Colleges Offer Scholarships to Entrepreneurs

Start-up scholarships

Having an entrepreneurial spirit may help you earn scholarship money to earn advanced degrees.

Schools such as the Polytechnic Institute of New York University, known as NYU-Poly, encourage students to pursue their inventions and innovations with scholarship programs.

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Refer a Friend to Online College, Get Cash

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We all want to be supportive of our friends and encourage them to pursue and earn their college degrees.

Now some students can get paid for doing that!

Online schools Ashworth College and James Madison High School are paying students and graduates $50 for every friend they refer who enrolls in their programs. The friends have to be in a class for a minimum of 30 days for the students to get the cash.

Refer a friend programs that offer cash are offered by stores, restaurants, credit card companies, banks, attractions, and even college saving plans. We’re not seeing many colleges getting in on the act, though.

Ashworth College and James Madison High School (the for-profit schools are owned by the same company) are encouraging students and graduates to invite their friends via Facebook, Twitter, e-mail or direct mail. The school set the limit at earning $100 per year.

Ashworth College officials say the refer a friend marketing program is a way is seeks to introduce people to online education as an affordable alternative. Ashworth College and James Madison High School, both accredited schools, online high school diploma programs, more than 115 online college degrees, and online certificate programs.

We all can use a little extra cash, and for you, the program offers another way you can have a stake in your friends’ education.

Carnival of College Admissions: Happy Festivus Edition

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Welcome to the “Happy Festivus” edition of the Carnival of College Admissions. Whether you’re getting ready to celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, or just a few days off from work or school, here’s hoping that you accept this holiday-themed Carnival as our gift to you.

As always, thanks to the bloggers below who participated, and who keep working hard to make each issue a success. And thanks to Mark Montgomery, who plays Santa to us blogging elves, for giving me the opportunity to host.

Without further adieu, merry clicking!

Choosing the Right College (from the “nice” list)

Choosing the right college is like choosing that perfect present for your significant other. It can be challenging and fun, but you don’t want to end up making a poor choice that’ll you’ll regret (or have to hear about) for years to come. Consider this your college choice gift guide:

If it’s an actual gift guide you want, don’t miss CollegeBound’s Holiday Gift Guide 2009 at the College – U. Got It? blog. Barbara Bellesi’s fun picks will make you go revise your wishlist — trust me!

Now back to choosing a college…

Sophie Maddox presents some of the benefits of attending a two-year school in her post Community College, I couldn’t have been More Wrong at Sophie’s Blog. Take a look and see if you’ve made some of the same assumptions as she did, before she attended, that is.

“The call to strip higher education of its non-essential elements ignites debate,” says Mark Montgomery in  his Great College Advice blog. His post examines just What is a No Frills Education — you may be surprised to realize that everyone’s answer is different!

Home School College Counselor presents When Should Your Student Visit College Campuses? posted at Home School College Counselor, saying, “When should we begin visiting college campuses? Before you hop in the car or jump on the plane to check out your child’s new home and learning environment over the next four years, a couple of preliminary steps should be taken to save both time, money, and headaches.”

If you’re in the throes of high school, or not too far removed from it, you might relate to Basil‘s The AP Student, which takes a look at this overachieving high schoolers typical day. Check it out at the Teen College Education blog.

“If, as a prospective college student, you believe there is strength in numbers, then you might think about enrolling in an open university,” says Elisha Knackwood. She presents a look at the Top 10 Largest Universities in the World at the College Stats.org blog. You may be surprised at which schools are and aren’t listed.

College Life (like living in the North Pole)

For students who venture off to college, out on their own for the first time, it may feel like they’re living in the North Pole. It can feel very cold at first until they get used to it. Before long, once they get used to the elf-workshop-like training (a.k.a. core classes), college can become the jolliest place on Earth. Here are some tips for the trek:

If ever there was a time to need 40 Money Tips for College Students, it’s now. Jim Wang delivers at the Blueprint for Financial Prosperity blog, saying college students should graduate with more than just a piece of paper. Some financial “cents” would be good, too!

Here at CollegeSurfing Insider, our newest blogger, Lori Johnston, hopes you’ll check out how Tweeting Can Lead to an Internship. The double-edged sword is that there are more online networking opportunties than ever, but it also expands your competition pool. Find out how to stand out.

Most college students who are on their own for the first time could use a little pocket change. But for those with intense studies, it’s a good idea to choose part-time work wisely. Ann presents his picks for the Top 5 Jobs for Students at the AidScholar Blog. See if you agree…

Kathryn Hawkins presents Judge Judy 101? Five of the Weirdest College Courses Around posted at My College Guide, saying, “Five of the most unique college courses available at American universities.”

Financial Aid (or how to outsmart the tuition Grinch!)

Ever feel like there’s a tuition Grinch who wants to take every last cent you have? That’s because your savings account, like the Grinch’s heart, is two sizes two small. Whose isn’t when it comes to hefty college costs? Luckily, financial aid and scholarships can save the day…

“Sometimes it seems like the hardest thing about college is finding the money to pay for it,” says Sandra Proulx. “Education grant money from the government is a blessing for those that qualify but sometimes it is a royal pain in the butt to find out the status of your money.” Learn How to Find Out What’s Going On With Your Pell Grant in her informative post at EducationGrant.com Blog.

I always love reading about the weird and wacky things high schoolers will do for scholarship money.  Allison Johanson offers a few examples in her post, How to: Find & Apply for Weird College Scholarships. Which one is your favorite? Let her know on the How To E-D-U blog.

Matthew Paulson presents some unique ways to Save Money On College Costs at the Fine Tuned Finances blog. From getting paid for your grades to saving on textbooks, you don’t want to miss these tips.

Education Exploration (going on a sleigh ride)

Not everyone is interested in pursuing a traditional college education. That’s why sometimes it’s lovely weather for a sleigh ride through other educational avenues available to build skills and secure a strong career.

“You can avoid recession woes and bad hair days,” says Barbara Bellesi, with  Cosmetology Careers. Learn what it takes to break into this glamorous profession (yes, you’ll be hitting the books!) at the SpaBeauty Blog.

For more careers that doesn’t necessarily require college, but that can be propelled by career education, check out CollegeSurfing’s From Laid Off to Learning blog series. Each week, you’ll meet a new layoff victim who turned to education to open new doors.


That concludes this edition. Now, remember: This is the season of giving! All of these bloggers have given the gift of their college knowledge, so now it’s your turn to give back by sharing this link with your social media friends, subscribing to your favorite blogs above, and sharing some comment love.

If you’re a blogger interested in submitting your blog to the next edition, use our carnival submission form.

Happy Festivus to all, and to all a good night!

-Dawn Papandrea

Carnival of College Admissions: 32 Blog Flavors and Counting…

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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 CompletionDaille 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