College Reviews - one voice at a time» college http://reviewschools.org/blog ReviewSchools.org - Inside Perspective Sat, 13 Jun 2009 00:13:22 +0000 en hourly 1 3 Reasons to Review Your College Experience http://reviewschools.org/blog/2009/02/3-reasons-to-review-your-college-experience/ http://reviewschools.org/blog/2009/02/3-reasons-to-review-your-college-experience/#comments Sat, 21 Feb 2009 11:39:09 +0000 ReviewSchools.org http://reviewschools.org/blog/?p=307 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]>
  • Your review is valuable to more people than you think. Sharing your own story, rating your college, and reviewing the overall experience can make the world of a difference for potential students who need all the information they can get to make the best decision.
  • Your review (and many others) is fantastic way to give feeback to your school. By sharing your perspective and encouraging others to do rate their experience, you can keep the colleges and schools accountable to their students. Alumni and students who share their thoughts and opinions help improve the higher education system.
  • Sharing is free, easy, and it feels good. Whether you have good or bad things to say, getting your opinion off your chest is always a good thing.

    • More:
    College Reviews by ReviewSchools.org
    Rate Your College – It’s as easy as 1-2-3

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    ]]>     http://reviewschools.org/blog/2009/02/3-reasons-to-review-your-college-experience/feed/ 1     Dear Change.gov, Our Education… http://reviewschools.org/blog/2008/11/change-gov-our-education/ http://reviewschools.org/blog/2008/11/change-gov-our-education/#comments Fri, 14 Nov 2008 17:52:06 +0000 ReviewSchools.org http://reviewschools.org/blog/?p=298 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Change.gov has invited Americans to share their vision of what America can be. Here is our response:

    Education, in all forms, affects/influences every other major issue. The short term educational issues that face this country are vast and varied. The decision process will be difficult, and there will be no free lunch. However, the educational system (primary, secondary, & postsecondary) are in dire need of a shift – one that is focused on the long-term.

    By simply changing the way Americans interact on/about/with educational institutions, the country can align the entire education system more closely with what is most important to Americans. The highest cost of this effort is time – it requires time and attention from millions of Americans to be effective.

    Government regulation is meant to be expansive and rigorous – thus it is slow and not able to quickly change or launch new initiatives. Government, from federal to local, must collaborate with independent vehicles to foster an environment where change is more effective. Government alone cannot tackle the long-term educational change needed to reinvigorate American pride & ingenuity in academics.

    The steps needed to shift the status quo:

    • Empower the People / Give them a Voice
    • Provide a Place for Discourse
    • Build Collective Intelligence
    • Share the Knowledge

    Empowering parents, students, and alumni brings an almost immediate transparency to the education system. This can result in a real sense of accountability for students, teachers, and the educational institutions themselves. This transparency also spreads the burden upon everyone involved, from students to schools.

    Over time and with encouragement, the voices of parents and students will become an invaluable asset. Allowing open discussions and conversations will foster new ideas and push for responsible decisions by people and institutions. Activism by a majority of concerned parents/students will also impact apathetic parents/students who are less interested, less invested.

    Collective intelligence already exists. It still needs to be directed, harnessed, and shared. This is where government especially needs to collaborate with others to more effectively support and channel the voices of parents and students.

    By leveraging technology and ingenuity, the government and the people can create a powerful force that cannot be diminished by special interests or entrenched lobbyists.

    In the long run, the American educational system will benefit greatly from an environment that demands more responsibility and more accountability.

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    ]]>     http://reviewschools.org/blog/2008/11/change-gov-our-education/feed/ 0     Rate Your College – It’s as easy as 1-2-3 http://reviewschools.org/blog/2008/09/rate-your-college-its-as-easy-as-1-2-3/ http://reviewschools.org/blog/2008/09/rate-your-college-its-as-easy-as-1-2-3/#comments Tue, 02 Sep 2008 04:48:53 +0000 ReviewSchools.org http://reviewschools.org/blog/?p=283 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Below is a quick demo on just how easy it is to share your college experience on ReviewSchools.org. In just a couple minutes you can help all the people that are searching for the right school:

    Rate your college today.

    Help improve the higher education system…one voice at a time.

     

    More:

    3 Reasons to Review Your College Experience

    College Reviews by ReviewSchools.org

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    ]]>     http://reviewschools.org/blog/2008/09/rate-your-college-its-as-easy-as-1-2-3/feed/ 2     Thinking through the online education phenomenon http://reviewschools.org/blog/2007/12/thinking-through-the-online-education-phenomenon/ http://reviewschools.org/blog/2007/12/thinking-through-the-online-education-phenomenon/#comments Tue, 18 Dec 2007 03:20:27 +0000 ReviewSchools.org http://reviewschools.org/blog/2007/12/18/thinking-through-the-online-education-phenomenon/ Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> The phrase, Online Education, refers to many different things.  Online education ranges from one-time training seminars to entire Master’s programs.  It is amazing how much you can accomplish through the Internet.  But before you sign up, you need to think first, then decide.  There are always pros and cons to any decision.  Here are a few common ones:

    Benefits:

    • Flexibility – The improvement in Internet technology and online courses have made learning extremely flexible.  You can literally do your work whenever fits your schedule.
    • Time-Savings – Believe it or not you will save a lot of time (unless you live next you your school).  Over the course of 1-4 years, the time you spend walking, driving, or taking public transportation really adds up.
    • Accessibility -  Now with a good Internet connection you can access a whole range of educational programs.  You can be at home or anywhere in the world and still further your education.  As the Internet becomes more universal and available, you will literally be able to access programs anywhere.
    • Cost – It’s very simple.  On average, online courses and programs cost schools less – so they cost you less.  You also have an almost unlimited range of choices since there are many schools and programs to choose from.
    • Mix it up – Many schools also offer programs that are taught in person and online.  The mix varies from school-to-school.  Sometimes, this is a good option for people who need a little more traditional class time.

    Challenges:

    • Self-motivation – you must keep yourself going (you aren’t going to have much outside pressure from other students or teachers)  This is the number one issue that people need to recognize.
    • Focus – Along with keeping yourself motivated, you have to keep focused & dedicated.  Just because the course/program is online does not mean you can do your all your work while sitting on the couch.  Lack of focus will lead to disappointment.
    • Organization – You need to keep yourself on schedule.  It’s up to you to stay on top of deadlines, project due dates, and test prep.
    • Hands-on Factor - Sometimes you need to literally get your hands dirty to fully learn the subject matter.  This obviously depends on what you are studying.  If you want training in web development it’s not an issue.  However, if you need training in diesel mechanics, you will eventually  need to get yourself into a workshop to work on a real diesel engine (the Internet can only do so much).
    • Community – Sometimes it is harder to establish a connection with other students through distance learning programs.  This concern can easily be overcome depending on how proactive you are with fellow students.  The Internet is full of vibrant communities that are completely online – but it’s up to you to establish that sense of community.

    What else can you think of?  How do these criteria apply to you?  Are you ready for an online education? 

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    ]]>     http://reviewschools.org/blog/2007/12/thinking-through-the-online-education-phenomenon/feed/ 0     Ways to get an Inside Look at a potential college or school http://reviewschools.org/blog/2007/11/ways-to-get-an-inside-look-at-a-potential-college-or-school/ http://reviewschools.org/blog/2007/11/ways-to-get-an-inside-look-at-a-potential-college-or-school/#comments Tue, 06 Nov 2007 07:44:39 +0000 ReviewSchools.org http://reviewschools.org/blog/2007/11/06/ways-to-get-an-inside-look-at-a-potential-college-or-school/ Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]>
  • Shadow a student or spend a day attending real classes – get a sense for the culture and atmosphere
  • Find Someone on a social network…pick one.  And introduce yourself as a prospective student.  See what they have to say about their school, their experience.
  • Meet with a professor or academic adviser one-on-one.  Ask as many questions as you can come up with and make some of them on the tough side.

    • Good Questions to ask current students:

    What do you like the most about YourSchool?  What do you like least?
    Why did you choose YourSchool?
    What makes YourSchool stand out?
    What surprised you when you started taking class at YourSchool?
    How is YourSchool going to help you reach your professional goals?

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    ]]>     http://reviewschools.org/blog/2007/11/ways-to-get-an-inside-look-at-a-potential-college-or-school/feed/ 0     Ten factors to consider when choosing a school or college http://reviewschools.org/blog/2007/10/ten-factors-to-consider-when-choosing-a-school-or-college/ http://reviewschools.org/blog/2007/10/ten-factors-to-consider-when-choosing-a-school-or-college/#comments Thu, 01 Nov 2007 02:22:39 +0000 ReviewSchools.org http://reviewschools.org/blog/?p=6 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]>
  • Tuition & Additional Costs – Can you afford the costs?  Have a plan.
  • Location – Does the school have a nearby campus, online courses, both?
  • Program Selection – Does the School offer a broad array of courses or just a few very specialized courses (what is right for you?)
  • Student to Faculty Ratio - How big is the average class size?  Do you interact with teaching staff?
  • Career Advisers or Mentors – People who care about helping you…
  • Interested, motivated students – Can you learn and share with your fellow students?
  • Alumni Network – Can you easily contact alumni?  Great resource for helping you find that next job.
  • Challenging Materials – Will the programs and courses help you learn, grow, etc?
  • Schedule Flexibility – Are there online courses? Weekend Courses? Night Classes?
  • Proof Positive - Will this school get you where you want to go? That answer is up to you.

    • What do you think?

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