womb, ramps up to overdrive by the time pre-school selection rolls around, and by high school-well, that's when the therapy bills begin to rack up. See our critically-acclaimed book The Enlightened College Applicant for more on this front.

The purpose of this blog is to advise freshmen (and their parents) how to successfully launch their high school careers in a way that will leave open a plethora of postsecondary options down the road, whether it happens to be the Ivy League, a "good fit" liberal arts school, or a public university.
Does 9th grade matter? A look at the research
Researchers at the University of Chicago looked at the predictive value of freshman year of high school related to a number of future outcomes; what they found is that 9th grade matters quite a bit. In fact, students who excel in 9th grade are far more likely to graduate high school, enroll in college, and remain in college beyond their freshman year than are students who struggled through their first year of high school.

Another study by Princeton University and the Brookings Institute found that 9th grade is, in many ways, a watershed year for teenagers. Classroom performance (as well as behavior and attendance) as a high school freshman is a strong indicator of a student's future academic pathway.

With the importance of 9th grade firmly established, it's time to present a list of steps you can take right now to begin building a solid foundation for future college admission.
1. Ace your classes
The much ballyhooed junior year is often touted as being the most important year from a college admissions standpoint. This is entirely true in the sense that junior year is given the most weight in the eyes of admissions officers and an upward trajectory over your four years of high school is looked upon favorably. Yet, in an ideal world, your goal is not to have an upward trajectory but a flat line of excellence across all four years.

Freshman year counts toward cumulative GPA calculations and impacts class rank (with some exceptions-mostly schools in the University of California system), two factors that will play a major role in selective college admissions. Trying to recover from a 2.3 GPA as a 9th grader is, from a purely mathematical standpoint, an uphill battle. If your aim is to finish in the top 10% of your class, even a solid 3.3 GPA will put you in pretty deep hole. A stellar freshman GPA, on the other hand, will alleviate a great deal of stress as you progress through high school.
2. The honors track
Students who wish to have all collegiate options down the road will need to take a rigorous course load, beginning in 9th grade. Those applying to highly competitive colleges and universities will need to be enrolled in multiple AP courses by junior and senior year. Taking honors courses as a freshman will put you on track to take AP courses as an upperclassman (and in some case, as a sophomore).

This is not to say that you should force yourself into a wholly honors track schedule. If you are strong in the humanities but greatly struggle with math (or vice-versa), you may want to pursue a split schedule, with some honors classes and some non-honors classes.
3. Become active in your school community
Freshman year is a great time to experiment with extracurricular activities. In a couple of years you may find yourself with a part-time job, rigorous AP courses, and a serious boyfriend/girlfriend. Right now, you are a 14/15 year old kid with nothing but time on your hands!

Consider immersing yourself in multiple activities, following your areas of interest. If you're more interested in politics, consider joining forensics, mock trial, and Model U.N. If you're musically inclined, sign up for chorus, orchestra, or the marching band. If you are artistically, athletically, or dramatically inclined, delve into related clubs and activities in those areas.

You DO NOT need to join activities just for the sake of compiling a long resume (see our previous blog on the topic). The goal as a freshman is to establish roots within areas of genuine interest where you desire to one day rise to a position of leadership and responsibility. Admissions officers are not going to be impressed by an applicant who dipped their toe in a dozen activities and committed to none. Rather, they wish to see an applicant who, perhaps after some early exploration, plunged shoulder-deep into a few meaningful endeavors.
4. Take a language
Most elite schools are going to expect serious applicants to have taken four or more years of a foreign language. This means that if you are aiming for the Ivy League or Ivy-equivalent institutions, 9th grade is the time to commit to a language of study that you will pursue through the remainder of high school. Many other selective colleges and universities only expect two or three years of foreign language, which eases the freshman-year pressure a bit. However, if you are serious about attending any college, it makes sense to begin your foray into foreign language as early as possible.
5. Get to know your guidance counselor
Guidance counselors in public high schools often have caseloads double-to-triple the size of the levels recommended by the National Association for College Admission Counseling. In private schools, guidance counselors are able to devote 55% of their time to matters of college admissions; in public schools, this number dips to just 22%.

Your guidance counselor will play an essential role in your college exploration, selection, and admissions processes. Acknowledging the realities of their job duties and limited time, the onus is on you, the student, to schedule meetings with them as a freshman to begin the college exploration process. Getting on your guidance counselor's radar as a serious, future-minded student early in your high school career will pay dividends later on.
6. Begin to explore your interests
Most school systems have a sequence of college/career/personality surveys they will administer to students beginning in late-middle or early-high school. Ask your guidance counselor for assistance with this. Potential careers recommended by these surveys may just ignite a course of exploration that will lead you to your dream college.
7. Take advantage of summer
The summer after freshman year is a great time to land your first job or volunteer with a local organization, or pursue attending a summer program on college campus. More informal but still productive activities would include studying for the SAT/ACT and researching potential "good fit" college and universities. Even if you elect for a more restful summer break, still try to accomplish one thing that will help you refine your nascent college search before sophomore year commences.
Key takeaways

Get good grades. Half of your freshman class doesn't even realize that freshman year counts toward your cumulative GPA and class rank. By the time they wake up, you'll already be in the driver's seat.

Take a rigorous course load with as many honors classes as you can handle. If you intend to apply to highly-selective colleges down the road, you need to be on the AP track in at least a few subjects.

Get involved in a few activities that make sense for you. Experiment, but do so within your realm of interests/passions. Don't force yourself into an excessive number of activities because you think it will one day impress college admission officers.

Elite colleges typically want students to have taken a 4th or 5th year of a foreign language. Most competitive schools want to see at least two or three years of a foreign language so 9th grade is undoubtedly the time to start.

Forge relationships with adults in your school that will pay off when college applications come down the road. This starts with your guidance counselor

Don't let the summer slip away. Begin studying for the SAT/ACT. Get a job, and internship, or volunteer your time in the community.

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How should 9th graders prepare for college?

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Let's begin with a caveat: The College Transitions team is philosophically opposed to the unhealthy obsession with elite college admission that begins in the womb, ramps up to overdrive by the time pre-school selection rolls around, and by high school-well, that's when the therapy bills begin to rack up.

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9th Grade Classes ONLY: Starting next week we will be doing "Student of the Week". This student will be chosen based on their performance in class. This student must have 80% or higher and NO overdue assignments. This students name will be posted at the beginning of class and will also receive a Phoenix buck. 

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9th Grade Classes ONLY: Starting next week we will be doing "Student of the Week". This student will be chosen based on their performance in class. This student must have 80% or higher and NO overdue assignments. This students name will be posted at the beginning of class and will also receive a Phoenix buck. 

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COLLEGE MOVE IN VLOG | TOWSON UNIVERSITY (Freshman)

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A lot of you have asked me where I attended college and what to expect during Homecoming. One of the best parts about Homecoming aside from the big game was the Homecoming parade. 

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A lot of you have asked me where I attended college and what to expect during Homecoming. One of the best parts about Homecoming aside from the big game was the Homecoming parade. 

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North Carolina A&T State University 2017 Homecoming Parade

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This list is only a suggestion, you may not need everything on the list. Also depending on the type of dorm you choose it may already come with some of the supplies listed.

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Sometimes it's hard to choose the right college. Ask yourself these questions:
" Do I want to go out-of-state or remain in-state?"
" Do I want to go to a PWI or a HBCU?"
"Does this College have a good (your major) program?"
Keep in mind that it's always good to apply to at least 5 colleges.

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When you start to think about all the places you could go to college, do the number of choices start to pile-up until it seems like a mountain in danger of an avalanche?

Choosing a college can be overwhelming, but these tips will help you narrow your search and figure out exactly where you want to go.

1. Flip your perspective

Instead of asking yourself "where do I want to go to college?" ask, "where do I not want to go to college?" This simple mental shift can help you start breaking down that mountain into a small hill.

Colleges comes in many different specialties, sizes, and areas of expertise. There are public, private, small, large, all-female, all-male, close to home, far from home, rural, urban, liberal arts, and so many more college options. Once you've crossed a few choices off that list, you'll actually have a manageable number to work with.

Your next goal is to come up with a list of 20 colleges that fit the list that's left over. So maybe you chose a small school that focuses on academics and is located in a big city. Once you've found 20 schools that fit that description, you can use the following tips to narrow your list even further.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to the College Search: How to Find Your Perfect College Match

2. Gather more information

Once you've got your list of ideal schools narrowed down to the top 20 or so, start gathering some more information. Look at school websites and write down pros and cons for each. You can gather information from school websites, from sites like Colleges of Distinction (or our guidebook), from teachers and counselors at your high school, and even from family and friends.

Remember that it's okay to change your mind as you learn more information about the final colleges on your list. Maybe your favorite school doesn't have the program you need to get the job you want. It's also okay to shift your list around as you learn more about colleges and what to expect from a school.

3. Pick your favorites

Once you have your pros and cons lists, begin comparing the different schools and choose your top five favorites. Within your list of five favorites, choose schools with a range of qualities. Have a dream school, have a school that's financially affordable, and have a school where your grades meet all of the requirements and you have a high likelihood of being accepted-aka your safety, reach, and match schools.

Related: How to Pick Your Safety, Reach, and Match Colleges

4. Remember the ultimate goal

The ultimate goal of choosing a college is to graduate with a degree that will get you a good job or into the graduate school of your choice. Just because your dream school has a great football team doesn't mean it's the right school for you.

One way to assess if you're likely to graduate or not is to look at the college's graduation rate. Schools with a graduation rate within four and six years are usually more likely to support students and help them meet the requirements to graduate. Schools with low graduation rates may have less built-in support for students. Ideally, look for schools with graduation rates above 60%.

Related: The Facts You NEED to Find Out for Your Colleges

5. Go on campus visits

The best way to learn about a college is to visit the campus, take a tour, and, if possible, stay the night with current students. When visiting a potential college, you can also set up meetings with professors who teach a subject you're interested in. It may also be helpful to speak with an admission officer who can help you understand the application process and the school's admission requirements too.

If a campus visit isn't possible, look for photos or virtual tours online. A campus visit is also an opportunity to meet with current students and ask questions. Some colleges even have phone lines you can call to talk to current students. If you have this opportunity, prepare a list of campus visit questions ahead of time, and don't be afraid to ask the tough questions that are really important to you. Remember, all current college students were once prospective students graduating from high school.

6. Look at acceptance rates

An important metric to consider when applying to colleges is the acceptance rate. There's nothing wrong with applying to Harvard and Yale, but it's important to recognize that their acceptance rate is extremely low. It's unlikely that you'll be accepted even if you have the highest grades in your school-or even in your state. (You can put these schools squarely in your "reach" category.) Look for colleges that have acceptance rates above 20% for a higher chance of being accepted, and remember that most colleges, including plenty of great schools, admit more students than they reject.

7. Find financial safety

Whether or not a college is affordable is relative to your family's income, your savings, the scholarships and grants you receive, and the cost of classes and activities at that college. Consider too the cost of traveling to and from college for holidays and school breaks.

When looking for financially safe schools, try to stay within your budget, which includes the amount you and your family can pay combined with the amount of scholarship you receive. Loans are always an option, but are costly to pay back.

Hopefully, these tips will help you narrow down your college choices and really home in on what's important to you in the college of your choice. What are you struggling with most in your college search? Let us know in the comments!

Note: Did you know you could win a $10,000 scholarship for college or grad school just by registering on CollegeXpress? This is one of the quickest, easiest scholarships you'll ever apply for. Register Now "

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7 Ways to Narrow Down Your List of College Choices

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Choosing a college can be overwhelming, but these tips will help you narrow your search and figure out exactly where you want to go. Find the perfect college and scholarships to pay for it. Join CollegeXpress-it's fast, easy, and FREE!

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What is financial Aid? What does it help me do when applying to College?

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What is financial Aid? What does it help me do when applying to College?

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Financial aid helps students and their families pay for college. This financial assistance covers educational expenses including tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and transportation. There are several types of financial aid, including grants and scholarships, work study and loans. Financial aid awards may include a combination of the various types of aid. There are specific requirements to apply for Financial Aid and not all students will qualify for it.

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Seniors I came across this article about ways to save money in college. College can become expensive. Buying textbooks for class, finding new outfits for homecoming, and transportation. Remember your first year of college you can't bring your car on campus, which means you may have to carpool or uber/lyft to get from place to place.  So it's best to find ways to save as much money as possible. 

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Seniors I came across this article about ways to save money in college. College can become expensive. Buying textbooks for class, finding new outfits for homecoming, and transportation. Remember your first year of college you can't bring your car on campus, which means you may have to carpool or uber/lyft to get from place to place.  So it's best to find ways to save as much money as possible. 

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Saving money in college seems at odds at everything we know -- and everything the media throws at us -- about college and money.

Think about it. Conventional wisdom has it that the only financial issue about going to college is affording it in the first place. After tuition, room and board, loans, grants, 529 accounts, and scholarships, saving for college while in college is low on the higher education priority list.
Skip ahead to our 31 ways to save money in college.
That's unfortunate, since saving money while in college offers two huge benefits:

It builds up much-needed financial savings for college students to afford the lifestyle needed to succeed on the university scene.

Saving money while in college can build good personal financial habits -- regular savings, living prudently and getting creative about saving cash -- that last a lifetime.

There's data that backs this sentiment up. A University of Kansas study notes that opening a bank account early in life sets the table for increased financial account ownership later in life. Additionally, saving money as a teenager is a gateway to a diverse and highly profitable investment portfolio as an adult.

In short, the sooner one develops good savings habits, the better off that person will be financially as he or she builds on that early platform of saving money on a regular basis.

Studies show that this generation of college students graduates with more credit card debt, more student loan debt and a lack of awareness on key personal financial issues like discretionary spending, more so than previous generations.

Parents can only help so much with in-college financial costs.

A recent USA Today report notes that most parents who have contributed to their child's tuition and room and board only saved less than $10,000. That suggests there's not much cash, if any, left over for living expenses while their student is on campus.

With college tuition and fee costs soaring to over $25,000 for public colleges and universities, and over $34,000 for private colleges, you can't blame parents for pulling out empty pockets when their college student is looking for a few extra bucks.

How to Save Money in College

Facing an uphill climb, it's increasingly the obligation of the college student to come up with the money they need to have a decent lifestyle in their college years.

To get that campaign airborne, try the following college savings tips, from both a "defense" and "offense" money management model:

14 defensive ways to save money in college

1. Get the right bank. College towns usually have several banks that cater to college students (they're trying to make you a customer for life.) But banks that work with collegians usually offer things that can save you cash, like free checking accounts, no-fee ATMs (see above), free online banking, free bill pay, and free funds transfer.

2. Sign up for coupon alerts. Sites like PromoCodes.com allow cash-starved collegians to have coupons sent right to their email inbox. They also have discounts for popular back-to-school clothing retailers like Kohl's, eBay, Macy's and Lands' End.

3. Buy used or rent. It's not just about saving on textbooks. The savings potential is also significant when buying used electronics, like a refurbished model. Sometimes a new model of a camera, smart phone or computer is rated lower by reviewers than the model it replaces, and it could even mean the original owner simply opened the box and returned it without use. Take full advantage when you're buying the digital tools you'll need on campus.

4. Save with smart fin-tech apps. Personal financial apps like Mint.com can be a helpful, free tool that lets you capture the activity from all of your accounts - bank, credit cards, and even investments - in one place and access remotely. It is a "backward" look at what already happened and you can put in a budget, set up alerts for due dates and overspending, etc.

5. Curb spending one item at a time. Cut out one thing on a monthly basis and put that money toward savings. For example, cut those daily latte's, or pricey Uber rides on the weekend. They all add up, and cutting them one at a time can add big bucks to your bank account on a monthly basis.

6. Be smart about credit. Credit health is important -- even for a college student just getting started in their financial lives. Thus, college students should learn about the importance of a good credit score and the importance of establishing a good credit history. Use free credit monitoring tools like Credit Karma, which allows users to check their score as often as they want, educates around the key factors that go into credit scores, and simulates the impact of potential financial decisions on your score.

7. Protect your personal information. At a glance, protecting your digital data may not seem like a money saver -- but it is. Identify theft is a growing issue among college students, who don't feel vulnerable to data hackers, but can be easily hacked and lose key data like social security numbers, bank account numbers, and credit card numbers. Be especially careful in safeguarding your social security numbers and leaving personal documents lying around. College students should check credit card and bank accounts regularly for any suspicious activity. If not, and their data is hacked, their bank account may drain quickly.

8. Be an early bird. Pay interest on your student loan while you're still in school. By paying your loan interest now, you can save thousands of dollars in accumulated interest down the road. (Think of interest on a loan as a snowball rolling down the hill, growing bigger and bigger the farther it goes). For a total loan of $20,000, interest payments should only be about $20 per month. Start taking care of it now and save big bucks down the road for doing so.

9. Pay your bills on time to save on fees and penalties. Credit card companies charge errant customers hefty fees for minor infractions. Pay your bill a day late and you could get slapped with a much as a $39 fee. If the fee pushes you over your credit limit, bang, another $29 can hit your account. That's a $68 dollar hit - a substantial amount for a college student.

10. Keep your Starbucks habit in check. Stay away from costly coffee breaks. A $3.50 latte at Starbucks every day will cost you $750 annually.

11. Keep ATM at Arm's Length. Try not to visit an ATM machine more than once per week. Get out of the habit of using your bank card and into the habit of making your money last longer.

12. Avoid apartment late fees. Getting your own off-campus apartment? Okay, great. Just pay your rent and utility bills on time (late payments can eat into your household budget.) Late rental fees, in particular, can be as much as $50 per charge.

13. Hit the road, smartly. Traveling home for the holidays, or just to another college to meet a friend? If you can't get a free ride, check out Greyhound or Amtrak - they both offer good student travel discounts.

14. Keep any car you have away from campus -- ideally in your parent's garage. Car costs add up for things like parking, parking tickets, maintenance and repairs, and gasoline. Get a second-hand bike instead.

17 offensive ways to save money in college

1. Take advantage of student discounts. A college ID card can mean big savings to students. Retailers like Apple, Microsoft and Dell offer student-only pricing on laptops, and often attach a free gift card to the purchase for printers, e-books or apps. Hunt for these deals during non-holiday seasons (when items are more expensive) when college-oriented products are expected to reach their lowest price.

2. Automate Your Savings Approach. Investment apps like Acorns allow you to build big savings a few cents at a time (or more) by investing in the background of your life -- just connect your debit and credit cards, and it rounds up your purchases to the nearest dollar into a diversified ETF fund. Plus, it's free for college students (fees are waived,) making it a great way to start saving when you're still an undergrad.

3. Download your discounts. Go ahead and download those free smartphone apps that steer collegians to discounted deals. For example, Amazon offers both new and used books for less than what you might find at your school. CampusSpecial helps you find the best deals around your campus and RetailMeNot allow college students to hold hundreds (even thousands) of coupons in your pocket at once.

4. Be smart about cash windfalls. If you have a one-time financial gain coming (like a tax refund, a cash gift from a grandparent or relative, or proceeds from a garage sale), put it toward your collegiate emergency savings fund.

5. Get a secured credit card with a $500 limit. A secured credit card is tied to a blocked savings account with the secured amount of money on hold. This allows a college student to learn how to pay off a credit card, manage a balance, and build his or her credit score with very little risk.

6. Test Out. With college courses clocking in at several thousand dollars apiece, ask your college about "testing out" of a class and earn class credits that way. Or, take a similar class over the summer at a local community college for a much lower price and transfer the credits -- and save thousands in the process.

7. Rent your appliances. If you're in a dorm room that allows for appliances, or at an off-campus apartment, stick to renting appliances like microwaves, vacuums or air conditioners. Better yet, get a fridge or microwave from your parents, or from a non-profit like Habitat for Humanity, which offers low prices for appliances.

8. Campus amenities can save cash. Most colleges have their own gyms and offer a wide menu of social activities like movie nights, high-profile speakers, and sports events. Your tuition covers these costs, so why not take full advantage?

9. Move money to your savings account. Once you've got some cash on hand thanks to all of your great savings moves, set up an automatic transfer of $25-$50 once per month out of the checking account into a closed savings account. This allows college students to pay themselves first and have an account for emergencies.

10. Find a credit card that best suits your spending with reward points. Be sure to use it like a debit card and pay it off at the end of every month. You can use the accumulated points on cash back, traveling and build credit at the same time.

11. Set a weekly savings goal. Each week, transfer $10 to a savings account, and you'll have $500 in a year. Or, try saving 10% of all income received, using the same savings account transferal. Whatever the percent is, pick what you can do consistently and stick to it, savings-wise.

12. Get creative with generating extra income. Get organized, and sell unneeded items on eBay Craig's List or hold a yard sale. Even small proceeds can accumulate surprisingly quickly. Or you can wait tables, babysit, tutor, do yard work or take on other part-time work where you can devote that income to savings.

13. Redeem credit card rewards. Have a credit card? Check your credit card statements to see how many rewards "points" you have. Then visit your credit card company's website to find out if you can convert the rewards into cash or gift cards. Some credit cards even double the value of your rewards at specific retailers.

14. Play "all in the family." Why not ask your family members to help pay for school? Instead of a microwave oven or a set of golf clubs for your high school graduation gift, ask for money for college. Take the money and stash it away in a savings account for use on campus. If you don't trust yourself with the savings account have mom or dad do it for you.

15. Ditch television and cable. There's no need for a TV or for cable TV in this, the digital age. Get a Netflix or Hulu account for a few bucks a month and start streaming quality shows right on your computer. Better yet, get on mom and dad's family video plan -- you wouldn't be the first college student to do that.

16. Get a quality academic services job. Be a tutor, or offer to help a graduate student write his or her dissertation. The pay is decent and your building credentials for a good career path - companies love smart and entrepreneurial-minded employees.

17. Be an R.A. Collegiate resident advisors can earn extra cash and build a reputation as a leader that future employees will appreciate. Become an R.A. and cash in on both accounts.

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Saving money in college seems at odds at everything we know -- and everything the media throws at us -- about college and money. Think about it. Conventional wisdom has it that the only financial issue about going to college is affording it in the first place.

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Seniors before selecting your classes for your freshman year of college...

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Seniors before selecting your classes for your freshman year of college...

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be sure to use rate my professor! This is a great way to learn more about teachers before taking their class.

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Rate My Professors | Find and rate your professor or school

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Stress and anxiety are common in High Schoolers.... some of you may work, take on extra curricular activities, and have a load of homework. You're not alone stress and anxiety are common in your average teenager. Attached below are some relaxation tips that help to reduce stress. 

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Stress and anxiety are common in High Schoolers.... some of you may work, take on extra curricular activities, and have a load of homework. You're not alone stress and anxiety are common in your average teenager. Attached below are some relaxation tips that help to reduce stress. 

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Relax. You deserve it, it's good for you, and it takes less time than you think.

Video Transcript

American Heart Association: "Four Ways to Deal With Stress."; PubMed Central: "Psychosocial and Psychophysiological Effects of Human-Animal Interactions: The Possible Role of Oxytocin."; NIH News in Health: "Can Pets Keep You Healthy?"; Cleveland Clinic: "Want a Healthy Heart? Laugh More!"; HelpGuide.org: "Laughter Is the Best Medicine."; Association for Psychological Science: "Power Posing: Brief Nonverbal; Displays Affect Neuroendocrine; Levels and Risk Tolerance."; Harvard Business School: "Power Posing: Fake It Until you Make It."; IZA.org: "The Effect of Sexual Activity on Wages."

SPEAKER: You know those people who always seem to be smiling? What's their secret? Turns out a lot of the smiles come from saying sayonara stress. Want in on that action? Well, here are three ways to stress less so you can smile more. First up, play your stress away/ why should kids have all the fun? Your boss might not let everyone out for recess, but you can find 15 minutes every day to do something you really enjoy. Go to a driving range. Play ping pong, cards, or board games. Just keep it friendly. Remember, winning isn't everything. Number 2. Give it up for pet power. Have you ever seen anyone looking stressed when playing with an adorable puppy? Neither have we. Interacting with animals has been proven to lower stress in almost everyone. Simply petting a dog or a cat lowers your blood pressure considerably and reduces levels of the stress-causing hormone cortisol. So pet your pooch. Don't have a pet? Borrow a friend's, or visit a local shelter for some much-needed cuddle time. And the number-one way to stress less? Laugh it off. How does laughter love thee? Let us count the ways. Laughter fills your body and lungs with oxygen. It makes your brain release Mr. And Mrs. Happy Hormones, the endorphins. It bolsters your immune system and helps you, well, be well. It also helps your brain release natural pain relievers, and may even stop painful muscle spasms. It's true. He who laughs best stresses less. So learn to play, adopt a stray, and laugh away. You'll feel great. And it will show.

You don't need a spa weekend or a retreat. Each of these stress-relieving tips can get you from OMG to om in less than 15 minutes.

1. Meditate

A few minutes of practice per day can help ease anxiety. "Research suggests that daily meditation may alter the brain's neural pathways, making you more resilient to stress," says psychologist Robbie Maller Hartman, PhD, a Chicago health and wellness coach.

It's simple. Sit up straight with both feet on the floor. Close your eyes. Focus your attention on reciting -- out loud or silently -- a positive mantra such as "I feel at peace" or "I love myself." Place one hand on your belly to sync the mantra with your breaths. Let any distracting thoughts float by like clouds.

2. Breathe Deeply

Take a 5-minute break and focus on your breathing. Sit up straight, eyes closed, with a hand on your belly. Slowly inhale through your nose, feeling the breath start in your abdomen and work its way to the top of your head. Reverse the process as you exhale through your mouth.

"Deep breathing counters the effects of stress by slowing the heart rate and lowering blood pressure," psychologist Judith Tutin, PhD, says. She's a certified life coach in Rome, GA.

3. Be Present

Slow down.

"Take 5 minutes and focus on only one behavior with awareness," Tutin says. Notice how the air feels on your face when you're walking and how your feet feel hitting the ground. Enjoy the texture and taste of each bite of food.

When you spend time in the moment and focus on your senses, you should feel less tense.

4. Reach Out

Your social network is one of your best tools for handling stress. Talk to others -- preferably face to face, or at least on the phone. Share what's going on. You can get a fresh perspective while keeping your connection strong.

5. Tune In to Your Body

Mentally scan your body to get a sense of how stress affects it each day. Lie on your back, or sit with your feet on the floor. Start at your toes and work your way up to your scalp, noticing how your body feels.

Continued

"Simply be aware of places you feel tight or loose without trying to change anything," Tutin says. For 1 to 2 minutes, imagine each deep breath flowing to that body part. Repeat this process as you move your focus up your body, paying close attention to sensations you feel in each body part.

6. Decompress

Place a warm heat wrap around your neck and shoulders for 10 minutes. Close your eyes and relax your face, neck, upper chest, and back muscles. Remove the wrap, and use a tennis ball or foam roller to massage away tension.

"Place the ball between your back and the wall. Lean into the ball, and hold gentle pressure for up to 15 seconds. Then move the ball to another spot, and apply pressure," says Cathy Benninger, a nurse practitioner and assistant professor at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus.

7. Laugh Out Loud

A good belly laugh doesn't just lighten the load mentally. It lowers cortisol, your body's stress hormone, and boosts brain chemicals called endorphins, which help your mood. Lighten up by tuning in to your favorite sitcom or video, reading the comics, or chatting with someone who makes you smile.

8. Crank Up the Tunes

Research shows that listening to soothing music can lower blood pressure, heart rate, and anxiety. "Create a playlist of songs or nature sounds (the ocean, a bubbling brook, birds chirping), and allow your mind to focus on the different melodies, instruments, or singers in the piece," Benninger says. You also can blow off steam by rocking out to more upbeat tunes -- or singing at the top of your lungs!

9. Get Moving

You don���t have to run in order to get a runner's high. All forms of exercise, including yoga and walking, can ease depression and anxiety by helping the brain release feel-good chemicals and by giving your body a chance to practice dealing with stress. You can go for a quick walk around the block, take the stairs up and down a few flights, or do some stretching exercises like head rolls and shoulder shrugs.

Continued

10. Be Grateful

Keep a gratitude journal or several (one by your bed, one in your purse, and one at work) to help you remember all the things that are good in your life.

"Being grateful for your blessings cancels out negative thoughts and worries," says Joni Emmerling, a wellness coach in Greenville, NC.

Use these journals to savor good experiences like a child's smile, a sunshine-filled day, and good health. Don't forget to celebrate accomplishments like mastering a new task at work or a new hobby.

When you start feeling stressed, spend a few minutes looking through your notes to remind yourself what really matters.

WebMD Feature Reviewed by Jennifer Robinson, MD on December 10, 2017

Sources

SOURCES:

American Psychological Association: "Exercise fuels the brain's stress buffers."

Bennett, M. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, March 2008.

Bennett, M. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 2003.

Cathy Benninger, RN, CNP, MS, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

Joni Emmerling, wellness coach, Greenville, NC.

Robbie Maller Hartman, PhD, clinical psychologist, health and wellness coach; founder and owner, Centered Coaching, Chicago.

Harvard Health Publications: "In Brief: Sing along for health."

Koelsch, S. Frontiers in Psychology, June 2011.

Judith Tutin, PhD, psychologist, life coach, Rome, GA.

Ozbay, F. Psychiatry, May 2007.

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Tai Chi and Qigong

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Relax. You deserve it, it's good for you, and it takes less time than you think. American Heart Association: "Four Ways to Deal With Stress."; PubMed Central: "Psychosocial and Psychophysiological Effects of Human-Animal Interactions: The Possible Role of Oxytocin."; NIH News in Health: "Can Pets Keep You Healthy?"; Cleveland Clinic: "Want a Healthy Heart?

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Some of you are not sure what you want to do in the future, which is okay! Here is a career test that I want you all to take. It might help you figure out what you want to do in the future based on your interests. 

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Some of you are not sure what you want to do in the future, which is okay! Here is a career test that I want you all to take. It might help you figure out what you want to do in the future based on your interests. 

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What career best fits your personality? This free career aptitude test can give you insight into your job personality. Based on a characterization of your personality in terms of Holland Code personality types, you will learn what kind of work environments, occupations and skills suit you best. The results of this career assessment test provide you with a list of professions and occupations that fit your career personality and will guide you on your career path.

Choose a career that matches your skills and preferences. You will increase your chances of being successful! Take this career quiz and get your results right now!
(We also offer practice aptitude tests for assessment training if that's what you are looking for.)
Career test instructions

It takes five to ten minutes to complete this free career test. You will see fifteen sets of four pictures that show specific work activities. You must choose only one work activity that appeals to you the most and one that appeals to you the least.

Do not choose a work activity based on the status or money associated with it. Do not make your choice based on gender or race. Just imagine yourself performing the task shown and decide if you would like to do it or not.

If you like doing the activity, click the on the picture. If you do not like doing the activity, click the on the picture. You must choose a like and dislike for each set.

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Career test (2023) - Free online aptitude test - 123test.com

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This career test will help you find out what professions fit your personality. Take this free online test right now at 123test.com and work on your career!

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In-class please be sure to work on your elective work for my class period. You may work on other class work when you have completed your elective work. Please do not cheat or work in groups, elective classes are ALWAYS independent work. Be sure to ASK Ms. Dickson for help because she did got to school once upon of time. Also make sure you keep your volume down for there are other classes and teachers that you have to respectful of. Lastly, be respectful to Ms.Dickson and to your classmates.

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"Why is it important to apply for scholarships," you might ask? Well of course, to save money and to also avoid being in debt once you graduate. Also, consider your career goal... some of you may want to continue your schooling and apply to graduate school. Therefore it is important to save as much money as possible. Attached below are websites where you can find scholarships, also check with the college you are applying to and see what scholarships they offer in your field of study. Please let me know if you have any questions about scholarships in class!

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The idea of student loan debt can be pretty terrifying - especially considering the average 2016 college graduate left school owing more than $37,000 for their education.

For the 2016-17 academic year, here's how much it costs to attend college:

Public Two-Year College (in-district students): $3,440

Public Four-Year College (in-state students): $9,410

Public Four-Year College (out-of-state students): $23,890

Private Four-Year College: $32,410

And the harsh reality is, the price of higher education is continuing to increase year after year.

Federal student loans can be a great way for students to get help paying for school, but they don't always cover the entire cost, and depending on the college, students are graduating with tens of thousands of dollars in debt - with no chance of paying it off anytime soon.

The idea of turning to private loans is even worse - in fact, there is pretty much no situation in which you should ever take out private student loans. They come with extremely high interest rates, fees for late payments and other concerning features that make them less favorable to federal loans. And while the government may work with you on your repayment plan, private lenders have no sympathy - they are coming after you for that money one way or another.

Read more: 9 ways to pay for college without student loans

But here's the good news: While the cost of college isn't getting any cheaper, there are several ways to make it cheaper for yourself.

Whether you need a little help or a lot, there are tons of opportunities available to help you cover the cost of your education. It may take a little extra research and hard work, but in long run, it is absolutely worth it to avoid graduating college with the burden of nearly $40,000 of debt.

12 of the best websites to find a college scholarship

Fastweb hosts more than 1.5 million scholarships that provide more than $3.4 billion. Once you create a profile, the site's search feature will help you find the most accurate matches that fit your needs. Your personal profile is how the site helps you find pretty much exactly what you're looking for.

You can then also see all the scholarships you applied for, or may want to apply to in the future. They also have 'contests' that you can enter monthly or weekly to win money.

While the College Board is known for its college planning tools, it also has an arm that focuses on scholarships. Big Future hosts scholarships, as well as other financial aid and internship information from more than 2,200 programs - totaling nearly $6 billion. In order to get the most accurate search results, it's critical to fill out as many details as you can in the profile that's used for searching.
Read more: 5 ways to save money on your college degree
Formerly known as College Prowler, Niche is a great tool that can help you find colleges AND money. It's organized into categories that make it pretty easy to find what you're looking for - allowing users to search by interest, career, major and other areas.

Niche also has some contests to enter.

Scholarships.com hosts one of the largest scholarship databases out there and it's updated on a daily basis. According to the site, "With more than 2.7 million scholarship and grant opportunities worth more than $19 billion, just about everyone is bound to find something."

It's easy to browse by category, but the best way to take advantage of what the site has to offer is to make a personal profile, which will allow you to find the most exhaustive lists of opportunities available to you.

Moolahspot isn't as robust as some of the other scholarship databases, but in the search for a college scholarship, it's another option to help you find extra money.
Read more: Everything you need to know about student loans
When you go to the site's homepage, go to the top right corner to search college scholarships. From there you can either search by specific keywords or create a personal profile in order to get the most accurate matches that fit your needs. Once you make a profile, you create and save lists of opportunities you're interested in.

Scholarship Monkey allows you to search for scholarships a few different ways. You can search by keyword, browse scholarship lists (various categories/topics) and also see lists of the latest and featured scholarships. The site also allows you to create a personal profile for more accurate results.

Cappex hosts a database of more than $11 billion in scholarship opportunities. Once you create a personal profile, you can search for opportunities that directly match your strengths and skills. Plus, Cappex has a tool that will calculate your odds of getting into a certain college before you even apply.
Read more: Going to college: Your guide to campus life and money
Chegg is widely known for its online textbook store that allows students to either rent or buy textbooks for cheap. But Chegg is also a great resource for finding scholarships - more than $1 billion worth of them.

To search for available scholarships, go to 'colleges' at the top of the homepage and then click 'scholarships' in the drop-down menu. Once you create a personal profile, you can search for available opportunities that match your criteria. Chegg also has a 'top scholarship picks this week' category that highlights some options you may have missed.

Read more: How to find the lowest costs on textbooks

Unigo hosts millions of available scholarships and makes it easy to search by type, including: athletic scholarships, college-specific scholarships, company-based scholarships, minority scholarships, major-specific scholarships, state-specific scholarships and more. You can search by category or create a personal profile to get more specific results that match your needs. Unigo also offers scholarship contests and sweepstakes.

Peterson's hosts $10 billion in scholarship opportunities and also provides information to help you in your search. Once you fill out a short survey, you can filter your search results so they're tailored to your specific needs.

The site also allows users to search by a variety of different topics, college types and personal details - in order to give you the best results for you.

12. The U.S. Labor Department's Free Search Tool

According to the official Student Aid website, this free tool is a great resource for students to search more than 7,500 scholarships, grants and other various types of financial aid award opportunities.

The CareerOneStop tool allows you to:

Look through the site's entire inventory of scholarships, arranged in order of closest deadline.

Narrow your list with a "search by keyword" option: Just enter a keyword about the type of award you're looking for.

Use the filters to see opportunities for only certain types of awards, locations, level of study, and more.

The Department of Education recommends using the following free resources to find more information about scholarships and other financial aid opportunities:

the financial aid office at a college or career school

a high school or TRIO counselor

the U.S. Department of Labor's FREE scholarship search tool

federal agencies

your state grant agency

your library's reference section

foundations, religious or community organizations, local businesses, or civic groups

organizations (including professional associations) related to your field of interest

ethnicity-based organizations

your employer or your parents' employers

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12 best ways to find a college scholarship

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While the cost of college isn"t getting any cheaper, there are ways to make it cheaper for yourself. Whether you need a little help or a lot, there are tons of opportunities available to help you cover the cost of your education.

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A lot of you are having trouble with creating your resumes; attached below are sample resumes for High School students. 

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A lot of you are having trouble with creating your resumes; attached below are sample resumes for High School students. 

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Try building your resume on your own first! There are also templates you can find on google. If you need help, I will help you during class.

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Writing a resume when you're a high school student can seem daunting. How can you demonstrate your aptitude for the job when you don't have much (or any) formal work experience?

Here's the good news: Even if you're writing your first resume, chances are that you have more work experience than you think. Experiences like babysitting, lawn mowing, and volunteering all help to show valuable work skills that employers want to see. Just because you haven't had a job like the one you are applying for, doesn't mean you haven't acquired the skills necessary to succeed.﻿﻿

One of the best ways to get started on your resume as a high school student is to look at examples of student resumes and read tips on what to include and how to format your resume.

What to Include in Your Resume

Informal Work Experience and Activities: If you have formal paid work experience, certainly include it. Otherwise, you can include informal work like babysitting, pet sitting, lawn mowing, shoveling snow, or anything else you've done to earn money. Even if you didn't collect a regular paycheck, informal work still displays skills and your reliability as an employee.

Since most high school students haven't held a lot of jobs, it is important to draw upon all aspects of your life that show you have the character, work ethic, skills, and personality to succeed in a job.

List Leadership Roles: If you held any sort of leadership positions in these roles (such as secretary of a club or team captain), be sure to note this. For each item, include a bulleted list of your responsibilities and accomplishments.

Promote Your Attitude and Performance: Employers will be most interested in your work habits and attitude. They don't expect you to have a lot of experience. If you have perfect or near-perfect attendance and are punctual for school and other commitments, you might include language to that effect when describing an experience.

Mention Your Achievements: Employers look for staff who have a history of making positive contributions. Review each of your experiences and ask yourself if there are achievements in class, clubs, sports, or the workplace that you can include. If so, use verbs like enhanced, reorganized, increased, improved, initiated, upgraded, or expanded to show what you accomplished. Include any challenging advanced academic projects since this shows employers that you are intelligent and a hard worker.

Tips for Writing a High School Resume

Make an Outline: Make a quick list or outline of all possible experiences, paid and unpaid, to include in your resume before you try to find the right language to describe them. Think of this as a brainstorming step and try to jot down as much down as you can.

Include Resume Skills: It's always a good idea to include skills related to the jobs for which you are applying. You probably have many skills that you can include that you acquired in school, sports, youth groups, extra-curricular activities, or volunteering.

Use Action Words: Use active language when describing your experiences, so you are portrayed in a dynamic way. Start the phrases in your descriptions with action words like organized, led, calculated, taught, served, trained, tutored, wrote, researched, inventoried, created, designed, drafted, and edited.﻿﻿

Keep It Short (But Include All Necessary Information). Your resume doesn't need to be any longer than a page. Some sections of the resume-such as contact information and experience -are required. But others, such as an objective or career summary, are optional.﻿﻿

Tell a Story. Connect your experience and skills with the qualifications for the role. For example, if you're applying for a cashier position, but haven't yet held a job with that exact title, emphasize your customer service skills, facility with mathematics, work ethic, and ability to work as a team. Read the job description and match your experience with their requirements.

Proofread Your Draft and Print Copies: Review your draft very carefully before finalizing your document and make sure there are no spelling or grammatical errors. Ask your guidance counselor, parents, or a favorite teacher to critique your resume.

High School Resume Example

This is an example of a resume for a high school student. Download the high school resume template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) or see below for more examples.

High School Resume Sample (Text Version)
Qualifications Education Experience Highlights
More Resume Examples for Teens

Review more resume examples for teen job seekers:

Key Takeaways

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High School Resume Examples and Writing Tips

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Writing a resume when you're a high school student can seem daunting. How can you demonstrate your aptitude for the job when you don't have much (or any) formal work experience? Here's the good news: Even if you're writing your first resume, chances are that you have more work experience than you think.