Ebony Magazine Releases Annual Scholarship Listing

This post is for students of color who are also seniors this fall. Ebony Magazine has released its annual list of scholarships for students of color. Be sure to check the list out, and apply for scholarships. Do not procrastinate start your scholarhip and application planning now.

WomensScholarships.org Awarding A $10,000 Scholarship

WomenScholarships.org is giving away a $10,000 monthly scholarship award to a female who is 18 years of age or older. The scholarship award is designed to help women and moms, who make up nearly two-thirds of all college students. It can be used to pay for tuition, books, housing, and more.

To apply, students simply have to register online, view free information from sponsor colleges and universities, and then confirm their registration. Females of all ethnic groups and age brackets are eligible to apply. Applicants must, however, be permanent residents of the United States, and must be planning to attend or are already enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at any college, university, or trade school. At the end of the month, one random winner is selected from a drawing and the scholarship monies are paid in one lump sum directly to the winner upon verification. Typically, the drawing date is around the 30th or the 31st of the month.

The organization behind the web site that provides the scholarship funds is on a mission to help as many female students as possible by off-setting their disadvantaged situation. A recent USA Today article revealed that minority and female enrollment in college lags disproportionately because of the lack of resources and financial aid that are being made available.
For more details, visit: womensscholarships.org.

No. 8: Don't Be A Recluse--Get Out And Meet People!

Good morning. Today's post is #8 in my series of posts entitled: "10 Things Not To Do After You Arrive On-Campus." I promise to keep this one short and sweet, and #8 is simply to avoid becoming a hermit, loner or unibomber, and get out and meet people. There are literally thousands of students from across the United States, and world entering or attending your college--get out and meet them.

There is no need to stay in your room which is most likely pretty small or compact. So, get outside and meet some of your classmates, and fellow students prior to the start of classes. As a matter of fact, seek out some of the upperclass students, and ask them to share their insights, and provide helpful college advice regarding classes, professors and navigating and adjusting to life on campus.

Sure, your school will eventually provide seminars on these topics at some point after classes begin, but hey, why wait! Get a head start on your success on campus by by taking charge of your own success trajectory. Ask questions . . . talk to someone who knows more than you or your friends . . . as a matter of fact ask lots of questions.

Entry Level Living Author Allison Jones Sounds Off On Monroe College Alum Lawsuit

Good morning! As a follow-up to the report about the Monroe College graduate that is suing her alma mater, I wanted to share another perspective with my readers. This post is by Allison Jones the author of the Entry Level Living blog. Allison offers a very unique voice, and perspective that may resonate with millennials.

No. 9 Don't Forget To Make Your Success Plan

Ok, continuing my list of the Top 10 things not to do after you arrive on campus, N0. 9 on my list is to not forget to make a Strategic Success Plan (SSP). You need to have this plan somewhere safe to serve as a roadmap, and to remind you of the path(s) you must take to achieve your goals while on campus. So whether your plan is on paper or stored in your mental rolodex--you will need such a roadmap. I say this because today, I read about a recent college graduate who is suing her alma mater because she has not found a job three months after completing her undergraduate studies. I don't know if the student had a SSP or not, but CNN is reporting that Trina Thompson is suing Monroe College for $72,000 after receiving her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Information Technology. You should definitely read Ms. Thompson's story here.

I think this entire matter is regrettable because somewhere along the student's educational path the lines of communication between the student, and the college broke down. These days while no respectable college that I am aware of operates without a placement office, it seems apparent that Ms. Thompson was overly reliant on her alma mater helping her find a job. Her lawsuit is most likely heading towards an early dismissal unless of course she can provide proof that the college guaranteed or promised her that she would get a job within three months of receiving her degree.

Today, more than ever it is imperative that student's take an active role in their future employment prospects by studying, and working hard in their respective degree pursuits. Additionally, students should start researching internship opportunities as soon as possible after arriving to campus because the job and intern markets are ultra competitive in an economy like ours. Therefore, to enhance one's employment prospects after graduation, students should secure as many meaningful intern or job experiences while a student.

So, when you arrive on campus, and find that you aren't eligible to apply for internships or aren't fortunate enough to land the internship of your dreams, look for other ways to enhance your skills, and develop your career network by seeking out volunteer organizations that will allow you to volunteer your time or expertise 2-3 times per week if not more. Another effective strategy ot wayto get experience is to get involved in co-curricular organizations that are on-campus, and by joining meaningful student organizations that will enhance your profile, and add meaningful experience to your resume; every little bit counts.

Also, develop a relationship with you school's career placement office early, and finally, don't sleep on your most valuable resource on-campus: your professors. Often times, your profs will be networked in to people that work in the industry or industries in which you are trying to navigate, and find employment--don't let them off the hook by not taking full advantage of all your profs have to offer. Don't be intimidated--get to know your teachers during their stated office hours. As a matter of fact, bug them until they learn your name, and who you are as an individual. Believe me, your professor will appreciate your sincere interest in your educational future.

No. 10 What Not To Do When You Arrive On-Campus

Ok, so August is upon us, and summer shall be saying her sweet farewells in another month or so. While the month of August typically serves as a signal that summer will soon be over, it also serves as a beacon for another rite of passage: the return to campus by hundreds of thousands of students around the country, and globe. In light of the fact, that multitudes of college coeds will be making the trip North, South, East and West in the coming week(s), I have decided to write a series of articles entitled: 10 Things Not To Do While On Campus, and my very first admonishment or piece of advice to first-year college students across the American and global hinterlands is to avoid downloading pirated or contraband music. If you are confused about why this is my first piece of advice to you, please read the following article.

Just in case you are too busy packing and making preparations to begin your long-awaited college career, to read this article I will give you the short version: this morning I read a news report in USA Today about Joel Tenenbaum, a Boston University student, who illegally downloaded music that he shared with his friends. Sounds fun? What? You do it all the time? Well, I am sure that Joel isn't laughing anymore after he was slapped with the federal court's order to pay $675,000 to four record labels for illegally downloading, and sharing music; Tenenbaum admitted downloading and distributing 30 songs. Pardon my arithmetic, but those downloads that Joel thought were free ended up costing more than $20,000 a pop.

Pardon the cliche my friends, but Just Say No to unauthorized music downloads and file-sharing! What does unauthorized mean here? Very succinctly, it usually means that downloading digital information or music without paying for it is illegal, and trouble. So, one thing not to do when you get to campus: no illegal music downloads or file sharing--your parents will thank you.