It’s so hard to tell what’s for real these days. If you’re going to spend money on a diamond, you want to make sure you don’t leave the store with cubic zirconia. If you’re purchasing a rare autograph, you don’t want to drop cash for a fraud. And if you’re paying good money for a college education, it’s important that it be worth more than the paper your diploma is printed on. So how do you know if your school is the real deal and not a diploma mill? Here are a few red flags to look out for.

>> It’s not accredited. In the U.S., accreditation is the main way we can tell that a school or program is up to snuff. Accreditation basically means the school or program has completed a rigorous process of self-examination and peer review. If the school you’re attending hasn’t been accredited, that means there’s no authority figure double-checking the quality of the education you’re getting. You’re basically out there on your own – and the neighborhood may not be the greatest. (Note: Just because a school is not accredited does not mean the school is a diploma mill. There are legitimate institutions out there that are not accredited, or are not yet accredited – just be very careful if you go this route. No accreditation means no federal or state financial aid, among other things.)

>> It’s accredited by an unrecognized (or even fake) accrediting agency. Unless you’re paying really close attention, you probably have no idea which accrediting agencies are legit and which ones are counterfeit. There’s an easy way to tell which ones are on the up and up – just check this list of organizations that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). If your school is accredited by an organization that’s not on this list – or worse, one that has an eerily similar name – the accreditation might be meaningless.

>> It’s accredited by a foreign accrediting agency. USDE and CHEA do not recognize foreign accrediting agencies, so if your school’s endorsement comes from Dubai Degrees R Us, beware. A foreign diploma mill might claim to be operating under the approval of the education ministry of its country when in fact it has never been officially reviewed or sanctioned. You don’t have to stay in the U.S. to get a nationally recognized degree, though – approved accrediting agencies (like AACSB International –The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) accredit foreign institutions, too.

There are other ways to spot a diploma mill – degrees based on life experience, super-short programs, flat-fee degrees – but lack of proper accreditation is a solid indicator that something is amiss or that you need to tread very carefully. You can go the unaccredited route if you really want to, but there’s a lot at stake: financial aid, academic credit transfer, tuition assistance from your employer, eligibility to apply for professional licensure… Why not save yourself the headache (and wasted time and money) by choosing a properly accredited program from the get-go?

-Robyn Tellefsen

If you think the tests stop once you have your degree, think again.

But one test that’s becoming more common in the job application process often has nothing to do with what you’ve learned in college.

It’s the personality test, which companies are using to help determine job seekers’ behavior and work style.

The Wall Street Journal reports that: “More than 80% of midsize and large companies use personality and ability assessments for entry and midlevel positions as either pre-employment or new-employee orientation tools.” The stat is from Development Dimensions International, a global human-resources consultancy. You’ll find the tests in industries such as health care, technology, finance, operations, and retail, the WSJ reports.

These assessments have been widely used in retail positions but are quickly spreading to other industries, including finance, technology, health care and operations.

If you’re taking one as a job applicant (Msnbc.com reports that this is happening even before the initial email or phone interview, when folks apply for a job online), the results could help a company determine your chance of succeeding or failing in a certain job. While this is a company decision, when you’re searching for a major, it may be worthwhile to take a personality test (even common ones like those by Myers-Briggs) to make sure you have the personality to be in a particular industry.

But some groups are concerned that the tests could discriminate against mentally disabled job candidates. CVS, for example, agreed to remove statements that candidates were required to respond to, including “You change from happy to sad without any reason” 
and “There’s no use having close friends; they always let you down,” after the Rhode Island ACLU filed a complaint with the state Commission for Human Rights.

Yes, you need to know the subject and how to do the job, but the use of personality tests show that it’s not just the degree that makes a job candidate.

-Lori Johnston

Going back to school is not a solitary venture – especially if you’re taking the plunge as an adult. If you want to succeed in your academic adventure, make sure you’re not going it alone. Seek out these five people to keep you on solid ground and help you forge strong pathways for personal and professional success.

Mentor
When you’re going back to school as an adult, it’s so important to connect with someone who has successfully completed his or her own academic adventure and can point out the peaks and pitfalls of life as a nontraditional student. Talking with someone who has been in your shoes and has come out on the other side, degree in hand, can be incredibly motivating and remind you that it is possible to achieve your goals. If you don’t already have a mentor for your academic pursuits, ask your school to connect you with a successful alum.

Partner
It can be tempting to put your head down and plow through your classes, not making time to connect with the people around you. After all, your goal in going back to school is probably to learn and to earn credentials, not necessarily to make friends. But you’d be surprised how valuable it can be to find a “partner in crime,” a peer who’s going through the same struggles you are and who can commiserate and/or rejoice with you every step of the way. Look around your classes; there’s bound to be someone with whom you can relate and share your experiences.

Apprentice
If you’re just beginning a back-to-school endeavor, you probably feel like the low man on the totem pole. But remember that you still have something to offer. Keep a balanced perspective by finding someone you can mentor – it might be a younger student in one of your classes, a high schooler, or even someone you meet in a formal mentoring program. Your experiences can help them on their path, and can serve as inspiration for them to continue their education and never give up. Plus, just knowing that you’re someone else’s role model can help you persevere when the going gets tough.

Encourager
Everyone needs an encourager in their lives, and that’s especially the case when committing to going back to school. An encourager will listen to your stories, remind you that you’re doing a good job, and prompt you to keep on moving forward, no matter what. In the midst of your hectic schedule, you may forget to keep tabs on all you’ve accomplished, but your encourager is there to point out those successes and help your eyes stay focused on a bright future. An old friend – one who has seen you through the ups and downs of life and loved you through it all – can be an ideal encourager.

Outsider
As important as your education endeavor is, sometimes you will need to be reminded that it’s not the be-all and end-all of your existence. In other words, there is life outside of school. Keeping an outsider – preferably a fun-loving friend – close by can help you maintain perspective and keep a handle on what’s going on in the rest of world. An outsider can be supportive of your academic pursuits without being overly involved or invested in them. And an outsider can provide a much-needed outlet and diversion when you’re ready to take a break from the books.

Heading back to school as an adult is a significant undertaking – but with these key people in your personal and professional network, you can make it a resounding success.

-Robyn Tellefsen

“Show me your teeth,” growls Lady Gaga in her aptly named song “Teeth.” Is she reliving one of her dental nightmares through music? Nope, she’s just emulating other pop stars who have gotten lyrical inspiration from the human body.

The body has certainly offered plenty of fodder for songs over the past decades. Some artists have taken it literally, others figuratively, and still others have taken it right to the gutter. We opted to keep our playlist  fairly clean from head to toe (check them all out on our YouTube channel’s playlist!), and true to form, we gave you some great ideas as to where you can study more about that particular body part.

“Hair” – Lady Gaga

I just wanna be myself
And I want you to love me for who I am
I just wanna be myself
And I want you to know, I am my hair

Bodily inspiration hit Lady Gaga once again for her song “Hair,” and though it’s not exactly the anti-war anthem from the musical of the same name, it does the job when it comes to declaring a person’s unique personality.

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“Head over Heels” – The Go-Go’s

Head over heels
Where should I go?
Can’t stop myself
Outta control

This fun all-girl punk band made us all feel the cool West Coast vibe during the 1980s, but this song affirmed that even California dreaming can get a bit overwhelming at times.

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“Bette Davis Eyes” – Kim Carnes

She’ll turn the music on you
You won’t have to think twice
She’s pure as New York snow
She’s got Bette Davis eyes

Whether you love or loathe Carnes’ raspy vocals on this song (which won Record of the Year at the 1981 Grammys, by the way), you’ve got to admit that this song further cemented Bette Davis and that sultry gaze of hers in our pop culture. Interesting fact: Davis’ large peepers were caused by a mild form of Grave’s disease, in which an overactive thyroid causes one’s eyes to bulge.

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“You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth” – Meat Loaf

And then you took the words right out of my mouth
Oh, it must have been while you were kissing me
You took the words right out of my mouth
And I swear it’s true
I was just about to say I love you

Before Meat Loaf (born Martin Lee Aday) became the obscenity-spewing human whirlwind on “The Apprentice,” he enjoyed his celebrity as a rocker and sometimes actor. “Paradise By the Dashboard Light” might be his biggest claim to fame, but “You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth” is just as lyrically pleasing—not to mention a whole lot shorter.

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“Wear My Ring Around Your Neck” – Elvis Presley

Won’t you wear my ring around your neck
To tell the world I’m yours, by heck
Let them know I love you so
And let them know by the ring around your neck

This song might not be as well known as some of Elvis’ other hits, but it does remind us of a time when the symbol of “going steady” was a guy’s class ring dangling from his girl’s necklace. You’ve also gotta love that “heck” rhymes with “neck” in this verse. Wonder what Elvis would have thought about today’s song lyrics?

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“Stomach vs. Heart” – Barenaked Ladies

I gained all this weight out of love, not hate
I’ve got so much love to give (give me a break!)
I’d love to sleep in late, but that dessert looks great.
Was it something I said or was it some I ate?

Leave it to BNL to take on two major organs in one song. Sure, it’s yet another take on the heartbroken love song, but kudos to the band for rhyming “gratification” with “constipation”…

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“Fat-Bottomed Girls” – Queen

Fat-bottomed girls you make the rockin’ world go round

Freddie Mercury wasn’t singing about the robust rump of Kim Kardashian, but perhaps this fun little ditty–along with Sir Mix-a-lot’s “Baby Got Back”–was a foretelling of society’s obsession with curvaceous women.

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“Legs” – ZZ Top

She’s got legs, she knows how to use them

Though you might need eye bleach after a glimpse of those down-to-there goatees, you had to hand it to ZZ Top for writing a song about gams to last for the ages. Feminists called foul, while the clever ad campaign behind L’eggs Sheer Energy found the perfect song for their commercial during the 1980s.

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“Footloose” – Kenny Loggins

Now I gotta cut loose, footloose
Kick off the Sunday shoes
Please, Louise, pull me up from my knees
Jack, get back, come on before we crack
Lose your blues, everybody cut footloose

This anthem from the movie (and musical and movie remake) of the same name is about breaking free of society’s mold, but it will forever be associated with Kevin Bacon’s ecstatic dance of teenage repression.

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“I’ve Got You Under My Skin” – Frank Sinatra

I’ve got you under my skin
I’ve got you deep in the heart of me
So deep in my heart that you’re really a part of me
I’ve got you under my skin

“Old Blue Eyes” immortalized the body’s largest organ, using it as a beautiful metaphor to explain how smitten he was with his lady. It’s fitting that this song gives many Sinatra fans goose bumps; his music had a way of getting under people’s skin itself.

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Naturally, there’s a bunch of other body-related songs that didn’t make the list.  Don’t forget to check out the cool YouTube playlist we put together just for you — lots of fun retro music videos to enjoy!

** What’s your favorite? Leave a comment (keep it clean!), and tell us which song gets to you.

-Barbara Bellesi

According to a recent New York Times article, master’s degrees are now outpacing bachelor’s degrees. The number of people earning bachelor’s degrees is certainly greater, but the master’s degree has become the fastest growing. Just look at this leap: In 1990, 6.7 million people had a master’s degree; in 2009, 12.3 million had a master’s degree.

The suggestion, then, is that a bachelor’s degree is no longer enough to help you get hired – you need a master’s degree just to get in the door. While this can certainly be true in such traditional liberal arts disciplines as psychology, art, and history, there are plenty of great professions you can enter without a master’s degree, including software engineering, personal financial advising, and athletic training, to name just a few.

Unless you’re locked into a profession that absolutely requires a master’s degree – like a physician assistant – there are lots of ways to leverage a bachelor’s degree and get the job of your dreams:

>> Cultivate experience. Bachelor’s degree programs offer tons of opportunities to get real-life experience in your field – the key is to take advantage of those opportunities. Yes, we’re talking about internships. Not only do internships provide you with great work experience and help you figure out what you really want to do with your life, they also show employers that you can handle the rigors of the real-world workplace.

>>Make connections. A master’s degree program is not the only place to create a professional network. In your undergraduate work, you’ll have access to professors who can mentor you and also help you get your foot in the door at various organizations. Without connections, a candidate with a master’s degree might just trump one with a bachelor’s degree – but if you commit to establishing a strong professional network in your bachelor’s degree program, you might find that, when push comes to shove, credentials matter less than connections.

>>Keep up with industry trends. If you’ve been out of school for a while, don’t let the dust settle on your education. Information is everywhere, but you have to commit to getting it. Join a professional organization, read news articles, and attend workshops and conferences in your field. These actions can boost your resume and prove that you have up-to-the-minute information and ideas, no matter when you earned your bachelor’s degree.

>>Market yourself. When hiring, most organizations are seeking candidates with a specific skill set. And just knowing that a candidate has a degree – bachelor’s, master’s, or otherwise – doesn’t guarantee that he or she has what it takes to get the job done. So it’s on you to research the organization, determine the skills and qualities sought, and prove that you’ve got ‘em in spades. Make specific bullet points on your resume that address those issues, and prepare interview-worthy anecdotes to show that your skills are the perfect match for the position.

A master’s degree can be an excellent credential, but it’s not the only path to professional advancement. For many of us, bachelor’s degrees are still getting the job done. Don’t rest on your laurels, though – commit to learning something new every day, and you may find that you already have everything you need for career success.

-Robyn Tellefsen

As we move into the second half of summer (say it ain’t so!), thoughts naturally shift to the start of a new school year. Driving by my kids’ school the other day, I started making mental lists of school supplies and reminding myself to keep an eye out for back-to-school sales so I don’t spend a fortune on notebooks and folders and glue sticks the day before classes begin.

While we’re thinking about a new school year for the kids, it’s natural to put ourselves in their shoes and ask, “Would I be ready to go back to school?” Consider these factors as you contemplate your own return to the hallowed halls of academia.

Assess your motivation.
Maybe you’ve been downsized, like Tom Hanks’ character in the recent movie “Larry Crowne.” He uses the layoff as an opportunity to go to college and improve his situation. Maybe you just want a better (or different) job than the one you’ve got. Or perhaps you’re fascinated by a certain subject, like solar energy, and you want to “soak up” everything you can about it. No matter what’s driving you, a clear-cut goal can keep you going on the days when you don’t feel up to studying.

Learn from the past.
If you’ve tried to go back to school in the past and the memory is unpleasant, take some time to consider the reasons why. Were you working full time and feeling too stressed to study in the off-hours? Were you taking too many credits, or courses that just felt too difficult? Pinpoint the problem so you don’t repeat the same mistakes. If taking two classes at once was too much, try one this time. If the school didn’t offer the academic support you needed, try a different school, or consider online courses. The idea is to learn from the past, but don’t get stuck there. Learn from the experience, and move forward.

Consider the timing.
We’ve heard stories about people studying when they’re in labor or going back to school at 92, which proves that one can go back to school at any time. Maybe those extremes don’t suit your fancy, but pay attention to other changes in your circumstances. If you’re a mom, for instance, and your kids are finally old enough to go to school full time, this could be a new window of opportunity to dust off your education dreams. You’re going to fill those extra hours with something – why not fill them with something that will help you achieve your personal and professional goals? Be open to the opportunities that a new season can bring.

The decision to go back to school can be a lot like the decision to have kids – there’s a lot of talking, thinking, dreaming, and planning involved, but if you wait for the “perfect” time, you’ll never do it. There might never be a “perfect” time to go back to school. So maybe the better question is this: Is now a “good-enough” time?

–Robyn Tellefsen

Today’s guest post comes from Laura Laing, the author of Math for Grownups, a humorous look at the ways we use math in everyday situations. Her weekly feature, Math at Work Mondays, appears on her blog www.mathforgrownups.com.

If even the thought of math makes your hands sweat, you may have chosen to pursue a career that requires no calculating at all. In that case, have a seat before reading further: as a grownup in any job, you will do math.

But there is some good news. No matter what you’ve been told or thought since you were first learning your multiplication tables, you can do math. And if you’re passionate about your career, you probably won’t even notice it. I promise.

Take a look at these examples:

1. Preschool teacher: Math for preschool teachers is all about teaching kids to count, right? Not so. If you’re serious about your work, you will probably be reading professional publications, which include educational studies. That means that a basic understanding of statistics will come in handy.  And then there’s the day-to-day stuff — like dividing kids into groups (factoring), assessing their academic abilities (percents) and even planning lessons (time management).

2. Wildlife manager: Whether working in a national forest or on a fish hatchery, wildlife managers use calculations regularly. When treating fish for parasites, a fish farmer needs to carefully calculate the amount of chemicals to be added to the water. And forest rangers use math to map out trails and even manage park visitors.

3. Graphic designer: Sure, you may have a great design sense, but artistry will only take you so far. Graphic designers use proportions to be sure that their pages are laid out in pleasing and effective ways. And the golden rectangle — a particularly proportioned shape — is the basis of most conventional layout designs. This pretty little thing is created with the constant 1.6180339887.

4.  Pastry chef: Turns out, much of baking is described with ratios or the comparison of two numbers. The basic ratio for bread is 5 parts flour to 3 parts water (5:3) with pinches of yeast and salt. Then there are all of the other calculations, including conversions, temperature and baking/rising/resting times.

5.  Entrepreneur: Trust me, when you own your own business, basic math will be your best friend. Finding the return on investment (ROI), project fees, percent of profit, payroll figures — all of these will help determine your success or failure. It’s a good idea to feel at least a little comfortable with numbers when your money is on the line.

Tell us how you use math in your everyday life.