Just a brief post, but I just read that the American Opportunity Tax Credit (a tax credit for college students) is set to expire this year. Obama is asking congress to renew the tax credit, despite its hefty cost. Investing in education is important, so please write your congress representatives and ask that they vote to extend the American Opportunity Tax Credit.

For more, read here:
http://blogs.reuters.com/deep-pocket/2010/10/14/obama-asks-to-extend-education-tax-breaks-whats-at-stake/

Newsweek has just released its 2010 list for best colleges in the US.  That said, just because a school doesn’t make the list doesn’t mean it isn’t a good school.  Though the top 10 schools are usually the same from list to list, college rankings from one publication to another always vary widely.  The criteria are not standardized and subjective bias can influence results.

Use college ranks by publications as a way to collect and compare information between schools, rather than placing value in its rank number.  No two schools are alike.  ‘School A’ may be ranked higher overall than ‘School B,’ but may not be as strong in the specific field of study you want to pursue.  At the end of the day, researching schools is always the best option.

Newsweek’s 2010 College Rankings are broken down into the following categories:

• The 25 Most Desirable Schools in America
• 25 Schools for the Service-Minded
• The 25 Most Desirable Small Schools
• The 25 Most Diverse Schools
• The 25 Most Desirable Large Schools
• 25 Schools for Powerbrokers
• 25 Schools Stocked with Jocks
• 25 Schools for Brainiacs
• The 25 Best Gay Friendly Schools
• The 25 Most Desirable Rural Schools
• The 25 Most Desirable Suburban Schools
• The 25 Most Desirable Urban Schools

For the complete list, click here.

Once again, we are approaching the end of August. That means colleges across the country are preparing for all the new and returning students. It is a crazy time; one that brings both excitement as well as some anxiety.

For those who can’t wait to get back to the social scene, the parties, the fun, remember that being away from home means more personal responsibility.  Enjoy the ride but be sure to leave time for your studies!  In college, it is ok to stick to a routine.  A routine can help manage your workload, keep you on task, and optimize your free time… which is the best part, right?!

For the anxious, don’t worry so much about the unknown.  College provides a scene for everyone.  If you are experiencing too much stress from academic or social pressures, most schools provide students with counseling, tutors, and other ways to help alleviate the stresses of the college experience.

College is meant to be a time for personal growth.  Enjoy it while you can, because for many people it is some of the best times of their lives.