While health care reform is grabbing headlines, health care is one of the more secure job sectors.
Some professionals in hospitals and physicians offices are seizing the moment to earn degrees. If you’re a registered nurse, you may be considering a bachelor’s in nursing, which could lead to promotions or higher-paying jobs. You also could teach future nurses.

And there are plenty of choices for nurses, with more than 700 nursing programs offering degrees at the bachelor’s level, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some are available online.
You’ll join a growing number of students – 145,845 as of 2008 – enrolling in baccalaureate nursing programs, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
Here are three questions to ask when considering a nursing degree.

1. What additional skills will I acquire with my BSN?
Students can learn the skills to work in a range of clinical settings and provide comprehensive nursing care to patients and their families. Expect to gain knowledge to make decisions quickly in health care settings, collaborate with other professionals on issues of health and wellness, and develop management skills. Officials at Jacksonville University (FL) also report that a BSN degree can be beneficial for those seeking to enter into high-demand fields such as critical care, cardiology, dermatology, ob/gyn, and oncology.

2. How will earning a BSN impact my career?
It can. Jacksonville University, which offers one of the online bachelor’s of nursing programs, reports that the degree enables nurses to move from the technical level to a professional practice. It cites a 2007 earning survey in RN magazine that found salaries are increased from 50 cents an hour to $3.20 an hour. A nurse with a BSN also could receive a specialty pay differential, the university says.

3. Is a career in teaching possible?
There is a great need for nursing teachers. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing found 32,617 qualified applicants in 2008 were not accepted due to factors including the shortage of teachers. The association’s CEO and Executive Director, Geraldine “Polly” Bednash, says: “Increasing enrollment in baccalaureate nursing programs is a critical first step to correcting an imbalance in the nursing student population and reversing our nation’s diminishing supply of nurse educators.”

In short, there are many career roads for those with a BSN. Which one will you take?

-Lori Johnston

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

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

I really discovered my love of The Beatles in college, and it’s continued to grow ever since. So I was delighted to once again participate in the Carnival of College Admissions, this time Fab Four style! Thanks to Mark Montgomery for putting together an all Beatles edition, and for including the CollegeSurfing blog as well as our sister blog, CollegeBound’s U. Got It?.

Some things I learned so far from perusing the fun posts listed:

• There are practical questions every students should ask when choosing a college — thanks Kate Scozzaro of myUsearch blog!
• A topic near and dear to my CollegeSurfing heart, written by Khan at the Higher Education Blog: Why you might be better off going to a career or technical school.
• And a very timely issue: the Money Blue Book blog lists the best student credit cards to avoid debt trouble.

But of course, there’s more to explore “across the universe” — at the Carnival, that is. So get surfin’ and let us know which posts (and which Beatles songs) are your faves!

Q: Who can I go to for advice when I’m thinking of entering a new career field?

Great question! First off, you’re already on the right track in realizing that there are always people out there that can help you learn more about your field of interest. Online resources like CollegeSurfing.com are great (excuse the shameless plug), but surfing for information has to be paired with some proactive research. Here are three people that can help…

1. The admissions officer. If you’re considering attending a career school, college or university, it’s a good idea to start by requesting information from institutions of interest. Once you accumulate information, take it to the next level by contacting the admissions department to address any specific questions you may have. That might include requirements for being admitted into a program; if the school accepts transfer credit or credit for life experience; etc. Click here for five questions you should always ask.

2. A student or alumnus from a school you’re considering. No matter how helpful the admissions officer is, remember that he or she is trying to sell the school to you. To get more of an unbiased review of a school or a particular program, seek out a student or graduate and ask specific questions. What was the workload like? Did it prepare you for work in the field? Was there hands-on learning and/or intership opportunities? Etc. You can usually find such a student through a school’s Web site, on message boards, or if you visit a school and take a tour. Just be sure to speak with someone other than the school-trained tour guide.

3. A professional in the field. As you know, the CollegeSurfing Insider is fairly new to the blogosphere. So one of the first things I did to prepare myself to be a helpful blogger is read other well-known blogs. Once I felt comfortable enough to get started, I went a step further and contacted a few of my favorite career advice and education bloggers. And guess what? One of them, Penelope Truck, a well-respected columnist, author, and blogger, responded to me just this morning with kind words and advice. Likewise, whether you want to be a cosmetologist or an X-ray technician, it’s a good idea to pick the brains of people in the field. Find out what a typical day is like, if they’re happy in their work enviroment, what skills and educational background they have, etc. That way, you’ll see if it’s something you’re cut out for, and what it takes to make it.

After networking with these three people, you’ll hopefully have a clearer sense as to what is needed to be successful in your industry of interest. Of course, a second (or third) opinion never hurts, so get talking!

Is there anyone I missed? Let me know who’s been helpful to you in your new career quest.