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Starting out in college can be scary even under the best of circumstances—new people, new professors, and new course material make college a particularly daunting phase in education. But when other students go out of their way to make starting out at college even more intimidating, things can begin to escalate much too quickly. While instances of hazing have always occurred, dating back to the earliest days of college history, in recent years hazing tactics seem to have become more violent, aggressive, and sometimes, deadly. While hazing tends to be most common among members of the Greek system, or those on an athletic team, hazing can and does occur to a wide variety of new students. And while some hazing can seem friendly and harmless, some hazing tactics can be terrifying. Even though many colleges have begun to enforce strict anti-hazing rules, huge numbers of students still report either witnessing, partaking in, or being the victim of a variety of hazing rituals. Among extreme cases of hazing, the effects can range from psychologically damaging to physically harmful. The following infographic takes a look at some of the stats and facts around hazing, as well as some of the surprising details on just how dangerous it can be.

Brought to you by EducationNews.org 

Have you ever thought why colleges in the United States cost so much? Plenty of students and their families might wonder what could be the main reasons of these high tuitions and fees for a college education. As you may have already discovered, paying for a higher quality education in the United States can be incredibly expensive. Being a student in an American college is a unique experience that has a significant amount of advantages. After all, we can all agree that higher education is definitely required in today's job market. Even though it has such positive points as being away from home and experiencing the beauty of freedom, the financial pressure is definitely a huge issue with most students, because they have to pay such high tuitions. In particular, those who do not receive scholarships or any form of financial aid have the hardest time money-wise. Thus, they would have to sacrifice and pay high tuitions and living expenses by themselves in order to achieve their dreams. There are common reasons that lead to high tuition in the United States, due to inflation, federal government budget cuts, colleges are getting hit harder now then ever before. These increased tuition rates have a negative impact on society since after school the majority will be in debt. Thus they cannot contribute as productively to their jobs.

Inflation is taking a large toll on the students at the college level as far as money goes. Now, as the cost of living goes up, the salaries that workers receive are going up in unison. Professors, grounds crews, and all personnel on campus and those working through it are getting more money now than ever before. While this sounds like they are ripping off college students left and right, people seeking a higher education need to realize that the cost of living is increasing too, meaning the people working for these universities are staying the same as far as how well off they are. Since the salaries of the workers are going up, the institutions for a higher education must dish out more money to them, making the tuitions higher. They have to increase the revenue in some aspect, so they now a days are doing this through rise in tuition rates countrywide. Vicki Smith, who is a writer for the Associated Press, informs that the tuition at WVU for the Fall 2012 semester has been increased by $145 for in-state students per semester and $449 for out of state and international students (Smith).

Catherine Rampell, a reporter for The New York Times, believes that the state funding cuts drive colleges to increase their tuition. With these large decreases in budgets for universities, they have to make up for the fiscal loss somehow; the way they do this is through increased tuition (Rampell). So, this makes sense from universities perspective but leads students into debt making harder for them to contribute to society. This makes them harder to have a decent life after graduation because of being worried about how to pay back all loans and not having this money for their own needs.

Another way that leads to a high tuition is that the federal government has the ability to dish out money as they please as long as they are discretionary funds. Regarding the flexibility they have with money, "Higher education usually falls under the 'discretionary spending' part of the budget - and in fact is often one of the biggest programs, if not the biggest, in the discretionary category" says Rampell. The reason that higher education gets less money is due to the fact that the government knows these schools have other ways of getting revenue, so they do not always allocate the amount of money for the higher education portion of the budget (Rampell).

As an example of how high the tuition is becoming, Richard Vedder is an economics professor at Ohio University, a director of the Center for College Affordability and Productivity, and the author of Going Broke by Degree: Why College costs Too Much (Vedder). In The New York Times article, he said that according to the College Board in 2011, Ohio University's in-state students pay more than $17,000 a year including tuition, room, and board, which was about 6% more than the previous year (Vedder). He found out that Americans in 2009 spent an inconceivable amount of money on higher education, which was about $461 billion, this is much more than the gross domestic product of some countries like Portugal and Norway.

Students are becoming more aware of the issue and have already started taking action toward it. In some states such as California, students demonstrated in 2008 since their tuition was doubled. Vedder urges not only students, but also families to reach out to the government programs that are available for helping with college expenses. He believes that the only one who can take real action toward the rising college costs is the federal government. Vedder says, "Whereas private businesses cut prices for consumers and costs to themselves through efficiencies that increase profits and incomes, universities lack those incentives." In saying this, it shows that the universities cannot function like a business and make money, so in order to keep the money that they need to run and expand tuition rates are increasing every year.

In a nutshell, we can conclude that tuition fees have had a negative impact and continue to do so on students because this leads them to face financial pressure. Acquiring a higher education, and going forth through the classes is hard enough as it is, when money issues enter the equation this leads to an unbearable amount of stress. Lastly, these reasons stated above frustrate students and their families year after year.

By Ahmed A Albuwaidy

Works Cited
Rampell, Catherine. "Why Tuition Has Skyrocketed at State Schools. Nytimes.com. 2 March 2012. Web. 15 Nov. 2012.
Vedder, Richard. "Why Does College Cost so Much? CNN.com. Web. CNN. Cable News Network, 02 Dec. 2011. Web. 14 Nov. 2012.
Smith, Vicki. "WVU board OK's percent tuition increases." Boston.com.June 7, 2012. Web. Dec 5, 2012.

From College News - This summer it is too hot in most of the country to do anything outdoors, making it the perfect time get organized for college in the fall. Sit down in some nice cool air conditioning with an iced coffee and get to work. What needs to be done won’t wait and it will make your life much easier in a few months. It’s time to get organized, get focused and get prepared for college.

Smart Phones Make Smart Students
Most university bound students already have a smart phone. Those that don’t need to borrow, beg or work their way into one. This is without a doubt the #1 weapon for college success. 

Miraculously everything needed to make the first year at university better is held within this little box. The best news yet it that it is easy, fun, and inexpensive to put a smart phone to work for college prep. 

Task It Baby
Task management applications are easy to use and you can cheaply download one onto your smart phone. Some of the best ones are free. Look for an application that will sync across all your devices. Some task management applications even allow collaboration in real time on projects with other students. For students with an iPhone here are three applications made just for you:

• TaskPRO
• Student Time Tracker
• iStudiezpro.

For university students carrying Android phones such as an HTC, here are three tremendous task tools to keep everything organized at college:

• Homework
• Taskos
• MyHomework

Applications that work across almost all platforms include both Remember the Milk and Wunderlist. It’s hard to get things done if you don’t know what you are doing!

College Cash Heads
Now, not in September, is the time to get the money situation organized with your parents and with the bank. Getting a student loan and financial aid? Don’t expect your money to come in on time or in full. Too often there is a hold up with student loans and financial aid that just adds extra stress exactly when you don’t need it- your first quarter or semester at college. Prepare in advance just in case by setting up a bank account with the school’s credit union. A bank account at your parents’ bank can also work well. Credit unions typically have better rates and fewer fees than banks. Check and compare rates and fees before choosing. In addition, make sure to establish direct deposit electronically with your parents’ account just in case you need it. Most banks and credit unions now have mobile applications available for your smart phone. Secure your phone with a password and through advanced security settings.

Decorating Apps and Sites to get Just the Right College Décor
Heading for college means making a life of your own outside of your parent’s home. This is going to be your personal space and you have the ability to decorate it anyway you want to. Decorating might not seem like an important thing but your dorm room is an extension of your own personal style and it will often make a first impression on people in your dorm. How and whether a student decorates is up to them. Luckily, there are several online sites that are filled with DIY decorating ideas, college dorm room supplies and tips for saving money your first year in college.

Some key things to know about college dorm living include:

1.  This is a communal environment. Noise and light are often an issue. At the top of every student list should be eyeshades, earplugs, noise reducing headphones, a small lamp for studying, a bath caddy and thongs for the shower room. Throw in a bottle of Aspirin, Tylenol and Tums for good measure.

2.  Dorm room beds are longer than standard single beds. Specially designed X-long dorm room bedding is available in cute, reasonable coordinated packages from online college bedding sites like Our Campus Market.

3.  Most students share a dorm room with another student. Try to determine as quickly as possible if you are compatible with the other student or not. If it seems like the human cockroach from hell has turned up instead of a roommate be prepared to go to the Resident Assistant (RA) as quickly as possible. No matter what do not give up in the quest to get rid of the gargoyle. Your stuff, time, sanity and grades are at stake!

Better yet try to hook up with other students from your area now. Look for someone headed to the same university and get to know him or her through online social networking sites. Then ask to share a room and put a request in with the university.

Don’t necessarily pick your best friend to be your roommate. Cousins, brothers and sisters, the rabbi’s daughter that you have known since you were three- these are all roommate non-options. Part of the college experience is meeting new people. A roommate is an opportunity to establish new relationships and broaden your horizons. However, meeting the roommate online and then in person before living with them will help to ensure that you both like each other and will mutually benefit from the relationship.

Organizational Obsessions
Despite popular lore Organizational systems aren’t just for engineering geeks and pen fanatics. Dorm rooms are small. Putting things away isn’t really optional; if you don’t put it away you will be stepping over it. Using organizational boxes, storage systems and closet organizers helps students put things away and it clears the mind. Having a level of control over your living space is psychologically important. College classes are stressful and the competition for everything from the best burgers in the cafeteria to boy/girl friends is a nightmare. In college the dorm room is one of the few things students control. Results are both quick and satisfying.

Again online shopping via the Internet is a great way to acquire decorating ideas and items to meet any budget. Sites like Pinterest are filled with fun college decorating ideas and links to organizational items and decorating sites.

Emotional Emptiness? There’s an App for that!
Many college students leave college every year not because they can’t hack it academically but because they are lonely and sad. This is a time when hormones are hopelessly out of control and yet supportive family and friends are far away. The stress of difficult classes, a few relationships gone wrong and it’s easy to get homesick, emotionally overwhelmed and feeling hopeless. Luckily students can prevent much of the emotional trauma right now using online preparation.

Start networking with Facebook, LinkedIn, Tumbler and the social site for your future college. Hook up with other students, professors and RAs. Students that currently attend the same college and those who are on their way to the same university next year are a great place to start new friendships. Searching and introducing yourself now while there is very little to do will translate into easy new friendships in the fall and quiet possibly an outstanding roommate option for next year.

From the current students ask as many questions as possible. Find out which classes to take and which teachers are the coolest. Ask about dorms, food, showers, weather, transportation, social scenes, gyms and the best places to buy used books. The more information you have before heading off to college the better. Answers to these and a thousand other questions are just a finger tap and a recharged battery away. Why learn it all when you get there? You can learn about these things at your leisure now while making new friends. It is a win win situation.

Using a smart phone and a little ingenuity can turn the dog days of summer into a bright future in the fall. Next year will be easier and a whole lot more fun. Every successful team out there uses preparation and planning to make their best plays. Why not do the same?

By Ruben Corbo

From College News - Rents expected to rise 5 percent in 2011.

Students who rent apartments instead of living on-campus can expect to see increases in the amount of rent they pay each month as renters are finally beginning to experience the effects of the real estate market’s collapse.

Up until now, only homeowners have suffered financially due to the collapse of the housing bubble, but with apartment and rental housing construction halved in recent years and a wave of former homeowners competing for apartment space with other renters, conditions have suddenly ripened for landlords to raise the rent, reported MSNBC.
Vacancy rates have been dropping, giving landlords a reason to raise the rent. Nationally, rents are expected to rise 5 percent this year and another 5 percent in 2012, according to Greg Willett, the vice president of research and analysis at MPF Research in Carrollton, Texas.

College students may experience a few more rent increases before they take the step to own property because most first-time homebuyers are in their early 30s, according to data from the National Association of Realtors, as reported by MSNBC.

To combat yearly rent increases, Tammy Kotula, a spokeswoman for Apartments.com, urges renters to negotiate with landlords, or if they know they’re staying awhile, get a multiyear lease that allows tenants to lock in a low rent, reported MSNBC. “You can definitely talk to your landlord and ask to negotiate,” she says. “A two-year lease is a pretty popular option.”

By Kathleen Hagan

From College News - Recent ACCA survey uncovers shocking details about on-campus counseling

The American College Counseling Association recently conducted its annual survey. The survey examined on-campus counseling services including the number of students an average seeking treatment, the number of students afflicted with psychological problems and the availability of counseling services. Some of the findings were downright disheartening.

The ACCA has found in recent years that the number of students with psychological problems has increased. The 2010 survey reaffirmed this trend with 91 percent of campus counseling directors surveyed noticing the trend. In addition, directors have noticed increases in individuals with psychiatric medication issues, self-injury issues and crisis issues requiring immediate response.

Although the number of students with sever psychological problems has increased over the past five years, the number of students taking advantage of counseling and the availability of counseling services has not increased accordingly.

Of the 133 student suicides reported by the campuses surveyed only 13 percent of these individuals were seeking or had sought counseling. The remaining 87 percent had not sought any counseling which raises some important questions and concerns. Why hadn’t these students sought help that they clearly needed? Were they unaware of their campus’ counseling services? Were they too afraid or embarrassed to seek help? Or were the counseling services simply inadequate or unavailable? The survey doesn’t provide answers for all of the questions, but it does provide some clues.

According to the survey, the on-campus counselor to student ratio is 1 to 1,600. The ratios at smaller schools are better, but given the abundance of students with psychological problems it is surprising that the ratio has not changed by much over the past few years (according to the 2008 and 2009 surveys).

The survey also says that 28.6 percent of counseling centers report a waiting list problem during the busy time of the year. Although counselors and directors are doing the best with the services they can provide, these findings just provide more evidence that on-campus counseling services are simply not adequate to handle the number of students seeking them.

By Janelle Vreeland

From College News - College students who don't get enough sleep have a lower GPA.

College students are not getting enough sleep, which impacts negatively on their grades and performance in the classroom.  spending nights studying for finals and writing papers, or even staying up too late talking to roommates and watching TV can cause bad sleeping habits.  Many students have part-time jobs and busy social lives which make sleep not as much of a priority.  This is a common mistake many college students make (especially during their freshman year in the dorms).

According to aasmnet.org, Dr. Epstein MD, medical director of Sleep HealthCenters in Brighton, Mass., said, “Recent studies have shown that adequate sleep is essential to feeling awake and alert, maintaining good health and working at peak performance.  After two weeks of sleeping six hours or less a night, students feel as bad and perform as poorly as someone who has gone without sleep for 48 hours. New research also highlights the importance of sleep in learning and memory. Students getting adequate amounts of sleep performed better on memory and motor tasks than did students deprived of sleep.”

Some studies show having a routine bedtime is the best way to get the right amount of sleep you need.  It can be hard on the weekends while there are parties and other functions going on late into the night, but this is one of the best ways to get on track.

Another way to get into a better sleeping schedule is to exercise.  According to colorado.edu, “Getting exercise during the day will make falling asleep at night easier, although exercising within two-three hours of going to sleep will actually make it harder for you to sleep.”

Lastly, don’t skip out on naps if you have time before 3pm.  According to education.com, Cody Quintero, a student at University of Kansas, said, “There are just times when you need that alone time to yourself, and even a 30-minute nap to get you reenergized makes the biggest difference.  You can’t keep your mind burning all day, it needs a break, too, in order for you to have mental wellness.”

Sleep is of the utmost important factor in getting a good education and living a healthy lifestyle.  Practicing a good sleep schedule in college will set you up for good sleeping habits in the future as well.

By Joe Pascente

From College News - Study finds that US economy will be short 300,000 college graduates per year until 2018.

Despite the current 9.6 percent unemployment rate, a report from Georgetown University states that employers are going to face a shortfall of college educated employees over the next eight years. The study, Help Wanted: Projections of Jobs and Education Requirements Through 2018, estimates that the US economy will be short 300,000 graduates every year until 2018.

This comes in the wake of another fiscal quarter of 1.6 percent growth in the U.S. which pales in comparison to past economic recoveries where GDP expanded at rates of six to eight percent.

So, if there is a shortage of workers, why does unemployment remain so high?

The authors of the report, Jeff Strohl, Nicole Smith and Anthony Carnevale, argue that the recession accelerated a shift from manufacturing and industrial workers to those with post-secondary degrees.

“Hundreds of thousands of low-skill jobs in manufacturing, farming, fishing, and forestry have been permanently destroyed because the recession has further prompted employers to either automate those positions or ship them offshore to take advantage of cheap labor,” the report states.

While most college graduates will enjoy being on the advantageous end of the supply and demand dichotomy, the authors of this study, along with London-based magazine, the Economist, argue that this trend is bad for the US as a whole.

The “low-skill” jobs being outsourced are allowing emerging economies to accelerate at speeds far and ahead much of the richer western economies.

A special report by the Economist argues that many Western economies like those in Europe and the US are facing the prospect of being passed up by India, China and those in South America.

“The ‘rise of the rest’ is a remarkable achievement, bring with it unprecedented improvements in living standards for the majority of the people on the planet,” the Economist argues. “But there is another, less happy, explanation for the rapid shift in the global center of economic gravity: the lack of growth in the big rich economies of America, western Europe and Japan.”

From College News - College graduates are less likely to be unemployed.

Students often question whether or not continuing their education is the right choice with diminishing financial aid, rising college tuition and high unemployment rates.  Unemployment is a state in which even many professionals find themselves, currently finding no protection from their college education. Yet studies offer a renewed sense of purpose in obtaining a college degree despite these negative factors.

College Board released a study today showing that workers with a college degree earned more money and were less likely to be unemployed.

The New York Times explained that even at the height of 2008’s recession, the median salary for those with a Bachelor’s Degree was $55,700 while the average for those with just a high school diploma was $21,900 or less.

Still, concerns cannot be quieted by such monetary statistics alone when the unemployment rate remains high.

Sandy Baum, a professor at Skidmore College, senior analyst for College Board, and one of the authors of the report, said that unemployment rates for college graduates are lower and college graduates began recovering jobs over a year and a half ago.

Of course, there are other factors that affect earning income. Choice of major is one of the most important decisions.  Every year the highest paid majors are ranked.  Every year many of the top earners can be found in engineering fields.  As of 2009, CNN cites the top five earning majors as petroleum engineering, chemical engineering, mining engineering, computer engineering, and at number five, computer science.

Still other studies suggest that having a degree may not be as profitable as in the past. In April of this year, CNN said that graduates getting their degree this year were likely to make less than graduates of the past year receiving the same degree, and while engineering careers are the highest paid, students of liberal arts would find that their average pay decreased by 8.9 percent.