Edgy

While going back to college can be difficult and time consuming, lots of people succeed at it. Advancing your career or changing career paths altogether are excellent reasons to go back to college.

This list of celebrities that have gone back to college, often after working in their industry for years, is living proof that you can do it too!

Shakira - History of Civilization

Latin pop singer and Grammy Award Winner Shakira recently enrolled in a history of western civilization course at the University of California, Los Angeles. She reportedly wore a big backpack and hat, and even went by a different name so she would be less recognizable -- that's something not every college student struggles with.

Shaquille O'Neal - Business

O'Neal is a star both on the basketball court and in the classroom. The multiple award-winning NBA All-Star left school to pursue his athletic career, but promised his mother he would go back someday. In 2000 he graduated with his Bachelor's in Business from Louisiana Sate University and in 2005 he earned his Master of Business Education from the University of Phoenix. O'Neal said he decided to go back to college after thinking about what he will do when he retires from basketball.

James Franco - English

Best known for his role in all three Spider-Man movies, actor James Franco went back to the University of California, Los Angeles to earn an honors degree in English in 2008. But he's not stopping there. Franco is currently working toward his Master of Fine Arts in writing at Columbia University. Even Golden Globe winners earn degrees.

Michael Jordan - Geography

Michael Jordan left school to play basketball and became one of the most well-known players in the NBA. However, being an NBA champion, MVP, All-Star, and Slam Dunk Contest Winner multiple times wasn't enough for Jordan. He went back to college at North Carolina-Chapel Hill and earned his degree in geography.

Steven Spielberg - Film

Everyone loves Jaws and E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial but few people realize the man behind these movie successes earned his degree at the age of 55. Spielberg went back to college to earn his Bachelor of Arts from Cal State University's film school even after a successful and busy career and after being awarded five honorary doctorates. If Spielberg can benefit from going back to college, so can you.

Sandra Bullock - Drama

Actress Sandra Bullock, who starred in movies like While You Were Sleeping and The Blind Side and has won an Oscar and Golden Globe, among several other awards, left East Carolina University in favor of acting. However, she later returned and earned her bachelor's degree.

Brian May - Physics

Brian May, lead guitarist for Queen graduated from London's Imperial College with honors in physics and mathematics. Impressively, after being in the music industry for 30 years, May went back to college and earned his Ph.D. in physics. He wrote his thesis on Interplanetary Dust and was invited back to the school as a visiting researcher to study astronomy.

By Bob Roth

I think people, especially parents, put way too much emphasis on trying to figure out what major a student should pursue in college. Often the student is subjected to a battery of tests to help determine a major. I've heard it said, "You don't have to decide at 18 what you're going to be at 48." I have found that the undergraduate major may not be as important as people are lead to believe.

I was on a radio program last Saturday (this is July 2010) to discuss college education. One of the hosts shared that his daughter had a Political Science degree from a local university and has spent the last two years looking for a job. I responded that I had taught Political Science at that particular university and paused for a moment.

I tried to correlate Political Science degree and not finding a job. I quickly scanned my vast knowledge of the job market and asked myself "Is she looking for an entry level Political Scientist position?" I answered my own question... "Baby, there aren't any... never have been and probably never will." Maybe I'm wrong and you can comment on this to correct me.

How Important is Your College Major? The Short Answer Is Maybe Not Much!

We have to ask ourselves the fundamental question: Why do I need to go to college? Well, most people respond "So you can get a better job." OK - didn't work this guy's daughter. Is there something missing in this equation? Maybe so. Let me have a crack at it.

If you are going to college so you can get a better job, then you need to major in something that would make you valuable and attractive to a potential employer or prepares you for an established career field. I think there is absolutely ZERO demand for young political scientists at, let's say, at Wal-mart corporate. But, I might be wrong. Someone from Wal-mart might need to correct me on this.

Let's face it, most people major in Political Science (and English, and History, and Sociology, etc.) because they have a keen interest or even a passion for the body of knowledge. From the perspective of preparing a person for a career in one of those fields, the universe collapses to teaching or going to grad school to get credentials to teach at a higher level. There are very few pure practitioners in these fields, those who are have grad degrees and are somehow tied into a university and have teaching experience.

So, what's the solution? Keep in mind this is coming from a guy who has a bachelors degree in Criminal Justice. I've never busted anyone or wrote a parking ticket. The degree hangs proudly on the wall. My second doctorate is in Urban and Public Administration... nobody has asked me to be their Mayor. It, too, hangs proudly on the wall, with a few more degrees in-between the two.

So my counsel:

First - unless you have a Damascus Road or Burning Bush experience, I would not be too hasty in selecting a major... and I would fend off all those who think you have to know what to major in before you even set foot on campus. I thought I wanted to major in Computer Science. After three weeks of manually punching cards (this was a loooong time ago), I rethought my career plans.

Second - Take a variety of courses. How do you know you don't like Geology? Or Journalism? Take your basics and an elective or two your first semester.

Third - Think Strategically. If you develop a passion for Shakespeare but don't see yourself teaching high school English, major in something more practical like Journalism or Business, and minor or double major in English. Pursue a path that is both-and, not either/or. Balance your passion with practical preparation for a job after you graduate.

Finally - It's your life. College is a place to learn. I took Science Fiction Literature my sophomore year to watch monster movies and get an easy A. Boy, was I wrong! I was forced to learn how to dissect, sauté, carve up, and savor every morsel in literature, and barely escaped with a C. But I became impassioned with literature and was now equipped to enjoy and appreciate it. Though I never majored in it, I have taught literature at both the high school and college level, and written several complete English curriculums for high school and college. Not bad for an unrequited cop and mayor.

Time management means being willing to let go quickly. You know what stinks? Mean people.

Problem is a college student can waste a lot of time obsessing over someone else's bad behavior. This is one very important aspect of time management many students don't ever consider.

Have you ever spent your valuable time wondering what some students were thinking about you or reliving an embarrassing situation? Of course you have.

Problem with that is that it sends you into a black hole of major time drain. Improvements in time management can be made by just letting go of what could have been.

Whenever you spend your oh so precious time worrying about what you or someone else could have done differently but didn't, remind yourself that every minute you spent stuck in that unhappy, uncomfortable memory, is 60 seconds you've lost doing something to make you feel good about yourself and others.

My personal philosophy regarding time management that I tell college students across the country is that "no amount of time is enough if you don't know how you're going to spend it." Choose not to waste it on other people, you'll be happier for it!

Give yourself this personal time management goal. Without goals, students can drift through college without direction. Save yourself a lot of time, have a goals to focus your attention away from mean people.

Make sure you are clear about your values and goals and have a plan for your time. I always say that students who didn't learn effective time management goals work for people who do. Which group will you be in?

Tags: cal tech | carnegie mellon university | columbia university | harvard university | mit | northwestern university | priceton university | stanford university | stress | university of pennsylvania | UPenn | vanderbilt university

Now that graduation ceremonies and admissions deadlines are safely out of the way, The Daily Beast has compiled and released a list of the 50 most stressful colleges and universities in the United States.

As the site explains, five criteria were taken into account when assembling the list, including cost and competitiveness. Not surprisingly, Ivy League schools are predominantly featured on the list.

Aside from satisfying students’ curiosity as to where their alma mater ranks, the list serves as an interesting study in and of itself. As The Daily Beast notes, 2009 Professional Psychology article found 6 percent of undergrads and 4 percent of grad students said they had “seriously considered attempting suicide” in the past year, and that half of those had not told anyone about their thoughts.

Unfortunately these statistics are not that surprising to those in college. Not only does the act of going to college involve inherent stresses—separation from family, new academic requirements, new standards to live up to—but it, traditionally, takes place during a period of one’s life in which the student is growing and changing personally.

Young adults are beginning to learn who they are and develop serious relationships with others, both romantically and otherwise. As a result any dissatisfaction or depression they feel personally becomes exacerbated when placed under the additional pressures of college and academics.

It seems to me that this list might be worth a look for incoming college freshman. Often students who were incredibly successful academically and personally in high school find their confidence rocked upon entering the world of higher education.

I don’t believe that the list would be enough to deter an individual from applying or enrolling in a college that they have their heart set on attending. But I do believe that it can serve as an eye-opener for those who perhaps haven’t done much research.

By Janelle Vreeland

It’s official! Bamboozle Roadshow has kicked off their 3rd nationwide festival! Back in 2005, Bamboozle started out rocking in New Jersey and later took the music on the road in places such as Chicago and California. Bamboozle has also sparked a roadshow that visits cities across the nation with rotating acts throughout the tour.

I was lucky enough to get a chance to check out the roadshow on its stop in West Palm Beach, Florida this summer. The show was held at the Cruzan Amphitheater with two stages set up for the rotating performances; something the festival is known for.

The afternoon kicked off with Mercy Mercedes on the side stage. Their upbeat energy kept the fans going even under the rain clouds that crossed over Cruzan Amphitheater minutes after their performance began. Other incredible, energetic performances on the side stage included Stereo Skyline, The Great Planes, The Ready Set and Downtown Fiction. These artists each took turns making a seemingly rainy, dreary day turn into a fun and memorable all day party!

Taking the party over to the main stage, the day kicked off with Cady Groves. She performed a low key set along side two fellow musicians. Though, low key, the crowd was still loving every minute of the music. Later entered Hanson. The  three brothers, who began their musical careers back in 1997 with their unforgettable hit, ‘Mmmbop’ brought with them the “older” generation to Bamboozle, ready and waiting to support them.

Other main acts consisted of Forever the Sickest Kid, Cartel, Good Charlotte, All Time Low. The evening finished with Boys Like Girls. All of these performers proved to put on a fantastic show for their fans.

The only glitch of the evening was when All Time Low's equipment failed to work, causing the band to have to cut their set short. Though, that didn’t discourage the band. Instead of angrily breaking their guitars, or trashing the stage, they turned the time they did have into an all out high energy display, filled with the likes of fire and smoke effects. In any case, it was an excellent night for music.

Go check out the unforgettable Roadshow event at a city near you and prepare to get Bamboozled!

By Nathalie Malpica
YOUniversityTV 

If you’ve ever had the munchies, or gotten anything to eat at Drunkin’ Donuts after a particularly adventurous night out, the University of Copenhagen has some bad news for you: You’re damaging your teeth—perhaps beyond repair.

According to BBC News, researchers looked at more than 2,200 Danish residents’ medical records, and found that those who snacked after midnight were much more likely to develop tooth loss, no matter what kind of food they ate. So it would seem that no matter if you make yourself a humble sandwich, or if you just gotta get that Whopper, you’re putting your teeth in a world of hurt.

Apparently, the reason for this is because saliva flow tends to dry up at night. Saliva is important for getting out the food debris in your mouth after you eat. Those that the study dubbed “nocturnal eaters” were more likely lose their teeth, just because the saliva wasn’t there to get rid of the gunk that built up after the midnight snacks.

Tags: tanning bed | university of minnesota

Oh, cast of “Jersey Shore”, you’re in for so much trouble: According to Twin Cities station KSTP TV, the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health and Masonic Cancer Center demonstrated in a recent study of 2,000 state residents that any persons who used a tanning bed for any period of time—let alone on a regular basis—are “74 percent more likely to develop melanoma.”

Meanwhile, what the study reportedly says about regular users of indoor tanning is that they are nearly three times more likely to develop melanoma than those who do not.

The article quotes DeAnn Lazovich, Ph. D, that the research team which she led “found that it didn’t matter the type of tanning device used; there was no safe tanning device.” Additionally, the study found that the risk of melanoma had more to due with use rather than age, as it has previously been thought.

From College News - 94-year-old art history major Hazel Soares would disagree.

Think it’s too late to go back to college? Think again.

Over the weekend, 94-year-old Hazel Soares earned a bachelor’s degree in art history from Oakland’s Mills College as detailed here by the Washington Post.

Soares graduated high school during the Great Depression, which prevented her from continuing her education. Several decades later, she described her situation by saying, “Unless you had some help, it would have been impossible to go to college. However I never lost the desire to go.”

Soares is the second-oldest person to graduate from college, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. The world’s oldest college graduate is 95-years-old, and graduated from college in 2007, according to ABC News.

This is a Betty White sitcom waiting to happen. Can’t you just imagine the hijinks that would ensue? Normal college activities like meeting your new dorm mate, cheerleader tryouts and keg stands would all be instantaneously hilarious. (Maybe she could be a guest start on NBC’s Community? That would set things up for her own spin-off!)

To be slightly more serious, it could not be any cooler that a 94-year old great-grandmother went back to college to earn her degree. Though she may be past a point where she gets her complete money’s worth out of the degree, Hazel never stopped believing in the importance of higher education and will start looking to work as a docent at a museum.

Well, that or she wanted to meet some really hot college guys. Either way, good for her.

By Joe Anello

From College News - Centenary College senior Emily Hawley calls up longtime boyfriend during graduation speech; couple have no planned wedding yet.

Here’s one of those stories that you want to file under, “aww.” According to CBS News, New Jersey-based Centenary College valedictorian Emily Hawley proposed to her seven-year boyfriend, Josh Walker.

Which is sweet enough as is. But once you factor in the fact that Hawley called now-fiancé Josh Walker during their graduation ceremony, while she was giving the speech to the entire senior class, and this story goes into adorable overdrive.

Both Hawley and Walker appeared on the ‘“The Early Show” to describe how the proposal went down. Hawley told CBS that she had turned in her speech for faculty approval. Once it was granted, Hawley asked if she could tack on the marriage proposal afterward, a request that was obviously also approved.

According to CBS, Hawley said, from the stage: “I’m sorry to be wasting everyone’s time today doing this. But it’s something I think that’s kind of fitting. I like to consider us as Mr. and Mrs. Centenary. So here before you all, I just wanted to say, ‘Josh, I love you more than everything. Will you marry me?’”

No wedding date has been set.

By Jon Graef

Review comes after second Miami of Ohio sorority is suspended for "destructive behavior" at spring formal.

College News is hardly in the position to wonder about kids these days, what with barely being out of college ourselves, but the recent behavior of two sororities at Miami of Ohio certainly gives one cause for concern. Apparently, officials at Miami agree.

According to the Associated Press, the president of Miami University is vowing to review the school’s punishment and policies for campus greek system after a second Miami of Ohio sorority, Alpha Xi Delta, was suspended for what the AP described as “destructive behavior” at a spring formal.

To describe that as an understatement would be an insult to restraint. Pi Beta Phi, the first suspended sorority, engaged in behavior that reads like a greatest hits of college-era bacchanalian excess. As a headline on Deadspin helpfully explained: “Miami University Had The Pukiest, Poopiest, Sexiest Spring Formal Ever.”

Pi Beta Phi has been suspended for one year for those actions, and were permanently banned from the lodge where the formal was held. As if they’re in competition to behave in the worst manner possible, the AP report alleged that Alpha Xi Delta students:

“...vomited in different places, left the men’s bathroom with puddles of urine, dropped drinks onto the dance floor, and tried to steal bottles of boozes from the bar after many sneaked in their own alcohol in flasks or concealed in plastic bottles.”

Another student was about to urinate on an “early 19th century slave pen exhibit”, but an event coordinator caught the student in the nick of time.

By Jon Graef