1. University of Texas, Austin
WCH 4.132, Inner Campus Dr.
Austin, Texas 78712
512-471-3550

Notes: Also known as UT Austin or simply UT, the University of Texas is situated in Austin, the capital city in the Lone Star State. With more than 50,000 students enrolled, UT is one of the largest universities in the United States. Texas’ McComb’s School of Business is one of the best in the nation for undergraduates, offering several programs that are ranked in the top 10 nationwide including information systems and entrepreneurship. Its accounting program is tops not only on the undergraduate level, but for graduate and doctoral programs too.

2. University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
1207 S Oak St.
Champaign, IL 61820
217-333-1970

Notes: The University of Illinois is also known as U of I or sometimes as UIUC. More than 42,000 students are enrolled at this campus, which represents the flagship campus for the Illinois university system. The College of Business at Illinois was established in 1915 and is one of the highest ranking schools of its kind in the United States. Its main campus is in Champaign and a second campus is located in Chicago. The College of Business consists of three departments: accountancy, business administration and finance, with each department operating semiautonomously.

3. Brigham Young University, Provo
CES Admissions
A-41 ASB
Brigham Young University
Provo, UT 84602
801-422-4636

Notes: Brigham Young University was founded and is still operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints also known as the Mormons. Commonly known as BYU or simply Y, this private university in scenic Provo has more than 30,000 students enrolled. BYU’s Marriott School of Management places a heavy emphasis on ethical decision-making with students required to complete coursework in religion for graduation. Four B.S. degree programs are offered including Accounting. Tuition at BYU is much lower than comparable private schools and many public universities as LDS members support the university.

4. University of Southern California
USC Office of Admission
Undergraduate
University Park Campus
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0911
213-740-1111

Notes: The University of Southern California is most commonly referenced as USC and sometimes Southern Cal. This Los Angeles school has more than 17,000 undergraduates enrolled, but more than 19,000 postgraduates. USC’s Marshall School of Business is the largest of the university’s 17 professional schools with its B.S. in Accounting degree offered through its Leventhal School of Accounting. Students in this school, regardless of degree pursuit have numerous opportunities to study abroad. Its Learning About International Commerce or LINC program comprises one-semester study abroad and a trip to another country.

5. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Office of Admissions
Stephen M. Ross School of Business
University of Michigan
701 Tappan Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1234
734-763-5796

Notes: Also known as U-M or simply Michigan, this state university in Ann Arbor welcomes more than 42,000 undergraduates to its campus. Its Ross School of Business was founded in 1924 and has more than 1,000 undergraduates and nearly the same number of graduate students enrolled. The Department of Accounting at Ross is supported by the Paton Accounting Center, which advances excellence in accounting through world-class workshops and other endeavors.

Other Schools

A number of other schools are also highly-rated by U.S. News & World Report in Accounting. The University of Pennsylvania; the University of Notre Dame; Indiana University, Bloomington; New York University; Ohio State University, Columbus; and the University of Washington round out its top 10 list.

References

U.S. News & World Report: Accountants and Auditors

Onet OnLine: Accountants

Review Important Notes

Respond to all requests from the college you will be attending. Notify all other colleges of your decision not to attend.

Need to finalize your housing arrangements.
Check your college for on-campus living arrangements or make arrangements to live off-campus:

For on-campus:
check with your college of choice. Once you get accepted into college, you need to move fast on on-campus housing arrangements to avoid being placed on a waiting list:

Check with your college web site for on-campus living:
use our college directory to link to your school

For off-campus:
link to our "Moving to College" housing plan for housing search: click here for college housing

Start getting yourself ready for college:

download this FREE moving-to-college checklist
also reference our college moving center: click here

Check out some online courses that you could take over the summer. Some colleges will allow credit for courses completed online. This will give you the flexibility to arrange your schedule:

Source for online learning courses:
view directory of online programs

More information available:

• view our complete college planning calendar for May

What if you take a course at another college or university? Will those credits transfer? Yes, if the class meets your college’s degree requirements as well as your satisfy your base school’s transfer policies. Read on for some tips on how to get your credits transferred.

1. Understand your school’s transfer policies — Before you take a class at another school, contact your school’s registration department to how this process works. At Cornell College, for example, students must file a transfer credit petition first and have it approved by the chair of the department.

2. Submit the required course description — Some schools require students to submit relevant course descriptions or course syllabi for review. If that is the case, contact the summer school for that information. You may need to submit an addendum to transfer credit petition with that information. Keep in mind that some schools limit the number of credits that can be transferred. At Smith College students may accrue a maximum of 12 approved summer school credits toward their degree. Approval from the class dean is required.

3. Pass the class — It should go without saying that the class you take at another school should result in a passing grade. Even then, a passing grade might not be sufficient. At Cornell College that grade must be at least a “C” as a “C-” will not do. Pass/Fail classes won’t transfer unless the “Pass” grade is equivalent to at least a “C.” At Dickinson College students may take classes at schools approved by Dickinson; only four transfer credits are allowed.

4. Official transcript submission — Once a course has been successfully completed, you’ll need to request an official transcript be sent to your base college. At the University of Chicago, credit won’t be posted until your transcript has been received. Follow your college’s procedures to ensure a successful transfer. Most schools will count your credits, but classes taken elsewhere usually do not affect your GPA.

Considerations

You may have to jump through some hoops to get a class approved by your school. Once approved, you’ll attend school close to your home, giving you plenty of time to hang out with people you know after your studies. Just make sure that your transcript submission goes through, because without it those credits do not count.

Related Articles

• Groups Team Up to Turn Free Online Courses Into Cheap College Credit (chronicle.com)
• Transferring Colleges? 5 Things You Need To Know (thecrimsoncrow.com)
• How to Succeed in Community College (saycampuslife.com)

Columbia University — Open to students entering grades 9 through 12, the Columbia program is now in its 25th year. Students choose one curricular option per session and are place in either a Junior-Senior Division or a Freshman-Sophomore Division. Besides academics, students can take advantage of organized sports, sample local restaurants, visit nearby parks and participate in community outreach projects. Columbia also offers summer programs for students abroad in Barcelona, Spain, and in the Middle East.

Columbia University
203 Lewisohn Hall
2970 Broadway, MC 4119
New York, NY 10027
212-854-9889
ce.columbia.edu

University of Chicago — Summer in the Windy City provides a venue for high school students to sample college life as well as earn college credit through various on- and off-campus programs. These programs included American Law and Litigation; Creative Writing: Fiction; Developmental Psychology: Theories and Techniques; and Weather, Climate and Natural Hazards, among others. Students need to send in two recommendations along with short essays.

The University of Chicago
Graham School of Continuing
Liberal and Professional Studies
1427 E. 60th Street
Chicago, IL 60637
773-834-3792
summer.uchicago.edu

Stanford University — Stanford’s High School Summer college is open to commuting and residential students. Thus, students from across the United States, indeed the entire world are able to attend. The Stanford program offers more than 125 classes in over 30 programs, giving high school students the chance to sample Stanford’s curriculum. Special classes and intensive studies are also available. All summer attendees have access to Admissions 101, a program that helps students learn about what it takes to put together a competitive college application.

Stanford University
Stanford Summer Session
High School Summer college
365 Lasuen Mall
Littlefield Center
Stanford, CA 94305
650-725-7250
standord.edu

Considerations

So, why spend your summer at college when you can hang with your friends? For a number of reasons including some outlined above. Summer college gives students a chance to get a taste of college, meet other students and to gauge a particular school. If your top college pick has a summer program, consider taking it — it just might open doors for you when you apply later on. Keep in mind such programs are not free and can be quite pricey for some families.

Related Articles

• 1 in 3 Unprepared for Life After High School (education.com)
• How to Succeed in Community College (saycampuslife.com)
• How to Finish College Ahead of Your Class (saycampuslife.com)

Those dreams may not be completely realistic or might at least distract you from what you know you really should be doing and that is taking one or two summer classes and putting off your downtime until later in the summer.

Why on earth would anyone want to take classes during the summer? There are a number of reasons, each worth your consideration as you contemplate registering for classes.

An available prerequisite — You’ve been trying to take Professor DoGood’s Foundational Principles of Leadership class for the past year, but this prerequisite to your Business Management course is hard to get into. Except, of course, if you take it this summer. Forget trying to take this prereq in the fall as you’ll be waitlisted — the summer class is open and you’ll knock it out in six quick weeks.

Academic improvement — Some students fail a class or receive a poor grade, a mark on their academic progress they must or may want to change. That tough Geophysics class you took last spring was hard to handle and you had to balance it with four other courses. That “D” grade has pulled down your GPA, a scar that won’t quickly heal without taking the course over. Set aside six weeks this summer to tackle the one course that has given you problems. Turn that “D” into a “B” or better!

Finish early or catch up — A summer college class or two can help you finish college early. Not every student minds finishing ahead of their graduating class, preferring to get school out of the way as soon as possible to pursue a career. On the other hand, you may have fallen behind your graduating class. Summer courses can help you get back on track, giving you time to play catch up.

Of course, summer classes aren’t for everyone and the following considerations can impact your decision:

You are burnt out — Summer gives students a chance to recharge. If you’ve absolutely had it with classes and need a break from your rigorous and disciplined academic schedule, then a rest is needed. Avoid the nervous breakdown and occupy yourself in other ways.

Financial aid isn’t applied — Financial aid has helped you through college thus far, but summer classes are not covered. If you can’t afford to pay for tuition, books and room & board out of pocket, then summer classes are not an option. Put away the credit card too — taking on debt that you can’t possibly manage will sink you.

You’d rather work — Many students spend at least part of the summer working, perhaps because they have to. Working during the summer allows you to gain experience and can be just as valuable as taking a class when applying for a job later on. Don’t pass up an important summer gig that can open doors for you following college.

Considerations

If you attend college away from home, you may be able to take classes at a local college and transfer these to your school. This option can be helpful to students wanting to be near family and friends, as well as give themselves a break from a familiar academic setting.

See Also — You’ve Been Wait-Listed. Now What?”

If you’ve been wait-listed, you’re now in a virtual no-man’s land — at least with that one college. You haven’t been turned down, but you’re not on the school’s list of freshmen applicants. At least not at this moment.

Wait Lists — Why?!

Why wait lists? Well, as the National Association for College Admission Counseling advises, wait lists are a college’s insurance policy. This means that if some of the students on its acceptance list drop off and go to college elsewhere, then the school will go to its wait list to accept more students. That is, if it has seats it must fill.

Being put on a wait list can be nerve-wracking, especially if that list is for your top choice school. Colleges generally do not share information about their wait lists, leaving students guessing the number of people ahead of them on the list and wondering how long they’ll stay on the list. In the meantime, schools will often wait until well into the summer before issuing a final acceptance or denial, much too late for some who need a decision now to make plans for the fall academic year.

University of Texas

Some colleges are much more transparent and student-friendly about the wait list process. For example, students put on the 2012 Freshman Wait List for the University of Texas number approximately 300. Those students are expected to be notified by May 15, 2012, whether they’ve been accepted or denied. That will give prospective students enough time to enroll or accept admission elsewhere. Were all schools that forthcoming!

If you’re unsure of a college’s wait list procedures, you can call its admissions office to learn more. Likely, you’ll be told where you are on the list if the link is ranked and you may be able to find out what the percentage of students on the list are accepted. For example, if there are 100 people on the list and half are typically accepted, you may still get in if you are in the top 50. But, don’t despair if your number is lower as some wait-listed students will have quickly moved on to their backup plan.

Top Choice School

If the school that has wait-listed you is your top choice, then tell them so. Colleges prefer to offer acceptance to students most likely to enroll. If there have been changes in your application, such as an academic award received, notify the school too. An improved academic standing may result in an acceptance offer.

The NACAC notes that colleges cannot require wait-listed students to put down a deposit. Schools must also notify wait-listed students by August 1.

Moving On

If being on a wait-list has you down, but you were accepted by a desirable second-choice school, then forget the wait list and move on. Where you attend college won’t make or break you, but languishing on a wait list can distract you from your college preparation plans.

Related Articles

• Why you should get off that wait list now (cbsnews.com)
• College Admissions: How to Deal With a Thin Envelope (ideas.time.com)
• More Than 350 Colleges Still Have Spots, Financial Aid for Fall Students (usnews.com)

Review Your Financial Award

You should receive your "Financial Award Package" with information on your qualifying financial aid from each school that you have been admitted.

The "Financial Award Package" will show the cost of attendance and the amount of each financial aid award that will be granted. The difference between the cost and the amount awarded is the portion that the family is expected to pay.

The financial awards include:

• grants,
• scholarships,
• federally student loans,
• work study programs,
• other college assisted aid

Financial Aid Review

View these summary charts of financial aid options:
(link to our financial aid center)

• summary aid chart for first-time students (undergrad’s)
• summary aid chart for parents

Understand the financial aid process for student loans, grants, scholarships and other student aid:

Note 1:   understand the financial aid process
Note 2:   submitting the FAFSA form for federal aid
Note 3:   review the student aid report
Note 4:   get the financial award letter
Note 5:   view financial aid options
Note 6:   apply for and manage student funds

Note the Ways to Pay for College

1. Scholarships and Grant Aid Programs:

   over $24.3 billion
   worth of scholarships and grants in one location

2. Federal Student and Parent Loans:
   federal student and parent PLUS loans are available — view details and options
   view summary note: federal student loans
   view summary note: federal PLUS loans

3. Private Education Loans:
   need a little extra to cover the full cost? — compare plans
   view summary note: private student loans

4. Home Equity (Bank Equity Program):
   use the equity in your home to finance all or part of your education without restrictions
   view summary note: home equity loans

More information available:

• view our complete college planning calendar for May

A Master of Business Administration (MBA) qualification is, more than many other accreditations, one of the best things you can get if you want to be successful. Teaching you a remarkable amount about how the world works – and how you can make it work for you – MBAs are becoming the must-have among business graduates.

Seniors across the US have regularly considered the benefits of doing this qualification abroad. Whether they want to be close to London and do MBA courses at MDX, or head to south-east Asia and go with the INSEAD program in Singapore, there’s every reason to consider this certification. Here are a few you may want to consider:

Companies will take you seriously

An MBA will, first and foremost, demonstrate your commitment to your chosen specialty because you’ve invested time, energy and money to learn the trade. It also proves that you’ve mastered the accepted level of knowledge in business management, highlighting your confidence to work hard and achieve results from day one.

You can communicate better with co-workers

The act of communicating with fellow employees goes beyond the ability to simply get across the point you want – it’s all about tailoring your demands or suggestions to them on an individual basis, using the industry-specific terminology that specific individuals will understand. Without this key investment in human resources, you will be faced with breakdowns in vocal clarity.

Solve business problems with greater ease

While you may be the most sharp, intelligent or witty person that the world’s ever seen, you simply won’t know how to react properly to extremely intricate and far-reaching decisions that could affect the livelihood of the entire business, should it go wrong. However, MBA courses discuss a remarkable number of situations that can crop up in industry, as well as their implications.

Understand official documentation fully
 
An MBA curriculum will teach you how to interpret and understand financial statements, transactions, marketing plans, analyses and audit reports as well as further-reaching documents like business development plans. Knowing how to read these is extremely important if you want to operate profitably, using the right partners and pitching to the best demographics with products or services.

Learn to write to a first-class standard

As you’re doing a top-level program with the MBA, you’ll find your written skills will improve to a dramatic degree. You may not be the strongest person when it comes to writing, yet an MBA will put you on par with some of the most experienced report writers in the country. After all, you’re required to produce 20 to 30-page reports for each subject you cover; when you remember that classes can be just four to six weeks long, this is quite a challenge. However, speed and pressure will galvanize your writing abilities.

You may be able to improve all of these skills independently and without the additional investment that you’d need to make to get an MBA, but there’s no greater way to prove your value to modern business than with these three letters after your title – you’ll be taken very seriously by prospective employers.

The Princeton Review is one of the most well-known services companies in the field of education, offering guides, test preparation assistance and individualized tutoring for college-bound students. The company, which is not related to Princeton University, but does own the Penn Foster Education Group, has recently published “The Best 300 Professors,” a guide that looks at America’s top undergrad instructors. The guide was developed with RateMyProfessors.com; SayCampusLife.com was given a review copy and we’re sharing highlights with our readers here.

The Princeton Review worked with RateMyProfessors.com to come up with a list of 300 of our nation’s top professors. RMP is the top-rated college professors website in the U.S.; the final selection was based on data pulled from the Review’s surveys of college students at thousands of colleges in addition to the ratings at those schools on RMP.

Rated, Not Ranked

The professors’ guide does not rank the chosen professors nor their colleges. Instead, the guide serves as a roll of committed instructors, providing a rich tapestry of college faculty. More than 60 academic fields are represented with professors coming from 122 different colleges and universities. Profiles of those schools are also included in the guide.

Each professor’s profile are organized within academic fields. Those fields include animal science, business, engineering, geography, literature, music, neuroscience, religion, sport management and theatre. Visit any category and the professors are listed alphabetically.

Professor & School Representation

The professors represented in the book consist of 76 percent male, 24 percent female. New York led the way with most professors and colleges represented, with 43 professors at 20 colleges chosen. California, Virginia, Massachusetts and Ohio followed in professor representation.

The schools at the top end of the representation list are for the most part not household names. Leading the list with 14 professors was Mount Holyoke College followed by James Madison University with 11. Colgate University and the College of William & Mary followed with 10 each. Kenyon College, a small Ohio school with just 1,600 students, had nine.

Among academic departments, Mathematics offered 32 professors followed by psychology with 24 and both English and History with 22 each. Some 17 academic departments had just one professor represented including biochemistry, education, human development and music.

Notes and Comments

With each professor listing, the guide offers a comment from the professor along with key comments from students. For example, Steven E. Woodworth is a history professor at Texas Christian University. When asked why he thinks students value his teaching he replied, “Maybe it’s because I’m having so much fun with history. Maybe it’s contagious.” His students, however, are more succinct, offering comments such as, “He knows his Civil War history, so don’t try to play around, he will catch you on it!” and “He was pretty funny while lecturing at times, and he does it all from memory.”

So, what motivated the Princeton Review to publish a guide that is quite unlike any guide this company has produced before? Said Robert Franek, Princeton Review’s Senior VP/Publisher and author of the Company’s flagship college guide, The Best 376 Colleges, “We developed this project as a tribute to the extraordinary dedication of America’s undergraduate college professors and the vitally important role they play in our culture, and our democracy. One cannot page through this book without feeling tremendous respect for the powerful ways these teachers are enriching their students’ lives, their colleges, and ultimately our future as a society.”

See Also — The Princeton Review Ranks Colleges On Financial Aid

High school students preparing for community college may have chosen these schools for any number of reasons. For one, community colleges typically have open enrollments, admitting qualified high school grads without the rigorous entrance requirements most four-year schools demand. Such schools also enable students to get a feel for college, to improve their study skills and to prepare for transfer to a four-year school. Public two-year colleges charge much lower tuition than four-year institutions and are sometimes an end to themselves, meaning a student can get the training they need there for a job once they obtain their degree or certificate.

Plan Ahead

If you are planning to attend community college, there are some things you can do now to ensure your success later on.

1. Make a goal and pursue it. Are you going to community college to obtain a degree or a certificate? Or do you plan to transfer to a four-year college to obtain your bachelor’s degree? Plan to work with your community college adviser early on to establish a path to transferring your credits to a four-year school. If you already know what school you want to attend, familiarize yourself with its transfer procedure. For example, Arizona State University offers students transferring from Arizona community colleges detailed and clear instructions on how to transfer. You’ll want to identify what steps you need to take early on and focus on transferring your credits.

2. Inquire about articulation agreements. Much has changed with community colleges in recent years as these schools work closely with four-year institutions to help transfer students successfully move on. Ask your college adviser about articulation agreements between your school and four-year colleges. Some states, such as North Carolina, have comprehensive agreements between the state’s community colleges and its public universities. Some two-year schools have also made arrangements with private colleges and universities.

3. Seek help early on. You’ll take a variety of classes at community college with some you’ll find easy to handle and others more of a challenge. Community colleges offer free tutoring, but you need to ask for help if you having trouble with a course. Your college adviser can assist, but he or she likely has hundreds of other students to work with and may not be able to intervene as quickly. The first low grade you get on a test should serve as a warning that you need help. It could be that you don’t understand the material or you may need help in crafting a disciplined study schedule. Or it could be a matter of motivation. The University of Victoria offers helpful information on how to study including a “self management checklist” to help keep you on track.

4. Look beyond remedial courses. Many students attend community college to improve their academic standing. Remedial courses including basic skills in math and writing are offered. Most other students don’t need these classes and are ready to pursue the college’s curriculum. However, if you did well in high school you may qualify for an honors program offered by some community colleges. This option is ideal for top students that couldn’t afford a four-year school, but don’t want to miss out on taking honors courses. Visit the National Collegiate Honors Council website to learn which community colleges are among its member institutions. Even if your community college doesn’t have a formal honors program it may offer courses reserved for high-achieving students.

Final Thoughts

Many community colleges have worked diligently down through the years to raise academic standards and prepare students for careers or to transfer to four-year institutions. Some community colleges now offer four-year degrees including Miami Dade College, which dropped “community” from its name. Whether community college is your final destination or a steppingstone in your academic pursuits, you can make such schools work for you.