Professors
What’s Happening to the Average GPA?
Are college students getting smarter?
If you looked at the grades they are “earning,” you might assume the answer is yes. The average GPA in college is 3.1. At private schools, the norm is a 3.3 GPA. In contrast, the typical college student had an average GPA of 2.52 in the 1950s.
In nearly every decade, the [...]
Why I Chose Yale – Not
If you haven’t seen the campy You Tube musical called “Why I Chose Yale, you might want to check it out. I imagine that watching it will only increase the anxiety of any parent or high school student who thinks Yale (or some other Ivy League school) is the only higher-ed trophy worth bagging.
If you [...]
Top 10 College Websites for Finding Great Schools
Want to research colleges, but not sure where to start?
It’s no surprise. When I just typed “college” into Google, I got 634 million college websites. To make your job easier, I’m sharing wonderful websites that can help you assemble a great list of colleges.
If you want to research specific colleges, here are my Top 10 [...]
A Great Activity for the Christmas Holidays
Want to take your mind off college for the holidays? I don’t blame you.
Here’s my suggestion to do just that. Sit back and listen to some fascinating lectures from some of the most intriguing people on the planet.
You can find countless lectures by visiting the website of TED, a nonprofit which originally got its name [...]
Studying Abroad: What Parents Need to Know
My daughter Caitlin arrived home last night after studying abroad for the semester at the University of Barcelona. I am thrilled to have her home and I know it’s going to be very hard for me when she flies back to Spain at the end of January.
As I discovered, a study abroad program can be [...]
Why College Graduation Rates Are a Disgrace
Graduation rates at most universities is a disgrace. Fewer than 60% of college students graduate in six years. Many of the rest never do earn a bachelor’s degree.
I’ve written about low graduation rates many times (see links below) and it’s always struck me as unfair that so many educators blame this tragedy solely on the [...]
Don’t Write Like a College Professor
Do you write like a college professor?
If you do, rid yourself of the habit. College graduates who write like their college professors could find their job search even harder. The business world favors employees who can write simple, declarative sentences.
In contrast, college professors are masters at obfuscation. They write stilted prose. They embrace words with [...]
The Last College Tour
Yesterday was bittersweet for me. My son Ben and I wrapped up our final college tour before he begins applying to colleges.
Our last stop was Lawrence University, a lovely liberal arts college in Appleton, WI., where the autumn leaves provided a stunning backdrop for a campus that’s perched above the picturesque Fox River. I am [...]
The Real Best Colleges
College rankings are sexy and fun to read, but have you ever wondered if they are really legitimate?
If you have, I urge you to check out my latest story for CBSMoneyWatch.com that explores a variety of college rankings. In my article, I take a look at the methodology of various college rankings and then rate [...]
Finding the Best Colleges
What are the best colleges in America?
Not so fast with your answer. The best colleges aren’t always the ones that enjoy the biggest, shiniest name brands and monopolize the rankings.
So how do you find the colleges and universities that do a fantastic — if unheralded — job of educating students?
You’re going to have to dig [...]
