Twitter. Yes, I said Twitter.

     Who knew Twitter had helpful sites for college students? Am I the last to know? I searched Twitter for helpful sites and came up with a top ten list for those of us in school. Maybe your University and College have a Twitter page, I was very excited to find mine! Take a peek at what I was able to find and let me know what you think. 

Name:	Location:	Brief Description:	Rating (1=no good, 5=excellent)	Recommend?
Keene State College	@ksc_web	This twitter site is facilitated through the Keene State College of New Hampshire.  It keeps its students up to date on recent events on campus, links to New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) with stories of interest, and offers words of encouragement to its students.	I would give this site a 5 for its variance and keeping its readers engaged. Clicking on the links often lead to interesting stories or other sites, and they have recent tweets.	I would recommend this for students at this particular school, as well as students not attending this school for them to gauge their school’s site when compared to a quality site.
Washington Student Association	@WAstudents	This twitter site is facilitated by the Washington Student Association which is an association dedicated to representing, serving and protecting the collective interests of students in attending public post-secondary education[i]	Similar to the last site, this site is well maintained, offering consistently frequent posts, which provide readers with information on current events, encouragement to members, and event information for Washing State schools. I would give this site a 5.	If you live in Washington and want to know what’s going on, check this site out.
National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE)	@NACEOrg	This site offers up-to-date information related to employers that seek to hire individuals with a college education. Not only do they offer information for those already in their field, but this site also offers information on STEM careers, H-1B’s and much more.	I’m a bit biased, so if I had to rate this site I’d give it a 5.5. I know, I know, but it really is a well maintained site!	Duh! Check it out!
College Bound	@collegeboundstl	This site offers great information to those students that are in a minority, and that don’t come from a ‘well-off’ background financially.	They offer great information on financial aid and getting into and succeeding in college. It’s a wonderful resource for first-gens as well as students of all backgrounds. Seriously. Who doesn’t want to know how to get through college without a boat load of loans?	If you belong to a minority and want to feel connected, this is a great site.
Glass Door	@Glassdoor	This site offers feeds for employers, but also for the job seeker.	It’s not specific to students, but I feel that it would be a good read for those beginning or improving their job campaign.	Sure, I appreciate this sites variety. If you want to be a professional it’s a great site to see what professionals are getting in to.
CollegeHumor	@CollegeHumor	Need a little humor in your day? If so, this is the site for you. It offers sarcastic comments, jokes and a chance to relax for those of us attending college.	On the humor scale I’d give it a 5 (Keep in mind that I laugh a lot at stupid things). As far as useful information-meh. But that’s ok! All work and no play makes for a sad undergrad!	I say go for it. We can’t be serious professionals all the time!
Law Students	@LawPROFSsay	Again with the humor! After reading a few posts, I couldn’t pass this one up. “Law School can be evil, Law Professorisms make it more interesting and fun.”[ii] Even future lawyers need to relax every once in awhile.	Humor=5! I appreciate this sites attempt to lighten things up for a stressed out population!	Future lawyer? This is for you.
Addicted2Success.com	@Addictd2Success	“If plan A didn’t work the alphabet has 25 more letters. Stay cool.”[iii] That’s really all that needs to be said to describe this site. It’s great for those who aim for success.	I’d give this site a (shock) 5. It’s for those who aim for success and crave inspiration.	It offers great quotes, links and advice on being professionally successful. Because it quotes “everything we want is on the other side of fear” I have to recommend it!
School of Rock GE	@GlenEllynSoR	It’s a site that honors the rock god in all of us. Of course it’s linked to a school that teaches music to kids of all ages, but it’s got some really cool stuff.	I’d give it a 4. It’s got some cool links to bands and articles that relate to music.	Into music? Check this page out. Whether you want to be in-the-know or whether you’re a musician in college, it’s a pretty fun site.
Craig Jarrow, Time Management Ninja	@TMNinja	It’s a site dedicated to time management, need I say more? He offers helpful links while borrowing your precious time for reading his regular tweets.	Sure. Let’s round this top 10 out with a solid 5. Anything that promotes time management is worth looking at.	Don’t waste time not looking. Go ahead and do it. Maybe you’ll learn something like I did on effective time management.

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[i] Retrieved from wastudents.org.

[ii] Retrieved from https://twitter.com/LawPROFSsay

[iii] Retrieved from @Addictd2Success

For when you're feeling alone...

Recently I have been reminded of the fact that moving away to college, especially when you are not inclined to go out of your way to meet new people, can be a very lonely experience. Many students that I have met with, and quite a few friends that I have met both at University and who have graduated (or dropped out) of college, have talked with me about the transition from high school to college; some expressing gratitude for college being nothing like high school and others wishing that their college life was more like their high school life. 

So what do you do when you are away at college and the transition isn't all you thought it would be? What if you worry about your grades, your lack of 'real' friends, or what if you have a lot of people around you but don't feel connected? For some of us, problems like these don't really get us down for too long, but for others these problems become a big part of our everyday life for awhile.This blog is meant to highlight ways of coping with loneliness, maybe reaching out, getting involved, and potentially trying new things (if you're up for it).

Some interesting ways that some of us cope with feeling alone is to 'vlog' (yeah, I had no idea this even existed), blog, tweet, or use other social media avenues to put themselves out there. Sara vlogged (is that how you use the word in past tense?) about herself during her times of loneliness, while Lauren offers tips on surviving the first year of college. Others like Kay use a blog as her outlet. 

Long story short, loneliness happens for most of us at some point or another. This blog is meant to help offer ideas of combating that loneliness. There are always the 'get out there and do something!' folks, but in reality sometimes it's hard to find the 'right' something. 

Of course, me being a counselor and all, I have to state the obvious. If these feelings of loneliness have lasted for awhile (maybe two-three weeks or longer), or if these feelings are messing with your day-to-day life, seek out help on campus. I  know it's a big step, that 'tomorrow will be better', and that you may feel funny (or crazy, or stupid, basically insert any word you've ever put yourself down with), but for many seeking help at a counseling center, with your academic advisor, with your leader in faith, or an RA can prove to help. I encourage you not to ignore these feelings in the hopes that they'll go away. 

I hope this blog has set you to thinking about ways that you can reach out. Let me know if I can help you find other resources!

 

LinkedIn: Networking with a Purpose

Recently, I have worked with many students (not only us first-gens) in the Career Center who have shared that they "don't know what to do now" once they have submitted applications, resumes, and cover letters to apply for part-time jobs and internships. One helpful tool for increasing your presence with employers would be to create and maintain a LinkedIn account as recent statistics state that 93% of employers search for applicants on LinkedIn! (Find out more on that here.)

I have heard many folks describe LinkedIn as the "Professional Facebook" over the past year, and I tend to agree. LinkedIn allows the user to create a catchy headline, to grab readers with an informative (and hopefully interesting) summmary that highlights your professional experience, and hold their interest using multiple other catagories!

Have you looked into creating an account? If you are not already registered with LinkedIn and are interested, you can link to there homepage here.

If you have one already, what are your thoughts on its use?

Blogs: Information Resources! Who Knew?

I wanted to focus this blog on discussing one type of information resource: blogs! Blogs can be a very useful resource for finding information provided by first-gens, professors, and administrative staff on their experiences and knowledge on attending Community College or University! I've compiled my own "top ten" list of blogs that I was able to find on the internet, and I've included them below. Keep in mind, not all blogs give factual information; they can be opinion based with little to no reputable resources cited. However, even if they are based on the author's opinion, blogs can offer insight into others' struggles, lessons, and successes!  Pam’s Top 10 Blogs

Blogs for and about First-generation college students

The following is a list of blogs found on first-generation students, for first-generation students, and about academics as they relate to all students. The names and URLs for the listed blogs have been given, along with a brief description of the blog, a rating provided by Pam Wood on a scale from 1-5, and comments on whether or not Pam would recommend the blog, and to whom.

 

Name of blog	Location of blog	Brief description (some info taken from blogs’ About section)	Rating (1=no good, 5=excellent)	Recommend?
I’m First	http://www.imfirst.org/blog/	“I’m First is an online community founded by Center for Student Opportunity to provide first-generation college students—and those who advise them—with inspiration, information, and support on the road to and through college.” There are links to information and support for students, advisors and for supporters.	I would rate this blog at a 3. The blog is an open forum for members to post, but there are few posts for viewing. I attempted to sign up for their blog, but the page would not link me to a sign-up. The website for I’m First seems very informative, but the blog doesn’t offer much.	I recommend the I’m First webpage to students, parents, and advisors, but not the blog.
First Generation Student: What it takes to get to and through college	http://www.firstgenerationstudent.com/blog/	“FirstGenerationStudent.com is devoted to helping first-generation college students navigate the college application process, from beginning to end and beyond. Our content will always be free, information-packed, and—we hope—inspiring!”	I would rate this blog at a 5. There are multiple entries by first-generation students, First Generation.com staff, and professors. The website this blog is connected to is user friendly and seems to provide great information and stories.	I recommend this blog to students, advisors and parents.
The Chronicle of Higher Education	http://chronicle.com/section/Blogs/164	“Based in Washington, D.C., The Chronicle has more than 70 writers, editors, and international correspondents. Online, The Chronicle is published every weekday and is the top destination for news, advice, and jobs for people in academe. The Chronicle's Web site features the complete contents of the latest issue; daily news and advice columns; thousands of current job listings; an archive of previously published content; vibrant discussion forums; and career-building tools such as online CV management, salary databases, and more.”	I would rate this blog at a 3.5 for first-generation students, and at a 4.5 for advisors in higher ed. This blog and its introduction offers a lot in the way of information and news, however its language is geared toward those with a broad vocabulary and not easy to navigate. The amount of information could be overwhelming for first-gens.	I do not recommend this for less experienced first-gens, unless they are comfortable with a lot of information.
Project 1st Gen in Student Affairs	http://project1stgen.blogspot.com/	This is a blog started by students and professors from Indiana State University, Georgetown, and Massachusetts University at Amherst. The blog’s About section highlights that “Something interesting is happening. There are more first generation students working and studying in student affairs than people think. We are interested in collecting and sharing stories about people’s experiences as first generation students working and studying in student affairs. We are especially interested in why people chose to go into student affairs. This blog is a place to find connections, inspire others, and be inspired. Every Gen is welcome to contribute here.”	I would rate this at a 2.5. The content is helpful, and seemingly insightful, however there are no recent entries.	I do not recommend this blog because there are so few entries and the ones that are available are dated.
The Harvard Crimson: Admissions Blog	http://www.thecrimson.com/admissions/article/2013/10/10/the-first-generation-admissions-experience/	This blog entry consists of entries from “first-generation Harvard students' experiences applying to and attending college.” The interviews were edited for concision.	I would give this blog a 4 for ease of read, content, and accessibility. There are no dates included on the entries, but it seems these entries would be helpful to first-gens during any year.	I recommend this blog to students interested in applying for admission into Harvard, as well as those applying to admission at many four year Universities.
College Green Light	http://www.collegegreenlight.com/blog/	“College Greenlight is a platform that allows high school counselors and community-based organizations to provide support to their students throughout the college search and application process. With features such as "best fit" college lists, customized college profiles, and a rich scholarship database, students will receive assistance each step of the way to help create the smoothest possible transition from high school to college.”	I would rate this blog at a 5. It provides useful and seemingly accurate information (from all that I read) on admissions, financial aid, student life, help for undocumented students, and more.	I definitely recommend this blog to first-gens, counselors and others who support first-gens.
Making the Online Grade	http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/making-the-online-grade	This blog is written by Devon Haynie who is an education reporter at U.S. News, covering online education. I was unable to find information on the author of this blog after searching US News for information on who Devon Haynie is, and what qualifies her to report on this topic. It seems that she is a contributor to US News, and that her qualifications include her being a current student that is enrolled in an online school.	I would rate this blog at a 5. The author gives great personal insight into her experiences during her online classes, and keeps the content ‘real’. She offers a helpful list on the topic of lessons learned, discusses her journey with time-management lessons, and her feelings related to grading and assignments.	I recommend this blog to first-gens that are considering enrolling in an online university, or those who are considering taking online courses.
Morse Code: Inside the College Rankings	http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/college-rankings-blog	This blog is written Robert Morse, with other authors contributing to some entries. I was able to find through the US News website that “Robert Morse is director of data research for U.S. News & World Report and has worked at the company since 1976. He develops the methodologies and surveys for the Best Colleges and Best Graduate Schools annual rankings, keeping an eye on higher-education trends to make sure the rankings offer prospective students the best analysis available. Morse Code provides deeper insights into the methodologies and is a forum for commentary and analysis of college, grad and other rankings.”	I would rate this blog at a 5. It is used to explain the methodologies created for research conducted by US News on colleges and Universities. The blog entries are easily understood; using language that is not mystical or confusing.	I recommend this blog to first-gens, parents, advisors and counselors.
Academic First Year Experiences; Teaching First Generation Students	http://www.csun.edu/afye/; http://www.csun.edu/afye/Teaching-First-Generation-Students.html	The Academic First Year Experiences blog is a blog mediated by California State University Northridge. Overall, this blog provides information and commentary from professionals on working with and teaching college students. The Teaching First Generation Students blog highlights information specific to teaching and working with first-gens.	I would rate this blog at a 5. It offers an abundance of information for educators related to working with first year students, and the first-gen blog offers great additional resources for first-gen educators.	I recommend this site for educators and professionals within the academic realm. I would not recommend this blog for students or parents.
The Ivy Coach: Making Ivy League Admission a Reality	https://theivycoach.com/the-ivy-coach-blog/	This blog is written by its company’s owner. It’s About section states that “The Ivy Coach is a private college counseling practice committed to providing college admissions assistance and college consulting to students from around the world so that they can gain admission to Ivy League and other highly competitive universities.”	I would rate this blog at a 5. It offers insight to a world-based population, is easy to navigate, and provides helpful information. There are numerous categories, including categories directed toward international students in the US, College Athletes, Selecting a College and many others. The information provided seems to be legitimate, as I am able to follow the numbers to an reputable source.	I recommend this site to students, and parents with a disclaimer that it is linked to a business that is trying to sell their services.