And now, a roundup of fun sites, blogs, and articles that’ll keep you busy and entertain  you before you hit the books in a few weeks…

Unigo.com’s Back to School College Guide – This time of year, many sites tout their back to school coverage, but what makes Unigo’s unique (say that fast three times!), are the cool interactive components. Our faves: Watch grads on camera giving freshmen advice, or get money tips via “what I wish I’d known about my college budget.”

Snapple Real Facts — Want to always have fun facts at your disposal? Great for making small talk at a campus icebreaker or even an informal job interview. For example, did you know that every ton of recycled paper saves about 17 trees? Tell that to your environmental science professor for some extra credit!

Speaking of saving trees, for all of you “green collar” workers out there, check out CareerBuilder’s new site GoingGreenJobs.com. Good resource articles, and of course, a job search engine — all related to working for a sustainable company. And, at least you know you won’t be making copies all day!

Even if you do spend time at the copier, filing, or even prepping for the SAT,  “paying your dues” job can have a lot more value than you think! Elizabeth King tells you why you shouldn’t look down on drudge work. “Lots of things that aren’t necessarily fun lead to great things,” she says. Next time you feel like you’re doing work that’s “beneath you,” click in here and you’ll see that you’re not necessarily wasting your time or talents.

Finally, if you’re anticipating the sinking feeling of signing away your savings on a tuition check, check out CollegeBound.net’s “25 Things You Can Gain From College Beyond a Degree.” Lots of fun and funky returns on your investment for sure!

Happy Surfing!

** This just in: The latest edition of the Carnival of College Admissions is live. With tons of links from the top college bloggers in the biz, you’re on track for lots of afternoon procrastination surfing. Just be sure your boss isn’t looking for you!

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.

Ready for a career switch? In an uncertain job market, it’s a good idea to consider all your career options — and workers in Washington State are doing just that. According to the Workplace Confidence Survey released in April by Everest College, 57 percent of respondents said they would change careers if nothing stood in their way. And about 65 percent reported suffering from work-related stress about potential pay and job loss.

If you’ve got career-switching on the brain, set yourself apart from the competition by employing these six sure-fire career strategies.

1. Take a career aptitude test.
When you sit around thinking about what you’d like to do and what you’re good at, you may end up going in circles – especially if you’re having trouble seeing past the stress of your current career. That’s where professional services come in handy. Career aptitude tests can help you discover your interests and skills and match them to a specific career field. And you don’t have to go far to access these resources. Some of the most popular career tests are available online for free or a small fee.

2. Position yourself as an industry expert.

Once you’ve solidified a career direction, spend time researching the field. Find out what a career in the industry entails, stay abreast of the latest news in the field, and set up informational interviews with professionals in the industry. In short, make yourself as knowledgeable about the industry as possible so that, when hiring decisions are made, you will have distinguished yourself as someone in the know.

3. Showcase your strengths.
Use the knowledge gained from your research to determine your areas of strength pertaining to the field. The transferable skills you discovered during your initial career assessment will comprise a major part of your personal marketing campaign. When you can demonstrate specific ways that your personality and experience fit a job description, you will capture the attention and interest of any hiring manager.

4. Wipe out your weaknesses.
Your research may also uncover areas in which you are lacking skills or experience. Fill those gaps by taking a class, pursuing certification, or brainstorming creative ways to beef up your skills. Not only will you get yourself up to speed for the career you seek, you’ll also demonstrate proactiveness and dedication — desirable traits in any industry.

5. Infiltrate the industry.
After you’ve learned everything you can about the field from the outside, it’s time to get an inside look at daily operations in the industry. This is something you can do even while working at your current job. Find out about part-time work in the industry, or even opportunities to volunteer. The rewards may not be financial at first, but you will reap benefits in the form of relevant work experience, career confidence, and strong industry contacts.

6. Be like Gumby.
When you’re finding your way into a new career, flexibility is the watchword. In order to make a successful career switch, you may need to accept an entry-level position and a lower salary than what you’ve grown accustomed to. You may even need to relocate or commit to traveling a certain percent of the time. Analyze yourself and your current situation – if you can realistically (and cheerfully) make some concessions, you may find yourself first in line for the career of your dreams.

– Robyn Tellefsen

What do you suggest for those interested in switching career gears?

Nobody wants to get laid off. And in this economy, very few will voluntarily quit their jobs. A job is financial security, a way to feed your kids and keep a roof over their heads. But what if the unthinkable happens? What would you do?

Once the fear subsides, some people are able to see unemployment as an opportunity, a chance to explore an interest they’ve never fully pursued.

A recent Boston Globe article chronicles the plight of laid-off software engineers and financial types who are taking the time to go back to school to engage their creative side and feed their soul. They are taking courses in painting and digital photography, furniture making and graphic design. They’re pursuing passions that have lain dormant through years of analyzing spreadsheets, making marketing presentations, and navigating the corporate jungle.

[Debra] Samdperil [director of continuing education at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (Boston, MA)] says exploring the arts helps people in career limbo whether their interest lies in the creative or business fields. “It kind of keeps things in perspective, in terms of what’s important in their lives and also gets them to think creatively about their situation,” she says. “The skills you learn in an art environment or art class are more transferable in terms of creative thinking strategies. . . . It’s not just business skills and more practical thinking. It’s how you think about your life.”

If you don’t have a vision for something you could do besides what you’re doing now, a layoff is especially frightening. But what if you allowed yourself to dream for a bit, to think of what you’d really like to do if there were no constraints? Once you have your answer, you’d be surprised how few of those constraints are real, and how many are rooted in fear.

I have a friend whose job is moving clear across the country. If he moves his family away from their home and their friends, he gets to keep his job. If he doesn’t, then he joins the fast-growing ranks of the unemployed, desperately looking for ways to pay the mortgage.

It’s not my decision to make, of course. But I wonder what kinds of creative talents my friend has up his sleeve, talents he could use to pursue something beyond the path he’s on right now. What if he gave up his well-paying job, nice house, and 401K and decided to live on less and make a go of a new career altogether? It would probably require a return to school and a major lifestyle change. And maybe he would be happier in the end.

As for me, I’ve dreamed of running a professional counseling practice with my husband. I don’t think the time to pursue that dream has come just yet. But I hope that when my opportunity does come knocking, I’ll have the courage to open the door.

Comment up: If there were no constraints, what career would you pursue?

– Robyn Tellefsen

Internships are a fabulous way for people of all ages to see how they might enjoy a particular field. The downside is that most internships are unpaid; but the upside is networking, getting your foot in the door, and possibly getting a job offer at the end of it all. No, you’re not guaranteed a job with an internship, but you’re more likely to secure one with your internship experience. And although the current state of the economy may have left many unemployed, the key to a new job could be an internship.

CareerBuilder.com recently conducted a survey of employers and 59 percent stated that they are more likely to hire those who have interned for their company over those who have not. That’s a large percentage of employers who are looking within, instead of going with a complete stranger. An intern has already been cultivated to work within the company’s set of standards and it’s much easier to work with this than training someone who is not used to working at the company at all.

In fact, I can attest to the internship-materializing-into-a-job mentality. As a rising college junior I interned here at CollegeSurfing and when it came time for graduation, my editor called me and told me she was looking for another writer. It was through my hard work and dedication that I was able to score my first job out of college. Yes, it may have been perfect timing, but without my internship I may not have been the first one on her list.

So consider an internship – it’s certainly beneficial when you are entering any stage of your profession in any stage of your life. And there are a select few internships that do pay! If you’re proactive enough you’ll find one that will be perfect for you. After all, someone has to score the paid internship — why shouldn’t it be you?

For more information on internships visit:
Internships: The Ultimate Career Tryout
Too Old for an Internship? Career Switchers Say No Way!

-Amanda Fornecker

When we were kids, my sister and I spent a lot of time singing in the backseat of our parents’ car. Much to her chagrin, I often made up lyrics to songs I didn’t really know. But sometimes we would purposely alter song lyrics together to suit our fancy. One of my personal faves is our overhaul of Madonna’s “La Isla Bonita”: “Last night, I dreamt of a bagel” instead of “Last night, I dreamt of San Pedro….” Good times.

As much as I still enjoy giving music a makeover (changing KT Tunstall’s hit to “Suddenly I see/Why the Bee, she means so much to me” for my daughter comes to mind), I never thought these kinds of silly songs could amount to more than a few laughs – least of all a career makeover.

Enter the Careereoki contest for anyone looking to advance their current career, prepare for a new field, or get training to reenter the workforce after unemployment. In the recent contest sponsored by the Orange County School Board; Workforce Central Florida, an Orlando-area job placement organization; and a local advertising agency, more than 60 career hopefuls videotaped themselves singing about their dream career (karaoke-style, of course) to compete for the grand prize – tuition for a certificate program at an Orange County, FL, technical school.

As proven by the contest winner, Nichole Nagy, a good singing voice was not a prerequisite for entry. Finalists were chosen for their originality, creativity, and humor. And as you watch Nagy dance around with her two little kids, crooning “Bad Case of Nursing Blues” to the tune of Robert Palmer’s “Bad Case of Loving You,” you’ve got to give her points for gumption. Anyone who can put their obvious lack of vocal talent on display for the world to see and hear in order to get a good career education gets my vote.

As she put it:

“I can’t sing to save my life, but I will go ahead and try this, because I am willing to do anything to get school paid for.”

Her grand prize, worth $8,000, includes a career training scholarship, personal and resume makeovers, and a $100 gas card. Two first-place winners also won tuition help, resume makeovers, and $50 gas cards.

Now Nagy can take a break from unemployment and finally afford the nursing education she’s been dreaming about. Makes me want to sing the Eurythmics: “Sweet (career) dreams are made of these/Who am I to disagree?”

-Robyn Tellefsen

I’m taking a break from reading my friends’ “25 random things” lists on Facebook to post an education version of the 25-things phenomenon. Enjoy!

1. In career school, you can complete your education quickly and get a job even quicker.
2. Career school classes are small, offering plenty of individual attention.
3. Most career schools require a high school diploma or GED for entry.
4. Some career schools require high school transcripts, SAT/ACT scores, and an entrance exam score for entry.
5. Career school diploma or degree programs typically last about two years.
6. Less time spent in school means less money spent overall on tuition and student loans, and fewer lost salary opportunities.
7. Median annual earnings for associate degree holders were $37,990 in 2005, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
8. Career education provides relevant, job-specific training and certification.
9. Career education instructors are industry experts who have made their living in the field.
10. Career education provides preparation for a career in culinary arts, legal assisting, computer support, and more.
11. At career school, you can take customized courses instead of the usual general education requirements.
12. Career education revolves around honing skills you can use immediately after graduation.
13. Career education provides measurable goals and certain outcomes.
14. Career education offers another opportunity to get on equal academic footing with your peers as you compete for jobs.
15. Average published tuition and fees at public two-year colleges were $2,402 in 2008-2009, according to the College Board.
16. Accredited career schools may be eligible to offer federal and state financial aid.
17. You can go to career school less than half time and still be eligible for financial aid.
18. Between 2003-2004 and 2008-2009, average net tuition and fees (published price minus grant aid and tax benefits) declined for public two-year colleges, reports the College Board.
19. Credits earned through a career school diploma or certificate can often be applied to an associate or bachelor’s degree program.
20. Most career schools consult with local business leaders to tailor their curriculum to industry needs.
21. Career placement rates at reputable career schools are typically high.
22. Career education can save you from getting stuck behind a desk all day.
23. Career education offers entry into some of the fastest-growing careers in the country, such as health care and technology.
24. Career education can help you figure out what you want to do with your life.
25. Pursuing career-focused education is a great way to launch a new career.

-Robyn Tellefsen

Welcome to the 6th edition of the Carnival of College Admissions, and the first one hosted here at CollegeSurfing! Thanks to Mark Montgomery, the Great College Advice guru, for passing the torch. I’m under pressure to live up to the first five installments, and so I do my best to present to you: The Six Degrees of College Admissions. I apologize in advance for a blizzard of puns, plays on words, or metaphorical musings.

Nevertheless, December is a huge month in the cool world of college for at least six reasons I can think of:

1. The most competitive colleges and universities have admissions application deadlines this month
2. The SAT — every collegebounder’s rite of passage — was this past weekend
3. Juniors are getting cracking on their research after seeing their frenzied upperclassmen scramble
4. College students are taking their semester finals and looking forward to winter break
5. The economic climate has been pretty cold as of late, too, making it primetime to get a jump on financial aid (January is Financial Aid Month!)
6. Maybe not college-related exactly, but have you noticed it’s getting to be quite nippy, at least in my neck of the woods? In fact, at times, it feels like it’s six degrees outside! Brrrr….

Hence why it’s the perfect time to get warm and fuzzy. First, by thanking all of the wonderful participants featured below, both regulars and newcomers — welcome! And next, by encouraging you, my dear readers, to learn from these great posts as your college admissions process, campus life, or post-graduate world of work heats up. Get clickin’…

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** Admissions ** The Long Road to a Degree

Mark Montgomery presents Elements of a Good College Fit, Part One: Academics posted at Great College Advice. “Finding the right college is like finding a good pair of shoes,” he says. “You have to know what you need. You have to know what you like. And you have to take the time to shop around.”

Genevieve Blaber ponders college admissions testing abroad in If Only the SATs Were Held in South Korea, posted at College – U. Got It?. Talk about serious degrees of exam pressure!

While the weather outside might be frightful, the winter holiday can be productive for boarding school students looking ahead to college. Peter Baron’s Holidays Are A Good Time to Work On Private School Applications at AdmissionsQuest explains why.

Wondering how college football is like college admissions? Adam Epstein throws a blog touchdown with this cold-weather sport analogy. Check out College Admissions and the BCS posted at Adamissions.

Get some cold, hard advice when it comes to friends and your college decision from Robin Levinson’s Campus Compare: Dear Babs Q&A blog: Should I make my college selection based on my friends?

Mark Truman won’t leave you out in the cold, confusing world of “too good to be true” college application officers. His post Northern Arizona University’s Personal Advantage Application Is NOT a Scam at Omniac Attack! clears the air and teaches a lesson in how colleges are marketing to you.

To what degree should colleges try to recruit students in the future? Brad J. Ward poses the question, “”Do you need a social media strategy?” in his post Social Media Strategy in Higher Ed at SquaredPeg.com.

Ernest Koe presents another degree of discussion — a great breakdown of Web 2.0 tidbits — on the topic of Social media and school Admissions at edSocialMedia.

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** College Life ** Fun and Survival Beyond the Degree

Want to stand out from your college peers in this frozen economy? Dan Schawbel offers expert insight on how to promote yourself online and beyond. Consider this required reading: College Students Require Personal Branding Classes at the Personal Branding Blog.

Don’t hibernate this winter semester or fall victim to the Freshman 15. Instead, feel the burn, says Tom Tessin. Check out his post Exercise and College Students at the FCC Student Blog.

Can you feel the credit crunch chill in the air? College students should warm up to good credit habits now, says Raymond. Click into Why College Students Should Apply For Student Credit Cards posted at Money Blue Book.

“You know that internal alarm that we all too often ignore?” asks Brett J. Callahan. Before you break into a cold sweat, it’s called intuition, and guest blogger Laura Kowalski discusses why every college student needs it here: Intu-what? at 2East: The College Living Blog.

Working toward your degree should include some actual work on campus, says TJ Hanson. You’ll get even more from your college experience, according to his post, On-Campus Jobs for College Students – It’s Not All About Money at The Digital Student Blog.

Six feet under? Khan asks Is the Internship Dead? at the Higher Education and Career Blog. “Despite a small school of naysayers, most career counselors and workplace consultants believe internships are alive and well.”

Craving a game of Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon? Or actually, just some bacon? Hungry college students listen up: Shae’s offering a big college Cookbook Contest at The Collegiate Gourmet.

Especially for education or psychology majors interested in the cold, hard facts on learning styles, Daniel Willingham presents Education Reporting of Research: Buyer Beware posted at Britannica Blog. “While most teachers progress from easier topics to more advanced ones, that may not always be the best approach, according to a new study.”

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** Financial Aid ** Fight the Frigid Pay-for-your-degree Forecast

Christopher Penn, Financial Aid Podcast crunches some chilly numbers for you, and offers lots of smart advice in his post The Coming Financial Aid Crisis, Part 2 in a Series posted at Financial Aid Podcast Free MP3 Internet Radio.

You’ve been accepted, now what? Brandon Mendelson answers the chill-down-your-spine question of how to afford college in Planning For The Financial Aid Crisis posted at The Graduate Student Survival Blog.

Wondering to what degree colleges are feeling the recession? O. Daille Nation-Ashley breaks it down in Credit Crunch – College Challenge posted at CEOmum. Read through for some encouraging news, too!

If financing college is a struggle, why not head to the chilly North? Todd Johnson explores college savings in Canada in A Great Way to Save on the Cost of College posted at College Admissions Counseling.

Winter holidays and gift giving go hand in hand, so don’t miss this unique idea with a college twist. Save Up For College With FreshmanFund’s 529 College Savings Plan Gift Registry posted at Savings Toolbox tells you how to get Aunt Edna and Grandpa Harry to help pay for college.

If you thought financing college was fun, look ahead to Student Loan Options For Graduate Students posted by Don at Student Loan Guru. “With student loan lenders become more strict with their lending requirements, some graduate students are finding their options dwindling.” Chilling, indeed, but this list offers hope.

Like a warm winter coat, government protection for private student loans may be on the way, says the Student Loan Guru in his post, Support for Private Student Loans coming from the US Treasury at Student Loans 101.

When traditional loans don’t cut it, don’t give up on the degree. As Eric says, Try Borrowing from an Innovative Loan Program. Learn more at Dream Strategy.

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** The Post-College Grind ** Life and Work After the Degree

Don’t put a freeze on your job hunt just yet. Hiring trends for college grads are still quite toasty, hence my recent CollegeSurfing Insider post, Stop Worrying About Jobs, Young Whippersnappers.

Jessica Daniels from The Fletcher School at Tufts, A Graduate School of International Affairs, delves into the cool-as-ice gigs of former alumni, and how their kids are growing up globally in her post, Second Generation Internationalists. Read closely for a mention of the Carnival’s very own Mark Montgomery!

“Have you graduated from, or will soon graduate from, a degree program? Do you know what you’re going to say in response to job interviewer’s questions?” Put your worries on ice at the Degree Talk Blog with these tips on what NOT to share with your prospective employer: Got your Online Degree? Ready for a Job Interview?

Did you ever sit with a cold stare at your professor, wondering if anything you’re learning is relevant? Dr. Delaney Kirk thinks the answer may surprise you. See why in You’re Really Going To Have To Know This Stuff! posted at Ask-Dr-Kirk.

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** Other Cool Stuff ** Not counting the wind chill factor!

How cool are iPhone apps, especially when they have an educational component? Heather Johnson presents Top 50 iPhone Apps for Educators posted at OEDb: Online Education Database.

Which gender do you think is more cool and calculating? Get to the (square) root of the issue in Are Boys Really More Hard-Wired for Math than Girls? posted at Brain Blogger.

If you want to avoid brain freeze, you need to eat brain food. Brigid helps map out a nutritional plan with her post Brain Fitness at New York Public Library. She says: “After attending a recent staff training session offered by the library’s Office of Staff Development, I decided to return to a habit of my childhood — eating sardines.”

Alvaro Fernandez explains “why attention is a critical component of learning” in his post Torkel Klingberg helps with Overflowing Brain & Information Overload posted at SharpBrains. Pretty cool stuff!

“If you’re talented at art, you might want to consider going to an art college,” says A. Lee. Learn how to select a cool art school in the post Why Bother With Art Colleges? posted at eArtFair.com.

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Hope you enjoyed the Six Degrees of College Admissions Carnival! Have fun clicking around, and please, share the love: Stumble it, Digg it, Blog it, Tweet it, Share it and help us grow! After all, ’tis the season of giving!

Bloggers, don’t forget to submit a post to the December 24th Carnival of College Admissions, hosted by Mark Truman, using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Warmest regards,
Dawn Papandrea

This week is all about getting in gear for Halloween in my household, hence my frame of mind as I post today. I’m psyched because my son chose to be a doctor this year. It’s the kind of choice that makes a mom proud. OK, I know I should get a grip. It’s a Halloween costume, not necessarily what he wants to be when he grows up, but a mom can dream right? Besides, it’s better than his original idea to be a penguin (he was on a “Happy Feet” kick at the time).

I’m excited because his choice indicates to me that he has an admiration for the health profession, and maybe that could turn into a career aspiration someday. My logic is faulty given my own costume history (clown, hippie, punk rocker, etc.), but I’ll take it as a good sign nonetheless.

It also got me to thinking about a larger issue (thanks for bearing with all my mom gushing until I got to my point!) — why some of us choose our careers when we’re young, while others are still on a quest for career fulfillment well into adulthood. More important, which is the better way to go? Does it make sense to know your whole life that you want to be a lawyer or teacher, having never gotten to experience what the job actually entails for yourself? And just because you’ve wanted to be a video game designer since the third grade, how can you know if you’ll be able to grasp the advanced technology until you start learning it? Then again, it’s not easy being an undecided college major or hopping from job to job in search of one that inspires you to propel forward.

The solution is to have a realistic sense of what your dream job is all about. That means whether you have a clear sense of which field you’d like to enter or not, you need to go beyond the generalizations (”I want to help others,” or “I enjoy working with children”), and get into the nitty gritty. Some questions to think about:

- Can I handle the demands of this profession? Think about work hours, if travel is required, how much schooling is needed, etc. In theory, event planning may sound wonderful, until you realize that you might be out of town three quarters of the year and you hate flying.

- What are my sources of information about this career? If you want to become a crime scence investigator because you love watching CSI, it’s a good idea to do some more digging. Speak to real life people on the job to get a sense of what they do. Find a related professional organization and learn more about the job. Do some research into educational programs and see what the coursework is like. Don’t rely on fictional characters to tell the whole truth.

- Is this a viable career path now and in the foreseeable future? Examine what you want to do and think about what’s going on in the world. For instance, now might be a good time to go into a “green” career because it’s the important issue of the next generation. Working as a real estate agent might be tough, though, until the housing market levels out.

In essence, before you decide which career costume best suits you, try it on for size. And if you’re not happy with your pick, you can always try something new next year.

When did you figure out which career was right for you?

The big news this morning is the impact of General Colin Powell’s surprise endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama for president. It’s not just that he chose one side over another (which happens to be his own party and good friend John McCain). But it’s the way he went about it, with careful forethought, after having taken his time to follow the campaigns and make his decision. He spoke eloquently and did his homework, and it was a big score for Obama.

As anyone who has career success can tell you, the power of endorsements can make the difference in landing a new job, securing new clients, getting into a competitive educational program, or catching the eye of upper management. Having someone with a great reputation vouch for you and your work ethic can open up doors. Here’s how to get one:

- Come right out and ask. The key is to be humble and say something like: “It was such a pleasure working on this project for you. It would mean a lot to growing my business if you could offer a testimonial of my services that I could put on my website.” Or, in a less formal working relationship, it could be as simple as saying, “I hope you were happy with my work. If so, it would be great if you could put in a good word with Mr. A.”

- Endorse someone else, and chances are, the person will reciprocate. As a freelance writer and editor, I’ve been asked by those I’ve worked with many times to act as a reference or provide a LinkedIn recommendation. And I’ve been happy to do it, not only because I value others’ work, but also because more often than not, they return the favor.

- A few more things: Don’t ask someone who barely knows you to endorse you, or don’t let too much time pass after you’ve worked with someone to ask. Also, if you need something formal in writing, such as a reference letter, give ample time so the person isn’t frustrated about having to make time in a busy schedule to help you out. Lastly, never ever ask someone to lie for you. It not only makes you look shady, but it can seriously backfire.

In following my own advice, I’d just like to say that if you enjoy this blog, I hope you’ll endorse us — comment away, tell your friends, tweet it, digg it, stumble it — it’ll be much appreciated!