4 Ways to Embrace Your Geeky Side in College

High school was about trying to fit in while avoiding having your lunch money from being stolen. Now that you’ve graduated and are headed to college, stop trying to please others and instead embrace who you really are — a geek.

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Diversity is often more fully embraced in college, allowing you to explore new venues and discover your true self. If you yearn to let your geeky side display its full potential, the following are four ways to do just that in college.

Discover Student Organizations

College campuses are overflowing with student organizations, many of which cater to geeky interests. From computer clubs to organizations dedicated to gamers, these student gatherings are the ideal opportunities to embrace your geeky side. If you’ve traveled far from home to attend college, student organizations also offer the prime chance to make new friends.

Most campus registration offices maintain lists of campus organizations students can review. If your campus doesn’t yet offer a student organization you’d like to join, create one. Other geeks are also likely out there waiting for someone like you to take the initiative.

Join the Nerd Dorm

Each dorm on college campuses typically has a reputation for housing specific student types. From the party dorm to the intellectual hangout, discover the reputations of each dorm on your college campus before submitting your housing registration.

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By registering for the dorm that’s known to house those with similar interests to yours, you’ll settle in more quickly. If your future dorm-mate is also a geek, you may avoid the common roommate clashes famous during the dorm years.

Register for a Challenging University

The local state university may be low in cost but it likely won’t fully stimulate your geeky mind. Rather, if you enjoy being challenged, apply to the country’s top universities. These campuses are designed to foster the intellectual mind and provide the resources geeks need to excel. As shown here, those with higher SAT scores often travel longer distances to attend college.

Take the Proper Courses

Want to really excel in college? Take courses that pique your future career interests. While your love of computers and gaming may have been shunned in high school, this is the time to embrace those passions by taking classes that allow your skills to shine. In addition to your college’s basic required courses, take one or two extracurricular courses that specifically cater to your interests.

College is about discovering who you are and embracing that identity. If you’re a geek at heart, follow your nerdy interests by finding the perfect college and becoming involved in various outlets as your first semester begins. By embracing your geeky side now, you’ll be more successful in future endeavors. Do you have other ideas for claiming a geeky identity during college?

Top Medical Schools in the U.S.

Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas

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There are many great medical schools in the United States. Some of these medical institutions have reputations for providing excellent training in certain specialties. Even among a field of excellent schools, some stand out as being in the top tier of medical schools in the U.S. As someone interested in healthcare careers, you should consider embarking on a degree program at one of these schools because you’ll have a better chance of getting a good residency or fellowship. Here are some of the best medical schools.

Harvard University

Not surprisingly, Harvard has an extensive course catalog for those who are interested in a medical degree. While costly, the education you’ll receive at Harvard in Cambridge, Massachusetts (near Boston) will not only increase your chances at a successful career later, but prepare you for true-life experiences you will have in your life as a healthcare professional.

John Hopkins University

Located in Baltimore, Maryland, John Hopkins is one of the best medical universities in the world. In addition to a stellar reputation, the hospital associated with the university is ranked at or near the top in countless specialties. Research from this university regularly shows up in medical journals. The medical school enrollment is limited, which means students get more attention from professors.

Washington University

Based in Saint Louis, Missouri, Washington University has opportunities for students to study different specialties and work beside experienced doctors and surgeons at a renowned children’s hospital. The school is known for its specialties in nutrition and Alzheimer’s disease among others.

While these are just some of the top schools for medicine, there are several others that offer preparation for a healthcare career. Good luck in your journey!

Learn History for Free Online

Want to get a fast education in world history but you don’t want to spend a lot of money to take a college class? Welcome to HyperHistory, an online project that allows you to browse 3,000 years of human history. The best part? HyperHistory is completely free to use.

Map with the Participants in World War I: Gree...

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Using HyperHistory

HyperHistory has a unique layout that allows users to navigate various subjects and periods of history quickly. An index on the left of the screen allows you to browse

  • People
  • History
  • Events
  • Maps

When you click on one of these subjects, a table at the right side of your screen reveals more options that allow you to focus on specific periods of history. For instance, if you click on “Maps,” you can then narrow your search to

  • Early Civilizations
  • Greek Civilizations
  • Rome + Han China
  • Barbarian Invasions
  • Expansion of Islam
  • Mongol Empires
  • A.D. 1500-1800

You can also choose between Regional Maps, World War I and World War II.

Along the bottom of the site, an index divides pages into

  • Science
  • Culture
  • Religion
  • Politics

Clicking on one of these subjects reveals the true strength of HyperHistory. Each subject links to a timeline that contains important information such as the names of world leaders, scientists and cultural events.

This timeline makes it easier to see how history has unfolded over the past 3,000 years.

Although you might not earn a degree by reviewing the information on HyperHistory, you will certainly learn more about history than the vast majority of people in the world.

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Online Courses for Writers

In the business world, knowing how to write clearly and professionally is important to any career. It doesn’t matter if you’re in technical support, in middle management, or the CEO of the company. Writing well matters. But how can you improve? Here are some ideas.

Take an Online Course

Many colleges offer writing classes online for those who want to improve their writing. You can start with low-level classes or higher level classes depending on your current writing skills. Or you can pick a focus; courses in business writing, persuasive writing, and writing for advertising are also available. By improving your writing skills, you will be able to impress your boss, which may lead to a promotion. The experience may also help lead you to a new career path if you’re trying to get into a different department at your company.

Get a Higher Degree

Another way to improve your writing is through a series of classes that can be applied to an additional degree. If you don’t have a college degree, use the classes towards a bachelor degree. If you already have a bachelor degree, look into getting a master degree, whether in writing, business, or another field that’s related to your career.

Education is always a good investment and the return you’ll get by getting a better paying position or a position that you enjoy more is worth the efforts. If you’re considering furthering your career through online education, take the time to look into it today.

3 Benefits of Tablet PCs in Politics

For those who make a career in politics, the tablet PC has become a must-have device. Its features outperform the smartphone on the campaign trail. Here are three benefits to taking a tablet along to political events.

It Doubles as a Teleprompter

Some tablets let users download applications that mimic teleprompters. In politics, candidates and their staff regularly speak to groups in both formal and informal settings. A teleprompter app will boost the speaker’s confidence and make sure the speaker stays on message — both are critically important in politics.

Quick Access to Data

Political candidates and their campaign teams can configure their tablets so that they can easily pull up data, statistics, and other material that might be needed on the spur of the moment. For example, incumbents meeting with constituents at a public event may need to get the phone number of a particular state or federal agency on behalf of a constituent. Rather than having staffers look up the number when they get back to the office and call the constituent, tablets allow politicians to search nimbly for the number and provide it on the spot.

Storage of Important Information Is Easy

Downloading the appropriate app will let candidates upload data to a secure online storage site that they can access later. It’s a great way to collect and save contact information for donors, voters, and campaign volunteers.  Using cloud computing, candidates can share the collected data with appropriate members of their team.

From speeches on education to meet-and-greet barbecues with constituents, politicians can find multiple users for tablet PCs.

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Adult Education Programs Offer Enriching Classes

When people think of adult education, they typically envision professional development classes that take place in a community college or university. Not all adult ed, however, has to do with learning new skills for work. In fact, many adult education programs choose classes specifically to enrich the lives of community members.

Classroom

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Creative Adult Education Classes

Writing

If you have always had an interest in writing, then ask your local adult education program whether they offer classes in fiction and non-fiction. Most of them do. Some programs will even offer a wide range of writing classes that will allow you to focus on the genre that interests you most.

That means you could take a class in science fiction or personal essay writing.

You can also look online for adult education classes that cater to your specific interests.

Art

Your local adult ed program might also offer classes in subjects such as

  • Painting
  • Drawing
  • Photography
  • Pottery
  • Sculpture

By signing up for these classes, you can meet other adults who share your interests. Who knows, you might even find that you love taking pictures or making pots.

Practical Adult Education Classes

Your local program probably also has practical adult education classes that can teach you about

  • Gardening
  • Sewing
  • Auto maintenance
  • Nutrition

You might even find a class that teaches students to speak foreign languages.

Contact an adult education program near you to find out what classes they offer. The program just might surprise you.

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Do You Know Your Country’s History?

How well do you know the history of the United States? Some people store history in their minds like a college professor. Others have a Sarah Palin-like grasp on subjects such as the American Revolution and the Civil War.

Most Americans Don’t Know U.S. History

If you scratch your head in bewilderment when asked about early American trade with other countries or whether the U.S. has a national language, then you are not alone. According to the 2010 National Assessment of Educational Progress, 13% of high school seniors couldn’t answer similar questions accurately.

Some educators blame No Child Left Behind for the poor results. No Child Left Behind focuses so much on basic skills such as math and reading that it often prevents teachers from exploring other subjects, including U.S. history.

The Impact of History

Who cares whether people know U.S. history? After all, it’s just a bunch of boring dates and names, right?

Wrong. If you really know your history, then you probably already know George Santayana’s great maxim: those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it.

When people don’t understand U.S. history, they can’t learn from mistakes made in the past. This can lead to a host of social and economic problems. If only more people understood how the federal government helped the economy recover from the Great Depression, then today’s politicians probably wouldn’t spend so much time talking about debt ceilings and stimulus packages.

If more people understood their history, then they would know what happens when corporate deregulation gets taken too far.

History has importance in today’s world. As U.S. citizens, therefore, everyone should support educational programs that teach history as well as basic skills.

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