The college admissions interview is not meant to be intimidating! Nor is it the main basis for whether or not you will get admitted to the school (such as college testing). It’s simply a way for colleges to see whether you’re a good fit for the institution – and vice versa.

Use this part of the college application process to your advantage. Here’s how to prepare:

Do Your Research

It’s important to know the basics when going on your college admissions interview. Scour the school’s brochures and web site to learn as much about the institution as possible.

Knowing the school’s basic information also allows you to ask the right questions–you don’t want to ask the dean of admissions about their MBA program only to find out that they don’t have one.

Prepare Questions

During your college admissions interview, it’s important to show your interest in the school by asking specific questions (ones that can’t be answered by reading the school’s brochure!).

• How would you describe the student body?
• What are the most popular college majors (and why)?
• What are some of the best programs the school offers?

The admissions officer will be impressed by your interest.

Review Your Application

The interviewer may use your application to strike up a conversation with you and ask basic questions such as:

• Why do you want to go to this college?
• What do you expect to gain from college?
• What do you plan to major in and why?

Review your application essay and the answers to these questions ahead of time so it’s fresh in your mind when you go on your college admissions interview.

Dress Appropriately

Appearances are an important part of a first impression. For your college admissions interview, dress appropriately! Choose a more conservative outfit, with a minimum of accessories, make-up, jewelry and perfume/cologne.

Be Punctual

Though it may seem like common sense, it’s amazing how many students don’t follow this simple rule. Make sure you know exactly when and where your college admissions interview is being held — as well as how to get there!

You should plan to arrive about 15 minutes early. Some extra time may come in handy, and arriving early will allow you to relax and prepare yourself mentally.

Remember, the college admissions interview is not an interrogation! It’s simply a conversation–one that should reveal things about you. To ace your college admissions interview, be positive, be honest and most importantly– be yourself!

There are many reasons to be interested in an internship abroad. Whether you’re looking for an adventure, an opportunity to immerse yourself in a new culture, the chance to practice a foreign language, or preparation for an international career, an internship abroad is a great way to go about it.

Finding an internship abroad is easier than you think. Don’t procrastinate! The best time to look for an internship abroad is while you are still a student or shortly after graduation. Follow these 5 steps and find the internship abroad that’s right for you.

1. Choose a Field

When applying for an internship abroad, it’s important to know what field you want to work in so that your job search will be easier and your work experience will carry over the most value.

Are you interested in social work? The medical field? Education? Whatever career you’re pursuing, you will likely be able to find an internship abroad to advance it.

2. Choose a Destination

Internships abroad are available in hundreds of countries around the world. Is there a particular language you want to practice? A culture that you’re fascinated with? When deciding the destination of your internship abroad, choose several countries you’re interested in working in.

Once you’ve narrowed down your list of countries, check for specific internship listings online. Which have internships with your particular field of interest?

3. Choose the Duration

Internships abroad vary in duration anywhere from two weeks to a year. How much time are you able to dedicate? What is your college budget and how much money are you able to spend on fees?

Based on the answers to those questions, you will be able to narrow down your list even further.

4. Do Some Research

Once you’ve chosen an internship abroad, do some research! Find out as much as you can about the country in which you’ll be living and working. What is the capital city? What is its historical background? What is their traditional food?

To get the most out of your internship abroad, it’s important to know the country’s cultural history and traditions as well as understand contemporary trends.

5. Practice the Language

In order to be successful in your internship abroad, you must be able to communicate with the locals. When you choose the country you will be interning in, try to learn their language!

Practice speaking it with audio guides, a language class or better yet, friends who are native speakers! Though you may not be fluent by the time you leave for your internship abroad, you’ll be able to communicate the basics–and the locals will appreciate your effort!

An internship abroad is a great experience, during which you’ll be having an adventure and simultaneously advancing your career. It’s not as hard as it may seem! By following these 5 steps, you’ll quickly find the internship abroad that’s right for you.

Your entry-level resume must be an individual marketing strategy– a subtle but powerful advertisement of yourself. Depending on what sort of job or internship you’re applying for, the format and content may change. What must always remain the same, however, is the entry-level resume’s ability to stand out in a pile of hundreds of other inexperienced students’ resumes.

There are several things that make your resume unique. You’ve likely heard many resume writing tips in the past! Here, we’ve compiled several factors that make an impressive entry-level resume.

Objective Statement

An “objective statement” is a sentence at the top of your resume, which summarizes why you feel you are the ideal candidate for that position.

The general pitfall of an objective statement on an entry-level resume is either making it too specific or too vague.

The well-written objective will tell the employer immediately the kind of job for which you are looking and why they should hire you.

Power-Words

The use of power-words is a great technique to draw attention to the parts of your entry-level resume you want to stand out most. They are noun modifiers that catch the eye of the resume screener, giving your resume an edge.

While it is best to use power-words in your objective statement and the beginning of sentences, you can make every task and responsibility sound proactive and valuable on your entry-level resume. Just be careful to use the correct words in its appropriate context!

Presentation

Presentation is very important in your entry-level resume. Make sure that:

• it has a simple and easy-to read-structure
• it is balanced and uncrowded, with as much space between blocks of text as possible
• it includes all the necessary information (such as extracurricular activities, education and previous employment skills)
• the blocks of text are no longer than six lines
• you use bullet points when describing your past job responsibilities (a great place to include power-words!)
• it is grammatically correct

Make sure that your entry-level resume is uniform with the use of bullet points, boldface, italics and underlining. Stay focused! Keep in mind the job you are applying for and don’t crowd the page with unnecessary details; choose your words wisely–shorter is usually better.

If you know the job and company that you are applying for, it is much easier to create an entry-level resume that will be most appealing to your potential employer. Use these tips to create a comprehensive, easy-to-read and proactive sounding advertisement of yourself.

Of course, professional resume writers can do the work for you and create a very effective entry-level resume!

If you’ve missed any important February dates, don’t let it happen again this month. Keep this list of important March dates to stay on top of test deadlines–and don’t get too carried away this St. Patrick’s Day!

ACT Registration Deadline: March 5

International Early SAT Registration:  March 10

SAT Date:  March 13

Albert Einstein’s Birthday:  March 14

St. Patrick’s Day:  March 17

ACT Late Registration Deadline:  March 19

Remember: double-check these dates with your respective schools to make sure you’re not missing any deadlines. And if you’re going away this spring break, take a look at our favorite spring break destinations for last minute ideas. Have a fantastic (and safe!) trip.

Some of the answers might surprise you!

Check out this list of 2009 Oscar nominees and their respective colleges:

2009 Best Actor Oscar Nominees

1. Jeff Bridges (”Crazy Heart”) — did not attend college.
2. George Clooney (”Up in the Air”) — Northern Kentucky University in Newport, Kentucky & the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio.
3. Colin Firth (”A Single Man”) — Barton Peveril College in Eastleigh, Hampshire.
4. Morgan Freeman (”Invicus”) — Did not attend college, but turned down a partial drama scholarship from Jackson State University.
5. Jeremy Renner (”The Hurt Locker”) — Modesto Junior College in Modesto, California.

2009 Best Actress Oscar Nominees

1. Sandra Bullock (”The Blind Side”) — East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina.
2. Helen Mirren (”The Last Station”) — New College of Speech and Drama in London, England.
3. Gabourey Sidibe (”Precious”) — Borough of Manhattan Community College, in New York, New York.
4. Carey Mulligan (”An Education”) — Did not attend college.
5. Meryl Streep (”Julie & Julia”) — Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.

2009 Best Supporting Actor Oscar Nominees

1. Matt Damon (”Invictus”) — Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
2. Woody Harrelson (”The Messenger”) — Hanover College in Hanover, Indiana.
3. Christopher Plummer (”The Last Station”) — Did not attend college.
4. Stanley Tucci (”The Lovely Bones”) — SUNY Purchase in Purchase, New York.
5. Christoph Waltz (”Inglorious Basterds”) — Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York, New York.

2009 Best Supporting Actress Oscar Nominees

1. Penelope Cruz (”Nine”) — Cristina Rota’s School in New York, New York.
2. Vera Farmiga (”Up in the Air”) — Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York.
3. Maggie Gyllenhaal (”Crazy Heart”) — Columbia University in New York, New York.
4. Anna Kendrick (”Up in the Air”) — did not attend college.
5. Mo’Nique (”Precious”) — Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland.

Now that you know about where they went to college, tune in on Sunday, March 7, to see which of these 2009 Oscar Nominees take home an award!

Are you trying to avoid the costs of college application fees? Certain schools allow students to apply to college without paying the standard fee.

These days, to save time and meet college application deadlines,  many students fill out their college applications online.

We’ve complied a list is of schools that don’t charge college application fees when applying online:

Free Online Applications

• Barclay College
• Brandeis University
• Concordia College
• Drake University
• Drexel University
• Furman University
• Manhattanville College
• Milwaukee School of Engineering
• Mississippi College
• Nebraska Wesleyan University
• Neumann University
• Northwestern College
• Oakland University
• Polytechnic University
• Purdue University
• Roanoke College
• Sierra Nevada College
• Spring Arbor University
• St. Ambrose University
• Touro College
• Trinity College of Florida
• United States Coast Guard Academy
• Wellesley College
• Wesleyan College (GA)
• York College of Pennsylvania

Is the school you’re looking for not on the list? See the complete list of schools with no college application fees.

You don’t necessarily have to be at a place that serves alcohol to have fun! There are plenty of under 21 nightlife ideas that are just as fun and entertaining.

If you enjoy the company you’re with, you’re not likely to get bored. Here are some under 21 nightlife ideas to try with your friends:

1) Karaoke

There are few better under 21 nightlife ideas than karaoke. What could be more fun than watching your friends sing their hearts out to all their favorite songs, particularly if their vocal skills aren’t exactly stellar?

For those of you trying to save money, it’s also inexpensive! If you get a bunch of friends together and rent out a karaoke room for the evening, you’re sure to have a great time on the cheap.

2) Bowling

Bowling is yet another one of those awesome under 21 nightlife ideas that never gets old. It’s fun to do in groups or even one-on-one–you can impress your date with your pin-striking skills!

Especially if you’ve got a bit of a competitive streak, and enjoy groovin’ to the tunes of cosmic bowling, this is a great under 21 nightlife idea for you to try.

3) Movies

Did a new movie come out that you’ve been wanting to see? Do you like foreign films? Turn it into an evening! Grab some friends and hit the theaters. Afterward, you can get a bite to eat somewhere nearby and discuss what you thought of the flick.

Are you an old movie buff? A great under 21 nighlife idea would be to find a theater in your town that shows old movies and see what they’re featuring that weekend. Also a great inexpensive date idea, it’s great to watch classics on the silver screen.

4) Board Games

Are you strapped for cash? Invite your friends over for a night in. There are plenty of awesome board games that will keep you entertained for hours–Risk, Trivial Pursuit and Boggle are a few of our favorites!

5) Dance Party

Though you may not be able to get into all dance clubs yet, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a dance party! There are usually several clubs (particularly in larger cities) that cater to under 21 nightlife.

They likely have “teen nights” that allow admission to those 18 and up. Though you won’t be getting served alcohol, you’ll still be able to dance the night away.

And if you don’t find any under 21 nightlife clubs in your area, throw a party yourself! Just invite your friends, dim the lights and put on some funky grooves for a home-made dance party.

Just because you’re under 21, your social life doesn’t have to be boring. Be creative! Under 21 nightlife can be more fun and exciting than you thought.

For those of you who haven’t yet made a submission, now is the time to do it! All entries must be received by Sunday, February 28, 2010.

The Prizes

One grand prize winner will receive a $500 college scholarship, and three runners-up each will receive a $100 scholarship.

The Rules

Students who have studied in more than one country for at least one semester are eligible to enter. Contestants must submit a photo, along with a 200-word or less description of why that photo encapsulates their experience of studying in another country.

Did you capture a beautiful cityscape of Verona? A snapshot of your host family against the backdrop of France’s countryside? Something else altogether? As long as the photo is taken by you, it’s qualified to win!

Where to Submit

Please see the submission form and official rules for more information. Don’t miss this oppertunity to win our annual scholarship contest!

College courses taught for the sake of simply learning about something you’re interested in (however obscure) seem to have all but disappeared, especially if you’re trying to complete college in 3 years.

However, there are certainly exceptions to this rule! We’ve compiled a list of the top 5  strangest college courses in America. Would you be interested in taking any of these?

1. Underwater Basket-Weaving

Used synonymously as an idiom for what is considered a “throw-away” elective, this college course has actually been offered!

Taught in both Reed College of Portland, Oregon and the University of California, San Diego, this college course involves making wicker baskets by dipping reeds or stalks of plants into water, and letting them soak.

2. Learning From YouTube

The media studies department of Pitzer College in southern California is offering this college course to its students. From what we understand, the class involves students watching and discussing YouTube videos, as well as uploading videos of their own.

This college course is meant to study YouTube as a cultural phenomenon in contemporary culture–but getting college credit for watching YouTube sure seems like a sweet deal!

3. Philosophy and Star Trek

For all you Trekkies out there, this is the college course for you! This class, offered by Georgetown University, synthesizes pop culture and philosophy by using one as a means to discuss the other.

4. The Joy of Garbage

This college course is offered by Santa Clara University, and examines garbage through a scientific lens. Students learn about decomposition, nuclear waste, what makes things rot and what chemicals are attributed to the stench that garbage gives off. The perk? This college course includes field trips to sanitation plants and landfills!

5. The Science of Superheroes

University of California at Irvine offers this unusual college course to teach its students physics! It uses familiar icons like Spider-Man, Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman to explain difficult concepts, making this college course more relatable to its audience. For example, the physics of flying and fluid dynamics is taught using Superman as an example.

Are you bored with your college courses? Don’t just stick to your college major and minor classes. Flip through that coursebook! There are likely some hidden gems that you’re unaware of that could add a little variety to your schedule.

Keep in mind that learning is not just a means to a diploma. You might find that some of the best college courses are ones you took just because!

The mid-March vacation is right around the corner! Make sure you start planning ahead, especially if your spring break destination requires booking a flight and/or a hotel—they fill up quickly!

Do you know where you’re going this year? To give you some spring break destination ideas, we’ve compiled a list of our own personal favorites.

1. Cancun, Mexico

You’ve probably heard of this spring break destination before–and for good reason! This little beach city is packed to the brim with partying college students during the months of March and April.

Not only is Cancun a warm, tropical paradise, it’s also known for its late-night clubs, delicious drinks and proximity to other (slower-paced) spring break destinations such as Cozumel and Playa del Carmen. Don’t forget your passport!

2. Panama City, Florida

If you’re looking for a spring break destination that is not too far away, consider Panama City in Florida. First of all, since it’s in the US, you don’t need a passport! And you’ll get a chance to use some of those American travel idioms.

With beautiful beaches and media hype from last year’s MTV spotlight, it’s a guaranteed good time. Also, don’t forget to check out Panama City’s 27 miles of sandy beaches on the Gulf of Mexico.

3. Bahamas

One of the cheapest spring break destination packages (especially with the student airfare prices!) is to the tropical paradise that is the Bahamas. With its white sands and crystal blue waters, we can see the appeal.

Nassau, Bahamas will be backed with spring breakers looking for a great getaway. You can rent a scooter, hit the Straw Market or gamble on nearby Paradise Island!

4. North American Ski Resorts

Though a bit more pricey than the tropical spring break destinations, ski resorts are a popular choice with students during break.

It’s both a great party and awesome skiing–the slopes in Colorado, Jackson Hole, Heavenly, Canada’s wild Whistler, and other ski trip hot-spots will not leave you disappointed.

5. London, UK

For the first time in a while, the exchange rates aren’t so bad, making Europe a great spring break destination.

Also a great study abroad destination, London is a huge attraction. Though it’s not likely to be very warm this time of year, most of the party scene will be indoors. However, you’ll be avoiding the tourist mobs that flock to this side of the pond when the temperature rises.

Hostels in London are gorgeous and inexpensive, and are a great source for meeting fellow spring-breakers and finding out student-friendly info, such as museum discounts and local hangouts. And you don’t even have to worry about getting an interpreter–everyone speaks English!

To all those London-bound, cheerio!

Spring break destinations are infamous for their great deals, high-energy visitors, and exuberant night life. So don’t be afraid to explore whatever spring break destination you choose–just be safe.