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If you’ve been watching TV perhaps you have heard of Dakota Root, she’s the home-schooled girl who was accepted to Harvard, Stanford, Yale Columbia, Penn, Brown, Duke, Chicago, Cal-Berkeley, USC and several other elite schools in America. So how did she choose which college to attend? According to Fox News, she picked Harvard because it’s the school everyone in the entire world knows about. For the record, Harvard is so elitist that only 1% of the best high school seniors dare apply (30,000 applicants) and out of that number about 1,700 will get to attend (less than 6%).

Dakota’s story is exceptional, the average student candidate does not get accepted to 10+ of the most selective colleges in the country. But with more than 4,000 higher education institutions in the US, there are plenty of great options that will cater to your individual needs. And then, the question is – which one provides the best fit for me?

There are many things to consider when evaluating college options. Here are things to think about and thoroughly consider when making your original and final selection.

1- Small vs. Large

Want a school where you know everybody or do you long to have the diversity and social environment offered by a school with 40,000 students? There are great colleges in both spectrums of the balance, so your job is to examine the benefits and drawbacks of all. For example, a large school is more likely to have more student organizations, more student activities, more majors and more classes. A smaller school offers a more intimate environment, more personal attention, and more direct access to your professors, among other benefits. Think then in which type of school you would be able to perform your best in every aspect of college – academic, social, personal, and professional (looking towards the future).

According to Forbes Magazine, “Small liberal arts schools shine in our rankings, probably due to both the quality of their faculty and the personal attention they can provide. Williams and Swarthmore both rank in the top five, while Pomona, Smith, Middlebury and Amherst all come in the top 20, ahead of such schools as Stanford (23rd) and Brown (27th).”

2- Public vs. Private

The main difference between public and private universities is price. Just compare the cost of attending a top public university like UC-Berkeley ($8,353 in-state, $31,022 out-of-state) versus top private universities like Harvard, Columbia, Georgetown, Boston College and Cornell where you can expect to pay more than $50,000 a year without need-based aid. With need-based aid chances are you’ll still have to pay more than $20,000 a year, and that’s not counting room and board which can cost you another $10,000+.

Think about what will happen if you graduate with a huge college loan debt, consider the salary prospects of your chosen career and how you will feel when you’re making $900+ a month in loan payments for a job that pays $50,000 a year. Remember, you don’t need an expensive private school to succeed in life, Suze Orman got a BA in Social Work at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign at a low price tag, look at her now!

So if you can’t afford a respected and extremely expensive private school, consider that “according to the 2009 Academic Ranking of World Universities, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked 25th out of the more than 1000 international institutions recognized. It is home to some of the highest-ranked Engineering, Computer Science, Library and Information Science, and Accounting programs in the United States.” And here’s the best part, it only costs about $9,000 a year for residents and $23,000 for non-residents.

Sometimes the best decision is the least expensive. Not having the financial burden when it is a burden for you and your family can be positive in many ways. Having the extra money and no debt will take you far, especially when considering affording graduate school. Attending a good public school can cost less and make no difference in terms of the quality of your education.

3- Campus Activities

I heard from a graduate from a renowned urban university in Florida how he described it as a weekend cemetery. He explained that there was nothing going on for students in the weekend, who literally left campus almost as a migration only to return on Sunday evening. With no university facilities open during the weekend, the school became a ghost town, certainly not fun for him, as he had nothing to look for outside of the school in the city. He felt so bored and isolated that his full college experience was not the best. However, this environment made sense to the many students wanting a life outside of the college environment, wanting to keep close ties with their family and friends in the area.

Other schools offer great life on campus 24/7. They bring film festivals, concert series, offer many options of coffee shops which remain full of students any day of the week almost at any time. In these schools, we can find libraries servicing students until 4 am, closing for one hour and then reopening at 5 am. So if you’re a bookworm, a jock, a philosopher, or just a person who’s drawn to a certain social environment make sure to find a campus that fits with your lifestyle. Check out their individual websites and see if the school has fraternities, student clubs, fitness facilities, sports, and so on. For example, Penn State University recently dethroned the University of Florida as the top party school according to the Princeton Review. You can also check studentreviews.com which lists Tulane University as the #1 school for social life, and if you’d rather be volunteering, US News & World Report recommends Duke, University of Maryland, Stanford, and other colleges where you can learn and make the world a better place at the same time.

4- Campus Politics

They say you should never talk about sex, politics or religion if you want to avoid making people uncomfortable. In college however, you’re likely to meet people who will discuss all three so if you’re a progressive who voted for Obama or a conservative who voted for McCain, you should think very carefully about what kind of people you want to study with.

While some schools encourage vigorous debate, others censor students that hold unpopular views and there are cases of teachers who are openly hostile to conservatives, members of the military, Zionists, etc. Some universities even have “speech codes,” or other draconian laws that stifle the First Amendment of the US Constitution. For example, according to FIRE, an organization that fights for individual rights in education, Binghamton University suspended a student for making posters criticizing the Department of Social Work.

That doesn’t mean conservatives or libertarians have to study at places where they’re not welcome, consider options like Hillsdale College which currently ranks 89th in the 2010 U.S. News & World Report listing of best American Liberal Arts colleges and 76th in the 2009 Forbes report of America’s Best Colleges. It ranks second in the Princeton Review’s The Best 371 Colleges 2009 listing of colleges where students are “most conservative” and among the fifty “best value” private colleges.

Of course, if you’re a progressive or liberal, you might feel comfortable at Duke, NYU, Columbia, Oberlin, Ohio State University, Princeton, Tufts, Berkeley and lots of other great schools, some more politically correct than others.

5- Religious vs. Secular

Nietzsche said that God was dead, yet almost every school in the nation has at least one religious student group. Catholic and Protestant schools have their own chapels, even orthodox Jews can attend top-rated schools like Baruch College, Yeshiva University, and Brandeis, where the food follows Jewish dietary restrictions. The question for you is how much or how little religion you want in your life, there are top-rated Christian schools like Wheaton College, ranked 59 in U.S. News & World Report (2008) and 11th in total number of graduates who go on to earn doctorates. Other options include Baylor University with over 146 undergraduate degrees, Pepperdine University, Calvin College and others.

One thing to consider about religious schools is their standards of conduct, many of them don’t tolerate smoking, drinking (even if you’re over 21), drug use, premarital-sex, homosexuality, and in the case of Bob Jones University, interracial dating used to be against their laws. At Liberty University for example, students are not allowed to have TV’s in their rooms and the televisions in public areas are tuned to family-friendly programming.

The rules of conduct are less strict at top-rated Catholic universities such as Georgetown, Loyola, Boston College, Creighton, and others.

If you are religious and choose to attend a secular college find out if they have college ministries, a college-age Sunday school class or youth group, worship services, and churches near campus.

6- College Rankings

Not our most favored way to choose a college, but certainly one of the most popular. Google “college rankings” and you’ll find that schools are rated by organizations like US News & World Report on a wide variety of categories such as “Highest (and Lowest) Acceptance Rate,” “Top-Public Schools,” “Best Nursing Programs,” “Most Students in a Fraternity,” “Most International Students,” etc. However, BEWARE! College Rankings should be only a guide and never the reason why to choose a school – it would be the wrong decision to make your college decision based solely on the ranking of a specific school vs. others. Remember, rankings change every year, and they are measures that cannot directly point your fit with the programs. They try to assess college proficiency in many areas and far too often fail at being accurate by not taking under consideration the “soft” aspects of the college education.

As quoted by College Confidential, here is another comment on “Rank vs. Individual Fit: College admissions counselors universally agree that a school must “fit” the student in terms of academic environment, social environment, athletic and other extracurricular opportunities, urban or rural location, etc. A good fit will result in a great college experience and, most importantly, maximum personal growth and achievement. Rankings can be a negative influence when students or parents look more at how highly a school is ranked instead of how well it will serve the needs of that particular student.” collegeconfidential.com

Example, say you’re a passionate outdoorsman who enjoys kayaking, hiking, horseback riding, etc. If that’s the case, the rankings of Outside Magazine are going to suit you perfectly. Perhaps you’ll love Warren Wilson College in Asheville, North Carolina. At Warren, “The Bent Creek Experimental Forest offers miles of singletrack, road riders convene every Tuesday at Liberty Bikes for a morning ride, and runners can join the Asheville Track Club. Prefer solitude? Hop onto the Mountains to Sea Trail…Hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders don’t even have to leave the 1,200-acre campus, as more than 25 miles of trails cut through the grounds.”

Of course, you’ll also want to know how Warren and other schools rank nationally, in your major, cost, and other categories relevant to you. For example, if you are a vegetarian you should check the PETA’s college rankings, did you know Yale, Oberlin, NYU and University of Florida are among the top-ten options for vegetarian students? Rankings however, are also a tool for selling magazines. Each organization that has developed a ranking has a different way to calculate results, and they are not infallible. This is mainly the reason why many often do not agree with results. However unfair and miscalculated results are, having lists of colleges that distinguish themselves for one reason or another can make it easier to find options for a student. If nothing else for this, rankings become a valuable resource when seeking college information. With this said, use rankings as a tool to learn more about the school’s areas of strength, but make sure not to believe all you read…

How not to choose a college

Believe it or not, sometimes people pick the wrong college for the wrong reasons. Some may say “my boyfriend/girlfriend/best friend” is going there, others are impressed by the football team (which makes no sense unless you’re going to be on the football team), some pick a prestigious school even if they don’t have the major they want, others want to go where their parents went, or they want to live in a specific city where a college is located, and so forth.

Choosing a college based on factors that have nothing to do with your education and fit with the program/environment of the college could become a disaster. Remember, these four or more years could affect the rest of your life, and unlike Suze Orman, most of us don’t get to turn a B.A. is Social Work into a lucrative career as a Television Financial Adviser. So when it comes to your college choice, research, research, research and focus on fit by considering your needs and how the college meets them.

Claudine Vainrub is the Principal of EduPlan – http://www.eduplan.us, an Educational and Careers Consulting firm. She holds an MBA degree from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. Originally from Venezuela, Claudine earned her B.A. in Communications and Journalism from the Universidad Catolica Andres Bello. She is seven times certified in College Admissions Counseling, Resume Writing, Personal Branding, Personnel Consulting, 360Reach and WBI Assessment Administration. Her experience includes being Executive VP for Grupo Frigilux, leading Marketing and HR for this industrial corporation of over 1,500 employees. Recognized as an expert in Career Development, College and Grad School Admissions, her opinions have been featured on The Wall Street Journal, CNN en Espanol, CareerBuilder, JobDig, Diversity USA sites, International Career Development and Resume Writing bestsellers, among other leading global media. She was elected Board Director for the Association for International Graduate Admissions Counselors – AIGAC and Community Representative for the Higher Education Consultants’ Association. Claudine is fluent in English, Spanish and Hebrew.

Consumers have a number of options when it comes to viewing movies at home. Two of the most popular are renting movies at the local video store and renting movies via an online service. An informal survey was recently conducted on a home electronics/entertainment site regarding the movie viewing habits of website visitors. The results pointed to some of the misconceptions that still exist about online rental of DVDs by consumers that have not yet tried the service.

Participants in the survey were asked a number of questions, including how often they watch movies at home, whether or not they rent movies online, and if not, why. Nearly 28% of those responding indicated that they rent movies online. Of the remainder, the most frequently cited reason for not using an online movie rental service was concern which centered around the perception that online movie rental would be more expensive than the local video store. When looking at a couple of scenarios it becomes evident which method tends to be more affordable.

For individuals who indicated that they watch only 1 to 3 movies per month the savings from renting online are small. Renting 2 movies per month at the local video store would average around $7.40 whereas renting from Netflix for example, if they chose the plan that has a limit of 2 movies per month, would run $5.99. After getting a video at the local store the user would have overnight or perhaps one week to return the movie but an online rental would allow them to keep the movie for an unlimited period of time.

For those individuals who responded that they view 1-3 movies per week, the savings would be more significant. For instance, renting 8 movies per month would run around $29.55 at the local store and as low as $14.99 online if they chose the “2 out at a time” plan or $17.99 for the “3 out at a time” plan. As viewing increases so does the likelihood of experiencing greater savings.

For those who responded that they view 4 movies per week (averaged out to 16 per month) the average cost at the local store would be $59.04 while online rental would be $23.99 allowing the user “4 out at a time”. Renting through a service like Netflix generally does not limit how many movies a person views but rather, how many movies they can have out at any given time. Therefore rentals are more or less unlimited with many of the plans.

The second most frequently cited reason for not utilizing online movie rental services was that the individual rented movies on the spur of the moment and did not plan ahead. Certainly renting movies online and receiving them through the mail would not allow someone to decide at 6:00 p.m. that they want to see The Queen and receive it so that they can be viewing the movie by 8:00 p.m. However, the delay for receiving movies selected through the mail is only 1 business day which would seem sufficient in most instances.

The future of DVD rental may be changing however as Netflix announced in early 2007 that customers would now have the option of watching movies instantly via a streaming service that is now available for some movies. The service should be quicker than most download services as streaming allows viewing of the movie as it is streamed rather than waiting until download is complete. Although a full transition from the current mail delivery system to a download type of service will take time, it is clear that immediacy will only continue to improve. It would seem that other online movie rental services would follow suit in coming years in order to compete.

Consumers who have not been initiated into the online movie rental world also may be unaware of other benefits/features of such services.

* Greater selection- A typical video store has 10,000 to 15,000 titles available whereas the Netflix online movie rental service has over 80,000. This would seem to eliminate the problem of consumers arriving at the store only to find that there is nothing there that they really want to see.

* There are no fees related to the delivery and return of DVD’s; and there is no traveling to and from the store as movies are delivered to their door or to their home via streaming.

* Movie selection is assisted by user reviews through online programs like Netflix.

* Trials of online movie rental services are generally risk free as there are free trials available and no cancellation fees.

* There are never any late fees nor restrictions on how long a movie can be kept.

Misconceptions about online movie rental services appear to limit the participation of a significant number of consumers. Online movie rental probably offers the services that most consumers want, even if they don’t know it yet.

The author, Christine Peppler invites readers to discover more information about online movie rental through information available on her website.

When you’re getting ready to buy a pair of hiking boots, there’s a lot to consider in order to make sure the shoe has the features you need to get you where you want to go safely and comfortably.  Different styles of hiking boots are necessary depending on the type of excursions you’re planning.

First, What Are Your Options? Currently, the 3 basic styles of hiking boots are:

1. Low Cut Hiking Shoes: Resembling a beefy sneaker, a low cut hiking shoe is great for many types of moderate hiking excursions. They can also be the perfect water hybrid shoe when made of quick drying materials and they’ll also provide descent traction.
2. Mid Cut Hiking Shoes: This style of hiking shoe falls right about mid ankle, providing more support than low cut hiking shoes, but allow for more ankle movement than hiking boots. They can be safely worn for some backpacking and most hiking trips.
3. Hiking Boots: Full height hiking boots are essential if you’re backpacking for any extended length of time or with a heavy load because of the support they provide for the ankle. A good quality hiking boot usually lasts a long time and provides excellent traction on most any terrain.

Now you know the basics about the different styles available, but, how do you know what style of hiking boot or shoe is right for you? Ask yourself the following questions about the ways in which you will typically use your hiking shoes, then, you’ll be able to choose the right style and qualities to create the perfect hiking footwear for your journey.

What Are You Planning to Carry?

If you’re planning to carry anything more than a day pack on the majority of your hikes, consider the weight of what you’ll have in your pack before choosing a pair of hiking boots or shoes.

If you have a really heavy load, say 40 – 50 lbs or more, ankle support is essential. Some hikers find ankle support essential no matter what amount of weight they carry, but others feel that you can still have a safe and comfortable hike in mid cut hiking shoes when you’re carrying around a 45 lb load or less. If you’re carrying less than 25 lbs, then you can also safely explore the available options in low cut hiking shoes.

Do You Want Your Hiking Shoes to be Waterproof or Quick Drying?

For many, the automatic response is “of course I want them to be waterproof”, but, if you get waterproof boots (usually made of Leather or Gore-Tex) wet above the ankle line, or the waterproof membrane becomes damaged your feet are usually soaked for awhile because these materials are heavy and take time to dry.

The alternative to a heavier waterproof hiking shoe or boot is a pair of hiking shoes made out of quick drying material. If you’re going to be faced with higher water (above the ankle) on a regular basis, your feet are going to be getting wet regardless, and a quick dry material may be of a greater advantage to you than a waterproof boot

However, if you’re just puddle hopping or crossing low level streams for the most part, the water proof boot or shoe will get wet much less often than a quick drying one; which will get wet no matter the height of the stream, the dew, the mud, etc.

What Type of Terrain Will You Be Hiking On?

Do you normally hike semi maintained trails in the town forest, or are you on a quest to climb all the 14ers in Colorado? The terrain is a very important aspect of picking the right hiking boot. You will obviously need more ankle support as the intensity of the terrain you’re hiking increases, but traction matters also.

If you encounter mud a lot in your area (or where you’re going) you’ll want to look for tread that is soft and releases mud easily. An awesome hiking shoe with not so awesome treads quickly becomes a lead brick when hiking through mud.

Also, if you end up hiking on terrain (like desert canyons or high mountain peaks) that is notoriously gravelly or filled with loose rocks, a step can easily become a slide and quality traction as well as ankle support is essential to help prevent this and keep your hike safe.

Within these main questions, you’ll also have to ask yourself what type of material you prefer for both the outside and inside of your boots, as well as color, and style. But, if you answer these basic questions before you purchase anything, you’ll be able to easily select the best hiking shoe or boot for your style of hiking. This way your hikes can be safe and enjoyable to both you and your feet!

When you’re in the market for new shoes, make sure you always get the best deals possible by using a shoes.com coupon [http://www.discountspies.com/shoes-coupons/]. These discount codes will help you save a lot of money and make it possible to get all the hiking boots, dress shoes, running shoes, etc you need without putting a strain on your wallet.

You don’t have to stop at shoes though. To find coupon codes and promotional offers for most anything you’re buying online, just visit DiscountSpies.com [http://www.discountspies.com].

Part of the reality of becoming a new mum is taking stock of your family’s finances and working out how you will cope financially. When you’re considering returning to work, how you will afford to pay for childcare and what kind of childcare you will choose are important decisions. Many new parents will not be familiar with childcare vouchers, how they work and how they can be used to pay for childcare. 

The childcare voucher scheme is a national scheme offered to parents and guardians through the government and participating employers to help with the cost of childcare.

Childcare vouchers are a financially beneficial way to pay for childcare in the UK, because you don’t pay tax or National Insurance on childcare vouchers to the value of £55 a week. This means that working parents can save as much as £1,195* a year by paying for childcare with vouchers. The savings could be double, if both parents sign up for a childcare voucher scheme.

The website Money for Mums has put together a good check list of information on childcare vouchers [1]:

1        Check whether your employer’s childcare vouchers are a benefit that is paid on top of your normal pay or whether it’s part of a salary sacrifice scheme

2        Work out how your tax credits will be affected

3        If your cash pay is affected, ask if your other earnings-related payments will be affected (pension, overtime rates, pay rises etc.)

4        If your cash pay is affected, ask will your benefits-related payments be affected? (will your NI contributions to your State Pension be affected etc.)

5        If your cash pay is affected, ask would any student loan repayments be affected?

Childcare vouchers are redeemable to pay for childcare and child minding ensuring that a parent’s return to work need not have a negative impact on their family finances.

Parents can also be assured when selecting a childcare provider that they have undergone rigorous vetting procedures. Before childcare vouchers can be used to pay providers the provider must be registered with an approved regulatory body and will need to meet the standards set out by that body. Ensuring only registered providers can accept vouchers for payment offers additional peace of mind to mums knowing that their child is being looked after in a safe friendly environment.

This article was written by Tom Sangers on behalf of MoneyforMums.co.uk who provide information to help pregnant mums stay on top of their family’s finances

Aside from having powdery snow, majestic scenery, and the charming ambiance, this perfect mountain town also plays host to a number of unique festivals and events that serve as added attraction to the hordes of tourists that gather in the area especially during the ski season.

Winter Dew Tour:

One of the resort hosts for the hugely successful Winter Dew Tour’s debut season (2008-2009) which was held last December 2008 was Breckenridge. A counterpart of the summer tour which started in 2005, the Winter Dew Tour is an action winter sports tour which includes events like the slope style and super pipe snowboarding, and slope style and superpipe skiing, for both men and women’s categories.

The resort was only the first of the three-stop event wherein the top athletes in the world of snowboard and free ski accumulate points during each stop to vie for the coveted Dew Cup and the $1.5 million that comes with the title at the end of the tour.

The Budweiser International Snow Sculpture Championships:

Every year, four-person teams from different parts of the world come to Breckenridge to churn out distinctive works of art from 12-foot tall, 20-ton blocks of man-made ice with only the use of chisels, saws, the occasional chicken wire, and lots of imagination and creativity.

Working for around 65 hours spread out in five days, the team braves the cold to come up with the some of the most sensational ice pieces, which are then judged by a panel of renowned artists who give out awards for the first, second, and third prizes. Now on its 19th year, the Budweiser International Snow Sculpture Championships is one of Breckenridge’s certified attractions drawing crowds of more than 30,000 every year.

Breckenridge Festival of Film:

Breckenridge may be known as a premier year-round resort but what many people may not be aware of is that the town is also a huge patron of the art and craft of film making. Established in 1981, the BFF is actually one of the oldest film festivals in the country and each year features an interesting lineup of independent films, premiers, and educational programs.

Breckenridge Oktoberfest:

Fill your steins to the brim with German beer, dance to Oompah music, take a bite of the bratwurst – find yourself transported to Germany for a weekend when you join the Oktoberfest merriment in Breckenridge. In reliving this age-old German tradition now for 15 years, the town is known to have one of the most colorful Oktoberfest celebrations in this part of the world.

Breckenridge always offers great atmosphere that instantly puts you in a good mood. If you’re not into good climate, summer in Breckenridge Ski Resort offers more activities than any tropical resort you find. The weather is warm enough but not hot, so you can easily stay at Breckenridge Ski Resort for the whole day outside in just sandals and shorts. Don’t forget to put on sunscreen.

Modern-day automobiles are complex, as most auto manufacturers are using high technology to make the cars more durable. However, being machines, automobiles also encounter the usual problems related to breakdowns as well as normal wear and tear. Repairing automobiles can be very confusing and finding someone qualified to make the correct repairs is becoming even more difficult.

It’s a common proverb that “prevention is better than cure.” Similarly, the best way to avoid auto repair expenses is to be prepared and to amass knowledge about how your vehicle works and how to identify common car problems. It’s also important to know a good technician, the kinds of questions to ask, and your consumer rights. Choosing the right repair shop is the most difficult part, and the best way to solve this problem is by asking for recommendations from friends, family, and other people you trust.

One can make telephone enquiries for the best deal, and compare warranty policies on repairs. While choosing an auto technician, look for shops that display various certifications, like an Automotive Service Excellence seal. Certification ensures that the technicians are acquainted with the basic standards of knowledge and capabilities in desired technical segment.

Auto-repair charges can be expensive; therefore, it is imperative that the consumer be updated about the prevailing repair charges. Mostly, these charges vary from one repair shop to another, as some shops charge flat labor charges, while others charge on the basis of the actual time the technician worked on the repair. Many repair shops also charge for diagnostic time. However, if the technician recommends expensive or complicated repairs, it is advisable to get a second opinion. Although repair shops do not offer any “standard warranty” on repairs, it is important to understand what is covered under your warranty and get it in writing. Furthermore, check with the Federal Trade Commission or your state or local consumer protection agency for information about your warranty rights.

It is advisable to prevent common troubles like leaks and smoke, overheating problems, flat tires and the like with proper maintenance and care of your vehicle.

Auto Repair provides detailed information on Auto Repair, Auto Glass Repair, Online Auto Repair, Auto Body Repair and more. Auto Repair is affiliated with Discount Auto Parts.