Possibly one of the most idiotic assumptions of all time–namely, that men are innately better than women when it comes to math and science–has been shot down once again. This cultural belief has always baffled me, perhaps because I grew up with a sharp-as-a-tack mother working on both the quantitative and qualitative sides of marketing research. Any man who’s ever been completely shut down by a math class (Calc 3 and I didn’t get along) can attest to the absence of this supposed innate ability. A study has recently come out that shows–gasp–that it’s our culture, not the brains we were born with, that’s responsible for the gender gap in math. (more…)

Loan forgiveness is a big deal in today’s job market. The idea that simply by putting in some hard work in the right place, students can get some or all of their loans forgiven is a big draw. Forgiveness programs in nursing, for example, influence many students’ decisions to go into the field. After finishing a nursing degree, graduates can take jobs with the state, and after a given amount of time, have a large portion of their loans forgiven. In today’s economic climate, students are concerned about whether or not forgiveness programs will remain intact. (more…)

During any economic rough spot, studies of previous downturns and recessions start popping up all over the place. Sometimes they offer a little light at the end of the tunnel, but some new studies show just the opposite for recent graduates. Entering the worst job market in 25 years isn’t the only cross to bear for these recent grads, studies are showing that the effects of the recession could last for 15 more years before getting back to normal. (more…)

The current economic climate has made it tough for recent graduates to find work. Rather than starting lucrative careers right out of school, many graduates are turning to internships to build their résumés. Who can blame them? Instead of taking whatever job comes along, these graduates are continuing their education and career training. There’s only one problem: Are there enough internships to go around? (more…)

In an economic downturn, a terrible turning of the tables happens: those with money in the bank get penalized, while those in debt benefit. The culprit? Inflation. When inflation lifts its ugly head into view, the value of the dollar, in this case, drops. If we look at a simple model (i.e., one without interest factored in), it’s obvious why this happens. (more…)

Chatting with a friend of mine last night, it came up that she’d been expelled in high school. I won’t go into the details (amusing as they were in hindsight), but it’s been her cross to bear over the years. Colleges tend to frown on behavior-issue-laden pasts, and with admission rates dropping, it can be harder than ever to get into a good school. An online college education could be the way to go to avoid spreading your trouble-maker history around. (more…)

I remember pulling long hours in study lounges stabbing at white boards and chalk boards. Call it nostalgia, but I miss those days of collaboration, when we’d take turns making coffee runs while cramming for tests. Homework was so much more fun when six friends were stymied together. This sense of unity made us feel justified when assignments were confusing–after all, six of us didn’t get it, and there’s strength in numbers.

This kind of study-group solidarity may be going the way of the dinosaur. Much like Web 2.0 has changed the way we use the Internet, new online study sites are changing the way students study together. (more…)

In the face of huge budget cuts (to the tune of $312 million as proposed by CA Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in response to California’s 14 billion dollar budget shortfall), the California university system is cutting enrollment for 2009. The trouble is, more students have applied this year than ever before. (more…)

One of the biggest draws for student loans is the fact that you don’t pay until after you graduate. This allowed poor college students breathe a bit more easily while working part-time jobs and struggling to make ends meet. Sallie Mae has introduced new terms on their private loans that requires monthly interest payments while students are still in school. While this definitely helps to lower the total amount of interest paid on the loan, the additional requirements and the monthly payments may make this loan less appealing. (more…)

I recently wrote about aiming for the stars when it comes to college admissions. The moral of that post was to go for the gold in spite of money worries when applying to schools. What does one do, though, when these schools neither solidly accept or decline one’s application? This dreaded purgatory is also known as: the waiting list. (more…)