College Watch

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The 5 minute rundown of college finances.

It's the 4G guide to what can be a great graduation gift!

Still stumped as to what to buy a graduate?  Maybe you already bought something and have realized "oops, that's really lame".  Don't worry, we're here to help.

1.  The Laptop Computer

A laptop computer is absolutely essential for college these days.  If your graduate doesn't already have one, then get them one.  Do not ponder, just get them one.  I am writing this on a MacBook Pro.  I've always been partial to Apple, and they are hard to beat.  Other great computer choices could include:

Dell XPS; MacBook Air; Apple iMac; Toshiba Portege; HP Envy

2.  Smart Phone

Kind of a jack of all trades tool anymore.  It calls, it texts, it takes pictures, it plays music, it streams video, it does it all.  Some good choices for smartphones include:

The ubiquitous iPhone (although I'd really wait until they roll out the 4G model); Samsung Galaxy Note (doubles as a small tablet); Motorola Droid (my Droid Maxx will run forever without recharging); and several others

3. Other Electronics

There's almost too many to list, but here are a few that will always be appreciated:

The iPad; Amazon Kindle Fire; Play Station Vita; Nintendo 3DS; Roku LT or Apple TV (video streaming direct to TV is taking over from cable or Dish); HP OfficeJet Pro (everyone will need to print that paper)

4.  For around the Dorm Room

Single Cup Coffee Maker (for when they aren't at Starbucks); alarm clock (you won't be there to wake them for that 8am lecture); a fan (not all those dorm rooms are air conditioned)

5.  The others

A tool kit; a computer lap desk; What Color Is Your Parachute for Teens (a book that helps them get past "I don't know"); a gold or silver coin from their graduation year (it will always have value); or the always appreciated iTunes card.

by Jess Coleman

You're buying a car. You come across a stunning, brand-new Mercedes for $50,000. Next to it is a worn-out, used Jeep with 50,000 miles on it, for six times the price, or $300,000.

The choice is obvious, and it rests on a simple, driving principle that defines the free market: Price ought to be aligned with quality. But when it comes to higher education, that seemingly straightforward notion is thrown out the window. No one in their right mind would ever pay more for a car of lesser quality, and the same should hold true for a university.

Take my situation. I was admitted to both Brandeis University and Binghamton University. Graduates at Binghamton, on average, have starting salaries roughly 10 percent greater than their counterparts at Brandeis. Nevertheless, tuition at Brandeis is over six times the price at Binghamton.

Forgive my narrow-minded assumption that the sole purpose of attending college is to earn the greatest possible salary. There is no doubt that a college experience certainly has more to offer. But my guess is, if it were no longer the case that a college education lead to such profound economic benefits, most would stop attending.

Click here to read the rest of the article.

Don't Apply to the Same Colleges As Everyone Else

by Lee Bierer

The build-up was big, but boy, did he deliver. Robert Franek, Senior Vice President/Publisher at Princeton Review and author of “The Best 376 Colleges” and “The Best Value Colleges,” was recently a guest speaker at Myers Park High School in Charlotte. (Full disclosure: I sit on the Princeton Review National College Counselor Advisory Board.)

Notices of his upcoming presentation started appearing months ago. Interested students and families were asked to register online to reserve seats. Vicki Brunnick, counselor and scholarship coordinator at Myers Park, met him in February at a professional conference in Virginia and extended the invitation.

Franek is nothing if not informative, interactive, energetic and entertaining. He began with two simple facts: 1) it’s never been harder to get into college and 2) it’s never been easier to get into college.

He got everyone involved from the get-go. “Who here is concerned about getting into a good college?” All hands were are raised. “Who has fear or anxiety about the college admissions process?” All hands remained up. He suggested that everyone take a deep breath and he went on. “We’re all scared.”

In the Princeton Review “Hopes and Dreams” survey, everyone was united in their fear. According to the survey, the No. 1 worry for students is that they will get into the school of their choice but won’t be able to afford it.

Click here to read the rest of the story.