Wondering what to study in order to make the most money? The numbers don’t lie — math skills add up to higher salaries. So reports Yahoo! Finance:

The top 15 highest-earning college degrees all have one thing in common — math skills. That’s according to a recent survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers, which tracks college graduates’ job offers.

“Math is at the crux of who gets paid,” said Ed Koc, director of research at NACE. “If you have those skills, you are an extremely valuable asset. We don’t generate enough people like that in this country.”

That’s not to say that you have to become a “mathematician” per se to earn big bucks. It’s just that top earning fields require a certain comfort with formulas, statistics, and number-crunching. They include professions in engineering and computer science. If you think about it, it’s really a lesson in economics (another math-inspired subject): Less people are good in math, therefore they are more in demand. And the more in demand your skills are, the higher you’ll be paid.

So where does that leave the rest of the population, who major in liberal arts, communications, or social sciences? Earning a lot less to start, that’s for sure. But take heart: “Soft skills” can be lucrative, too, if you know how to market them. Being able to communicate, write, speak more than one language, or manage projects are skills that are in demand, too. They are just harder to quantify or put a value on, so you often have to prove yourself (AKA pay your dues) before you rise to the top.

Whichever educational route you take, the formula really is simple (even for former English majors like myself!): Enter your career with sharp skills and a realistic expectation of earnings, and you’re sure to calculate career happiness.

-Dawn Papandrea

Well, readers, I’m thrilled to once again be hosting the Carnival of College Admissions, and sharing with you 32 — yes 32! — amazing posts from the best college bloggers in the business. Did I mention that we have one more blog post than Baskin Robbins has ice cream flavors?! Speaking of ice cream, what’s a summer Carnival without ice cream?!

Come explore the (calorie-free!) flavor counter with me… Let’s see, so far in putting together this edition, I’ve sampled some college essay tips, had a taste of student credit card advice, got the dish on what today’s college students are eating, devoured the cool post on college urban legends, savored the debate about technology’s role in the classroom, and enjoyed every last link included in the list posts below. And that’s just a few of the blog flavors I tried!

Now it’s time for you to go get your Carnival scoop! In fact, go nuts and make it a double with hot fudge. When you’re done, please do share your thoughts in the comments below… Enjoy!

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Admissions & Apps > The Vanilla & Chocolate Swirl

Wondering if your involvement in your school’s band, volleyball team, and math club will help you get into college? Katherine Covino gets to the heart of it in her post, Importance of Extracurriculars on College Applications at College Jolt.

Bored this summer? James Maroney has an idea for you. Learn why Getting Started on Your College Essay is a good idea, at the AdmissionHook College Essay Blog.

And just in case you needed more proof about the importance of spending time on your college essay, Adam Epstein, a senior assistant director of admissions and blogger spells it all out in The All Important College Essay. Check out his blog here.

Perhaps the most dreaded admissions exam’s most dreaded section is That SAT Sentence Completion.  Daille Nation-Ashley tackles the test tension, and offers tips at her CEOmum – Parenting is a Full Time Job blog.

“Turning down an Ivy is easier said then done,” says Risa Stein. She should know — she did it! Read about her experience in Weighing the Ivy Option posted at myCollegeBLOG. “This article explores the weight of prestige when compared to the actual benefits of an Ivy League education.”

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College Money Matters > The Value Scoop

Whether you’re a parent of a college-bounder, or a teen getting ready to go off to college, Leanne, aka Mrs. Bankrupt, offers many great money tips in her post, Raising Financially Smart Adults, What Can You Do Today?. Check them out, along with her blog, Mrs Bankrupt.

How much does matter factor into the college decision? Risa Stein discusses that topic in here post When Financial Aid is the Final Word at the myCollegeBLOG.

If ever there was a point in time when college kids needed some credit card advice, it’s now. Start with Jim Wang’s Best Student Credit Cards posted at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity.

Need some quick spending and saving tips for when you go off to college? Check out Tyra’s tips and tricks to save you money during your college years in her post Dorm Life – Cheap College Living Tips at Billeater.com.

Eric breaks down a very important new economic policy in his post Summary of The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act at Dream Strategy. See how the new bill will affect you!

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Campus Life >  Sundae With the Works

Over at our sister blog, College — U. Got It?, Robyn Tellefsen takes a look at popular graduation urban legends that have sprung up over the years. Which are true and which are false? You’ll have to head over  to see for yourself!

Think you’ll miss mom’s cooking when you’re off to college? Maybe not. Mark Montgomery dispels the myths of “mystery meat” in his post Campus Cuisine–It’s Not Your Standard Cafeteria Fare Anymore over at Great College Advice.

College drinking stats are scary. Candice Arnold ponders those, and the question of whether or not lowering the drinking age to 18 is a good idea in her post, “Party Schools” and Binge Drinking Have Parents Concerned at the CollegeRecruiter.com Insights by Admissions Counselors Blog.

Don’t just float by in college. Lynn Mattoon tells you How to Get the Most out of Your College Experience posted at My College Admissions Blog – MyCollegeCalendar.org.

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Careers and Grad School > One Giant Waffle Cone

Think a college degree won’t help you in your future career? Well, if so, you’re wrong — even the President thinks so! Check out The Prez and the Power of Education, right here at the CollegeSurfing Insider blog.

“Finding the right internship can make all the difference in launching a promising new career,” says Khan, “and not only for young people!” Take a look at his post Finding the Right Internship at Higher Education and Career Blog.

What exactly is a post-bac degree? Find out from guest blogger Theresa Davies-Heerema, Ph.D in the post How Can a Post-Baccalaureate Program Help You Matriculate into Medical School at Accepted Admissions Almanac.

“For the student who wishes to become a doctor, the BS/MD accelerated medical programs may be a good choice,” says Todd Johnson. Read about the programs that allow a few students to gain acceptance to medical school right out of high school in BS/MD Programs at College Admissions Counseling.

If writing an essay is optional, should you write one? Dagny presents some myth busters and tips in her post  Effective Ways to Write an Optional Essay at TotalGadha GMAT.

If you’re considering applying to Harvard Business School, here’s a good read for you. Adam Markus presents HBS MBA Questions for Fall 2010 Admission posted at the Adam Markus: Graduate Admissions Guru blog. And, there’s more where that came from: “This is the first in an eight-part series of blog posts analyzing the HBS MBA essays,” he says.

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Thinking Ahead to College > The Kid Scoop

Technology in the classroom is English teacher Jamie Reaburn Weir’s passion. Check out the innovative teaching ideas in her post Planning for the 09-10 School Year at the Ms. Weir’s Musings blog.

From the boarding school trends department comes Peter Baron with his interesting post, Taking Girls Education Online: An Experiment. Check it out and learn more about boarding schools at  AdmissionsQuest.

“If you’re sending your child off to college in the fall, you’re probably wondering if you’ve taught them everything they need to know,” says Elizabeth Kraus of the myUsearch blog. See how ready they are in her post: Parents: What Your College Bound Students Should Know.

If you can’t make it to visit all of your potential colleges in person (who can?), college fairs are the next best thing. Diane presents College Fairs: A Fun, Easy Way to Get the Facts posted at ULS Blog for International Students. “College fairs let you get lots of school information in a short amount of time — and give the opportunity to ask questions face-to-face,” she says.

There are lots of reasons to pursue a college education, and there are some bad ones, too. OnlineCollege examines a few of each in Why Should I Go to College? posted at UniversitiesAndColleges.org.

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Online Learning > High Tech Dippin’ Dots

Ready to join the technology in education debate? Margaret Garcia discusses the pros and cones in Educational Technology – Do We Teach the Tool or Teach Literacy? posted at Accredited Online PHD Universities.

If you’re thinking of schooling online, you may have heard that you need to be self-motivated. Easier said than done? No worries… Nesher tells you How to Gain Motivation Studying Online posted at the Online MBA Study blog.

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Just for Fun > Loaded with Sprinkles!

Willpower is a complicated thing, but Daniel Goleman may have cracked the code for harnessing it. Check out Yes, You Can Build Willpower posted at SharpBrains and give your brain a boost.

Want to make money off of the courses you took in college? Alvina Lopez presents 100 Places to Sell and Share Your Knowledge on the Side posted at Best Colleges Online. See, and you thought some of those required courses wouldn’t help you some day!

I love lists of helpful iPhone Apps (not that I have one). But if I ever get one, this is one that I’d consult: Allison Johanson’s 25 Essential Free iPhone Apps for Lifelong Learners posted at Top Online University Reviews. Ooh, there’s a SpellChecker app!

Here’s one that’s way over my calculus-baffled head, but if you’re a number lover, don’t miss it! Emma Taylor offers a list of the 100 Best Websites for Mathletes posted at Online Universities.com.

I always said that if I could go back in time, I might go to law school. Thanks to Elisha Knackwood’s post on 25 Excellent Open Courseware Classes to Learn About the Law, I can do a good job of pretending I did. Check it out on the Best Court Reporting Degree blog.

When the reality of the real world slaps you in the face after college, you’ll feel better after surfing through some of the  100 Motivational Blog Posts for Disgruntled Grads. Thanks to Anne Simone of Online Colleges for the cool compilation!

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Well, that wraps it up for this very sweet edition of the Carnival of College Admissions. You can submit to the next edition by filling out our super simple submission form.

On behalf of all the talented bloggers, thanks so much for your support! Thanks to Mark Montgomery for sharing the hosting duties with us. And please spread the word — Stumbles, Diggs, Linkbacks & Tweets are always very appreciated!

Enjoy the rest of the summer,
Dawn Papandrea
@collegesurfing

On average, new grads are making almost $50k right out of college — not too shabby in this down economy of ours, right? I know I certainly would have been thrilled with that kind of “first job” salary offer back when I graduated. Here are the deets…

NACE’s [National Association of Colleges and Employers] Summer 2009 Salary Survey report shows that the average starting salary offer for new college graduates now stands at $49,307. That’s off less than 1 percent from the average $49,693 that 2008 graduates posted last year at this time…

Seems like a good sign that things may be on the upswing. Of course, job openings may be a little harder to come by, which means that grads need to work slightly harder to edge out their competition.

Start with these tactics:

• Top 5 Tips for Job Seekers
• Social Network Your Way Into a Job
• How to Turn Your Internship Into a Job

Grads: We want to hear from you! Tell us about your job hunting experience, and if you’ve been happy with salary offers.

If you’ve been flip flopping about whether it’s a good idea to head back to school or not, you might feel better having the president’s endorsement. President Barack Obama today announced a 10-year,  $12 billion plan to help more Americans graduate from community college, and in turn, secure a better career future. Here’s what he said:

…in the coming years, jobs requiring at least an associate degree are projected to grow twice as fast as jobs requiring no college experience. We will not fill those jobs – or keep those jobs on our shores – without the training offered by community colleges.

Today, I am announcing the most significant down payment yet on reaching this goal in the next 10 years. It’s called the American Graduation Initiative. It will reform and strengthen community colleges from coast to coast so that they get the resources students and schools need – and the results workers and businesses demand. Through this plan, we seek to help an additional five million Americans earn degrees and certificates in the next decade.

We’ve been touting the benefits of education for a while ourselves (if you missed our “25 Things About Career Education,” click in now). The fact is, community colleges and career schools are the perfect way to get ahead, with a shorter-term and lower-cost commitment than a four-year degree. And isn’t that what career changers and working adults with families need — programs that take less time and cost less money?!

So what exactly will the American Graduation Initiative do for you? If you plan on enrolling in a community college program sometime during the next decade, you may see the following:

• More and more scholarship and grant opportunities will start sprouting up to make college affordable for students
• Money will help struggling community colleges form partnerships with local businesses
• Funds will be provided to help schools create degree programs that are aimed at nontraditional students — that means online instruction as well as various part-time options will become available where they otherwise weren’t
• Community colleges will get a makeover, too! Renovations mean better equipped classrooms, plus they will help create jobs.

Sounds like a plan, right? It must be tough to decide which programs to cut and which ones to throw money at in a tough economy. But I think President Obama definitely made the right decision in the educational arena Way to go, O!

What do you think of the new American Graduation Initiative? Sound off below…

-Dawn Papandrea