Higher Education

7 Sites and Apps to Help Students Apply to College

Applying to college can be a daunting and time-consuming process, but with the right resources, you can streamline your search and simplify the application process. Here are seven sites and apps that will help you put your best foot forward and land a spot at your dream college.

1. Common App

The Common App is a platform that allows students to submit one application to multiple colleges without filling out multiple forms. Over 750 colleges and universities accept the Common App, making the application process efficient for both domestic and international students.

2. Naviance

Naviance is an online college planning tool designed to help students manage their career, academic, and personal goals. It walks students through the entire college application process while providing resources such as scholarship opportunities, career aptitude quizzes, and goal-setting activities.

3. BigFuture by CollegeBoard

BigFuture is a comprehensive college planning website backed by CollegeBoard. It includes resources such as a college search engine, financial aid information, SAT/ACT preparation courses, scholarship opportunities, and various tools to help with organization and planning.

4. Cappex

Cappex is another useful website that streamlines the college search process. By creating a profile, students have access to profiles of thousands of colleges, along with scholarship opportunities tailored specifically for them. Students can also explore possible majors and get personalized recommendations based on their preferences.

5. Scholly

Scholly is an app designed specifically to help students find scholarships for higher education. Entering personal details such as GPA, field of study preferences, background information, and location allows the app to generate a list of relevant scholarships for each student.

6. Niche

Niche offers comprehensive data on schools across the United States so that students can make informed decisions about where they would like to apply. The site includes reviews from real students about campus life, academics, and extracurricular activities. It also provides tools to compare schools side by side, information on tuition costs, and potential earnings after graduation.

7. My Coalition

My Coalition is another free online platform aimed at simplifying the college application process. It offers a portal to more than 150 colleges and universities’ admission applications, including the Ivy League schools. Additionally, it includes collaboration tools that allow students, counselors, and mentors to work together on application essays and materials.

In conclusion, these seven sites and apps provide invaluable resources for students navigating the college application process. By utilizing these tools, students can reduce stress and save time while exploring their options and ultimately securing a spot in their desired institution. Good luck with your college search!

17 Essential Lessons for Teaching the Holocaust

Introduction:

The Holocaust, one of the darkest chapters in human history, must be remembered and understood in order to prevent future atrocities. Educating others, especially young students, about the Holocaust can be a challenging task. In this article, we’ll explore 17 essential lessons to help teach the Holocaust in an impactful and sensitive manner.

1. Historical Context: Begin by discussing the historical context that led to the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Discuss World War I, Germany’s loss, and the Treaty of Versailles.

2. Rise of Anti-Semitism: Make sure to explain the deeply rooted anti-Semitic beliefs that culminated with the Holocaust. Include an examination of anti-Semitic laws and policies put into place by the Nazi Party.

3. Propaganda Techniques: Teach students about various propaganda techniques used by the Nazis to manipulate public opinion against Jews and other groups they deemed undesirable.

4. The Ghettos: Discuss how Jewish communities were segregated into ghettos which later served as staging areas for mass deportations to concentration camps.

5. The “Final Solution”: Educate students on how Nazi leadership planned and implemented mass extermination of Jews through what they called “the final solution.”

6. Concentration Camps: Explain that several different types of concentration camps existed – work camps, extermination camps, and transit camps – each with distinct purposes related to the intended outcome.

7. Heroes and Rescuers: Share inspiring stories of courage and sacrifice exhibited by individuals who risked their lives to save others during this terrifying time.

8. Victim Groups: Though Jews were a primary target, educate students on other groups who also suffered during the Holocaust, such as Romani people, Jehovah’s Witnesses, homosexuals, disabled individuals, and political dissidents.

9. Personal Accounts: Use firsthand accounts, diaries, letters or testimonies from those who lived through the Holocaust to make the experience more vivid and relatable.

10. Resistance Movements: Despite the extreme adversity, Jewish resistance movements existed in various forms, including armed uprisings and spiritual resistance. Discuss these acts of defiance and courage.

11. The Role of Bystanders: Examine the role of bystanders who witnessed, tolerated or actively participated in the systemic destruction of innocent lives during the Holocaust.

12. The Liberation: Detail the eventual liberation of Europe from Nazi rule and outline the post-war efforts to hold Nazi leaders accountable for their war crimes.

13. Antisemitism Today: Discuss modern manifestations of antisemitism and explore methods to combat this ongoing issue.

14. Holocaust Denial: Address the problem of Holocaust denial and equip students with facts to counter denialist arguments.

15. Remembrance: Teach students about Holocaust remembrance initiatives such as museums, memorials, and commemorative days that foster continued remembrance and understanding of this tragic history.

16. Connection to Human Rights: Highlight the importance of recognizing everyone’s basic human rights as a way to prevent future atrocities like the Holocaust from happening again.

17. Critical Thinking Skills: Encourage students to question assumptions, evaluate sources, and foster critical thinking skills that empower them to take an informed stand against prejudice and discrimination in all forms.

Conclusion:

Teaching the Holocaust requires sensitivity, accuracy, and an open dialogue with students about difficult topics. These 17 essential lessons can serve as a foundation for engaging with this vital part of history, encouraging students to learn from the past and strive for a world free from hatred and prejudice.

Is Accreditation Necessary For Private Schools?

Undoubtedly, there are many excellent private schools across the country. However, not all these schools need to be recognized or accredited.

What is Accreditation

Accreditation is an extensive and exhaustive exercise under which a private school is carefully inspected through proper procedures. Accreditation involves an in-depth evaluation of a private school, ranging from its management to its academics, by national or state authorities. Accreditation is a dynamic process, and all accredited institutes are required to ensure that they maintain the integrity of their processes to preserve their accreditation. Accreditation is termed as the most authentic source to gauge the quality of a private school. Its seal of approval guarantees and provides the surety that the school offers students a quality education.

Earning and Preserving of Accreditation

Accreditation is a multifaceted process spread over several years. Further, it is essential to understand that the seal of approval is not necessarily granted to all schools applying and paying for accreditation. Accreditation is a lengthy process entailing the following steps:

Self-study

Self-study is essentially the first step towards accreditation, which examines the strengths and weaknesses of the institute. After that, the institute’s compliance with local or international standards is assessed, and areas for improvement are highlighted. This step ensures that the institute’s admission policies, academics, and other aspects of student life align with its vision. The self-study should be realistic, aptly identifying any room for improvement.

Reporting to Review Committee

After self-study, the next step involves reporting to the review committee. This step involves the submission of the self-study report with references documented for the review committee. The review committee reviews and analyzes the institute according to set metrics, after which the results are discussed.

Review Committee Campus Visit

After the evaluation, the review committee plans its visit to the school. During their visit, the review committee assesses the institute’s infrastructure, resources, and environment. On their final visit, the review committee meets with the school’s administration about their views and findings.

After that, the review committee makes a detailed report regarding their assessment and recommendations for the school. The detailed report usually contains short term goals and long term goals. The short-term goals must be accomplished within the initial years before the next check-in, whereas the long-term goals are required to be attained before the reaccreditation, preferably within 7 to 10 years.

The Importance of Accreditation

Accreditation is of paramount importance and must be considered as such by the schools. The schools, instead of merely maintaining their present status, must demonstrate growth between check-ins. It is to be noted that the review committee has the right to revoke the accreditation of a private school if it is convinced that a school is not providing quality education or not complying with the committee’s recommendations. Regional accreditation associations have their own criteria and standards for accredited schools and those seeking first-time accreditation.

What did we miss?

Leadership Opportunities for College Students

College attendance lays a foundation for the evolution of a person from a personal and social front. College life seems to implore you to experience and explore new things. College leadership roles inspire people to test their abilities and aptly prepare themselves for competitive workplaces.

College life provides multiple opportunities to engage in leadership roles. In this article, we will list these opportunities.

Resident Advisor

This role is one of the best ways to polish and improve your leadership skills. This role teaches you team management, conflict resolution, crisis management, etc. Besides looking chic in your resume, it can also provide you with perks, such as a free dorm room and monetary benefits.

President of the Student Body

For an ambitious person, this role is quite suitable. This role enhances your confidence and improves your communication skills.

Leadership Role in a Club

Smaller roles, at times, prove essential in honing your leadership skills. For gaining experience in leadership, running for positions in a club or an organization is ideal. These roles are impactful as they refine your communication, coordination, and organization skills.

Student Newspaper

It may not sound like a leadership role, but it has all the elements of giving a great leadership experience like communication, commitment, teamwork, time management.

Participation in Greek Life

Greek organizations offer many opportunities for the development of leadership potential. Opting for a leadership role within a Greek fraternity or sorority helps develop a sense of community and belonging. It also offers the chance to improve your social skills.

Volunteer for a Community Service Project

Community Service Projects are an excellent way to build your leadership skills. These projects offer you’re the opportunity to organize and lead a project for the short term. This role equips you with event management and organization experience.

An On-Campus Job Aiding Student Leadership

The critical element of such a role is observation, and with strong observational skills, a leader can spot new opportunities and threats. In this role, students work on campus closely and under the guidance of established leaders. Such a role gives you insight into what it is like to be a leader.

Leadership at Campus Admissions Office (CAO)

Besides being an excellent source for acquiring leadership skills, the Campus Admissions Office also provides many leadership roles for students like bloggers and tour guides. Working at the CAO enhances leadership skills, as you are required to present yourself as a respectable and responsible person in public.

Professors as Mentors

The role of teachers in honing the skills of their students is undeniable. Through cross-questioning and closely working with your professors, you can portray yourself as an intellectual interested in pursuing new ideas. Through this exploration of new ideas and skills, a person can display his/her leadership abilities.

What did we miss?

What’s the Blueprint For a Smart College Campus

In order for college campuses to meet the needs of a changing society in the midst of countless concurrent technological revolutions, it is imperative that the universities of tomorrow boast “smart” campuses. A “smart” college campus needs to put students first and their interconnected learning experiences at the forefront.

In order for a “smart” college campus to stay relevant for upcoming decades and through a host of technological and learning paradigm shifts, the institutional norms of past universities must be left in the past. In their wake, a new type of campus that embraces community and immersive learning spaces will serve a student populace headed into a job market where soft skills are valued first and foremost.

Ending The Classroom In Favor Of More Adept Learning Spaces

The age of the traditional lecture hall has come and passed. The primary heartbeat of a “smart” college campus needs to eschew such an archaic model in favor of learning studios that facilitate group work and a sense of a learning community. 

To complement these learning spaces, comfortable furniture and teachers with adaptable teaching styles are imperative for making it work. We need to make the college of tomorrow inviting to students. In doing so, we can break down the walls that traditional education has built by giving students a safe space to really stretch their intellects.

Furthermore, all of the learning spaces and connected spaces within a “smart” college campus must be networked and connected to the Internet of Things. There is no use shying away from technology and the impact it has and will have on a changing student populace. 

Connecting Your Campus To Connect With Your Students

Every space on a “smart” college campus needs to be an intuitive rethink of the traditional spaces on a college campus. The library can’t simply be a place to check out books anymore.

Rather, a “smart” college campus will have a library that brings all the best elements of a traditional one and adds an interconnected element. Curating infographics, multimedia sources, and even providing a virtual study environment for students to immerse themselves in will be crucial in reimagining what a library could and should be for students of the future.

Even academic offices will need to be rethought in hopes of bringing professors closer to students by cutting down on the red tape that causes dissonance on traditional college campuses. A “smart” college campus will be an empathetic one. It will foster a sense of community among its professors, administrators, and students.

Rather than relying on office buildings, a “smart” college campus will have collaborative workspaces that serve to encourage free thought and discourse.

Concluding Thoughts

The blueprint for a “smart” college campus needs to put away traditional administrative ideals in favor of embracing the changing needs of society. For a college campus to survive and thrive in this new age, we must put archaic structures aside in favor of spaces that encourage active and interconnected modes of learning.